Extra
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interest of Central and Northern British Columbia
Vol. 32; No. 6
Prince George, B.C., FRIDAY, February 11, 1949
EXTRA - 5c
ONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN SOON
Highway Will Link Vancouver-Squamish
Extension of Hie Pacific Great Eastern Railway to Prince George will begin this summer.
The dramatic news�for which this City has vaited 35 years�was announced this afternoon, rhen Premier Byron "Boss" Johnson introduced Into the House a $13,329,000 P.G.E. development
programme.
In the same speech he announced a $5,000,000 hydro plan on the Quesnel River which will supply rhe Interior from Prince George to Williams Lake, ind a plan to build a highway from Squamish to
Vancouver.
Initial stages of the P.G.E. extension will be started im-nediately. The $13 million for which the Premier will ask the Legislature, will be spent as follows:
How They Heard The News
One of the happiest men in Prince George today was Harry G Perry.
; "I am overwhelmed with joy at this positive action by the Coalition Government to finish the P.G.E. railway to Prince George. For over 30 years I have been writing resolutions and making speeches in and out of the Legislature urging the completion of the P.G.E. to the Peace River
Construction of railway from Quesnel to Prince
George ......... ..................... about
construction of Highway: Squamish to Vancouver Establishments of lumber assembly plant at Squamish about
Rehabilitation of Right of Way ............... about
>dering of five Diesel engines .............................
te equipment for P.G.E......................................
$8,000,000 $2,000,000
Construction of the railway extension to Prince George is to be started this summer. The Premier em-phosized that the railway will not stop there. The further extension to the Peace River district is to be pushed forword as soon as possible and preliminary surveys and other information in connection therewith is to be gathered this year.
As soon as the construction of the extension to Prince erge is completed, the Premier announced, the Government 111 Push on with the next extension�to the Peace.
AMERICANS
ln a reference to American interest in the P.G.E., the frenrer said:
I hove received no bona fide offer for purchase of ^ .G.E., and the Government is not prepared to alienate resources of the province for any promotional scheme."
1 interviewed W. T. Batchellor, consulting, engineer of 5 who stated he represented substantial and influential ( American interests. He made no offer to me, however, , d seriously entertain or recommend to the Govern-s consideration.
ALIENATION
I Q da scheme which in large measure was promo-nd 'nvolved alienation of many of our rich resources.
squQn. *\ Go^nment does not intend ill. resources I� be for anv .. away ln Providing promotional background
'he Cv"i
^E, but �6mment is wi"'ng to consider offers for the r�Per finn�?:.f? mVSt be on � sound business basis with backing and free of promotional characteris-'ooking for large grants of land and resources."
able variety jof sources in this country requiring electrical power, and direct market connections which will be attracted once this development is consummated. I look to see Prince George developed faster in the next 10 years as a result of this activity than in the last 30 years."
MAYOR JACK NICHOLSON:
"It's 20 years overdue. Our main industry, timber, will now be firmly established and we should be in a position to attract light manufacturing plants, particularly those connected with the coast assures future prosperity of Prince George and Central P..C. I am very pleased with the news."
Ex-mayor A. M. Patterson, prominent civic figure, stated upon hearing the news. "This information is very pleasing and there is no doubt it will help this city and the southern country a great deal, but at the same time, it will help a lot more when it is extended to the Peace River district."
Says Sam Stevens, well known in this city. "I've been looking forward to the completion of the P.G.E. since I came here in 1932, and the news today is the most
a much more attractive farming | cheering information that has community. We have consider- come to us since the commence-
and, though frustrated, never gave up hope.
"This first step in the development of the P.G.E. is an indication of the vision and courageous leadership of the Coalition Government. I am the happiest man in the Province today to see our dreams come true."
