On the cover

Blacksmithshop The blacksmith was an essential tradesman required by the Atlin-Quesnel telegraph construction crews since the bulk of materials were moved by horsepower. This blacksmith is preparing to reshoe a horse. The basic tools used were a portable forge and hand-powered blower shown in the centre, a small anvil, hand tools and a supply of horseshoes shown on the ground.

story starts on page six.

MEMBERSOCIETIES

Member societies and their secretaries are responsible for keeping their addresses up-to-date. Please enclose a telephone number for an officer if possible also.

Alberni District Museum & Historical Society, Box 284, , B.C. V9Y7M7 Atlin Historical Society, P. 0. Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOWlAO BCHA — Gulf Islands Branch, do P.O. Box 35, Saturna Island, B.C. VON2Y0 BCHA — Victoria Branch, do Mrs. S. Manson, R.R #7, Echo Drive, Victoria, B.C. V8X3X3 Burnaby Historical Society, c/o Kathleen A. Moore, 3755 Triumph St., Burnaby, B.C. V5C 1Y5 Campbell River & District Museums & Archives Society, 1235 Island Highway, Campbell River, B.C. V9W 2C7 Valley Historical Association, P.O. Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan Historical Society, P.O. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L3Y2 Creston & District Historical & Museum Society, c/o Margaret Moore, Box 253, Creston, B.C. VOB1GO District 69 Historical Society, do Mildred Kurtz, P.O. Box 74, Parksville, B.C. VOR2S0 East Kootenay Historical Association, do Betty Oliver, 670 Rotary Drive,Kimberley, B.C. ViA 1E3 Golden & District Historical Society, Box 992, Golden B.C. VOA1HO Ladysmith New Horizons Historical Society, c/o Mrs. V. CuIJ, R.R. #2, Ladysmith, B.C. VOR2E0 Historical Society, P.O. Box 933, Station “A”, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Nanooa Historical & Museum Society, R.R. #2, Texaco, Box 5, Nanoose Bay, B.C. VOR2R0 New Denver Historical Society, c/o Janet Amsden, Box 51, New Denver, B.C. VOGiSO Nootka Sound Historical Society, Box 748, Gold River, B.C. VOP1GO North Shore Historical Society, c/o Doris Blott, 1671 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 1M6 Princeton & District Pioneer Museum, Box 687, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO Sidney & Historical Society, c/o Mrs. Ray Joy, 10719 Bayfield Road, R.R. #3, Sidney, B.C. V81 3P9 Silverton Historical Society, c/o P.O. Box 137, Silverton, B.C. VOG2B0 Société Historique Franco-Colombienne, 9 avenue Broadway E., Vancouver, C.-B. V5T 1V4 Trail Historical Society, P.O. Box 405, Trail, B.C. V1R 417 Vancouver Historical Society, P.O. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B3X6 Windermere District Historical Society, Box 1075, Invermere, B.C. VOA1KO

Erratum The Council of the B.C.H.A. has a well-defined policy on granting affiliation. It is a form of membership granted only to federations of like-minded organizations or to province-wide associations. Itallows voice but no vote at B.C.H.A. meetings. A subscription taken out on behalf of a museum or a library by its governing society is no more than a subscription. Similarly, an individual subscription does not confer membership in the B.C.H.A. HISTORICAL NEWS Winter 1982 Vol. 15, No. 2

CONTENTS

Letters to the Editor 4 News of the Association 5 Features

The Yukon Telegraph: Construction of the Atlin to Quesnel Section, 1900—1901 by David R. Richeson 6 Discovery: 1887 16 The Walla Walla Trail by R. C. Harris 18

News and Notes Reports from the Branches 24 Historic Trails Update by John Spittle 26 Bookshelf

The Fraser’s History compiled by the Burnaby Historical Society review by Doug Hudson, Doug Nicol and Bob Smith 28 The Colonial Postal Systems and Postage Stamps of and British Columbia, 1849—1871 by Alfred Stanley Deaville review by James E. Hendrickson 30 From Arsenic to DDT by Paul W Riegert review by Robert A. Cummings 31 ’s Urban Past by Alan F. J. Artibise and Gilbert A. Stelter review by Bryan Palmer 33

Second-class mail registration number 4447. Published fall, winter, spring, and summer by the British Columbia Historical Association, P.O. Box 1738, Victoria, V8W 2Y3. Our Charitable Donations number is 0404681-52-27. Printed by Fotoprint, Victoria, B.C. Correspondence with editor is to be addressed to Box 1738, Victoria, V8W 2Y3.

Subscriptions: institutional $15.00 per year, Individual (non-members) $7.00 per year. The B.C. Historical Association gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the British Columbia Heritage Trust. From the Editor To the Editor

I would like to thank everyone for the kind The Editor: letters and calls about the NEWS. I am grateful and relieved that the new format was well received. The new format of the B.C. Historical News is Underneath this message is a subscription box. excellent and makes for a very readable magazine. The economics of production of each issue is such Special compliments have been making the that every additional name on the subscription list rounds concerning the article on Indian Brass adds only a few pennies to the overall cost of Bands — delightful! production but brings in dollars of revenue to the B.C.H.A. Best wishes, If each of you could personally go out and sign Anne W. Holt up just one new member to your local historical Secretary, Alberni District Museum and Historical society, our NEWS would be on a much better Society financial footing. The best way to get new Port Alberni, B.C. subscriptions is to get new members (it’s a lot cheaper for them too). If you can’t get a new membership, get them to just plain subscribe. This The Editor: would obviously be best for local library subscrip tions, for getting your dentist to subscribe for his Congratulations on your appointment as office, for a friend now living in Ontario, etc. editor and on the new format of the British Use your imagination! Let’s see how many Columbia Historical News. The headings are clear, new subscriptions we can come up with. the illustrative material lively — in all, an interest ing, very readable publication. Our very best — Maureen Cassidy wishes for continuing success during your term as

editor — and a good response to your request for news items and letters.

NEXT ISSUE Yours sincerely, Deadline for submissions for the Spring issue of Dorothy Shields the NEWS is March 1, 1982. Please type double Secretary, Vancouver Historical Society spaced if possible. Mail to the Editor, B.C. Vancouver, B.C. Historical News, P.O. Box 1738, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y3.

4. Subscribe! I

Yes, I wish to subscribe to B.C. Historical News. I enclose a cheque or money order payable to the B.C. Historical Association, P.O. Box 1738, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y3.

Individual Four issues for $7.00

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NAME:

ADDRESS Street City Postal Code i. Page 4 British Columbia Historical News -

(Editor’s Note: Cathy Henderson is the most valuable unsung heroine of the organization. Here’s a bit that she wrote about herself and a bit more about what she does.)

I was born in the Cariboo Gold Quartz Hospital at Wells, schooled in Vancouver and have now settled into life on Vancouver Island. A couple of times each week I slip away from my desk in the Provincial Archives of B.C. to walk up Government Street to the B.C. Historical Association’s Box 1738 at the Post Office. There are two jobs I do for the Association. I

fetch and distribute your mail — cheques to Mr. Richardson in Vancouver, review copies of books to Pat Roy, and material for the NEWSto Maureen

Cassidy — and I try to keep the mailing list for the NEWS up to date. The NEWS now has a circulation News Policy of 1166; 109 copies to institutions, 63 individual subscriptions, and 994 to members of local Cornmittee historical societies. The News Policy Committee has been estab lished as the body responsible to the Council of the B.C.H.A. with a mandate to make publication A Message from policy for the British Columbia Historical News. As in the past, the editor (or editors) enjoys freedom to choose the content of our quarterly, but it is understood that the News Policy Committee acts the President in an advisory capacity to the editor. Greetings for the “Season”! In order that this committee reflect the needs of our members, I, as chairperson of the 1981 I hope we all start the new year with vim and Annual General Meeting, called for free-wheel vigour. ing discussion on all aspects of this arm of the A phrase I have heard repeated often, and I’m association. sure every President before me has heard, “What Some suggestions were made: does the British Columbia Historical Association • that meeting dates of member societies be do for us?” printed annually for the benefit of visiting British Columbia Historical Association can members only operate on the concerted effort of every • that field trips of individual clubs be publicized member. Your magazine can only be successful if • why not seek advertising? you all contribute to it. I would like each society to • etc., etc. discuss this problem and let your executive know If you, the reader, wish to offer other sugges how we can help this association be more tions, please address them to me for the commit meaningful to you all. tee’s consideration. By the time you read this letter, you will have Members of the committee are, the president received a directive from Winnifred Weir. I hope (ex officio), Helen Akrigg, and Naomi Miller, all of you will all co-operate in this new undertaking for whom have had practical experience in publish B.C.H.A. ing, as has our new editor, Maureen Cassidy. I would appreciate any ideas for projects for We anticipate a fruitful collaboration, feeling the coming year. Again I ask your co-operation. that we are as fortunate today as we have been with our editors in the past. Ruth Barnett, Chairperson, News Policy Committee, 680 Pin ecrest Road, Campbell River, B.C. V9W 3P3 Barbara Stannard

