No. 24. REPORT OF W. S. DREWRY, D.L.S. TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. BELLEVILLE, 27th December, 1887. SIR,-I bave the honor to report that, in accordance with instructions dated 3rd June, 1887, I proceeded to British Columbia to carry on a topographical survey of a portion of the Railway Belt extending eastward from Burrard Inlet, District of New Westminster. Finding at Port Moody that neither men nor supplies were procurable, I went to the City of New Westminster, where they could be obtained. My instructions were to procure pack horses, if available, for moving the camp outfit, but observation of the country as I travelled on the train led me to believe that they could not be used in that district, the brush being very thick and impenetrable, and inquiry confirmed my opinion, pack horses being unknown. Having reported to the Surveyor General at New Westminster and laid the matter before him, I was instructed to get a boat, and, proceeding to Harrison Lake, commenced operations at that point. Finding that all available craft were employed in the salmon fisheries, I ordered a boat to be built, and, after some difficulty, engaged a man to accompany my assistant and self into the mountains. Immediately on the completion of the boat, 18th July, we left for Harrison Lake, some sixty miles east from Port Moody. A steamer took the men, boat and supplies up the Fraser to the mouth of Harrison River, which they ascended some nine miles to the foot of Harrison Lake, a beautiful sheet of water about forty miles long and from three to six wide, surrounded by mountains from two to six thousand feet high, some of which are wooded to the top, while others lift soow-clad peaks on high, holding in their embrace huge glaciers. In the lake are numerous islands, two of which are of considerable size and rise to a height of from eight hundred to a thousand feet above its surface. The one nearer the foot of the lake, distant some three miles, contains about one thousand eight hundred acres, and is called "Echo Island," from the clear and distinct manner in which it echoes any sound. We found one point to which seven distinct echoes were returned from a shout or rifle shot. The larger island, lying some twelve miles up the lake, contains about three thousand five hundred acres, and is called "Long Island." On it are five small lakes, in some of which trout are found, and around which deer abound, attracted by the meadow grass growing luxuriantly in their vicinity. On the main land deer and black bear also are numerous, while high up on the mountains are goat and bighorn or Rocky Mountain sheep; here too are found the blue grouse, and plentiful and frequent signs of elk. Trout can be caught in nearly all the streams and small lakes. At the foot of the lake are the Harrison Hot Springs, famous for their medicnial properties, in connection with which is a commodious and comfortable hotel and sanatorium. These facts, together with the lovely and grand surrounding scenery, are sure to make the place a favorite resort for tourists, hunters and invalids; and I would respectfully recommend that all islands, together with the lands along the shores of the lake be reserved as a place of public recreation. Upon our arrival, and in fact all the way to the lake, we found a dense body of smoke overhanging the whole country, and reports from along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway revealed the fact that immense forest fires were raging, the smoke extending into the Rockies. After waiting a short time, thinking it might clear, I began exploring the neighboring country, but the smoke was so dense that a high mountain not two miles distant was entirely invisible and exploring was therefore unsatisfactory work. Travelling some three miles up a valley which extends easterly from the southeasterly side of Harrison Lake through to the Fraser River, the total distance being between six and seven miles, I found there were two lakes lying in the valley, one emptying into the other and eventually discharging their waters into Harrison Lake; the further one being about two miles long with a width of a mile, while the smaller, already known and named "Trout Lake," has a length of half and a width of a quarter of a mile. In the Fraser River end of the valley or pass is the Ruby Creek, which I was informed by the Indians has its source in a small sheet of water called "Cultus Lake,” and flows into the Fraser River. Following up the east side of the lake we entered a long, narrow bay, separated from the main body of water by a peninsula, which is almost an island. Going up this bay about six miles from the foot of the lake, we found beautiful falls to which the name "Rainbow" had been given. The two falls there known are each about one hundred feet in height; but afterwards on ascending the mountain we discovered that the creek, for a distance of over seventeen hundred feet, was a succession of falls ranging from seventy-five to three hundred feet each. One of them makes a