Behind the simple press report] that the provincial government "offers $2,000 for pulling up_ the Jdead fruit trees at Walhachin. B.C." is a tragic story, a tragedy.of war Visitors from the Orient, with all Jothers going east from Vancouver} by Canadian Pacific train, or motor over the Cariboo Highway, will, when one day's travel out of Vancouver, meet a sad spectacle.
is what remains of a once ismail but for a time prosperous Jeommunity of English people, who} owned fruit orchards which' they had purchased, a few years before the war, from the Marquis of Anjelesey, who had invested many hun-Jdreds of thousands of dollars in the lon tire tract of land.
When war broke out the trees! Jwere Just at the age when—they gave promise of "making good." The village of Walhachin was. patrioti to the last man and nearly ninety per'eent of its manhood fit for war rushed ygiments in Great Britain, The lage held the proud record of giving more men to Britain the war for its size, than any other place in the Empire. 'The war] feleaned Walhachin of its population, the orchanls were neglected, fand' the trees, when just about] due to dear, began to dic. By the "the war was over the long wooden flume that feonveyed irrigation water from Deadman Creek was in a bad state repair, and the Marquis could hot see his way clear to put the ferent ditch in repair. An appeal twas made to the Provincial Government, but the Department of Agrifeulture, could not see interest comting out of the investment sought, Jand the tragedy of Walhachin as fruit-growing centre was complete. On various holdings there still stand once fine homes that were built with a view to permanency. put which are now deserted and elected ani show the stark marks} of Tong neglect. fers Tie in soldiers' graves, One came Victoria Cross, he was Lieut. Plowerdew, v.c. Most of the orchard Iand has reverted to the Crown through the non-payment of taxes.
To-day the orchards stand in full view of the tourist like a forest that had been swept by fire, with the remains of trees standing mute protest telling of a grandeur and contentment and prosperity that was within grasp when the God of War struck his first blow.
Snakes may be seen emerging from wild grass shoulder high around the acres of dead trees to take sun-baths.
To take away this "black eye to the Province, the Government is offering $2,000 for the removal of the trees. Many of the homes have already gone to a neighbouring town, after being bought at "the price of a song."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.