Over the years, a tunnel was lengthened to 274 metres (900 ft) but did not reach a paying ore body.
[9] Believing his copper claim to be exceptional, Brown proclaimed once production commenced, he would build a city that disallowed schools, churches and banks.
[10] However, when the Kettle Valley Line was constructing a branch northward from Grand Forks in 1906, which passed nearby, Brown more actively promoted his townsite.
[12] A mile from Volcanic City at about the 16-kilometre (10 mi) mark north, Arthur Williamson ran a general store.
When applying for a post office in 1899, the name Volcanic City was proposed, but amended to Toronto, when Brown argued that name for his development.