The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 1

mm "Chilliwack City ana Municipality cet new additional sixty acres park area by Order ln CouncIl as freo grant including timber. Foreshore rights about completed giving us sola control under long lease ana renewable. Letter follows. Please give copy to Reeve, Mayor and Hoard of Trade. E.

A. Munro." The orcgolng Is a copy of a telegram received by secretary S. Leslie Erice, of the Cultus Lake Park Jjoard, on Friday, from the Federal member for the district, now at Ottawa. Park Board members, members of the two municipal bodies and otherg who have been in toucn with the negotiations which have been carried on for the past few years, and particularly the past three years, are more than pleased with the news contained In Mr. Munro's wire.

Following the purchase of the timber on the 64 acres contained in the present park site from the Westminster Mills and the grant of a free title to the property by the Dominion Government, the privMee'i of the area were quickly seized upon by the people of the district, and it soon became apparent that the tract was not going to be large enough to take care of the requirements. There remained about sixty acres lying to the east and north of the park site of the parcel that has been released from the timber berth, and the Park Hoard lost no time in making formal application to the Department of the Interior to set aside this area for park purposes. The Westminster Mills people were very desirous of obtaining title to this piece of property or to have it replaced In the timber berta, and it is understood strongly opposed the application of the Park Iioard, and it was reported at one time in the negotiations that the chances of the public getting the area were not very encouraging. However, the Park Hoard were not to be denied and kept pressing their case, and It is with a great measure of satisfaction that they learn of the favorable decision of the Government. Throughout the negotiations by which this excellent piece of property is reserved for the use of the public, through the Park Board representing the City and Rural Municipalities of Chilliwack, Mr.

E. A. Munro, the representative for this district at Ottawa, has rendered a splendid service. In common with the people of this district, he believed that this area should bo reserved for public use as a recreation park, and the representations of the Park Board received his hearty and earnest endorsation when before the authorities at Ottawa. The area contained in the sixty nrrei Is verv desirable piece of nrnnprtv from every angle, and particularly so when linked up with the present park area, and gives to this community and those who come from a distance the advantages of one of the finest combinations of lake and forest to bo found anywhere, even in British Columbia, where such places abound.

To have turned the area into the usual commercial use would have been a calamity. TWO LODGES WILL BE BUILT Will House Fire Rangers in Cultus Lake and Harrison Hot Springs Districts. Two lodges, one in the Cultus Lake district and the other in the vicinitv of Harrison Hot bprings will be built by the federal department of the interior in order to house the fire rangers patrolling those districts during the summer months. The lodges will not be of an elaborate character but will be nmmnriious enough to house the ranger and his family during the months he is on duty. Two or three vacancies on the fire ranger's staff have occurred during the winter and an oral exam ination of all applicants is being held by Mr.

Ed. Walmsley, Crown Timber Agent. Consideration Is elven to residents of the district where a vacancy exists, while a pre ference is given to returned soldiers. The fire rangers will probably start out about the middle of April if weather conditions are suitable for the burning of slashings in order in reduce the fire hazard. The sal ary is 1 130 to commence with, rising to $140 after two years with the department.

A "creation" Is a feminine hat that costs $20 more than it Is worth. it. Chilli it) nek t' 9 I ly 3lf y3 I'll tV IV 2 I THIRTY FOURTH YEAR, VOL. No. 49 CHILLIWACK, B.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1925 $1.50 A YEAB ADDITIONAL SIXTY ACRE SITE FOR PARK PURPOSES DISTRIBUTES PEARSON'S STORE $445,608.00 TO ITSMEMBERS AGAIN ENTERED; BURGLARS CAUGHT Cnltus Lake Puik Now Comprises ISO Acres. Leawe of Foreshore Rights Exported Valley Mail Service Has A Romantic History The Story of His Majesty's Mail De livery Along Fiu sei River Replete With Interest. MARY A. BARBER An interest of never failing charm is attached at all times and for all people in the receiving of their letters. Romance, which we all love, secretly or frankly openly, is attached to the uncertainty of our mail.

