The Sunday Oregonian., July 05, 1908, SECTION FOUR, Page 4, Image 36

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PRINCE RUPERT, NOW A CITY IN NAMESOON TO BE CITY IN FACT
; .PACIFIC TERMINUS OF THE GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC RAILWAY WILL BE OUTLET OF TERRITORY OF. GREAT RICHNESS
I1
ZKRSCS f?UfERT JLOOsTua US:7-
(& Jg&J&a&WU
kRIXCE ROPERT, B. C. June 22.
(To the Editor.) "Westward the
star of Empire takes Its
way" is amply exemplified . in
the birth of one of the last of the
rreat railway enterprises of the "Western
Hemisphere, its course across a vast in
land empire, onea geographically desig
nated as a trackless, boundless, desert
waste of no account save as the abode of
wild animals, nomads of the wilder
ness and. in pioneer days, the American
bison, and the final establishment of a
terminus at the western hem of the Can
adian Empire, the possibilities of de
velopment of which are beyond the ken
of the wisest of empire builders of the
"new world."
Prince Rupert is now a city in name
within a few short . years one oTF the
great cities of the western world Is to
prow - here as certainly as New York.
Boston and other great ports ' were to
carry the products of a vast empire "of
productivity to the marts of the world.
!ny readers have learned of the Pa
cific terminus of the Grand Trunk Pa
cific Ratlway-Vfew know or understand
its reasons fiir coming greatness or its
untold and undreamed of tributary re
sources. A few years ago the Grand
Trunk Railway system of Canda on of
the hirgest railway systems in the world
applied to the Dominion ' government
for a charter permitting it to build a
tianscontlnental line of railway. The
project received immediate favor at the
hands of the members of the govern
ment and the charter was not only
granted by Parliament, but the govern
ment agreed to construct one-half of the
road and guaranteed the bonds of the
other half to the extent of J13.000 a mile
through the prairie section, and two
thirds of the cost of the mountain sec
tion iit F.ritish Columbia. After two
years or more of marshaling Its forces,
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Com
pany was organized as a part of the
great Grand Trunk system of Canada,
and the final preliminaries for beginning
work In British Columbia were arranged
with the Provincial government during
the current year, as to land at Prince
Rupert, right of way across the pro
vince, etc.. on condition that active con
struction should proceed without delay.
Actual construction of this great line of
railway is now under way at numerous
points along Its course from the Atlantic
to the Pacific.
Parenthetically, be it understood that
the road under construction by the Do
mlnon government is to he leased to the
Grand Trunk Pacific Company for 50
years at three, per cent Interest on the
coet of the rbad per annum.
One hundred miles of roadbed has been
let to contractors eastward from Prince
Rupert and gangs of men are now at
work along this section day and night.
The gap between Winnipeg west to Ed
monton is closing rapidly by the laying
or nve miles of rails per day, and bv
October. 1908, trains will be running into
Edmonton.
Fifteen hundred acres of the townsite
of Prince Rupert have been cleared of
trees and brush and a force of about
2?fl men is now clearing the remainder.
Landscape engineers a Boston firm
hava laid out the plan of the city, and
surveyors will work from the plan and
will be In the field within a week.
The date on which the townsite will
be placed on the market is not defin
itely known, but general report has fixed
It at September 1. When lots are placed
on aale there will be no dearth of buy
ers. Hundreds of Investors are wait
ing with money ready, among whom are
merchants and manufacturer ready to
build and proceed to business. Letters
arrive constantly asking for prices and
details of information relative to loca
tion, terms, etc.. all of which are an
swered by a circular ' letter, but no in
formation can be gained from the com
pany upon the subject of prices, terms
or dates All ideas must perrorce be
confined to the field of conjecture for
Z-OOKING WEST &&&JJ . s&Z
the )esent. E0 far as future probabilities
In those directions are concerned. Suffl
ceth it for the present to say that the
building of a city has never attracted
more widespread attention on the North
American continent than Prince Rupert
is attracting. : Why? Because the Pa
cific terminus of the Grand Trunk Pa
cific traverses the most productive ter
ritory as a whole dominated by any road
across the North American continent.
