Page 4, The Herald, Thursday, November 16, 1978

TERRACE/KITIMAT

daily herald

General Office - 635-6357
Circulation - 635-6357

PUBLISHER - Laurie Mallelt
GEN. MANAGER - Knox Coupland
EDITOR. Greg Middleton
CIRCULATION - TERRACE - Andy Wightman 635.6357
KITIMAT. Pat Zelinsk!

KITIMAT OFFICE - 632-2747
Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum Street,
Terrace, B.C. A member of Varlifled Circulation.
Authorized as Second class mall, Registration number
7201, Postage paid In cash, return postage guaranteed.

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any adverilsement produced and-or any editorial or :
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Reproduction is not permitted without the written |
permission of the Publisher. ,

Published bv
Sterling Publishers

632-2747

LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

Dear Sir;

For the second time in four
years the Pacific Northera
Natural Gas pipeline has
been severely damaged by
torrential flood waters of the

Copper River and
tributaries.
Aifciend and [ flew over the

flooded Copper Valley this
past weekend and I’ was
aghast at the devestation in
the valley below. For those
of us who fish the river and
are concerned wilh the el-
fects of the flood upon the
salmon and steelhead trout,
we indeed have reasons lo be
alarmed.

Above the second canyon,
the river is unrecognizable
— it has changed channels in
many places. Gravel bars
exist where there once were

and in contrast, long
flat runs have been dredged
into pools. In one instance, I
spotted a large pool I was
familiar with which prior to
the flood, was more than 15
feet deep — it now has a
gravel bar in the center of It.
Those salmon eggs that were
deposited in the gravel
before the flood ‘including
all the eggs from the chinook
salmon. and the largest
proportion of coho salman
which migrated into the
Copper River system this
year) -- were likely
destroyed by the heavy,
pounding they received or
are now under yards or tofis
of gravel,

No one knows what
damage such a torrential
flood has upon the young fish
or for that matter, the adult
salmon or steelhead, We can
only speculate that those fish
unable to find some quiet
water were crushed or
battered to death by the
pounding they received. The
suffocating silt in the water
also causes some degree of
mortality, not only to eggs in
the gravel bul to the young
and adult fish as well.

In addition to the
devastating effects of the
flood, the fish in the Copper
River must now also face a
new challenge - the
rebuilding of the Pacific
Northern Gas pipeline.

It is an unbelievable sight
to see the hundreds and
thousands of yards of
pipeline exposed within the
Copper River — hanging in
the air between washed out
sections of the logging road
or where tributary streams
have erroded under the pipe
leaving it exposed.

The task of rebuilding the

peline will mean diverting
the river, blocking off sec-
tlons of the river causing
further sillation and per-
manently changing the
course of the river in places
to protect the pipeline from
future floods.

All this may be necessary
if the flow of natural gas is
going io be maintained to the
residential, commercial and
industrial users of the
Pacific northwest.

Unfortunately, all the
agonies that the users of the
gas must go through would
not be necessary if the
Pacific Northern Gas
pipeline would originally
have- followed Highway 16
East from Smithers to
Terrace, rather than through
the Telkwa Pass and the
Copper River valley.

It is not too late for the
route to be changed. After
temporary, but secure
repairs are made, serious
consideration should be
made to reroute the line

along Highway 16 to
Terrace.

The two floods we have
witnessed over the last four
years could happen again
next year or the year after. H
so, do we face the same
problems again.

It is no longer acceptable
that we must see this un-
hecessary environmental
damage and disruption in the
natural gas supply. Either
the route must be changed
entirely, or when repaired,
the pipeline should be moved
entirely away from the river
where there is no possible
chance that it could ever be
exposed to a flood again.
Granted, either move will
gost’ many millions of
dollars. Surely a secure
natural gas supply and no
further damage to the
fishery resource of the
Copper River warrants this
extra monetary: investment.

Whether the present ill
conceived and designed
pipeline through the Copper
River valley was a political,
engineering, or coat-related
fiasco, we challenge Pacific
Northern Gas along with our
provincial and federal
governments, to reroute the
present line along Highway
16 from Smithers to Terrace
—~ or move it entirely away
from the Copper River. And
a footnote to all of this can
you imagine an oil pipeline
being broken in the same
locations as the gas line
through the Copper Valley!

Mayhe those who have
promoted and supported an
oil pipeline through the
Copper River valley will now
have second thoughts about
such an ill conceived
scheme.

