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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film^ au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X e 6tails 18 du nodifier ir une llmage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film* fut reprodult grAce h la g*n6rositA de: La biblioth^que des Archives publiques du Canada Las images suivantes ont At6 reproduces avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la netteti de rexemplaire filmA, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. 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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. errata I to t i pelure, on d n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 'O- '^-^ The Grain, Grass and Gold Fields OF .^ South- Western Canada ■^1 EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, OESCRIBED AS A Mixed Farming ajnd Mining Country WITH A HKIEF NOTIQE OP Kootenay and Cariboo Mining Districts of British Columbia As the near and natural markets for Edmonton produce. [also a description of the • . . , ALL CANADIAN ROUTES FROM EDMONTON TO THE YUKON GOLD FIELDS. A Handbook for Agriculturists and Gold Miners With information for Railway and other Capitalists, Tourists, Sportsmen, Big Game Hunters, Scientific Explorers and others seeking fresh fields for their energies UNDER THE FEAG. Compiled by ISAAC COWIE, President of the Boaid of Trade and Chairman of the Immigration Association, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 1897. • M'S "WW*; Caiiadian Pacik: Railvy^ Co^^ NEW CONbmONS OF PAYMENT. Pdr the greater convenience of |>tHxh£»ers, the Company have adop- ted new terms of payment whereby the aggregate amount of principal, and interest at six per cent., is divided into ten equal instalments, t^e first to be paid at the time of purchase, and the remainder annttally for nine consecutive years thereatter, but in the case o^ actual settlers requir- ing the laiad for th^r own ase the second instalment is made td fall due two years from date of purchase, the third in three years, and so on. The actual settler is thus relieved entirely of interest for the first year. He also has his second instalment defored for two y^ars to give him time to realize from the land before that ^po^mtent matures. In addition to this, the system of equal pajrments will, doubtl^, in most c^ses be found more convehienl than the old plan, which caUiedf or the heaviest payments in the early years of the contract, when thesettlet was least abk to meet them. The annual payments for ISO acres at $a»00 would be $61y52 each. DISCOUNT FOR CASH.— A liberal reduction ItcpiiiE^ will be allowed for full payment at lime erf" purchase. Fw further particulars, detailed maps, etc.., apply to WILWAM TOOI.E, T^nd Agent, Calgary. I.. A. ^AMItTON, CONTENTS. Paok Chap. I.- -THE KOOTENAY AND CARIBOO MARKETS . . 3 Output of Mines— West Kooteii;iy'» Importations of I'roduce— Continued Increase of saire-Cus- toms Duties ProtecinK Canadiuu farniers— Prices of I'roduce— Railway Freight Kates of same — Hast Kootenay — Need of Construction of the Crow's Nest Pass Railway— Ceneral Mining Development tlirouKhout liritish Columbia— The Cariboo Mines-rBritish I'acitic Railway. ^ Chap. II.— EDMONTON '... ^4 ICdmontou District Dsfiiied-I^atitude Compared with European Cities— Japan Current— Pastoral Scenery— Coal Cheap and .\huudant— Cold Dust and Iniptoved Miniii); Methods— OeoKraphical Advantages— Navination ol M.icke'izie H.-tsin- Petroleum and Mineral Deposits of the Athabasca — Water Route to Hudson's Hay— Yellow Head Pass to Cariboo and the Coast. Chap. III.— SOURCE OF INFORMATION ^7 Western Canada Immigration Association- Farmers' Kxperieuces and Opinions— Names of In- tormants. Chap. IV.— CLIMATE AS DESCRIBED 3Y FARMERS 10 Healthy and Pleasant at all Seas )ns— Compared Favorably with Kngland, Scotland, Ireland, Nor- way, (lerman^, Ontario, yuebec. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia and I'nited .^tntt-s— Dates of Seeding aud Harvest — Rainfall, Snowfall, Hail, Frost. CHAP, v.— DESCRIPTION OF !• ARMS 15 Kstent of Settlement— Total Acreage— Average Size of Farms— Water Supply— Shelters— Build- ings—Granaries— Stables. Chap. VI.— LIVE STOCK 17 Breeding— Dairying. Chap. VII.— CROP STATISTICS 18 Wheat— Oats— Barley— Rye— Potatoes— Turnips— Hay— Vegetables. Chap. VIII 20 Fruits, Trees r.nd Flowers. Chap. IX 20 Pests— Weeds — Fires— .Animal Pest p. Chap. X 21 I CHAPTER I. Edmonton Markot in tho Kootonay and Cariboo Distrioti. Away down south, in the southwestern corner of the vast Dominion of Canada^ lie the gold fields of Kootenay and Cari- boo on the west, and the grass and grain fields of Alberta on the east of the Rocky? Mountains. British Columbia is the min- eral treasure house of the Dominion, and A Alberta is a pasture and a granary at its '• doors. The wondrous wealth of the Koo- i tenay has within the last two years at- I tracted world-wide attention ; and the former fame of golden Cariboo is beingi rapidly revived owing to the introduction of improved mining methods. The min- ing developments, population and conse- quent demand for agricultural products, are increasing by leaps and bounds, af- fording for Alberta produce a home mar- ket in the mines within a short railway, haul of farm and ranch. REDUCED FREIGHT RATES. J The Canadian Pacific Railway Co., re- >J cognizing the mutual natural dependence on each other of the mining country for supplies and the farming country for a western market, have lately so reduced their freight rates (practically 50 per cent.) • on produce from Alberta to British Col- umbia as to render the business of farming in Alberta more prosperous and profitable than in the past to those engaged therein. :^. To enable production to keep pace with* I this demand, agriculturalists who contem- f plate emigration are invited to come toj Alberta and participate in the new era of increased prosperity which has dawned on, the district. To describe the mixed farming district of Alberta is the purpose of this publicat- tion ; but before proceeding to do so, a few facts regarding the Kootenay ant? Cariboo markets must be given. The output of the Kootenay mines rose from $2,240,781, in 1895, to $4,157,162, in 1896 ; and during the first two months of 1897 it amounted to $1,400,000. That of re- viving Cariboo increased from $282,400, in 1895, to $384,500 in 1896. As these dis- tricts are only in the infancy of their de- velopment the output in a few years must become prodigious. Into the dis- trict of West Kootenay alone there were imported from the United States (in spite of heavy protective duties, but before the recent general reductions in Canadian Pa- cific Railway freight rates from Alberta) during the eleven months ending June 30, 189G, the following produce, all of which IS producible in .A.Iberta : — Quantity. Value. Bacon and hams, lbs. ...395,800 $35,580 Hay, tons 2,085 20,593 Uats, bushels 59,305 15,319 Horses 405 11,688 Potatoes, bushels 24,835 7,857 Flour, barrels 4.502 11,551 Butter, lbs 40,353 7,564 Fresh vegetables 7,065 Eggs, dozens 150,988 19,907 Condensed milk, lbs 170,718 10,639 Sheep 3,955 6,968 Fresh meats, lbs 141,448 6,886 Live hogs, lbs 203,789 5,925 Lard, lbs 57,418 3,970 Poultry 3.703 Bran and mill feed 1,908 Salted meats, lbs 26,590 1.840 Oatmeal, lbs 07,777 1.043 Pickles, gallons 2,628 1,131 Fresh mutton, lambs, lbs.. 15,533 1,056 Wheat, bushels 2,054 955 Horned cattle 38 008 Barlev, bushels 613 688 Cheese, lbs 4,453 509 Honey, lbs 5,053 537 Hops, lbs 1,838 134 Total value $820,234 Wliilst I'roni tlic Caiiadiati si(!i\ from to I'C siipplicil by tlie construction, now tlio Isi ol January in tlio .'iht ni AiiKU-'t. i'l pn-Kross. oi tlie Crow's Nest Pasi 18!U), there were imported into tlio saiiu* Kailw.-.y. wliicli will not only unlock the •hMrict : — treasures of East Kootcnay, Imt also en- Tons, ormously benefit the West Kootenay as Animal prodticts I- I well, and pive to the producers of Alberta' 1')airy pTO) per cent. : province of British Columbia, which ma>4 wheat, 15c. per bushel : bran and mill he well described as a "Sea of Mouni- feed, 20 per cent.; oatmeal, L'l) per cent. ; tains" of gold and silver. Prospects wheat flour. 50c. a barrel ; potatoes. 15c. Iouk' dormant are being developed anci per bushel ; fresh vegetables. 25 per cent.: "cw prospects arc being found daily egiis, 3c. ; butter, Ic. : cheese, ,'k. ; bacon, throughout the province. New mining and hams, 2c. ; salted meats, 2c, : fresli. ca!np« are arising along the main line of mutton, 35 per cent. ; other fresh mcatsi the Canadian Pacific Railway and to the" 3c. ; lard, 2c. ; honey, 3c. ; hops, (ic. ; tK)rth thereof. Of special interest is tht* coiiilensed milk, 3.^c. ; pickles, 35 per ct. : Big Bend of the Columbia, which is be- ponltry, 20 per cent. ; live hogs, l.Jc. per ing so rapidly fleveloped as to decide the pound : sheep, 20 per cent. ; cattle, 20 per Catiadian Pacific Railway to build steamf cent. ; horses, 20 per cent. , boats for its navigable stretches, with the The prices of produce fluctuate, but an in entior of shortly supplementing theso example of the wholesale prices obtaini- by a r.'ilway north from Revelstoke. able a» Sandon, a typical mining jioint in In Cariboo great developments in the West Kootenay. in September, ]80(!. is treatment of gold-bearing gravels are tak- givon htlow : — Feed oats, |20 ; potatoes. ing place. It is the opinion of competent $20 ; timothy hay, $25 ; onions, $40 ; cab- juil.^es that the Cariboo is naturally a) bages. ?'30 ; carrots and turnips, $25 per nuv h richer mineral country than the ton of 2,000 lbs. -. eggs, IGc. to 22c. f>er Kootenay. Want of railways has alone iloxen . creamery butter, 18c. to 22c.: dairy kepi back its development. Mr. Rithet, butter. 17c. ; breakfast bacon. 10.]c.; drj< the chief promoter ,:>f the British Pacific salt. 10k-.; clear side, 8c. ; hams, 12k. Railway, confidently expects this enter- pev lb. pri?-e to start from the coast in the near Th- Canadian Pacific Railway freight future. When this line reaches Edmon^ rates from Edmonton to Sandon on the ton by the Yellow Head Pass, producers al)ove products now are : — Grain, vege- will tb.en have a short and direct com- tables and hay. $7 per ton in car loads ;' mnnication with Cariboo and the Pacific, l)acr,n, butter and eggs, 1 cent per lb. in on the shores of which an illimitable car loads, and 1 7-20 cents per lb. in les.s m.irlet will be found for any surplus over' than car loads. the rcfjuirements of the interior of British' Willi the exception of beef and mutton' Cchnrbia. Alberta does not yet raise enough of the produce suitable for and demanded by the Wi'- L Kootenay alone, and at the i)rcsent rate of increase the production will keei) r-tUAO-rco ii far short of the demand. OMAPT6.R II. The nearest natural market for .Alberta Edmonton. produce in the East Kootenay district. wliicli. while possesisng its full share of " Edmonton," the original name, and mineral wealth, has not attracte 1 any- that by which the wdiole district is still thing like the ;ittention to West Tvoote- generally known, is for convenience, and nay owing to the lack of railway com- e\cep« otherwise specified, used through'- rrunication. This long-felt waiu is about out this work to designate that portion ol , now Pas^ ck the ISO en- iiay ;i!* Mberta; ncctii min. west. It is, therefore, as far south as Dublin in Ireland, Liverpool and York in England, Hamburg in (icp- nuiny, further south than any part of Scot* land, Denmark, Norway or Sweden, andl 4r).'i miles further south than St. Peters- burg, the capital of Russia. The western countries of both the old and new world enjoy a great atlvantagc in climate over the more eastern por- tions, owing to the effects of the Gulf stream in Europe and the Japan current in North America. The isothermal line whiih passess through New York on the Atlantic coast in latitude 40 deg. north, come.« out on the Pacific at Fort Simp- SOI-. in latitude M deg. Mo min., (»ne de- gree further north than ■dmonton. Tho effect of altitude on climate is well known Alberta slopes from a high elevation at the international boundary to 3111 feet atj Cal^'ary, and down to 2213 at Edmonton. Its low elevation, together with the length of daylight during the period of growth, combined with its fertile soil, ren- ders it one of the richest agricultural por- tions of the world. The scenery is of varied beauty. No stern, rugged and awful mountains, nor, lo ig dead monotony of flat, treeless pra- irie strain the vision here. Level and roll- ing prairie, hill and dell, clad in grass and flowers, dotted with groves of aspen, popl.Tr and spruce, delight the eye. Lakes, lakeletK and ponds reflect the bright blue' skies above, and the deep and magnificent valievf of the great Saskatchewan and other smaller, but not less beautiful water) ronrses, lend boldness to a landscape of oilicrvvisc ideally pastoral prettiness. Not only when in verdure clad is the country lovely, for the white raiments of winter Icn 1 to the prospect a new and additional charm of indescribably pure beauty. Nature, not content with providing those grand agricultural resources, which it is the purpose of this work to describe. h;)s nlso conferred on the country vast mineral wealth, the possibilities of whicli are now only beginning to dawn on the, minds of the people. Inexhaustible suj)- pHes of coal underlie the whole country and crop out on the sides of the valleys, rendering the work of mining so cheap, that the fuel is sold at the mouth of the pit to farmers for r)0 cents a ton, whilst it) is delivered in the bins of the household- ers of E.lmonton at |I.flO per 2.000 Ibst The 9creening.s, untit for burning in du^ niestic stoves, are sold to th« grist mills, elevators, and electric light works for only 50 cents per ton, and are found eerienced miners with capital. ^leanwhile. those best informed on the subject consider that the dredging of the river bed sind the hydraulic sluicing of t!u flats and terraces of the valley will yitld enormous profits to capital skilfully applied. It is also believed that cheap and simple apparatus will be devised to enable the " poor man's diggings " to be pro,«ecuted with greater profit and suc- cess. THE NORTHERN OUTLET. To all these gifts of nature — climatic, agrici'ltural and mineral — have been add- ed unique geographical advantages. Wh'lsf the Calgary & Edmonton brand* of the Canadian Pacific Company's trans- continental railway is that which now conrccts the district with the commerce of the world, it is not the only commer- cial route for the exports of the district. Starting at the end of the Edmonton and Athabasca wagon road (90 miles long) the navigable waters of the great Mac- kenzie basin, flow north for 2.000 miles to the Arctic Ocean. On this immense route on which steamboats ply. and its endless tributaries, there exists a 'r.rge and grow^ ing demand ft>r agricultural products in exchange for the rich furs and peltries of this great fur preserve of Canada. Up- wards of $HIO.OOO of these furs nre an- nually marketed in Edmonton, and this sum does not include the much larger tainj low( con.'l low r coasi al Mer pi oil 1 !.000 IbSk K in Jo- ist mills, orks for re found less fav- ton. An las coni^ nton rail- )f this in*- veil tran- catchewan re it will r>n to the : province less, bfXh ver thirty sands ot KM) miles idmonton, individual itive pick, ntly scien- nade, with lewest and machinery". number of il. ormed on rodKing of ic sluicinpr valley will tal skilfully that cheap devised to ^igs " to be and suc- TLET. c — climatic, : been add- advantages. iton branclt )any's trans- which now* ; commerce ily commcr- thc district, monton and miles long) great Mac- 000 miles to imense route 1 its endless c and growf" products in (i peltries of. 'aiiada. Up- furs nre aii'- on, and this much larger ciillc^'tion ol the Hudson's llay Company, wli('i< posts still practically control thd trai'e of that great wilderness. in this Gnat Beyond men of science declare thw cxi - Mioiiton district, was in the days of the fur tra('e the main route for all imports and exports, and although most of the fleet of stcimboats, which, up to the time the railway tapped the Saskatchewan valley, busily plied on the river, now lie idle, a.^ population and development advance the, riviT will again be utilized more andi more. Coal is certain to be shipped that wav : and the Edmonton farmer will be alTorded the choice of an eastern as well as .'i western market, whenever ^Lnnitoba. secures the opening of the Hudson's Bay route. THE WESTERN OUTLET. Finally to the west the Rocky Moun.k- tains open their portals and invite, by the lowest and easiest grade in Alberta, the construction of a railway through the Yel- low Head Pass to Cariboo and the Pacific coast beyond. This again is an old natur- al route frequented by the fur traders. Men of ability, means and influence have piCKJected a line called the British Pacific R.iilway, the construction of which i» warmly advocated in Victoria, Vancouver Island, as the necessary means of fully de- veloping the gold mines of Cariboo, and' of providing the needed transcontinent.d railway through the Great Fertile Belt of Ca-i.-ida in the valley of the North Sas- katchewan river. On account of its agricultural resn (pl tlwir ii;iim's.fc;iriiiK tlni C(r,ri -iKiinlriKi- Mnli iisililicilioii iiiij;'il rntail ci; llu'in uuiild liu t say liirv. that whilst faiM-^ ndiH-id ti> limiiTS ail' la-ily ( '>iiiipilr(l ami an.-ii.tjKl. ntlur facts aii.l ipiiiiiioiis ex lirt--M(' 111 ui>r'ls aii'l iilira--''^ caiunit lie: -iv. ii ill s(i conilciisnl a l'i>nii. Mmr (.'.•,'••, :,s llic valih' 111 llic W'lik (iciiciicU "H it-; |;jtlifiilly ^iviiiM llic ivicKiwr as iicarlv, a~ iM.ssihIc in raoii man's dwn words, '•n til, It till' inti'IIi^;i'nt iradcr mav lie al)lt' !<• { :'iM liis own i>iiinion, no apolo^'y is r.' (|in-,'(l jMi (iipious cNii-act^ u-;;; \\\r v pli"s, Tlu- laadi-r is desired to lirar in mind tlia*. tin Kplics caiiic iVoni a lar).',<' "'at' (if (-(nntiv I-" nnl.s JotiK ironi north to ^■mth, and 'i'i inilcs widr li'oni cast to west : from iiicii ol ^hoii anil hni^ !a->i tltiua- : and tVoin new ami o!(| scttlfnu-iH -. ih'is '^ixiiiii lisf III \arird exprru'iii r^ ;iii I what miv^lit sri III willioiil tiiis (•\i)lana ti'in. conlradiilors viaicnu-nts. As ,i nili\ til'' roniinlrr h.i-. loiind tin' nio-t la\oii ah'c tc-tmioiiy ;4i\(n 'iv tlu' older sctllcr fr Mil till oldiT -cttlfiiu Pis. whilst ili.ii lc'is| l:i\ I ii .ililc i-aiKc from llu' m'w set N.i'iH and I'dSl oflicc AiMn'SS 111 Albeit.i. tills (ispvTially Itarlulois) in new sclllf- iiH'.'s, whilst I'xpiTinu-nliiiK towards suc- cess. I'he rea(UT is alsi> ie<|iu'sled to iiole lh.it till information ap|dies only up t<»> til.' t.-'iiy sptinj; of I''^!'(l after two lel 1,1.