From Winnipeg west for 1000 miles the
country is one vast level stretch of
cereal-growing or mixed farming prairie
land that produces the best grain In the
world. The commercial world well knows
what "Manitoba No. 1 hard" means and
this quality applies to the grain-growing
region lying west of Manitoba as
far as Edmonton.-
From the line where the Rocky Moun
tains fringe Prince Rupert the resources
are unparalleled. From the Yellowhead
pass the gap through which the great
road finds its way across the Rockies
numerous valleys of matchless fertility
of soil, watered by rivers. level plateau,
hundreds of miles north, south, east and
west at an average elevation of 2200
feet above sea level. These valleys are
all fertile and In their wild .uncultivated
condition produce wild grasses of the
most nutritious quality, such as red-top,
etc., favorable to trie support of live
stock. One may ride for days through
these valleys through grass above one's
saddle stirrups.
Coal of the highest grades abounds
along the line of the Grand Trunk Pa
cific, especially in the Bulkeley Valley,'
anthracite and bituminous. For 40 miles
these coal beds have been traced by
the outcroppings. Gold, copper. Iron,
silver, lead and other minerals exist along
or are tributary to the line In the moun
tain section and already development
work is going on and has been in prog
ress for two years.
A finer game country probably does
not . exist than that through which the
line of this road extends. Grizzly, black,
brown and clnnamom bear, elk, deer,
cariboo, moose and feathered game In
abundance.
The climate through the mountain sec
tion is not severe as on the prairies east
of the Rockies, whose temperatures pre
vail as low as 40 and 50 degrees below
for short Intervals. . .
As to the coast Some of among the
greatest fishing banks of the world exist
just outside the harbor of Prince Rupert.
These banks lie between the mainland
of British Columbia and Queen Charlotte
Islands. Halibut, red. black, gray and
rock cod. herring and other fish are
caught on these banks In great quanti
ties and will be shipped east by the
Grand Trunk Pacific because It Is two
to three days nearer than by ports south.
The salmon packing industry is large
along this coast, and wherever a river
debouches Into the sea there may be
found one or more canneries. Prince Ru
pert Is 600 miles northwest of Seattle.
Wash., and is on what Is known as the
Inside passage north, therefore nearer
Alaska and to its rapidly growinjr trade.
It is also removed from, competition by
reason or its unique position and Its
distance from competing influences.
Lumber will be an Industry that will
he profitable by reason of the areas of
spruce, red. white and yellow cedar in
close proximity to tide water, and by
reason or accessible water power.
One may with prophetic vision see In
this new marvel of miniature develop
ment springing into prominence within
a few short months the wonderful pos-
slbilitles in store for Prince Rupert, B.
C. with such varied resources at her
command and the -shorter haul in com
parison with ports south to Eastern and
Oriental markets.
Prince Rupert harbor is one of the fin
est In the known world. Any ship of
any size may enter or leave the harbor
at any stage of the tide, day or night,
calm or storm. It is land-locked, wide
I long and commodious for all classes of
THE SUNDAY
Hie-
ships. DIgby Island lies directly across
the western side completely sheltering the
harbor from all stormy weather, leav
ing a fine entrance by the south chan
nel. The harbor will average one and
a quarter miles In width, is 17 miles long,
and has 100 feet depth of water at the
entrance with good holding ground any
where, not a rock or reef In the entire
harbor. Average depth In the center of
the harbor from its entrance to its land
end 20 fathoms with depths Inshore of
eight to ten fathoms. The townsite sit
uated on Kaien. Island Is separated from
the mainland by a narrow passage of
salt water unnavigable In places and Is
superb. The townsite proper ta three
miles long by a mile and a quarter in
width. Probably 600 present population.
