Blog Borg Collective

Friday, March 27, 2015

1916: "Oliver Fruit and Gardens" fueled by Water. 99 years later same technology in use but moving Petroleum

One of our hobbies is to find where a photographer had to stand to get his landscape photo.

Haynes Ecological Reserve

49° 5'28.52"N 119°31'49.64"W

Allan Brooks - Naturalist - near Osoyoos

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T.D. Pattullo, Minister of Lands 1916

IRRIGATED LANDS NEAR OLIVER.

Situated in Southern Okanagan Valley, south of Penticton, the warmest, lowest, and earliest portion of that well-known fruit-growing district, a tract, of several thousand acres is being subdivided in fruit growing areas of 10 to over 20 acres and prepared for settlement and development.

An irrigation system has been installed which will be operated by the Government until development allows of the creation of an irrigation district, after which the water-users will administer and manage the system. The areas now being offered a re confined to those within scope of the completed portion.

The tract extends from a short distance south of Vaseaux Lake to the International Boundary. The northerly part is 22 miles from Penticton. Agreement has been made with the Kettle Valley Railway Company by the Government for completion of a branch, now under construction, from Penticton a divisional point of the company's main line-through the tract, with a station at Oliver.

OLIVER

Which will be the administrative centre of the district, is a new townsite laid out in a picturesque part of the valley on the west of Okanagan River, 25 miles south of Penticton. It has been subdivided into business and residential blocks, with graded streets and domestic water and sewerage systems to be provided; electric light and power will be available, as the transmission-line from Bonnington Falls passes within a mile; railway service with station and yards, parks, etc.; in fact, Oliver is expected to be a modern business centre with all conveniences required by modern business and social life. The main highway will pass through the centre of the town .

Dog Lake is now called Skaha Lake

Where was the photographer standing to take this photo? Has the area changed? Orchard Stands dot the Highway? Houses? Picker Shacks? Resorts?

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Oliver Then

Oliver Now

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Zoom in on the workers: see the 'wall' creating the pipe, crib supports below

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Oliver Museum And Archives - Event Calendar

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PRESS RELEASE: Tales of the Ditch

posted Apr 7, 2014, 1:11 PM by Oliver Heritage

“The Ditch” that carries the lifeblood of the valley, water, is the reason the Town of Oliver exists. Yet most people today do not realize it is right under their feet as they do business around town.

Not so for Oliver born orchardist Greg Norton, guest speaker at the Oliver and District Heritage Society’s Annual General Meeting which takes place on Wednesday, April 16th at 7 p.m. at the Quail Nest on Airport Road.

Greg will share stories of “The Ditch”, a daring do place of adventurous entertainment for generations of Oliver kids. The gravity flow, concrete canal that begins its life under the shadow of McIntyre Bluff was the personal playground for Greg and his friends growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. In later years it was his place of work. However, well before that, this amazing and seemingly simply designed structure was what his grandfather Charles Norton and others wrestled to build in the early 1920’s. Then and now, “The Ditch” has always been a central part of Norton family life.

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The Ditch

Snip.....In 1918 soldiers began to return to the B.C. after the war; to their dismay they were welcomed by a crowded workforce and highly populated cities. The Premier of B.C. at the time, John Oliver, sought to find a solution for the veterans, who he believed should be rewarded for their valiant fighting. He instituted the Soldiers Land Act, under which he purchased 22,000 acres extending south of McIntyre bluff. It was hoped to irrigate 8,000 acres of this land – this was to be the Southern Okanagan Lands Project. The land was then to be sold to veterans who desired land and were given ‘special purchasing privileges’. Snip - Julie Cancela

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Southern Okanagan Irrigation Project

1922 version of GMO

Creosote

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2014 BBC POST

225 recipes for British Columbian fruit, during the First World War, 1916 and 1918

Source: 1916

Trivia:

The Town of Oliver is named after “Honest” John Oliver, who became the 19th Premier of British Columbia following the death of his predecessor in 1918 and held the position of Premier until his own death in 1927. During his term in office, he was instrumental in developing the original fruit growing industry in the South Okanagan Valley, centered in what later became our community, and which adopted the Premier Oliver’s name as its own.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Irwin and Billings, Home for Sale $3,500 Grand Boulevard, North Vancouver City, 100 Years of Service