- th-- iiiioiinalion are ;^i\i'ii In-low, jn'e- ci deil liy liie nnmlier wliiili is nsed in le ■ ft r, 111;' 111 :iii\ ii; them iiidi\iihially in (|',iiln"' ;in\ s|iti;,d e\perieiice thi"onj.;li- liiit tlu work. |:;i I Ii I'l.n- -im.' I'i i \ i u ■ xy. '_ r. - ^ V ■/. 1/ -J ^ y. o cc ^ , <-■ 4< ;- i, " I' k- i; 'n 6 1/ v~ 11 ■^H ^ ^ ^ < >< j-^i; 111 •>t •'i; Alex. Mcl.ay lloisr Hills Scotland Dak-la, V S !'. r l.iiidlev Stoity l"ain Wisconsin l'. .State. T. (I. I I ii!( liii-'j- I'liiilar Lake nm.ario ( tnt.ino Win. .St.irir ('lii\er liar 'tniario ( )iitario Tho-. Il\sl.,p Ch.MT Ik-ir Scotland Ontarni Thos. D.ily S aitli I'Miii. .nioii Irelainl \' W. '\' Will. Mitilieil r.elmoiit ( )ii!ariii- ( )iii.iriii .f. M' r.".ern.iii ."siiiitli i'.d.iih iiitoii ....'Mitario ()ii!.iriii Refused to liplv. R.-dihil Mills ' )ii!ari'i (Mit.ario I\ .McKernan '-^onlh ['.dmnnlim ...f)nlariu- ()nl;iiiM W. ("'list Si. .\llieit Iial;iiid ('.iliforni.i and 11 (' ... - St. Alhen < )ntario ()iit;iriii I''. Mi-oss,-:in St. \lliert On.'liec lirnisli (■olmidiM \. .'Nrcaiid Si. Ailurt .'.Jnelie. ( )nt,ano \Ie\. .NdaiiiMi'i ('l(,\ir I', ir .Scotland < >iitario W If. ilow.ivd S. l''.d;n:iiitiiii !''m_;l;ind Kansas, V, S I II. (ir.'iliani IWliiioin Oiiehec ()iit;iri.i '1. Siitlierlaiid Stony ri;iiii .'^ri.tl.aiid .\' . W T 1' hliusoodie Siiiiili I'dni'Miloii . , . Scoikand l)ak'i|,i, V . S I'd l)raii I'liiilar Lake (Int.ario ()iitaiio !■■. S. I'jhil S.andy Lake [''.ntiland hau'land 'I" (1. I'eaiic t'luvc' I'll- I''nt;l.and ( )nt;irio I'".. ( '. !)a\\s:in South i''.i!inonton ...I'tiLdaiid \'o\,i Scoti.i .1 'rmiKh I.iiiiij L.ike ' 'iil.irio - ( )nt,-ii io I Inkster Soiitli Ldmontnii ^l.-mitolia M;iiii|iilii II W. Lcirci'- I'.e.aviT Lake rint«'d St.iles rmted Stales .... ! ). Ik Wilson- St nn' eon Ontario ( )'it.iili . 1.'. li 11 Li 1 1 1 II 1 1) 1 .' l:> 1 ' ,s' 'I'l 1<> IJ Id 1 * l»J 1 1: 1 . 1 1 U 1 1 i; 1 i; 1 1 .) .> s s 1 •'n s in 1 L'.". 15 ill new sftlk- f towards siic- csti'il 111 imli' •s only up tO' affvr two dry ^llt (1<>WM (o .s|)k'nilid cri)]!! of till' iuarkct llicr will) tin" ; mafic in IHKT aihvay., would' :ivor,il)lc iliai- ntw conuTs, t fully replied 1 1) eases it lias \r hesl s))eeial iiitary inform lin (ilijeet lias lin (lie distiiet. e distriet. ■., of the Kf" ie is indehle 1 rn lieliiw. ])re- is ust (I in re- iMli\ idiially in enee tlirmi^li- .... -1 1 1 •. y. i. - 'J u o « i: I". 1 -, .... 1 •> .... iJ 1 ■) .... i;: .... i« .... II I' .... Ill . ... l!> II :> i'> ,V '>M in Id 1 -I 1-..' II! 1 (I .... 1 : 1 .... • » 1) 1 1 n 1 1 i; II . t X ... 1 > s S .... 1 .... II .... • ► .... i:i III i:. :{ c o c o E TJ Ui 3 o w M ti C c « c w tl ■X o Z oe Ik o E u o X c o > :»«» • 1- A* '. '•. . ¥> <« r c o c o E •D UI _♦[ c N C o i ci o E m 10 Name and Post Office Address in Alberta. Birth Place and Previous Residence. .O.S > W!-«5 .... 13 ... 8 .... 8 .... 3 .... 14 ... 8 a t itO 29— W. Daly— Clover Bar Ireland— Ireland .. 30 — ^J. Harrold — Sturgeon Scotland — Scotland 31— P. Flynn— St. Albert Ontario— Ontario . Jl — D. A. Latimer — Sturgeon Ontario — Ontario . 33 — J. A. McPherson — Stony Plain Ontario — Ontario . 31 — C. C. Ellett — Sandy Lake England — England 35 — P. Labrie — Morinville United States— United States 6 30 — J. McDiarmid — Poplar Lake Scotland — Scotland 3 37 — H. Borgwarett — Horse Hills Germany — Nova Scotia 5 38— J. Kirkness— Belmont Scotland— N. W. T 15 39 — J. Northcote — S. Edmonton England^ — England 2 40 — Carl Madu — Stony Plain Poland — Manitoba 4 41 — M. Embertson — Ft. Saskatchewan ...United States — Idaho 3 4!i — — S. Edmonton I-.ngland — Enghin ^<» 13 20 . 8 20 . 8 20 . 3 3 . 14 14 . 8 8 . f) 15 . 3 3 . 5 7 . 15 15 . 2 20 . 4 2<) . 3 20 '3 . 4 12 . 7 7 . 3 25 . 4 27 . 9 9 . 2 2 . 7 7 . . 3 20 .. 2 20 . . 2 25 .. 2 12 r of people sturgeon 4, ^an 1, Lew- ny Plain 5, South Ed- Hill 1. St. ng Lake 1, 1, and Red e range of north and St — their ex- ranges from' ve been en- rs, of which :nts their ex- ners say- the climate uestion. The excellent; 1, unsurpassed ; 1, unequalled ; 1, fair ; 1, ten'perati; ; 1, well pleased ; 1, pleasant t«> most people ; 1, on the whole good ; 1, best ill Canada; l.vcry healthy; 2.healthy: 1, good an- and summer. 8 — Much better than Ontario and Quebec. 10 — Drier and more healthy. 11 — New Ottawa About the same ; a little colder, but neith- er have such bad storms nor feel the cold so much. 1.3 — Parry S- )und Favorably. 10 — Very much better. It is steadier cold and no mud and slush. 18— Parry Sound Favorably. 21 — W'entworth Cmmty V/inter more pleasant. 23 — Winters much more enjoyable than those of Ontario. QUEBEC. 8— Much better. 15 — 1 had rather the climate here. 14 — Laprairie Better in Laprairie as far as I have heard. NOVA SCOTIA. 24 — Favorably. 37 — ,Far ahead. MANITOBA. 1 — Far ahead. 26 — Much the same. 40— Better here. 48 — Surpasses Portage la Prairie for healthful- ness. ■'I ■^- 4 I 13 V BRITISH COLUMBIA. . 2 — Climate good, with the exception of win- ter. 12 — As good as British Coliunbia. UNITED STATES, 1 — Daie6 3 — Never lost a crop of any descrip- tion. 13— Never total. 13 — I can't complain. 8 — Thrice slightly affected. 8— Once. 3 — Never. 14 — In 1895, seriously ; slightly twice or thrice previously. 8— Once. 6 — Every year (Morinville.) 3 — Never in my locality (Poplar Lake.) 5 — Once slightly. 15 — Frosts do not often do much' damage to crops on high laJid( in this district. 2 — Once in some low parts. 4 — None with me. 3— Once. 2— Once. 4 — Once. 7 — Crops put in late generally catch frost. 3 — Two partial, none total. 4 — Some places on low ground. Worst fall of 1895. 9 — Never complete. 2— In 1895, but such frost had not occurred for eight years. 7 — One year in three, but not gen- eral. 3— Once. 2— Once. 2— None. 2— August, 1895. (Note.— It will be seen, by referring to the number of years experience, and also' to the residences of those replying, that new settlers and new districts have been, enormously more subject to damage than older settlers in old settlements. The general average of the foregoing shows that frost is destructive once in seven' years; whereas, in the experience of those who have resided in the country for eigh£ years and upwards, the average is once in every twelve years.) Is there plenty of sunshine here ? To this question all reply emphaticallj'- yes ; except No. 35 (Morinville), who says : — "Not very often." Any wind storms ? A few of short duration. Never as bad as elsewhere. Any blizzards ? None. Any cyclones ? None. Any thunderstorms ? Occasionally, but never as bad as elsewhere. 15 I iescrip- y twice (Poplar 5 much' gh landl ly catclv ground. had not rs. not gen- erring to and also' ing, that ave been, lage than s. The ig shows in seven* of those for eight s once in re? phaticallj'- le), who of short where. nally, but Any loss by lightning ? Very rarely does the slightest damage. Please give any particulars about cli- mate not given before. V u a 15 10 2i' a «T3 C6Z >ei Reply. It^ 1-2- 1 5 — Spring a little late; but heat and long days in summer give rap- id growth. 5 (i — Frozen grain in fall is caused by lack of moisture in spring. 10 HI — Weather predictions founded on experience elsewhere fail to connect here. G 13— Climate getting drier. Am rais- ing good crops now on land, which was slough, with three feet of water in 1883. Climate suits me. Summer and autumn days warm and sunny, with cool nights. -Altogether good — the worst time' is between the melting of the' snow and the first growth of grass. 22 8 — In winter cold and fairly warm spells alternate every 2 weeks. 23 4 — Having travellel in Canada from sea to sea, and wintered in Washington on the Pacific coast, I prefer this climate to any I have ever seen. 24 8— All the year round the air is bracing and clear. Remark- able growth. 27 3— Consider the climate first-class, especially for consumption or any lung trouble. 34 8— Winter generally cold, with fort- nightly alternations of warm spells. 35 ti— (Morinville). The nights are sol chilly as to cause wheat to smut. 37 5— If the weather in May was like that of June and July, this coun- try could not be beaten under the sun. 43 4 — Too showery in August to allow the grain to ripen rapidly enough. 44 7 — Summer hot, but not unbearably so. In winter a cold spell sel- dom lasts long. The coldest' spell last winter (1895-G) lasted two weeks, and we considered it a very long cold spell. 45 3 — The hardiest and earliest varieties of everything necessary. a 8 a •So 8 8 Reply. 4G 49 51 4 — The climr.te is as good as any part of Canada I have lived in. 9 — Very healthy for those with chest complaints of all kinds. 7 — The long period of sunlight causes very rapid growth. Sea- sons variable, some hot, with- out summer frosts ; others cold and frosty. 2 — Changeable from wet to dry, from warm to cold. CHAPTER V. Description of Farms. The settlements heard from extend from township 38, on the south, to township, So, on the north, inclusive ; and from range 18, west of 4th meridian, on the east, to range 2, west of the 5th meridian, on the west, according to the Dominion Lands System of Survey. The greater number of the farmers — and these give the most favorable accounts' cJ the country — live in the Saskatchewan' and Sturgeon River valleys. Out of a total arceage of 12.610 held, rather less than 75 per cent, was pro- cured from the government by homer stead, pre-emption and scrip : and a little over 25 per cent, was acquired by pur- chase from others than the government. The averages of the answers give the following : — Size of farm, 259 acres, on which there were 15 acres of new break- ing, 35 acres under crop, and 143 fenced, generally with rails and occasionally wire. The character of the average farm is de- scribed as G3 acres clear prairie, 45 acres brushy or scrubby prairie (easily cleared; of young trees and shrubs), 10 acres wild hay land, 12 acres timber, If acres waste,, rough ground 1 acre, swamp 2^ acres, with about 1 acre of water to each farm. Water of excellent quality is supplied; in 11 cases by river, in 12 by creeks, in 3i by lakes, in 8 by ponds, in 16 by springs, and in 59 by wells of an average depth of 24 feet. Owing to the generally undulat- ing character of the country — two-thirds' of the land being described as rolling and' one-third level — there is very good natur- al drainage, and there is nowhere any pos- sibility of floods. The soil varies from sandy loam to c 0 «< c 0 E •o u k m e N V •a c « 0 X *^ 0 E lb « X «< e o M c «> u M 17 black loam, principally the latter, and in depth ranges from 6 inches to 4 feet, av- erage 21 inches. The sub-soil is marly clay of great dopth and fertility. Shelters, win inches in size. The stables are generally of logs, one story and 21 feet 4 inches by 25 feet 6 inches in size. The cow shed is mostly built of logs, 1 story, 29 feet by 2G feet. The hen houses of the usual log con- struction, 13x16 feet. The ages of these buildings are from one to nine years. Average, 4J years. CHAPTER VI. Live Stock. Average number per farm — Horses, 6 ; cattle, 24 ; shcop, 12 ; pigs, 23 ; and hens, 3?. The largest number reported by one man was : Turkeys, 13 ; ducks, 16 ; geese, 6 ; but the majority keep none, and thus the rather amusing average of each would be li turkeys, 1 duck, and ^ goose. Neither dn the majority keep sheep — thej highest reported being 120. Though some of the new settlers use draft oxen, they have been reported under the gen- eral heading of cattle. The period during which our cattle are housed during winter depends entirely on the season, the kind of cattle, and individ(- ual practice. During a severe winter milking cows and calves are housed as long as from the 1st of November to the 1st of April, while during a milder winter the period is only during January an(\ Februarj. The average time appears to be from the 15th of December to the 15th of March. The heifers and steers arc very rarely housed, as a rule wintering iti open sheds and around the stacks of stray, on which they are almost entirely! fed. In fact, they feed and take care of then^ selves otherwise, if supplied with water. Cows, calves and stabled horses arc fed on hay, little of which is given tol any of the other cattle, except occasional- ly towards spring. In consequence of the abundance o-f straw and wild hay, and the few animals of the herd requiring to be entirely, housed, the unanimous testimony (except that of two chronic grumblers) in replyt to the question, "How does live stock' pay ?" as " Well, very well, and best of anything." "Cattle can be raised for next tn nothing, and horses for nothing." But although some never give theii stock any shelter or food other thart, the straw stacks provide, and many consider they thrive better outdoors, yet' individuals whose experience entitles their opinions to the best consideration, thinlc, it pays to give good care to good stock, and declare with such the best beef in the world can be produced in this district. During the winter, horses, born in the country and not required for constant, v/ork, live and thrive round the straw; stacks, and even better running at large c li the prairies — finding good and con- venient belter when necessary in adjoin- ing belts of timber. Sheep, pigs and poultry are also re- ported to pay well. During spring, sumh nur and autumn the country is, of course, a T)aradise for all kinds of stock. The most profitable and saleable breeds? The majority recommend heavy draft breeds of horses, Clydes and Perchcrons, being first favorites; natives, crossed with :;ny heavy breed, next ; and the Suffolk Punch and Morgans are also mentioned. Several recommend roadsters also. Amongst cattle, Shorthorns take first rank, being recommended by all. Polled- Angus come next, then Holsteins, Jer- seys and Herefords, in the order named. Leicesters, Cotswolds,Shropshire,South- down. Merino and Cheviot sheep are re- commended. Among pigs the Berkshire breed re- ceives 34 recommendations, the Poland China 27. SufTolk 2, Yorkshire 2, and Chester White 1. Diseases of animals. — There are no disr eases natural to the country, and animals are most remarkably healthy. As in other countries, the horse is more liable to dis- ease than any of the other farm animals. A most remarkable freedom from disease has been experienced, only a case or twd 18 .,lf of hoof rot and distemper anioiig horses; one case of liollow Imrn, and two of bhnck kfi among cattle, and two cases of catarrh among sheep beiuR rci)ortcd, while pigs appear to be entirely free of disease. DAIRYING. How is the district adapted to dairying? After what has been said above, it almosir gr.es without saying that the district is prt-<'miiicntly adapted for dairying. Men who arc uiuvilling to accord justice to the country in nthcr respects vie with its most entlutsiastic admirers in singing its praises as an ideally perfect dairying district. To a wide ninge of the best of wild pasture are added an abundant water supply antl sliadini; and sheltering groves of trees. The replies, therefore, range in expressive- ness from " Well " to " The finest in the world." During the summer season the' averages are for each cow : 4.^ gallons ol milk per day, (ij lbs. of butter per weekt The only drawback has been the want; of well-managed creameries and skim^ ming stations throughout the country. This is now remedied by the government having recently taken over the manage- ment of the creamery business ; and un- der it? stafT of skilled experts a still more brilliant success will distinguish their ef- forts in this naturally dairying district than that attained in other less suitable places where under their direction this most profitable branch of farming has at- tained tmvarying prosperity. The estimated average weekly cash re^- ceipts from the sale of dairy products are ^2.16 ; from eggs, $1.61, and from fowls, 08c., representing a total of .$5.35 to the' thrifty housewife. This nice little aver- age income is not shared by the un- happy bachelor farmer ; again illustrating* the fact that the first requisite of success- fid farming is in the farmer possessing a good wife. The average prices of this class of pro- ducts are stated to have been, up to the spring of 1806 : — Eggs, 14c. per dozen ; butter, 16.^c. per lb.; cheese, IHc. per lb.; dressed meats, beef, 5 l-.*5c. per lb. ; pork, 4fc. per lb.; mutton, 6|c. per lb.; poul- try, 9c. per lb. CHAPTER VII. Crop Statistics-Wheat. To the question, " What is the best kind of wheat for the district ?" 17 reply, Red Fyfe,4 Ladoga.2C ampbell's White ChafT, and 1 Azoflf. The date of sowing ranges from 15th of April to 10 of May, the average being the 24tii of April. It is recommended that wheat be sown as early as possible. The dates of reaping given are from^ 12th of August to 2()ih of September ; average 28th of August. The yields per acre are as follows : — ' Lowest, 10 bushels on breaking ; highest, 50 bushels on new land. The average) for 1895, being 27J^ bushels per acre, of an average weight of (>0\ lbs. to the bush- el— tiic weight ranging from a lowest of 50 lbs. of frosted Campb-ili's Whi^c ChalY, to a highest of 00 lbs. of C'oloradf.'. Two-thirds of this ;r3p was off i ewl land, and one-third od cs. lillics. violets, dai.sies, convol- vulus and orchids. The gardens of flic town of Edmonton are .i rcvel.ition of floral be.iuty, and in-\ doors hou>e plants of all kinds flourish in l>erfcction. CHAPTER IX. Pests, Weeds, Fires, Animal Pasts. The only wild animal which causes much loss to the farmer is the coyote (;i small species of wolf), which kills sheep and occasionally poultry — showing a pre- ference for lamb and turkey. — These |)ests will, however, be rapidly exterminated, a I unty having been placed on their heads. The gopher (ground squirrel) pest of certain other parts of the prairie country is practically unknown here. Rabbits, during their periodical seasons of plenty, are a nuisance occasionally, and destroy garden stuff. Hawks sometimes kill poultry ; and a few complain of moles and cut worms in their garden. The ubiquitous »nosquito, which is re- tiring before the advance of settlement, in old settlements and in dry seasons and places gives little trouble ; but in the new districts, especially during wet weather, this irritating insect is a troublesome pest during the summer. Gnats and horse flies are also annoying in some localities. WEEDS. There are no very noxious weeds re- ported. Wild buckwheat, lambs-quarter, pigweel. sunflowers and wild oats are mentioned. The Canadian thistle has not obtained a footing here. FIRES. Prairie and bush fires in the spring and autumn, the result too often of wanton carelessness, are much too common and destructive to timber. For the prevention of these the farmers make a number of practical suggestions, such as ploughing 21 fireguards, Bcvcrcly punisliiiiK (ifTorulcrs, iiii-reasing the force of Northwest luoiint- 0(1 police, and especially tiio orgaiii/atinn iiinUr the law of statute labor and fire districts. CHAPTER X. Labor. Only six ottt of tiio fifty two farmers say there is any demand for farnt laborers^ except in the spring and harvest. The average wages are stated to be |1.00 a day, $18.00 a month, and $1')H a year, witii board. I''emale servants are in higher demand, and the average wages appear to be $!' a month. In towns good ^^ervaIlt girls need n»)t long be out of a place ; and there are bachelor farmers throughout the whole country in need of wives. 