Winter 1982 Page 5 The Yukon Telegraph

Construction of the AIIm to Quesnel Section 1900—1901

By David R. Richeson

Lack of communication with the Yukon Territory became an urgent problem following the discovery of gold there in 1896 and the subsequent rush of tens of thousands of gold seekers to the area around Dawson. An existing Canadian-American dispute over the exact location of the southern Alaska-northern British Columbia border ruled out the use of an underwater telegraph cable as a means of connection with a land telegraph line which the Canadian Governmem completed in 1899 between Bennett and Dawson. The decision to proceed with the Atlin-Quesnel section of the Yukon Telegraph line was not made until December 1899. Private industry involvement was briefly considered and then ruled out The Dominion Telegraph and Signal Service, a branch of the Canadian Department of Public Works, had been constructing and operating telegraph lines in all regions of Canada since 1881. They stepped in “where the expected business to be transacted could not in any way tempt private companies into establishing telegraphic communications”.2 Dominion Government lines served lighthouses and weather stations, provided service to quarantine stations in British Columbia and Quebec, linked isolated setdements, and connected islands on both coasts and in the Great Lakes. The Yukon Telegraph thus drew upon twenty years of Government experience in construction and operation of telegraph lines in remote and isolated areas of Canada. Work began on clearing a trail south from Atlin in March 1900. Some supplies remained at Bennett from the 1899 telegraph construction in the Yukon which could be applied to the Atlin-Quesnel line. J. B. Charleson, who had directed the construction in 1899, returned from Ottawa with a work party of men. Supplies were shipped to Ashcroft on the C.P.R. main line. Freighters took them north in return for what was considered the extravagant rate of 4a per pound. Other supplies were delivered by Hudson’s Bay Company sternwheelers to Hazelton on the Skeena River and to Telegraph Creek on the Stikine River. Horses and sleighs brought from the east supplemented horse and mule pack trains in moving the supplies from the river depots.5 The telegraph construction crews and packers at work in northern British Columbia were not the first to be seen in the region. The Yukon Telegraph between Quesnel and Hazelton roughly followed a route used in 1865 by the unsuccessful Collins Overland Telegraph. Telegraph Creek on the Stikine River derived its name from its role as a supply point for the Collins Telegraph in the 1860s. By 1900, however, all that remained of the Collins line was the Quesnel to Ashcroft section owned by the Canadian Government and operated under contract by the C.P.R. Materials for the Atlin-Quesnel telegraph line came from a variety of sources, similar to those used in the construction of the line in the Yukon. No. 8 galvanized iron wire was ordered from J. A. Seybold & Company in Great Britain. White porcelain insulators were supplied by the St. John’s Potteries in Quebec. Oak insulator brackets were supplied by Firstbrook Brothers in Toronto.6 Food supplies were largely obtained through

Page 6 British Columbia Historical News British Columbia suppliers such as Kelly Douglas & Company in Vancouver. Large contracts were tendered but smaller contracts for specific food items, labour, or freight often were awarded on a patronage basis with local Members of Parliament, such as Hewitt Bostock, or the Minister of Public Works taking a direct role in the decision making. This was consistent with late nineteenth century government practice in such matters. Permanent jobs with the Telegraph Service required political approval even at the level of line repairer or operator7 By the end of May 1900, wire had been strung 70 miles south of Atlin and 30 miles north of Quesnel.8 Problems had already become apparent which threatened the planned Fall completion date. Supplies of wire were delayed, spring breakup caused unexpected transportation problems, and it was found necessary to begin major repairs and renovations on the Ashcroft-Quesnel section of the telegraph. J. B. Charleson received permission to buy interim supplies of wire and insulators in Vancouver to keep crews at work.9 In June additional complications arose when it was discovered the distances involved in the construction had been seriously underestimated, further aggravating a wire shortage and increasing transportation costs. Work stopped altogether for a period in August and then resumed through late October, when it was

. I

P..-...

Hudson’s Bay Company Steamer Strathcona at Telegraph Creek, 1900. The major supply points for the construction of the British Columbia section of the Yukon Telegraph were Atlin, Telegraph Creek, Hazelton, and Quesnel. Supplies from these points were moved primarily by horsepower. The bulk of the supplies consisted of food; construction tools used in clearing the line and erecting buildings and support facilities such as bridges and corduroy roads; and coils of No. 8 or No. 9 galvanized iron wire, barrels of porcelain insulators, spikes, and oak brackets. Once the materials were removed from the steamboats, everything had to be repacked for horse transport to the end of construction.

Winter 1982 Page 7

British Columbia Historical 8 News Page

1359. vol. 997-3.

file 2841, 11, vol. R.G. April 1938, 29 Report”,

21

J

B. to Charleson R.G. A. 1900, Oct. Gobeil, 11, 26, 695-705. 10

pp. 17, May R.G. 1900, 1998. 11, vol. 8, 1930), (Dec., no. 1, vol. Geographical journal,

J. Deputy Minister, Public to B. Charleson, Works Canadian Line”, Telegraph “The ness, Yukon

May 30, 1900, R.G. 1998. 11, vol. Jen 1965); Diamond Press, Mitchell (Vancouver:

J•

B. Charleson, G.T.S., to “Report” Superintendent, Telegraph Yukon On The 40 Years Lawrence, 8

J. 1341. vol. G. Line”; Telegraph the Yukon “On LeBourdais,

Service, Telegraph Government R.G. 6,1900, 11, July Louis see: line along the life telegraph details

of For

20

Acting Minister, Public to Works Superintendent, 01, PAC. 7

R.G. 1899, 11, 18, 1308. vol. 803- 218, file 18, vol. R.G. Records, Police Mounted

J.

Deputy Minister to Tarte, Israel Public Dec. Works Canadian Royal 28, 1901, September telegram, 6

1318. Interior), of (Canada, Sifton Minister Clifford

Minister, 11, 17, Works), vol. 1900, Feb. Public R.G. to

Territory) Yukon (Commissioner, Ogilvie William

19

J.

p.

to B. 1” Charleson, No. “Report (Deputy Gobeil A. 1.

1901, 25, Sepwmber World Daily

(Vancouver), 5

18

p. 7, R.G. 1900, March 1381. 11, vol. 1932, 14.

J.

B. Charleson to 15, Public Deputy Works, Minister, October Magazine, Maclean’s Line”, Telegraph 4

Canada’s History. Visual Yukon “On the LeBourdais, see; Louis also 1416; vol.

Film J. 52 Canada, Board the of in series 1982), Volume 11, 1901, R.G. 24, Sept. to Gobeil, A. B.

Charleson

17

1902 National (Ottawa: Man/National of Museum 1399. vol.

I

Richeson, The Electric Telegraph J. 1846— Canada, in toJ. R.G. 11, 14,1901, Tarte,June B. Charleson

Israel

16

j

system in R. see: century the graph David nineteenth 1900. 12, June 1339; also vol.

an J. For of I tele- the illustrated Canadian overview 11, R.G. 1900, May 12, to Gobeil, A. B. Charleson

15

R.G. 11, 1880-4. vol. file 2851, vol. R.G. 11, 1367. 1900,

I

J. Department of 16, J. 1905, Jan. Works Public “Report”, 20, Nov.

Tarte, to Israel B. “Report”

Charleson, 2

14

R.G. 11, 1308. vol. 1384. vol.

J. 1899, Laurier Wilfrid 14, Minister), (Prime 11, December

1901, R.G. 23, to March Gobeil, A. B. Charleson

13

I

J. to Israel Tarte Public (Canada, Works) of Minister 1395. vol. R.G. 27, 11, 1901, May

R.G. 11, records, (PAC). Canada Archives Public “Report”, Department Accounting Public Works,

12

are to: of Canada, Works Public Department 1395. VOl.

J. in otherwise Unless cited this all article references 11,

R.G. 1901, May

20, to Gobeil, A. B. Charleson 1 11

styles business altered, were world greater the of Perceptions time. first the for the telegraph to access

gaining communities other of those to similar are reactions These now.” 19 world the are of We annihilated.

space and “Time saying: Ottawa in Interior the of Minister the telegraphed Yukon, the of Commissioner

Ogilvie, William Yukon. 18 the and Columbia British of history the in be marked to a day was it that

indicated to Dawson” “Direct of a heading under World Daily Vancouver The line. on telegraph the world

the in point any other or Ottawa or Vancouver and Dawson between possible was now Communication

1901’ 24,

on 4 at of p.m. Hazelton, north September cabins and sixth the fifth between country” hardest possible the

to “through link, the final complete the summer of remainder the took It interior. 16 in the than earlier begin

because in could work 1901 first completed was line Hazelton and Simpson Port between The telegraph

of Atlin”’ 5 the of people

the admiration and odds by long district the in building finest “the as by Charleson was described completed

when building Atlin The house. custom a and office post the office, telegraph the to house purchased

was a building accommodation, rented in existed previously office post the In where Atlin possible.

wherever a building single in grouped were services Government Canadian Canada, parts As of in other

cells. battery glass, acid the for space separate and operator the for provided was accommodation

case

In each (72 Atlin and cells) (132 cells).1 4 Creek Telegraph cells), (175 Hazelton cells), battery

(220 at Quesnel established were line the powered which batteries chemical and the offices substantial More

to miles. forty thirty every one houses, refuge or stations 37 included line the Atlin-Quesnel for Plans

Hazelton. 13 to Simpson Port line from a include branch

to

conception the expanded and deterred not was however Government The line. 12 telegraph Dawson

Bennett-Atlin the of cost initial wasthe $157,209which with compares This estimate. original twice nearly the

$420,813,

spent already had Charleson B. 1901,J. 27, March By 1899. of $225,000 December in cost to estimated

been had line of the section Atlin-Quesnel The costs. tremendous the for and complete on it schedule

to

the failure for Ottawa in project of the criticism political was

there 1900—1901 of

winter the During

V of result the trip. 11

a

as

hospitalized was man one and died dogs the of some after abandoned was This effort carry messages.

to

teams dog using winter the gap during the bridge to attempt an ill-fated to lead it. This underestimated

badly Charleson but miles, 121 be to out turned gap actual The year.’° the for work ended winter the

before possible be not would line the of ends Quesnel and Atlin the between a apparent connection that changed, administrative centralization increased, and local standards of news changed. Unfortunately, as with many new developments, the subsequent operation for the Atlin-Quesnel section of the Yukon telegraph presented serious maintenance problems. Maintenance costs were estimated to be $6 per mile or twice those of lines in eastern Canada. During the first winter’s operation the line was inoperable 101/2 of 19 weeks through February 1902. Falling trees caused all of the interruptions until December 22 when a month’s interruption was caused when massive snow falls near the Nass Summit carried out nearly three miles of the line. The burden of repair fell fully upon the isolated operators and repairmen who manned the line of cabins between Hazelton and Atlin. These men, two to a cabin, were supplied once a year and might not have any other contact with the outside than over the telegraph.20 The completed telegraph line was maintained with great difficulty until 1936 when sudden spring floods washed out major portions of the line between Hazelton and Telegraph Creek forcing its final abandonment.21 Between 1901 and 1936 the telegraph served the communications needs of the people of the Yukon and linked centres in northern British Columbia with the entire Canadian Telegraph system. The existence of the line established a greater Dominion Government presence, based on length of telegraph line and total expenditure, in British Columbia’s communication system than in that of any other province. Finally the telegraph provided a measure of stable employment through often difficult economic periods for those involved in the supply of the isolated line cabins and the maintenance of the “Telegraph Trail.”

