PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN With Which Is Amalgamated the Prince George Leader VOL. 6. No. 66. PRINCE GEORGE, B.O., JANUARY 24th. 1924. FIVE CENTS. Railway Issue Coming Before Board of Trade Prince George Route Into Peace River Will bo Urged on Mod-. day Evening Timo H�.s Arrived for Citizens to Present Their Case to Ottawa Authorities Every member of the Board of Trade should make it a point to attend the annual meeting of that body Ttf&ich has been called for Monday evening next. Not only will the officers bo chosen, who will have the direction of the board's affars in hand for the ensuing year, but the btjj question of Prince George's claim for consideration in the fixing of the location by which the Peace River is to be given connection with the seaboard, will also be presented. At the present time a determined effort is hiiiiiK made to induce the federal government to bring the Peace River extension of the Canad-i&n National lino out at some point in the vicinity of Rrule, without any �adequate examination of such other routes as present themselves. At the instigation of the local Hoard of H. G. Perry, M.L.A.. as its ro- M'ARTHUR MUST SATISFY DEPARTMENT OF INTKNTION BEFORE STREET CLOSING Action upon the application of J. D. McArthur for the consent of the-j public workB department to the closing of the streets and lanes in the portion of, the Hudson's Bay sub-i-ivlsion purchased by him for saw-milling purposes, has been deferred until such time as the officials of the department are convinced that Mr. McArthur means busineus in the matter of construction. In the event of the approval of the public works department being secured it will still be necesssry for Mr. McArthur to proceed with his application under the "Plans Cancellation Act." WOMAN DRAWS POST OF LABOR MINISTRY SECRETARY London, Jan. 24.�Miss Margaret Bond Field, the new member of the Commons for Northampton, has been appointed secretary of the ministry of Labor. She is the first woman to serve in any such public capacity. Active Season in Road Work This Summer Koad lo Connect Willow Rriver and Gisconie Will lxs Finished Early in Year Highway From Mclirtdo Will' be Carried as Far as Croydon, a Distance of 28 Mile* MOUNTAIN LUMBERMEN'S HEAI PREDICTS INCREASE IN COST Calgary. Jan. 23�J. R. Poole secretary of the Mountain Lumber men's association. in conventio: here, predicted a general lncreas prosentative. induced the associated ! i� the cost of production this year boards of the province to request of Labor is Now in Control in Great Britain Premier Baldwin Tenders Kosi�jna the /minister of railways for the Domini":;, as well us tho management of the Canadian National railways, to make the most searching investigation into the water grade ! route for a railway, which would connect tho Peace River district with the Canadian National system at Prince George, before setting the sign of their approval upon the pro-1 ti�n Following Defeat �J Labor posed Brule extension. In addition ; and Liberals to this Mr. Perry, as the represeuta-1 --------- tive of the district in the Legislature, j King Oul� Upon Ramsay Macdonal Secured the unanimous apnrovel of j u> Fm.m Govorniuent iuul ,lo gthe houpe to a resolution to the \ jjiaame effect. Since then the signs are: Snot wanting that consideration of the j . , , , ~ . ,� , . . , � London. Jan. 2.�Stanley Baldwin Prince George route as a desirable,, , ,. . ,, . J - �, ... head of the .Conservative.government tendered the resignation of himsel Accepts Task ||nit ranee Into the Peace River gap given. In almost as many words 9|G. McBride, the representative of tine district in the House of Coin-pidns, has told the people that the federal authorities, despite the tremendous pressure which is being brought upon them, are not satisfied with the route which would be secured by the adoption of the extension by way of Brule, and that he and those of his ministers to the king today as the result of the adoption of the want of confidence mo lion which was carried by the joint action of the Labor and Libera members of the house. It nouueed it is the first time is an-in 2 8 has every hope that in the end the advantages of the Prince George rtiiute will turn the scale in its favor. Now is the time for the Prince Qeorgo Board of Trade to strike, and Strike hard. If it can be shown that] tam:c ot" tho resignation of Premier . f ~------ �------ _�..... r,tr~^. (i,ol Baldwin the king summoned Ram- years in which a British government has been forced to resign after an actual defeat in the house. It is necessary