'I'he following gentlemen answer in thp aflirmativc to the (luestion : "Would you be willing to receive and board a farm pupil who is willing and able to work ?" T. G. Ilutchings, James McKernan, Robt. McKcrnan, Wm. Cust, Alexander Adam- son, Richard Dinwoodie, D. B. Wilson; Pat Flynn, John A. McPhcrson, James McDiarmid. John Northcote, H. N. Que- bec and J. S. Gross. The wages to be al- lowed such pupil to be according to his usefulness, from $5 to $15 per month. ( NoTK. — Owing to the increased prosperity of the district and larger crops, farmers are now (October, 1897) requiring more help than formerly. ) CHAPTER XI. Market Towns. The nearest market towns mentioned by the farmers replying to the questions were Edmonton, South Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, Wetaskiwin, and Red Deer. As these towns will each be specially -described, it need only be said here that good shops and stores exist in each of them. ROADS. During winter the snow and ice make the most perfect and direct sleigh roads, over which enormous loads arc drawn with ease to market. Ry far th« mo«t tiallic from farm to market and from hay mt'.idow to f.irin yar:)llars and eighty-six cents in Can- cirn currency. The ir plements, etc., needed to start with, and their prices, are : Team of hers..':., $125 ; harness, $32 ; wagon, $80 ; sleigh, $25 ; plow, $28 ; seeder, $85 ; har- rows, $20 ; disc harrow, $35 ; reaper and hinder, $155 ; mower and rake ; $95 ; rol- ler, $10 ; other implements and tools, $50. Total, $740. LIVE STOCK. The farmers generally recommend a be- ginner to procure all the stock which he can , afford to buy, and which he has means of accommodating and feeding. Some mention a definite number, the av- erage being 2 oxen or 3 horses, 4 cows, 3 pigs, 4 sheep and 21 fowls. The aver- age prices (May, 1897), of these would be : Team of oxen, $80 to $120 ; cows, $20 to $35 ; sows, $8 to $18 ; ewes, $3 to $5 ; hens, 20c. to 50c.; ducks, 50c. to 75c.; geese, 75c. to $1.50, and turkeys, 75c. to $1. The prices vary according to size, condition, breed, season of the year, and other circumstances. COST OF CROPPING. The average cost, by contract or hired labor, of the undermentioned operations is : — Breaking new land, per acre $3.35 Backsetting same, per acre 1.95 Total $5.30 Reaping grain, per acre 77fc Threshing wheat, per bushel 3 c Threshing oats, per bushel 2Jc Threshing barley, per bushel 2|o GRISTING. The average distance to a grist mill is nine miles ; and the question, "What is the rate charged for gristing ?" elicited a number of replies voicing the usual com- plaints of the farmers against the millers, and showing that tne average levy for gristing, when custom work is done, to be one-quarter toll or 12}c per bushel. TIMBEP. The supply of timber fit for log build- ings is generally abundant, the kinds ofi wood mentioned being poplar, spruce and! tamarac. The price of sawn lumber is about $13.50 per thousand feet, boardi 26 measurement. The price of doors, win- dows, shingles for roofing, and of differ- ent kinds of lumber are given in the ad- vertising pages at the end. Native Can- adians can be got to put up good com- fortable log houses quickly and at small cost, say from $100 upwards. The first house generally serves as the kitchen oL the dwelling of later date. RETAIL STORE PRICES. The prices of food, clothing and other supplies usually required by immigrants arc given in the end of this hand-book. By studying these the intending settler will be able to judge for himself the advis- ability of either bringing out such articles or of purchasing them after his arrival in the country. CHAPTER XVI. General Information, Time to Arrive. As to the best time of the year for thei immigrant to arrive in the country, most of the farmers recommend him to come in the spring. Those contemplating the purchase of improved farms should come in time to select them and in time to put in a crop. Probably the summer and aut- umn would be the better time to select land, when the crops and natural growth would show its capabilities. New land should be broken in June and backset later in the season to prepare for the ne.xt year's crop. Every immigrant should suit his own circumstance and time his arrival accordmgly. taking care, if possible, tq come at the time which would enable him to most quickly get to work. As a guide, however, the replies received to the ques- tion as to the best time of year to coma are given here : One recommends 1st of February ; one, Jst March : six, 1st to 15th April; ten, 1st to bOth May; nineteen; say spring ; seven, 1st to 15th Tune ; one, 1st Judy ; one, 1st .^.ugust, and two, fall. The question, " What are the chief causes of the failure of those who have not been successful ?" elicited a number of replies, all going to show that failure IS not to be attributed to the country, but to the lack of experienced business habits. energy, sobriety, perseverencc, and suf- ficient capital on the part of the settler. The selection of poor land and the mis- fortune of losing the first crop, on which the new settler without money solely de- pended,are also mentioned. There is a gen- eral expression of opinion that there is no reason why any man should fail here, but his inability to succeed anywhere else ; and that no one who has really made an effort to work intelligently has failed. There are a number of complaints made of the poor quality of much of the foreign immigration broiight to the countrj'. Some of these had neither the means nor the courage to stand a bad first year, and left the c luntry abusing it. Farmers with sufficient means to keep them until the farm begins to yield profit- able returns need have no fear of failure. Mr. McLay, of Horse Hills, says : — "I consider this country the backbone of Canada. We have the finest of soil, good water, coal in unlimited quantity, timber, gold, a healthy climate, the best systemi of schools in the world. People coming! here have no experiments to make as in farming it has been tested for the laslj eighty years." (This long period, of course, refers to the experience of the Hudson's Bay Company, who always had a fine farm at Edmonton). Continuing, Mr. McLay recommends going into mix- ed farming and thoroughly cultivating the soil. , Mr. T. G. Hutchings, of Poplar Lake, says : — "After nineteen years experience, I do say the country itself is all right." Mr. Harrold remarks :— "What this country needs is good energetic men with capital enough to buy good land, machin- ery and stock, and get their farms in good shape. Then there is no danger of fail- ing." Though it is immensely easier for such men as Mr. Harrold mentions to succeed, and the advice to come to this dis- trict can be unhesitatingly given them ; yet as the chief causes of success or fail- ure lie in the man himself, one possess- ing the other necessary attributes of suc- cess need not allow th lack of as mucW p-oney as is elsewhere stated If be desir- able to start with, to deter him from com- ing and trying his fortune in a district, where it is probable that— owing to ex- pected developments in gold mining- there will be considerably more demand than hitherto for farm labor and produce, — •— 27 this with [chin- good fail- \r for IS to dis- liem ; fail- isess- siic- luch: lesir- Icom- Itrict, ex- |ng— hand luce, PART II. Sources of Information. Whilst the agricuUural information in the first part of this work has been com- piled from facts furnished by farmers, the intelligence contained in the second part for the benefit of others as well as farm- ers, has been specially written by local gentlemen under their own signature, or else collected by the compiler of the hand! book from the sources indicated in deal- ing with the subject. CHAPTER I. Business Openings. Besides the inducements which the dis- trict ofifers to agriculturalists, there are many excellent openings for the skilful investment of capital and other pursuits. Next to men the country needs money to its development, that hand in hand with its agricultural progress, other sources of profit may be utilized. The majority of the farmers consider that an excellent opening exists in Ed- monton for a custom grist mill and a. small woollen factory. A few think a^ tannery is required ; and one believes a, flax mill would pay. Mr. Hutchings sup- poses that the manufacture of condensed milk, beet sugar, potato starch, wood pulp and paper would be profitable ; and besides emphasizes the need of a custom g'-ist mill, a small woollen facto-/ rui a cold storage warehouse at Ednionton. Mr. Dinwoodie says a small foutidrv would be a useful institution which w uid profitably grow up with the country. It is stated that there are good prospects for general stores in the Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Riviere Qui Barre, Morin- ville, Beaver Lake, Sturgeon River and Clover Bar settlements. A blacksmith is also wanted in the Sturgeon settlement. The Rev. Mr. Andras, of Wetaskiwin. says : "A doctor accustomed to ladies would do well. A tailor, a laundry, a bootmaker, a brickmaker, a basket maker. Next year a dry goods store would find a place. There are at present two or three mixed stores." As will be seen by the descriptions of the different towns, almDSt all usual lines of business and trade are represented, so that immigrants would find no difficulty in procuring any of the necessities and most of the luxuries of life in these busi- ness centres. Besides the openings for business sug- gested by the farnicts, others may be here mentioned : — A grain elevator will be .cquired in the town of Edmonton immediately on the completion of the railway e.xtension, for which negotiations are now in progress. A corporation is now in course of for- mation called the Edmonton & Kootenay Packing and Storage Company, for the purpose of shipping the perishable pro- ducts of Edmonton into the Kootenay. The business which this company is en- tering into is capable of great expansion. It is probable that a well-organized fish- ing company would be found more profit- able than the trade as at present con- ducted. The pottery clays of Edmonton, the ochre of Victoria, and more especially the lime stones of White Whale Lake, might be turned to account. To meet the local demands, the mining of coal is carried on on a small scale. Owing to the seams cropping out on the sides of the valleys and running horizon- tally, coal is very cheaply and easily min- ed. As previously mentioned, this great latent source of wealth will not reach its full development till a clear waterway be established between Edmonton and Win- nipeg. A company organized for the purpose of supplying Manitoba with Ed- monton coal might be made a grand suc- cess. The probability of the Athabasca pe- troleum deposit being tapped in Northern Alberta must not be lost sight of. Should the government test now going on be successful, a tremendous impetus will be given to the settlement of the country, and larger opportunities afforded for the investment of capital. The Edmonton gold fields are fully de- scribed in a separate pamphlet, to be had on application to the writer of this hand- hook. The lumbering trade has been for years of considerable importance. The Sas- katchewan, from the foothills of the Rockies to where it reaches Edmonton, drains a well-wooded country from which ^ la fe'.AJ : • ;-•♦. >- ■% L^JjBtPr w ' ■ > -■n ' ' ^vf • il 1^*1 1- 4' i'l'' « = ^'. ^BQI^^^ s 1 '^' '^V»--^>3 r^^^^Pk? •* giaiw - > - ~; ■ ^ vir^?-**^r^:^^^^;-y'F>^v ";;^>^ ^^v^-^-. >' ^ -' -^ .• . : Fur Traders Examining Furs at Edmonton. ■I ■■■-•'-at. A Threshing Scene in the Edmonton District. 29 is obtained the wood inanufactured at the saw mills of D. R. 1 aser and John Walter at Edmonton. Portable saw mills and steam threshers travel about in the. different settlements ; and along with the stationary mills supply the present de- mand. The fur trade called the town of Ed- monton into existence long before the construction of railways, and, although its tive importance as compared with other industries is not now so great, its positive importance is increasing yearly. Besides the Hudson's Bay Company, which has establishments all over the country, the firm of McDougall & Secord does a very large business in the Athabasca, Peace and Mackenzie River districts. Larue & Picard also have outposts in Peace River district ; and the hardware firm of Ross Brothers have recently added a fur trading branch to their business. As better roads and means of transportation from the vast fur countries to their geographical business centre at Edmonton become available, this highly important natural trade will more fully develop. Already its proportions may be judged from the fact that over $100,000 worth of furs are annually shipped by private buyers direct to London ; and its importance in giving employment to freighters and boatmen, and in affording a local market for farm' produce is very great. Apart from the possibilities above in- dicated for the profitable employment o/f capital, men having money to lend cart obtain on security of property of con- tinually increasing value good rates of interest — six per cent, being considered a low rate, and ten quite a common per- centage. In some cases it would prob- ably be well for capitalists to so lend_ out their funds (under proper legal advice), whilst becoming personally acquainted with the country and more permanent forms of personally investing their cap- ital. There is probably no country in the world where so excellent opportunities exist for the skilful employment of the money of small capitalists under their personal supervision. For the information of those bringing money to the country attention is called here to the advertisements of the two char- tered banks doing business in the district. Unlike the United States, Canada has good reason to be proud of her admirable and secure banking system, which is largely modeled on that of Scotland. Money may be sent to the district through these banks and therein lodged on deposit receipt, bearing 3 per cent, interest, withi absolute safety. CHAPTER II. Climate and Sanitary Condition. BY H. C. \Vir.SON, M D, To intending settlers the question of the climate of their proposed new home, and its effects on health, is of as great im- 1 -.tance as the productiveness of the soil or the richness of its mineral wealth. Health is one thing essentially necessary to success, and a capital of more than money value. Generally speaking, the change from an old settled country to a new one, the cli- mate of which is very different, has for a time at least an injurious effect upon the health. In the case of persons coming to the Edmonton district from any other country or dher parts of Canada, the re- verse has been and still is the rule. For over a century the Hudson's Bay Com- pany recruited its staff of officers and other employees from Britain and Eastern Canada ; and although these men led a life of constant exposure, passing many months of both summer and winter with- out the shelter of a house or even a tent, they did not suffer in health. On the contrary, many of these pioneers are still living, having attained to ages of seventy, eighty, and even ninety ; and their chil- dren are not surpassed in vigor and strength in any part of the world. Dr. E. A. Parkes, in his classical and standard work on hygiene, says : "With regard to the effect on the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic races of going to live in a cli- mate with a lower mean temperature and greater variations than their own, we have the experience of Canada ♦ ♦ ♦ * In all these, if food is good and plentiful, health is not only sustained, but is per- haps improved, * * ♦ but certain it is that the European not only enjoys health, but produces a progeny as vigorous, if not more so, than that of the parent race." Again I quote from the same work in re- ference to the healthfulness of the various staitons for British troops : 'These num- bers show what indeed is apparent in ajl the records, that Canada is a very healthy station. The amount of phthisis has al- ways been smaller than in home service, 30 and regiments proceeding from London to Canada have had on two occasions a marked diminution in phthisical diseases. The comparatively small amount of phthisis is remarkable, as the troops have at times been very much crowded in bar- racks." These remarks, while entirely true of Canada as a whole, would appropriately and truly apply to Edmonton as compared with Eastern Canada, not only as to: phthisis, but also as to malarial and ty- phoid fevers, cholera, dysentery, cholera infantum and other dangerous diseases. The first necessity for a healthy climate is a sufficient supply of wholesome water. When this is not obtainable all the above mentioned diseases may and do occur as a direct result ; as also dyspepsia, diarr- hoea, yellow fever, diseases of skin and bf nes, calculi (gravel), goitre, intestinal parasites (tapeworm), etc. The water supply in Edmonton is abundant anij wholesome in every particular from a sanitary point of view, and the above dis- eases are not prevalent. The air is clear, pure and aseptic, con- taining a large proportion of ozone — the natural air purifier. As to the soil in re- ference to its influence on health, it is only necessary to state that it does notl breed the miasma or malaria which is the cause of ague in its many forms: nor, ow- ing to the altitude and low mean temper- ature, can malaria ever exist in the dis- trict. The climate is not only invigorating to adults, whether in full health or otherwise, but seems to have a special influence ir» developing strong and healthy children. This is most marked in summer, when in the East thousands of infants die annual- ly from diseases of the stomach and bow- els (cholera infantum, dysentery, etc.,) while here a death from any of these causes is a very rare occurrence, and this in spite of the fact that fully nine-tenths of the infants are bottle-fed and receive but a small proportion of the care and coddling that the infants of the East re- ceive and require. Writing on this sub- ject in 1800. Dr. Mclnnis, with a record of five years years, and myself of eight years', local practice, we stated " that diarrhoea, dysenterj^ and other afifections of the bowels are of very rare occurrence. Not a single death has ever occurred from these diseases during our sojourn here, and we have not heard of a death fromj these causes before that time." These reir rks apply to infants and children, as well as to adults. In