Dominion Government Telegraph Office at Pike River Pike River was the first station south of Atlin and in its finished state reflects access to sawn lumber for roof, doors and windows. Slab roofs were more common in more isolated offices. The interiors of such offices, which were rarely photographed, were simple. The telegraph wire entered the office from the left side and the operator’s table would probably be located under the left hand window. The operator would have had a clock, a ledger book, and a volume of telegraph regulations and candles or an oil lamp in addition to the key and relay box. Other furnishings included rough cots, a couple of chairs, a small stove and perhaps a one volume medical encyclopaedia. Operators and repairmen were assigned to such offices on an annual basis and might receive $60 to $80 a month in 1900 in addition to a year’s supply of food. Small gardens in summer normally supplemented the employees’ diets.

Winter 1982 Page 9 Provincial Archives of B.C.

Freight teams crossing a bridge, Little Nakina River The absence of roads meant supplies moved either by packtrain or on the sleigh-type carriages shown. Coils of heavy galvanized iron wire can clearly be seen on the bottom of the load pulled by the centre team. This type of transport permitted movement during spring and fall periods when snow might or might not exist. The bridge across the Little Nakina River is typical of those built along the route of construction to facilitate the work.

Page 10 British Columbia Historical News 4W Setting telegraph poles The objective of the project was the erection of a single telegraph line between Atlin and Quesnel where connec tion was made with existing lines and ultimately with the C.P.R. mainline at Ashcroft. The order of work performed involved the selection and marking of the route; cutting a 10 to 20 foot clearing through the forest; digging holes and erection of 20 foot poles spac ed 24 to the mile. The poles were cut along the route wherever possible and a paint ed oak bracket topped with a white porcelain insulator nail ed on before it was set. In areas of dense mature forest living trees were simply topped and used as poles. The last step was to string the galvanized wire which was fastened to each insulator with a short tie wire. Rates of pay varied with the degree of skill involved, with the linemen getting the high est rates.

Winter 1982 Page 11

News Historical Columbia British 12 Page

absent this in photograph.

be which mercifully to appear plagued at camps the year the of eti times certain

to cooks the insects of hordes prepare The move. meals hot the on even

permitted stoves a supplement diet iron cast Small salted or dried of foods.

to Telegraph. crews the with cattle Live moved cows milch and slaughter for

during the construction phase Yukon the of section Atlin-Quesnel the of

Work crews, fare monotonous, packers and if ample, had freighters

at Lunch a moving camp — 4

,

I.

Cooking at a teamsters’ camp Here a cook proudly shows what could be accomplished in the way of baking even under adverse conditions. A makeshift butcher’s block in the rear shows a variety of cuts of beef intended for the evening meal. Steady and persistent rain or snow could greatly increase the difficulty of the cook’s task.

Winter 1982 Page 13

14 Page British Columbia Historical News

repairman. individual operator and

the of imagination the to left normally renovations subsequent were

and furnishing interior and floors as such details Finishing moss. with chinked

peeled logs of constructed offices. is It isolated more construction, typical of is

under shown Office, River Iskoot The lumber roofs. sawn used and floors for

and squared logs with finished carefully more were areas settled buildings in

general In techniques. cornering and lines exhibited roof styles, a of variety

line the along buildings lay. log The line completed operation of the

successful the whom upon and section stationed who on every were

repairmen the of use for supplies be with stocked between and offices built

would cabins refuge lskoot, of as north 30 such certain 40 sections, In miles. to

every approximately line the along built buildings Office were Telegraph

Columbia British River, Iskoot office, a Building telegraph 4

I

Dominion Telegraph Office and Post Office in AIIm, 1900 The most impressive office on the Atlin-Quesnel section of the Yukon Telegraph was the office in Atlin. Originally a two storey frame building with a flat roof, the structure was purchased by the Canadian Public Works Department in 1900 from Mr. Trodden for $1650. The building was renovated, a third story for living accommodation was added, and it became the Atlin Dominion Telegraph office, battery room and post office. In addition, the lot next door was purchased as additional protection against fire.

David Richeson is the Western Canada Historian in the History Division of the National Museum of Man in Ottawa.

Winter 1982 Page 15

Page 16

British Columbia News Historical

If all p. were free lands their on how they happy 254

you cannot Simpson and make do it. them River, Naas Government Printer: 1887, Victoria,

Provincial

Government and Indian Delegates Fort from impossible for go them it. on to It not is enough;

British

Columbia,

eotof Report the

Conferences

the between There a was reserve out cut one for but tribe, is it

the same; and to go we and work divide lands.

could way we ourselves? help

speak the same language, and our about ways are

be settled. If not it is settled in now, other what

Simpsons, and the Naas, the Skeena Indians. All

all is This I have say, o to got and will that hope it

There no is difference between the Fort

settle it.

blind them.

do anything it,for dirty, that be to would way no

have not come to cheat here another or tribe

better) do something wrong. We to do not wish

Queen’s Laws, are which good very We us. for

before these blind people do (who not any know

among the Indians, and are we the keeping now

to the law; and come we this for settle to you

feasting and

drinking whiskey giving whiskey

they that do may something that

according not is

We have quit our all old-fashioned ways

thing, and the is that reason are we them of afraid

and we now r finding are to it good be us. very for

which are heathens; yet they any don’t know

always Indians. ehave We followed so law, the far,

outside of Simpson Fort outside and Naas the of

We feel are that not we be right doing to

from Christian villages; but tribes there are

whites, and get into ways. their

We, from Fort and Simpson are Naas from the

nothing but right them as be to for the free as well

people we left. have

schools, where our be are; children it and will

take to back homes our and poor shew the to

Government sent money help to Indian our

we came ourselves an for answer, will which we

generation will us from be cannot we The say.

know; but we never got answer, an why and is that

educated; and much next how different the

and perhaps they never you. reached don’t We

are some

read who and can are write who

We have

sent to letters you papers sent

children; because now there in generation this

have come for purpose. one this

be in will but bondage, will worse be our for it

to standing his trouble settle

We and peace. make

ehave We seen who is that ourselves only not it

for right a man be to troubled, a is when law

the laws Queen of land? Victoria h top the on our of

because the Indians’ ersare hearts not troubled. is It

we come have to o.Can you. under be tell free we

We have been from sent Simpson you Fort to

bondage that and way the us, with what is and is

the world we you. ask

fine; still but will the be not be It bird in will free.

a call treaty among Indians; the in all and is that

very be will cage that put cage. a Probably in it

they a bird, catch little know, You they if

children

on

our worse

want, we be which to well as free is, whites. the as

You have power the easily very to settle what

bondage, but be will it

that all been has added.

unedited is

is unabridged. and New paragraphing ourselves who

will be

in

asked the why account come. had This delegation

answer following

to William when Smithe Premier

We seen have that not is it

only

Richard the gave Wilson Fort from Simpson

gates from Nass the Fort River. Simpson and

bet ween officials Indian and government dele make it by us right might you with English in what

Victoria the on and February, of 8th 1887, 3rd fuss, making or to trouble make to but right, it

account a conference of in which took place together, after a by Not by this. frightening us, or

to time. a one, This is first, from taken verbatim our just Indians as the now we same speaking are

old government time records manuscripts or from ask I you you the will that speak always with

ed that to be might from enjoyable excerpts run it much as us to a that. father, as something or like

Editors’ note: our of have suggest Several readers up. All be we and for want make to them is right, it

We don’t this the break to Government want

They ate all want. and together, what is this we

Discovery: 1887

were friendly River. the of chiefs Skeena the with

those of Simpsons the of Fort the Naas: chiefs the

a was boy. The with ate of chiefs Simpsons Fort the

would I I feel. when because say have I seen this it si’

ProvnciaI Archives of B.C. 78667

Winter 1982 Page 17

News Historical Columbia British 18 Page

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BRITISH

CRESTON

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MOYIE

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CREK

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AVINE

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30 MILES 20 10 o 4CRANBROOK

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STEELE FORT

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LOWER

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el

7500’

