He therefore directed his attention to the north side of the Inlet, although confronted at the very outset by the fact that, never before in the history of hydraulic engineering had a system of water mains been laid across such a sheet of water as Burrard Inlet, and under such conditions as pertained thereto.

Acting under instructions from Mr. Keefer, the writer placed a fully equipped party in the field, in the winter of 1885-86, and thoroughly examined all the streams flowing into the Inlet immediately opposite the Granville town-site, from the lofty chain of mountains on the north side.

The results obtained from this survey showed that of all the streams available, the River Capilano, falling into the Inlet at the First Narrows nearly opposite the western boundary of the present City of Vancouver, was the most suitable, the discharge being much greater than that of any of the others, and the average fall of the river so great that an initial point for a gravity system of water supply could be obtained within a reasonable distance upstream.

Having decided on utilizing the waters of the Capilano for the supply of the future city, Mr. Keefer experienced no difficulty in obtaining the co-operation of several prominent and enterprising capitalists of Victoria, who were quite in accord with him in the belief that at a very early day a large population would be located at the Granville town-site, and that an immediate outlay for an efficient system of water works would be a remunerative investment.

Accordingly, the extension of the railway to the Granville town-site being an assured fact, and the future name of that locality being definitely decided on as the City of Vancouver, these gentlemen applied to the Provincial Legislature for an act of incorporation of a company, to be known as the Vancouver Water Works Company, and proposing to construct a gravity system of water works, for the purpose of conveying water from a point on the River Capilano, on the north side of Burrard Inlet, to certain specified lots in the New Westminster district on the south side of Burrard Inlet. About the same time, application was made by the inhabitants of these lots for an act of incorporation under the name of the City of Vancouver. Both requests were granted by the legislature on the same day, the 6th of April, 1886.

During the summer of 1886, the writer, acting under instructions from Mr. Keefer, made detailed surveys, definitely locating the point of supply on the River Capilano, and the crossing of Burrard Inlet. In June, 1887, the whole system was finally staked out, and contracts entered into for clearing, close cutting and grubbing. In December,

1887, a permanent Board of Directors was formed, comprising the following gentlemen: President, Capt. John Irving; Directors, The Hon. (now Sir) Joseph W. Trutch, Messrs. R. P. Rithet, G. A. Keefer, Thomas Earle and D. M. Eberts; Mr. J. W. McFarland being appointed Secretary; Mr. D. M. Eberts, solicitor; Mr. G. A. Keefer, M. Can. Soc. C.E., chief engineer; and the writer, Mr. H. B. Smith, M. Can. Soc. C.E., engineer in charge.

THE RIVER CAPILANO.

The River Capilano is a mountain stream of considerable magnitude. Prospectors who have penetrated its cañons, and claim to have reached its source, estimate its length at no less than fifty miles. It rises in the snow-covered mountains of the Howe Sound district, and flows almost due south, emptying into Burrard Inlet at the First Narrows.

Although nothing definite is known as to its source, all accounts agree that its origin is not a mountain lake, but the accumulated waters derived from melted snow and ice falling from the mountain summits. For a distance of seven miles from its mouth, the river has been surveyed. Throughout this distance it flows at the average rate of five feet per second over a bed of granite, basalt and conglomerate boulders. Sand and gravel can be found only in a few sheltered bays. It passes through several cañons of granite and whinstone rock, one of which is only 15 feet wide at its base, 94 feet wide at its top, 500 feet long, and 218 feet deep. Previous to the creation of this cañon, the whole valley to the north must have been one large lake. The wall of rock through which the stream penetrated ages ago, by some sudden effort of the earth's hidden forces, stands like a huge gate at the south end of the valley, the valley itself being but a strip of flat land from 1,000 to 1,500 feet wide, lying at the base of two parallel ranges of mountains, which tower upwards to a height of 3,000 feet. The fall that took place when the river flowed over the summit of this rocky wall must have equalled the Niagara of to-day for depth, if not for volume. Should the City of Vancouver increase to the magnitude predicted, it may be that its people at some future day will cause a dam to be constructed across the narrow gorge, and once again convert this valley into a lake. Vancouver will then possess a reservoir from whence to draw its water supply, which will not be surpassed by any water works system on the continent. These cañons are isolated, standing about a mile apart. Between them the river flows through low lying flats, forming many islands. The immediate banks are but a few feet above the level of the river, and from 100 to 200 feet in width,

the ground on each side rising in terraces until it is merged in the uniform slope of the mountains. Both sides of the river are heavily timbered with the huge trees peculiar to the British Columbia coast, Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, spruce, balsam and white fir being in abundance. The Douglas fir and cedar grow to an enormous size. One cedar in particular was measured by the writer, and found to be 64 feet in circumference, 4 feet from the ground.

one.

As a source of a city water supply, the River Capilano is an ideal No purer water can be obtained from any source than that from this mountain stream, flowing swiftly over a boulder bed, through deep rocky cañons, and along shores as yet uncontaminated by the impurities which follow in the wake of settlement. The supply afforded, being by gravitation, is superior to all other methods, whether by reservoir, direct pressure, or stand pipe, and its permanence is beyond question, careful gauging of the river at the initial point of the system having demonstrated the fact, that at the lowest stage of water the river discharges 440 millions of gallons in 24 hours.

