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

25 IJ Nr ClitllitPidi PUBLISHED IX THE INTEREST OF THE FERTILE CmLLIWACK VALLEY. TWENTY SECOND YEAR NO. 9. CHILLIWACK, B.C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1912. $1.00 A YEAR.

MISSION BOAT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST VALLEY OPERA HOUSE THE ANNUAL SAFELY LAUNCHED MUCH IMPROVED MILITARY CAMP BOTH OIL AND GAS EREELHPOKEN OF "IF WORTH DOING, IS WORTH DOING RIGHT" Engineer Engaged on Work Reports Strong Indications for a Good Strike of Gas and Oil. Committee of Business Men Appointed to Undertake Work of Fnanclng the Undertaking. At a meeting of the Colonial Oil Company, Limited, with which the Chilliwack Oils, Limited, Is merged, the most optimistic feeling prevailed as to the prospects of making a rich strike of gas and oil in this valely. Samples of coke coal, shale, limestone, sandstone, and conglomerates were on exhibition, these being found in numerous places throughout the district, and declared by the oil experts to be the sure indication oT the presence of oil. H.

J. Barber, who Is president of the Chlllfwack Oila Limited, in 'an address, reviewed the history of the finding of oil indications, and the or ganization of a company seven years ago. Efforts had been made on several occasions to acquire suflficient capital for development purposes, but in the confining of the shareholders lb citizens of the valley this'was found to be dcfiflcult. Mr. Barber stated that at times members of the company favored the commencement of drilling operations, but the ore conservative insisted upon a sufficient amount of capital being raised before this could be undertaken thoroughly and with all fairness locally of about $50,000 which would be turned over to those investing shares in the company, pros pecting work would be started at once, Mr.

Hosam, of the Colonial Oil Com pany, pointed out the advantages that a good strike of gas or oil would be to the people of C'hllllwack. Lands that now were worth $200 an acre would almost Immediately advance to the thousands an acre instead of the hundreds. From the investigations made by the engineer and others there were large deposits of fire clay, coal shale, limestone, which only re quired the advantages of cheap fuel to induce capitalists to come here and develop them. With a good strike of oil or gas this cheap fuel would at once be supplied. The valley is so situated that It has every advantage In both rail and water transportation.

and oil drilling can be more econom cally carried on here than In the other places where oil indications are found For this reason the Colonial Oil Com pany would rather start) operations here than in the other fields under lease by the company. The Colonial Oil Company asked the citizens Chilllwack for "only $50,000 towards the work. The engineers' report was read, and from his view point he thought! the prospects here to be favorable for a good strike of gas and oil. A general discussion then took place, Messrs. Barwell, Macken, M.

H. Nelems, A. S. "Watson, and others taking part. Mr.

Macken apparently voicing the feeling of the meeting in his declaration that it was almost the duty of the citizens who were interested in the development of the resources of the valley, to make at least a small financial sacrifice to ascertain once and or all "time ir the indications shown were of value. Oil and gas are both very valuable assets, but they are commodities that must be gone after in eurnest, and only obtained at an expenditure of considerable money. At the conclusion of meeting a committee composed of Messrs. Macken, Hutcheson, Watson, Munro, Coote' and Barber were named to undertake the work of soliciting for stock. A.

stock list was on file and considerable money subscribed by those at the meeting. G. I. Thornton4 left Friday evening upon notification from the Agricultural Department to report, at Victoria. Mr.

Thornton is held high In the confidence of the officials of the Provincial Agricultural Department, being one of the most energetic In the collection of fruits and grain for exhibition purposes, as well as active in other lines wherein the publicity of the province is concerned. Is Named the "Tliomas Crosby" and Will Be Used in the Work of the Metliodist Church. The Thomas Crosby, the new $20, 000 mission power boat, connected with the Methodist Mission cause in Canada, was successfully launched in Vancouver Monday evening, June 3rd, the presence of a very large num ber of the members of the clergy. A 'bottle containing sea water was broken by Mrs. R.

W. Harris, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Crosby, over the bow of the boat, to christen the name of the boat. The Rev. Dr.

Crosby, the well known veteran Methodist missionary, was present on the occasion. He has seen 50 years' valuable service among the Indians of British Columbia." For many years he was in charge of, the "Glad Tidings," the first missionary boat on the coast. The Thomas Crosby took the water nicely, after a brief religious cere. mony, and amid a demonstration or enthusiasm on the part of the several hundred well 'wlshers of both sexes who had foregathered about the yard. The ceremony was in charge of the Rev.

Dr. White, of Sardis, superintendent of the Canadian Methodist missions, and others who took part were the Revs. A. E. Green, A.