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NORTHERN

THE flint cPrehistoric

RIVER KOOTENAY By R. C. Harris

The Walla Walla Trail From the Lower to the Kootenai Mines

The Walla Walla Trail came to life in the 1860’s was the Wild Horse Trail. Above the border, it was as the main supply route to the mineral riches of the Mooyie or Moyea Trail to some users. North the “Kootenai”. While the trail flourished, Walla of Yahk, B.C., it was adopted by Dewdney’s Trail. Walla was the largest city in Washington Territory.1 David Thompson called it the “Lake Indian Primarily, the city served American interests, but Trail” in 1808. In 1812 he referred to the section goods would often come up the Columbia River between Coeur d’Alene and Pend Oreille Lakes as to be freighted north to the interior of British the “Skeetsko Road”. Columbia. The trail used several interconnecting prehis The Colonial Government tried to divert the toric trails from the lower Columbia River and Walla Walla trade through British Columbia with there have been several interesting archeological Dewdney’s “Trail to Kootenais” from Fort Hope to discoveries on its line. Near the border and almost Wild Horse. This effort to keep the trade in British on the trail are two prehistoric quarries for a Columbia did not succeed however. As late as notably hard rock, siliceous siltstone. Flint 1877, the British Columbia government continued quarries, once worked by the Kootenay Indians, to recommend the Victoria-Portland-Walla Walla, are located just north of the head of the Wild Washington route to the “Kootenai”. Horse River at about 7500 feet above sea level. Much of the Walla Walla Trail’s utility came “Top of the World” Provincial Park has been from its diagonal course, NNE or nearly magnetic extended eastwards to include these quarries.2 north, across the genera! grain of the country. South of Joseph’s Prairie (Cranbrook), artifacts There were no mountain ranges or swampy river and petroglyphs have been found close by. bottoms to cross. Later, much of the route was used by railways and highways. The trail’s purpose faded as the creeks played Early Explorations out. Concurrently it was intersected and shorten The route selected by Lewis and Clark for their ed by several transcontinental railways. The journey to and from the Pacific Coast of North building of the Canadian Pacific Railway through America passed through the territory of the Golden in 1883 gave an acceptable all-Canadian hospitable “Walla-Walloh” tribe. Their name, now route along the Rocky Mountain Trench. Now spelled Walla Walla, was applied to the principal only a few by-passed pieces of the trail remain. river draining their territory. Nearly all of the trail is overlaid by Highway 95. The first trading post in the area was founded The names of the trail varied along its length by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1826 where the and with the passing years. Parts were used as Walla Walla River enters the Columbia River. This sections of other important routes, such as the Hudson’s Bay Company post was variously known Mullan military road to Fort Benton on the as Fort Walla Walla or Fort Nez Perces. When the Missouri River. The most significant factor was the U.S. military took over the post in the 1850s, Fort observer’s direction. Walla Walla was moved thirty miles east to present Southbound, or from the south, it was the day Walla Walla, Washington. Walla Walla Trail. During David Thompson’s extensive explora Northbound, or from the north, the entire trail tions in the Columbia Basin, he used parts of what

Winter 1982 Page 19 became the Walla Walla Trail. In 1808, he travelled very heavy and tortuous grades having been south from Skirmish Brook (Wild Horse River), via adopted which might have been easily avoided the Moyie Valley and Chelempta (Bonners Ferry on had the trail been carried lower... The trail to the the ) to Kullyspell (Pend Oreille) Summit (Kootenay Skyway) is very steep and Lake, on what he called the “Lake Indian Road”. swampy, in fact almost impassable in places Thompson completed his traverse of the future (the height I found to be 6200 feet); for the first 6 Walla Walla-Wild Horse Trail in 1812, starting from miles eastward of the summit the trail is very bad — “Wollar Wollah”, passing Coeur d’Alene Lake one continuous mudhole, which must be cor it is practicable for horse traffic (Skeetsho), and continuing north on the Skeetsho duroyed before Road to Kullyspell Eake. The British Columbia Tribune of Yale, B.C. It was nearly fifty years before the trail was in reported August 20, 1866, on the “Latest from the news again. The section straddling the border Kootenay”: was used during the surveys of the first North American Boundary Commission. It appears on all (T)he men were waiting for canvass from Walla appropriate rough and finished maps. Walla to proceed with the work in a shaft ... An The official strip maps along the boundary, express from Walla Walla runs regularly to Koote showing the topography about five minutes of nay, making the round trip in 21 days. Provisions latitude to the north and south, and the locations were exclusively supplied from Walla Walla; the first of the relatively few monuments installed, were (pack) trains had arrived in the middle of May .6 certified by the Commissioners in 1869. The border crossing of the Mooyie (Walla Walla) Trail Gilbert Malcolm Sproat wrote in his “Report is shown on British Sheet No. 6 and U.S. Sheet No. on the Kootenay Country” that even by 184 2. The entire course of the Walla Wallá Trail is depicted, though not named, on two finely (T,)he district of Kootenay has been supplied of late detailed map sheets, East and West, reduced to years entirely from the United States. The goods 1:720,000 and published at Washington, D.C. in have been brought in by pack routes. Kootenay 1866 has not reached the humble level of a bull-team country ... (g)oods were brought from Walla Walla and other places by teams or (pack) trains to Contemporary Reports Sand Point on Lake Pend d’Oreille in Idaho and Conditions on the Walla Walla Trail and its thence 165 miles by pack-train up the Mooyie competitor the Dewdney Trail can be assessed Valley to Joseph’s Prairie, or Wild Horse Creek, as Northern Pacific from contemporary reports. A.N. Birch, Colonial centres of distribution. The Railway now comes to Sand Point .. Secretary for the Colony of British Columbia, travelled the trail in 1864. He reported meeting Eclipse “ten or twelve heavily laden pack trains daily. The entire supplies are at present packed up from Railways and highways gradually shortened

“ Lewiston, Walla Walla, Wallula .. Birch’s and superseded the trail. The transcontinental photograph and part of his private diary of this Northern Pacific crossed the trail at Sandpoint in journey were published in B.C. Historical News, 1882. The Great Northern arrived at Bonners Ferry Volume 14, No. 3 (Spring 1981). in 1892. In Canada, the Canadian Pacific Railway The Dewdney Trail, built after Birch’s trip, was gave access via the Rocky Mountain Trench at not as successful as the Colonial Government had Golden in 1883. Finally, wagon roads, railways, and intended. The first indication that the Walla Walla then Highway 95 were built along the northern Trail was not getting much competition comes half of the trail. Now only a few short by-passed from James Turnbull, eastbound on the Dewdney sections of the trail remain. Trail in 1865. Turnbull was extraordinarily well There are two historical markers on the line of qualified to comment, being a surveyor recently the Walla Walla Trail just north of Bonners Ferry, retired from Col. Moody’s detachment of Royal but the best acknowledgement of the trail is Engineers. Turnbull made several important Highway 95 which closely follows the trail for explorations, laid out the mule trail, and later the nearly two hundred miles passing right by Fort Cariboo Wagon Road from Yale to Spences Steele at the mouth of Wild Horse River. Bridge. He recorded that: Three sections by-passed by Highway 95 in or near British Columbia may reward examination: The trail from Fort Shepherd (Columbia River) to The trail crosses the border in a broad the 5 mile creek is very badly located, considerable abandoned river channel at Monument 213, whereas Highway 95 stays with the

Page 20 British Columbia Historical News Supplies had to be carried to the Kootenay mines at all times of the year. Notice the snowshoes on the horse.

C

3.

C 3. C

crossing in its canyon at Monument 217. Past Wild Horse River. The wagon road was built south Monument 213 the trail was improved to a wagon of the ridge on the canyon side which spared the road about sixty five years ago according to the trail. This section of trail was resurrected and legal surveys of the Kootenay District Lots through signed by the East Kootenay Historical Society in which it passes.8 This road was converted to a 1962 as part of the Dewdney Trail which is correct. logging road on the British Columbia side in the However, it is also part of the Walla Walla Trail. A summer of 1981. South of the border, however, it few of the EKHS signs remain at the ends of this remains an overgrown wagon road with a carved piece of the trail where it leaves and rejoins the rustic wooden sign “Wild Horse Trail” about a gravel road. mile below the border. There is no trace of bronze Monument 213 at 1 Numerous references to the Walla Walla Trail and the the border although its supposed site is the traffic it carried will be found in contemporary intersection of the twenty foot border slash with Washington, idaho and Oregon newspapers. The trail is often mentioned in the learned publications of the wagon road. The only artifact remaining is a the Oregon Historical Quarterly, the Washington solitary gatepost. Historical Quarterly, and its successor, the Pacific Highway 95 diverges again from the Walla Northwest Quarterly. Walla Trail just north of Moyie Lake; this time to 2 B.C. Studies, No. 48 (Winter 1980—81). the west. The Walla Walla Trail takes a higher but . Datum (Heritage Conservation Branch’s newsletter); Vol. 5, No. 2 (1980). more direct north northeast route to Cranbrook, U.S. North West Boundary Survey, 2 sheets: Map of up Peavine Creek and over Peavine Prairie. This Western Section, Map of Eastern Section. U.S. was not examined by the writer in 1981, but it has National Archives, RG 76, Series 66. good potential. British Columbia, Gazette (1864). The last remnant of the trail likely to be found 6 p. 3. Sproat, “Report on the Kootenay Country”, is close to its terminus at Wild Horse placer mines. G.M. B.C. Sessional Papers, 1884, p. 322. Downstream from Brewery Creek a well-preserv 8 Surveyor General of British Columbia, Kootenay ed one and a half mile section runs along the Land Recording District. Field books: 1911: District north side of a ridge bordering a canyon section of Lots 10317, 318; 1921: District Lots 10102, 104; 12978.

Winter 1982 Page 21 News and Notes

The Symposium Committee pose for the NEWS. Standing left to right are Clarence Karr, Barbara Stannard, Don Sale, Shirley Ram say, Pamela Mar and Elizabeth Norcross.