If you doubt what 1 have
said, 1 would suggest that
you see for yourselves, what
power flood waters have and
the damage they can cause.

dimCulp
Chairman,

Northwest Chapter of the
Steelhead Society of B.C.

EDITOR'S

By Greg Middleton

JOURNAL

On records

Bette Midler Live At Last
ina raunchy album, The two-
record set on the Atlantic
label Is definitely for the
lusty.

Midler, never known a5 a
reticent little giri, does what
she calls her Vickie Eydiec
Show. It is a lounge act and
not for the weak al heart.

The album, recorded live
at the Cleveland Music Hall,
makes up in fun and spon-
tanelty what it lacks in
clarity and = recording
quality.

The power of the nine-
piece back up and the zest
Midler puts into some of the
songs make it a little hard to
follow the lyrics for those of
you who atill try to do that

sort of (hey. The anecdotal
incidents, routines and in-
ierruptions make for an
entertaining performance.
The blood-stirring beat. and
tremendous tempo Midler is
renowned for keep the album
from getting boring as you
play and replay it.

Some of the pieces of
schtick that Midler goes
through are distinctly salty if
not out right blue.

While it will never classed
as easy listening, it isn't a
bad album to thraw on while
you're pultering around and
want something to half listen
to, something with a little
zap to it that Will keep you
moving.

“Your credibility need.

s bolstering — better start making more

empty promises.”

VICTORIA (CP) — Vic-
tims of recent flooding in the
JerraceKitimat region
should receive total com-
pensation for damage to
their homes and 50 per cent
for damaged furnishings
from the provincial
government, Opposition
leader Dave Barrett said
Tuesday. .

Barrett told a news confer-
ence this was the formula his
New Democratic Party
government used to com-
pensate- victims in of the
Port Alice mud slides on
Vancouver Island in 1975.

“We made a very quick
decision at that time and
allowed the people some
peace of mind during the
process of restructuring
their lives,” he said.

‘“The same confidence and

Soarin

VANCOUVER (CP) ~The
soaring price of gold is
putting a lustrous gleam in
the eyes of those working in
British Columbla’s gold
mining industry. .

The price has been rising
and many observers think it
will continue to go higher as
investors buy gold as a
protective hedge against
risinginflation.

“Gold will reach $300 an
ounce by the end of 1979,"
said A& T. Jukes, president of
Mosquito Creek Gold Mining
Co., which is planning to
opena new gold mine outside
Welle, 450 kilometres north
of here.

Jukes said recently that
the steady rise in gold prices
over the past few months has
been a key factor in the
company's decision i laiild
a $1.2 million, 100-tor -a-day
gold ore mill.

Jukes sald the mit: should
be In operation by te end of
this year. The «re will be
shipped ta Cominco Ltd.'s
mill in Trail, B.C., unlil
Mosquito's own milling
operation is completed.

B.C. traditionally has been
a comparatively small
producer of gold. In 1977, the
province produced 190,000
ounces valued al $31.3
million, compared with
170,000 ounces worth $21.7
million in 1976. Industry
sources, however, say that if
prices continue to climb, this
figure could exceed $40
million this year.

Northair Mines Lid, is
planning (o start a new gold

| BARRET COMMENTS
On the flood aid question

peace of mind should be
given to people of that
(Terrace-Kitimat) area,””

The provincial govern-
ment declared the region in
northwestern British
Columbia a disaster area
after heavy rains and
flooding damaged homes,
washed out highways,
bridges and a Canadian
National Railways line
earlier this month.

Barrett said his caucus re-
ceived an in-depth report on
the situation from former

highways minister Graham

Lea (NDP— Prince Rupert),
and ‘‘we are deeply con-
cerned over the lack of
specifics in terms of answer-
ing the questions about com-
pensation asked by the
people of Terrace and
region.”

mine about 60 kilometres
north of Stewart, near the
B.C.-Alaska border.

The company now is the
province's iargest gold
mining operator with an
operation at Brandywine, 70
kilometres north of here. It
basically produces only gald,
in contrast to other mines
that produce gold ore as a
by-product of copper mining.

“We've already begun
road construction and other
parts of the infrastructure
and expect to start up the
mine by October, 1979," said
Don McLeod, Northair’s
preident. “(t'll provide 25 to
30 new jobs, more than 60 on
a4 geagonal basis."

Carolin Mines Lid., which
own a gold mine near Hope,
was conducting a feasibility
study on mining gold after
spending $3.5 million on the
property during the past five
years.