Whatever they may contain, our letters provide the most fascin ating and absorbing human interest continuea story we write we au for the reply and so it goes mer rily on. It has gone on In various forms, from the earliest of days when the history of tribes and peoples was written on slabs of rock, and will do doubt continue to time Immemorial. The telegraph, the telephone, the wireless and radio, each have their place, but nothing can take the place of the hand written message, except the writer himself. It Is inconceivable either from social or business standpoint to consider life without the incoming and outgoing of the mail, and one, who in these days, expects to re ceive a reply In the same day to a communication sent one hundred miles away, and a reply from the east inside of ten days, can wltl) difficulty realize conditions when such was a matter of, in one case a week, and In the latter case of six weeks in transit one way. To the question often asked of the early pioneers, "To what did you most look forward in those first days of your coming to this new land?" the answer came back invariably "To our letters from home." "Sometimes they made us more homesick, sometimes they filled us with fresh courage, but whatever they contained, they were what we longed for most." And while the receiving and send ing of mail in these early days was a matter of such vital interest and importance, no less and important and Interesting, as well as romantic, was the manner of delivery of His Majesty's mail In the days prior to the train service.

And because of the very thrilling history which lo written in every part of the Fraser River Valley as the trek ground of the hundreds and thousands who from '58 made their way through this valley on up to the world famed and storied Cariboo, the story of the early mail service in these parts Is of peculiar interest. Picture the steamers in 58 ana 59 plying their way to New West minster, up the Fraser River to Harrison Mills, up the Harrison River to Lake Harrison, and on to Fort Douglas, then a town grown up In the night, whence the travellers were transported by "overhead" on to the Cariboo, "the land of their dreams." At Fort Douglas, the Robt. Mae donalds kept a famous hotel. Mr. Macdonald was one of the very early settlers of '54, and Mrs.

Fraser Yorke, a daughter, now living at Huntingdon, well remembers the days of her youth spent in this thriving little village of boom days. Here it was that Capt. Munn had the first post office in this part of the Fraser Valley, and one can Imagine the excitement and interest that centred around this place at the time of the incoming of the boats with the mall. Among the earliest of these mail and passen ger boats wore the Hope, the Henrietta, the Reliance, the Flying Dutch man and the "LUloett," the latter built by the people of Douglas and LUloett, and later transferred to the New Westminster Yale service. At Harrison Mills, Pat Donnelly provided what accommodation he could muster for hungry and sleepy travellers, and often acted as custo dian for the mall directed to the few settlers on the south side of the Chilliwack' Fine $50,000 Postoffice river.

From Douglas or Donnelly's a trusty Indian would bring Hie few precious missives across in a canoe, the receiver of the letter often paying the Indian fifty cents for the service. Big Ben, a trusty native, is well remembered by old timers in this connection. Following the arrival of the Royal Engineers, and the decision to reach the Cariboo by a shorter route, by way of the Fraser River to Yale and over a government made road into Ihe gold fields, the delivery of the mail and express was given, first, into the hands of Billy Ballou, who a snort time was succeeded by F. J. Barnard of New Westminster, who established the Barnard's express and mail delivery right through to the Cariboo.

Barnard detailed the sturdy Bill Bristol to carry the mall from New Westminster to Yale. The Fraser was stayed with as long as possible, and it is said that the hearing of the exhaust of the approaching steam ers miles away was the signal for all to stop work and go and meet the steamer to see the incoming passengers if any, and to get the mail. When the weather made progress by this means impossible, canoes were used, portaging when neces ary, and when finally the river beanie altogether unnavigable, Bill Bristol, with two trusty Indians, would actually blaze a trail through ce and snow, the latter often over wo and three feet deep, right from New Westminster through to Yale. Here in the beginning Barnard him self on foot carried the letters and papers on his back on up to the Cariboo and return, a distance of some 7 60 miles. This service was soon followed by a pony express.

and a little later by a four horse and six horse coach, mail and ex press. There are people in different parts of the province today who re member vividly a ride with Steve Tingley, driver for Barnard, in those days. Once taken it was never for gotten. Six practically wild horses would be in harness, held by the bridle in readiness, until the pas sengers were seated, and then with wild lunge the caravan would start on a "John Gilpin" ride for a ten or twelve mile stretch, where fresh horses were waiting for their part In the relay. By this method often eighty miles would be covered in a day.

