THE GREAT NORTHWEST 263 



Okanagan at all, but is pronounced Okanawgan, ac- 

 cent on the third syllable. It is named after a tribe 

 of Indians (a branch of the Chinook race). It is about 

 eighty miles long and from two to twelve miles in 

 breadth, and is well filled with silver trout, salmon 

 trout, chub and lake trout. The growing town of 

 Vernon, with a present population of about four hun- 

 dred, is five miles from it. The lake is bordered by a 

 remarkably fine piece of ranching and agricultural 

 country, and on account of the depth and coldness of 

 its waters, the beauty of the scenery, the wealth of 

 wild fowl and the wonderful climate, it is destined to 

 become a prominent summer resort for residents of 

 the Pacific coast near Vancouver and Victoria. 



The lake and the town of Vernon are reached by a 

 branch of the Canadian Pacific Railroad fifty-one 

 miles long. This branch, though in operation but a 

 comparatively short time, is already paying hand- 

 somely. Previous to the building of the C. P. R. R. 

 main line, all merchandise had to be transported on 

 packhorses a distance of two hundred and fifty miles 

 from Fort Hope, on the Frazer River. The item of 

 freight was then a very serious one, as it amounted to 

 eleven cents per pound on sugar, nails, hardware, 

 coffee and all heavy articles, and a proportionately 

 higher rate on more bulky merchandise. It must be 

 from this reason then, that, although the railroad has 

 not been opened long and the freight charges are very 



