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!■

PRICE 25 CENTS.

PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK

ANJ)

^ TO MANITOBA

AND

JL

HE NORTH- WEST.

BY ALEXANDER BEGGi

CONTAINING INFOEMATION ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS

How to «et Ui Manitoba.

Tho (..(St i(f the ji)iirn«y.

(t'>iir!itfirivrr»n'.'(''ii;f'!ti-;,

A (iiAMT^i.tini, ^ 'iniey via-

tl). !u.k-..s . ,a,ii. ■

>» liii!> to ilii (HI ! ),,• v.ay.
I)t>w;ription <<» \V iiiiuiies.
Itii Inidc, ot.- , ,11,1 lioal ^:st,■^to
Hte,imlu,.(i, i,it..T. ,l3 i.n tha K-.^'d

Kivcr.
'1 /.nil- between y. s aii.l Maiii-

Th.' icttlemont bolt ami iw

I arislifs.
The town of Solkirk.
INirtif^'o !a IVairio and we.stwar i
Th.; settU .iiciits.
The ,Tu|n of in.livi.Jual fiwiiicrs.
iliei|fci..(al (iiviwoiis,
Crf-i. rojr.r!, foi'la76.
(•rain mu) rootcroiig.
Fruits.

H»y and iiaj- KiViunOs.
Wai*r.
Soil. .»'-•»■.'

Gamp, larire aiid small,
>'iNhin Itih.isknd ^l^e[•B.
Api.uitiirf,

W'«M)1 jfrowiKif.

Imiu.riatiMT of well brod 8tt<;k
■•^alt imd y.At s|ifim{s.
'JV' raiiifuii.
The frosiU

ir<'altnfuliie»» of climate.
AbKeiico 'it epidemics.
Wciitlii f Kffcord for 1878.

Feticiii;^

Fuor and tint t>cr.

Ti-eoc'iliure on theprairio.

Prairie fires.

I'rloos iif :i^'ri.niitiiral imple-
ments.

I'ricuHui staptiH in ■j.rinor'.c-i.

I'rJcfiict drj BiKH'-^aiiiJ hardwui-e.

J'nwsof furniture and buildii.ir
material.

Muiiiu>l)a luarkf'ts.

Thf roads.

IC\;i,.rt*tioti ot Maui'oba wheat
fur fiffd.

^*^•c.'<^^ty for raiUviv,- coru.itaui-
l'!l^il M.

IliiJlw.iy prasiH.'<'t--.

NaviiTiitiot! of Uk.' Winniiietf
.T.nd .Soakatfjli. w«n

Tin- tiT.do oi Miiidtolw.

btatinics of Trad«« and Nnvio*.
ticu.

. Ra)ikM.
n<;i; istcnd law.
'.he reserves..
The 0(.ivcriiiiiont.
Ayrividt-ural sotit'tico.
A '!oinparis"iiof cn-ps.
A dcMoriptiori of pnii,«nt wtttor*.
Kducatiouiil jnfttt.(-r>(.
Churdros md kix iolio«.
Post oft1ci< inid mails.
Kxpre-ss am! tt.li;j»-riiiih.
Advicr totJvi i'luiiiprimt.
''Iv- hmils hi tiio IVoMin't;

iipi I! for soltlwinjiit.
Thi; difftTfctit UKvlesof ncquirinif

land ii! Manitoba, and Uu:

Morth West.
Reaso"^ why <niiui(rraut,s should

„r.r settle far in iidvance ot

scttlyrueiit*.
The dtiDandfor iiiechamcal labor

and skiil, ■»?'.
Future pri>,i»eet3 of the North-

The country westward.

A comparison Itntweeti thellniftd

States jiid th« Horth-Hest.
Stjitv.iiiuiits from novi'ml s'turceti

and fatts to prove iho uorrect-

nci^of the jwunphltft.

TOROx'^TO:
BELM)RI) BR. ITERS, PUBLISHERS.

M0CCCLX>;VII.

