WE continue our his- tory of the Capilano River Valley by looking at how the turbulent Capilano River was dammed and water car- ried over the treacher- ous tides of the First Narrows to the grow- ing city of Vancouver. Considered crazy for thinking he could pipe water across the First Narrows to supply the new city of Vancouver, CPR engineer George Alexander Keeter sur- veved the Capilano River for seven miles up the Capilano River from tidewater, chose a site for a dam 6% miles upstream, planned the route for the water mains and applied for a charter. Six weeks later, on April 6, 1886, the Vancouver Water Works Company received its charter and Vancouver was incorporated as a city. Keefer conveniently called on his famous uncle, Thomas Coluin Keefer, reported as being “the greatest hydraulic engineer of his day” by the Royal Society of Canada, for his advice on the project. His uncle, who had never seen the wild waters of the narrows, assured him there should be no problem. On Jan. 24, 1888, the contract for the dam was awarded to Hugh Forbes Keefer and Dan McGillivray. The site was 388 feet (118 m) above sva level. opays ye e6aa (a]af= oy ‘TORE]_ j Righty ny Mules hauled supplies, tools and equipment up the rough wagon road. Digging in swift running, freezing cold water, they completed the —384-foot — rock-filled wooden crib dam by April 18, 1888. In his book Capilano, Story of a River, J.W. Morton writes, “It was built of three rows of parallel timbers 15 inches in diameter, crossed at intervals of five feet by cross- ties of the same diameter, notched into ¢ach other and held together with wrought- iron drift bolts. There was a spillway 165 feet in length and 4] feet in breadth, and at the deepest part of the river the height was 13% feet. Ac one end of the dam was a tool and observation shed.” The next step was con- struction of two tunnels to carry the water mains down to the inlet: one 280 feet (85 m) long, the other 108 feet (33 m). north shore news EIGHBOURHOODS Capilane Photo North Vancouver Museum and Archives THE Capilano River started providing water for the growing city of Vancouver almost 100 years ago after it was dammed and a pipe was built across the First Narrows. The dam and caretaker's home were located just below Hotel Capilano. The contract for laying the connecting pipe across the narrows was awarded to John F. Ward of Jersey City, paten- tee of the Ward Flexible Joint Pipe. Ward, too, had never seen the narrows, At extreme low tide, the narraws were 1,086 feet (33 m) wide: at high tide 1,237 feet (377 m) wide. The only drawback appeared to be the tidal current, varying between 4% and nine knots. The triumph of laying a water main across the tumul- tuous narrows, including the cowardly retreat of J.F. Ward, is described in detail in Morton’s book. The project was completed by contractors Keeter and McGillivray. On Aug. 18, 1888, they successfully laid 1,104 feet (336 m) of 12-inch diameter flexible pipe across the nar- rows, the lowest point being 58 feet (18 m) below fow tide. THE GOURMET KITCHEN Gifts that will make your favorite cook be jolly Peppermills Bakeware fo, The unique design will please the most gifted cook. @—— . We also offer a large selection of: Copper Cookware Portmeirion Rosle Utensils “Pipe was) being laid through Stanley Park, across Coal Harbour, up) Georgia Street, down Granville, and along Hastings Street towards its termination at Westminster Avenue (now Main Street).” On the North Shore pipe was laid near Capilano Road. Later that year, on Nov. 2, the two tunnels supporting the water main were finally com- pleted. It remains a gravity sys- tem, descending from the dam on Capilano, through the water mains, below the narrows and up to the reser- voir on Litthe Mountain (in Shiraz Carpet approx size 3 X5° ‘90 water st Vancousern atan altitude ot 400 tect 122m: On March 20, ES89, “the Work af TO ears was con suimmated” when a valve was turned “and the waters of the Capilano crowed the narrows, reaching its final destination at present Main Street.” The system had cust) the Vancouver Water Works com pany “$300,000 and = 22 months of labour and anguish,” but it was now in business, For several years to follow, there were interruptions, delays, disputes and repairs. Vancouver City purchased the water system in September 189] for $454,658.08, maintaining the city utiliwv until 1927, when the Greater Vancouver Saturday December 5 7.30 P.M. Ryerson United Church (45th & Yew, Vancouver) Aduits SIS Snedents/Senior S15 urGE Water District CGVWD) was formed. The GVWD obtained a 999 wear dease on 82,000 acres of Jand in the Capilano and Sevmour watersheds tora fee of ST per annum, an acquisition that effectively blocked expansion of the lumber industry above the water intake. In June 1933, 2 concrete: imed tunnel, 3,100 tect (945 See Marvel page 28 Suggestions BACCARAT 1637 Lonsdale Ave. 1730 Mavine Dr. North Vancouver West ¥ancouver Sunday December 6 2.30 P.M. West Vancouver United (2062 Esuimalt Ave) Youth (12 & umder) S10 Ticketmaster: 280-3311 www.ticketmaster.ca imported from Iran, India, and China. Indo Gabheh approx. size 3x5’ 100% wool Handmade indo-Gabbeh approx size 1X6" 5299 Persian Gabber approx size 7X10" *6993 CARPET SALES, CLEANING & REPAIRS Only authorized dealer in B.C. for M.S.M non slip pads Shenasi Carpets camer of Marine Dr. & Pemberton just off Pemberton Ave 1199 Marine Dr., North Van 1165 West 15th St. 986 Emile Henry Waechtersbach Zyliss 0-MARINE DR.,/N. VAN. - 980