to go back to the time of Lord Rosebery to find a similar instance. Immediately following the accep- �the Prince George route offers the shortest line into Vancouver and I$rinee Rupert, and at the same time otters a better grade than can be iSijcured by any o'her route, the local jjfoard of Trade should press the Adoption of the Prince George route With every ounce of energy it can 'command. � In an address which he delivered last week to the citizens of Brock-ville, Sir Henry Thornton, president [of the Canadian National, told them that so long as he remained at the head of the railway system it would not be allowed to become the sport of politicians or the football of politics, and that irrespective of criticism he intended to manage the railway in the interests of the people ot Canada .is a whole, and not for the benefit of any particular section. This 1b the attitude which the people of Prince George would like to see Sir Henry adopt when he comes to make the momentous do-Islon as to whether he will tap the oace River by way of Brule or rlnce George. Ho is big enough to see through liiny attempt to influence his decision 'to make the interests of the taxpayers of the Dominion a matter of secondary consideration to the interests of the owners of coal areas along the line of the proposed Brule extension. I be tho coal of such areas Rood or bad. He is also big enough to know that the Canadian National need not expect to enjoy a monopoly In the rnrry ing trade of so great a portion of the Dominion as the Peace River is destined to be. within a very few years. At the present time he has the choice of routes. If he allows any consideration to Influence his judgment so as to permit of the Canadian Pacific getting into the Peace River with a Bhorter mileage and a better grade than he gets for the"| king say Macdonald, leader of the Labor party, and requested him to form a government; Mr. Macdonald accepted the taak and it is said he will be ready with an announcement as to the principal members of the new government on Thursday. It is announced he will take over the post Of the foreign office as well as the premiership. On the. motion of Premi :r Baldwin the parliament was adjourned until February 12th, a date agreed upon to meet tho convenience of the ne � premier. Premier Ramsay Macdoni.ld pre-trided over the first meeting of the new ministry on Wednesday when the �ailwi'.y stiriko situation was taken up. He announces that he will tako Immediate action in the matter of extending relief for the unemployed, as he-' considers this one of the paramount Issues in local politics. It is said the ultra radicals in the new house of commons have decided not to present their resolution of sympathy with the Soviet government of Russia in connection with the death of Lenine. Arthur Dixon, public works engineer for the Fort George riding, makes the announcement, following his return from the coast, that he is confident the road to connect GIs-come with Prince George will be completed this year. In order that Willow River might have the advantage of this road, in the matter of direct connection with this city, the location was changed some time ago and as now laid out the road will pass through Willow River to Gis-come. The work remaining to be done is the reconstruction of the five miles between Willow River and Gis-com<>. Between Willow River and Prince George there is about one mile of new road to be built, and between six and eight miles of road way to be improved. There is also every likelihood tha the road will be extended during the present year from Giscome to New lands. This will be done by build ing along the north shore of Eagle Lake. Road improvements of an exten slve nature will also be made in the vicinity of McBride, and by the end of the year there should he a fairly good road from McBride as far eas ;is Croydon, a distance cf 2S miles The main highway, to the west o Prince George, will also receive J groat deal of attention during the com ins season, and the work on i will extend from the Mud River to Endako, which marks the western limit of the old Fort peorge riding On the portion of the highway between Prince George and Quesne all that portion of work falling with in the Fort George riding has been completed, but there still remain quite a lot of work to be done between Woodpecker and Quesnel. It may he accepted as certain this work will be done during the early part COMMISSIONED DENOUNCES ACTION OF KELLY AND SCOTT IN G.T.R. BONUSES Ottawa, an. 24.