Bill Bristol is still remembered by many in Chilliwack and stories of his hardiness are told by the old timers of the picture he presented on his arrival in the winter, covered with ice and snow, and his shirt open to his bosom. It at any rate, made for long life in Bristol case, as It is only a few years since his death in the upper country. Bill Bristol found the mail ser vice carrying somewhat simplified with the making of the government road from New Westminster to Yale the old Yale road. As usual the mail was carried by steamer in the summer and in winter by horses and wagon, or horses and sleigh, as the weather dictated. One of the stopping places was at Rube No well's, the barn situated on land across what is now the high school.

Rube Nowell, Henry Kipp, Horatio Webb and others assisted with the changing of the teams. It is around this time that we learn of the first rural mail service. In es sentials the same service as is given today. In the Sumas district, the first settled district in the valley, where a number of families were congregated, the Millers, the three families of Chadseys, Thos. Lewis, Thos.

Yorke and others. Bill Bristol, on his way coming or going, would call at the respective family homes open his bag and distribute his mall. Shortly after this the Millers, who kept a little store, took over the mail, and later Donald McGillivray. Mrs. Isaac Kipp recalls many inter 'i i night at her home accompanying Bill P.rnstnl.

O. A. Walfcem, afterwards Ju v.alkem, Jerome Harper ana others, sometimes as many as seven. Bristol continued with the mail until 1870, when John McCutcheon was requested by the inspector of mails to handle the bag of mail which came up by the steamboat. Mr.

McCutcheon at that time was operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company and was living on the old homestead, now held by his son, William. Mr. McCutcheon, has been spared many years to see the changes worked in the Valley, and with his good wife is one of the Valley's most highly respected pioneers. As Mr. McCutcheon lived quite a long distance from the boat landing, R.

C. Garner was made postmaster at the Landing, thereby becoming really the first postmaster in the Chilliwack Valley. Mrs. Jane Macdonald, wife of Mr. R.

Macdonald, who had left Fort Douglas for Yale some time past with the transferring of the business Interests to Yale, and who later moved to Chilliwack, succeeded Mr. Garner as the keeper of the mail in 1871. In 1884 Mr. G. R.

Ashwell, who was in business at the Landing, was made postmaster, which position be occupied until '87, when the postoffice was moved from the Landing to what was then called Centerville, and now is Chilliwack. Mr. S. Cawley, was made postmaster, the first in the town, and was succeeded in a few months, on account of ill health, by Mr. S.

Mellard, who has held this position for thirty eight years. With the opening of the C. P. Harrison Mills was the distributing postoffice for the Chilliwack Val ley, the mail being brought over to the Landing postoffice in a canoe, the first carrier on record being an Indian called Louie who was paid by Postmaster Ashwell one dollar a return trip. Jeff.

Harrison, well known to many as the only son of Mrs. Harrison of the good old Harrison House fame, started as carrier in the spring, with the regu lation canoe, the mail consisting at this time of about eight letters and a few papers. Two dollars and sixty five cents was the charge for the trip, with about five journeys a week. In the winter with the river par tially or altogether frozen, the trip was one of thrills and excitement. The journey might be started In the canoe.

