m. n No- -2- PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN THURSDAY, MAY CITIZEN^ 928. Five Cents. Mining Men Will Develop Farms In Finlay Valley y R WiUon, Wealthy Mining Mj of Victoria, Would Leave Hi� Imprint on Finlay Valley A ;cu|tural Develooment Will Keep Pace With That of Famous Ferguson Mine Group I By Laurence Canty) Finlay Forks, the embryo city at confluence of the Peace, the Finlav and the Parsnip rivers, '�,.'/ l,; stage a come-back as the ,.,;� of the mining development ,-'.\v "taking place at the Ferguson ��,! Fercambur groups of claims in the vicinity of. the Ingenik.a river Finlav Forks has had visions of fu-m're greatness before, in connection with mining excitements, but they were short-lived. There was a succession of them, running back to the davs of the Barkerville excitement, but t,hey did not last long enough to permit of land settlement becoming firmly rooted. They were all placer and hydraulic operations, maintained at very great expense, and when the cream was tak,en off the miners moved out and left the country to fur trader and trapper. What makes for permanency this time is the circumstance that capital is now engaged in lode mining, and that hand-in-hand with the development a well organized effort will be niade to establish the agricultural possibilities of the Finlay river sec-tion. Land Settlement In Sight This is the self-appointed mission of \V. R. Wilson, the well-known nining Operator. In an active life in mine development and management he has''made himself a rich man. He was first known to the neople of British Columbia through his connection with the Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company, at Fernie, of which he is still president and managing director. Later he was fortunate enough to become heavily interested in the famous Premier mine in the Portland Canal district, and only last year he was. responsible for bringing in a new coal field in tho Tulameen district, in the southern portion of the province. Mr. Wilson has become heavily interested in the Ferguson group on the Ingen-ika river, upon which work bar, been ^carried on all winter, and which is expected to develop into a counterpart (,f the famous Sullivan mine in the southeast Koctenay. The elder Mr. Wilson, however, ensiders his interest in the Ferguson group as secondary to that of placing his imprint upon the northern portion of British Coluumbia by firmly establishing its agricultural possibilities, and bringing about, its enrly and stable settlement. Favorable development of the lode mines in the vicinity of the Ingenika makes feasible a demonstration of the country^ agricultural possibilities^ and while the son, R. R. Wilson, gives his attention to the mine, the father will concern himself in attempting to demonstrae that the Finlay river watershed can furnish homos for a large settlement. In turtheranee of this ambition the Wilson interests are making .application to purchase from the government some twenty sections of vacant land, which will mean an initial expenditure of $50,000. Of the 'and being applied for fifteen sec-lions are in the vicinity of Finlay iV-'rl;s- tw0 are in the vicinity of the Ferguson mine, two near Fish Creek per one section on the Finlay river t� be used as a feeding ground for M u- iJust what tnis cntcrPrise of �'I. Wilson means to the north county may be sensed when it is un-�rstood that he contemplates some-��nir in tho nature of an experiment' � i tarm, "which will demonstrate in _" most practical manner the ag-�^�-iraV possibilities of the great �ley of the Finlav �' river. It ;, "-' Publishing within five years \.. C'Msjons, which left to individual _ ers_ efforts would not be reach-VHhi.n a quarter of a century, y Hiitory of the Fork� '�h comparatively little is t Finlay Forks it has been INTERIOR .VIEW OF BEN'S BAIRD'S STORE�THE RESULT OF FIFTEEN YEARS OF HONEST DEALING IN "GOOD GOODS" IN PRINCE GEORGE, B. C. Elks Take Charge School Children's Entertainment DOMINION SECURITIES ACQUIRES BUSINESS OF P. BURNS & COMPANY The Dominion Securities, of Toronto, on Thursday last acquired the business of P. Burns & Company. The deal involved the sum of $15,-000,000. Patrick Burns will act as chairman for the new board of directors, John Burns will continue to direct the company's affairs and W. J. Blake Wilson, of Vancouver, will continue a� vice-president. Pat Burns got his start in supplying meat to railway contractors throughout western Canada and from this worked into the packing-house business; DESTROYER LOANED TO CANADA ARRIVES AT PORT OF HALIFAX Halifax, May 1 4.�Tho destroyer Chaniplain, one of the two destroyers loaned to the Dominion pending :he construction of two Canadian destroyers, has arrived here. The sister shin to the Champlain arrived in the Pacific coa?t some time ago. TWO CANADIANS MISSING FROM THE SS MELITA no for no 8 tivP ac -Y seventy years the objec-th� no twmers seekinff new fields in ,.