HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Overnight June 1-2, the waters of the converging Fraser and Nechako rivers rose 4 in. (10 cm) and were still
rising at noon. Inbound trains were delayed. People in East Prince George were evacuating their homes. The
westbound train into Prince George did not go beyond Dewey. On June 3, the Fraser River was 21 ft. (6.3 m) above its
low water mark. Between June 3-5, it dropped 21 in. (53.3 cm) at Prince George. Near McBride, CNR lineman
Andrew Ekren went missing and presumably drowned while restoring part of the line.
Flood damage in the Hazelton-Smithers area: Bulkley Bridge No. 51 at Hazelton slightly damaged by logs
striking the span. *2) The water was actually running over the bridge deck while heavy drift was coming down. The
water in the Skeena River got so high that it started backing up the Bulkley River. The south end of the Bulkley River
bridge at Smithers washed out, lowering the bridge by about 2 ft. (60 cm). Both ends of the Driftwood Creek bridge
No. 27 washed out. The bridge settled down after the end bents washed out. The pier at the east end of the Porphyry
Creek bridge was undermined. The bridge settled down 3 ft. (90 cm), twisting it. The crib went out and a large
portion of the road washed out and cracked. The Hazelton Ferry house washed away with all its contents. The
ferryman’s personal loss was estimated at $50. The ferry tower on the Hazelton side moved 6 ft. (1.8 m) and got badly
twisted. The riverbank on the Hazelton side cut in and changed considerably. The road on the opposite side was badly
damaged. The ferry road from the town to the ferry was completely gone and piled up with drifts up to 20 ft. (6 m)
high. The small bridge near the bridge went out and the road down the south side washed out in many places.
Flood damage Terrace-Kitwanga area: The Skeena suspension bridge No. 97 had the crib around its north
end abutment partially washed away. At Kitsequecla, the temporary Indian bridge went out. The road just past the
Kitsequecla village was completely gone for a distance of a mile (1.6 km). The north tower of the Kitwanga Ferry
moved and the landings were damaged. The ferry house with all its contents washed away. Bob Burton, the ferryman,
was in the house cooking breakfast when he felt the house shake. Thinking an earthquake caused it, he left the house.
The building was then lifted off its foundations and floated down the Skeena River. Local resident Kathy Johnson
remembered seeing the ferryman’s house float by her father’s place at Cedarvale. Smoke was still coming out of the
chimney when the house passed by (Gottesfeld, pers. comm.). The ferryman’s personal loss was $20. The Cedarvale
Slough bridge went out. The Cedarvale Ferry sustained only light damage. The ferry house lifted and floated amongst
the trees. Pacific got flooded and lost the bridge across the slough behind the station and the old ferry buildings. The
Usk Ferry cable between the anchor and the tower on the south side broke. A new cable was required. The total cost,
including the salvaging of the old cable, was estimated at $250.
A portion of the trestle approach on the south side of the Terrace main bridge was damaged and lost. Four of
the timber spans and the approach of the bridge went out. Damage to the Terrace bridge was estimated at $3,000,
including the installation of a temporary catwalk. On the Remo road, on the south side of the Skeena River, six bridges
were damaged. The access to the south bank of the Skeena River, including the Lakelse Valley was cut off. The
Remo ferry lost its wind tower and basket tower on the south side and its north-end tail cable. The main tower on the
south side was undermined and had to be moved back. The basket tower on the north side needed to be straightened.
The riverbank washed in between 50-100 ft. (15 and 30 m). On the south side, about 400 ft. (120 m) of road along the
bank was washed out. Both the Zimacord bridges No. 1 and No. 2 went out. The road from the Zimacord to the ferry
was also gone. The Thornhill bridge on the Lakelse Road got slightly twisted. It needed straightening for a total
distance of six spans. A small bridge at the Copper River ferry floated out of place. The powder house floated about
100 ft. (30 m) off its foundations. The cost to repair the north side of the Copper City Ferry bridge was estimated at
$500, and another $500 to repair the road. The estimated cost to move the Copper River City bridge back 900 ft. (270
m) was $750. The bridge to the Copper City ferry went out.
The Braun’s Island bridge required two new spans and some piles replaced. The repair cost of Braun’s
Island bridge and approaches was estimated at $2,000 and $300 for road repair. The road from the Copper Ferry to
Dobbies Crossing was wiped out. The south side riverbank just west of Skinners Store washed out over a distance of
approximately 600 ft. (200 m). The cost estimate for road and bridge repair in the Skeena District as per June 13,
1936, was: roads, $3,450; bridges, excluding the Driftwood bridge, $15,755; and ferries, excluding the Remo Ferry,
$2,100. Total cost was $21,305. The bridges included Remo, Terrace, Thornhill, Smithers, Canyon Creek, Porphyry
Creek, Hazelton, Nine Mile, Kispiox, Seventeen Mile, Hankin, Mero Creek, Palletti (Kitwanga), Shandilla Creek,
Meanskinisht ($7,000), Fiddler Creek, Pacific, Usk Foot Bridge, Braun’s Island, Bridges on Kitsumkalum Road, Hall
Creek, and Driftwood.
Flood damage in the Atlin District: The Keystone bridge near Stewart across American Creek had a 100-ft.
(30-m) stringer carried away. A 40-ft. (12 m) stringer on the Upper American Creek was badly weakened. Six small
bridges on the Bear River Road needed renewal. Near Aiyansh, the Cranberry bridge and other small bridges were
weakened and made unsafe. The Stikine Teslin bridge and the 2nd South Fork Stikine bridge needed repairs. The
Alice Arm Illiance bridges were made unsafe for traffic. The total bridge repair cost was $4,550. The Bear River
Road near Stewart between American Creek-Mud Bay was under 2 ft. (60 cm) of water for a distance of over a mile.
Most of its surfacing was carried away. Just beyond Glacier Creek, about half a mile was inundated and badly
damaged. The Big Missouri Road required considerable ditching, culverts, and surface repairs. The Stikine caused
flood damage in the Telegraph (Creek) townsite and washouts on the Telegraph (Creek) to Dease Lake Road. North
Atlin sustained some general damage. Total cost for road repair $5,500; overall cost, $10,500.
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