CASTLE NEWS _

Published Every Thursday at “The Crossroads of the Kootenays”

Castlegar

Kinnaird

Robson
Brilliant

VOL. 5 No. 2

CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, THURSDAY; “JANUARY 10, 1952

5 Cents Per Copy

CELGAR $65 MILLION INDUSTRY TO EMPLOY 2200-1000inPLANT
STUDIES POSSIBILITIES OF ADDED PLANTS oe
COMMITTEE FORMED —

, Application for a forest management licence on
the Columbia River watershed south of the Big Bend
has been received from Celgar Development Co. Ltd.,
Hon. E, E. Kenney, minister of Lands and forests, an-
nounced Tuesday. The company, a division of Celanese
Corporation of America, will start at an early date on
construction of: a $65 million project to provide for
complete utilization of the forest resources in the area
if the licence is approved, Mr. Kenney said. Present
plans call for the construction near Castlegar of a
kraft mill that will produce 40 tons of bleached and
semi-bleached sulphate pulp daily and a ground wood
mill with a daily capacity of 275 tons of newsprint.
Plans for the addition of a plywood mill are under
consideration and will be completed. if sufficient
peeler stock is found to make such a plant economically
sound. Also under consideration is the construction
of a board mill to utilize waste from the pulp and saw-
mill operations. Studies are being made to determine
the feasibility of recovering tannic acid from the hem-

lock bark that would otherwise be wasted.

“The project,” Mr. Kenney
said, ‘would provide for the full-
est possible utilization of our
forest. resources in the Arrow
Lake and Columbia River dis-
tricts. Low grade logs that are
“now left in the woods

affiliates, Columbia Cellulose Co.
Ltd. and Canadian Chemical Co.
Ltd. have committed more than
$90 million for the construction
of a high alpha cellulose mill
at Prince Rupert and a _ petro
hemi and 1 acetate

there is no market for them will
be used in the pulp operation.
Where it is feasible the company
also proposes to place barking
and chipping facilities at strategic
points in the area to utilize the
slabs and edgings that are now
part of the sawmill waste. These
materials would be shipped as
chips to the kraft mill to be
manufactured into pulp. Cutting
of timber on the forest manage-
ment licence for which the com-
pany is applying would be re-
stricted to a volume that will
-not exceed the annual growth in
the licence area, thereby assur-
jng a.continuous forest operation
~for the district. “Logging“-and-
re-forestation work to be done
by the Celgar Development Co.
Ltd., would be supervised by the
Provincial Forest Service to
guarantee an adequate program
of conservation. Subject to ap-
proval of the forest manage-
ment licence application, the com-
pany has arranged for the pur-
chase of a 500 acre plant site on
the Columbia Aiver directly west
of West Robson and three miles
west of,Castlegar. The site, with
nearly three miles of frontage
on the river, is already served
by the Kettle Valley Branch of
the Canadian Pacific Railway.
The mills .at Castlegar, when
completed, would provide em-
ployment for approximately 1,000
men and 1,200 more would be en-
gaged in logging and sawmill
operations on the Arrow Lakes
and Upper Columbia River. In
the licence application, both the
Celgar Development Co. Ltd. and
the Provincial Forest Service
are giving fullest consideration
to the small operations at pres-
ent orking in the area. It is
anticipated that the demand for
low grade logs and sawmill
waste that will be created by
the. pulp plants will substantially
benefit both logging and mill op-
erations. If the licence is grant-
ed the Forest Department will
make provision for timber to
protect the existing operations.
Celanese Corporation of America,
through its original British Co-
lumbia affiliated, Columbia Cel-
lulose Co. Ltd., already holds for-
est management licence No. 1 in
the Skeena and Nash watersheds
and in four years of company
operations in the Terrace  dis-
tricts the small operations
found that the corporation
improved materially. The
posed management licence
ers unreserved timber crown
lands on the watersheds ,of the
Lower-a nd Upper Arrow Lakes
and on the Columbia River from
Arrowhead to Mica Creek, ex-
cept for these areas reserved for
existing operations. Much of the
total area in the watersheds is
non-productive for forestry pur-
poses, :
“Statement by Harold Blancke,
president, Celgar Development
Co. Ltd. Plans of the Celgar De-
velopment Co. Ltd. for an in-
tegrated forest industry in the
Arrow Lakes district . constitute
the third phase of Canadian de-
) Program 1 by
Celanese Corporation . of Am-
erica four years ago. ‘Since 1947
two of the y’s Ci rt

