J.F. Armstrong Remembers

OFFICIAL FACTS….. by J.F. ARMSTRONG

            You have asked me to give a few facts concerning the condition of South East Kootenay at the time I was appointed government agent.  It was in 1895 and my district then extended from the northwest boundary line to the Big Bend [of] the Columbia and from the summit of the Rockies to the summit of Selkirk.  What is now South East Kootenay was known as the Fort Steele mining division, its government officials were C.M. Edwards mining recorder and H.W. Barnes constable.  The justice of the peace were T.T. McVittie, F.P. Norbury and Dr. McLean all residing at Fort Steele.  Michael Phillipps was a stipendiary magistrate and Dr. McLean was also the coroner.  The holders of liquor licenses were Chas. Levitt at Fort Steele and Nils Hansen at Wasa.  The only sawmills were those of Robert Mather at Fort Steele and Nils Hanson at Wasa.  The steamer Annerly and Gwendoline were running on the Kootenay, the former from Fort Steele and Jennings, the latter from Fort Steele to Canal Flat.  The season of navigation lasted about four months and during the rest of the year, all communications with the outer world was by the wagon road to Golden on the main line of the C.P.R.  The other roads then in existence were from Fort Steele southwards to Bull River, westward to Cranbrook with a branch to the Mission, and eastward to Victoria Gulch on Wild Horse creek, and the North Star ore road from the Landing on the Kootenay river.  The Dewdney trail extended from Cranbrook to Goat River landing, a branch running from Yahk station to Bonners Ferry.  The Tobacco Plains and Kalispell were reached by a trail from Bull river southwards.  The Crows Nest trail branched off at Sand Point, crossed the Elk river near Elko and followed that stream to the site of Fernie and Coal creek to the coal mines and then across a summit to Michel creek and Crows Nest lake.  From Cranbrook there were pack trails to Weaver creek, Perry creek and the Mission, while a rough trail extended from the Mission bridge to St. Marys lake and another from the mouth of the St. Marys to Skookumchuck.

            The St. Eugene and North Star mines were being developed, the latter had just completed its ore road and commenced shipping ore soon after.

            All business was centered in Fort Steele, the only stores anywhere else being those of Hanson at Wasa and Griffiths at Wild Horse.  The post office at Wild Horse was still called “Kootenay” the old name having survived from the gold rush of 1864.  The mission establishment was then smaller than at present, the old log church being still in use.  There were seven or eight ranches living south of Fort Steele but only one white man south of Bull River and not one person in the Elk River valley.  Cranbrook was held up by Hyde Baker, Fred Hazen and a Chinaman.

            A trip to the railway was long and wearisome (sic.), particularly in winter time.  The stage ran once a fortnight and our friend Al Doyle was in charge.  It left Fort Steele Tuesday afternoon and making about thirty-five miles a day landed us in Golden on Sunday morning.  It was not fast travelling but he was “on time,” and we had every opportunity of becoming well acquainted with our fellow travellers and of knowing the peculiarities of the different stopping places.  I will not soon forget Mrs. Brewer’s cream and pies, Mrs. McKay’s preserves and Shorty’s bachelor cooking.