306 Our North Land. 



and the works would be moderate for about forty miles, which 

 distance would bring the line to the Forks of the Skeena, near 

 which there is an Indian Village named Kitma on the map. The 

 elevation at this point is about seven hundred feet above sea 

 level, and the gradients would be very easy throughout the whole 

 distance from the seaboard." 



Mr. Smith further says in his official report : — " The highly 

 favourable reports received respecting the character of the Peace 

 River district, and the prospects held out of a satisfactory route 

 being obtainable through the Pine River Pass, made it expedient 

 to obtain further information in that direction. . . . Thus the 

 question of the feasibility of the Pine River Pass is at last solved. 

 The full report has not yet been received ; but the distance between 

 Fort McLeod on the west side of the mountains, and the Forks of 

 Pine River on the east side, is roughly estimated at ninety miles. 



" The gradients are stated to be generally easy, with the excep- 

 tion of aoout four miles near the summit of the Pass, where they 

 will probably be about sixty feet to the mile; and the work in 

 the construction of a railway would be moderately light, except 

 for a length of about eight miles near the summit of the Pass, and 

 a short length at the Forks of Pine River where they would be 

 heavy. 



" The land in the Pine River Valley, for fifty miles above the 

 Forks, is described as of excellent quality and well suited for agri- 

 cultural and grazing purposes. 



" It should be observed that this fertile strip of land, lying 

 nearly in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, is an extension of the 

 Beaver Plains which connect with the great fertile belt stretching 

 from Manitoba to and beyond the Peace River. 



" Should the engineering character of a line by this route prove, 

 on closer survey, as favourable as reported, the results from the 

 exploration will be amongst the most important that have been 

 obtained since the commencement of the surveys. Some of the 

 serious difficulties in crossing the Rocky Mountains will have dis- 

 appeared, and this formidable chain, once held to be insurmountable, 

 and even now felt to be a grave obstacle to railway enterprise, can 



