1

Along the Wagon Road to the Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

2

In 1886 the West Kootenay was extremely isolated. There were three, long arduous routes that led to Toad Mountain. Access from the north was by the CPR to Revelstoke, by boat down the Arrow Lakes to the Kootenay River and through the dense forest to Toad Mountain. From the United States one could take the train on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railroad to Colville, continue by water to the Kootenay River and complete the trip overland and by ferry to 49 Creek and trail to the mountain. The third option was to ride the Northern Pacific Railroad to Kootenai Station on the Pend d'Oreille Lake, proceed on foot or by stage to Bonner's Ferry, take one of the small steamers down Kootenay River and Lake to the site of Nelson, and then bushwhack up the mountain.

3

Pack Horses loaded for the Trail with Driver Standing by lead horse
1900
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

4

Ferry and namesake of settlement.
1890
Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, USA

5

The potential for improving access from the United States attracted several American entrepreneurs. Conflicts arose during the 1890's between Canadian and American interests as to which would exert control over the railroad and water routes.

6

Hauling on the Wagon Road to the Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

7

As the settlement of Nelson developed, demand grew for improved transportation routes with the outside world. In 1890 the Halls lobbied effectively for provincial funds to construct a wagon road between the Silver King Mine and Kootenay Lake. The completion of the thirteen-mile road in August 1890 allowed the use of pack trains to tote ore and supplies in place of the dangerous technique of rawhiding.

8

Looking West along Baker Street
1891
Nelson, B.C

9

Rawhiding in Winter
1900
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

10

Hauling a steam boiler to the Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

11

The major obstacle to efficient transportation along the Kootenay River was the series of waterfalls downstream of the West Arm. The construction of a twenty-eight mile railroad, by the Columbia and Kootenay Railway, in 1891, linking Nelson and Sproat's Landing (Robson), represented a significant step in the development of transportation links to the area.

12

S.S. Galena, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
1889
Kootenay Lake, B.C

13

In 1891 the introduction of the S.S.Nelson on Kootenay Lake and the S.S. Columbia on the Columbia River and the Arrow Lakes by the Columbia and Kootenay Steam Navigation Co. provided a direct route between the CPR in Revelstoke and the Great Northern Railway at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho.

14

View of Nelson from the North Shore of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake
May, 1896
Nelson, B.C