The Post is situated at the head of navigation on the Peace river. From
here to Vermillion there is good water for stern-wheelers and gasoline
boats, for five hundred fifty miles.
Immediately to the west is the famous Rocky Mountain canyon, which makes
a horseshoe of twenty-five miles; and from the head of the canyon to
Finlay Forks there is another good stretch of water. The Peace river
here cuts through the Butler range, the most easterly range of the
Rockies.
The climate is excellent. In winter chinook winds break up the cold
snaps. The extreme minimum last winter was 45 below on two nights. In
summer, the maximum sometimes rises over 90. One peculiarity is that
during winter there are no winds excepting the warm chinooks. The
country generally is well wooded. Many streams are unexcelled for
fly-fishing. At Moberly Lake (15 miles south) trout very often scale
more than 35 pounds.
The "town" consists of the Honourable Company's buildings, postoffice,
telegraph, police offices and the freighter. Close in are several
homesteaders. There is also a meteorological station, deputy mining
recorder's post and hydrometric station.
During the summer business is brisk, for usually there are government
geological parties in the field, tourists passing through and trappers
going outside to "blow in their wads." In winter things are somewhat
dull, for there are not enough Indians to keep business steady. Then it
is that the violin, gramophone and H.B.C. library are called on to
relieve _ennui_ in the evenings, for there is no theatre nearer than
Edmonton.
For industrial possibilities, Hudson's Hope undoubtedly occupies a
strategic position. It is known that extensive bodies of the hardest
soft coal in the world are in the immediate vicinity, but owing to lack
of transport facilities they have not been worked to any extent.
Some gold is found forty miles west on Branham Flat and a few outfits
will be in this summer to work there.
A marvellous mountain of copper and silver was reported up north some
two years ago, but for some reason or another nothing definite has
transpired regarding it.
For the past three years government geologists have been examining the
vicinity for oil possibilities and their reports have been so good as to
lead one or two drilling outfits this way.
Although all grains and vegetables grow here to perfection the
agricultural aspect of the country is not to be enthused over, for the
arable land is along the river bank only. A cattle ranch has started on
the south fork of the Halfway river.
It should be added that the river invariably opens for navigation the
first week in May. This year the spring was early--bluebirds and robins
on the 8th of April, geese on the 12th, with poplars in bud.