Toronto eight per cent, of all deaths are due to these affec- tions, and in Winnipeg sixteen per cent. In Winnipeg and Ottawa the deaths fromi these diseases stand first in number in the returns ; in Montreal, second ; Toronto, third. No better climate for children than that of Northern Alberta is to be found in America." (From a pamphlet issued by the Edmonton Board of Trade, 1890). Seven years additional experience has, if anything, strengthened my views! as above, and I can now say that the cli- mate is the best to be found in America. Cases of consumption, asthma, all chest and throat diseases, rheumatism, ague.and many other diseases, are always greatly benefitted and very often cured by a resi- dence here. Typhoid fever is not preval- ent, in fact we are almost exempt from it. In the town of Edmonton is a first- class, well-equipped hospital, instituted and managed by the Grey Nuns or Sisters of Charity, which is open to persons of all religions. There those who have not the means to pay for medical service are treated free by the medical men of Ed- monton, and the same care, attention, nursing and attendance is given :is ',o pri- vate patients. This has proved a great benefit to many scores of settlers from the surrounding country. The space allotted to me is too limited to permit me to go into more details. After a residence in Edmonton of fifteen years, my experience is that this is a good climate for every class of persons except medical men— it is too healthy. CHAPTER III. Climatic and Meteorological Observa- tions. Knowing from a personal experience of upwards of thirty years that the climate of the Canadian prairies is preferable in almost every respect to that of Great Britain, and that neither would my many fellow old country men nor I exchange that of our new home for that of our na- tive land, it has always been a matter of regret that so many old country peo- ple should be deterred from coming to Canada by a mistaken idea of the severity of its climate. This false idea is due to various causes, amongst which a few may be mentioned. The greatest deterrent of emigration to Canada is that very reliable instrument, 81 :e of mate in reat lany nge na- atter eo- to rity to lay to ent, the thermometer, which frequently rcRis- tcrs a degree of cold in which human life could not erist in the damp climate of Britain. T.ie tremendous difference be- tween the iicat-conductiuK power of a damp and a dry atmosphere cannot be realized by old country people who have never left their native laud. Dry air is the most efficacious non-conductor of heat, and the Canadian, living in, and sum>un(U'(I by, such an atmosphere, is well protected against extreme cold or intense heat by this exemplification of the rule of nature, which produces side by side the poison and its antidote, the disease and its rem- edy ; and the extremes of temperature, with the shade, shelter, food and fuel, and atmospheric conditions required to pro tect her creatures against the elements. Misrepresentation by jealous rivals for immigration is another potent cause. And as strong inducements are needed to cause an intelligent free-born Briton to chango his allegiance to a country inhabited by so large a proportion of the foes of his race, and misruled by them, most un- scrupulous misrepresentations are used, tending to show Canada to be a cold, bleak region, impossible of contented life, a place associated with Siberian exile and penalties, a remote region where the graces and amenities of civilization are unknown. Replying to such a recent slander, the "Brooklyn Eagle," a news- paper representing that honorable and broad-minded class, which is in so regret- table a minority in the United States, says in a recent article : "In climate Ireland has the advantage of the Gulf stream, but it has not the clear, strong, bracing air of the prairies, nor is its soil so deep and! rich and "workable. In the winter the cold is sharp but it has not the damp, search- ing rheumatic chill of the coast. Though new, the towns have all the characteris- tics o'l western towns on our side of the line, saving only their roughness. The people are industrious and average sober and intelligent. They follow modern meth- ods in their agriculture, they support daily papers, their cities have the same police and fire systems, the same telephones, hotels and theatres, the same pavements as ours, and the prosperity of the coun- try is probably not less than our owni land. Villages are increasing, manufac- tures growing * • * ^ and all the con- ditions are such as invite settlement. In the ample room under cloudless skies, with vast ranges awaiting the plow andl scythe md sickle, in quick touch through the railroad with the rest of the world, * * * the men and women who take up homes in the farming belt to the north of us should be prosperous and happy." The only other source of these false im- pressions ol our climate of which mention will be made herein is the continual mis- representation of Canada by means of wintery views and descriptions. From these pictures no doubt many Britons have natundly derived the impression that there is only one season in Canada — > everlasting winter, witii eternal snow ; and that its inhabitants go about their cvery-day avocations perpetually wrapped up in furs. Even the summer dress of (ranadians is burlescjued and inisreprc- A PICTURE SENT IIOMIC TO MAM.V. sented by the vanity of youths, who. new- ly arrived in the country, send homo photographs in which they api^ear in the warlike array of dime novel desperadoes. An amusing instance of this attracted my notice one day wlien passing a photograph- ic studio, outside which, amongst other samples of the art, was exhibited the fig- ure of a blood-curdling desperado dandy got up to kill. Arrayed in the fringed buckskin shirt and leggings and moc- casins of the noble red man, with a full- furred foxskin and tail for his head-dress, stood a figure in the act of discharging a revolver with his right and lunging out with a bowie knife in his left hand. Aj full cartridge belt encircled his waist, in 32 which wore stuck another pistol, a toma- hawk and a wood-chopper's axe. Fire and fury seemed to flash from his visage, in which it took me some time to rccnp- ni/c the very insignificant features of :i lad whose useful, but by no means san- guinary, ordinary occupation was that of assistant to a workinpf tailor in town. Whilst Canadians rejoice in the beauti- ful snow of their bright sparkling winter, and know it to be one of the Rroatcst blessin^fs of nature to their country, more especially in affording such splendid roail.^ during; a season which in some other countries is characterized by slush and mud and downpours of rain and s!cot; yet are they also the fortunate inhabit-mts of a country which eight months in the year can boast of spring, summer and iim inn time, of weather unexcelled by any en- joyed by few other lands. If during tlic?o seasons, when radiant with flowers and in verdure clad, Canada were depicted \n Europe to so large an extent as she has been as the asylum of exiled youths, who wear mid snow and ice the habiliments of an I£s(|niniaux. people across the At- lantic would have a truer idea o fthe coun- try and climate. It having been demonstrated that the extremes of temperature recorded by the tliermonicter should be read in connec- tion with the recorded sensations of the htunan beings who experience these ex- tremes, to enable people of other conn- tries to form a true opinion of the climate of Canada, it now remains to cite a fevvi meteorological observations. The figures are derived from the rccorJ,s of the Dominion goverinneiit's meteor- ological service, to which I was kindly given access by Mr. Alexander Taylor, their observer at Edmonton. TAHLE A. Mean summer (July, August and September), and winter (January, February and March), temperature during periods observed up to 1893 : — •is Place. « V ■ Feet. Edmonton, Alberta 2158 Prince Albert. Saskatchewan 1102 Regina, Assiniboia ,1885 Indian Head, Assiniboia 1024 Brandon, Manitoba 1194 Portage la Prairie, Manitoba 854 Winnipeg, Manitoba 764 3 Mean 2 be a Temperature. 3 S^ Summer. winter. O " o « 53.32 113.29 56.0 10.3 52.55 106. 54.0 0.9 50.27 104.37 50.0 0.0 50.27 103.41 59.9 3.4 49.51 99.57 58.4 0.3 49.57 98.10 61.7 0.7 49.53 97.7 59.7 1.5 TAB,LE B. Temperature and Precipitation during 1893. Temperature. Precipitation in Inches. Maxi- Mini- Mean mum. mum. "^^^n. Rain. Snow. Total. Edmonton, Alberta 88.0—41.0 34.46 11.43 54.2 16.85 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 92.8—51.9 29.18 8.56 33.10 11.86 Regina, Assiniboia 98.0 —.'=4.0 31.35 9.46 30.6 12.52 Indian Head, Assiniboia 98.0—44.0 35.09 8.12 10.5 9.17 Brandon, Manitoba 90.0—44.9 32.83 11.43 29.2 14.35 Portage la Prairie, Manitoba 90.0 —41.0 34.10 16.92 53.2 22.24; Winnipeg, Manitoba 90.0—44.4 32.18 17.59 46.4 22.23 Note. — Ten inches of snow are considered equivalent to one inch of rain. 33 TABLE C. Mean temperature and precipitation at Edmonton during the months of ^rowtli Dm 12 years' observations up to iS'M ; — > 3tal. .85 1.86 .52 in .35 .23 fro May . . June . . July .. August A glance at table A will show the ob- servant reader that though Edmont square miles, consisting of that part of the Dominion lying north of the Sas- katchewan watershed, east of the Rocky Mountains and west of Hudson's Bay. and comprising the Great Mackenzie basin. From the report of the special commit- tee appointed by the Senate of Canada ta enquire into the resources of the region, named by them therein "Canada's Great Reserve," the extracts herein indicated by quotation marks are made. The Mac kenzie and its affluents form a network of waterways, "while its total lacustrine area probably exceeds that of the Eastern Can- adian and American chain of great lakes." " There is river navigation of about 2,750 miles, of which 1,390 miles are suitable for sternwheel steamers, which, with their barges, may carry 300 tons, the remaining 1,360 miles being deep enough for light) draught sea-going steamers."" " With suitable steam craft this river and lake navigation (in all 6,500 miles") may be connected with Victoria and Vancouver by way of the mouth of the Mackenzie, the Arctic Ocean and Behring Straits and Sea ; and it is now connected on the south by 90 miles of wagon road between Athabasca Landing and Edmonton, with Washing Gold on the Saskatcnewan RIvar, Edmonton. Stacking Grain on the Farm of Geo. Hutton, 14 milca from Edmonton, Alberta. H.'i I navigable water in the Saskatchewan river." ARABLE AND PASTORAL LAND. " Within the scope of the coinmittoo's enquiries there is a possible area of OM,- 000 miles fitted f(;r the Rrowtli of pota- toes, 407,00(1 scjuarc miles suitable for wheat." " There is a pastoral area oj 860,000 square miles, "JO.OOO miles of wliicU is open prairie, with occasional proves, the remainder beii.s more or less woocU'd ; 274,000 square miles, includiiiR the prairie, may be considered arable land" " Throughout this arable and pastoral area latitude bears no direct relation t(» summer isothertns, the s])rin(if (lowers and buds of diciduous trees appeaiinuf as carl" north of Grc-at Slave lake as at Winrjipc^. St. Paul and Minneapolis, Kingston or Ottawa, and earlier alun^? the 1\;uh', Liard and some minor western afllucnts of the great Mackenzie basin, where the climate resembles that of Western On- tario." " That the prevailing southwest sum- mer winds of the country in question bring the warmth and moisture which ren- der possible the far northern cereal growth, and sensibly afTect the climate of the region as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far east as the eastern rim of the Mackenzie basin." FISHERIES AND FORESTS. The report goes on to say that the quantity and quality of the fresh water food fishes implies the future supply of a great portion of the North American con- tinent ; and that the seal, walrus, whale and porpoise are found off the mouths of the Mackenzie as well as in its estuary. Further, that "the forest area has upon it a growth of trees well suited for house and ship building, for mining, railway and bridging purposes of great prospec- tive value to the treeless regions of Can- ada and the United States to the south." GOLD AND OTHER MINES. "Of the mines of this vast recion little is known of that part east of the Mac- kenzie river and north of Great Slave lake. Of the western affluents of the Mac- kenzie enough is known to show that on the head waters of the Peace. Liard and Peel rivers there are from 150,000 to 200,- 000 square miles which may be considered auriferous, while Canada possesses west of the Rocky Mountains," at the head waters of these rivers and on the Yukon an immense imtalliiorous area, principal- ly of gold bearing rocks. ( )ther useful, but inferior, minerals are also known to exist, such as coal, iron, salt aufl petrol- emn in inunense quantities. Concerning the latter : " The evidence submitted to your connuittce points to the existence in the A d^asca and Mackenzie valleys of the most extensive petroleum field in America, if nr)t in the world." FURS AND GAME. " The chief present commercial product of the country is its furs, which, as thu region in question is the last great fur preserve of the world, are of very great present and pr()si)ective value, all the liner furs of commerce being there found. This expert evidence given by such men as Professors Dawson, Bell and Macoun, shows the c(nmtry to be also stocked with large ami small game, besides fur-bearing animals. Moose, reindeer, cariboo, elk, Virginia deer, Rocky Mountain goat, Rocky Mountain sheep, musk ox, a very lew straggling specimens of the once numerous buffalo or bison, also bears — black, brown, grizzley and polar — occur in the parts of the region suited to them. There are birds of — aimcjst — every wing fre{|uenting certain places in prodigious mnnbers, of which may be mentioned grebes, loons, gulls, pelicans, ducks in great variety, geese, swans, bitterns, her- ons, cranes, snipe, sandpipers, plover, hawks, eagles, grouse, ptarmigan, ospreys, owls, kingfishers, woodpeckers, fly catch- ers, horned larks, jays, ravens, crows, blackbirds, buntings, many kinds of spar- row, swallows, warblers, thrushes, snow- buntings, snow birds, and the robin (mer- ula migratoria. Linn), all of which breed in the country. The flora is equally varied and interesting to the botanist. " Your committee have reason to be- lieve that a comparison of the capabilities of this extent of country in our own con- tinent exceeds in extent of navigation, area of arable and pastoral lands, valuable fresh water fi'lieries. forests and mines, and in capacity to support population, the continental part of Europe to which we have referred,, (Norway, Sweden, Den- mark. Germany. Austria and a part of France and Russia.) RAILWAY REQUIREMENTS. To the huge and diversified wealth of this region. Edmonton, as has been point- ed out, is the gateway by which fur trad- 36 crs, missionaries and an occasional enter- prising sportsman and prospector find ac- cess to it. Its furs are all brouglit to Edmonton, and those not bcloiiRing to the Hudson's Bay Cc nipany exchanged for mercliandise and the farm products of the country, for whicii there is an in- creasing demand. The people of iuimon- ton regard this trade as of great present importance to them, but believe that in the not far distant future a magnificent market will be created by the utilization of the mineral resources not yet touched in the north. Starting from Edmonton, they expect to see a railway built through the auriferous regions tapped by the up per water of the Athabasca, Peace and Liard rivers— a line of easy construction on the cast of the Rocky Mountains, whicli it would probably be easy to build in the Liard valley through the mountains to the new and rich gold field of Jie Yukon. Such a line running through a gold-fiold ■■; the way, and most of the distance inr.ugh the best arable and pastoral parts >> the region described in the report of i'.ie Senate's Committee, opening up and ) laking likewise available the resources of the illimitable country in navigable com- munication with the mighty rivers crossed by it, deserves the attention of enterpris- ing railway projectors and capitalists. Tho distance from Edmonton to the head waters of (he Yukon, from which steam- boats could ply, would be roughly, flOO miles, of which 700 miles (in the Alberta, Peace River and Liard River countries) would be through an arable, pastoral, a timber and a placer gold mining country. SPORT AND ADVENTURE. To the lover of sport and adventure in wild Kod very imperfectly explored re- gions this great northland offers a field of ample scope. To the mining man, the geologist, the naturalist, the botanist, and even the hardier type of tourist, a journey through this region would be profitable, useful and enjoy. .Me. Regarding big g .me shooting, I am in- debted to Mr. C. G. Co^van, of London- derry, Ireland, a gentleman who has hunt- ed for years in the Rockies about the head waters of the Athabasca and Smoky Riv- ers, for the following : "In my opinion, sportsmen who wish to procure a variety of trophies, that usually measure well, could not do better than visit Edmonton. Here one can obtain everything in the way of provisions, pack animals and ne- cessary equipments for a few months' shooting trip at reasonable prices. The northern region of the Rockies affords the hunter a more varied bag, and I bet- lieve the Atlantic slope gives us better horn measurements than the Pacific side. Wapiti arc shot close to Edmonton. Num- bers of moose are annually killed in dif- ferent parts of the district. For bighorn, Rocky Mountain goat, cariboo and l>ear the entrance of the Yellow Head Pass makes a delightful 'headquarters camp.* A few days' travel from here gives one grand chances at those animals. On two difTercnt occasions I saw as many as fifty and seventy-five sheep grazing together, and *he year before last (1805) I met an Indian who had killed 10 cariboo, 13! sheep, 11 goat, 11 moose, 0 black-tailed deer, and 8 bears in one autumn's hunt within a few days of the Athabasca river." CHAPTER V. To the Golden Yukon-The A(l-Canadian Route. nv I'RANK OIJVKR, M.P. The great gold discoveries and the con- sequent rush of gold seekers has almost in a day made the Yukon district the most talked of region of the world. The Yukon and how to get there is the all- absorbing topic. As the nearest railroad town and the starting pcin^ of two routes to the gold fields, by land and water re- spectively. Edmonton is interested in th«5 prosperity of the mines, and particularly in the means of reaching them. THE YUKON REGION. The Yukon is the region drained by the head waters of the great river of that name, and extends from the Arctic ocean on the north to the 00th parallel, thq rorthcrn boundary of British Columbia, on the south, and from the eastern boun- dary of the United States Territory o£ Alaska at the 141st meridian to the sum- mit of the Rocky Mountains. It is about! 