54_Bevis-Walters_PreEmptions.mp3

otter.ai

21.01.2023

no

Unknown Speaker 0:00
Before I start, I would like to say thank you to our member, Ethel James, who allowed me to have extended access to her extensive library on Saltspring. Island matters and also to George, hi, Nikki, who has helped me a great deal in my investigations. What I'm going to tell you today, I like to describe as a thumbnail description of the causes, and the effects of pre empting on Salt Spring Island. Some of the facts in connection with preemption are not widely known. And I propose to bring the different aspects to your attention today. In the year 1856, Governor Douglas, acting under instruction from the colonial office decided that an economy should be developed within Vancouver Island. Because the Fair Trade was dying. The fishing industry as such, did not yet exist. The logging industry was yet to be born. And the only mineral known at that time was the coal at Nanaimo. So it appeared that the only thing to do was to develop an agricultural community because the company had been successful in developing large farms of its own, which had prospered these farms are situated at Lanford, Caldwell, Craigie flour, and Upton's each was a complete unit in itself and was productive and prosperous. The reason why these farms were productive was that to the north of Vancouver Island lay Alaska, and Alaska was populated by Russians engaged in mining and the third trade to get to Moscow, from Camp Chaka, which was the head of the Russian settlements, some 3000 miles by land had to be traversed. So it was not possible to bring in supplies from Russia. It was not possible to grow them in the northern settlement, because the weather was too severe

Unknown Speaker 2:34
in the northern settlement because the weather was too severe. So there was a continuing market from British Columbia for anything that could pre produced in the way of farm produce. So Governor Douglas reason that these farms that they were operated by that company were prosperous, if they had smaller farms scattered around the southern part of Vancouver Island, an economy would develop itself. And they pose post which had started off as I had to invade post would develop into a prosperous Crown colony, and this was his objective. So in 1856, he wrote to so BOMA Latin, who was then the Colonial Secretary, and asked for permission to subdivide land suitable for farming in the southern part of British Columbia, so that I could resell to the public when this permission was granted. And by the year 1857, there had been substantial subdivisions of farm lands in Sook in my chosen in a square mount, North Saanich and south side. And these were offered for sale in 100, like blocks for the at the rate of one town per acre. Now pound in those days was a part of the dual currency of how Vancouver Island and Vancouver Island had two currencies, it had the pound, and it had the dollar. The dollar was equated at $5 to one time. So this meant that if you wanted to buy a block of 100 acres, you had to have $500, which was a lot of money in those days. And the investors who could buy the land didn't feel that they could get a good return for their money by putting $500 into a block of farmland and the remaining people didn't have the money. As a matter of fact, Victoria at that time are surrounded by a tenten shanty town of many hundreds of man who had come back from the gold fields and were standard they were poverty stricken and they are living in great poverty and great want. In addition to their own problems, they cause problems or shortages of water in a small town of law. In Victoria, and also sanitation problems. So Governor Douglas wanted to get them away from the town. But he also did not want to lose them because he realized that they were good study types of manner, they would make good farmers and helped the colony to expand. So he said Governor Douglas suggested that these men, they should look out for a committee to act on their behalf and he would see what could be done to get them out of a particular amount of poverty and distress. So they elected a committee of 30 people and this committee in term engaged a lawyer by the name of Copeland. And he was sent to negotiate with Douglas about getting some land for these men. And they went to Douglas and they asked for permission to settle on, surveyed land without downpayment and pay for the later date. Now, those are laid down at that