“The soaring price of gold
will certainly allow us to
mine the lower grades of ore
as well as the higher grade
when we go into production,"
said company president
Orval Gillespie. ‘Our
feasibility study should be
finished by year end.

“We hope to go into gold
production maybe ina year’s
time or so.”

Carolin plans to build o
1,000-tons-a-day mill
Depending on the degree cf
automation, the mine and
mill will employ about 100
worjers.

Lea estimated the per-
sonal losses to residents will
total $15 million.

Barrett said it is obvious
the government has no
regional plans for economic
development throughout the
province. .

“Unemployment continues
to get worse with no ap-
pearance of government
initiatives to stem the flow of
unemployment in B.C.”

He said the government
does not appear to have any
plans to deal with the
problem ‘‘so once again
we're calling on the gov-
ernment to take its responsi-
bility of leading the
province."

“Months have dwindled
away while the premier has
fritlered around whether or

A GOLDEN GLEAM

g price good

“This could increase to 200
when we go to a 2,000-tons-a-
day mill, as we plan,”
Gillespie said, adding that if
gold prices continue to in-
crease, more smal! gold
properties may move inte
production.

“Bul don’t expect tast ac-
tion," he said. “It takes
seven or eight years fo move
from conception to
production-from a piece of
property containing gold to
actual metal.”’

Healso said he doesn't like
to see the price of yold
shooting upward.

“People buying gold may
think its good, but in the final
analysis it points to the fact
that Ihe economy is in a bad
state. I'd like to see gold
fixed at its present price and.
see the economy recover.”’

Among major B.C, copper
producers benefitling from
the high price of gold ts the
Afton Mines Ltd, operation
near Kamloops, The mine
opened last April.

“We have gold as a by-
product of the concentrate
and ft ends up in the blister
copper we sell to our
cusiomers,"" said Afton
president Bob Hallbauer.

“We get a credit for the gold

and the credit has increased
with the rising gold prices."*

The mine is producing
25,000 tons of copper a year
and has contracted to sell it
over the next eight years to
Britsh Callendars Cables
Ltd. and Delta Metals Ltd.,
two British wire and cable
manufacturers.

not to callan electian—we do
nothave a legislative session
and no dates for the next
legislative session.”

Barrett said the govern-
ment ig wasting $2 million in
“superflous advertisement—
$200,000 by the economics
ministry alone— raising
expectations about jobs with
those very-well-done ads
saying everything is great in
BC.”

“It is just wonderful to
watch one of those ads before
you go down to collect your
unemployment cheque or
your welfare cheque,
knowing that somewhere out
there somebody in Victoria
ramed (Economic De-
velopment Minister) Don
Phillips and (Premier) Bill
Bennett think that things are
all right.”

news

“Naturally, we're very
happy with the soaring price
of gold," Hallbauer added.
Placer Development Ltd. of
Vancouver is another copper
producer happy about the
price of gold.

“We benefit through our
interest in Marecopper
Mining Corp., in the
Philippines, aS it benefits
from the gold in its copper
ore,” a company spokesman
eaid. Placer has a 39.89 per
cent interest in Marcopper,
which exports the major part
of its concentrate to Japan.

Another Vancouver
company, Uniled Hearne
Resources Ltd., recently
reported that the final
results of bulk metallurgical
testing of gold from its
property In Cosla Hica in-
dieated thal a 90-plus per
cent recovery of gald can be
economically extracted [rom
the ore.

OR. W. Falkins, company
president, said be thinks that
gold will hit $250 an ounce by
year end and “it will con-
tnue toclimbin 1979. The
high inflation in the United
States atid the US. trade
imbalance are putting
pressure on that will keep
gold prices going up."

“More industrial use is
being made of gold, in-
creasing market demand,"
said Falkins. ‘‘Gold is used
more and more in space
technology and in scientific
Instruments manufac.
turing.”

COMMENT
CONSUMER.

it’s been said there’s no such thing as a free
lunch. ;

I¢ that’s true, what about free steak knives,
clocks, barbecues or other merchandise you
“win without even entering a contest?

Such schemes often begin with a notice ad-
vising you can claim your prize by calling a
number and arranging to witness a demon-
stration of a product. No obligation, of course,
and you get the prize whether you buy anything

or not. -

In some instances the demonstrator comes to
your home; in others, you go to the company’s
office. Either way, you'll probably be subjected
to an intense, high-pressure sales pitch aimed at
persuading you to purchase whatever appliance
or new wonder product is being pushed.

