--_and the H.B.C. Store, One of Its Institutions_
Thirty years ago, there were only two stores in Vernon, The Hudson's Bay
Company and W.F. Cameron, both firms carrying a general line of
merchandise. The only other stores in the Okanagan Valley, at this
period, were one at Enderby, Landsdowne, Okanagan Mission and Penticton,
so that these stores supplied the necessities of life practically to the
whole of the Okanagan Valley, reaching from Sicamous to fifty miles
beyond Penticton and from Grand Prairie to the White Valley district.
The towns of Armstrong and Kelowna, at this period, were not in
existence.
Travelling in the early days was by stage and boat in Summer, the boat
running from Sicamous to Enderby, thence by stage to Vernon, and the
only method of travelling in Winter was by stage or pack horse. Mail,
also, was received by these means of transportation.
The great bulk of trading, at that time, was done with Victoria, which
was a greater commercial centre than Vancouver. All merchandise from the
Coast was carried by freight trains to Sicamous, transferred there to a
small steamer as far as Enderby and thence by wagon to Vernon.
Business conditions and the manner of trading in the early days were
entirely different to the present day method. There were no banks in the
Valley, all banking being done through Vancouver, cheques often passing
around as currency and would have as many as a dozen endorsations before
reaching the bank.
Yearly credit was the system of trading. Farmers, ranchers, trappers and
Indians paid their accounts once a year after they had received money
for their crops and catch of furs; the amusing feature in regard to the
credit in these days being that the average customer would ask of his
account, simply looking at the total and settling up without checking
up. Considerable business was done in the bulk, tea sold by the chest,
flour and sugar by the ton, and other commodities in similar large
quantities.
Thirty years ago the Valley was passing through a stage of transition
from stock-raising to wheat producing.
R. P. Rithet & Co. of Victoria controlled a large flour mill at Enderby,
where all the wheat of the district was taken and milled. Wheat then
sold as low as $18.00 per ton at the mill, the farmer doing his own
hauling. A few years later $28.00 per ton was considered a wonderful
price.
During the period under review, very little fruit was grown and it was
not until 1892 that the growing of fruit was given any serious thought.
At that time, Lord Aberdeen purchased the land now known as the
Coldstream Ranch and started fruit growing on a fairly large scale, the
land being purchased from Forbes G. Vernon. After him the City of Vernon
was named. He was, at that time, member for the Okanagan Valley, also
Minister of Labor and Works.
At this period the population of Vernon was about 300 and, generally
speaking, were considered prosperous.
A Mr. Gray of Nicola was the largest cattle buyer and a general round-up
of cattle was made twice a year, when he would make his purchase from
the ranchers and drive the cattle out to the coast or prairie markets.
(_To be continued_)
[Illustration: BEAVER CHIPS]
_The Secret of Success_
In the fall a Methodist minister came into the Edmonton exhibition
offices and inquired where he could purchase a good, reliable horse. He
was directed to R. B. Hill's stables, where, after a judicious amount of
deliberation, he decided on a horse which suited his fancy and pocket,
and took him home. Two days afterwards he came back to Mr. Hill and
stated that the horse was blind, and within the rules as prescribed by
the Methodist church he told Mr. Hill just what he thought of the deal,
and asked him why he had not been informed that the horse was blind,
before purchasing him. Mr. Hill very modestly replied that he had not
thought he should tell him, as the man from whom he got the horse in the
first place had said nothing about this defect, and he thought it was a
secret!!
_No Wonder_
Editor--"We are sorry to lose your subscription, Mr. Jackson. What's the
matter? Don't you like our politics?"
Mistah Jackson--"T'aint dat, sah; t'aint dat. Mah wife jes' been an'
landed a job o' work for me by advertisin' in youh darned ole papah."
_Didn't Need To_
A young Irishman recently applied for a job as life-saver at the
municipal baths.
As he was about six feet six inches high and well built, the chief
life-saver gave him an application blank to fill out.
"By the way," said the chief life-saver, "can you swim?"
"No," replied the applicant; "but I can wade like blazes!"
_He Got the Job_
Police Commissioner--"If you were ordered to disperse a mob what would
you do?"