Let Everybody take up a Farm.

Victoria Daily Standard

Friday, May 19, 1871

Under the pre-emption laws of this colony, any one being a British subject may take up 160 acres of land on this Island and on the Lower Fraser, and 320 acres behind the Cascades. Now, it is a matter of importance to all who may be disposed to engage in farming, that they should understand that as soon as the line of railway to Canada shall have been decided on, no more pre-emptions will be allowed to be taken up within twenty miles on each side of the railroad; for our Government stands bound to the Canadian to transfer to that Government just as much land on each side of the railway as may be granted either by the Northwest Territory or Manitoba, provided it does not exceed 40 miles in width. The presumption is that a 20-mile belt will be granted on each side of the railway on the other side of the Rocky Mountains, except in Ontario.

Consequently, we shall have to do the same. Now, no matter where else the railway may run, it is absolutely certain to connect Esquimalt with Nanaimo. If it should cross Johnson Straits or run down to Howe Sound, yet the Victoria-Nanaimo line is sure to be built, and that within three years. Now, a 40-mile belt between Esquimalt and Nanaimo will take up all the un-pre-empted and unsold land in the southern part of this Island.

But it must be remembered that the 40-mile belt will not be transferred to Canada till the line of railway has been defined. That has to be done within two years. Hence there are at the outside only two years within which pre-emptions may be taken up. Consequently if any one wishes to take advantage of our pre-emption laws, they must do so between the date of Union and two years afterwards. If Union should take place in August next, no more pre-emptions could be taken up after August, 1873.

1886 E & N Land Grant

Now, there are hundreds of good claims that may be pre-empted, commencing with Gold

Stream (sic)and ending with Nanaimo. All through the Shawnigan and Quamichan districts there are good locations, and in Chemainus too. Between Chemainus River and Nanaimo River there are five bottoms of maple, alder and cedar, well watered and capable of sustaining a large population. Besides that, the evidences of the existence of coal beneath the surface is everywhere visible. No sooner will the railway be completed than coal lands nearer to Victoria than Nanaimo will rise in value,—and Esquimalt and Victoria are as likely to supply cargoes of coal as Nanaimo or Baynes Sound. Agricultural lands will also rise in value, long before railway communication shall be opened,—and afterwards the farmer of Chemainus will have the advantage over the farmer in Saanich or Metchosin for easy and rapid means of communication.

Let every man, therefore, take advantage of the circumstances. For as soon as the railway company get possession of the land, up will go the price, and no one will be able to pre-empt a piece of land within twenty miles of the railway. Now is the time to select a farm. Let no one overlook the present opportunity; for every foot of land on the Island will soon rise in value.