000 miles 'roin north to south, by 60(7 miles from east to west at its southern boundary, and 200 miles at the Arctic coa.st. The principal rivers of this re- gion which form the Yukon are the Lewes, rising within 30 miles of the Pa- cific coast, and flowing northwestward, the Felly rising west of the Rockies and flowing more nearly westward to its junc- tion with the Lewes, at the site of oldl 87 Fort Selkirk, (below this point tlie united river is known as the Yukon), and the Porcupine, which, after rising within lUO miles of the Yukon, near the international boundary and flowing northeastward, reaches a point within eighty miles of the Mackenzie, it then bends sharply and runs southwcstward to join the Yukon at the site of old Fort Yukon in Alaska, about 160 miles west of the international boun- dary. These three sources, and the main river itself, provide the four present prac licablc routes to the Yukon region. The Klondike diggings, which are the centre of attraction, are situated on the river of that name which empties into the Yukon, on its west bank about 200 miles below the junction of the I'elly and Lewes, about 100 miles above, and southwest from, the crossing of the international boundary line, and about 300 miles above the junc- tion f)f the Porcupine and the Yukon. BKIIKING SEA ROUTE. The route by the main stream of the Yukon to the diggings is by ocean vessel from Victoria to St. Michael's on the Alaska coast, 2,750 miles, and from St. Michael's up the Yukon, 1,700 miles, by stern wheel river steamer. This route is OTily open about three months, July, Aug- ust and September, owing to the late date of the pack ice clearing out of the Behring sea, into which the Yukon empties, and the early closing of the river in the lower part of its course in the fall. Owing to the short season, and the long up-streanii river voyage, this route cannot be con- sidered adequate for the trade which is certain to be developed in the Yukon, and it cannot be improved. CHILKOOT PASS ROUTE. The coast route is by ocean vessel fron) Victoria to the head of Dyea Inlet, 1,000 miles. Thence 35 miles over mountains 3,500 feet high by the Chilkoot or White passes. Packing over these passes has hitherto been on men's backs at a cost of 15c. to 20c. a pound. At present, owiiiK' to the rush there is a congestion of freight there which will absolutely pre- vent the largest part of what is offered from being taken across. Owing to the height of the mountain pass, and its ex- posed nature, the weather on it is very severe, and the climb is very steep. So much so that it is absolutely impossible for any but a trained mountain packer to take supplies over it. This route has never been used except for miners going in and taking a small supply of goods and provisions for themselves. The principal part of the regular supplies of the region arc taken in by the mouth of the Yukon. It is said that improvements have been made in the trail over the pass so thab horses can be used, but the rate for pack- ing IS .stdl quoted at J5c. a pound for the 35 mdes. It is doubtful if this route can ever be improved sutliciciitly to make it suitable for ordinary coinnicrcc. so that supplies can be taken in at such rates as will bring the cost of living of a large population down to a figure that will al- low mines yielding ordinary pay to be worked. At the northern end of the pass the waters ()f the Lewes are entered upon at Lal the diiTicult part of the route— is in Unit- ed States territory, will tend very greatly against its ever being adoptcl A BETTER AND ALL-CANADIAN ROUTE NEEDED. Although the two routes above men- tioned are the ones now being almost solely used they are not of such a nature owing to physical difUculties as to permit of the i)roper and full development of thQ Yukon region by their use. The known and worked gold-bea'-iiig placer area of the Yukon is larger than that of any other single region on earth. Throughout the greater part of this groat area the pay is not so very large. But it is large enough to cause the profitable employment of a great deal of labor, provided supplies can be furnished cheaply. Indeed, cost of the supplies not gold-bearing area, is what really limits the gold production of the Yukon. The area is practically unlimited if the supplies are cheap. But they can never be cheap if the Chilkoot pass or Behring sea routes have to be depended on. Canada must get a cheaper and bet- ter route to the Yukon gold fields than either of these, if tliose gold fields are to 38 be fully dcvclcjpcd to the profit of Can- ada. Besides, the twcj routes are objec- tionable from a Canadian standijoint from the fact that if dependent on them Can- ada is doubly cut ofT from the Yukon by an ocean voyage of from one to three thousand miles and by intervening United States territory. It goes witiiont saying that under such circumstances Canada'.^ hold on the Yukon will always be slight and difficult , and costly out of all pro- I)ortion to liie commercial advantages to be derived. An all-Canadian, all the year round, all- land route to the Yukon is the great ne- cessity of Canada at the present tiiue in order to hold political and commercial supremacy in this the most valuable part < o < M ?1 O — r =: C 3 m a 3 o o 3 3* II n 40 Miles. Edmonton to Poacc river crossiii); .. "JGU Crossing to Forks of Nelson 240 Forks to Junction of Nelson and Liard l-i" Nelson to Dease up Liard l')<> Dcasc to Felly ITi) Pctly ti) junction with Lewes -'-'^ Junction to Klondike -•"> Total 1370 EDMONTON TO PEACE RIVER. From JCdnionton to Peace river and on to the forks of the Nelson a number of routes may be taken, and the distance <;iven above may be somewhat shortened However, not to confuse, the best known will be taken, and Peace river crossing will be considered as an objective point The Peace has to be crossed in any case. This part of the country has been travel- led and mapped by Prof. Dawson, director of the Dominion geological survey, and his reports and maps are procurable from the geological department, Ottawa. The route at present generally taken by the Peace river traders, who' outfit at Edmon- ton, is by wagon road to Athabasca Land- ing, 90 miles. At the Landing their freight is transferred to boats which are taken up the Athabasca, Lesser Slave river and Lesser Slave lake. Their horses are driven on the south side of the Atha- basca to the mouth of Lesser Slave river, 4m miles. Then they are swum across the Athabasca, and taken along the north side of Lesser Slave river, 40 miles, and along the north side of Lesser Slave lake, 85 miles. At the Hudson's Bay fort, at the west end of Lesser Slave lake, the traders transfer their goods to carts, which aro taken by road, 'iO miles, to the crossing of Peace river at the junction of the Smoky. If horses are to be packed through this route can be shortened by taking the' wagon road through St. Albert to the site of Fort Assiniboine, on the Athabasca, 85 miles, then northwest to the head of Les- ser Slave lake, 115 miles, and by the cart road to Peace river crossing. This route has not been travelled for some years, and possibly better time would be made at present by taking the Landing trail. There is a small settlement near the crossing of Peace river, and a boat couUl be had there to cross in, while horses would have to swim. Information and' guides for a further stretch of the journey could be secured there. PEACE RIVER TO NELSON RIVER. From Peace river crossing the country is mixed prairie and timber westward" along the north side of the I'eacc to Pino river, 100 miles west of the crossing. There is a good trail the whole of this dis- tance. On reaching I'ine river the direct course would be to turn northwestward, along its east bank, between its waters and those of the east branch of the Nel- son. This would make the distance from the point at which Pine river was reached to the forks of the Nelson 140 miles, or from Peace river crossing 24<) miles. In- formation could be had at Peace river crossing, Dunvcgan or Fort St. John as to the practicability of this direct route, of which there is very little doubt. In V. Ogilvie's report of his trip from the Nelson to the Peace he mentions be- ing told by a Nelson river Indian that he had gone up the east branch of the Nel- son to the head of canoe navigation on it and thence to Fort St. John he took four days on foot, probably 50 or 75 miles. In this distance he crossed a ridge of heavily timbered hills. This would indicate that the greater part of the distance was not heavily timbered, and therefore passable for pack horses. A single belt of timber could easily be cut through. If, however, this route was found to be inadvisable to be followed, the trail still good could be followed across Pine river to Fort St. John and on to Halfway river, 40 miles. The Indians have a good horse trail up Halfway river to boat naviga- tion on the west branch of the Nelson, about four or five days' travel with pack horses, which would not be more than 100 miles. W. Gust and H. F. Davis, when trading at Roeky Mountain portage, a short distance west of Halfway river, were told by Indians of this trail, and W. Ogilvie, D. L. S., who came up the Nel- son and packed from the west branch toi Fort St. John in October of 1891. men- tions it in his official report. He did not travel by it, as he left the Nelson before he got as far up as where the trail strikes, but after leaving the river several days he fell into other trails taking thqi same general course. It may, therefore, be taken as established beyond question that an open pack trail exists from Ed- monton to boat navigation on the west branch of the Nelson, by way of St. John, and Halfway river, the total distance be- ing 500 miles. if it were found necessary to go to Fort St. John in order to reacli the Nelson river, it would be considerably shorter to \ Roadway in the Bush, Edmonton. JJ ■■--'■>-" ■*' jy. ::^^'^ A Stretch of Country on the Sturgton River, la miles North of Edmonton. 42 take a direct pack trail wiiich goes !)}• way of Lake St. Ann, Sturgeon lake, Smoky, river and Grand Prairie, crossing the Peace at Fort St. John, instead of at the mouth of the Smoky, as before suggested. This route was followed by Henry Mc- Leod, C. E., when employed by the Cana- dian government to explore the South Pine river pass for the C. P. K. in com- ing from the pass to Edmonton, and is shown on the geological survey maps ac- companying Prof. Dawson's report. GOLD ON PEACE RIVER. In this connection it may be mentioned that any part of the Peace river region is suitable for horses to winter out. Con- siderable gold has been washed from the bars near Fort St. John. At the Forks ofi the Peace, easily accessible from Fort St. John, and about 100 miles further west, a very rich bar was worked a number of years ago by W. Cust and E. F. Carey. Between 50 and 75 miles west of this point on the Ominica branch of the Findlay, which is the north fork of the Peace, good diggings are now being worked. When struck first they were very rich, and owing to the cost of getting in supplies from the coast, which hitherto has been the only route, have never been worked out. From the mouth of the Findlay to the Ominica mines is a diffi- cult piece of mountain country, but recent rich finds are reported from it. No doubt this region could be worked more profit- ably than ever by taking in supplies from this side of the mountains. NELSON RIVER. That there is good boat na7i!:;atiot' down the west branch of the Neh^n adniilo o. no doubt. Ogilvie started up t.l;e Nelson about Sept. 10th, and altho.t^h he suf- fered many unnecessary delays he left the upper part of the west branch, within 100 miles of Fort St. John, on Oct. 7. the lanc^ distance being about 190 miles, and no portages having been made. As this was the season of low water this proves the suitability of the river for down stream; navigation. In fact, the Indians u.,e the Nelson and the Halfway rivers as a canoe route, tiicre being a ■ ortage of 25 miles between them at a certain point. A party of miners took this route from Peace river to the Liard about 1873. They went up Halfway river in the fall, crossed the portage in the winter and went down the Nelson in the spring. As to the suitability of the country from the Peace to the west branch of the Nel- son for packing through, Mr. Ogilvie, in his report, and J. R. Brenton, of Edmon'.- ton, who accompanied him, speak of the timber as being scrubby and the ground generally firm, as it naturally must be, be- ing well-drained and on the rise of the foot hills of the Rockies. On reaching either the east or west branch of the Nelson with pack horses tlie packs could be lightened on to boats or raft.s, and the journey to the mouth of the Nelson made very easy on the horses by this means. Certainly this could be done with advantage from the Forks down, about 120 miles by land, and prob- ably from 40 to 50 miles above the Forks on either branch. Ogilvie, bein;^ confin- ed to the river in his travels, ^ivcs no idea as to the possibility of land tiavel along the Nelson. Certainly the-e is r.o such prairie as on Peace rf/cr. anl rhe timber becomes larger with the distance north. But the Nelson Hovvs aF>'ic the easterly base of the foot hills of the Roi-k- ies, for its whole length. Geo. Suther- land, of Stony Plain, who li/ed a'. Pctts Liard and Nelson for some year;;, has been in these foot hills, and he describcF the slope towards the Nelson as dry ground, with scrubby timber. '3orieFtic cattle are kept at both Liard lad r.'f!!on, and in the gardens at those oo.sts all the vegetables that can be grown at i'.dircn- ton were grown in the grea:=3t perfcticn. Horses were not in general u?c by the In- dians of the district, but some were used, and the Hudson's Bay Company purchas- ed several for use at the posts. In earlier times the Indians had more hir.ies, but owing to lack of care in hard winters many had died off. Murdoch McLeod, of Belmont, also lived several years at Fort Liard. and visited Fort Nelson on the Nelson and Fort Halkett jn the L'ard. He describes the country as seen to the west and south from both livers .is con- sisting of rounded timbered liilh. No rugged mountains being ni sight, lentil Fort Halkett, which was at the ent'ance to the Rockies, was reached. He killed a wood buffalo near the ju'iction of the Nelson and Liard. Bishop G'andin. of St. Albert, who resided at Fort Liard many years ago, recalls that King Beau- lieu brought horses across country fromi Vermillion, on Peace river, to Liard. This, however, is a different route from that above sketched, and shows that there is a choice of routes. Mr. McLeod travelled once from Fort Liard to Dunvegan on. I i 43 auntry from of the Nel- Ogilvie, in of Edmon'.- aeak of the the ground nust be, be- rise of the 5t or west ack horses •n to boats e mouth of the horses could be the Forks and prob- the Forks !'g cunfin- ar'vcs no and travel lie-e is DO ', an I rhe e distance •■il-^'-ic- the tile Ro.'k- 3. Suther- i a-. Pt'tts i^erirs, l-as describe, o 1 as dry 'XojMl'ftic d ^Vifon, Its nil the ^.^'^lr.cn- erfc'.-tion. y the Jn- erc used, purchas- n earlier r.ics, but whit-ers Leod, of rit Fort on the 0 IJard. 1 to the IS con- s. No It, i.ntil ent'ance c- killed I of the Klin, of t Liard ET Beau- ry fromi d. This, •m that ere is a ravelled gan on I ^'eace river and back in winter and passed through partly open country most of the way. This route might, however, be too wet for use in summer. All parties agree as to the possibility of a wagon road be- ing made at very moderate expense from Edmonton to the mouth of the Nelson, and then westward up the Liaid valley at least to the base of the Rockies. Cer- tainly a cattle and pack trail anl sleigh road could be cut out very ch-^HpIy, the only question being as to whether the country is already passable jr ncr. Mr. Sutherland mentions that Chilkat i.Mii;.ns from the Pacific coast sometimes came to Fort Liard to trade. Their rou».c was down the Liard river, but he did n. I knt w how long the trip took. However, it is further proof as to the prT-^-'cahility of this route through the mountains LIARD RIVER. On reaching the junction of the Nelson with the Liard — 620 miles from Edinon- ton by direct route — the route wnu'f! turr nearly due west along the latter stream until the Rocky Mountains were passed. R. G. McConnell, of the geological sur- rey, explored the Liard between the mouth of the Nelson and the mouth oil the Dease, 160 miles, in the summer of 1887, coming down stream in a boat. His report and maps are published by the Dominion geological survey. The Liard was used as a boat route from the Mac- kenzie, at Fort Simpson, to the Pelly branch of the Yukon, by the Hudson's Bay Company for many years. But ow- ing to the Indians and their trade being! drawn away from the Pelly river post by the establishment of traders on the Pacific coast, and from the Liard by the compe- tition of traders on Peace river, and also partly owing to the difficulties of naviga- tion on the Liard, the Pelly and Upper Liard posts were abandoned. This still further caused the Indians to desert the district, so thrt for many years past it has been very little known and travelled. Mc- Cullough and Thibert ascended it in 1871- 72, and struck the rich Cassiar diggings at the head of its Dease river branch in northern British Columbia. McConnell mentions several bars in the part between the Rockies and Dease river having been profitably worked. He specially mentions Porcupine bar, 30 miles below the mouth of the Dease and a bar at the mouth of Rabbit river, about 26 miles further down. The navigation of the river is consider- ably impeded by rapids, which have to be passed by portages. But it is a passable route if none better offered. If necessary, as in coming down the Nelson, a pack train could lighten its loads by using boats on the navigable stretches of the river and the horses on the longer port- ages. Speaking of the nature of the country, Mr. McConnell describes it as generally well wooded, the hills a long distance from the river and not rugged. The Rockies are only a single, narrow, range, and are passed on the river in a few minutes in good water, near Fort Halkett, which is just west of the moun- tains and about 7(1 miles above the junction of the Nelson. Mr. McConnell speaks of the unwooded portions of the terraced banks of the river being covered with as luxuriant a growth of grasses and vetches as he had ever seen in any pa'-t of the country. Going over all the information obtain- able as to this part of the route, which includes the crossing of the Rocky Moun- tains, the only possible obstacle to pack and cattle travel at present would be the timber, which might require to be cut through in places. On the other hand, unless