peculiar and dreadful noise, resembling that sometimes made by a person in an agony of distress, and learning that the Indians call these "slollicum" or ghost falls, we thought the name very appropriate. We were unable to examine into the cause of this peculiar noise, as the creek dashes down a canyon with almost perpendicular sides, but thought it probable that there were holes in the rock, on which great masses of water falling, the air was violently expelled, thus making a moaning sound, suggesting the Indian "slollicum" or ghost. Other falls of lesser beauty and magnitude were found around the lake, and, on Lookout Mountain, the white streak of one foaming cascade could be traced for nearly 3,000 feet, dashing straight down its steep side. We also descended the Harrison River, some five miles, and ascended Siwash Creek, which flows into the Harrison at Chehalis Indian Reserve. It is a fine large • creek, about 80 feet wide, and navigable for boats a mile or so from its mouth. We followed up the valley nearly half a day, but owing to the dense smoke, little could be seen of the mountains on either side. From the Indians we learned that the creek comes from a lake some twenty miles in the interior, lying a little west of north from where the creek flows into the Harrison River. Many other places were visited by us, but owing to the state of the atmosphere, nothing satisfactory could be determined. In September we had rain, the air became clear, and we at once commenced making ascents and using the camera. Our survey was carried on by triangulation, using the astronomical traverse of the Canadian Pacific Railway as a base, the various mountain peaks as stations, and taking the topographical features of the country by means of the camera; the instrument used in triangulation and measuring altitudes being a small prismatic transit. Our first severe climb was Slollicum Mountain, which rises some 3,700 feet above the lake, on its east side. The first part of the ascent was rendered difficult by thick brush, yet had there been none, we could hardly have scaled the steep incline, broken by numerous cliffs. After reaching an altitude of some 2,000 feet, the underbrush began to disappear, and we travelled through fine open woods of fir and hemlock, to a height of a little over 3,000 feet; here the woods commence to give place to groves of scrub fir, with beautiful grassy glades, spotted occasionally with patches of snow. On reaching the top of the peak, which presents a sheer precipice towards the Jake, a view was presented to our gaze which upset all preconceived ideas of mountain tops; for here, to our astonishment, was a natural park spread beneath our feet; grassy glades dotted here and there with patches of sombre fir, among which gleamed ponds of limpid water, while in the background towered the hoary snow capped mountain peaks, grey with the age of centuries and deeply seamed from unceasing warfare with the forces of nature. From this height we obtained views of a largo area of surrounding country and carried on our triangulation to numerous peaks. The descent proved easier than the ascent, but more dangerous, and subsequent experience proved this to be a fixed rule. The rainy season had now set in, subjecting us to delays and rendering climbing difficult and extremely disagreeable, owing to the brush being loaded with water which drenched us to the skin. After ascending some minor elevations, ranging from eight hundred to two. thousand feet, we moved up the lake, some twelve miles from the fcot, to the base of a mountain which we named "Lookout," as from its peak a splendid view of the whole lake and surrounding country was obtained. Here I made up my mind to pack a tent, a small blanket each and a supply of provisions to the top of the mountain, thinking that the travelling would be much easier along the heights than lower down, and all our experience proved this to be the fact. Unfortunately, in this case, the morning after reaching the top found us enveloped in a dense fog, from which we had alternate falls of rain and snow, necessitating a fire that night and day, as we were camped at an altitude of nearly four thousand feet above Harrison Lake. Here we remained, living in the clouds, for nearly a week, when we were compelled to descend for a supply of provisions, having succeeded, between furious snow squalls, in obtaining only some half dozen views. ; On our way down we left the route by which we ascended and followed a cascade emptying into Harrison Lake near our camp; in doing this we committed a grave error, as we soon found ourselves in a canyon with almost perpendicular sides night approaching, we had not time to retrace our steps, so there was nothing for it but to push on. We worked cautiously downward hanging to projections of rock or anything which offered a support, and, at last, after narrow escapes from loosened rocks and treacherous bushes pulling out by the roots, we emerged from the canyon, and there and then solemnly vowed to attempt no more