AME BC History - 1920s

President Dr. E.T. Hodge, early in 1920, instructed the secretary to write the Minister of Mines insisting that the mineral rights be reserved for mineral development in a proposed park at Mt. Garibaldi.  Thus began a never ending effort by AME BC to maintain access to minerals.  At this time AME BC became more involved with public affairs and other mining organizations both in Canada and the United States. AME BC  Mineral Exhibits were expanded and set up at a number of conventions and conferences, a practice that continued for many years.  J.M. Lay was elected president in 1921. In that year, the association was renamed the British Columbia Chamber of Mines.

AME BC’s affairs during the twenties were largely guided by Frank E. Woodside who was president from 1922-28, became the first manager of AME BC in 1929 and continued in that capacity until he retired in 1954.  International recognition of AME BC’s efforts was first evidenced in 1924 by visits from the famous industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt and A.R. Godall, mayor of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia and the sending of 1,000 lbs. of ore specimens to the World’s Fair in Rome.

AME BC records for 1928 note that AME BC supported the Dease Lake-Stewart Road and presentations were made to government in connection with building more roads and trails to serve prospectors and mine developers.  This same year AME BC took on its second employee when J.F. Fraser was appointed assistant to Henry Browning, the Association’s secretary.  Continuing its financial growth, AME BC was able in 1928 to invest $100,000 in Canadian National Railway bonds, bearing 5% interest, due 1954.

During 1926, branches of AME BC were formed in Alice Arm and Smithers.  The following year President Woodside traveled with General F.A. Sutton on an expedition into the Cariboo country, investigating mining and railroad conditions.  General Sutton also traveled into the Peace River country and later prepared the large relief map, so prominently displayed at AME BC to this day, to aid his efforts in obtaining British capital for the purpose of extending the Pacific Great Eastern Railway from Squamish to the Peace River.  In the fall of 1927, Sherwin F. Kelly, who in 1986 was still consulting out of Merritt, BC, gave the first illustrated lecture on electrical prospecting.

In March of 1928 AME BC moved its office to the “Mines Building” located at 402 West Pender Street.  His Excellency, Viscount Willingdon, Governor General of Canada, visited the new premises on April 20, 1928.  During this and subsequent years AME BC had the pleasure of welcoming many new mining related business to Vancouver.  The accounts for September 28, 1928 report that Thomas Elliott, a high school graduate, had joined the staff.  Tom became manager in 1955 and held that position until he retired in 1975 as one of Canada’s best known mining men.

In 1929, AME BC, under President Nicol Thompson, protested a proposal by the federal government to levy a one cent per share tax on mining shares selling at $3.00 a share or less.  That same year the first recorded visit by a Japanese mining company representative, S. Mitsuda of Mitsui, was made.