the conditions are very different from what they are elsewhere in the Northwest, the timber would not forni any very serious objection. Feed for ani- mals must certainly exist all along, which is the main consideration, and the climate certainly cannot be severe. CASSIAR. Dease river enters the Liard from the south, 160 miles above the mouth of the Nelson. From the Liard to Thibert and McDame creeks, which are the principal mines in the Cassiar district of British Columbia, is less than 100 miles, and prac- ticable either by pack trail or canoe. FRANCES LAKE AND PORTAGE. From the mouth of the Dease to Pelly river was explored by Prof. Dawson, di- rector of the geological survey of Canada, in 1887. The distance to the beginning of the portage from Frances lake to the Pelly is about 120 miles. This was made by canoe, and the navigation is not quite as difficult as in the part of the Liard from Dease river down. Prof. Dawson men- tions the existence of galena bearing sil- ver a few miles above the junction of thel Dease. He describes the valley of the river and of Frances lake as wide and tha back country as gently rolling, in some places rising into rounded hills. The timber is not large, and in some places is scattered on sandy soil. There is a good 44 growth of grass, aiul hay meadows arc not infrequent. The distance from Frances lake to Pelly river is about 50 miles. Tho greater part of tliis can be made in canoes up Finlayson creek to the lake of the same name and down Campbell creek. The divide crossed in this distance is somewhat mountainous, but "no very high summits were seen, the elevations being as a rule rounded and regular in outline, and forming broad, plateau-like areas." The climate becomes less moist as Frances lake is left, and dry, gravelly terraced Hats are not uncommon. "Grassy swamps are found in a number of places, and a good growth of grass is al.';o met with, where areas have been de- nuded of forests by .mccessive fires, so that should it ever become desirable to use horses on this portage they might be maintained without diffi' 'tlty." P. C. Pambrun, of Battleford, was thd Hudson's Bay officer in charge of Frances lake and Pelly bank post3 a number of years ago. He says the chief difficulty in the way of a pack train would be the heavy timber along 'he Nelson atid Irwer part of the Liard. The country is rugged but the ground is solid, with very few muskegs. There is plenty of grass along the route, but being somewhat different from that of the prairie, horses used to the prairie grass will not do as well on it. Horses native to that country would win- ter out on the Liard, but horses taken through from the plains would have to be fed hay. Horses taken from the plains could winter well on the Peace river prairies. Plenty of hay can be cut at the site of Fort Halkett and at Frances lake. Domestic cattle were kept at the former post by the Hudson's Bay company. The snow is never very deep at Fort Plalkett, as the Chinook reaches there in the winter time. .\i Frances lake winter lasts from Nov. 15th to May 1st. Wild fowl come about May 15th. It is no colder in win- ter at Halkett or Frances lake than at Ed- monton, but across the divide on the Pelly it is much colder. Prof. Dawson mentions finding colors of gold at the mouth of Finlayson river, the i)oint at which Frances lake is left fon the Pelly, anrl being told that the bar hart been worked for a short time by sonui miners from Cassiar who made *8 to $!) a day. Gold quartz veins were found on both sides of Frances like and were larg- est in the canon near the mouth of Fin- layson river on I lie west side of the lake. Quartz from the east side,' containing iron and copper pyrites, also contained gold. Prof. Dawson also mentions that in the vicinity of Frances lake wild roses in bloom were abundant in June. The forest growth resembled that of interior British Columbia. Although the weather was showery when he was there, he con- sidered that neither the snow nor rainfall was very great. The elevation of Frances lake above the scp is -,577 feet. The height of the waterslu'd between the wat- ers of the Liard and T'elly is I?, 150 feet. PELLY RIVER. Prof. Dawson reached Pelly river on July 29th, 1887. The elevation above the sea at this point was found to be 2,yti5 feet. The river is 327 feet wide, with a middle depth at that date of 7 feet. The professor believed it to be navigable for steamboats at that point and for a con- siderable distance further up the lakes in which it heads. In going down he found it suitable for steamboat navigation and uninterrupted, except by two rapids. The first was at the mouth of Hoole river, about 20 miles below the portage. This rapid might be run safely, but can be avoided by a short, easy portage. Another rapid occurs about ten miles further down in Hoole canon. This rapid must be avoided by a portage half a mile in length. From this point there is uninter- rupted steamboat navigation to the sea. The land distance, by the Pelly, from) the Frances lake portage to the junction with the Lewes is about 200 miles, and the water distance 320 miles. The coun- try is not rugged, the timber is not large, and niany open grassy slopes arc men- tioned along the banks. The climate is evidently more moderate than in the Klondike region, and apparently there is no reason why pack horses or loose cat- tle should not be driven through this region without difficulty. Cattle and horses have already been driven to the mines from the Chilkat pass down the Lewes, where the country is much more rugged than on the Pelly. In any case, with a large navigable stream flowing di- rectly to the mines, once men were at the) Pelly rivei the difficulties of reaching the Klondike diggings, with either cattle or' freight, would be over, ])rovided the time of year were suitable. If the season were too late for navigation, Frances lake is evidently a better wintering place than anywhere on the Yukon waters, and the surrounding country offers as good a field for the prospector as any other part oi the gold region. Spruce up to two feet through is found I tioiis that wild roses unc. The >f interior c weather ^ he con- ;>r rainfall f Frances et. The the wat- 50 feet. river on ibovc the be 2,905 2, with a eet. The gable for r a con- lakes in he found tion and Is. The le river, ?e. This can be Another ler down" must be mile iti uninter- e sea. ly, ironxi junction lies, and le coun- ot large, re men- imate is in the there is ose cat- gh thii^ tie and to the ivvn the h more ly case, zing di- 2 at thq ing the Utle 01^ he time in were lake is e than tnd the a field 3art ol 46 found at intervals all along the Pelly, but is not as abundant on the upper as on the lower part of the river. GOLD. "As in the case of the Upper Liard and F" ranees rivers, quartz derived from veins is an abundant constituent of the gravel bars of the Pelly, and numerous small quartz veins were observed in the rocks in many places." Small colors oi gold may be found in almost any suitable lo- cality along the river, and heavy colors in considerable number were found at the mouth of Hoole river. Thomas Boswell informed Prof. Daw- son that he had worked bars on Ross river, which comes into the Pelly from the north, for $18 a day. Munro ancf Langtry had worked at Granite canon, on the Pelly, at $10 to $20 a day per man. The head waters of the Macmillan and Ross rivers which probably interlock with those of Stewart river, and of Pelly river itself, are yet unprospected. From the junction of the Pelly with the Lewes, about 200 miles from the Frances lake portage, to the Klondike diggings, the Pelly river and Chilkoot pass routes, whether by land or water, would be the same and the distance would be about 200 miles, the mouth of the gold-bearinj^ Stewart river being passed on the way. GOOD TRAIL NEEDED. There is very little doubt that the route from Edmontoin to Pelly river, as above sketched, is possible for pack horses and cattle at the present time. But any ques- tion as to its possibility is not enough- There should not only be a route, but it should be a good route. It should be as short and as good as the conditions ad- mit of. It is only by this route that the. cattle interests of the Territories can hope to reap any benefit from the development of the Yukon. Business for the cattlemen) means business for those who sell to them, and therefore business for every one east of the mountains. Although the coast route has the advantage of cheap navigation for over half the way, the Ed- tnonton route has the advantage of start- ing directly from a source of cheap food supply, and of passing through a coun- try where cattle or pack horses will sup- port themselves. Prompt action on the part of the Canadian government in open- ing this trail through this fall would throw a large share of next season's Yukor» trade directly into Canadian hands. It is no further from Edmonton to Pelly river than it is from Winnipeg to Edmonton by the Saskatchewan cart trail. The route can be made as easy for pack horses as the Saskatchewan trail was for carts. If it were the distance from Edmonton could be made in GO days. A pack horse will carry 200 to 300 pounds, and in a traim one man can manage five horses, travel- ling 15 miles a day, always provided the trail is good. The low value of horses suitable for packing in the Territories now gives a great advantage to the use of this route. THE MACKENZIE ROUTE. While the land route by way of Liard river has the advantage as a cattle trail and as offering the longest possible season in which miners can get in or out of tlid Yukon region, the water route by the Mackenzie offers very much greater pres- ent advantages in the way of taking in large quantities of supplies at low cost. The navigable water system of the Mackenzie extends north and northwestward from Athabasca landing — which is 90 miles north of Edmonton and connected by wagon road — so that the portage from the Mackenzie near its mouth to the Porcu- pine branch of the Yukon is directly nortlil of the Chilkoot pass. The Mackenzie river itself lies close along the northeast- erly side of the Yukon district, with the Rocky Mountains narrowed to a single range between. Rivers flowing into the Mackenzie from the west all along its course for a thousand miles interlock at their heads in many cases with the head waters of the Yukon. The Porcupine at its greatest northeasterly bend is within 80 miles of the Mackenzie at the head of the delta into which it divides before en- tering the Arctic sea. Across this port- age the Hudson's Bay company have for many years carried on their Yukon trade, and still do so. It is by this route that most of the Edmonton men who have gone north intend to reach the Yukon, The Hudson's Bay company have always portaged their goods in winter with dogs, but a canoe route a few miles to the north of the Hudson's Bay Co.'s portage has been used occasionally win." required in summer. This route was used by R. G. McConnell, of theDominion geologi- cal survey, who used it to take his boat from the Mackenzie to the Porcupine, and appears on his map issued by the geologi- cal survey. The approximate distance which would have to be made by canoes and short portages from flat-boat or steamer navigation on the Mackenzie side H a- ■ t M O H c U «s 0 (Q c n 0 n a 2 3 " »• f a 2"- '! n • •• ■< I* ^ a 0 a = 3 0- n ^ a It 0 ? c o n « • S IB a ' o. n . 0 a A 5 * ' a a A a A a 0 47 to like navifiation on the Yukon side is about 36 miles. Tliis is the only serious difficulty on the whole route, and cannot be considered as a very serious one. The route by sections is as follows : — EDMONTON TO ATHABASCA LANDING— 90 MILES. This is a wagon road, over which thous- ands of tons of freight is h.iulod. Tlu' rate is 75c. to $1 p^r hundred pounds. LANDING TO GRAND RAPIDS-1G7 MILES. This is down the Atiiabasca in steam- boat navigation. The II. B. Co. have a stern wheel steamer, 28 feet beam, 135 feet keel, on this stretch, but only for their own use. Boats for the trip down tne Mackenzie must be built at the Landing. The lum- ber may be whip-sawed there or freighted out from Edmonton. If merely large carrying capacity is required, flat boats are built. These are generally 45 feet long, 8 feet wide at the bottom and 11 feet at top in the centre, and 3^ feet deep. Such a boat costs $75 to $100, will carry ten tons, and can be handled, except in rapids, by three men. If sailing qualitios are wanted, York boats are built. These cost up to $300 for eight tons capa- city. When flat boats are used an extra crew of three men each are hired to hcli* to take the boat through the Grand and succeeding rapids. These men are paid $25 for their trip to Fort McMurray at the foot of the rapids, and return, with, board until they get home. The speed made by a flat boat depends on the stage of the water. In high water the run to^ Grand Rapids can be made in two and a half days. GRAND RAPIDS TO McMURRAY-^ 87 MILES. This stretch is not navigable for steam- ers. At Grand Rapids the flat boat loads are portaged half a mile, and the boats let down the rapid by a line. The succeeding rapids are run without portaging, unless in very low water. The time from the foot of Grand Rapids to McMurray ia' good water is one and a half days. McMURRAY TO SMITH LANDING —287 MILES. Good steamboat navigation all the way. The H. B. Co. have a stern wheel steam- er, 24 feet beam, 130 feet keel, on this stretch. The only difficulty for flat boats is the run across part of Lake Athabasca, 15 miles, to I'^ort Chipcwyan, and ten miles along the shore after leaving Chipe- wyan, to tlie entrance of Slave river. A (luick passage here depends on a fair wind. SMITH PORTAGE-10 MILES. From Smith Landing there is 1*5 miles of bad rapids, in passing which five port- ages of l)oats and cargoes have to be made. Guides and help for those portages can be procured in the adioii-iiig half- breed settlement. Block and tackle is used to haul the boats over the portages. The Hudson's Bay Coini)any haul their freight around the ra|)i(ls by oxen over a lt)-mile wagon road. The settlers charge 50c. a hundred for any freight they haul across the portage. They are generally only employed by parties coining tip stream. FORT S^IITH TO PEEL'S RIVER- 1,287 MILES. There is no break in the navigation for this distance. The Hudson's Bay Co. run a screw steamer, 11 feet beam. 00 feet keel, 14 feet depth on this route. The down trip takes S days and the return 22. Thcrii is good flat boat n.ivigation, 101 miles, from Fort Smith to Rcsoluti(Tn on the shore of Great Slave lake. Resolution to Providence, along the south shore of Great Slave lake, KiS miles, dilTicult for flat boats except with fair breeze. From Providence down the Mackenzie proper to Simpson, 161 miles ; to Wrigley, 13G ; to Norman, 184 : to Good Hope. 174 ; to Peel's river, 252 ; up Peel river to Fort Macpherson, 18 miles, in slow current. PEEL RIVER PORTAGE. Rat river comes into Peel river from the west, only about twelve miles above the eittrance of the Peel into the ?.T 'ckenzie delta. Flat boats cm ' '• cakcn up this river some miles. Then the canoe route must be taken for 30 mlns to flat boat ui steamboat navigation on Bell's river, which enters the Porcupine from the northeast, at its most easterly bend. New boats would probably have to be built on Bell's river for the voyage down the Por- cupine : or canoes could be taken up the Porcupine by the more direct route to the gold fields. From Bell's river to the junction of the Porcupine with the Yu- kon, 400 miles, can be run in flat boats in from fiye to eight days. To this point the whole journey is down stream except the 4H 35 miles between the Mackenzie and Por- cupine. As a cheap freiglit route this couM hardly he surpassed. The chief objection to it is that the season is vc-y shoit, but no shnrttr than on the Behring '■(.a route. Great Slave lake cannot generally be crossed before July 1st, and the Torcupiiie should be reached by the nuddl-j of Sep- tember. This short season could be remedied to some extent by the use of steaiiUTs to tow flat boats quickly down the Mackenzie and a steamer on the 'i iikon to tcnv boats up the 30t) miles from the mouth of the Porcupine to the Klondike. By the usv? of steamers, the improvement of the portages at the (irand Rapids and Fort Smitli rapids, and by improvements on the y5-mile portage from the Macken- zie to the Porcupine this would become the principal heavy freight route until supplanted by a through railway. For expert caiioc men it oiifers great advan- tages as it is. It is more than likely that short practicable canoe routes exist from the Mackenzie to the head waters of the gold-bearing streams of the Yukon, luni- (Ireds of miles further south than the Peel river portage. Note.