CLEARING, CLOSE CUTTING AND GRUBBING.

The first contract entered into by the Company was for clearing, close cutting and grubbing. This work was done by a local firm at the following prices clearing, $59.00 per acre; close cutting, $95.00 per acre; grubbing $200.00 per acre, under the conditions of the following specification:

The pipe track is to be cleared a width of not less than 33 feet, and all timber and brush, not required for the purposes of the work, piled up and burned, as in clearing land for cultivation.

The dam site is to be cleared in the same manner, and to such limits as may be directed by the engineer.

Whenever embankments, occurring on the line of pipe track or tramway, are less than two feet in height, all the trees, stumps and brush immediately under the embankment, are to be cut close to the ground, and whenever the embankments are from two to four feet high, they shall be cut within six inches of the ground; but when the embankments exceed four feet in height, chopping as for ordinary clearing will be allowed.

Grubbing shall be performed under the seats of the embankments occurring on the line of pipe track, or tramway, that do not exceed one foot six inches in height, and also all excavations for pipe track, tramway and dam embankment, less than three feet deep. The stumps and roots from the grubbing shall be removed to such places as directed.

No Chinese are to be employed, directly or indirectly, on the above works.

THE DAM.

The point on the river selected as the source of supply is at a distance of 61⁄2 miles upstream from its mouth, where the river is confined to one channel, and the banks on either side are sufficiently high to admit of the construction of a dam.

The locality selected is the only point from the river's mouth upwards where a dam could be safely and economically constructed, and give at the same time a sufficient head to overcome the elevation of the high flats 3 miles below it.

By reference to Plate XVI, which shews the dam site and its vicinity, it will be seen that immediately south of the site the river is divided into two wide channels.

Still further south, all the way to the cañon below, it is divided into three and even four channels. Similarly, north of the dam site, the river has two branches separated by a large, low, flat island. This island is completely covered at high water, making the river at that stage no less than 830 feet wide.

The cross section of the river at the dam site at low water gave a current of 4 feet per second, a width of 100 feet, and an extreme depth of 3 feet, the difference of level between low and high water being 6 feet. It has been subsequently ascertained, however, that during occasional floods the water rose much higher, and covered the level flat on the north side to a depth of 2 feet. This flat stands at an average level of 12 feet above low water. The bed of the stream consisted of large granite boulders, closely packed together, small stones and coarse gravel filling up the interstices. The channel of the river in ordinary floods was 210 feet wide.

On the north shore the immediate bank is 12 feet high, and extends at the same level a distance of 140 feet inland. A sudden rise then takes place, terminating in another flat 40 feet above low water, and which stretches to the base of the mountains.

On the south shore, the bank rises abruptly to a height of 22 feet above low water, and continues at that elevation for 200 feet. It then rises rapidly in terraces till it reaches the mountain side hill. The high land on the north shore trends to the northward immediately west of the dam, and that on the south to the southward, immediately east of the dam.

The con

The dam site lies directly between these two high points. tract for the construction of a stone-filled timber dam at the point selected was let on the 24th of January, 1888, to Messrs. H. F. Keefer and D. McGillivray of Vancouver, and was most satisfactorily completed by them on the 18th of April following. The difficulties encountered by the contractors in carrying out this work were of no ordinary character. Inasmuch as it was the initial work of the system, and located in a wilderness in which no roads existed, all supplies, tools and machinery were of necessity packed to the works on the backs of mules. The season was mid-winter, and unusually inclement. Chinook winds and heavy rain-storms, melting the snow on the mountain summits, caused frequent freshets, in which the river would rise from 6 to 10 feet in a few hours time.

The formation of the banks in the vicinity did not admit of the river being temporarily diverted, except at enormous cost. The foundations of the structure had therefore to be excavated, and the first courses laid in from 3 to 4 feet of swift running ice cold water.

Plate XVII is a reduced copy of the working plan of the dam. It will be seen that the structure is of continuous cribbing, stone filled, planked and sheet piled. It consists of three principal parts, viz., the north abutment, the tumbling way, and the south abutment.

The north abutment is located well inland, owing to the tendency of the river in high floods to over-run its channel, and spread over the low lying land in the vicinity. For the purpose of description it may be subdivided into the following heads: The abutment proper, the well chambers, the settling pond, the pipe outlet, and the north wing.

The abutment proper is a right rectangular prism 41'. 2′′ × 20′ × 18'. 9", constructed of round timbers, laid in alternate courses of cross ties and longitudinals, dove-tailed at the angles, and forming 28 cribs, which are filled up with heavy stone filling and coarse gravel, the latter being rammed into all interstices between the stones and under the timbers. A space equivalent to four cribs, in the exact centre of the abutment, is floored and walled, from the foundation upwards, with double 2" planking over-lapping. A perfectly watertight chamber 10′. 6′′ × 7'. 10" is formed. This chamber is subdivided into two smaller and equal ones by parallel walls, 4" apart, of double 2" planking overlapping, and placed at right angles to the length of the main chamber. These constitute the well chambers, by means of which the water from the reservoir formed by the dam is conveyed into the mains. An influent conduit of double 2" planking overlapping, 15' 5" long, and of area sufficient to admit a larger volume of water than can be discharged by