A distance out, the ice might make travelling in this manner im possible, and the canoe would be shouldered on the Indian's back and long poles used for testing the ice, would be brought into requisition by Harrison and the Indian guide. A heavy rope tied around the waist, would extend from one to another for safety's sake, and passengers If any would take their place holding on to the rope. Again, if the ice was certain and a strong wind blowing, overcoats would be thrown open to act as sails, and all sorts of ingenious methods, original and primitive, were used in making the trip. More than once the canoe was smashed in two and the mail car riers forced to swim to shore. Under all conditions, winter and summer, the trip was made with abso lute regularity and safety for the mail.

Harrison was followed in the service by "Sheep" Macdonald, so called because he was the owner of between fifty and one hundred sheep, about the only ones in the valley at that time. Macdonald served about seven years, until his death by drowning while on a mail trip to Harrison. Jeff. Harrison finished the term and received the next contract, the mail at this time having Increased to between four and five sacks each day. A canoe was used until the steamer "Minto" was built by Harrison and CeDt.

Menton (now a resident of New Westminster), assisted by Mr. esting people who have made the'D. H. Day. It was a small stern Membership Has Increased in Two Years from 1841 to 2130 Directors Re elected A growth in the membership of the Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association from 1841 in 1923 to 2130 in 1925, and cash turnover of $3,539,931, of an actual gain in the amount distributed to its members during the year of $445,608 was reported at the annual meeting of that organization hel din Hamilton Hull of Thursday afternoon.

Tlie satisfaction of the members was evidenced by the re election of all the old board of directors without recourse to the usual ballot of tlie whole membership. Only four of the directors came up for re election. The members had been asked to nominate in the usual way by mail, and as only the names of the old directors were nominated all that had to be done was to declare them elecled by acclamation and to arrange which one of them should stand for the one year term only. Mr. R.

Hamilton, the youngest member of the board, immediately the question was raised, consented to stand for the one year only, and the metting then confirmed the election of the hoard as follows: W. J. Park, J. W. Miller, A.

Davie, W. L. Macken, L. T. Beharrell, R.

Hamilton and A. II. Mercer. "We have had a very successful year," said General Manager W. J.

Park, in his report to the meeting. "We felt that we were safe in promising you last year that we would be able to give you at least five cents per pound more for your but ter fat than you would be able to get under ordinary circumstances, and this at least we have been able to Ho thanked the membership gen erally for the splendid spirit of cooperation which they had exhibited. I "We have endeavored to keep you well informed of everything that we have undertaken. Ninety nine per cent, of the trouble in organizations of this Mr. Park continued, "we have learned is due to misinformation, and we have kept no secrets from you.

"Co operation," he continued, "we believe is the only solution of our marketing problems. It is not a cure all, but it has proven effective with us." Referring to the purchase of the Pacific milk plant, the erection of the utility plant at Sardis, and a number of other large capital expenditures authorized at extraordinary general meetings last year, altogether entailing an estimated expenditure of $417,000, Mr. Park said that, owing to various circumstances, it had been impossible to carry out all of these schemes, but the work was well in hand, and would be pushed forward as speedily as possible, and he felt certain would prove an excellent investment. Grades Being Considered The matter of purchase of milk on grade was one, the sneaker said, which the association had under consideration, and he believed that ways and'means of putting the idei into operation would be worked out. The question of lessening cost of production was also being carefully considered.

In this connection, Mr. Park urged that every member as soon as possible join a cow testing association so that they would be able to prove up exactly what each member of their herd was doing for them and wean out the "boarders." The actual amount or butter fat handled by the association during 1924, according to the directors' report, was 3.603,444 pounds, an increase of 559,225 pounds over the record of 1923, and only 241,452 pounds less than the total for 1917 and 1918. During the peak month of May, it was pointed out, approximately 3600 cans of milk were taken care of by the association every twenty four hours. That the milk produced by this wheeler with an upright boiler, which at times gave much cause for anxiety, and was licensed to carry twenty passengers. It did its duty bravely for eight years.

Harrison and Capt. Menton were bought out by Henley, Garvie and Yates, wno put on what was known as the John P. Douglas, which came to grief one stormy night at the mouth of the Harrison River. The Vedder louowea the Douglas and continued with the mail contract until the service this way was written finished from Har rison, which was the coming of the B. C.