— From ir)th July to 30th August, 1897 twenty-five men left for the Yukon by the overland, and seventy-seven by the water route. CHAPTER VI. Towns and Villages. EDMONTON. Thii chief, and only incorporated town in tlie district is that of Edmonton, to which allusion has frequently been made in this publication. To write the history of this town would be to relate that ofthci whole district. The site was selected by the original fur trading pioneers of the country, and on the amalgamation of the two great rival fur companies — the North- west of Montreal, and the Hudson's Bay of England — their united establishments became Fort Edmonton. This became) for the purposes of the fur traders, who had tried and proved every natural route and facility, their headquarters for their operations in the Upper Saskatchewan country and the regions naturally tribu- tary, by reason of easy routes of travel, thereto. From the mouth of the Colum- bia to the Big Bend by canoe, thence on foot or horseback up the Canoe River valley through the .Athabasca Pass to Jas- per House, thence by canoe d(jwn the Athabasca river to Fort Assiniboine, from there to lulmotiton by land, and taking] canoe at Edmonton on down the Sas- katchewan across Lake Wiiniipeg and| down stream to York Factory on Hud- son's Bay, from thence returning in like manner, was a journey ammally for a long period of years made by the hardy ol'ti- cers of the fur companies. The trade of Lesser Slave Lake and the region now known as Southern Alberta was also con- trolled from Edmonton, which became by reason of this position and the rich- ness of the fur-bearing region , tappect from it, the most important fur trading station on the plains of Rupert's Land^ and always commanded by one of the ablest administrators of the Hudson's Bay Company. Employees leaving the great company's service began settling in the best spots of the district. Missionaries established themselves at stations, each of which be- came the nucleus of a little settlement ot fishermen and buffalo hunters, who culti- vated small patches of ground. Next came gold miners in the early .sixties ; some of them commenced farm- ing. And then, in anticipation of the con- struction of a transcontinental line of railway, which, as planned to run on the line of least resistance up the Saskatche- wan valley, everyone predicted must pass through the Edmonton country, came Canadian settlers in the seventies and eighties. The pioneer of a new country comes to it that he fnay take and havei his pick and choice of whatever may be to his mind the best part of the country ; so these early Canadian pioneer agricul- turalists, passing through or from Mani- toba, trekked across the thousand miles of unsettled prairie between Winnipeg and Edmonton, and locating in the Upper Saskatchewan valley, formed r. settlement which in 1890 was deemed of importance sufficient to be tapped and served by a branch northward from the main line of the Canadian Pacific railway at Calgary. By this time east of the Hudson's Bay/ Fort had arisen a prosperous commercial village, with steam saw and grist mills. Unfortunately for the town, the holders of the railway charter saw fit to terminate their line not at the bank of the Sas- katchewan river, but at the top of the bank of the Saskatchewan valley, here over a mile wide and 200 feet deep, an<^ there establish a townsite of their own named South Edmonton, immediately op- 4W /v,f ^•nf- positc the old town of IMinonton. Ihit fctcps arc now bciiin taken to ameliorate- tile siluatioii hy the eotnniencetneiit of the '^ouslriietion this Heason ( 1N!I7 i of a conihined truOic and railway bridge across the Saskal- I hew. it at Ivltnonton. The main diflkulty of securing for Kd- nionton uninterrupted railway coinniuiii- catitjn, that of crossinjjf the SasUatidiewaii, bciiiK thus about to be removed, it is con- fidently expected that railway facilities) commensurate with the importance of the large settlements and interests north of the Saskatchewan will soon be afTorded. The town of Edmonton has a present (lopulation of from 1,200 to 1,500. It is the judicial and legal centre of Northern Al- berta. In it are established the Dominion government's land and registry offices, also customs and excise ofTices. Branches of the Imperial Bank of Canada and of La Banque Jacques Cartier do extensive busi- ness here. Many financial and insurance companies are represented. It is, how- ever, above all important as a commer- cial centre for the supply, not only of the settlements and smaller towns through' ut the district, but also of distant settlem; nts and missionary and fur trading stations in the interior. The leading merchants of Edmonton are regarded as amongst the most substantial business men of tlie West, and to their integrity, enterprise and public spirit are very largely to be ascribed the progress and development of the country at large. The clercial, legal and medical profes- sions are ably and amply represented. An architect, a civil engineer and a land surveyor also practice their professions. A steam grist and saw mill, and sasli) and door factory ; also contractors, build- ers and artisans and mechanics of every ordinary kind are established in the town. There are brickyards, coal mines, and even gold diggings within the incorporat- ed limits, as well as the government but- ter factory and Mr. Gallagher's cold stor- age warehouse on its confines. It has a telephone and electric light service, a well-equipped fire brigade, a municipal constable and a detachment of the Northwest Mounted Police. There are three good hotels, three res- taurants, and several boarding houses ; also livery stables. Churches of all denominations repre- sented in the district, fine public schools and a boarding school presided over by the Rev. Sisters Companions of Jesus, and, moreover, a splendid public hospital. iindor the direction of the Sisters of Char- ity, are all to be found in l-Mmonton. Persons coming lo I'.ilmonton will find all the comforts, conveniences, and amen- ities of civilization, as well as the oppor- tunity of buying or selling all sorts of commodities. The steamboats plying on the Sask.itch- cwan, and calling at lulmonton, may be hero mentioned. The largest of these is the Hudson's Bay Co.'s stcrnwhccler, the " Northwest," of about .'loo tons, plying regularly as a freight and passenger boat between Edmonton and Prince Albert and intermediate points. The next is the " Minnow," of Fort Saskatchewan, a small stern-wheeler, owned by Lamoureux brothers, plying as freight offers up as far as Goose Encampment in the lumber and mining business, and occasionally as f.ir below as Battleford with coal, produce and other freight. One of the American mining firms of South Edmonton has re- cently purchased a small screw i)ropcller tug boat named the " Upas," from D. R. Eraser & Co., lumber merchants of Ed- monton. Mr. Gainer owns and operates a tiny stern-wheeler, the " Daisy Bell." engaged in carrying supplies to and liad- ing V ■ h the miners scattered up and down the river. In Edmonton is published a bi-weekly, " The Edmonton Bulletin." of which Frank Oliver. M. P., is the editor an4 proprietor. Beginning in 1880 as a week- ly, enjoying the unique distinction of be- ing perhaps the smallest newspaper in the world, the paper has grown in size and influence with the settlement of the dis- trict, in the development of which it has been one of the most important factors. The honesty, ability and courageous inde- pendence of its editor have given the " Bulletin " a reputation and an influence* which are not confined to the district in which it is published, Init extends beyond the Territories and through the Domin- ion. SOUTH EDMONTON. This busy and growing town, which has not yet become incorporated, claims a population of 700. It owes its origin to the Calgary & Edmonton Railway Com- pany, in 1891, making the site its termin- us, in consequence of which a patent pro- cess grist mill of 75 barrels daily capacity, with an elevator attached, was established in it. This was followed by the erection of a large oatmeal mill and elevator by Messrs. Brackman & Kerr, of Victoria, B. C, whose prize-winning products are Rural Beauty in Edmonton. 8t«am«r "North-Wast ' on tha Saakatchawan RIvar, Edmonton. 51 Kir ' ^ -«».»; S I ; famous throughout America. This firm is about to erect another elevator to en- able them to keep pace with their rapidly increasing business, under Mr. T. W. Lines. As the transhipping point of the outward and inward railway freight of the northern portions of the district South Edmonton is of much importance ; and stores representing all lines of business flourish therein. There is one resident lawyer, two surveyors, loan and insurance conipanies's agents, a sub-branch uf La Banque Jacques Cartier, and a money order post office. All the usual trades are fairly represented, and there is also a good machine shop, with the prospective addi- tion of a small foundry. Down in the val- ley of the Saskatchewan river, to which the townsite limits do not however ex- tend, is the saw mill and lumber yard and extensive carriage and boat building works of Mr. John Walter, where all the gold mining dredging scows have been built, or are now under construction. The government butter factory is also situated in the valley between the two towns. There are Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist, as well as Rot- man Catholic churches, under three re- sident and other visiting ministers. The town has a fine public school building. Three hotels supply ample hotel accom- modation to travellers, and immigrants are accommodated in the government sheds, of which Mr. Bennett, immigration agent, is in charge. A constable of the N. W. M. P. is stationed here ; a volun- teer bucket fire brigade, and a good brass band are in existence. South Edmonton is the market town for several large and progressive agricultural settlements south of the Saskatchewan river, and is the resort of a large number of gold miners. It supports an ably and energetically conducted weekly newspaper, "The Plaindealer,' and has every reason to be confident of a prosperous future. ST. ALBERT. This Roman Catholic Cathedral town may, next to Edmonton, claim to be dis- tinguished over other towns of the West by the greater antiquity of its origin. It is beautifully situated in the valley of the Sturgeon river, and about nine mfles north of Edmonton. The seat of the Roman Catholic Bishopric of St. Albert, which covers an immense area of the set- tled and unsettled portions of the Terri- tories, it is also the central point of those fine farming settlements. Glengarry, Mor- inville, and old St. Albert district. It is the capital of the electoral district of St. Albert, which Mr. Daniel Maloney so well represents as member in the as- sembly. Besides the Cathedral, the Bishop's) palace, the convent and hospital of the Grey Nuns, and their school buildings crown the bank of the valley, in which is situated the business portion of the town. Besides an ordinary school taught by the Sisters of Charity, with their usual devotion and ability, they also conduct an industrial school, where native chil- dren are taught the trades and callings of civilized life. There are two large general stores, a hotel, a blacksmith, and other mechan- ics. It is in telephonic connection with Edmonton and Morinville. FORT SASKATCHEWAN. This town is of military origin, having been founded by Colonel W. D. Jarvis, of the Northwest Mounted Police, in the fall of 1874. The barracks were completed in 1875, and with the improvements subse- quently made, present to-day one of the most picturesque appearances in the Ter- ritories. It is beautifully situated on the Saskatchewan river about 18 miles north- east of Edmonton. Population, 300. As the headquarters of the "G" division of the N. W. M. P., under Major Greisbach, which acts as the preventive and protec- tive force for all Northern Alberta, as well as for the Athabasca and Peace River dis- tricts, it is of importance. Apart from its military consequence, the town has many advantages which guarantee its continued growth and prosperity. As centre of one of the finest mixed farming portions of the district, which is being rapidly settled, the town is bound to grow with the coun- try. Already it is the market town of the splendid settlements in the Beaver Hills, of Beaver Lake. Edna, Egg Lake, Vic- toria and Vermillion. Situated on the bank of the navigable wate:-- of the Sas- katchewan and at the best natural crossr ing for a railway bridge anywhere on that river, and moreover as the objective cross- ing of several railways, for which charters are held, there is every human probability that the town of Fort Saskatchewan will become a great city. - It has a doctor, an Anglican and a Pres- byterian church, with resident clergymen; three general stores; one hardware estab- lishment ; two blacksmith's shops ; a liv- ery stable ; a drug store, and a butcher's, a barber's, and a harness shop. There is a very good hotel. $2 One of the best institutions of Fort Sas- katchewan is a fine 50-barreI roller pro- cess grist mill, which has been a boon to the farming community not only in the electoral district of Victoria, of which this town is the capital, but to those of all the neighboring electoral districts. There is a very active and progressive agricultural society with grounds, which are being very much improved by a new race track, fence, stables and a large hall. The member for the district, Mr. F. Fraser Tims, who is one of the most pub- lic spirited men in the Territories, resides in the town which he has done so much to foster and develop. --•-^ Towns along the line of the Calgary & Edmonton Railway, by C. S I.ott. WETASKIWIN. Wetaskiwin, situated on the C. & E. railway, 152 miles from Calgary and 40 miles from Edmonton, in the centre of a very good and extensive farming district, has a population of about :W0. There are four churches : Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Meth- odist. A first-class school house, cream- ery, large hotel, three general stores, two lumber yards, two butchers, drug store, jeweller, etc. There is a large grain warehouse and an elevator will be erected this year. Wetaskiwin is the market town for the Battle River district. There is a good opening for a doctor at this point. LACOMBE. The town of Lacombe, situated on the Calgary & Edmonton Railway, 113 miles from Calgary and 79 miles from Edmon- ton, in the midst of a good farming and ranching country, (well watered with lakes and springs, and having plenty of timber for building), has a population of about 200. There are two churches, Presbyter- ian and Methodist, and the Church of England also holds service here. There is a good school in the town, and five in the surrounding country. There is a first- class hotel and li- :ry stable, three general stores, hardware store, lumber yard, two implement agents, doctor, blacksmith, two harness makers, druggist and butcher. There are good openings in Lacombe for the following : Lawyer, brickmaker, baker, shoemsker and barber. D. C, Gourlay would be glad to answer any in- quiries at any time. RED DEER. Red Deer, situated midway between Calgary and Edmonton, in the midst of a fine mixed farming and agricultural dis- trict, has a population of about 300. It has three churches, and one of the finest schools in the country, government cream- ery. Dominion land office. Mounted Polic'C station and other public buildings. So- cieties art represented by the Freemasons, Orangemen and Independent Order of Foresters. Mails are distributed here for Pine Lake and Greenlaw. Coal and wood abound in the district. The following; businesses are established here : Three general stores, barber, blacksmith, taxi- dermist, hotels, saw mill, brick yard, doc- tor, lawyer, insurance agent, oflfice of the Saskatchewan Land & Homestead Co. Three sittings of the supreme court are held each year. INNISFAIL. A town on the C. & E. railway, 76 miles from Calgary and IIG from Edmon- ton, is very prettily situated in a rolling park-like country. The town is built on the edge of a blufif of poplar, and the trim,' and tidy buildings, with the background of green foliage, presents a very attrac- tive appearance. The district is a good one for mixed farming and ranching on a small scale. There are three churches, a creamery, good school, two good hotels, three gen- eral stores, hardware store, blacksmith shop, livery stable, etc., etc. A doctor and a lawyer are established here. OLDS. Olds, a thriving town on the C. & E. railway, 58 miles north of Calgary, is sit- uated in the midst of a good farming dis- trict. The following businesses are established here : Good hotel, livery stable, general store, hardware store, harnessmaker,black- smith, implement agency, post office, etc., etc. There is a good school house and a, creamery in operation. Free homesteads can still be obtained within a reasonable distance of Olds. In the district to the east of Olds there are a number of small cattle ranches, this dis- trict being particularly well supplied with hay. I i 68 nswer any in- way between he midst of a ricultural dis- ibout 300. It of the finest nment cream- ounted Police uildings. So- : Freemasons, nt Order of uted here for oal and wood he following here : Three :ksmith, taxi- ck yard, doc- office of the )mestead Co. me court are railway, 76 from Edmon- l in a rollingf n is built on and the trim,' e background I very attrac- ct is a good •anching on a a creamery. Is, three gen- ;, blacksmith c. A doctor here. the C. & E. algary, is sit- farming dis- re established able, general smaker.black- st office, etc., house and a, be obtained of Olds. In Is there are a les, this dis- iupplied with 4 i CHAPTER VII. General Information. HOW TO REACH EDMONTON. Europei..! Eiiilgionts should apply for information to the High Commissioner for Canada, 17 Victoria Street, London, S. W., or to any Canadian Government Agent, also to agencies of the Allan. Dominion and Beaver lines of Steamships. Settlers from Ontario and the Eastern Provinces of the Dominion can purchase tickets from any of the Canadian Pacific Railway Stations or Ticket Agents direct to all stations on the Calgary & Edmon- ton Railway, and get the benefit of the settlers' immigrant rates. Settlers from the United States can pur- chase regular tickets to Gretna, North Portal, Lethbridge, Revelstoke, Hunting- ton, or Vancouver, and from those points; get the settlers' immigrant rate to any of the above stations. As the rates of freight and passage may vary from time to time, the present rates are not given. Application should be made for rates to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, who grant liberal terms. SETTLERS' SPECIAL RATES AND PRIVILEGES. The attention of intending settlers on the Calgary & Edmonton railway lands is drawn to the fact that they will be grant- ed by the Canadian Pacific Railway com- pany, over whose line they must travel in order to reach these companies' lands, all special rates, stop-over privileges, etc., etc., granted by the Canadian Pacific Rail- way company to intending settlers on their own lands. CUSTOMS. Under the Customs Tariff of Canada a bona fide settler may bring into Canada, free oi duty, as "Settlers' Effects," the following articles, viz. : — Wearing apparel, household furniture, professional books, implements and tools of trade, occupation or employment, wh'ch the settler has had in actual use for at least six months before removal to Can- ada ; musical instruments, domestic sew- ing machines, carts and other vehicles, and agricultural implements in use by the settler at least one year before his removal to Canada, not to include machinery or articles imported for use in any manufac- turing establishment, or for sale : pro- vided that any dutiable article entered as settlers' effects may not be so entered un- less brought with the settler on his first to- se- are arrival, and shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of without payment of duty, un- til after two years' actual use in Canada. STOCK FROM THE UNITED STATES. Live stock, when imported into Mani- toba or the Northwest Territories by bonai fide intending settlers, shall be free, until otherwise ordered by the Governor-in- Council, subject to the following regula- tions made by the Honorable Comptrol- ler of Customs : — Each settler is allowed one animal of neat stock or horses for each ten acres of land purchased or otherwise secured. One sheep or swine for each acre so se- cured. If horses or cattle are brought in to- gether, one animal allowed for each ten acres so secured. If sheep and swine are brought in gether, one animal for each acre so cured. If horses, cattle, sheep and swine brought in together, the same propor- tions to be observed. The operation of the above regulation is limited to 320 acres. The rate of duty on stock in excess of the above numbers is 20 per cent. HOMFSTEAD REGULATIONS. .A.11 even numbered sections, excepting S and 20, which are Hudson's Bay Com- pany's lands, are open for homestead entry n<)(t acres), by any person sole head of a family, or any male over 18 years of age. ENTRY. Entry may be made personally at the local land office for the district in which the land to be taken is situate, or if the homesteader desires he may, on applica- tion to the Minister of the Interior, Ot- tawa, or the Commissioner of Dominion Lands, Winnipeg, receive authority for some one, to be named by the intendingi settler, near the local oflfice, to make the entry for him. Entry fee, $10, or if can- celled land, $20. DUTIES. The present homestead law requires : Three years' cultivation and residence, during which period the settler may not be absent more than six months in any one year without forfeiting the entry. QUARANTINE. SRrrivERS' STOCK FROM UNITED .STATES."