Page:The Selkirk mountains (1912).djvu/35

Rh In order to provide meals for its passengers and at the same time not to make its trains heavier by hauling extra cars over the steeper portions of the line, the Company at first found it necessary to erect dining-halls at various points in the mountains. With increase of travel, these gradually became stopping-places, and there finally evolved the large hotels at Banflf and Lake Louise and the smaller but commodious hotels at Field, Glacier, Revelstoke, Sicamous and North Bend. These hotels are found all too small to accommodate the multitudes that visit the mountain-places during the tourist season. And still the process of enlargement goes on.

Government Surveys (1886)—In this year the Selkirks were visited by the Dominion Government Surveyors and a careful traverse-survey of the railway line was made to establish it as a base for future land surveys. The work was under the direction of Otto J. Klotz. In the course of his work, Mr. Klotz established the position and altitude above the sea level of a number of the prominent peaks, to which also he gave the names they now bear, notably Mts. Sir Donald, Macdonald, Tupper, MacKenzie and Cartier. In conjunction with the survey of the railway-line, a preliminary topographical survey of the mountains, valleys, and streams adjacent was made. It was in charge of J. J. McArthur, the veteran topographer of the Department of the Interior. In the "Selkirk Range," he is referred to as "a quiet, unassuming man, who has probably climbed more mountains in these regions than any other person, and has made a large number of first ascents. No flourish of trumpets ushered him forth to conquest; no crown of laurels awaited his victory: a corps of trained Swiss guides was not at hand to place his footsteps, to check his down-slidings and select for him the surest road. With one assistant, transit and camera on back, many a perilous climb has been made, the rope only being used in case of most urgent need. In all kinds of weather, through snow, over ice and in pouring rain, manj- a difficult ascent has been accomplished, many privations encountered and much hardship endured; the only record being a few terse paragraphs in the Departmental Bluebook. Short as they are they are well worth reading."

The years 1887 and 1888 saw other surveyors in the region, extending the land-surveys system to the tract of land known as the "Railway Belt of British Columbia." This tract, which extends for twenty miles on each side of the railway line, had been conveyed by the Provincial Government to the Federal Government as compensation for the construction of the Railway.

First Scientific Observations of the Illecillewaet Glacier (1887)—On July 16th the Illecillewaet Glacier was visited by Messrs. George and William S. Vaux, Jr., and Miss Vaux, of Philadelphia, and a series of observations inaugurated, comprising photographs from fixed points and measurements to the nearest ice. These have been faithfully carried on from year to year with increasing accuracy, right up to date. They are here recorded in greater retail under the caption, "Glaciers of the Selkirks."

Topographical Survey by William Spotswood Green (1888)—It was the expedition of Messrs. Barrington and Swanzy and the glowing description they gave of the scenery that aroused Mr. Green's interest. Survev instruments were loaned to him by the Royal