David Milton McGowan

I had intended my next post, this one, to be more information on the Cariboo Road and how its construction sped up further development of British Columbia and I will do that soon. However, another subject has raised its head and demands a statement from everyone who believes in development of both homo sapiens and where they live. For several years now I’ve been listening to reports that paint the petroleum production industry as being evil or at the least a “bad boy.” Since there is no evidence to support this attitude, only words from those looking to increase their own importance I have tended to be only saddened or sometimes disgusted by such rhetoric. However, listening to a CBC interview with an NDP person (perhaps he was in Bella Bella?) I found myself getting extremely angry. There seems to be a belief in some circles that global warming has been accepted by all. It hasn’t been! I believe that perhaps 40% of Canadians have accepted the apocalyptic idea that is being pre...

With the small gold discovery on the west coast of Moresby Island in 1850 the man who was the Chief Factor for the Hudson ’s Bay Company, James Douglas knew that preparations should be made for a serious invasion of “non-British.” By the time that invasion actually took place, in 1858 he had made some preparations and had been the HBC governor of their Colony of Vancouver Island for seven years. When the British government took over the colony they appointed Douglas the first Governor of the Crown Colony of Vancouver Island. With information from earlier gold rushes ( California , Australia and South Africa ) Douglas implemented control measures for security and artfully disguised taxes to fund infrastructure. Those expecting to register a gold claim were required to report to Victoria to acquire a mining license for five pounds or ten dollars. Then in 1857 he learned that American miners where already working the Thompson River . In the early weeks of 1858 Douglas had Cap...