time, in addition to those that I have mentioned that suit are chosen as firemen and Saanich. Were also encouraged by where 80,000 acres of farmland had been surveyed. And Nanaimo where another 80,000 had been surveyed, but the land in between have not been surveyed. So when this deputation went to Governor Decosta, and said, We would like to occupy survey lands without down payment, he said, I'm sorry, I cannot do that, because I am under instructions from the Colonial Secretary to sell at one town cash payment. And I have no authority to alter that he said, I will. I will confer with a sale Surveyor General Who is Mr. Pemberton and see if we can find a solution to this problem for you. So he had a conversation with Timberland, Pemberton said, Well, you have fixed and rigid instructions about the sale and disposition of surveyed lands, he said, but you have no instructions about the unsurveyed lands and he will have no instructions. This means under the power under the childhood that you have the power to make your own decisions, about unsurveyed aims. And this being the case, why not devise a preemption service, which will allow these man to preempt on unsurveyed lands and as a colonial office, we're not able to dispute this. This was a very good idea. But then, in consultation with that committee, they pointed out the reason why they wanted to settle on the surveyed lands and couch and was that it was within reasonable distance of Victoria. And that if they found there, they could get their produce around by boat to Victoria. And there's sufficient time without the produce that deteriorating are often granted great problems. There were no roads, everything had to move by water. So Douglas, and I'd have been consulted again, and I realized I could not in any way interfere with a range of other lands and Cowichan. But there were two areas in between Cowichan and Nanaimo that were entirely suitable for farming, there was two areas where tomatoes and Salt Spring Island. So they devised a system of preemption, which was to be applied to these two places only. And now you come as US News to to know that the only two places you could pray and in fact, the province of Vancouver Island, which was then not consolidated with British Columbia, the only two places you put Korea germaneness and Saltspring Island. And this condition prevailed on fellating 73 was a union of British Columbia to Vancouver Island, then the preemption system was thrown open to the whole of the island of the whole of British Columbia. But between the period of 1857 and 1873. If you wanted a preamp you preempted at Terminus or on torturing Island. Well, now, when Governor Douglas decided that they would have a preemption system, he handed it all over to the Surveyor General Who is Mr. Pemberton and the new course in the first week in July 1857. This proclamation reliable which I will read to you, was made and it stated this, because those who are in want of funds to settle on those surveyed lands on which immediate payment is required. Be it known that I I am powered to give you permission to settle on unsurveyed lands by preemption, which after preemption and survive full right for a grant and for those who have made improvements, by way of compensation, pensions or buildings, I am also empowered to delay the survey on to an island for a number of years and will do so. Now the reason why Governor Douglas and Mr. Pemuteran refer to this as to an island was that in the year 1853, they thought of Victoria had grown into the town of Victoria, and several woman was made outside the stockade. One in the summer of it infected three Governor dogs, dogs caught in the root canal with some Indian man and traveled around the east coast of Vancouver Island so that he could stay take stock of the lands that were under his jurisdiction. And they put up a paddle around our peers Island, and then up what was then called the canal de oro, which you noted, I understand some streets. And having a practice, I have a land, he did not eat the land, but as a pebble app, they're able to look at the lions, and by the grace of the vegetation on them, they could tell what they were best suited for. And it was known that the land that produced all this have the leaf and the droppings and the branches of 1000s of years down and they had to do Aden from rich, dark mode. And so that if they're always growing there, they knew that this land was suitable for ground crop shutters.