One fine frame hotel building is com
pleted, but not yet opened, the property
of the Grand Trunk Pacific Company.
Two new ones fine frames under con
struction, are owned by the Grand Trunk
Pacific; the other by Monroe and Gilmore.
which Is to be conducted as a first
class hostelry for all comers. A num
ber of fine frame building's are up, oth
ers going- up. All present structures
are built on lands either owned by the
Grand Trunk Pacific and erected by
special permission of the company's
manager or on land taken up as min
eral claims on which squatters are liv
ing or doing business until lots In the
townsite are offered for sale.
v Good stores here; prices about the
same as in Vancouver with freight
added." Board and lodging, $1 to $2.50
a day; beef. 20 to 25 cents: bacon, 20
to 22 cents; fruit and vegetables of
most kinds. , Thts is a boat town. To
go anywhere except within the re
stricted area of a few blocks one must
go boatwise. The soft, spongy, water
soaked tundra Inhibits walking about
save on the few one, two and three
board walks. All kinds of boats are
at hand from a Peterboro to an ocean
tug. Sternwheelers ply between Prince
Rupert and near-by points on Skeena
River at short intervals. A steamship
In nearly every day; one day five
steamers, the following night six came
and went. Climate here Is moist. Be
tween 90 and 100 inches of rainfall an
nually. However, the Winters are
marked by the absence of the rigors
common to the Interior. No extreme
cold nor extreme heat along this part
of the Coast. While cloudy weather
prevails much of the time, the tem
perature is equable and pleasant.
About the only essential In this coun
try to forestall starvation Is matches.
One does not even require salt. Crus
taceans and mollusks abound every
where. But if one can throw well, a
deer may be added to the larder now
and then.
A dock 1400 feet long has been erect
ed of ample width, solidly constructed
of heavy timbers and planking, with
one warehouse 420 feet long and an
other 120, v the former occupied ; by
Foley, "Welch & Stewart, G. T. P. con
tractors, the latter by the G. T. P. Co.
More dock and warehouse room is in
preparation. The top soil of the town
site is covered by a soft, spongy moss
called In Alaska tundra. This moss Is
wet most of the time, therefore pedes
trlanism is accompanied by physical
discomfort in a pedal sense. The base
is a bard, slaty formation, and grading
will be difficult. The townsite is
hummocky, but w-Ill be worked down
in time. The slope from the harbor
is gradual to the base of the mountain
on the island back - of the town, and
this mountain has a maximum eleva
tion of 2300 feet.. . "
A sawmill at the east end of .the town
produces about 40,000 feet per day and
the mill . north at Georgetown about 15
miles distant cuts about 25.000 daily. This
is spruce, hemlock and cedar and is used
mostly at Prince Rupert. Another mill
is at Port Bssington, 24 miles distant, a:
the mouth of the Ekeena River.
The railway company and the province
OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND.
own the townsite on Kaien Island and
land adjoining, about 25,000 acres In all,
2000 of which are to be-In the' surveyed
townsite, and the property embraced In
the townsite belongs to the railway com
pany and tne province in the proportion
of three-fourths to the former and one
fourth to the latter. This division also
applies to all the water frontage over
20 miles mostly on navigable water.
As to, the manner In which lots will
be sold or when, whether at auction or
private sale, no man knoweth.'
The Canadian Bank of Commerce has
a branch here and has its quarters in a
very comfortable, convenient structure
frame near the dock on the one street
leading back Into the town from the
waterfront. Mr. James M. Christie Is
manager.
The Provincial police department has an
office here; the Dominion Government a
telegraph office and custom-house.