E. R. in the year 1910. In contrast to the service of the early days, twenty five to forty bags of mail are now brought into Chilli wack city daily, and three daily mails are despatched. From the first log postoffice at the Landing has evolved the fine modern brick building, costing $50,000.

The postmaster has five assistants, sells $15,000 worth of stamps and $60,000 worth of postoffice money orders a year. Sardis, Rosedale and Atchelitz each have their own offices, and there is a daily delivery service on the rural routes throughout the Valley. Chief Harding Has Two Men In Toils Shortly After Burglary Are Sent Up For Trial. i Two strangers giving their names as Cairns and Morgan were sent up for trial by Magistrate Wilson in the Municipal Police Court on Monday afternoon. The pair were charged with breaking and entering the general store of Pearson Sardis, shortly before three o'clock on Sunday morning.

Entrance was gained by breaking the glass in the front door, a couple of rain coats, shoes, razors, and food being taken. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson reside close by, and the breaking of the glasa awakened Mrs. Pearson, but before Mr.

Pearson could get to the store the burglars had departed. Chief IL J. Harding was communicated with; at the Municipal Hall by telephone and in ten minutes' time had the pair in tow. When nearing Sardis he spotted a couple of dark objects near Redpath's blacksmith shop, investigation proving them to be two men in the act of fitting themselves out with new shoes and coats. The Chief immediately placed the men under arrest and drove them to the police station.

They were taken to New Westminster on Tuesday morning to await trial. Chief Harding is being congratulated on pulling off such a smart piece of work singlehanded. A year ago on Saturday morning the safe in the same store was blown and $40 and a number of papers stolen, while the store has been the scene of attempted burglary on two or three other occasions, in each case the guilty getting away. CONTRACT LET FOR CUT OFF IN CANYON Government Awards Work For De tour on Provincial Highway The contract for what is knownt as the Jones cut off on the Fraser Canyon road construction job has been let to the Nickson Construction Company, Vancouver. This job provided for a two mile diversion of the highway from the old Yale road just this side of Hope, and will mean rockwork for practically the whole distance.

The contract was let on the unit basis, and the aggregate expenditure is expected to be about $22,000. The job will be started at once. W. WIXSOX XEW AIIIIOTSFORI) JUDGE J. W.

Winson of Huntingdon, president of the British Columbia Beekeeping Association, has been ap pointed stipendiary magistrate for Abbotsford, and Judge of the Small Debts Court. association is not sold as whole milk on the Vancouver market is shown. by the following table which shows exactly how the milk handled by them was disposed of In 1924: Made into butter, 917,326.76 lbs. butterfat; made into cheese, 125, 171.19 sold to condensers, 774,386.74 sold to dealers, 728,320.60 distributed, 1,058. 239.44 lbs.

Price for Butter Fat The average monthly price per pound of butter fat paid to the members of the association it is shown was 62 1 2 cents, or an increase ot five cents over that of 1923. This: increase, according to the directors, is all the more notable in the face of the tremendous increased production handled by the association, and the necessity there was for the sale of a great deal of the product to condenseries and other markets not so good as the whole milk market. Incidentally it is pointed out in the report that the entire cost of administration, processing and marketing by the association had dropped from 24.2 cents per pound in 1923 to 21.2 cents per pound butter fat in 1924. Reference was made in passing to a feed department conducted by the association, and it was shown that feed to the amount of over $335, 000 had been supplied to members. During the year a hog feeding; experiment was also made by the association.

This was done Iargely for skim milk, large quantities of for the purpose of finding a use which were going to waste. Temporary quarters were erected" at Delair and a bunch of feeder hogs purchased, and the result of the experiment Indicates the value of hog raising as an additional channel through which to market skims milk. "Returns are not fully in yet," said Mr. Alex Davie, in referring to the experiment, "but we will make a profit of between $4000 and. $5000.

iU.