plant at Edmonton. The Colum-
bia Cellulose mill completed last
May is now being enlarged. Con-
struction of the Canadian Chem-
ical plant at Edmonton was start-
ed in July 1951 and will be com-
pleted this year. Estimated cost
of the Arrow Lakes development
is $65 million, but this amount
may be increased by the addition
of plywood and board mills. The
policy of the company adopted
at Prince Rupert and Edmonton
of employing Ganadians where
ever possible in the operations,
of financing the construction in
Canada, and of purchasing ma-
terials, equipment and supplies

inthis: -country~ when: -they--can*-

be procured here, will be follow-
ed at Castlegar.

The Canadian program of
Celanese Corporation of America
has been predicted on our belief
that this country presents an
unparallelled opportunity for
growth and that we can: expect
to share in that growth only to
the extent that we contribute
to it. We propose to continue
these contributions in the form
of capital, industrial experience
and technical skills. The con-
servation policies of the national
and provincial governments in
Canada has been a vital factor
in our decision to develop a major
industrial organization in this
country. The capital cost of new
plant construction today demands
the assurance of an operation
that can look forward to many
years of production amd the life
of any production unit is con-
trolled by the supply of raw ma-
terials.

The forest it pro-

An enthusiastic meeting on
“the bridge question” was held
in the Twin Rivers hall on Fri-
day night when delegates from
24 district organizations met to
form a permanent’ “bridge com.
mittee.”

The meeting was called by the
bridge committee of the Castle
gar and District Chamber of
Cc ‘ce who will the
newly formed committee. Ross
MacDermid was appointed chair-
man.

After being introduced by J. R.
Elliott, chairman for the meeting,
Ross MacDermid said a bridge
would cost no more over a long
term period than the ferries are
now costing. In the 1949-'50
fiscal year (before the present
ferry was put into operation)
the ferry cost $30,800 to operate.
The present ferry was installed
at a cost ‘of $152,000 including
approaches, and will have a life
span of five years — or at the
most six. Yearly this is an ex-
pense of $32,000 making yearly
total cost of $60,000.

Sixty-two thousand dollars a
year over 20 years would build
us a million dollar bridge and
pay for it. The ferry averages
10 minutes a trip. At this rate
transportation firms alone such
as Greyhound Lines, School Bus-
es, Castlegar Transportation So-
ciety buses and trucks lose $144,-
500 a year, which is paid for by
the public. Mr. MacDermid add-
ed that the figure of 600,000
passengers in the 1949-50 fiscal
year has risen considerably since.
“The ferry” he said “is a luxury

TO PRESS FOR BRIDGE

gar would be of more value to
the country at large,” he said.

R. A. D. West pointed out that
this was going to be no easy
task that the committee
should campaign for a_ bridge
in a big way. Monetary objec-
tive should be set at $2,000 or
$3,000, a headquarters established
and a systematic handling de-
veloped.

‘The Kootenays have been “long
forgotten” in Victoria, S. C. Wat-
son said. “Our candidates have
got to be impressed with the
fact that they are representing
us, not we them,” he added.
“We've got to let Victoria know
we. need a_ bridge, and
we need other improvements
throughout the district,” he said.

Organizations represented at
the meeting included Castlegar
Village Commission, Kinnaird
Village Commission, Castlegar
and Nelson Chambers of Com-
merce, Castlegar School Board,
the Liberal Association, Robson
Farmers’ Institute, Castlegar Co-
operative Transportation Society,
c..C. F. Association, Kinnaird and
Castlegar Fire
Castlegar Airport Committee,
Castlegar Knights of
Castlegar Kiwanis Club,
naird Women’s Institute, Castle-
gar Hospital Committee, Rob-.
son Women’s Institute, United
Church W. A., and Kinnaird Im-
provement Society. - Other  or-
ganizations are requested to in-
struct the executive committee
as to the name of their dele-

gate.
_QOther taking leading parts in
the 4 Ar-An-

that

we."and -the.'pr e
ment can’t afford.

