13 



chief reasons for this have been the lack of transportation facilities and lack 

 of capital by the settlers. There is room for the investment of a large amount 

 of capital in the district for development purposes, and it should yield good 

 interest. The amount of road-work being done in the district has afforded the 

 means of assisting the settlers until they brought their places into condition 

 to bring them sufficient monetary returns. The cutting of ties is also giving 

 employment to a number of the settlers. It is expected that some of the large 

 land-owners will do extensive clearing in the near future, thereby providing 

 employment for a number of men. With these facts in view, it appears that 

 a man, with little capital, going into the district should be able to tide himself 

 over until such time as his farm was in a condition to support him. By 

 clearing up a small area and getting it under cultivation immediately, it 

 should be only a year or two until good returns would be forthcoming. 



It is reported there is a plentiful supply of water to be had at a reason- 

 able distance providing it was required for irrigation purposes. This should 

 not be necessary for ordinary fruit-growing or farming under proper soil 

 treatment. 



On the whole, the district looks most promising. With the introduction 

 of the right kind of settlers and with sufficient capital for extensive clearing 

 purposes, the district should advance rapidly. 



KITSUMKALUM DISTRICT. 



This district runs some eighteen miles north from the Skeena River to 

 Kitsumkalum Lake, and averages about three miles in width. There is about 

 the same amount of land around the lake, where some thirty or more settlers 

 are located, but it is not included in this report. 



There is a larger proportion of high bench land in this district to low 

 bench land. Quantities of timber are to be found in the district, varying with 

 the depth and quality of soil. A large quantity at the present time is being 

 cut for ties. Soil types on the lower bench lands differ somewhat from that of 

 the Lakelse Valley, as the subsoil is principally gravel, as referred to below. 



The surface soil is practically all of a loam composition similar to the 

 Lakelse soil, and varies greatly in depth, running from 12 inches to several 

 feet (picture 6 showing the soil type). The subsoil is part gravel, and other 

 places clay, with possibly slightly more of the gravel than clay subsoil. There 

 are about 600 acres of land in the lighter-timbered sections, burnt over some 

 eight or ten years ago, and since then it has been lying open to the sun. The 

 soil, as a consequence, has become very light and " burnt out " of humus. 

 It will require considerable green manuring, such as ploughing-down of cover 

 <>rops, etc., before it will produce well. 



The same remarks as made on the Lakelse Valley, on the cost of clearing, 

 handling of the soil, climatic conditions, markets, present development, and 

 the possibilities of the district, are applicable here. There is possibly a 

 slightly heavier snowfall in the interior of the district than in the Lakelse 

 District. There are also a large number of settlers in this district, as it 

 has been held for pre-emption only, and slightly more land under cultivation, 

 two of the settlers having about 10 acres each under cultivation. Picture 

 7 shows one of the clearings in this district. The main line of the G.T.P. 

 runs through the valley close to the river. 



This district will likely advance under the same conditions as the Lakelse 

 Valley, with the same outlet and markets. A great deal will be looked for 

 from this district in the future, providing good settlers and sufficient capital 

 are encouraged to come into the district. 



