No. 20.

REPORT OF THOS. FAWCETT, D.T.S.

SUB-DIVISION SURVEY IN KAMLOOPS DISTRICT, B. C.

GRAVENHURST, 23rd December, 1887.

SIR, I have the honor to submit the following notes relating to my operations and observations in the Kamloops district during the past season.

Conformable to instructions I started from Gravenhurst on the 16th May, proceeding to Ottawa for instructions. I then communicated with Messrs. Creighton and Bickerstaff, the young men appointed by the Department to assist me.

Having arranged preliminaries I proceeded with assistants and other members of my party via Canadian Pacific Railway to Kamloops, where the party remained to collect horses and outfit which were left to winter in the locality, while I proceeded to Victoria to procure such supplies as could not be obtained at Kamloops. This done I returned to Kamloops and commenced survey operations on the 1st June. Working westward from Kamloops I traversed the deeded lots and ran additional sectional lines as a check on my work of last year. Between Savona's Ferry and Ashcroft, where there were no settlers, I planted section posts by measurements and azimuths from the nearest reference marks on the Canadian Pacific Railway. From Ashcroft to the Indian reserve, south of Spatsum, I carried on the surveys by running the section lines and traversing the outlines of deeded and preempted lots. Having completed the work as far as required in that direction, I returned to Kamloops and continued my operations to the limit of the railway belt at Stump Lake, running additional section lines, traversing lakes, and tracing the outlines of deeded lots and pre-emptions. This work was carried eastward from Kamloops for 22 miles and as far back from the railway as settlements were found. Being employed in this way till the 16th December I discharged my party and started for home.

Having in my report last year given an account of each township taken by itself, I will confine my notes this year to a few general remarks on the various points of interest in connection with that part of the country.

The first and most important question, viewing the country from either an agricultural standpoint or as a grazing country, is that of irrigation. Last winter demonstrated to the stockmen in a most practical manner that they need not expect to make much progress in stock raising unless they could provide feed for their animals for at least two months during the winter, and also provide shelter. Now, I have seen taken from meadows which were irrigated four and five tons of hay per acre of the best quality. The hay crop is considered much more profitable than grain, although the latter of the best quality can be raised. At present but a small percentage of the land suitable for meadow land and cultivation is used for that purpose. Not more than one-third of the land along the banks of the Thompson River has ever been under cultivation, although sufficient water flows down the stream to irrigate a million acres. Then there are benches at an elevation of from three to four hundred feet above the valley containing from twenty acres to one thousand and over, which would be first-class agricultural lands, requiring only irrigation to make them such, but how to place water there is the question which ranks above all others in importance. At present the only means made use of is that which is the most easily applied, irrigation from running streams, either natural or improved, the water being carried over the land to be irrigated by the force of gravity

alone. Where these means can be adopted it is by far the most economical, and, in fact, the only reliable method for irrigating the higher lands above the rivers, and there is much room for improvement on the present condition of things in that respect. What is now required is to select suitable places along the streams to form reservoirs for holding the water and distributing it only as required. The conformation of the hills in that part of British Columbia comprised within the Kamloops district as far as observed seemed well suited for a reservoir or artificial lake of large capacity, which could be formed in many places by constructing a short dam and retaining the water which at present is allowed to escape in floods in the spring of the year, washing away and destroying valuable lands over which they pass. Some of the people talk of irrigating these elevated plateaus by means of artesian wells. An experiment or two in that direction in a suitable locality would do no harm but would test the feasibility of such a scheme. My own opinion in regard to this means of obtaining water is that in but few localities it will be found to succeed, and under the best conditions no one well need be expected to supply more water than sufficient to irrigate one hundred and sixty acres of land. Some of the settlers with whom I conversed seemed to have erroneous views in regard to this matter, thinking that one well might supply a large tract of country. Using means to conserve the water resulting from snowfall in winter, and the rainfall during spring and fall, will be found a much better method, as under such circumstances every one can tell by a little calculation what water he has in store, and how much land it will supply. In the spring of the year when the streams are swollen to the dimensions of rivers, by changing the course for a few days a prepared reservoir of sufficient capacity to supply a farm all summer might be filled; and as the water in all the streams is recorded to its full extent, reservoirs will have to be formed if the country is to flourish and produce food for man and beast.

The lands lying along the river, which are of the best quality, may be watered from the river, water being raised for the purpose by means of windmills, steam engines, waterwheels, hydraulic rams and other methods. The last named is a machine for raising water by its own momentum; in my opinion it could be employed to advantage along the river where water would not be required to be raised more than from thirty to forty feet, which would be quite high enough to irrigate a great portion of the flat land bordering on the Thompson River.