Since 1906, we’ve been meeting diverse commercial and personal insurance needs on the North Shore, in the Lower Mainland and throughout British Columbia. We’re a family business locally owned and operated by a North Shore resident. At Irwin & Billings, we know our business, we know our clients and we take pride in our freedom to truly offer you independent advice and efficient service. - See more at: http://ibib.ca/#sthash.XDweeFWg.dpuf

Since 1906, we’ve been meeting diverse commercial and personal insurance needs on the North Shore, in the Lower Mainland and throughout British Columbia. We’re a family business locally owned and operated by a North Shore resident. At Irwin & Billings, we know our business, we know our clients and we take pride in our freedom to truly offer you independent advice and efficient service.

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Meanwhile down here in North Hollywood..... 6591 Vineland

Vineland Metro ~~has~~ had 27 homes; three guest parking spots; parking for two cars per each home; Choice of 4 square feet of Astro Turf lawn therefore no lawn to mow which is good because Los Angeles drought rating is EXTREMELY high. Did we mention the distance between the side by side house roof eaves? One foot. Something like East Vancouver homes.... and some places on the North Shore.

Plan

House below is looking at the front door of Building 4

Sprinklers not necessary, No Water

Building 4

SOLD OUT! Located in North Hollywood, Vineland Metro is an intimate community of just twenty-seven single family homes, within minutes of all Los Angeles has to offer. Get inspired by owning amongst the culture, charm, and energy of the NoHo Arts District! From the mid $500,000s.

Two-Story Single Family Homes
    Approx. 1,629 Square Feet
    Three Bedrooms
    Two and One Half Bathrooms
    Two-Car Attached Garage
    Private Patio
    DESIGNER UPGRADES & FURNITURE INCLUDED!

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Los Angeles Department of Water and Power DWP rebates for turfing turf

The real water guzzlers are the swimming pools which are monitored by Google Earth for City Hall

Q: Does the LADWP provide a discounted water rate for filling my pool?

A: No. Water usage will be billed according to your metered consumption.

You may be eligible for a Sewer Service Charge (SSC) adjustment if you filled your pool during the winter rainy season (typically from October through April). To request an adjustment, contact the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation at 1-800-540-0952 or fill out and submit a Residential SSC Request for Adjustment.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

If you happen to be in Maple Ridge, anytime: Fibres Plus - Basketry, Weaving, Knitting, Spinning

Using the Rick Mercer's line of ... 'If you happen to be in .....' Vernon on September 13th and 14th ...' keeps cropping up as a common thread on this blog promoting unique places in British Columbia. There are so many small businesses fulfilling the resource needs of hobbyists where all they need is a little bit of publicity.

Vaughn Palmer, in a recent column, mentioned that the BC Legislature calendar is going to be so void of new laws that it will be downright boring. His headline writer selected:

A quiet legislature session, knit-picked. No major policy initiatives expected from B.C. Liberals.

Palmer punchline:

..... Liberals are deliberately concocting a snooze-fest ... .... It’s enough to make a fellow take up knitting.

Knitting is fine, and dandy, except that Palmer's job is not to 'knit-pick' but rather 'nit-pick' a Minister who is not accomplished at knowing the difference between right and wrong, knit or nit wit.

Nit-pick defined: minute and usually unjustified criticism

Vaughn Palmer's idea of knitting is common hobby within the Legislature halls, both genders. If he wants to show a bit of flare, not LNG, he could funnel his thoughts to include basket weaving along with knitting to pass the time of day.

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When anyone mentions Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) there is an immediate vision of the devastating forces of the Mountain Pine Beetle here in British Columbia.

There's an aspect to the Lodgepole Pine that requires artists to use selective harvesting from healthy trees. The needles. Not the needles that fall from house-bound dry Christmas trees onto the homes' carpets, nor the ones that carpet the trails on the North Shore.