# 1 1

b|

Main St., Winnipeg, ard 28 FenchurchSt,, london, En^;-

4f'^'il

mi'OKiEBS Ami GENERAL DEALIES US

DRY GOODS, •
CLOTHING,
CROCKERY.

GLASSWARE,

BOOTS & SHOES,

MMIGR A NTS' OUTFITS

TEMTS,

Robes, Furs, Skins& Pemiean

B0U6H1

HUS aaT. STOB AZIT & 00.

!>■* WWWlllitt^iM

^

Si-ivV

PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK

^'J

'♦P^'S^T.

"*i.^J

AND

r

7^^ A.

GUIDE TO MANITOBA

AND

^,1 .an

w

" " THE NORTH-WEST.

11 SVM

'- S»..'-.

•*

'"*!('!
;■*•

'^ BY ALEXANDER BEGGI |- ,

CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:

^,-*-«i^

How to get to HanitoTia.
The cost of tlie journey.
Bonding arrangements.
A description of the journey via

the lakes and by all rail.
What t ) do oil the way.
Description of Winnipeg.
Its trade, etc. , and Real Estate.
Steamboat interests on the Ked

River.
Trade between U. S. and Mani-

ioba.
The settlement belt and its

parishes.
The town of Selkirk.
Portatre la Prairie and westward.
The settlements.
The crops of individual farmem.
The electoral divisions.
Crop report for 187B.
Grain and root crops.
Prulta.

Hay and hay noatils.
Water. *^

Sou. /
Oame, laitlre and small.
Fish in lakes and rivers.
Apiculture.
Stock raising.
Wool growing.
Daily produce.

Importation of weli bred stook. Banks

Salt and salt spring.

The rainfall.

The frost.

The seasons.

He.ilthfulnessi of climate,

Absence of epidemics.

Weather Record for 1876.

The grasshoppers.

Fencing.

Fuel and timber.

Tree culture on the prairie.

Prairie fires.

Prices of itgricultu>^ imple-

merjts.
Prices of staples in groceries.
Prices of dry goods and hardware.

•«l« U'.

'^iti "^:' '

Homestead law.
The reserves.
The Government.
Agricultural societies.
A comparison of crops.
A description of present settlMir
Eiiucatio.ial matters. ^ ^_

Churches und societies. {
Post offices and niiiils. "

Express and telegixiiih.
Advice to the immigrant.
The lands in tlie Province
open for settlement,

£.

The diflerent modes of acquiring
land in Manitoba and the
North-West.
Prices of furniture and building Reasons why immigrants should

material

Manitoba markete. (1? jy»5i^

The roads.

E::portation of Manitoba wheat
for Seed.

Necessity for railway communi-
cation.

Railway prospects.

Navigation of Lake Whinipeg
and Saskatchewai

The trade of Manitoba.

btatistics of Trade and N.<:vlgft-
tion

not settle far in advance of

settlements.
The demand for mechanical labor

and skill.
Future prospects of the North-

West.
The country wesv;ward.
A comparison bet ween the United

States and the N'orth-West.
Statements from several sources,

and tacts to pr >Te the cerrect-

nass of the piuiipMet.

;:s

TORONTO :
BELFO^ID BROTHERSi PUBL1SHER&

MDCCCLXXVII.

Advertisements.

iggms, f onm,

'@dkioii

Would respectfully call the attention of readeni of this book to the fact that their Stock of

DRY GOODS,

IS THE

LARGEST AND MOST VARIED IN THE PRC7INCE OF MANITOBA,

And to the tjnith of the statement that they liell English and American Goods as low as they
can be bought in the Lower Provinces, We will be mucli pleased if strangers and visitors to Win-
nipeg would call upon us, as we will give them all the information in our power.

HIOaiNS, YOUNG & JAOKSON,

Winnipeg, West side Main Street.

General dealers in Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Millinary, Mantle", Shawls, &c.. Clothing,
ready-made and to order. Carpets and House Funiishings,

HIGGINS & YOUNG,
Groceries, Crockery, Glassware, Boots, Shoes &c.

