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001B6B3C A Weekly Newspaper Ct'rculatingin the District of West Uancouver=A mbleside, Hollyburn, Weston, Dundarave Caulfeild, Whytecliff, Cypress Park, Etc. 'T Vol. 1 SIX PAGES WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MAY 28th, 1926 No. 8 WORK ON LIONS'ATE TO COMMENCE THIS FALL TO COST $2,SOO,OOO That construction of a bridge over the First Narrows or Lions'ate will likely be started early this fall was announced on Thursday. This is the most definite announcement yet made public on the matter. It is based on information just received by Mayor Taylor from the New York financiers who have had the project in hand for several months. The bridge proposed will have one steel span and will run from Prospect Point to a point in'West Vancouver. The span it is estimated, will be approximately 1000 feet long, with a height of about 175 feet above water allowing ample space for the safe clearance of any vessel entering the harbor. On the West Vancouver shore there will be a long approach. Mayor Taylor, who has been negotiating with the New York people who propose financing the scheme, states that the bridge is estimated to cost approximately $2,500,000. It is definitely stated that no financial guarantees will be required from the City or the municipalities concerned. While the plans are not yet definitely settled in detail, they are well advanced, and when these are perfected and the other necessary agreements made with the governmental authorities, work will commence on the bridge. This will be probably in the early fall. The proposed approaches are within Dominion jurisdic- tion, but no difficulty is anticipated in obtaining the necessary Federal authority, for their use for the purposes of-the bridge. In regard to the report respecting the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, recently licensed to do business in B. C., Mayor Taylor informed the NEWS that it is not known at present, whether that company will supply the steel or is otherwise interested in the bridge project. But so soon as certain details are settled, a start, stated Mayor Taylor, will be made on t'e bridge within the next few months. Famous Steel Works Enters B.C. The world famous Bethlehem Steel Corporation was register- ed this week at Victoria as an extra-provincial company, ob- taining thereby license to carry on business in British Columbia. This firm is one of the great- est iron and steel works in the world, the noted Charles Schwab having been for years its man- ager and later, president. Leith Murray is its representative in Vancouver. He states that the company plans to engage in the sale of their steel products in this province. The registration of this cor- poration in Victoria is somewhat significant. It was stated in last week's NEWS on what appears good authority, that the Bethle- hem Steel Works was likely to construct the proposed First Narrows bridge if the New York financiers who have the projct under consideration arrive at a final agreement with the coun- cils and other authorities con- cerned. While the statement is not official, there being mysteri- ous dearth of that kind of news, there appears to be "something in the wind " Mayor Taylor says West Van. will be finest Residential District Make the Waterfront Attractive Nature has been generous to West Vancouver in many ways; in none more so than in the arrangement of its water- front. We have a foreshore which offers every natural charm that could be desired but unfortunately man has stepped in and done much to mar its beauty. The impression gained by strangers coming in by ferry or passing on other boats is any- thing but favorable. Between the Narrows and the Ferry Landing, where first impressions are registered, the motley array of irregularly placed buildings which greets the eye certainly does not present a very attractive picture. Indeed all along the waterfront most of the dwellings are of the sum- mer-cottage variety, cheaply constructed for summer use only, with no thought of architectural beauty and no idea of perm- anency. These buildings were all very well when West Vancouver was merely looked upon as a summer camping ground, but now that we have developed metropolitan ambitions it is time our waterfront was adorned ivith dwellings more in keeping with our aspirations. Surely something can be done to remedy this state of af- fairs. We do not advocate drastic measures such as might put some,of our residents to great inconvenience. Many of the above-mentioned dwellings, originally dekigned as summer cottages, have gradually been improved until they are very comfortable and cozy little homes, fit for occupation at all times of the year. And as a matter of fact most of them are so .occupied. On the other hand quite a number are on leased ground, subject to removal at any time on short notice. The'resent would seem to be a most opportune time for Lessees to purchase lots to which their dwellings could be moved. Sooner or later cottages that are on leased ground must find other sites and land in West Vancouver will never again be as cheap as it is today. If approached by the proper authorities in the right spirit we venture to say that every cottage owner on the waterfront would readily accede to any reasonable request in regard to the West Vancouverites who can appreciate the advantages of having our foreshore looking its best. North Vancouver Proposes a Plebiscite on Amalgamation be Submitted next January Street Signs An Announcement of Interest to News Readers Mayor Taylor has always shown a great and active inter- est in the proposed bridge over the First Narrows or as it will no doubt become more generally known in future, the Lions'ate. Here is what His Worship said recently about the great pos- sibilities of the bridge as regards prospective traffic. He has also a good word to say as regards the glowing future its construc- tion would ensure for West Van- couver. 