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Through the creative eyes of Dale Friend at Fibres Plus in Maple Ridge she has a fabulous resource for Basket Weaving and Knitting AND plenty of Ideas like these photos ........ a thousand words .... and more .....

Vaughn (Arnold) Palmer golf chapeau

Fibres Plus

Basketry Weaving

Spinning Knitting

Books, Supplies, Tools and Equipment

Dale

604-467-1178

Maple Ridge

Yellow Copper Wire Basket on Red Wheels

Did we mention Books?

Monday, February 2, 2015

The plight of Northern BC 184 Wolves being culled needs impact photos, not groomed cameo appearances from Hollywood North

This is the environment where the Caribou, Grizzly and Wolf are free to roam.


and Territorial

and Territory

and Michael Smyth asks: "Do we need to kill Wolves......"

What we need to do is tame Man from treading on the animals territory. Somewhere up there is a photographer, capturing the moments.

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CFI of HNZ and bighorn sheep - Similkameen - Simmons argued that the sheep in Snowy have become accustomed to the training flights over the years and are not stressed as sheep would be experiencing helicopters for the first time. “If you asked the bighorn sheep, how many generations have been listening to helicopters? Much like deer in Penticton, they’re completely used to what they see and hear in their environment.”

Territorial II

Looking at the bigger picture it's difficult to understand which entity is promoting the wolf cull. Is it the Oil and Gas resource industry or BC Hydro's Site C dam builders who see the animals as a threat to their safety? Both are being serviced by the BC Liberal Government.

Whichever is the culprit, there are scientists out in the fields of Peace River Moberly district beavering away, generating their numerous reports on behalf of the government with all costs being borne by taxpayers. Helicopters are the workhorses to and from the wilderness areas, to and from the overnight half-pipe shelter accommodations twice/thrice daily, entertainment supplied, FOOD delivered by air, fuel hauled in for the helicopters, travel expenses for the Government to pay, hotels/flights/car rental to the helicopter pads, add in salaries and benefits.

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This is Michael Smyth's idea of what a Wolf looks like in Northern British Columbia.

Marco Musiani photos

John Bergenske and Ian McAllister are two conservationists who care deeply about British Columbia’s threatened wildlife. But when it comes to the government’s decision to shoot up to 184 wolves from helicopters to save endangered caribou herds, they find themselves at odds. “Killing one species to save another simply doesn’t work,” said McAllister, a renowned wildlife photographer .... - Michael Smyth

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Bob Dylan: Pity the poor immigrant Caribou MOU signed under ~~duress~~ distress

Mike or Michelle Wiegele?

Is Mike Mike and Michelle Michelle?

or

Mike and Michelle?

Monday, January 26, 2015

Shaky: E&N Railway Bridge Footings

Model Trains: Clubs Metro Vancouver

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The Real Thing, but.......

Link UPDATE: 2017-08-27 URL to PDF file 579 Pages

Bridge inspection : Southern Railway of Vancouver Island, BC Canada. Phase 1, Inspection report : bridges from Mile 1.30 to Mile 65.10 and 2 bridges on the Wellcox Spur (28 bridges). --

A Report on Vancouver Island's Southern Railway of British Columbia rail infrastructures provides excellent how-to diy drawings for authentic HO Train bridges. All they need is a copy of that Report or two, one should be enough to raise the concerns of the communities that lie in the path of the real E&N Railway line.

Two years ago BNSF had their own problems:

Detailed new photos show state of aging BNSF Bridge in South Surrey as potential recipe for disaster. - Laila Yuile's No Strings Attached

Southern Railway of British Columbia negotiations

E&N Assessment Reports Four held in trust by MoT if you can find them

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Island Corridor Foundation have released a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the 48 bridges and trestles on the E&N rail corridor between Victoria and Courtenay, including two structures on the Wellcox spur between the main line and the Nanaimo harbour. The railway bridge structures range in date of construction between 1906 and 2010. The objectives of the study were to:

assess the load carrying capacity of the bridges

estimate potential rehabilitation/replacement costs required to the bridges to support rail operations to the end of year 2021, with further estimates of bridge rehabilitation/replacement costs to the years 2031 and 2041.