Unknown Speaker 12:09
wheat, barley, hay, or even vegetable. And if the land was covered with greenery, but I could say that amongst the flowers that were balsams growing, and there was a rich growth of shallow underneath, and they knew that this was suitable for fruit trees. And so they had these indexes in the mind and as governor Dan Douglas traveled up the sands of narrows, he was able to make note of the various plots of land and what they were best suited for. It was also known that if you had a mountainous land with rocky outcrops, wherever there are rocky outcrops, there are no trees and the sun gets thrown at the foot of these grasses and weeds and fun plants. And these have pasture edge for sheep and for grazing. So as he paddled out the canal he took an inventory and he knew that there was land that was suitable for farming suitable for orchards and suitable for grazing sounds like when they lay in later years in his mind's eye, he had these different places in mind, so that it was made easy to make a decision that there was good farmland on Saltspring Island and good farmland or cherry tomatoes. So this is what this particular state proclamation said. And I said, I am also empowered to delay those surveyed for a number of years and will do so. But when survey has been made, then the land must be paid for or it will be forfeited, and the improvement on it will also be brought. Now the district particular stage, I was getting into some of mine, I thought, well, I'll look into the buy into a dictionary and see what the exact meaning of preemption is. And this is what I read, preemption, to settle on land with a right to buy it before others and pay for it later. So that's why the word preemption was so widely used. Now, when the after the proclamation of the right to preempt was made to conditions of preemption were made known. And this is what they want. Preemption can be made on any unsurveyed an occupied land on Saltspring Island or terminus, but a license must be obtained. First, a license shall be free. Then once you have got your license and occupied land can be ascertained from maps at the lands office. And it can be occupied and later paid for at a rate of $1.25 I acre or flow shelling hand happens per acre. Now with a dual currency $5 for the pound 240 countries to a pound, it meant that the equivalent of $1 was 448 pennies or four shillings. The price was set at four shillings and two pence, which equaled 50 pennies. How each penny was was two and a half cents. So if you multiply 50 by two and a half, you get 125, which is the equivalent of 145 central dollar 25 shall be paid for on top and you're paid $1.25. In essence, you're paying exactly the same thing. So, the term for preemption was had land can be occupied and later paid for the dollar 25. No payment until so they were like guarantee of no so lame for at least two years. Single Man may preempt 100, ISIS, married man with families may preempt 200 acres. Once the land has preempted it must be continuously occupied. And if not occupied for three months, then they will be reopened for preemption, which meant no occupancy, no title, when are completed as he safe says Title status. And finally, no person may sell or preemption without a license to do so now this was to stop speculation people coming on and making token are sending somebody else. So it meant that everyone had a permission. You didn't have to pay any money to get on it. You had to work at Intel it you may not sell it without permission. And if you didn't occupy it, you lost it. I'll tell the same pretty good because of your panelists and you're living in a shack or attempt. The thought of being able to get involved with some land of your own was a highly attractive and then a few days later this notice appeared in the Victoria colonist. Now this was early in July 1857. Saltspring Island contains about 70 miles five miles of mountain forest and like it has many harbors, likes and in. No one lives there. But soon there will be inhabitants because it has to be open to preemption. Much of the land will be suitable for grazing. Other parts will be suitable for barley, oats and potatoes, all of which will find an eager market in Victoria, where there is an incessant market for them also pigs, poultry and capital, all of which can be sold to the Hudson Bay Company for export to the Russians. This meant that if you bought on the farm you did, you had a ready market, which was practically a guarantee of income. I'd also stated that fruit trees will grow very well on the island and should very quickly with hard work and diligence. Any able bodied man who settled on Saltspring island can expect to be well housed and independent in the matter of five years or so. The mild summers and short winters make it a veritable paradise. Now this is a word weather paradise in connection with Salt Spring Island was first noted. And there's a final line to this word in the columns. They said it offers great hope, no matter how liberal a man has, when he starts. Now this caused a great sensation in Victoria. And immediately the eyes turned away from the land surveyed laid and keratin and a committee of 30 I heard that had been nominated to look out to fail to these standards and impoverished men immediately charted a vessel and sailed up to have a look at how spring Ireland and germaneness and they did turn a couple of days. And when they got back to Victoria, and spread the Good News and over overnight, a whole lot of these people changed. And just as you and I say when I win the lottery or when my ship comes in those days, it changed when I get my farm shots. Now on the ship, got back about the 22nd 23rd of July and the Victoria. And between the 26th and the 30th of July 1837. There were 27 applications for licenses to preempt on Saltspring Island. I won't mention domainers Because that is not what we're talking about. We're talking about touching Ireland. And by the end of the year 1857, there were 143 applications. And people who had nothing came up here and they landed on our shores. Most of them all they had was an axe and a spade and maybe a saw. And they started off with Scratch. And most of them went for the land with all those on because it was easy to clear, the trees weren't hard to chop down. And if you chopped them down in the spring, they were dry enough to burn off in the fall. And the second year, you're going to have a crop in, if you got fruit trees with you, you've got down to the sides of the sloping hills, and you're just cleared away areas about 10 feet in diameter, and put your fruit tree in there. And you'll ever get a start and then you work with your code to widen the area around the fruit trees so that you could have an orchard in the ground the first year there and it's heard, yeah, you could have something to sell. Now, at this particular time, the coal mines were developing and Nanaimo. And there was a steamship called Lou firelighters called fid li T, which used to carry coal from Nanaimo, down to Victoria. And it used to pass up and down past Vesuvius Bay every week. And arrangements were made for this ship to stop on its way to pick up the project. So the farmer says that if you had something to sell that would never ever be getting into market. And all you do is take out the Hudson Bay Company, they gave you a cash. So progress was fairly easy to make. And by the end of the year, 1861, there were about 70, homesteads, farms active on the island. And so they turned out it was delayed longer than two years. But then they at the end of the second year, they preempted fine, I began to find that I could not make enough money to cover that age to purchase fencing or building materials and the ins are for your plows, things like that. So they petition to the government to alter this cause. Now occupation, no title. So the the government had two things in mind, they wanted to keep the people on the land. And they didn't want the speculators to get in. So they relaxed the no occupation, no title, area and games a man permission to leave their preemptions on condition that they put somebody else in whoever had been licensed by the government to occupy the land while they were away. And this will enable them to