The Grand Trunk Pacific Company has
provided ample safeguards against the
intrusion of epidemics as evidenced by
the sewage system already installed. The
company has also laid pipes and brought
a plentiful supply of good, pure water
Into the town from a stream fed by the
snows of the adjacent mountain In the
Interior of the Island. This water Is soft
and pure and sufficient for domestic and
fire purposes until a permanent supply is
brought In from Lake Shawatlans or
other available sources. This lake Is
about six miles east of the town and
on the mainland is pure, cold water fed
by mountain snows. An electric light
plant Is In operation and lights may be
had of any capacity ,. In any number. In
any part of the town.
Prince Rupert ' now presents 'a similar
appearance to a frontier mining town In
the variety and distribution of Its shan
ties and tent abodes, the only difference
existing in the many fine buildings up
and in course of construction. Unlike
most railway termini. Prince Rupert is
not waiting for the road to be completed
before emerging from a frontier town in
to the limelight of prosperous municipal
development. Long before this great
transcontinental railway shall have been
completed from ocean to ocean a big
town will be occupying the area now
stretching away to the east and west
ward gaunt and bare In its present dis
figurement by the builders of the new
city by the sea.
It ' will be interesting to the readers
of The Oregonlan. perhaps, to learn how
commercial and industrial life may find
lodgment and develop here before a' lot
Is sold or offered for sale.
The railway company has allowed a few
business firms to erect buildings on per
mits issued by the company's managers
at Montreal. The greater number of the
residents of Prince Rupert Is living and
doing business on two mineral claims
which were located last September on land
that hd been part of an Indian reserve,
but over which there was a dispute as
to title between the railway company
and the Provincial . government. The
owners of the mineral claims give the
people permission to occupy the land on
condition that they move off as soon as
lots sire surveyed and offered for sale.
This arrangement is galling to the rail
way comoany but the Provincial Govern
ment having recorded the mineral claims
Is unwilling to oust the occupiers by
force, hence, the town is made up prin
cipally of "squatters."
Business houses are all doing a. good
business and many new lines are coming
in and new enterprises under way. Large
firms are quietly preparing to establish
branches here, at once. It is surprising
to see a town grow up In a wild, desolate
country with no other Justification than
the future of the moving cause of its
birth In this case the building of the
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. This Is cer
tainly ample justification, however, for
no road, tnanscontinentalwise, ever com
manded greater -tributary . resources, nor
the strategic position for thei building up
of a great commercial traffic between
the East and West and the middle
ground of one of the greatest areas of
JULY 5, - 1908.
iJI I
4 TT"
productivity of ell the Americas than will
the Grand Trunk Pacific.
The steamships now plying between
Vancouver, Victoria and Prince Rupert
are as follows: Princess May, Princess
Beatrice and Amur, operated by the Can
adlan Pacific Railway Company, Camosun,
Capllano and Coaultlan. bv the Union
Steamship Company, Vadso and Venture
by the Bosquitz Steamship Company, the
Henriette and Thordis, by Mackenzie
Brothers. From Seattle the City of Se
attle and Cottage City, operated by the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company, the
Caledonia and Distributor are river
steamers In the local trade only. In
addition to the regular liners noted above
smaller craft flit in and out of the har
bor in spasmodic fashion, regardless of
wind or tide. .
. The Empire, owned and edited by Mr.
John Houston, Is the only newspaper
published in Prince Rupert. It . is J
breezy Journal, full of the news that in
terests readers most, is fair and impar
tial to all and in much demand. It Is
Issued weekly and the subscription price
is io a year. Mr. Houston is well posted
regarding the resources of British Colum
bia, having lived in the province for 20
years, and Is ...deeply Interested in the
future of the city and Its Incomparable
possibilities. , . -.
It may be of interest to know that
Prince Rupert is only about 40 miles
south of the line between Alaska and
British Columbia as the crow flies.