MAIN STREET, WINNIPEG.

We always keep in stock a large assortment of Staple and Fancy Groceries, and wovdd espe-
cially call the attention of Emigrants tc our facilities for furnishing OUTFITS for the Far West.

HIGGINS & YOUNG.

JAMJHJS CLARKE & CO.,

THE BEST BOORS IN THE MARKET.
Agents Wanted. Liberal Discounts. Address

JAMES CLARKE & CO.,

bO YOEK STREET, TORONTO.

Entered according to Act of the Farliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred
and seventy -seven, by Belfobo Bbothebb, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture.

HUMTKB, ROSB & Co., PbINTEBB, ToBONTO.

of

IBA.,

I they
Win-

treet.
thing,

ice.

espe-

West.

■I

NTO.

mdred

- i.-

.''I

'.■^V t„y.-

prefaob;.

> I have very little to say in introducing this work to the
public, except that I have used every care in its preparation.
I have submitted it to a numbor of merchants and citizens o''
Manitoba, to a Committee of the Provincial Legislative Assem-
bly, and of the City Council of Winnipeg, and their views as to
the merits of the book are con'.ained in the following certificates
and reports. My hope is that the work will do good, and be of
service to those who wish to gain practical information in re-
gard to this fine country.

A.B.

{'f .' if

■ . *»■• ^j^" »S .

•S&i,

1 1

0<

' »i

.; n

'X\

We, a committee appointed at a meeting of merchants of the
eity, held at the office of the Hon. John Norquay, on Saturday,
t\ih 10th instant, to examine a work compiled by Alexander
B^g, entitled *' A. Hand-book and Guide to Manitoba and the
North- West," having examined it thoroughly, would heartily
recommend it to the patronage and assistance of the merchants
wid busings men of Winnipeg and vicinity.

(Signed) A. W. Burrows, Chairman.
W. R. Dick,
H. G. McMeekin,
W. H. Lyon,
Arthur F. Eden,
Archibald Wright,
C. W. Radiger, ,
C. Prudhomme,

J '.S .', '^«1 S. L. DONALSON, /Aiit'i ■'<'-,'■ ,

A. Peebles.

-t^V-

.•V'frj, ^

\ "'^ \J^Ti I ».• V'it*" <

Winnipeg, February 12th, 1877.

i; i»fi%. * V > ■»

' ;■

'•!»"■ <• ■* i

I ',„ s 'J h;u

To <Ae Honourable the Speaker an^ Legislative Assembly of
Manitoba, in Parliament assembled.

Honourable Sir,

We, the undersigned citizens of Winnipeg and residents of
the Province, being aware of numerous inquiries for information
in regard to the country, on the part of individuals desirous of
settling in Manitoba and the North- West, and knowing the
great necessity there is for a publication setting forth the advan-
tages and resources of the Province, hereby petition your hon-
ourable body to take into your favourable consideration a work

u

INTRODUCTION.

'I!

entitled " A Practical Hand-book and Guide to Manitoba and
the North- West," written by Alexander Begg.

Your petitioners having knowledge of the oorreotneHB of its
contents, humbly pray that you will adopt such measures as will
insure the publication ar 1 distribution of this pamphlet, in
order to afford to intending settlers the information so much
sought for by them, and thus induce immigration.

Your petitioners, feeling that an effort should be made to cir-
culate correct information for the guidance of immigrants coming
to the country, hiive much pleasure in recommending this work
to your favourable consideration, and humbly pray your hon-
ourable body to adopt such measures as will insure its distribu-
tion.

Your petitioners further pray that the Dominion Government
be memorialized by your honourable body to assist the distribu-
tion of the pamphlet, either by a grant for the purpose, or by
purchasing a number of copies for free circulation on this
Continent and in Europe. And your petitioners, as in duty
boiind, will ever pray.