During the discussions that fol-
lowed J. R. Elliott mentioned
the fact that the present ferry
is Castlegar’s fifth and largest
— yet long lineups still occur.
With an additional 2500 people
in the district seen with the ar-
rival of a new forest industry at
Castlegar, he said, a _ bridge
would be imperative.

Others drew attention to the
fact that the average of 10 min-
utes per trip was considerably
Learmonth said Nelson’s view
was that Castlegar’s need for a
bridge was more pressing than
raised by ferry breakdowns, and
delay in obtaining medical help
in times of breakdowns and dur-
ing normal ferry operations, es-
pecially during winter when runs
take longer.

Nelson Chamber of Commerce
was represented by John Lear-
month and P. H. Hoskins. Mr.
Nelson’s. “A bridge at Castle-

gram of the British Columbia
government is of the greatest sig-
nificance in our plans for -the
Arrow Lakes development. It -is
equally important to the 2000
men and women.we expect to
employ in our mill and logging
operations. It is their assur-
ance, and ours, that the chief ma-
terials necessary for production
will be available indefinitely. The
tion of per em-
ployment that is linked with the
forest conservation plan will en-
courage expansion and new pro-
jects in the towns in the licence
area. Wherever possible, the
products of the proposed mills
will be sold in Canada for con-
sumption, or further processing.
The remainder of the output will
be sold 6n the export market,
thereby aiding the campaign to
strengthen Canada’s position in
the field of international ex-
change.
Statement by
Hon, E. E. Kenney . 5
The announcement by the Cel-
gar Development Co. Ltd. that
construction of a $65 million in-
tregated forest industry in. the
Arrow Lakes district will: start
immediately 1s welcome news.
This project, the largest single
forest development ever under-
taken in British Columbia, is of
vital importance to the people of
the province for several r

into sharp focus the economic
importance of the forests in the
Interior of B. C., forests that in
the past have been over-
looked in favor of coastal timber
lands. It will assure the fullest
utilization of the timber in the
district, thereby giving to the
people of the province the great-
est possible return from _ their
timber and at the same time
creating more jobs for B. C. resi-
dents. It will provide for the
cutting of a large volume of
over age timber that is now
rotting in the forests in the lic-
ense area. And, above all, it
guarantees the conservation of
the timber resources in this area.
The price to be paid for the tim-
ber will be realistic and will be
adjusted periodically to
changing conditions. In _ this
way the people of British Co-
lumbia will receive an adequate
return from timber in the years
to come.. The decision of the
Celanese Corporation of America
to proceed with the Arrow Lakes
deyelopment is a gratifying ges-
ture of ‘confidence in the govern-

‘ment of British Columbia and in

the_future of this province.

The new development will.con-
tinue the program launched by
this government. after the war
of decentralizing. the industrial

of: British C

In the first place it will mean
a vast industrial expansion along
the Arrow Lakes. and Upper Co-
lumbia River, an- area that is

now populated. It brings

We. feel that if the best inter-
ests of ‘the province are to’ be
served the .industrial ‘ potential
o f the northern, central ‘and east-

meet.

ther z ¢
defson, new president of Castle-

gar Chamber of Commerce and
Carl Loeblich. Mr. Loeblich was
appointed to the executive, there
will be three more appointments
made.

Defence Meeting
Tonight

A. V. Marcolin, civil defence
organizer for the district; will
speak at the meeting scheduled
for tonight in the Legion hall.

Instruction film will be shown

and explained by local defence

instructor, Ross Whittaker.

- BIRTHS

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Geisler, at the Kootenay Lake
General Hospital, January 4th,
a son.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
APPOINTED MONDAY

The Board of Commissioners
to the Village of Castlegar met
on Monday night with N. Oglow
in the chair and all members
present. Minutes were read and
V. Jenks gave his report on the
bridge commitfee meeting. He
will continue to act as delegate
in this capacity.

Committees for 1952 were
formed. It was N. Oglow’s opin-
ion that the committee for Fire,
Water and Light was greatly
overworked and he suggested
Water be a committee by itself
with J. A. Williams as its head.
Fire, Light and Parks would then
be the new committee headed by
H. Sommers... Public Works
would again have V. Jenks as
the chairman and Health and
Welfare, Bert Cherrington, leav-
ing Finance in the hands of N.
Oglow. ‘

It was voted unanimously to
reappoint R. A. D. West as fire
chief and also to instruct him
to continue as the representative
on the Airport Committee. Mr.
Sommers was asked to represent
the commissioners on the Parks
Board- along with C. Petts and
J. Taylor. J, ‘A!° Williams will
take the place of .J. Dunlop to
act with ‘Al T.'Horswill and N.
Oglow on the Civil Defence Con-

‘trol Board,

ern districts must _be-developed.; The report on. the Public Works

Departments, .