Fare to Prince Rupert from Seattle is
20. Time, en voyage, two to three days.
Prince Rupert has no saloons, no bars,
therefore no drunkenness, ergo no brawl
ing and no crime. The Empire is an un
compromising foe of the liquor selling
traffic and it is ably supported by the
citizens in the fight for a dry town until
the place becomes an incorporated mu
nlcipality. It Is certainly to the credit of
Prince Rupert that Intoxicants have been
kept out of the town. That they will be
introduced under restrictions imposed by
the laws of the Province, ultimately,
there is likely no doubt, but the town
will fare oetter altogether by keeping
it out at least until the road shall have
been completed in 1911.
Every one knows that as the northern
latitudes are approached the days grow
longer in Summer and shorter in Win
ter. On June 21 darkness did not fall
until after 10 o'clock and day dawned at
3 at Prince Rupert in latitude Hhi N.
The reverberation of the great detona
tion caused 6y incessant blasting In the
rock cuts in and adjoining the town are
noteworthy. A deafening" explosion, the
earth trembles, a second of deathly sil
ence and the muffled roar rolls out across
the bay and Inspiring on the northern
shore the sound waves are deflected by
the rising hills and split by the numer
ous indentations of that coast line and
like. the. second and third claps of heavy
thunder burst into ear-splitting crash up
on crash until one is ready to be
lieve a veritable thunder storm has burst
over the town in all its fury. On Sat
urday evening is billed one event which
promises entertainment of Interest to the
citizens of Prince Rupert in proportion
to their proximity to the point of greatest
energy. Four hundred pounds of dyna
mite will be -exploded in a rock cut in
the most thickly populated district. It
is difficult to forecast where the destruc
tive force will exert its greatest Impres
sion, whether in the rock cut or among
the denizens of Knoxvllle which is the
term applied to the west end of the town.
The long, low strip of land extending
across the background of . the view of
Prtnoe .Rupert and harbor Is Digby Isl
and, which stretches across the west side
of Rupert harbor" and ' makes it land
locked. The main or South Channel of
the harbor lies- to the south of Digby Isl
andto the left of the strip in the picture.
The north channel or Venn Passage
lies, to the north of Dlgby-to the ex
treme right In the picture. This channel
is not safe. It is tortuous, rocky and
torn by dangerous rapids at ebb and flood
tides. The tides vary from 10 to 23 feet:
the highest known liere being 26 feet S
Gland Extracts Accomplish
Mrs.. S. Whitd of Portiand,
' ' Efficacy of the Van
Investigate
r
Mrs. 8. WhHa, of Portland. Oregon CMyxoe
aenutoae patient). Beginning
- f Treatment.
- - KYXOKDKMA.
Portland, Or., Dec 20th, 19(W.
The Van" VlecVGlana Ex." Co," 70S Dskum Bldg Portland, Or.
Dear Sirs: While I feel that the English language Is utterly Inadequate, X
desire to express, -so far as my ability -will Justify, my appreciation of the .mar
velous efficiency of your Gland Extracts In my case. I deem It my duty, as well
as pleasure; to publicly' acknowledge this gratifying tact, that others may be
made acquainted with your methods. Also permit me to give a brief history of
my various symptoms:
. My Illness began about nix years ago, with Nervous prostration and Dys
pepsia, associated with Erysipelas, which was complicated by the development
of a small and apparently insignificant tumor, appearing on the back and left
side of the head. TheTemoval of this tumor was attended by such a severe
hemorrhage that I was left In an extremely low condition of vitality. During
recuperation from the surgical procedure I began-to Increase In weight to an
abnomal degree, becoming very' drowsy, and having a constant feeling of ex
haustion. I felt that 1 could sleep all the time. My mind became Inactive and
I was listless and Indifferent.' My face was so swollen that I could hardly per
ceive the light from between the eyelids. My tongue swelled to that extent
that I was practically unable to articulate sufficiently clear to be understood
and my excessive weight precluded my getting around alone, it being necessary
for me to use a cane and the assistance of my husband or some other attendant.
I weighed 209 pounds, whereas my normal weight was usually about 150 pounds.