The Company on the Coast Need Help The Nanaimo Historical Society and Malaspina College are co-hosting a one-day symposium on to Publish? the Hudson’s Bay Company’s activities on the Pacific and adjacent lands. This event will be held on Saturday, 27 March, 1982, in the Malaspina An anonymous contribution from a member College Theatre. of the Association in 1980 made possible the Generally, historical conferences are based on establishment of a publication assistance fund to a variety of themes, often national in scope and in aid British Columbia Historical Association participation. Local emphasis must, therefore, members (groups or individuals) engaged in come from those residing in the local area. For publishing British Columbia material of historical many years local historical societies have provided significance. the focal point of community history. The The aid is made in the form of grants to help “Company on the Coast” is simply an extension of pay printing costs. The fund is not intended to that commitment to local history. It combines a assist in typing or editing costs. local historical society with a local college and It is hoped that, if the sale of the publication brings to the community’s doorstep experts from goes well and a profit is realized, part or all of the the universities, the colleges and other institu grant will be returned to the publication fund so tions, while still focusing on the local history too that others will benefit in the future. often ignored at the professional level. It promises There are two deadlines for applications, to be an enriching experience for all. March 1st and September 1st. Any manuscripts Those participating will be: from the universi submitted must be typed double-spaced. ties, H. Keith Ralston on the Hudson’s Bay Requests for application forms should be Company and coal production on Vancouver addressed to: Island, and Barry Gough on Fort Rupert; from the Publications Assistance Fund Committee colleges, Clarence Karr on and British Columbia Historical Association Morag MacLachian on Fort Langley; and from P.O. Box 1738, Victoria B.C. V8W 2Y3 other institutions, Jocelyn McKillop from the The publication assistance fund was recently Hudson’s Bay Archives in Winnipeg and David reimbursed by the Burnaby Historical Society for Hansen from Fort Vancouver, Washington. the $1000 granted them to help with the publica A registration form for the Symposium is on tion of The Fraser’s History. The Burnaby group page 25. Please photocopy it or make a facsimile if also donated an additional $200 to help the fund you do not wish to cut up the News. aid future publications.

Page 22 British Columbia Historical News ______

a a a a a a a a BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION a a ANNUAL CONVENTION a

APRIL 29, 1982 — MAY 2, 1982 a REGISTRATION FORM a a a THURSDAY NIGHT WINE AND CHEESE $6.00 a FRIDAY MORNING WALKING TOUR FREE a a FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOREST MUSEUM TOUR $5.00 a AFTERNOON HISTORIC SITE TOUR a SATURDAY $5.00 a REGISTRATION FEE $5.00 a TOTAL a a CONVENTION SITE: THE INN AT a SEND CHEQUE TO: COWICHAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY a BOX 1014 DUNCAN, B.C. 0 V9L 2Y3 a a NAME a ADDRESS a a PHONE a a NAME a ADDRESS a PHONE a

a SOCIETY REPRESENTED

Winter 1982 Page 23

Historical British Columbia Page 24 News

Society. The Cowichan Nanooa Historical of is, Society course, the for

Robinson Marion by done drawings lovely the of downtown core One of the city.

Duncan’s program current the of for rejuvenation HOTEL ARLINGTON

,W’EJNsON It volunteer to a basis. be will asset valuable

and is by manned a of on Society members the

The operates museum year throughout the

from old King’s the Daughters’ Hospital.

unique room hospital exhibit uses items 1911 set in

the of home era 1885—1915 are rather A portrayed.

a of Rooms typical Valley pioneer’s Cowichan

and has a attracted large of number visitors.

brick a building most site is the museum for fitting

Indian Affairs offices, three-story heritage this

Built as in the 1913 and post customs office,

basement the

City Duncan of Hall.

August of 29th the in Cowichan Museum, Valley

LL

a work become on opening reality with the

they seven and saw hard perseverance years of

members as

of Historical the

Cowichan Society,

the turned Library Nanoose

the

of Friends The

has for This been year

rewarding particularly

Reserve. Indian Nanoose the and Crossing Craigs

between area the of Cowichan history to the pertaining

artifacts dozen several and 2000 photographs

over collected had Library Nanoose of the Friends

date. a at decided later the and Butler George date, this to Prior

be to Royal Sampson the one on or — Hudson naimo).

the on a trip have time two we suggestions (Na Akenclose — Marlene and (Cassidy) Gilmour

present the or June At 6th 13th: Picnic. Annual Edith Beach), (Qualicurn Cughan Clingon R. tors,

company. phone and direc Bay), (Nanoose Carpenter W. Robert

the of a the us ed to us early give speaker history treasurer, (Parksville); R. Elliott David secretary,

May promis has Company B.C. 12th: Telephone Bay); (Nanoose Williams Gordon president,

Company. Electric the B.C. of early days vice Bay); (Nanoose Butler George

president,

the

about us will tell Brian Kelly Mr. 14th: April were: directors of board the to Elected

us. for has entertainment some interesting Society. Museum and Historical Nanooa

always Eagles in Parlour Blythe Village. Heritage the organize to library B.C. Bay, Nanoose the

Cream a Ice to the in be at held meeting dinner 1981, 8, March on held was meeting A public

is This Our meeting. general annual March 10th:

Hospital. Nanooa

General Burnaby us the give of the history

to a speaker to We have expect February 10th:

by Jack Fleetwood submitted Report

calendar. your dates on

you there. these note Please season. 81/62 the of balance the

see to to the province We Tzinquaw. Land hope of for events following the planning is torical Society

for drafted the coming visitors over from His the all Burnaby the of committee program The

it be will It host. has an interesting

program

Burnaby B.C. Association for Historical which convention,

basically 1982 engaged the finalizing plans in for

Branches the Reports from

Notes and News collection over to Nanooa during Nanoose Days Sno-no-was, Sno-noos, Nuas, and Nanoose. in August. In 1859, Captain Richards of H.M.S. PLUMPER, The society received its Certificate of Incor chose the last name for the bay, Nanoose Bay. poration on June 29, 1981. Since incorporation we have participated in We have approximately 50 memberships at Nanoose Days, displaying our photos, artificts and present; some are single and some family. The first historical site road signs, selling prints and hasti member was none other than B.C.H.A. president notes depicting historic sites of Nanoose; submit Barbara Stannard! We are very pleased to have ted articles and stories to local newspapers (a press Barbara and Mr. Stannard in our membership. book is started with thirty clippings so far); As the junior member of B.C.H.A. we would donated historical prints to three area schools; appreciate any helpful information from other and have a dark room in the last stage of members. construction. The NEWS will be a great asset to us and we are We have yet to finalize our letterhead and looking forward to each publication. membership card design. We are considering The Nanooa Historical & Museum Society using the historic prints drawn for Nanooa by chose its name Nanooa from the native Indian Marian Robinson. band which resides on the shores of Nanoose Bay. Future plans of Nanooa include finding a Several interpretations of the word Nanooa museum site, building a museum, and filling it to have been passed down through the years but the capacity! accepted meaning now is indentation or to work Looking forward to an “historical” member or push in which describes Nanoos Bay where ship with the B.C.H.A. and B.C.H.A. NEWS. Indians settled when they broke away from the — Report submitted by Marlene M. Akenclose Nanaimo tribe. Other spellings of Nanooa were;

Historical Symposium “The Company on the Coast” (Hudson’s Bay Company) Sponsored jointly by the Nanaimo Historical Society and Malaspina College Saturday, March 27, 1982, at Malaspina College Theatre, Nanaimo, B.C. Registration desk open: 8:30 a.m. Please mail all registrations as soon as possible together with covering cheque made payable to Nanaimo Historical Society, c/o Mrs. G. Ramsay, P.O. Box 117, Cedar, Vancouver Island, B.C. VOR iJO. You may also register at the door. If further information is required, contact Miss Elizabeth Norcross, at 754-6191.

REGISTRATION AND RESERVATION FORM

Name Address Member society (if applicable) Basic registration (per person) $20.00 Couples 35.00 ($2.00 discount on registrations before February 15.) Students, special rate 10.00 (Coffee and lunch included in registration fee.) I enclose my cheque, made payable to Nanaimo Historical Society for $ Do you wish a room reserved for you at Nanaimo’s Tally Ho Town & Country Inn? El Single El Double El Twin “Conference” rates, subject to change, $39—45 single; $47—49 double; $52—54 twin beds. NOTE: Accommodation in Nanaimo will be tight; make reservations early. Do you wish to attend our no-host dinner Saturday night? (Approx. cost, $12.00) El Yes El No

Winter 1982 Page 25

Page 26 News Historical Columbia British

9QO 8.. of Archives Provincial

studied years Kelowna, Kershaw several of for has

Adrian collaboration writer, The with in

Park. fling

adjoining Man- Wilderness Cascade trails the in

pack preservation discovering,

old marking

and of

The study requires route any of a deal great

of

the to devoted fifteen has years more he than

permanent protection.

Canada Heritage

recognition

the Foundation of in

preserved to the extent afforded that

they

any are

the award

honoured was an recently from with

documented degrees. varying in

None

been

has

Penticton, field Hatfield

Another, of Harley

trips.

visual in

amenity.

A have studied few been and

precedes amount

his historical

which research of

cant

part

in

our

history, although many rate high

great maps include News reflect

the and lucid

British Columbia

handful only a played a signifi contributions

Historical

B.C.