E. Robers and R. N. Powell The Thomas' Crosby will be in charge of Captain of William Oliver, who was in charge of the "Glad Tidings," which he (built, and later in command successively of the Udal and Homespun, which were also built by him. Another Interesting personage present was Dr.

A. E. Bolton, who established the first missionary hospital in B.C., twenty years ago. The Thomas Crosby, which was designed and built by Mr. Daniel Mc Phee, is' 87 feet in length, with a 1714 foot beam, and a 7 foot draught.

Her engines, which are Clyde built, compound 160 hore power, were purchased from Stancliffe Co. She Is very up to date and will be run by oil fuel. She is fitted with accommodation for a missionary and a crew of five, and has large cabins or saloons, "or services and public gatherings. The Thomas Cros by will constitute the principal mis sionary veasel Jn connection (the Methodist missions. There are a number of small boats, one of which is on the Kootenay Lakes.

The new boat will take the place" of the Home spun, which, for the past four "years has been doing its best to tackle the work. Her field of work will include all B.C. waters up to Stewart, and the west coast of the island; The mission has a number of hospitals, well equipped With doctors and nurses, but the Thomas Crosby will b.e used almost entirely for evangelistic" work. THE EGG LAYING CONTEST. The Rhode Island Reds and the White Leghorns are.

(n the lead In their respective classes la the Inter national Egg laying held in Vancouver. In. the class for. heavy breeds, a pen of Rhode Isalnd! Reds and a pen White Wyandottes are leading with a total of 4i2tl eggs iaid since the beginning of the "contest W. C.

Roibbins pert of Buff Orpingtons are only two eggs behind these pens and a total of li9 eggs iis; re corded! to their credit. Up to May 20, seven months, 514 eggs have been lad by the White Leghorn in pen No. 2. The ten leading positions in class one were held by the White Leghorns. The average price received" for.

the eggs was 33 cents a dozen. For the last two weeks of the month heavy blasting operations Jiad been carried on by the city authorities who were removing cedar stumps in the vicinity surrounding the pens. No fewer than five pens In the class for light bird passed the century mark during the month, while six pens produced" over ninety eggs each. Feathep eating among the birds was very prevalent. The officials foundl that bitter aloe9 and lard mixed together proved very effective, until the fowls removed thl by dusting.

The hot weather affected the heavy class birds more than it did) the lightweights. Street Work in Future Will Be of a Permanent Nature and Finaflce ed Accordingly. Waterworks Purchase By law to Be Presented to Ratepayers on June 28th. Monday evening's meeting the Vlty' Council was devoted almost exclusively to the work of the Board of Works. It was expected the estimates for the year and the rate of taxation would be submitted but these as yet are unprepared.

Discussion was had on the work In progress in connection with grading and macadamizing and the, road supervisor gave out the information that in two weeks' time work on Westminster street from city limits to city limits would be completed. Young street was completed to the Hope river bridge and at the completion of Westminster street macadam ising of Wellington street would be commenced. After discussion It was agreed that the good work should proceed until the bad weather set In. Eighty cubic yards of rock la be ing chushed daily and the intention of the council is to mako all work permanent. The Mayor in expressing himself on this said he believed if a thing was worth doing at all.

It was worth doing well." This rule holds as true in road making as in anything else. Work of macadam izing will go on along the tributary and side streets at the completion of the trunk streets. In the financing of this a loan under the locfcl im provement general by law will be raised. This extended over a term of years will tend' to lower the an nual rate of taxation than if charged to the general revenue annually. That a feeling for peraianency in street work was becoming general amongst the ratepayers was manifested in a request from Jno.

Orr, a resident in the suburban portion of the city. Mr. Orr made a request for 500 feet of five foot cement sidewalk on the east side of Woodbine avenue rather than have a plank walk put down now to be replaced in a few years by a cement one. In discussing the sidewalk ques tion It was agreed to proceed with the advertising of the places wAe're sidewalks would be constructed. This would give every ratepayer interested a chance to appear at the court of revision, set to purpose, and state their objection to it if any.

Waterworks Purchase By law. In reply to the opinion asked Bow ser, Keld ana waiiDrioge, a mm ui barristers as to the effect the pur chase of the waterworks system might have on the borrowing powers of the city, the wording of the communication was such that the council 'considered it too vague to act off hand. The Mayor was instructed, to continue the inquiry if necessary. A bylaw asking the ratepayers to sanction the'borrowing of $100,000 by debenture loan was given its readings, the poll on this to be taken June 28. The ratepayers will be asked at the same time to vote on the payment of $5000 to B.

Irwin as compensation for the injury to his property in the widening of Young street. Chas. Hutcheson Company asked to be allowed to place a Public Liabilities Insurance policy with the council. The rate for this insurance is $7 a hundred of the population and it insured against Injury to persons in falling from sidewalks, etc. J.