My circulation was greatly impeded and "sluggish" and my extremities and
body always cold. The skin became very dry, having the appearanoe of the
scales of a fish. My finger nails became so concave that they would veritably
hold water.
During all of this trying experience we, of course, employed the best phy
sicians obtainable without regard of cost. In all we had the benefit of 12 Intel,
llgent professional opinions and faithfully followed the suggestions of treatment
Incident thereto, but without avail. I had given up any and all hope of finding
any remedy for my various Ills, and the last physician consulted previous' to
using Gland Extracts rendered the opinion that I might die at any moment,
etc. In this dismal and deplorable state I remained until the sixth day of
October, this year, -when I was Induced to give the Gland Extracts a trial, and,
while I could not honestly say that I had any faith In the outcome of such
treatment, I gave my consent to a visit from Mr. Van Vleck, who happened
to be In this city, and who called, accompanied by Dr. F. S. Lowell, your exam
ining physician In charge of the Department of California, In the City of Oak
land, -in that state.- ......
Upon the second day .after beginning the use of the Extracts I noticed that
my hands were getting smaller. On the third day my eyes opened and looked
brightly out upon surrounding objects', the swelling of my ttngue began to
recede and I could articulate more clearly. In six days I was privileged to
enjoy the first natural sleep for years. ' My respiration was gradually improving,
and at the end of two weeks all distress In breathing had disappeared. During
the first three weeks my weight was reduced 20 pounds, and at the end of the
fourth my finger nails were straight and normal in every way.
At this writing, whereas I was utterly helpless for six years, . I am able to
do sewing and very materially assist In the general housework. The results of
the Gland Extracts In my case are truly wonderful, and my friei ds. are amazed
and astonished at the miraculous change, In my condition. But, most of all, do
I appreciate that change. Neither pen nor picture can, in the least degree, de
scribe the misery and deplorable nature of my former state, which was thought
by all with whom I came In contact, both profession and laity, to be without
hope of recovery .from any source whatever. -
; Is It any wonder that I am specially gratified to be allowed this space in
your' Blue Book,' and for which prlyilege I sincerely thank you. I profoundly
trust this meager testimony to Gland Extracts may be productive of some re
sults as it is observed by some sufferer to whom you so generously send those
little messengers of peace. Please again accept my eternal gratitude for the.
fact that the .Van Vleck Gland Extract Company Is bold enough to reach but
Into the larger fields where ordinary means -of treating disease offers no hope
to those "to whom life seems a never-ending night." Ever sincerely yours,
- - MRS. SAMUEL WHITE,
Phone East 3411. 292 Weldler Street, City.
All manner of nervous and chronic diseases treated successfully by the
different glands and nerve centers taken from young, healthy sheep. Call at
Our office and consult our physician. We diagnose and make examination of
' all body excreta free of charge. Upon request we will send you our illustrated
Blue Book and question blank. With our system and aid of microscope, can
treat chronic and nervous diseases all over the United States without their
coming to Portland. Correspondence solicited.
VAN VLECK GLAND EXTRACT .COMPANY, 708-9 Dekum Building, Portland, Oregon
Inches. . This occurred but once, however,
during the year. The average tide, how
ever, is about 16 feet. One may quite
readily comprehend what the activity Of
the outgoing ond Incoming tides must be
through narrow passages connecting these
This opportunity is yours, to make the most of to save an even
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Name, . .
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Marvelous Transf ormatioh
a Brilliant Example of the
Vleck Products
This Case. -.
A ' " J1
- , . . v
IS; :;
Mrs. 8, White. After Tw Months' -Treatment.
long deep arms of the sea with the ocean.
No boat, large -or small, could live in
these rapids five minutes. All, ships use
the South Channel on entering or Jeaving
Rupert harbor. . . '.
. .. EUGENE. D. WHITE
and most economical piano propo
EILERS
Piano House
House of Highest Quality.
353 Washington Street
Portland, Oregon