^ There is practically no detention to set- tlers' stock coming into Canada. The 54 following are the conditions on which it is admitted : — Settlers' Cattle. — When accompanied by certificate of her.lth admitted without de- tion, and subject to test ; if found tubercu- tention. If no certificate, require inspec- lous, will be returned to the United States, or killed without indemnity. Horses and Mules. — Admitted without inspection unless deemed necessary in any special case. Settlers' Swine. — Swine with settlers' outfit require certificate that swine plague or hog cholera has not existed in the dis- trict from which they came for six months. Without certificate must be in- spected. If diseased must be slaughtered. Sheep. — Inspected at port of entry, and require certificate showing district from whence exported to be free from scab for six m.onths. Quarantine Stations. — Manitoba : Em- erson. Northwest Territories : Estevan, Wood Mountain, Willow Creek, East Milk River, West Milk River. Edmonton Retail Prices. GROCERIES. Tea, per lb., 25 cts. to 50 cts. Coffee, per lb., 30 cts. to 50 cts. White sugar, 7^ cts. (15 lbs. for $1). Brown sugar, 6^ cts. (16 lbs. for $1). Oatmeal, 3J cts. to 3| cts. Flour, per sack, $2 to $3. Bacon, breakfast, 15 cts. Bacon, dry salt, lie. Hams, 13c. Lard, 40 cts. per 3-Ib. tin. Evaporated apples, 10 cts. Evaporated apricots, 15 cts. Syrup, 80 cts. per gal. pail. Coarse salt, per bag, 90 cts. (50-lb* sack.) Fine salt, $1 (50-lb. sack.) Apples, dried, 8c. Currants, 10c. Raisins, Valencia, 12 cts. Raisins, Sultans, 9 cts. Raisins, table layers, 20 cts. Tinned Vegetables — Corn, peas, toma- toes and baked beans, 12Jc. per tin. Candied peel (mixed) 4 lbs. for $1. Jam, assorted, 7-lb. pail for .$1. Rice, Vatna, 14 lbs. for $1. Rice, Java, 13 lbs. for $1. Soap, 1-lb bars, 14 for $1. Baking powder. 1-lb. tin,. 4 for $1. Starch, corn, 9 lbs. for $1. DRY GOODS. Factory cotton, 5 cts. to 12J cts. per yd Bleached cotton, 7 cts. to 20 cts per ydj. Cottonades, 18 cts. to 30 cts. per yd. Flannel, 18 cts. to 45 cts. per yd. Flannelette, 8 cts. to 20 cts. per yd. Strong tweed, 35 cts. to $1 per yd. Wool socks, 12} cts. to 50 cts. per pair. Tweed suits, men's size, $3.50 Ic $18. Tweed suits, boys' size, $1.75 to $8. Blankets, per pair, $2 to $10. Strong boots, men's size, $1.25 to $3. Strong boots, boys' size, 80 c. to $2.50. Strong boots, children, 45 cts to $1.50. FURNITURE. Hardwood chairs, 55 cts to $1. Hardwood rocking chairs, $1.75. Hardwood tables, from $3 up. Hardwood bedsteads, from $4 up. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. Breaking plow, $20 to $22. Stubble plow, $18, 20, $24. Brush breaking, $25 to $32. Iron harrow (3 section), $15. Wodden harrow, $18. Iron harrow (4 section), $25. Disc harrow, $30 to $35. Garden rakes, 50 cts. to 75 cts. Garden hoes, 40 cts. to 60 cts. Hay forks, 60 cts. to 75 cts. Manure forks, 75 cts to $1. Spading forks, $1 to $1.25. Mower, $55 to $65. Rake, $28 to $35. Wagon, $75. Press drills, $90 to $120. Binder, $155 to $170. Buckboard, $45 to $65. Jumper, $8 to $12. Buggies, $75 to $125. Road carts, $25 to $50. HARDWARE. Spades and shovels, $1 to $1.50. Saws, cross cut, 75 cts. toi $4. Saws, rip, 50 cts. to $4. Saws, bucksaw, 65 cts. to 85 cts. Hammers, 65 cts. to $1.25. Chisels, 40 cts. to 75 cts. Brace and bitts, $1, Jack plane, $1.00. Plane, smoothing, 75 cts. Augers, 40 cts. to $1.25. Axes, 75 cts. to $1.50. Nails, wire, per 100 lbs., $5 to $6. Nails,wrought, per 100 lbs.,$4.70 to $5.50. Nails, cut, per 100 lbs., $5 to $5.50. Coal oil, per gallon, 50 cts. to 60 cts. Linseed oil, raw or boiled, $1.25. White lead, best brands, $2 to $2.50 per 25-lb. can. Cooking stove, $23 to $26.50 (complete.) Box stove, $4.50 to $13. Stove pipes, per length, 15 cts. each. Coal heating stoves, $5 to $25. MINERS' SUPPLIES. Shovels, $1. Quicksilver, $1 per lb. Gold pans. 75 cts. Picks, $1. Chamois, 65 cts. per skin. Sett of grizzly irons, 50 cts. (• Edm EDMONTON. :r yd. r yd. per pair. l(. $18. :o |8. !5 to $3. . to $2.50. to $1.50. 75. ft up. MENTS. 5 to 135. to $120. f This Handbook has been published under the auspices of the Edmonton Branch tiIe Wostern Canada Immigration Association, of which the Council consists ex-officio of the M.P. for Alberta; the M. L. A's. for Edmonton, St. Albert and Victoria; the Mayor of Edmontcn ; the Presidents of the Agricultural Societies of Edmonton, South Edmon- ton, St. Albert and Fort Saskatchewan ; the Presidents of the St. Andrew's, St. George's, and St. Jean Baptiste Societies ; and the President of the Edmonton Board of Trade. Formed for the purpose of sending information to intending settlers, and assisting them to settle after their arrival in the country. Address all communications to Isaac Cowie, Chairman, Hdmonton ;o. cts. i, $1.00. $6. ro to $5.50. $5.50. > 60 cts. 15. $2.50 per :omplete.) . each. er lb. f1 \ The Edmonton Board of Trade WOUIvD IMPRESS ON BY THE CANADIAN INSIDE TRACK THE FACT THAT The best, cheapest, and most suitable outfits can be obtained in Edmonton, whether for the voy- ages by water down the Mackenzie or by land via Upper Peace River to the KLONDYKE.. The following advertisements should be read by all Miners contemplating the journey, ISAAC COWIE, President. EDMONTON. K ' IMPERIAL BANK OF CANADA. • - HEAD OFFICE ■ - TORONTO, ONT. Capital Paid Up Reserve $i>963i0oo.oo $t, I 56,800.00 DIRECTOR? H. S. Howlaiid, President. T. R. Merritt, Vice-Pres. Will. Ramtay. Kobt. laffray, (St. Catharines) Hugh Ryan. T. Sutlierlaiui Stayner. D. R. Wilkie, C.eneral Manager. E. Hay, Inspector BRANCHES IN THE NORTHWEST AND BRITISH COLUMBIA Winnipeg, Man - - C. S. Hoare, Manager. Brandon, Man - - N. G. Leslie Portage la Prairie, Man - W. Hell " Calgary, Alta. - - M. Morris " Prince Albert, Sask - - R. Davidson " Edtnonion, Alta, - - C. R. F. Kirkpatrick. Revelstoke, H.C. • - A. B. R. Ilearu, " Vanconver, B.C. - - A. jnkes " BRANCHES IN ONTARIO p;ssex. Out. Fergu.s, Ont. Niagara Falls, Ont. Gait, Ont. Ingersell, Ont. Port Colborne, Ont. Rat Portage, Ont. Sault Ste Marie, Ont. vSt. Catharines. Ont. St. Thoma.s, Ont. Welland, Ont. Woodstock, Ont. T, . ) —Cor. Wellington St. and Leader Lane. Branches f-^"''- '^'""^^ ^''^^ Q"''^" ^'''• ijrancnes j _n^j. yonge and BloorSts. AGENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN— Lloyd's Bank, Ltd. 72 Lombard St., London, with whom money may be deposited for transfer by letter or cable to any of the above branches. AGENTS IN UNITED STATES— New York, Bank of Montreal and Bank of America ; BufTiilo, Bank of Buflfalo ; Chicago, First National Bank ; St. Paul, Second National Ban!' ; Boston, National Bank of the Commonwealth ; Detroit, Detroit National Bank ; Duluth, Pir.st National Bank ; Minneapolis, Northwestern National Bank ; Phil- adelphia, Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank; San Francisco, Wells, Fargo & Go's. Bank. EDMONTON BRANCH. DRAFTS SOLD, available at all points in Canada, United States and Europe. LETTERS OF CREDIT issued, available in any part of the world. SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT— Deposits of 81 and upwards received and interest allowed. DEBENTURES— Municipal and other Debentures purcha.sed. GOLD AMALGAM purchased. G.:R. F. KIRKPATRICK, Managor. LEGAL. HARRY H. ROBERTSON, Advocate, Notary, etc., Office, Bulletin Block. WM. SHORT, ADVOCATE, NOTARY, ETC., Office over John Cameron's store. TJ C. TAYLOR, M.A., L.L.B., Barrister, Advocate, ■*■-*■• Solicitor, Notary, etc., etc. Office in Imperial Bank Block, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ■DECK & EMERY, Advocates, Notaries, &c.. -" Edmonton. Alberta, N. W. Solicitors for Im- perial Bank of Canada. N. D. Beck, Q.C. E. C. Emery. Crown Prosecutor. Company and private funds to tend. La BaQiioe Jacpes-Cartier. 1861-HEAD OFFICE, MONTREAL.-1897 CAPITAL PAID UP RESERVE FUND 8500,000 '2«0,000 Hon. Alph. Desjardins A. S. Hanielin, E'q. G. N. Duchanne, Esq. Taiicreile Bienveiiu E. G. St. Jean DIRECTORS. President Vice-President Dumont I.oviolette, Esq. General Manager Inspector AGENCIES. Jean-Bte.) Quebec, (St-Sauveur.) " (rueSt-Jean) Victoria ville. Valleyfield. Fra.serville. Hull, P.Q. Montreal, (St (St-Henri) " (Ste Connegonde) " (rne Ontario) Beauharnois, P.Q. Ste Anne de la Perade Edmonton, N.W.T Savings Departments at Head Office and at Agencies. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS, London, Eng., Credit Lyonnais. Comptoir Nat d'escomptede Paris. Credit Lyonnais. Comptoir Nat d'escompte de Paris. The Bank ot America. The National Bank of the Republic. The Merchants National Bank. The Nat. Bank of the Commonwealth The National Bank of the Republic. Bank of Montreal. Paris France, New York, Boston, Mass., Chicago, III. E.LAURENCELLE, Manager Edmonton Branch. J. T. BLOWEY -DEALER IN— Fiiiiiilure, Piaqos, Orgaqs aqd Sewing PiacHiqes. EDMONTON, ALBERTA. To obtain all the news of the Edmonton District subscribe for the ..Edmonton.. Bulkiin EDMONTON, ALBERTA. $2.00 per year. Published Mondays and Thursdays. To^ Al of I per EDMONTON. larlier. EAL.-1897 8500,000 260,000 President ITice-President oviolette, Est). eral Manager Inspector (St-Sauveur.) (rue St-Jean) ville. ?ld. tie. d at Agencies. NTS. ptede Paris, pte de Paris. the Republic, lal Bank, ommonwealth the Republic. -LE, onton Branch. EY aqs and s. LBERTA. he ior the DO per year. sdays. SELECTED FARM LANDS FDR SALE Township. 64 1 53 54 53 54 55 53 54 52 ON TERMS MADE TO SUIT PURCHASER, Range. 23 14 24 21 21 22 22 23 Section — W. 4th M. 1 3 7 9 13 15 17 21 25 35 33 13 3 21 25 27 35 1 8 9 13 17 21 23 25 26 33 S. 8 26 8 20 8 26 8 26 W. lialf and E. quarter, W. half, W. halt; W. half, the whole, S.E. quarter, S. half and N.W. quarter, the whole, W. half, the whole, X,W. quarter, W. half and N.E. quarter, S.AV. quarter, W. half and N.E. quarter, N.E. quarter, S.E. and KAV. quarters, the whole, S. half and N.E. quarter, W. halt N.W". quarter, S.W. quarter, N.W. quarter, X.E. quarter, E. half, N.W. quarter, N. W. quarter, E. half and S.W. quarter, I^LW. quarter, N. half, N.W. quarter, W. half, N.W. quarter, W. half, X.Yr. quarter, W. l;alf, 7i.W. quarter, Acres. 480 320 320 320 640 IHO 480 640 320 640 160 480 160 480 160 320 640 480 320 160 160 160 160 320 160 160 480 160 320 160 320 160 320 160 320 160 318 Also River Lot 10, Fort Saskatchewan Settlement, The above lands art all ill the best portions of tl.e Kdiiioiiloii District, chiefly in the fine Settlements of Poplar Lake, Horse Hills, Clover Bar ai <1 Kort Saskatchewan, and consequently near markets. Thi_' pro- perty will be sold in portions and on terms to suit purchasers, at prices from $i.W to |").o0 per acre for cash, or if in instalments, at six per cent, interest. Full particulars can be had on application to BECK & EMERY, Aiivocates, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA. EDMONTON. me Biackp i U\ png Coiopaiiji, (LIMITED LIABILITY), Millers, Wholesale Grain Dealers, &c. Manufacturers of " NATIONAL " Cereal Products. ROLLED OATS OATMEAL SPLIT PEAS PEARL BARLEY ETC., ETC., SPECIALLY PUT UP FOR THE KLONDIKE TRADE. GRAHAM FLOUR WHEAT FLAKES Awarded First Prize and Medals for their Exhibits at World's Fair, Chicago, MiDMiNTER Exhibition, San Francisco, Interstate Fair, Tacoma, Washington. Victoria, B.C. Victoria, B.C. mills: New Westminster, B.C. branches: Edmonton, Alberta. Vancouver, B.C. New Westminster, B.C. Edmonton, Alberta. ABC Telegraph Code, 4th Edition. Cable Address : " Brackman." WIRE OR WRITE FOR SAMPLES AND PRICES. EDMONTON. &c. It FLOUR FLAKES To Gold jViincrs When outfitting for the Gold Fields and preparing for the long journey before you reach them, you can secure from me your complete outfit of PACK SADDLES PACKING STRAPS PISTOL HOLSTERS AXE AND KNIFE SHEATHS GUN CASES CARTRIDGE BELTS, ETC. DOG HARNESS. Harness, Saddles, Sweat Pads, Curry Combs and Brushes on hand. All kinds of leather work made to order at reasonable rates. 5. J. CObblNS, OPPOSITE ROSS BROS. D. R. FRASER, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Lumber & Flour Merchant. FLOUR, CHOP, FEED. BRAN AND SHORTS. Largest Stock of Lumber in the District. SAWN AND PLANED LUMBER AND LATH. B.C. Fir Flooring, Ceiling and Siding ; also Cedar Shingles, Doors and Windows. Will contract at Athabasca Landing for boats of all sizes and models, suitable for THE VOYAGE TO THE YUKON. PRICES ON APP . ON. 9J|9 9jj <^ 5^ 9jj|, Sinocks, OUBLE iStall, DUSC /AN. jst meals in ands >PRlETOR. Store ERT*, ts and Caps, id Gro- ers' A & CO. General Merchants and Miners' Outfitters SETTLERS AND MINERS Are requested to call or write for our prices before buying elsewhere. n. DKVIES DRAI.KR IN TOceime; o o AND Pr(D)^Dsn(Dini SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES, MINERS AND PROSPECTORS. poisel Edgontoi] Right opposite the Railway Station HEADQUARTERS FOR Land and Gold Seekers And for parties going to the Klondyke Rates Reasonable W. H, SHEPPARD, Proprietor. Royal Hotel The Newest, Best and Handsomest Hotel North of Calgary Accommodation stiitable for tlie better class of Settlers and Commercial Men Gentlemen interested in GOLD MIN- ING on the Saskatchewan or the YUKON are invited to test the facilities this Hotel and Town afford for their business. Graduated Prices. H. T. T. HOWARD, Prop. SOUTH EDMONTON. (sLaireim 9 The Big General Store Right at the Railway Terminus, opposite the Hotel Edmonton Msmndllle E^eryAnmi Quotations cheerfully given for Miners' Supplies, Prospectors* Outfits. Special attention given to Outfits for the Klondyde. To Gold Miners I build all kinds of Dredges, Boats, Scows, and Hand Min- ing Machines suitable for mining on the Saskatchewan. The Yukon Model Boat, specially designed for the water route from Edmonton to the Klondyke, built on short notice. Write for prices. To Settlers My Wagons, Carts, Buckboards, Sleighs, &c , made to order, ast longer than any others. General Blacksmithing done on he premises. The Upper Ferry Saw Mills, Boat and Carriage Factory JOHN WALLER, Proprietor. A. C. RUTHERFORD, B.A., B.C.L., Barrister, Advocate, Notary, Etc., SOUTH EDMONTON, ALTA INCORPORATED 1670. ^^^ [ The Hudson's Bay Company Have General Stores In Manitoba, the North-West Territories and British Columbia, where the best goods can be obtained at the lowest prices. The Hudson's Bay Company Have Lands for Sale Farming and Grazing Lands on Easy Terms of Pay- ment and without and conditions of settlement. The Hudson's Bay Company Make the Best Flour Highest Awards at the Winnipeg Industrial Exhi- tions . OVER 225 YEARS' EXPERIENCE. if if if if if if if if :^^^^^^^^^^^^^^% 4 * 4 ^ ♦ 4 ^ 4 ♦ ^ * 4 ^ ^ 4 4 4 * 4 IICKETS to or from England, Ireland, Scotland, or any part of Europe can be purchased cheaper through the local agent than if the money was sent to the Old Country or Tickets bought at the seaport. All C. P. R. Agents can ticket through at cheapest rates or arrange prepaid tickets on fa- vorable terms. Apply to them, or to WILLIAM STITT, GENERAL AGENT, C. P. R. OFFICES, WINNIPEG. ^444444444444444^4^444444^^ THE GALGm TO SOUTH EDMONTON, 200 MfLES. CALGARY TO McLEOD, 100 MILES, This Railway, operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, has opened for settlement the fertile lands of Northern Alberta for mixed farming, and the rich grazing lands of Southern Alberta for cattle ranching. Free Grants of Government Land and Cheap Railway Land for sale on easy terms, all along this line. WOD SOIL PURE WATER. . AMPLE FUEL. For information concerning these districts or townsites situated on the line of the Railway, Maps, Pamphlets, etc., free, apply to OSLER^ HAMMOND &N ANTON, LAND DEPARTMENT, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, OR C. S. LOTT, CALGARY. ALBERTA. FREE FfiK/\SjrOR /\ILLIOHS. 200,000,000 Acres Wheat and Grazing Land for Settlement in Manitoba and the Canadian North-West. Deep soil, well watered, wooded and the richest in the world ; easily reached by railways. Wheat : average 30 bushels to the acre, with fair farming. The Great Fertile Belt : Red River Valley, Saskatchewan Valley, Peace River Valley and the Great Fertile Plain. Vast areas, suitable for grain and grasses, largest (yet unoccu- pied) in the world. Vast mineral riches : Gold, silver, iron, copper, petroleum, salt, etc., etc. Immense Coal Fields. Illimitable supply of cheap fuel. The Canadian Government gives FREE FARMS of 160 ACRES to every male adult of 18 years, and to every female who is head of a family, on condition of living on it ; offering independencies for life to everyone with little means, but having suflBcient energy to settle. Climate healthiest in the world. For information, not afforded by this publication, address : THE SECRETARY, Depa:iment of the Interior, Ottawa, Canada. iMark envelope, " Tmmigratiou Branch."] THE COMMISvSIONER OF IMMIGRATION, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Or to THE DOMINION LANDS AGENT, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Immigration Halls are maintained by the Government at Halifax, Quebec, Win- nipeg, Lake Dauphin, Brandon, Prince Albert, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton, in which shelter is afforded to newly arrived immigrants and their families, and every attention is paid to their comfort, FREE OF CHARGE. FM For a small ofBce fee. and the performance of very simple and easy settlement duties, any man or youth (ivvir 18 years of age, or any widow who has minor chil- dren depending on her, can become the absolute owner of D of splendid Farming Land on the public domain of Canada. For further information; apply to THE SECRETARY, Department of the Interior, Ottawa. To the HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA. 17 Victoria Street, London, S.W., Ehgland. THE COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Or to the DOMINION LANDS AGENT, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ONS. ttlement in ly reached by The Great alley and the (yet unoccu- troleum, salt,. to every male tion of living s, but having ;awa, Canada. 1 Branch."] initoba, , Canada. Quebec, Win- Edmonton, in les, and every isy settlement is minor chil- :r information va. ADA. .W., England. leg, Manitoba. berta, Canada.