Outdoors B.C. and

to

Of

the

sixty

recorded so or

historic in routes

regular Bob been Vancouver. West Harris His of

faced.

undoubtedly

The

has prolific most

field

this in

some of current

the problems activity and the

province.

a country’s

heritage.

examines briefly article This

throughout individuals the

private to

groups and

which

pass,

fundamental they

recognition

is to of

fallen resources

has Much limited. are

this work of

and/or

the visual

amenity

terrain

through the of

Road

and

Dewdney the

example), Trail,

their

for

be

characteristic for their

construction method of

Harrison-Lillooet the

Cariboo Wagon Road,

the

representative

sections

whether routes, such of it

(Mackenzie’s Route, significant more

the

routes

history.

preservation

The

protection and of

some studies extensive ment of carried

out has of

understanding

appreciation

and country’s a of

Govern Conservation

Provincial

the

Branch of

cation

transportation and

fundamental

is an to

Heritage Whilst portions.

extant identify the

any

explorers

and

evolution

communi the lines of

of

search

and

field retrace to made for to or the in

it

Study

documentation

and the of the of routes attempt historic diligent is before research any

John Spittle By

Historic Update Trails

Can Information? Add You and retraced historic routes through the Coast who support cultural heritage alone have little impact in the voting Range — Alfred Waddington’s Wagon Road booth. from Bute Inlet, Lieutenant Palmer’s Trail from The Cascade Wilderness adjoining Manning Bentinck Arm, and Commander Mayne’s Trail Park proposed by Harley Hatfield, the from Jervis Inlet. To provide some relief from the Historical Society, and the Okanagan Simalka monotony of rain forest, our next project is to meen Parks Society is at this time the only such retrace the section of the Yukon Telegraph Trail region which meets all of these criteria and which runs through Mount Edziza Park. embraces well preserved sections of numerous historic trails. Victor Wilson admirably presented Preservation and Protection the case at the 1980 B.C.H.A. Conference. For the past year he has been addressing meetings around Urban areas and private property: Usually the province. The moratorium placed on logging little can be done to preserve and protect trails to there is soon to expire. any extent here. However, all is not lost, even if Shortly after taking office I was reminded by they are perpetuated in name only. Sections of the my predecessor that the Cascade trails were not Semiahmoo Trail in Surrey have recently been re the only historic trails in B.C. True — but the opened as a corridor park. Near Langley, residents message is clear. If the attempt to save this region successfully opposed their street, Telegraph Way, fails, I can unfortunately see little hope for any being “straightened” to assist traffic as it is built other historic trail when its preservation is in over the line of the old Telegraph Trail. Sections of conflict with a resource industry. the Dewdney Trail over private land have been This is obviously but a sample of what is and allowed to remain open to hikers. Even the visual has been going on throughout the province. I amenity of the still remains even would like to hear from any individuals or groups though most of the original now lies beneath a researching and retracing historic lines of com modern highway. munication with a view to providing a regular up Parks: In Class A Parks, any known historic date in the NEWS. Unfortunately, the difficulty of trails would generally he preserved and protected access to source material is often a problem for after up-grading to park standards! Unfortu those in remote parts of the province; perhaps we nately, few if any, historic trails appear to fall can be instrumental in providing some help. within park boundaries. Other parks and nature Hopefully we will make available an inventory of conservancy areas allow “limited” resource historical trails together with a bibliography of extraction or can merely be re-zoned by Order published reports in the not too distant future. in-Council. Crown Lands: Whilst the legislative machin john Spittle is Chairman of The Historic Trails ery could preserve and protect historic trails, in Committee of the British Columbia Historical Associa practice there exists only a tacit agreement be tion. tween the Parks Branch and B.C. Forest Service for the latter to maintain known trails which receive public usage. This in no way affords any protection to the visual amenity which is usually Local History Book Sale reduced to a completely defoliated landscape criss-crossed by logging roads. Mines have less The Vancouver Historical Society is repeating overall visual impact, but access roads unfortu last year’s successful sale of local histories at the nately open up the area to vehicular traffic. upcoming B.C.H.A. Annual Convention in Cowi The lobbying of our resource extraction chan Bay. Member societies who have published industries has never been greater than it is today. local histories or other items such as hastinotes The main opposition is comingfromenvironmen should act now to have their items sold at this talists and recreationalists who greatly outnumber popular convention feature. those interested primarily in preserving a piece of This year the Vancouver group is asking for a our cultural heritage. The fact is that, unless an 25% discount. Proceeds will augment their historic trail meets all the criteria necessary for the Centennial Fund, set up to finance a bibliography support of these groups — the hiker, camper, of Vancouver. fisherman, botanist and all who merely enjoy the Anyone interested should get in touch with unspoiled wilderness, its preservation is unlikely Anne Yandle at the Vancouver Historical Society, to receive any sympathetic consideration. Those P.O. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6.

Winter 1982 Page 27

28 Page News Historical British Columbia

itself!); maintains a general, satisfying, but of level 2Y3.

virtually all geologic (no jargon mean feat in V8W B.C. Victoria, 1738, RO. News, Box Historical

Throughout the Mathews discussion avoids B.C. c/o oher to sent be should review books for

general shape of coastline. the of Copies Editor. Review Book the is Roy Patricia

courses and activities of Fraser the River, and the

glacial ice, the pattern sedimentation, the of

While latter the interesting, is utility its someone to identified, author the discusses the position of

visual material a article. reproduced not in series the of very four useful maps. For period each

text consists of accompanied descriptions that radiocarbon dates the in and is area, by illustrated

conclusions. But, on the other the hand, based, of part to a large extent, availability of the on

expanded on Borden’s initial xaain and excavations years ago and the chronology present. The is

bia and highlights who work the of others change in the Fraser Valley between about 12,500

movements into southwest the of Colum British processes and patterns surface geological of

of summary archaeological evidence for early chronological framework document to the

one On hand, it an understandable stands as usefulness radiocarbon of a dating, Mathews uses

has presentation its aspects. positive negative and some the on detail technique, practice, and

Fraser the Valley region, and oral the of text his history the of Lower After Fraser Valley. providing

theory the of movement into Indian cultures of part on h recent the and post-glacial geological

C. The E. late Borden’s the article describes Mathews’ short article focuses, for most the

the Fraser Valley geologic include its history. that is intelligible and informative.

and instructors, any individuals in whose interests avoids both difficulties account and provides an

present be should form teachers, by welcomed scholarship that to contribution his work this

and not available. readily Their distillation the in It is perhaps some W. measure Mathews’ H. of

complex, difficult the for non-geologist read, to than or answers, of with substance. account an little

Mathews’ own of work. Many are these sources attempts leave the more questions reader with

variety sources, not is of of least the which their field expertise. of such too All frequently

pulls together a data and from interpretations their an to knowledge generally outside audience

contribution to It the of literature the Fraser River. attempts highly of to respected translate authors

article, stands it as worthwhile a nevertheless One greets often the some trepidation with

find not much new Mathews’ information in have long studied.

In u,while sum, and geologists may geographers present concisely many which they the of themes

along its course. the they subjects Rather, these entertain. authoris

capability of greatly residents influencing the little add or to of understanding nothing new our

on the nature

the of J. Valley the itself,

lohas also it

Settlement of E. by Fraser the Gibbard Valley” —

that a the while Fraser has impact significant had Rush” by P. G. “Agricultural V. and Akrigg,

activity of Fraser. the us, The too, example reminds River” C. by E. Gold River Fraser Borden, “The

geological record the recent changes explain or in “Archaeological Fraser the of Lower History

term!) can to sometimes be the used supplement “From to Glaciers W. by Mathews, H. Present” the

evidence of

“ordinary (Mathews’ historians”

Historical Association These in essays 1977. May —

near Haney. He written points how out the ed at Annual Columbia the the British Meeting of

to an 1880 newspaper a landslide of description Historical Society, consists papers present four of

Mathews concludes a reference article his with The by published Fraser’s the History, Burnaby

extensive Strait of Georgia.

fjord, and Point more island a Roberts an in much

regard, a example, for we Pitt learn Lake once was ical $4.95 paper. 50, Association, illus., Pp. 1981.

present valley developed latter time. In the over Society, Histor comp. Columbia Burnaby: British

sense of o well-known how the physical features of EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Historical Burnaby The

analysis; and clear a

reader provides with the THE TO FRASER’S GLACIERS HISTORY: FROM

A A A A AAAAAA/ A A A AAA AAA A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA 11 Bookshelf Bookshelf