Unknown Speaker 22:45
even leave their families there, or get a friend to go in and occupy the land while they went up to Nanaimo and worked for a while and the mines. Usually they like to leave as soon as the summer was over. And work in an IMO in the mind until the following spring, we take maids and come out with a good steak. And those days, they were able to make several dollars a day, I'm not able to say how many. But you could get bored for 75 cents a day. So they're able to save money and come back with money. And so this made it possible for them to carry on until such time as the fine became productive. Now 100 acres was considered to produce sustenance, and profit for a single man and 200 acres was considered sufficient to produce sustenance and profit for a married man. And this is why these particular farms were selected for that. And I will say we're preemptions. And each preemption was limited to this 200 acres, it wasn't possible to take over somebody else as preemption and get a big one. And this is where it comes to a great puzzle, because I have always believed that our biggest predictor was Mr. Booth. But when I went into this matter was a the public archives, we decided they were became interested subject to and we decided that we would investigate this matter together. And when they brought out all unnecessary records, and I had an appointment to go in on the 17th of April. And we would go through these together because they were intrigued by the fact that the preemption limit was 200 acres. And now How did Mr. Booth get his 2000 acres? About there's no saying that man proposal, but there's God who disposes, and we have all these documents listed and what we laid out for our joint perusal on the 17th of April. But I got this letter on the 15th of April. This is what I've said. Traces of asbestosis. have been found in the metal shelving and stack supports of the fourth floor, the archive stacks. The area is being sealed off today. And until further notice, no stereo materials stored on the fourth, fourth floor will not be available for use. And the archivist wrote to me and said that he regretted very, very much. But then the all important material which we were going to examine was on this particular floor. And it's sealed off indefinitely. So there's no chance of going into this in the meantime. So then I said, well, there is a preemption now. Let's have a look at that. And archive said, Well, you will have to carry the governor's office to say that. So I went to the lions office now fold around for a few days. And I said, Oh, no, you will have to go to Lyon from forest to see that. And this map does exist. I have to get a copy, but I haven't seen it yet. I hope to show it to you in a follow. And when we do the mystery of Mr. Booth 2000 acres may be revealed to us. Now, when this license to occupy by a person other than pre amateur was introduced, it was strictly stated that another pre emptor could not be the license to occupy the land. This was a stock consolidation of the preemptions. And it worked very, very well except there was a man called Jacob French's got a licensed occupant for his preemption and Fulford. And he went up to the Dymo to work in the mind and his license document tired of the life of the pioneer and moved off without notice. And when he got nowhere to this, he had to get back again, because he only there was only 90 days. Vacancy allowed otherwise it would be forfeited. And so he couldn't find anybody. So I got to set her by the name of HW Robinson, to sign a phony application for license to occupy, which he did. But this was discovered on both Jacobs and Robinson. Both had their preemptions counseled on withdrawal. Now, the only other I'd have no interest at this particular moment, because I promised I wouldn't ramble on, which I would like to do was this that a man called JD cushion, came on the island and he was a wealthy man, merchant in Victoria. And he preempted 200 acres. But because he was a wealthy man, he wanted to buy another 800 acres around give him 1000 acres on Saltspring island on a rich contained cushion lake. And he applied to purchase this land at $1.25 an acre, but the lands department refused to take his money. And they said no, you can retain your preemption. And but you can't buy the 100 acres and he said, Why can't I buy them? I'll pay the money lady said, If we pay you the money. If we take the money, we have to survey the land and we survey the land that every Saturday on Saltspring Island must pay for his preemption. So Mr. Question waited until 1863. He had 16 men working on the land preparing them for the day of purchase. But as governor diagrams show, no sign of having something on and so they he gave up and moved away. And that fight is another one is Saltspring Island.