A. Bates, proprietor of the Fraser Valley Record and the Abbots ford Post, and T. Bradstock Brown, of the Huntingdon Star, have pur. chased the Sumas (Wash.) News from A. Stuart.

The News is the leading progressive organ of Whatcom county, and is one of the oldest established newspapers in this section of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Brown will have charge of the editorial end of the paper and Mr. Bates will attend to the business end of the firm. A.

W. Stuart, the late proprietor, goes to Brush, Colorado. Boards of Trade in Fraser Valley May Co operate to Carry, War to the Heart of Enemy's Country. Secretary of Mainland Board of Fire Underwriters Will Visit City to Adjust rates. A letter from Walker Walker, of Burnaby municipality, as read at the meeting of the Board of Trade on Wednesday evening that set the business men of this city thinking along the lines of further publicity.

The communication drew attention to the number of people that arrived monthly in the city of Vancouver, of which not more than five per saw the fertile agricultural Fraser Valley. They arrived at the Terminal City and for the want of someone to direct or advise them, passed through or returned to the country from which they came without a knowledge of the riches of the Lower Mainland that was awaiting, development. The writers suggested the co operatlfln of the 14 municipalities in the Lower Mainland and the 50 or more real estate, firms doing business therein. By the contributing monthly of ten or fifteen dollars from the municipalities and five dollars monthly by the real estate a sum of $390 monthly would be available for the establishment of an informaton bureau near the R. depot in Vancouver, with one or more corn competent men in and the payment of a man stationed at Mission City, who would visit every incoming train and distribute literature descriptive of the resources of the district.

In this manner it was thought many desirable settlers would be attracted to the Lower Mainland. The suggestions made were considered good, and a motion endorsing it was unanimously passed, and the president was instructed to attend a meeting that will be called at some near future date to thoroughly discuss the question. Post Orflee Will Not Be Moved. The committee appointed to inquire into the advisability of moving the post office to some other temporary quarters, and to procure the quar ters if they found the removal ad viaable, made report that they considered a change undesirable, in view of the possible early completion of the new post office. They reported that improvements in electric wiring had been made by the postmaster and in justice to him they were not In favor of making a change.

The re port was accepted, the committee dls charged, and the matter dropped. Will Adjust Insurance Rating. In reply to a communication from the secretary of the Board of Trade for a readjustment of the insurance rates prevailing in the city, the secre tary of the Mainland Board of Fire 'Underwriters stated that he would visit the city about the last of June and go thoroughly into the question of Insurance rates. He acknowledged the receipt of letters pointing out to himhe fact that many Improvements hadr been made to the waterworks system and in the fire fighting equipment of the city, to adjust a reduction of the insurance rating. He also promised to address the Board of Trade at one of its regular meetings on the subject o.f fire insurance.

Delegates Report. A. B. McKenzie, who was appoint ed a delegate from the Board of Trade to attend the New Westminster agri cultural convention, made a report of the result. He showed where much good could be done by a co operation of interests, which would reduce the middleman's profits and give to the producer the returns that were rightly going to him.

It should also tend to reduce the high cost of living to the consumer. Mr. Dunn addressed the meeting on the subject of electricity, getting in return for his effort a very hearty vote of thanks. Mrs. G.

W. Chadsey, Wellington street, was visiting her daughter. Mrs, W. H. Nesbit, in New Westminster, last week.

Fire Escapes, New Exits, Chemical Extinguishers and Ladders Are Lately Installed. iL. J. Thomas, manager of the Chilliwack Opera House, has met every demand of the building inspector for the city, in the Improvements to safeguard the public from accidents from fire. Mr.

Thomas has gone farther than the la'w required, him to go and the exits now installed would meet the demands for a building 1600 square feet of area more than that of the persent one. On Tuesday last at the invitation of the manager, the chairman of the fire, "Water and light committee of the city council, the chief of the fire brigade and a couple of members of the press, visited the opera house, and guided by Mr. Thomas, made a thorough inspection of all the improvements. On the stage and back of it, the position of the chemical extinguishers, the ladders and the main and supplementary exits were pointed out. The signs, prohibiting smoking on or off the stage were con spicuously) posted The scene supports were made secure by the addition of extra bolts and rods, truss and saddle braces.

The switchboard was securely locked, and but one man, the one with the key, has privilege to handle it. A locker equipped with a plentiful supply of electricians' tools also is installed and in charge of the switchman. In the body of the building, the same consideration for safety to the public has been carried out. Extra ex.ts opening almost directly on the street have been put in. A stand pipe with fifty feet of hose al ways connected is on the rlghthand side of the room.

