HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Prince Rupert, Terrace, and interior points were cut. By then, flood conditions on the Bulkley River were the worst in
many years. Cooler weather around June 1 made the Skeena River levels recede, only to rise again on June 8.
Floodwaters caused heavy damage to the rail line between Houston-Smithers. Two small washouts occurred
near Barrett where 600 ft. (180 m) of track was under water. Washouts occurred between Kitwanga-Usk. The Skeena
River cut through the railroad and highway embankments at Mile 43.3 near Shames, 20 mi. (32 km) west of Terrace.
The washout was 450 ft. (135 m) long and 25 ft. (7.5 m) deep. Other washouts occurred just east of Walcott and just
west of Quick, 30 ft. (9 m) and 90 ft. (27 m) long, respectively. Two washouts occurred at Tatlow, 65 ft. (19.5 m) and
30 ft. (9 m) long. At the site of these washouts, track was under water for 2,000 ft. (600 m) and 900 ft. (270 m),
respectively. Another 800 ft. (240 m) of track was under water, without an apparent washout. On May 29, the Bulkley
River near Houston reached record levels and the situation was described as “serious.”
At Terrace, the Skeena exceeded the 1936 high water mark. Canadian Pacific Air Lines organised an
emergency air service between Prince Rupert-Smithers using Canso amphibians stationed at Prince Rupert. Up to two
flights were available, depending on the requirements of the situation. On May 30, the Bulkley River reached its peak.
On that day the washout at Tatlow had grown to 300 yd. (270 m). The CNR maintained rail service from Jasper only
as far as Houston. For a period of two weeks, passenger, mail, and express service were transported between Houston-
Smithers by buses and trucks. From Smithers a stub train ran as far as Kitwanga. A special train took native cannery
workers employed by Nelson Bros. Fisheries Ltd. and Canadian Fishing Co. at the canneries at the mouth of the
Skeena from Kitwanga to Smithers. From there they were flown to Prince Rupert. *1)
Usk, a village of 108 people, sustained heavy damages. The former Bethurem general store, and the low
lying homes of Joseph Bell, H.A. Butt, Thomas Pinchbeck, and others were flooded with 5.5 ft. (1.65 m) of water. The
residents evacuated and were camped on higher ground above town. On Braun’s Island, eight homes were washed out
and the Craig family lost their barn.
On June 2 the residents of the villages of Glen Vowell, Kispiox and Telkwa were evacuated (The Daily
Colonist). In Telkwa, the Bulkley River flooded the main street with 1.5 ft. (45 cm) of water. The Bulkley River
overflowed its banks, cutting a new channel and forcing the river across the main highway 2 mi. (3.2 km) west of
Telkwa. The road was flooded for five weeks. Flooding occurred near the town of Telkwa. Basements and the
ground floors of some houses were flooded and several houses were isolated. Near Smithers, the Vetterli farm at the
foot of Bulkley Hill suffered considerable damage. Crops were ruined and floodwaters dug deep holes. The Bulkley
River at Quick recorded a maximum daily discharge of 895 m 3 /s on May 30 (Environment Canada 1991). On June 3,
floodwaters on the Stikine were reported to have reached record heights. On that date the flood death toll in British
Columbia rose to five. The income tax deadline was extended from May 31 to June 30.
By June 3, flood conditions in the Skeena and Bulkley valleys improved. By June 5, the CNR line was
repaired as far west as Tatlow, 5 mi. (8 km) east of Smithers. On June 7, the wire service to Prince Rupert was
restored. On June 8, the rail service was extended as far east as Salvus. Around June 10, the highway west from
Smithers was open as far as Terrace. The railway fill was completed on June 18 and the highway fill on June 30. A
new bridge with 14 bents of pile trestle was built at Mile 43.3, a mile (1.6 km) west of Shames. The superstructure of
the Emmett Slough bridge No. 209 was renewed, and the bridges at Mile 58 and Mile 68 repaired. By June 10, the
bridge at Emmett Slough near Usk still required replacement. At the Usk Ferry new towers were built and a new cable
installed.
On June 12, the gap of interrupted rail service was reduced to 84 mi. (134.4 km). The two major washouts
remaining to be cleared up were between Kitwanga-Woodcock and 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Shames. The former was
the first major break on the line and measured a length of 1,200 ft. (360 m). The washout at Shames was 400 ft. (120
m) long and 25 ft. (7.5) deep. Here the repair work, employing 60 people, included the building of a new bridge. On
June 22, the first eastbound train left Prince Rupert, the first one since May 21. The first westbound train from Jasper
was due in Prince Rupert on June 23, the first one since May 22.
Summary of highway damage Houston to Smithers: *2)
The highway between Smithers-Telkwa flooded in three places. On the west side of Telkwa the road was flooded at
Eddy Park. To avoid another flood at the foot of “Spud” Murphy Hill, traffic was re-routed over the Telkwa High
Road. Near Smithers, at the foot of Bulkley Hill, water was flowing over the road.
Summary of highway damage Smithers to Terrace: Near the Smithers bridge, water cut across the field on
the Smithers side. The new approach was washed out for about 250 yd. (225 m). The surface of the old road washed
away for about 400 yd. (360 m). At Mosquito Flats, 36 mi. (57.6 km) west of Smithers, the road was washed out for
about 200 ft. (60 m). The west end of the Shandilla Creek bridge washed out. The road just east of the Whiskey Creek
bridge was flooded with 4 ft. (1.2 m) of water. On the road to Cedarvale ferry, the 68-ft. (20.4 m) King Truss bridge
across the Skeena River channel at Meanskinisht washed out. The road between Smithers-Terrace was expected to be
passable by June 6.
Summary of highway damage West of Pacific (The following are all in Railway Mileages): At Mile 45, some
60 ft. (180 m) of surface washed away. At Mile 50.1, the first bridge west of Exstew floated out. At Mile 54, the
highway was covered with 1 ft. (30 cm) of silt and logs over a distance of 0.5 mi. (800 m). The bridge at Mile 58
floated off its piers and had to be rebuilt. At Mile 60, a washout, 50 ft. (15 m) wide and 4 ft. (1.2 m) deep occurred.
Between Mile 60-63 the road surface was gone and the road washed out every 200-300 ft. (60-90 m) to a depth of 2-4
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