not “in the know” about specific sites and artifacts the Pacific Northwest: A view from British is limited. Columbia, Canada,” Science, 9, March 1979. With Borden deals with the problem of the origins that article in hand, the reader can then refer to a of the first people in southwestern B.C. after ice recent issue of B.C. Studies (No. 48, Winter, 1980- sheets covering B.C. had dissipated perhaps 11,000 81) devoted to archaeology in which mention is to 15,000 years ago. Discounting interior and north made of several of the sites and theories briefly coast origins on the basis of geological and discussed by Borden. The publication of this brief cultural evidence (interior and north coast were article gives us an idea of how Borden’s pioneer ice-bound after the southwest was deglaciated, ing work started the dialogue. for example), Borden argues that we must look in G. P. V. Akrigg’s “The Fraser River Gold Rush” Washington, Oregon, and the American north addresses the familiar events of 1856 when Indians west for the antecedents of southwest B.C. Indian extracted gold on the Thompson until 1859 when culture. the lower Fraser River gold rush had begun to Between 11,000 and 15,000 years ago desicca extend onto the Interior Plateau. He focuses on tion in the plateaus of Washington and Oregon European-Indian violence, Douglas’ protection of forced hunting groups over the Cascade Moun Indians, the overnight transformation of Victoria tains to the ice-free and inhabitable Puget Sound from sleepy fur-trade outpost into bustling lowlands. From there, movement to the Fraser entrepE5t to the gold fields, and the massive impact Valley was easy, although much of the Valley was a of European miners. salt-water reach. Borden argues that the move The article tends to overdo, in the “Britannic” into southwestern B.C. is reflected in crude fashion, the lawlessness of Americans. This view artifacts from the Yale area, one hundred miles up can be sustained only on a selective basis, since the Fraser River. While Borden suggests that these most American miners, like most others, readily artifacts may date as far back as 11,000 years ago, accepted Douglas’ invocation of law and order, he also notes that controversy exists — on both British sovereignty, and mining regulations. In the dates and whether or not the items can be fact, Akrigg seriously over-estimates the violence classified as artifacts. However, other sites excavat in and around Yale in the summer of 1858 and fails ed by Borden in the same area do take the record to cite examples of widespread cooperation, i.e., back 9,000 years (for example, the Milliken site). the Native supply of food, canoes, and packers. After describing some of the important phases Akrigg’s statement that Indians “supersti revealed in the archaeological record in the Yale tiously ... believed that the presence of the area, Borden provides an exercise in diet recon whites would drive the salmon from the streams” struction. Wild cherry pits were found in some of might have read “presciently ... believed .. the sites (including the oldest). As the cherries Akrigg’s estimate of 700 Natives in the lower ripen in the fall, one can infer that the sites were canyon is incorrect and much too low, unless he is occupied during this period. This would also place referring to the number of Natives at Yale only. the people there at the time of the salmon run. Another estimate — that miners extracted While lacking the remains of salmon bones at the Yale site, Borden suggests that other evidence establishes that salmo,n was part of the Indian economy perhaps 9,000 years ago. Northern B.C. Books Shifting locality somewhat, Borden then presents information indicating that by at least The possibility of getting out-of-print and 8,000 years ago Indian groups were in the Van hard-to-find Northern B.C. books from a peri couver area. odical price list is proving to be a popular The last part of Borden’s paper consists of the shopping method accordingto Audrey L’Heureux, material accompanying slides which he presented who is responsible for offering this service. at the conference. However, the overview stands Customers for her NORTHERN B.C. BOOKS as one of the clearest statements on the issue of Catalogue and Newsletter are researchers and movements of indigenous people into the lower both public archives and private reader/collectors. mainland of B.C. A more sophisticated version of Anyone interested in receiving a current copy the same argument is found in Borden’s last can write NORTHERN B.C. BOOKS, Box 1502, published article, “People and Early Cultures of Vanderhoof, B.C. VOJ 3A0, or phone 567-2836.

Winter 1982 Page 29 Bookshelf

$50,000,000 worth of gold “at that time” — is tion. Still, with the exceptions noted above, the colossally inflated. Akrigg concludes with refer articles do present to the layman quite a number ences to further American outrages against of varied and established themes in their respec

Indians on the Okanagan and Indian retaliation — tive disciplines’ approaches to a burgeoning references out of keeping with the essay’s interdisciplinary study of the Fraser. geographical focus — and Douglas’ attempts — assisted by these “lawless” miners to improve Doug Hudson, Doug NicoI and Bob Smith teach at transportation routes as the gold rush extended Fraser Valley College, Chilliwack, B.C. northward. It seems that with little effort this essay could have introduced other themes such as the nature of “pick and pan” technology, the role of gold commissioners, the beginnings of a multi-ethnic society, and so on by reducing the melodramatic and forced emphasis on violence. By comparison, John E. Gibbard’s “Agricultur al Settlement of the Fraser Valley,” the final THE COLONIAL POSTAL SYSTEMS AND POST presentation in The Fraser’s History, is much more AGE STAMPS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND AND satisfactory. Gibbard focuses on the period from BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1849-1871: A SKETCH OF 1827, when Fort Langley was founded and the first THE ORIGIN AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF crop of potatoes was harvested, to 1885, when the THE POSTAL SERVICE ON THE PACIFIC SEA Canadian Pacific Railway was completed. BOARD OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. Alfred The author mentions at least a dozen major Stanely Deaville. Victoria: The King’s Printer 1928. themes, among them the coming of notable Reprinted by Quarterman Publications, Lawrence pioneer farmers; early horticulture and dairying; Massachusetts, 1979. the supply of produce to the gold fields; survey and alienation of Crown lands; the appearance of municipalities and agricultural fairs; population When Anthony Musgrave, the last colonial growth and variations such as the Chinese and the governor, arrived in British Columbia, he was Royal Engineers who, having come to B.C. for amazed to find American postage stamps for sale other purposes, shifted to agriculture; dyke in post offices throughout the colony. To his construction; the linkage between land clearance colonial secretary he protested in January, 1870, and sawmilling; formation of co-ops; and the that he had “never heard of anything so undigni supply of produce and milk products to the fied in any other place as importing the stamps of emerging metropolitan markets of the Lower another nation for use in a British Colony.” Mainland via the B.C. Electric Railway. How this extraordinary situation arose was the Gibbard’s essay concludes with a reference to subject of a detailed investigation by a Victoria the enormous incursion of the city and housing philatelist, Alfred Stanley Deaville, at the request into the Valley and questions whether the decline of Provincial Librarian and Archivist, John Hosie. of agriculture can be arrested by the “land The study, the result of meticulous research in the freeze.” Gibbard’s work, based on his M.A. thesis Colonial Correspondence in the Provincial completed in 1937, offers a good point of Archives and records of the Canadian Post Office departure to the novice reader, and his themes Department, was originally published by the retain, at least for this writer, a certain freshness, Provincial Archives in 1928 as volume VIII in their given the virtually studied neglect of our agricul Memoir series. tural history by B.C. historians. Now, more than fifty years later the copyright The Fraser’s History is not, nor does it propose has apparently expired, and the volume has been to be, a major contribution to the geolgocial, reprinted as a facsimile reproduction by Quarter- archaeological, frontier, or agricultural history of man Publications of Lawrence, Massachusetts. the lower Fraser. The articles’ brevity is better That a commercial press a continent removed can suited to their original medium than the printed expect to show a profit from such a venture while one. Only two articles contain references. There is British Columbians sit on their hands and bemoan no index, bibliography, or substantial introduc the dearth of scholarly publications about their

Page 30 British Columbia Historical News Bookshelf past says something about the state of local sor on the mainland was also surprised to learn no history, as well as the publishing industry in this legislation of any kind existed in that colony and province. Nevertheless, in this instance, this promptly introduced an ordinance to establish a reviewer can only applaud what has happened proper postal system there but even then found it because the work in question has been out of necessary to continue to use express operators print too long and deserves to be more readily and private individuals to carry the mails. available. Although Deaville was primarily inter Only after a postal convention was negotiated ested in the philatelic aspects of his topic, he between Britain and the United States in 1867 was emphasized that “a thorough understanding of it possible to use colonial postage stamps exclus the philately of Vancouver Island and British ively to pre-pay letters from British Columbia to Columbia cannot be had without a knowledge of the United Kingdom, but American stamps the general and postal history of those colonies” continued to be used on mail to Canada, New (p. 10). What is most impressive is the way in which foundland, and Prince Edward Island until after he goes to original records to document the Confederation, when the Canadian government historic context in which events transpire, whe assumed responsibility for postal services in British ther it be the expansion of post office facilities Columbia. throughout both colonies, or the perennial need The work has weaknesses, to be sure. The to subsidize both ship owners and express chapters are somewhat mechanically organized companies to provide more regular and efficient around the tenure of postal officials in each service. His description of F. J. Barnard’s poker- colony. Moreover, the incorporation of philatelic faced approach to negotiating contracts, for information in a separate section at the end of example, highlights an important but little most chapters, as well as in appendices, leads to a documented aspect of colonial politics, just as his certain amount of disjuncture in style and description of James Douglas’ relations with the repetition of material. In keeping with the format charming but venal John D’Ewes offers additional of the series footnotes are quaintly placed in insight into Douglas’ character. margins but are overly abbreviated. There are also Deaville convincingly argues that the estab occasional errors: Richard Blanshard had not lishment of a postal system in British Columbia “held several positions under the Colonial Office” constituted “a chapter of unusual and perhaps (p. 24); Vancouver Island did not initiate a tariff in unique interest in the annals of British postal 1852 (p. 39); the enforced union of the colonies affairs.” (p. 90). The Hudson’s Bay Company took place on November 19 (not 17) 1866 (pp. 106 initially provided free mail service for the colony and elsewhere). But such trifles are more than of Vancouver Island, but even after the island was compensated for by a wealth of little known reconveyed to the crown in 1859, not a single information that infuses this work. Philatelists will piece of legislation governing its postal services be delighted to see this work back in print, but all was ever enacted. serious students of the colonial period will profit There and on the mainland after the gold rush from its reappearance. occurred, Douglas was content to let the express companies take the lead, as they had in California, James F. Hendrickson teaches nineteenth century subject only to pre-paying a postal tax of 2½ pence British Columbia history at the University of Victoria or 5 cents. Then they charged existing American and has edited the Journals of the Colonial Legisla postal rates for mails entering and leaving the two tures of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. colonies, plus an express charge of about 25 cents 1851—1871. per letter. This colonial levy in turn led to the issuance in 1860 of the first postage stamps, bearing the legend “British Columbia & Vancouver Island Postage Two Pence Half Penny”. This use of the same stamps by two distinct and separate colonies, Deaville believes, was “probably unparalleled in British postal history” (p. 107). This confusing situation was terminated in 1865, after Douglas’ retirement, when separate stamps were issued by each colony. Frederick Seymour, Douglas’ succes