�F. H. Honeywell, the commissioner appointed by the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the famous gratuity bonuses handed out to G. T.R. officeholders prior to the absorption of the railway by the government, hasf reported that the funds used for these payments were intended by parliament to be uaed for the operation of the railway. The commisaioner places tho blame upon Howard Kelly, president of the rr.llway, and Frank Scott, secretary. A number of the gratuities have already been returned to tho public treasury and provision made for repayment by others who benefitted. LOCAL CURLERS HOLD IP THEIR END IN GOOD SHAPE AT BIG BONSP1EL F. J. Steacy, of the local curling New Council Takes Over Civic Control Standing CommitUn** for the Year as Struck by Mayor Are Approved Mayor Joluuon Turn* Over Keys lo Successor With Best of Wishes The control of municipal affairs was formally passed over from the city council of 1923 to that of 1924 this afternoon. A meeting of the. old council was called for noon, and all members were present. The minutes of a couple of previous meetings were read and adopted and two matters of unfinished business were passed on to the new council. The club, received' a message from Ed- j fim. of ,.thesL;. was tho charge made of the Georpi summer, and that Prince will have excellent automo- bile connection with the south of the province before the close of the year. New Ministers Sprang From People's Loins Trades Unionists Have Seven Members in Ramsay Macdonald's Ijabor Cabinet iCanadlan National system he [have fallen down on his job. will . 1\ R. IfOUNDHOVHE AT SCHRniEXER DESTROYED BY FIRE WITH HEAVY LOSS Fort. William, Jan. 23�The* C. P. R. roundhouse at Schribener was destroyed by fire yesterday with a total loss of $250,000. The fire start-od In the cab of a locomotive. As a result of the fire the water supply of the town was cut off. CANADIAN HOCKEYLSTS ARRIVE IN FRANCE IN SOFT WEATHER Clamonieux, Jan. 23�The contingent of Canadian hockeylsts arrived hew today in good condition but found the weather so soft that they wero not able to get in any practice. Former Viceroy of India Accepts a Post �s First Lord of the Admiralty London, Jan. 24.�The Labor abinet, which took over the affairs f the nation 3'esterday, is for the iiosr part composed of men who ave come, up from the bottom of the ocial structure. Among the cablet appointments there have been a umber of surprises, especially those f Viscount Chelmsford, as first lord f the admiralty, and J. Wheatley s minister of health. The Chelms-ord appointment is referred to by ne Conservative paper as a great hock, as Chelmsford was formerly iceroy of India and no one had guessed that he had any Labor leanings. The Wheatley appointment is regarded as a sop to the extremists of Glasgow. There aro seven trades unionists among the ministers, most of whom can be considered as having sprung from the loins of the people. Ramsay Macdonald worked on land at the age of 12; J. H. Thomas, colonial secretary, started life as an on-glne cleaner; William Adamson, secretary for Scotland, commenced work when nine years old and worked for 27 years as a miner; Thomas Shaw and F. W. Jowett were both half-tjmers, the former commencing work at the age of ten, and the latter at the age of eight. Wheatley, minister of health, was one of a family of eight which for over a year lived in a single room apnrtment. monton yestorday to the effect that the local curlers are giving a gooc account of themselves in the big bonspiel. The message stated they had met and vanquished some ot the strongest rinks and met their first defeat in a 13-ond contest with the rink skipped by ex-president Morton of Edmonton. The local men are still in four of the bonspiel' competitions. Big Price is Secured for B. C. Bonds Two Million Dollars Worth Were Disposed of Yesterday at tho Price of 90.87 Proceeds of Sale Will be Applied to Loan Refund and Treasury Note Conversion Victoria. Jan. 24.