�,. P�n. In the early part of the ,;;..,, ;.u' n.llnei>* from Barkerville �� �<�;. trok�1fl through it, and were took n1:r- 1S71-72 ^ men who meni 1! '" llle Omineca excite-��,",;., lno of the leaders in this jUct � ';� >vas Jnn May. who con-"i the i ejfP1i?v�vtion at the expense finite f ,7)vincial government. The u h S� Fraser to Fort George, r fo* forty miles to oked rtage' an<* thence by the ' over waterway to Finlay Montreal, May 16.�Considerable nxiety is exoressed for tho safety of two Canadians believed to have been pasengers on the S. S. Melita which pniled from this port for Glas-ow. The passengers are William VIcKenzie, Hamilton, and Rev. W. A. Wilson, Vancouver, who were reported missing when the vessel arrived at Glasgow. Tcrks and on into the Ominec;i dis-rict.. Jim May. died in Hazelton in L917. Among those who came into ;he district about thi� time were 5zra Evans, vnd Pete Toy, who mined on the bar which bears his name a snort distance up the Finlay from its-junction with the Peace. Among others who made their -appearance in the section about this >eriod were the Elmore Brothers vho were trading with the miners in the Omineca. The Elmores had a facility for getting on the best end in every trade they made, and in time Uioir place of business was known to the minors as Hofrem, and when they shifted to another location their second place was known as New Hogem. and they are still shown under these designations on the map of the district. The Elmores were probably the first in the Omi-noca to attempt anything in the way of farming. At New Hogem thev conducted a dairy and sold milk and produce to miners at fancy prices. Klondyke Via Finlay Fork. When the Klondyke rush was on thousands of prospectors sought an entrance into the Yukon by way of the Peace and Finlay rivers,'and at one time there were 1500 miners at Peace River crosrjng on their way into the north. The last of the placer mining excitements to pass through Finlay Forks was that of 1907-08. when McConnell creek furnished the excuse for the stampede. The discoveries did not justify the irnrriTi"ice ^lyei* to them, but therr. are still a few miners who remained on the creel? and who by hand methods have been making good wages ever since. First Land Settlement The first attempt' to settle the lands along the Finlay was made in (Continued on Page 15-__ . Ben Baird Opens Big Anniversary Sale Tomorrow Will Celebrate Fifteenth Anniversary A� Prince George Merchant With Thirty-Day Sale Sweeping Reductions Will Be Made In Price, of All Kind. In Men's Wear I. B. Baird, better known to the people of Prince George and surrounding districts as "Ben" Baird, will celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of his entrance into the commercial life of this section tomorrow. Fifteen years ago the engineers were engaged in laying out the site of Prince George, and c.c "sooners" who were anxious to take a hand in the city's commercial life were forced to live in the railway construction town of South Fort George or in the settlement known as Central Fort George, the residents of which were just waiting for the bars to be lowered. Ben Baird elected to wait in Central for the opening of the railway townsite, and when lots were placed on the market he was among the first to buy. Early in hip business career Ben Baird adopted as his business slogan "Good Goods," and in time the term became synonymous with the merchandise handled by him, and Mr. Baird prospered. For a number of years past he has been doing business in one of the most central situations in the city, and in a fireproof building designed and erected by him to meet the special requirements of his business. As will be gathered in hi(s announcement, which appears e'lswhere in this issue, Btn Baird has=| elected to mark the fifteenth anniversary of his entrance into business by putting on n mammoth sale which shall be extended over a period of thirty days. For this sale he will mark down the whole of his can fully selected $25,000 stock of merchandise, and during the sale period will offer it at very attractive prices. It will easily be the largest sale of men's furnishings and r.ien's wear ever put on in this city. It will pay every resident of the city as well as those of surrounding communities to pay a visit to Bairds while the sale is on. They can save money in the purchase of their present requirements, and they can save by purchasing to cover their necessities for the future. . A perusal of the announcements of the manufacturers who for years past have supplied the merchandise handled by Ben Baird. and which forms nart of his special anniversary sale advertisement will prove interesting reading. In their respective classes they are the leaders in the manufacture of men's wear, and it, but it has'alwnvs been negatived in the senate. The amendment made this year by the senate simply reduces the penalties for first and second offences under the act, but certain members of the commons resent any aniendmen whatever. It is expected the bill will wipe bootleggers out altogether. PROPELLER OF BREMEN PRESENTED TO NEW YORK New York, May 15:�The propel-lor of. the Bremen, which made the first crossing of the Atlantic to America,- has been presented to the city of New Yoyk, and will be given a place in the municipal museum. SPOKANE HAS SHAKE-UP IN ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT Spokane, May 14.