Winter 1982 Page 31 Bookshelf In this part, the important contributions of FROM ARSENIC TO DDT: A HISTORY OF amateur collectors and naturalistsarediscussed. ENTOMOLOGY IN WESTERN CANADA. Paul The second part describes the organization W. Riegert. Toronto; University of Toronto Press, of the first professional entomologists, the 1980. Pp. xii, 357, 20 pp. illus., $30.00 appointment of the first Dominion Entomolog ist in 1884 and the subesequent spread west Seldom does a book appear chronicling the ward of the federal government’s insect control development of a natural science in Canda. programs. The history of entomology in British When one does, it should be devoured eagerly Columbia is dealt with in the third part, by both the workers in the discipline and including such topics as early quarantine historians interested in the development of this problems, mosquito control, the growth of the nation. The latter should pay particular atten fruit industry and the establishment of federal tion when the subject is entomology, for this and provincial research laboratories. The science played a vital role in the settling and parallel growth of entomology on the prairies is subsequent prosperity of Canada; especially in the subject of part four, with special emphasis the western provinces. From Arsenic to DDT is placed on the war against locusts in the 1920s an authorative yet readable volume that and 1930s. Related topics such as research into documents the severe insect problems faced by insects and health, the pests of stored products explorers, settlers and farmers of western and the growth of entomology in the universi Canada and relates how these problems were ties make up the last part. A comprehensive list solved by the ingenuity and persistence of the of sources arranged by chapter is included. early entomologists. At stake was the agricul The history covers the four western pro tural economy of the country. vinces. Riegert reports that a history of forest Paul Riegert is an entomologist, head of the entomology is being prepared, and so to avoid Biology Department at the Universityof Regina. duplication, he has restricted his efforts to He has spent twenty years as a research assistant predominantly agricultural topics. He was for Agriculture Canada. In his preface, he states shown a manuscript at the Pacific Forestry his intention is to write “about insects and man, Research Station in Victoria, but was not their encounters and the ensuing consequen allowed to examine it. The status of this ces”. His story is “an interaction of species complimentary work is unknown. It is unfortu embarked upon a journey through time, nate the two projects were not produced in struggling for survival and dominance”. The cooperation, but at least their separation has long battle is a fascinating one, told in detail enabled Riegert to delve more deeply into his with clarity and humour. subject. The volume is attractively printed, with The present volume ends rather abruptly extensive use of quotations from letters and with the outbreak of World War H. Nowhere, government documents, many of them decid except in a brief publisher’s blurb before the edly humorous. There are twenty pages of title page is this stated, and no reason for the illustrations, mostly photographs, including decision to stop at this point is ever given. Those portraits of prominent entomologists men knowledgeable about pesticides get a hint from tioned in the text and entomological facilities the title (arsenic compounds were widely used and techniques of great historical interest. insecticides in the 19th and early 20th centuries; These photographs form an integral part of the DDT came into use in the 1940s). The title is book — it is a shame that more were not otherwise misleading. From Arsenic to DDT included. It would have been informative had reflects the tone of the book (man versus the the portrait captions carried the lifespans of the insect hordes) but A History of Entomology in subjects. Western Canada fails to eliminate forest The book is divided into five major parts. entomology and suggests the history is com First, the hardships endured by early explorers plete to the present day. A title reading From and settlers are documented; the first entry is Arsenic to DDT: A History of Agricultural from 1619. Wetoday can hardly imagine thatfor Entomology in Western Canada before World some time important regions such as the Fraser War II would have described more accurately Valley were virtually uninhabitable in the the book’s contents. summer because of the plagues of biting flies. From other sources I understand that

Page 32 British Columbia Historical News B5ókshelf Riegert’s history does continue to the present expert on Canadian dragonflies. In 1914 at Banff, day, but that the manuscript has been split he made perhaps the most exciting and certainly arbitrarily into two or more volumes. When the best-known discovery in Canadian entomo such divisions of a continuous work occur, the logical history — the icebug, Grylloblatta. This fact should be clearly stated in the title of each insect, of great scientific interest, is placed volume. in its own Order, and is the symbol of the Entomologi As one of the minority of Canadian entomo cal Society of Canada. These and other omissions logists whose work, for the most part does not come to mind. involve studying or controlling insect pests, I have The book has a smattering of typographical some obvious biases. While I acknowledge the errors and a few minor errors of fact. On 52 F.C. overriding importance of economically p. significant Whitehouse is mentioned as having described species and their stranglehold on most entomo new species of dragonflies, which he never did; logists’ activities, I regret that more attention there are 80 species of dragonflies in B.C., not 89. cannot be paid in Dr. Riegert’s work to the The Provincial Museum is in Victoria, not Vancou development of “uneconomic” (for want of a ver (p. 53) and pear leaf blister mites are not insects better word) entomology. He certainly does not (p. 180). On 106 it is noted that lady-bird beetles ignore the topic and its importance, p. but it could were released in Victoria in 1897 to control aphids have occupied a few more pages. I refer to the and scale insects while on 115 the 1917 release of establishment of museum and research p. collec the beetle Calosoma syncophanta in Victoria to tions as well as studies on the behaviour, distribu control oak loopers is termed “the first attempt at tion and systematics of non-pest species. natural control, through the use of predators, in Reference is made to George Spencer’s British Columbia”. pioneer work on grasshopper control in British These are mostly minor criticism of a fine work Columbia, as well as his legendary facility for on an important subject. Out of a huge mass of turning out enthusiastic, expert students, but information, Dr. Riegert has managed to make the nothing is mentioned of the insect collection he history of western Canadian entomology informa developed, which today is the most important tive and entertaining. All who are interested in research collection in the province containing half Canadian history, science and insects owe him a million specimens. What of Gordon Stace thanks for creating this book. I look forward to the Smith, miner and poet, who amassed the largest sequel. and most important collection of B.C. beetles? E. M. Walker, although based in Robert A. Cannings, is curator of entomology at the Ontario, was the Provincial Museum, Victoria.

New Titles Drake, Stephen. A look through our past: a self- Raven, Mary, ed. The saga of Canoe 1888—1 938. Canoe, guided walk through historic Merritt; researched and Canoe Historical Research Committee, 1980. (v) 208 p., prepared with funding from Young Canada Works ill. $10.00 grant under supervision of the Nicola Valley Archives Association; sketches by Jody Bjarnason. (Merritt) Rees-Thomas, David M. Timber down the Capilano: a Nicola Valley Archives Association (1979) 12 p., ill. history of the Capilano Timber Company of Vancou ver’s North Shore. Victoria, British Columbia Railway England, Robert. Living Learning, remembering: the Historical Association, 1979. 60 p. ill. $4.50 memories of Robert England. Vancouver, Centre for Continuing Education, University of British Columbia, Sanford, Barrie. The pictorial history of railroading in 1980. x, 210 p. $10.00. British Columbia. Vancouver, Whitecap Books, 1981, 144 p., ill. $17.95. McHarg, Sandra, and Maureen Cassidy. Before roads and rails; pack trails and packing in the Upper Skeena Van den Wyngaert, Francis j. The west Howe Sound area. Hazelton, Northwest Community College, 1980. story. Gibson, 1980. (xii) 299 p., ill. $14.00 37 p., ill. Watt, Robert D. Rainbows in our walls: art and stained Early days on the Skeena River. Hazelton, glass in Vancouver, 1890—1940. Vancouver, Vancouver Northwest Community College, 1980. 45 p. ill. Centennial Museum, 1980. (9v) 20 p., ill. $4.95

Winter i1982. V Page 33.

Prage34 British Columbia Historical News

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none. Robin and entries fourteen should merit Bookshelf THEBRITISHCOLUMBIA HISTORICALASSOCIATION Honorary Patron: His Honour, The Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, Henry P. Bell-Irving Honorary President: Anne Stevenson, Box 4570, Williams Lake, V2G 2V6 392-4365 (res.) Officers President: Barbara Stannard, #211-450 Stewart Ave., Nanaimo, V9S 5E9 754-6195 (res.) 1st Vice President: Winnifred Weir, Box 774, Invermere, VOA1KO 342-9562 (res.) 2nd Vice President: Leonard G. McCann, #2, 1430 Maple St., Vancouver, V6J 3R9 736-4431 (bus.) Secretary: Frances Gundry, 255 Niagara St., Victoria, V8V 1G4 385-6353 (res.) 387-3623 (bus.)

Treasurer: J. Rhys Richardson, 2875 W. 29th, Vancouver, V6L1Y2 733-1897 (res.) Recording Secretary: Margaret Stoneberg, Box 687, Princeton, voxiwo 295-3362 (res.) Members-at-Large: Naomi Miller, Box 1338, Golden, VOA1HO 344-6447 Catou Levesque, 10420 Cambie Road, Richmond, V6X1K5 273-0254 (res.) Past-President: Ruth Barnett, 680 Pinecrest Rd., Campbell River, V9W 3P3 287-8097 (res.)

Ex Officio: John Bovey, Provincial Archivist, Victoria, V8V 1X4 387-3621 (bus.) Maureen Cassidy, Editor, B.C. Historical News, 316 Montreal St., Victoria, V8V 1Z5 383-8062 (res.) Chairmen of Committees: Historic Trails: John 0. Spittle, 1241 Mount Crown Rd., North Vancouver, V7R 1R9 Finance: H.R. Brammall, 4649 W. 12th, Vancouver, V6R 2R7 228-8958 (res.) Seminars: Leonard G. McCann, #2, 1430 Maple St., Vancouver, V6J3R9 736-4431 (bus.) B.C. Historical News Ruth Barnett, 680 Pinecrest Rd., Campbell River, V9W 3P3 Policy Committee: 287-8097 (res.) Publications Assistance Committee (not involved with B.C. Historical News): Arlene Bramhall, 5252 Grafton Court, Burnaby, V5H 1M7 433-7176 (res.) Helen Akrigg, 4633 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver, V6R 2A6 288-8606 (res.)

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