explorations while descending mountains. In going up, the road can always be picked out and dangerous places generally avoided, but in coming down, one is on the bad places before he is well aware of the fact, which sometimes makes itself painfully evident. On reaching camp we found our tents blown down and everything wet, which was, to say the least, cold comfort. Having secured a fresh supply of provisions, after some delay from rain, we again ascended Lookout, and the weather being beautifully clear obtained a large number of views from the peak and spurs, which pit out in all directions, and considerably extended our triangulation. The other ascents made by us were all of the same general character, so it would be tiresome repetition to report them. The mountains on the east side of the lake rise abruptly while those on the western shore slope gradually, their tops being far inland and covered with dense woods. The prevailing timber on the slopes is hemlock and Douglas pine, commonly called fir; but occasional patches of cedar with scattering trees of cypress were found. In the Ruby Creek Pass there appears to be a considerable quantity of good... fir, which, I think, could be easily got out by building a tramway. On the east side of the lake for about five miles north from the Ruby Creek valley, at an altitude of three hundred to twenty-five hundred feet, there is a large quantity of good fir and hemlock, which, however, it would be rather difficult and expensive to get out, as slides would have to be built to bring it down the mountain. On the west side of the lake little merchantable timber was observed, a considerable area having at some time been swept by a severe fire; but the mountains are now covered with such timber as survived and a dense undergrowth of pine which makes travelling exceedingly difficult, and much resembles the jack pine found north of Lake Superior. It is worthy of note that the Douglas pine, or fir, resists a very considerable fire owing to its bark, some of which was observed over six inches in thickness. The days having shortened very much and rain falling about half the time, it was evident we could no longer work to advantage; so closing my work on the subdivision surveys at the foot of the lake, I moved down and awaited an opportunity to take observations of the sun to assist in accurately locating some of the principal peaks. One of my men having been up Stare Lake, and reporting a flat of good land at its foot, I despatched him to that point for the purpose of more accurately ascertaining the extent and quality of land, nature of timber, &c. On his return he reported a flat extending southerly along Stare River about two and a half miles, and easterly some four miles, containing in the neighborhood of four thousand five hundred acres, portions of which are prairie and the balance densely wooded. Owing to a very heavy rain falling he was unable to traverse the whole flat, but along the foot of the lake, and the upper part of Stare River, a large amount of cedar, with some white pine, was found, making an excellent timber limit about three miles in length, with a depth of a mile. The soil is of the same character as that in the Fraser River flats, and access to the valley can be had by building a road through the flats, along the Stare River, for a distance of about nine miles from the Canadian Pacific Railway. The weather having cleared sufficiently I took several observations of the sun for azimuth, and then proceeded to New Westminster, where I dried and stored my camp outfit, and, after winding up the affairs of the survey, started for Ottawa. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, E. DEVILLE, Esq., Surveyor-General, 14-8** W. S. DREWRY, D.L.S. No. 25. EXAMINATION PAPERS OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR DOMINION LAND SURVEYORS. FULL EXAMINATION FOR ADMISSION AS SURVEYOR. PLANE GEOMETRY AND MENSURATION. Time, 3 Hours. 1. On the sides of a triangle, equilateral triangles are described. Prove that the lines joining the vertices of the equilateral triangles with the opposite vertices of the original triangle meet in one point and intersect at angles of 120°. 2. If from any point in a circular arc, perpendiculars be drawn to the 3. What is the area of a mile race course with parallel sides and the ends ends of a horizontal base of 15 chains, were 71° and 64°. It was afterwards found that the point sighted at on the opposite bank is 100 feet above the base. What is the true distance across the river? 5. Show that in any isosceles triangle, the square on a line drawn from the vertex to any point in the base plus the product of the segments of the base is constant. No. of Marks.. 222 20 20 1. Define the terms: Solid, segment of a sphere, truncated cone, parallel planes, perpen- 2. Prove that three planes cannot enclose a solid, but that four may. 4. Parallel planes make equal angles with any plane cutting them. 6. A tent has a ridge pole 4 feet long from which the canvas slopes down 15 15 20 20 40 40 |