H. W. BuiTows, W. R. Dick, H. G. McMicken, W. F. Lux-
ton, John Higgins, Snyder & Anderson, C. P. Brown, John F.
Caldwell, Jos. McLenaghau, N. 8. Malloch, H. S. Donaldson &
Brother, Thornton & Sutherland, James Flanaghan, H. Hodges,
Peter Guilinette, Macaulay & Jarvis, D. Macarthur, W. H.
Lyon, Higgins & Young, Owen E. Hughes, David Young,
Kerr, Stobart & Co., Arthur F. Eden, W. Palmer Clarke, R.
Gerrie & Co., H. S. Reynolds, Arch. Wri-^ht, C. W. Radiger
& Bro., Bertrand & Prudhomme, A. G. B. Bamatyne, Andrew
Strang, German & Co., A. Peebles, A. J. Syraonds, J. A. Ash-
down. Kenneth McKenzie, Jas. Cowan, A, Murray, Alex.
Black.

^^.%i^in,^j-ir--.

*;". y>:'TJir,r, .i\u v^'

Winnipeg, 12th February, 1877.

:i' ' '= l.'iJ^'-;:-*'? t;:

"■■■TiW*

Committee on Agriculture met in Committee Room, Friday^
Mth February, at 11 A.M.

;

ij'i

1

^u

Uhr

<i,

it

,

(■

\

INTRODUCTION.

. }*Hl>>*t^ M

1 i-

I

4

I! 1i

•>?*■

Present :

.( Hon. John Norquay^.^.Jtfr. Bourke, , .,<

,^,,., Mr. Dick, " Taylor, ,. ., , ^
■il;,; a..,. " <^unn, " Lepine.

.-*»i;fe..<.«..^." McKenzie, ,. , .„ _, ,^'

v'li^Hfcf'tk;^.,

., ;l^*«.-n'^ />*

Committee Room,

February, 1877.

Mr. Alexander Begg this day appeared before the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, appointed during the present Session of
the Legislature of Manitoba, and by request, read before the
Committee his pamphlet entitled " A Practical Hand-Book and
Guide to Manitoba and the North- West."

In the opinion of this Committee, the pamphlet is written
with great care, and in a clear and concise manner, deals with
the advantages and resources of the country.

The pamphlet is compiled with a great deal of regularity, and
in a plain and matter-of-fact manner, and places before the
immigrant and capitalist all the information which is required in
regard to Manitoba and the North- West. ^

It appears to this Committee that a person wishing to visit
this country for the purpose of settling, may take Mr. Begg's
pamphlet as a thorough guide, and by its instrumentality know
exactly how to proceed in selecting, securing, and improving
his new home in the North- West. ,

The information contained in Mr. Begg's pamphlet in regard
to the different routes to Manitoba, and the cost of travelling,
as well as the directions in regard to bonding and bringing
through cattle and household effects, is, in the opinion of this
Committee, of the utmost importance to the intending settler.

This Committee further recommends the plan adopted by
Mr. Begg in presenting certified statements from responsible
sources in confirmation of his assertions in regard to the country,
soil, «& and its producing qualities.

It is further the opinion of this Committee, that at the pre-
sent time, when so much information of a practical nature is

INTRODUCTION.

▼tt

being asked for by parties wishing to settle in the North- West,
the publication and distribution of a pamphlet such as Mr.
Begg's will tend to do much good, and assist in the develop-
ment of this great country.

Withtls view, the Committee would respectfully recom-
mend, in the general interest of the Dominion, Mr. Begg's
pamphlet to the favourable consideration of the Government of
Canada, in order to ensure a large circulation of the work
throughout this Continent and Europe.

(Signed) J. NoRQUAY,

Chairman.

i !

Extract from Report of a Committee of Aldermen of the City

of WinJiipeg.

Committee Room, City Hall,

24th February, 1877.