As the object of stockmen is mainly directed to the growth of feed to be stored for winter use, it might be an advantage to cultivate to a much greater extent the growth of what appears to be one of the natural products of the country, i.e., rye grass, as it is found growing where nothing else seems to thrive, in fields which have not been irrigated, and where no other grasses are found. The growth of this grass is exceedingly rapid, and from land well irrigated several crops might be taken during the summer. Upwards of forty tons per acre, first class fodder, have been realized from this crop. Other grass such as form a good sod should be introduced, and in this way the productive power of the country might be very much increased. As the soil underneath the surface is usually dry and free from moisture it will on this account be favourable to the growth of the leguminous plant known as Lucerne or Alfalfa, which has been introduced in several localities in the Province of Ontario. This is a crop especially suitable to a dry climate, and is grown to a great extent in California, and would certainly thrive in the Kamloops District. The area adapted to irrigation in its present unimproved condition might be very much enlarged by filling up the water channels which have been made by floods in the spring, and by terracing the hillsides. Hillsides may be watered as easily as the land which is nearly level, by carefully tracing the water channels along them so that there will not be too rapid a flow. If the country become settled and the land is to be used to advantage all these points will receive attention in the near future. The productiveness of the soil is unquestionably established by the successive growth of crops, and as figures were given in my report last year showing the usual yield per acre, I need not repeat them now.

No. 20.

REPORT OF THOS. FAWCETT, D.T.S.

SUB DIVISION SURVEY IN KAMLOOPS DISTRICT, B. C.

GRAVENHURST, 23rd December, 1887.

SIR, I have the honor to submit the following notes relating to my operations and observations in the Kamloops district during the past season.

Conformable to instructions I started from Gravenhurst on the 16th May, proceeding to Ottawa for instructions. I then communicated with Messrs. Creighton and Bickerstaff, the young men appointed by the Department to assist me.

Having arranged preliminaries I proceeded with assistants and other members of my party via Canadian Pacific Railway to Kamloops, where the party remained to collect horses and outfit which were left to winter in the locality, while I proceeded to Victoria to procure such supplies as could not be obtained at Kamloops. This done I returned to Kamloops and commenced survey operations on the 1st June. Working westward from Kamloops I traversed the deeded lots and ran additional sectional lines as a check on my work of last year. Between Savona's Ferry and Ashcroft, where there were no settlers, I planted section posts by measurements and azimuths from the nearest reference marks on the Canadian Pacific Railway. From Ashcroft to the Indian reserve, south of Spatsum, I carried on the surveys by running the section lines and traversing the outlines of deeded and preempted lots. Having completed the work as far as required in that direction, I returned to Kamloops and continued my operations to the limit of the railway belt at Stump Lake, running additional section lines, traversing lakes, and tracing the outlines of deeded lots and pre-emptions. This work was carried eastward from Kamloops for 22 miles and as far back from the railway as settlements were found. Being employed in this way till the 16th December I discharged my party and started for home.

Having in my report last year given an account of each township taken by itself, I will confine my notes this year to a few general remarks on the various points of interest in connection with that part of the country.

The first and most important question, viewing the country from either an agricultural standpoint or as a grazing country, is that of irrigation. Last winter demonstrated to the stockmen in a most practical manner that they need not expect to make much progress in stock raising unless they could provide feed for their animals for at least two months during the winter, and also provide shelter. Now, I have seen taken from meadows which were irrigated four and five tons of hay per acre of the best quality. The hay crop is considered much more profitable than grain, although the latter of the best quality can be raised. At present but a small percentage of the land suitable for meadow land and cultivation is used for that purpose. Not more than one-third of the land along the banks of the Thompson River has ever been under cultivation, although sufficient water flows down the stream to irrigate a million acres. Then there are benches at an elevation of from three to four hundred feet above the valley containing from twenty acres to one thousand and over, which would be first-class agricultural lands, requiring only irrigation to make them such, but how to place water there is the question which ranks above all others in importance. At present the only means made use of is that which is the most easily applied, irrigation from running streams, either natural or improved, the water being carried over the land to be irrigated by the force of gravity

alone. Where these means can be adopted it is by far the most economical, and, in fact, the only reliable method for irrigating the higher lands above the rivers, and there is much room for improvement on the present condition of things in that respect. What is now required is to select suitable places along the streams to form reservoirs for holding the water and distributing it only as required. The conformation of the hills in that part of British Columbia comprised within the Kamloops district as far as observed seemed well suited for a reservoir or artificial lake of large capacity, which could be formed in many places by constructing a short dam and retaining the water which at present is allowed to escape in floods in the spring of the year, washing away and destroying valuable lands over which they pass. Some of the people talk of irrigating these elevated plateaus by means of artesian wells. An experiment or two in that direction in a suitable locality would do no harm but would test the feasibility of such a scheme. My own opinion in regard to this means of obtaining water is that in but few localities it will be found to succeed, and under the best conditions no one well need be expected to supply more water than sufficient to irrigate one hundred and sixty acres of land. Some of the settlers with whom I conversed seemed to have erroneous views in regard to this matter, thinking that one well might supply a large tract of country. Using means to conserve the water resulting from snowfall in winter, and the rainfall during spring and fall, will be found a much better method, as under such circumstances every one can tell by a little calculation what water he has in store, and how much land it will supply. In the spring of the year when the streams are swollen to the dimensions of rivers, by changing the course for a few days a prepared reservoir of sufficient capacity to supply a farm all summer might be filled; and as the water in all the streams is recorded to its full extent, reservoirs will have to be formed if the country is to flourish and produce food for man and beast.