You probably will get the prize whether you
buy anything or not, but chances are you I] buy
something, if only because it may seem the only
way to escape the salesman’s clutches.

One consumer reported an experience in which
the salesman arrived at her home at 7:00 P.M.
and was stilt there at nidnight. Groggy from
fatigue and the unrelenting sales pitch, she
signed a contract for several hundred dollars
just, as she explained, ‘‘lo get him to leave so |
could go to bed.”

You'd never stand for thst, you say? You'd
have thrown him out after the first half hour?
that’s what she thought too, before the
“demonstration”. —

Fortunately, since the contract was signed in
her home, she was able to cancel it by taking
advantage of the 3 day grace period on door-to-
door sales provided in the provincial Consumer
Protection Act. (The grace period will be ex-
tended to 7 days at some future date -- possibly
this fall.)

She did get her prize -- an Inexpensive (to put it
kindly) set of salt and pepper shakers, but in
view of the concern and embarrassment she
suffered, in future she'll gladly forqo such
windfalls.

If you’ve won a contest you haven‘t entered, or
if several of your neighbours have also been
identified as winners, proceed cautiously,
particularly if you're required fo attend a sales
talk to get your prize. You may feel you can
resist the sales pressure and still get the prize,
but the talk is likely to be more persuasive than
you expect. Afier all, if it weren't fairly ef-
fective, the company wouldn’t use this method
of selling.

Don’t let the excitment of winning a prize" or
a free “gift overcome your better judgement.
This Is one gift horse whose mouth you should
examine carefully. Otherwise you may be taken
for quite a ride.

Cambodia split
is growing wider

The split between China
and the Soviet Union over the
Cambodian situation is
hardening amid growing
suspicion in Southeast Asia
that Vietnam’ may be
preparing a major assault to
destroy the Phnom Penh
dictatorship.

Hanoi's intentions may be-
come clear in a matter of
weeks as the heavy seasonal
rains end mud roads become
passable. The border war
between Cambodia and
Vielnam ragy intensify.

What raised suspicion
among observer countries
was the quick signing in
Moscow earlier this month of
a Soviet-Vietnamese treaty
of friendship and. co-
operation.

Moscow signified in the
treaty thot it is ready to
safeguard Vietnam in case of
attack. China took that as a
sign that the Soviet Union is
prepared to safeguard
Vielnamese “aggression” in
Cambodia, Chinese Vice-
Premier Teng Hsiao-ping
has warned thal China will
be watching carefully, ready
to take action on behalf of
Cambodia.

‘The Chinese view is that
the Soviet Union and Viet-
ham are linking up ina plan
to dominate all? of Southeast
Asia. Vietnamese leaderg
previously tried to persuade
neighboring countries that
Vietnam wants peace.

Hanoi’s pitch was aimed
mainly at the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations
made up of ‘Thailand,

" Malaysia, Singapore, In-

donesia and the Philippines,
Prime Minister Pham Van
Dong made a special tour of
the association countries,
pledging that Vietnam would
try to restrain all Com-
munist insurgents in the five
countries,

But association leaders
are reported still suspicious.
Vietnam has a strong
military force, ane of the
strongest in the whole
region. Its arsenal has been
augmented by the huge
supply of weapons and
equipment which the
Americans left behind when
they quit the Vietnamese
war in 1973,

In former years tie
Communist portion of
Vietnam had a fairly good
relationship with Peking.
But that rel-ticnship has
detericrated with the ouster
of many Chinese from
Vietnam and the continuing
clashes between Vietnam
and Cambodia, a country
which has the strong support
of Peking.

The weakness in the
Chinese position is that its
support of Cambodia is
unlikely to get much symi-
pathy in other countries, The
savage treatment Phnom
Penh leaders have inflicted
on their own people has been
roundly condemned by
Canada and other countries
at the United Nations. Ex-
cept for China's support,
Cambodia stands almost
isolated. .

Whether China would risk
open war with the Soviet
Union over Cambodia is
questionable. The leadership
that now exists in Phnom
Penh ia vulnerable.
Disappearance of that Lead-
ership is unlikely to arouse
much pity abroad. Ching un-
doubtedly could use the
spread of Vietnamese power
as an example of what may
happen to other countries
nearby but these countries
are unlikely to rush to
Cambodia's support as long
as Cambodia's policies re-.
min unchanged,