This, of course, is in charge of a fireman who at every public gathering will be stationed in the building. A test of the water pressure was made and a stream with force enough to reach the Royal Bank building on the other side of the street convinced the fire chief that it was quite adequate. On the balcony, conditions for safety corresponds with those in the body of the building and on the stage. An exit from there leads directly out ot the opera house to a subterranian passage that eventually lands on Wellington street. Electric lights in the passages and over the exits insures the safe guidance of those using them.

At all public gatherings, whether concerts, dances, or plays, three fire men under the fire chief or one 5f hi3 captains will be on duty One will be stationed at the rear of the one on the balcony and the other in the body of the hall. These men will see to and insist on the carrying out of the regulations of the laws governing the use or abuse of public buildings, when occupied by the public. THE JUNE ROD AND GUN. The June Rod and Gun should be unusually interesting to the readers of the Lower of British Columbia. In this number there is an article by A.

P. Cummins, of Sardis, on the pheasant as a game birth Mr. Cummins goes quite exhaustively Into the subject, showing In his writings a practical knowledge of the Chinese and the Mongolian pheasants. In addition to this article there is an illustrated story descriptive of a Journey into the Arctic slope, contributed by Dr. Luther Harvey.

"Vacation Camps," the culture of black and silver foxes, and an article on the Grand Cascapedia, the great salmon river of Eastern Canada, are but a few of the interesting articles that are to be found in this number. Rodi and Gun Is published in Woodstock, Ontario, by W. J. Taylor, Lim.ted. NUPTIALS.

Grimniett Saner. On Tuesday evening, June 4th at the Methodist Parsonage, the Rev. A. Roberts united in marriage Mr, A. E.

Roberts united in marriage Mr. Eva M. E. Sauer, both of Belling ham. Wash.

The couple motored over from the Washtington state city, and returned the same evening. Only the mother of the bride and Mrs. Roberts were the witnesses. Local Company of 104th Regiment Goes Into Cafnp at Victoria June 21st Inst. Chilliwack Band Practicing Consistently in Preparation for Regimental Duty at Victoria.

Friday, June 21, is the date set by the military authorities for the opening of the military camp of instruction at Victoria. company, of the 1.04th Regiment, under the command of Cap tain Coote, is up to full strength, and this year wdl go into camp fully equipped with clothing, belts, haversacks and the Oliver equipment. Through the "untiring efforts of Captain Coote, the Chilliwack brass band has signed on' as the 104th Regiment band, and consistent practice on the popular march music of the British 'j army is being had in preparation for their appearance in camp. The band is now in good shape, the few weeks practice making a wonderful difference in the harmony and time. At the end of their two weeks In Victoria, the band should come home as one of the best in the province, if not in all Western Canada.

Tonight a full turnout of company has been requested by the captain. Manoeuvres on the fair grounds and in the drill, hall will be had, and arrangements made for a church parade with the band on Sunday, the 16th inst. This will be the last parade the company will have before going into camp, the Wednesday before entraining being occupied in the outfitting of the boys with the equipment, etc. The company going this year Is if anything, better than that of last year. Nearly all the members of the Cubs baseball club have joined, and arrangements have already been mad for a series of games with the ball teams of Victoria while in camp.

A cup donated by the officers undoubtedly will come to Chilliwack as a. result of the games. The excellent showing of the Chilliwack company of militia must to a great extent be credited to the enthusiastic support given the members by the citizens of Chilliwack. Ever Since the organization of the company, a feeling of patriotism has been shown by the merchants and other employers in the valley in the sacrifice of interests to let their employees away for the two weeks. There Is yet to be heard of a single instance where refusal has been given for the request to go to camp, and in this as well as In other matters of patriotism, Chilliwack has set an to many of the other places in Canada.

A JAPANESE TEA. The handsome home of Aldeman Gervan, was put to a pretty use on' Friday afternoon last, when Mrs, Gervan turned it over to the Ladies' id of Cooke's church for a Japanese The idea of a Japanese Tea Garden was carried out in every detail, the spacious rooms in the house lending themselves well for the, oc casion. Mrs. Gervan Sad assisting her, Mrs. C.

B. Reeves and a numbei of pretty girls dressel in the Japanese costumes. Musical numberi were contributed by Misses Kathleei Henderson, Millie Bell and others Several of the solos were taken fron Gilbert and Sullivan's favorite opera The Mikado. I THE DEATH OF EVA. A very pretty cantata was render ed by a mixed choir in Cooke' church on Tuesday evening, June 4 under the leadership of S.

Kelland the selection being Eva, taken frori Uncle Tom's' Cabin. The chouse were very prettily rendered and th; solo parts well taken by Miss Glady Kipp and Mr. Bailey. A duet Mrs. J.

C. Henderson and Miss Bessi. Henderson was also well received their voices blending well. Th: reading wua given by the Rev. R.

jj Douglas. The cantata was carriei out under the auspices of the W. T. U. i.