'If Vancouver, Wash., stated Mayor Taylor, can make an an- nual prof'f $300,000 on the inter-municipal bridge linking that city with Portland, Ore, there is no reason in the wur!d'hy the First Nanows bnclge should not show a substantial revenue above interest and sink- ing fund charges and opera!nag costs the first year. A census shows that on sum- mer evenings an average of 300 autos an hour go around Stanley Park. With the bridge a reality those autos are going to run over to the North Shore, along Mar- ine Drive, up Capilano, Lynn and Se1 mour canyons and return by way of the Second Narrows bridge. This traffic combined with the regular passing of resi- dents of West Vancouver to and fro ensures that the bridge ivill be a paying proposition as there is no question that the bridge would make West Vancouver possibly the finest residential district jn Greater Vancouver." I have pleasure in announcing that commencing June 1st Captain F. F. Lovegrove will be associated with me in the publication of THE WEST VAN NEWS. Captain Lovegrove has, like myself, been a citizen of Canada for more than 20 years and is well known in widely separated districts where his duties have caused him to reside. He is a former resident of West Vancouver and until a few months ago was an active member of St. Stephens Church. Captain Lovegrove is well known in financial circles, hav- ing been manager of the Home Bank (Vancouver office) for several years, and formerly manager and Inspector of Branch- es in Eastern Canada and on the prairies. He has been in the Canadian Militia continuously since 1906 and was an officer in a Highland Battalion of the C. E. F. In 1921, just previous to coming west, he was a vice president and chairman of the Fin- r ance Committee of the G. W. V. A. Lodge in Walkerville, On- tario, and is at present an officer of the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. In addition to his other activities Captain Lovegrove has had much experience as a journalist and author. He has been ~ a frequent contributor to the Canadian Press and for the last three years was one of the sub-editors of the "CABAR FEIDH"f is! ': magazine which is published in Scotland. He was on the Edi- Ijj, torial Staff of the Vancouver Militiaman, and in 1923 had pub-lished by the Ryerson Press, a book of Humorous Essays und- er the title of "Ruminations" which met with a very favorable reception. The West Van public generally and his friends in particu- lar, will join with THE NEWS in welcoming Captain Love- grove back to the fold. H. HODGSON North Vancouver City and Dis- trict at a meeting last Wednes- day, decided to submit a refer- endum to the electors next Jan- uary regarding the amalgama- tion of the North Shore munici- palities providing that West Vancouver agrees to adopt the same method of testing the opin- ion of her citizens. North Shore May be Supplied with Gas Gas for cooking, lighting, heat- ing and industrial purposes may be supplied residents of the North Shore within 18 months according to a report to the North Vancouver Board of Trade by a special committee. The hoard will ask the coun- cils of the three North Shore dis- tricts to call a joint meeting to consider entering into the same agreement with B.C.E.R. coni- pany as Burnaby adopted. It ivas announced that the company promises gas service to the North Shore 12 months after date of agreement. Messrs. Tearoe and Ray were awarded the contract for the im- provements to Ambleside Park. The work is to be completed in two months Reeve David Morgan with Councillor Leyland were appoint- ed as a committee to represent West Vancouver in discussing Harbor Board matters especially with regard to rentals. Few things cause visitors more trouble than the locating of the streets of West Vancouver, run- ning north and south of Marine Drive. While that refers more particularly at present to the streets off Marine from 14th ivestwards, it is also applicable to the avenues running parallel with the drive. Some of these streets and ave- nues have corner name signs but many have no such indications so that visitors in car or on foot lose much valuable time in mak- ing inquiries of residents. As one of the chief aims of West Vancouver is to attract and induce visitors to reside per- manently in the municipality everything should be done o fac- ilitate their doing so It may seem a trivial matter, but it is after all, often some small pub- lic utility provided that turns'hescale deciding the visitor's choice. In a previous issue attention was called to the advantages of house numbering. For this pur- pose the Municipal Council pro- vides the necessary metal num- erals at the price of five cents a letter. While some residents have al- ready placed their house or shop numbers, there are still niany ivho have not yet adopted this modern and sensible convenience.