The lands lying along the river, which are of the best quality, may be watered from the river, water being raised for the purpose by means of windmills, steam engines, waterwheels, hydraulic rams and other methods. The last named is a machine for raising water by its own momentum; in my opinion it could be employed to advantage along the river where water would not be required to be raised more than from thirty to forty feet, which would be quite high enough to irrigate a great portion of the flat land bordering on the Thompson River.

As the object of stockmen is mainly directed to the growth of feed to be stored for winter use, it might be an advantage to cultivate to a much greater extent the growth of what appears to be one of the natural products of the country, i.e., rye grass, as it is found growing where nothing else seems to thrive, in fields which have not been irrigated, and where no other grasses are found. The growth of this grass is exceedingly rapid, and from land well irrigated several crops might be taken during the summer. Upwards of forty tons per acre, first class fodder, have been realized from this crop. Other grass such as form a good sod should be introduced, and in this way the productive power of the country might be very much increased. As the soil underneath the surface is usually dry and free from moisture it will on this account be favourable to the growth of the leguminous plant known as Lucerne or Alfalfa, which has been introduced in several localities in the Province of Ontario. This is a crop especially suitable to a dry climate, and is grown to a great extent in California, and would certainly thrive in the Kamloops District. The area adapted to irrigation in its present unimproved condition might be very much enlarged by filling up the water channels which have been made by floods in the spring, and by terracing the hillsides. Hillsides may be watered as easily as the land which is nearly level, by carefully tracing the water channels along them so that there will not be too rapid a flow. If the country become settled and the land is to be used to advantage all these points will receive attention in the near future. The productiveness of the soil is unquestionably established by the successive growth of crops, and as figures were given in my report last year showing the usual yield per acre, I need not repeat them now.

The next point to which I devoted some attention is that of disposing of the pasture land, whether it will be granted in larger or smaller tracts, or be retained by the Government. The one question which every settler will ask and the only one which he seems to think worth considering is, what is the Government going to do with the land ?

That part of Townships 20, Ranges 18 and 19, lying between the southerly boundary of the townships and Kamloops Lake and Thompson River, were subdivided into sections as Mr. Roper had made application to purchase the land for a winter range for his stock. The greater portion of the land is composed of high hills rising towards the south and separated by deep valleys and gulches, which during the spring serve as watercourses, but prove a great obstruction to travel, and injure the land. About one-third of the whole area is rocky, and about one fifth, principally the higher hills, is covered with timber, some of which is good but inconvenient for use on account of its situation. The range seems to be a favorite one for stock, being closely eaten off and occupied by numbers of cattle and horses, while much better pasture was seen nearly unoccupied a few miles distant towards the south. Mr. Roper intends fencing this range if he acquires the land, and allowing the grass to grow for two or three years before he turns his stock on to it, by which time it would be so improved as to sustain a greater number. The tract is watered by several alkaline ponds which are found on the hilltop. Springs issue from the banks of some of the gulches, but the water in these is not good in consequence of the alkalies by which the soil seems to be thoroughly impregnated. There are no flats along the shore of Kamloops Lake that could be cultivated except a point at the east end of the lake owned by the Hudson's Bay Company. Two or three plots of ground along the waggon road would make first class points for settlement if water were obtained for irrigation and other purposes, but to obtain it would involve the expenditure of considerable capital, so that up to the present no one seems to have risked the investment. Mr. Roper desires to purchase the entire tract and has offered to pay one dollar per acre for it. The idea of giving any one man or company of men control of large tract of land is contrary to the wishes of a majority of those who live in the country, and they would favor a direct taxation of so much per head to be collected from each person running stock on the open range. This idea on their part comes not from the thought that the pasture would be better used as a common, but that if parties were allowed to purchase a large tract, this would be fenced by the owner, who would use the common during the summer, and keep his fenced pasture for winter use. Every man owning stock would purchase and fence a considerable quantity of land if he were able; this can easily be ascertained by conversing with the people. Those who are the most strongly opposed to having the land sold would themselves buy it if they could, and agree with you that if the pasture were fenced and allowed to grow up, it would support a greater number of stock than under present conditions. The opposition to having the land sold then simply arises from the fact that those persons who are not as strong financially as others are ready to do all in their power to prevent those who have the means from purchasing advantages which they themselves could not enjoy.

Mr. Palmer is another rancheman of means who wishes to purchase three or four thousand acres of land near Stump Lake. In this locality the feed this year has been very much destroyed by grasshoppers. Reports from Nicola Valley and other places toward the south say that they have also been destructive in those parts. This country is very seldom troubled with these pests, and it is almost a wonder that they should find their way in such numbers over the great tracts of mountain ranges to those comparatively small valleys in British Columbia. A person would not expect this to occur many times in a lifetime. Had the pasture not been affected by the inroad of grasshoppers it would have been in prime condition, especially in Townships 18, Ranges 18 and 17. Range 18 is mostly open country; Range 17, as described last year, is most of it timbered mountain land, but is not to be despised as pasture on that account, as a good growth of grass is generally to be found among the trees. In running additional lines in Townships 16 and 17, Range 16, to make my