Harry Bowman, president of, Board of Trade:
"This is the best news that we have ever had, the extension of the P.G.E. together with the installation of hydro available to Prince George will do more to attract people and industry to our
OUR BEST THANKS, "BOSS"
PREMIER BYRON I. "BOSS" JOHNSON, in o special message to "Citizen" readers over the long-distance telephone this morning said: "Please be assured I have the interests of the Interior, which I have always regarded as one of the greatest potentials of British Columbia, at heart. It is in pursuance of this motive that I today introduced the P.G.E. extension, hydro and other legislation to the House. I want to say to. those great pioneers in Prince George and the Peace River area that this Government intends to follow a policy with fixed determination of purpose which has as its objective completion of the line into the Peace at the earliest possible opportunity. Prince George and district will thus come into its rightful heritage."
$ 500,000 $2,120,000
$400,000 J district than any other move that $329,000 could be made.
"It undoubtedly foreshadows the collection of the Peace River and Alaska with Prince George and Vancouver. It will certainly make the Prince George district
HIGHWAY
Plans for the highway connecting the present southern terminal at Squamish with Vancouver will call for a road along the higher levels of West Vancouver and north along the series of mountain benches, the Premier said.
FOR PRINCE GEORGE
"It is our intention to operate Diesel freight trucks and passenger busses over this highway. The cost of the highway will amount to $2,000,000.
"The $500,000 lumber assembly plant at Squamish will be built to accommodate shippers of lumber in the Prince George area,"
The Premier told the House that a survey of Peace River coal resources is continuing to determine the extent of coal measures available for development. He went to Ottawa a few weeks ago to lay before the Federal Cabinet plans of the provincial authorities to extend the P.G.E. to the Peace country- He asked that they defray the costs of the lumber assembly plant at Squamish and assist in the financing of the Ques-nel-Prince George link. He had reason to believe some assistance would be forthcoming.
He also consulted Trade Minister Howe on the question of securing from Great Britain steel and necessary equipment for extension.
BRITAIN APPROACHKD
We have proposed that the British place orders for ties and lumber with British Columbia firms to cover our purchase of steel and locomptives in Britain in addition to orders that have already been placed through usual channels. The ties and lumber would come from territory contiguous to the P.G.E. railway.
"The Citizen'1 understands, from Percy Richards, assistant to Hie Premier, this morning, that engineers are already working on specifications for extension of (he P.G.E.
"The route," he said, "has already been surveyed, but a construction survey is going to bo put in hand immediately to deal with such questions as how man3r yards of gravel have to be moved from here to there, putting in of stakes and so on. Part of the work can be begun almost immediately the ground is free of the snow, of which you have such a lot."
"The Citizen"�First with the news . . . always
ment of my residence here. Along with the forthcoming completion of the highway to the Peace River, and the hydro at Quesnel, we in Prince George can look forward with renewed confidence and hope for our future."
JEFFERIES
Faced with the news this morning that the P.G.E. has become a thing of reality, B. N. Jef-feries, old timer who arrived in 1920 from Armstrong, B.C., said '"It should have been here 25 years ago. but it is a great thing and I think it will treble the population and prosperity of the district."
Message From the Editor
We are pleased to present you with this special edition, announcing the best news Prince George has received for many years. We ar6 indebted to a very fine printing.staff which made it possible for us to print again the day after our regular edition.
Premier Byron Johnson Whose announcement of railway and hydro developments for Central B.C. has kindled a new wave of hope and optimism.
Huge Hydro To Serve City
Quesnel To Get $5,000,000 Power Development Plant
Prince George's hydro problem is solved.
Premier Byron I. Johnson announced in the Legislature this afternoon that a $5,000,000 power development scheme is to be established at Quesnel.
"The Citizen" understands from a direct talk with Percy Richards, assistant to the Premier, that this plant will serve the whole territory from Prince George to Williams Lake.
The Premier declared that the Quesnel plant is proposed with the object of encouraging the establishment of a pulp mill and other industries.
Special financial assistance is proposed for the B.C. Power Commission to develop hydro and electric power on the Quesnel River.
It is estimated, the Premier said, that there are nine billion feet of timber in the district and a pulp mill would give employment to 700 men and create small logging concerns to take care of the expected increase in traffic.