�This city is experiencing a shake-up in its police department. ' Angus McDonald ha? resigned as -chief and his place/lias been filled by Wesley H. Turner, the change becoming effective to-">orrow.~ No reason was' given by McDonald for h;s rocif Local Members of Fraternal Society Take Full Charge of Empire Day Programme Band Concert, Field Sports, Base-/ ball Match and Dance Will Round Out The Day The officers and members of B. P. O. E., No. 122, have completed their plans for giving the boys and j girls of Prince George and vicinity a big time on Empire Day, which falls on Thursday of next week. Dr. A. H. Bayne and the members of the city band have agreed to turn out and enliven the proceedings for three or four hours during the afternoon. The band will play in front of the city hall from noon until 1.15 o'clock, and again at Duchess Park from 2 to 4 o'clock, when the ball game will commence. Under tho programme which has been framed the children will as-! sumble at the city hall at 12..'50 j where they will be formed up-to salute the flag promptly at one o'clock. After this there will" be a short address by Exalted Ruler A. M. Patterson, following which the children will be presented with flags and balloons and taken for a drive around the loop. On the return journey they will be deposited at Duchess Park where a programme of sports will be run off. On the conclusion of the sports a ball game will be played between the Giscome and C. N. R. teams. The Elks have appointed the following as chairmen of their respective committees: R. J. Garvey, transportation; H. S. Carmichael, sports. F. D. Taylor, children; M. S. Mor-rell, refreshments and grounds; Bruce Parker, publicity; Alfred Holmwood, dancing; Ernie Thompson, dance refreshments; and John Ferguson, music. The dance will take place in the Ritts-Kifer on the evening of the holiday. The following list of races for sixty yards and under will be run off: 1�Boys under school age, 25 yds; 2�Girls under school age, 25 yds; 3�Boys of six years, 25 yds; 4�Girls of six years, 25 yds; 5� boys of seven, .SO yards; 6�girls of seven, 30 yds; 7�boys of eight, 30 yds; 8�girls of eight, 30 yds; 9�boys of nine, 40 yds; 10�girls of nine 40 yds; 11� boys of ten. 40 yds; 12�girls of ten, 40 yds; 13 �boys of eleven, 50 yds; 14�girls, of eleven, 40 yds; 15�boys of twelve, 50 yds; 16�girls of twelve 40 yds; 17�boys of thirteen, 00 yds; 18�girls of thirteen and fourteen, 50 yds; 19�boys of fourteen 60 yds; 20�girJs vof f|flteen and over 50 yds. The other events on the program follow: 21�100-yd daslh, open to public and high school boys of 15 and over; 22�Elks 100-yd. dash; 23�Wives of Elks., 50 yds; 24� girls' skipping race. 11 and under, ^40 yards; 25�girls' skipping race i'-Vnn,l 13, 40 vds; 26�girls' skip-ping^race, 14 and over, 40 yds; 27� brond i>M>\n, bovs 12 and under; 28 �broad jump, boys 13 and 14; 29�� broad jump, boys 15 and over; 30� relay race. 300^yards. inter-school event for boys; 31�relay race, 200 yards, inter-school event for girls; �*��^'""h i-mn. bovs 12 nnd under; 33�high jump, boys 13 and 14; 34�high jump, boys 15 and over; :*r;. _t>"- win"- bnsketbail. girls 12 and under; 36�throwing basketball, girls 13 and over; 37�sack race, open to children, 11 and under, not otherwise representing their schools; 38�sack race, children 12 and over. A shield will be presented to the -,.vn,,i i.r;nnjnar the greater number of the days events. WEATHER REPORT R. B. Carter, local meteorological agent, reports barometric readings as almost normal on Wednesday morning with indications of continued fine weather, with fresh to pioder�fo winds with probable showers. The lowest humidity stood at 1 rw-r cent, with a maximum temperature of 74 degrees. Settlers and campers are requested to bo careful with fire during this .period as low humidity, high winds and absence of vegetation in the worlds combine to make the worst fire hazard. The maximum and minimum temperature readings for the weekending Tuesday, May 15th. were as follows: Wednesday....................59 30 Thursday........................6fi 23 Friday.............................70 40 Saturday......................65 44. S .. Sunday ---..........�............74 29 Monday..........................78 34 Tuesday..........................75. 37 ~