Edttorcals
We Have To Carrv The Ball

Let’s just suppose youre looking down on a gridiron
watching a football game; the men running interference
are working like mad and doing a good job; but the player
who is supposed to be carrying the ball is sitting on the grass.
gazing at the sky. Sounds a little silly, doesn’t it? ,

‘ Well that’s the, position the whole Kootenay — spear-
headed by Nelson — is going to put us in if we don’t go after
this bridge, and go after it hard. * Resolutions, and endorsa-
tion of resolutions concerning a bridge at Castlegar are being
passed all over the place as more and more people are realiz-
ing that its erection almost immediaetly is imperative.

Now we’ ourselves have elected a live-wire committee
who are pledged to leave no stone unturned to see that this
ludicrous situation is rectified. These people are sure of out-
side support. The sudden overwhelming interest displayed
by the City of Nelson leaves no doubt as to where they stand.
Their press, civic organizations, business leaders have all
declared themselves in on this movement for a bridge, and the
rest of the country is swinging in line behind them.

But we are the ones most vitally concerned and our ef-
forts must be even greater. If outsiders see the possibilities
inherent in our prospective industrial stature in the near future,
we should realize it even more; and realize the importance
of a bridge in our plans for the future.

Yes, we have to carry the ball. Our newly elected bridge
committee has a lot of work ahead of them, and they are
going to need your help. It is, for instance, going to take
money to put this thing over. They?Il be coming after you.
Just remember getting this bridge is important to everybody,
and everybody: should contribute to see we do get it. If it’s
money the committee wants, dig deep; if it’s work, work hard.
That way we can convince Victoria it’s still British Columbia
east of the Okanagan and that we want something done, and
especially that we want a bridge across the Columbia river

~at:Castlepar: -- see oo

Civil Defence

On Thursday evening the Castlegar Civil Defence com-
mittee is, going to approach the public at a general meeting.
This committee has been studying the Civil Defence program
for some time, has a general idea of what it is all about and
now wants to find out what, the public thinks.

It is a subject about which a great deal is written and
said, but of which most people know nothing. And there ‘is 2
good chance that it could become a very vital part of our
future daily lives. Created to co-ordinate defence procedure
in any sudden civilian attack it has tremendous potentialities in
such national disasters as the Fraser and Winnipeg floods,
and the Quebec holocausts of last winter.

So we would recommend that you turn out Thursday and
hear Mr. Marcolin, civil defence co-ordinator for the district,
and local civil defence workers. You can thus learn just
what it is, and how you can share in, and promote it.

BRIDGE
COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN

Committee was given by V.
Jenks. “Lots of snow” — snow-
plow working steadily — some
$800 expense for repairs and
equipment.

Health and Welfare committee
report given by B. Cherrington
stated an inspection was made
of drainage pit from septic tank
at the high school. Pit being
higher than the natural gully,
water seeps up from the ground
even through the snow. This
will have to be filled up as soon
as possible in the spring. Men-
tion was made of using this as
a garbage dump — recommend
use of clinkers from furnates to
help fill in.

J. A. Williams reported on a
trip to Rossland by the Hospital
Society to look into the proba-
bility or possibility of establish-
ing a Catholic Hospital in Castle-
gar. ae

A. T. Horswill then read the
correspondence. Among other
routine letters ong was read to

the effect that the village may
provide for two hour parking on
the highway by submitting a by-
law for inspection and if it com-
plys with Highway Regulations,
it will be enforced.
commented on the fact that this
was the first satisfactory ‘action
on this question in two years.
(Continued on Page 4)

N: Oglow -

ROSS MacDERMID

Mr. R. MacDermid, Kinnaird
Village Gommissioner and en-
thusiastic member of the ‘Castle-
gar and District Chamber
Cc ce, was ted chair-
man of the, Castlegar and Dis-
trict Committee on Friday night.

of