�British Columbia bonds aold yesterday vt the highest price in recent years, $2,000,000 worth being sold at 96.877, netting 5.22 interest. The price received is said to have been eight points above the estimate of Hon. John Hart, minister ot finance, in his last budget speech. Of the bonds sold yesterday one million will be used to refund the short-term loan which matured last October, and the remainder for the conversion of treasury bills. The successful bidders were members of a syndicate consisting of the Toronto firm of Wood. Gundy & Co.. and ,two United States financial houses. to the Canadian National for lighting. The railway officials questioned the amount of current charged for, but tho civic power officials held to their first estimate. The current had been billed at the rate called for under tlie bylaw. Tho second matter was the arrears in connection with the Caldwell better housing loan. The city solicitor not being able to secure any response from Mr. Caldwell started an action for garnishment. This brought an offer to pay ?15 a month on account of the arrears. As the initial application for garnishment would not wipe out the arrears it was decided to leave the entire matter to the new council. When the business of the old council was concluded Alderman McLean sought to move his customary motion that tho council adjourn, but the mayor refused to accept it. He said that as the old council was going out he would like to move the adjournment himself. He wanted to I take the opportunity to express the ' opinion that in the council of 102^ the city of Prince George had one of the .best councils in its history. He said he was not disposed to quarrel with the decision made bj' the electors in the formation of the incoming council, or in the selection that had been made of Dr. Alward as mayor. He said this despite the fact that he had done his best to secure the election of Mr. Ogilvie. Tlu the new mayor and the members of new council would have the FOREST BRANCH WILL INVESTIGATE TIMBER OF RIVER SECTION Arrangements have been made by the forest branch for an examination of the timber resources of the watershed of the McGregor river and its branches. The McGregor comes Into the south fork of the Fraser a few miles below Hansard on the Canadian National, but as it heads back In the Rockies to the north of Lucerne it has a fairly large drainage-area. There is not very much known regarding the timber on this watershed but such reports as have come to hand indicate that there has been fire through the district. For the present the work will consist of running a traverse along the Mc-regor to which timber surveys can be tied as they are made. This work vill be started early next month and he cruise of the lands will probably be undertaken during the summer. TROTSKY GIVES UP HIS CONTROL OF RUSSIA A Berlin dispatch annouuees that Leon Trotsky has resigned all the afflces held by him under the Soviet government and the control of the groat war engine has passed into other hands. IIOM"E HANK DEPOSITORS ASK GOVERNMENT TO MAKE GOOD THE I It LOSES Ottawa. Jan. 215�A deputation of hearty co-operation of himself during the year. Before turning over the keys of the city he took th*> liberty of speaking a word on behalf of the chief of police. He gave it as his opinion that in the present Incumbent the city had a head for its police service which it could not safely dispense with. The mayor then passed over the keys to his successor with the words: "God bless you. Now I am not mayor any more." Mayor Alward called thf� new council to order at once, all members being present with the exception of Alderman J. B. Lambert. The re-i port of tho returning officer whs rend and following this the members took the oath of office. Mayor Alward then made a few remarks in the course of which he expressed pleasure that Aldermen Patterson and Taylor were continuing on the council for 10 24, in that he felt convinced their knowledge of municipal affairs would be of considerable assistance to the new members and to himself. He said he was confident the new members were prepared to give their careful consideration to all matters affecting the welfare of the city. He did not expect there would be unanimity on all matters throughout the year, and if there were It would not be a healthy sign. He asked all members, however, to be prepared to accept the will of the majority of the council as it would be accepted by himself. The standing committees were then approved at? follows: Finance� Aldermen Patterson. Guest and Fraser. Works�Aldermen Taylor, and Lambert. depositors in the Home Bank, rein-i Power and Light�Guest, forced by a number of members of - - � tho house of commons, presented a petition today to premier King in which tho government was asked to take over the assets of the bank :>.nd pay, tho depositors iu full. Premier King is said to have expressed his sympathy with the depositors of the bank and to have promised a sympathetic consideration of the petition by the cabinet. Opie Opie and Patterson. Fire and Water�Aldermen Fra ser. Lambert and Taylor. Health�Aldermen Lamber', Fraser and Guost. Housing�Aldermen Ople, Taylor and Patterson. Hospital�Al^denneu Guest and Lambert. The meeting adjourned until 3 o'clock.