IT was almost impossi- ble for small logging operations to prosper until the more practical solution of moving tim- ber by railway became a reality. The Americans had been eveing the vast expanses of high quality cedar in the Capilano valley to meet their own depleted supplies, espe- cially since the land was Crown-granted with no export restrictions. Extensive logging in the Capilano Valley did not begin until Chicago-based “A.P. Nickey et al” purchased the Capilano Lumber Company, incorporating it as the Capilano Timber Company in 1908. Ir was not until 1918, with the building of a logging railway from the valley to the North Vancouver booming grounds near the old Vancouver Creosoting Company plant at the foot of Pemberton Avenue, that the company began to prosper. Located close to Vancouver, the Capilano Timber Company became a showplace of the logging Photo Nortn Vancouver Mussum and Archives THE construction of a logging raliway in North Vancouver in 1918 helped the Capilano Timber Company to a booming success. industry and darling of the lumbering = press | Western Lumberman tor the next 16 years. In the first few months of operation, it was reported to have carried abour 75,000 feet of timber to the booming grounds on Burrard Inlet. By February 1919, eight miles of track and 10 bridges had already been built, the fargest trestle near Camp 4 across Houlgate Creek. With )-foot piles driven butt first and 400 feet long, it was claimed to be the highest pile bridge in the province at that time. The railway covered the mountainside on both sides of the valley. Starting at the booming grounds neaz the foot of Pembertan Avenue, a junction shared with the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, the rail- way tracks ran north to Marine Dave berween Pemberton and Lloyd Avenues by way of unmarked Shaw Street (run- ning in front of the now Save- On Foods building) and west onto the railway bed along Bowser Trail to the Capitano River. Here a truss bridge crossed the stream close to the furmer Trapp property (now owned by West Vancouver dis- trict) on the west bank. Continuing north, it crossed Keith Road below the Capilano Cemetery and fol- lowed the old grade as far as Houlgate Creek, the largest bridge with a water tank at the north end. From = there it wound in and out of valleys, over bridges, through cuts to a plateau just west of the Second now Cleveland Dam (built in 1954). North of the canyon, it continued ap the west side of the valley to the upper end of Capilano: Lake, crossing, back to the east bank tor three miles, then back to the west, past Easteap Creek to Enchantment and Daniels Creeks. Accerding to David M. Rees-Thomas in his 1979 book, Timber Down the Capilana, “Much of the timber was being cur above the water intake (Capilano River). Extensive logging destroyed the natural reservoir created by the forested slopes. After heavy rains in the fall of 1921, three bridges and a section of the road were washed out, and $25,000 damage was done to the ciy’s intake facility by the runofl.” Protests and political oppo- sition to logging practices mounted. In 1925, the water intake area above the Cleveland Dam was closed co the public and the Greater Vancouver Water District began unifiing convol of all Lower Mainland water systems. The last logging trains left the Capilano valley in 1934. The end of the Capilano logging did not pass without remarks from the press. The B.C. Lumberman in November 1933 recalled with pride the considerable achievements of the Capilano Timber Company: : “In 16 years of operation, more than 50 miles of railroad was laid, 400 million fect of Cruising Russia Wednesday. January 6, 1999 ~ North Shore News ~ 17 out. Millions of dollars: were spent locally on wages, supplies and equipment. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed sumptuous feasts at the hospitaliiy of Manager G.G, Johnson and his men... the Capilano Timber Company had surely done Down Memory Lane is a series of columns by North Vancouver writer Janell Hilton on some of the history around the North Shore. Information sup- plied by Roy Pallant and North Vancouver Museum & Archives (987-5618). JAYLORMOTIVE JUNE-UP SPECIALISTS AirCare - Gov. Certified #50222 * Estimates * TALKIN S 4 299-s000 MECHANICAL REPAIRS izl4isis.. Consultation 985-7455 APPROVED CENTRE Award-winning AirCore Technician available to service your car er light ALSO COMPLETE Guaranteed | year 176 Pemberton Ave, N. Van (5 biks south of Marine) Swiss Style Bear about cruising Russia on the Viking s §Peterhof and our special group departure in May 1999 escorted by Yorn Rose. Guest speaker lain Perkins will enlighten you as he uncovers the fascinating journey through Imperial Russia. Join us for an enjoyable presentation including live Russian entertainment, He's hilarious He's outrageous He's here Sat, Jan 9, 1999, 1:00pm signing his new book “Canada, is Anyone Listening?” Reserve your copy now 980-9032 32 Books 140 E. 1th St., N. Van, BC ext week in your North Shore News www .nsnmnmews.com Bey Bailey has just returned from cruising Russia, come and listen to her experience. Roseway Travel 926-4344 The first degree murder trial of Michael Caster, the accused shooter of Mohammed Mirhadi, resumes this week in New Westminster and the News will bring you the details. Meanwhile in our Friday issue, This Week's Michael Becker focuses on The Camera Obscured — a new photographic exhibit at Presentation House.