Bulkley Valley
The Bulkley, a stream running through Houston, British Columbia, joins the larger Morice River about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the west.
The northern boundary of the valley is usually considered the Bulkey's confluence with the Skeena River at Hazelton, although it is sometimes placed further south near Witset.
In the Delgamuukw decision of 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the Wet'suwet'en and neighbouring Gitxsan have Aboriginal title in the area.
[1] Simon McGillivray of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), who ventured into the northern part of the valley in 1833, is recorded as the first European visitor.
[3] Michael Byrnes (after whom Burns Lake is named) and Henry McNeill, Collins Overland Telegraph surveyors, were the first to travel the entire length of the valley.
Charles S. Bulkley (after whom the river and valley are named) was the company chief engineer for construction, but not a site employee.
The Poudrier party improved the former telegraph trail to a wagon road standard south to Moricetown, and made other sections suitable for packhorses.
The 20-foot right-of-way improved access to the Bulkley Valley from both eastward points and the sternwheeler terminal at Hazelton to the west.
[15] Foley, Welch and Stewart (FW&S) began eastward construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) from Prince Rupert in 1908, reaching the valley in 1912.
[16] The GTP had initially considered routing through the Telkwa Pass, 80 miles (130 km) shorter, largely bypassing the valley and the then major centre of Hazelton.
[17] That year forest fires raged through the valley destroying crops, farm buildings and equipment as far west as Telkwa and Aldermere.
In 1917, a BC government initiative encouraged settlers and returning war veterans to establish farms in undeveloped areas.
US assistance was invaluable in reconstructing the final section to Prince Rupert in 1944, creating in places a narrow road wedged between the Skeena and railway tracks.
[21] At Goathorn Creek near Telkwa, the McNeil mine began coal extraction in 1918, producing 14–45 tons daily.
Opened in 1930, Bulkley Valley Collieries became the dominant player, increasing to about 9,000 tons per year during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Opened in 1922, Duthie Mines (primarily silver), 15 miles (24 km) from Smithers, extracted $227,500 worth in 1928,[23] but operations ceased in 1930.
Cropped to show Bulkley Valley.