To His Worship tlie Mayor, and Council : —

The speci"! Co?2imittee on Mr. Begg's Hand-Book and Guide
to Manitoba and the North-West, beg leave to report, —

1. That having carefully examined the work written by Mr.
Begg, they are of opinion that he has at an expenditure of much
time and labour, collected a mass of information and statistics
relating to this countjj; nd the North- West, and the routes
leading thereto, which makes his work one of very great im-
portance, and deserving of public recognition an 1 encourage-
ment.

2. Your Committee fully endorse all the author says in the
introduction to his book, which is appended hereto,

3. The value cf such work to this Province, to Winnipeg,
and to the immigranis, if such work is properly ci»-culated, can-
not be sufficiently estimated.

Arch. Mc>.ee,
^ Chairman.

>; " Alf. W. Burrows,

,- - — - - H. G. McMiCKEN.

m

%

(I !

! 1 '

^'''■l ' ' .is

A PRACTICAL

HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

TO

MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

&'

m

The oHect of this pamphlet is to place before the public an
array of facts in as clear and concise a manner as possible, to
demonstrate the great advantage possessed by Manitoba and
tlie North- West for intending; settlers and capitalists.

One of the first questions likely to be asked in reference to
the country is — How can a person get there ? and, in the next
place — How much will it cost 1 To these queries we reply as
follows : — Taking Toronto as a starting point, you can go by
the Northern Railv/ay to CoUingwood, the Grand Trunk to
Sarnia, or the Great Western to Windsor, and from either of
these three places you can take the steamer direct through the
Lakes, without transhipment, to Duluth. From that city you
take the Northern Pacific Railway to Moorhead or Crookston,
as the case may be, to catch the R^d River steamboat for
WitmipDg. If you prefer all rail travelling you can go via
Detroit or fiarnia to Chicago, thence to St. Paul, from which
place you can either go to Breckenridge by tiie St. Paul and
Pacific Railway, and there take the stags to Winnipeg, or you
can go to Moorhead or Crookston and take the steamboat. If
you wish to take your own team of horses and waggon with
you, your best plan is to go via the Lakes to Dulutli, thence
per Northern Pacific Railway to Moorhead, from which place
you can drive over the prairie to Winnipeg, and if you take

Note. — We observe that the Grand Trunk Railway have extended their
line t<) Chicago, and they will doubtless be prepared to grant low rates to
passengers.

10

A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

! I

i -

! !

i z

ordinary care of your animals, they will arrive in Manitoba in
as good condition as when you left Toronto.

These are the principal routes ; and now a few suggestions to
the traveller muy prove of pervice.

When in Toronto, or wherever you may start from, go to
the difiFerent railway or steamboat offices and see where you
cp.n make the best terms for a through passage direct to Win-
nipeg, and be sure to mark the route indicated on the ticket
offered you, so as to judge whether the accommodation will
suit the circumstances of your case. For instance, if you are
burdened with much luggage, or if you object to a ride of
several hundred miles over the prairie, we would not recani-
mend your being obliged to take the stage at Breckenridge ;
and if you are bringing with you horses, cattle, and household
goods, we wouid not advise you taking the railway route via
St. Paul. You will have less trouble and less expense if you
go by the Lakes to Duluth. Besides this, you must bear in
mind that no steamer runs from Breckenridge, and at some
seasons of the year there is a possibility of there being none
from Moorhead ; but if your ticket reads via the " Red River
Transportation Co.," the railway is bound to take you where
you can meet with one of the boats of the line, whether at
Moorhead or Crookston. If you have animals, household or
other goods to brir.g with you, try, if possible, to make special
arrangements for their freight, at a through rate, direct to
Winnipeg or Moorhead, and if you succeed in doing so, be sure
and get the agreement in writing from the office where you
make the contract, so as to render it binding ; also make cer-
tain that the office is a responsible one before you complete your
bargain.

Where there are several parties travelling together we would
recommend them, if they have no special agreement in regard
to a through rate for their effects, &c., to club together, on
their arrival at Duluth, and engage a whole car at car rates to
Moorhead. Each individual can then pay his proportion of
the amount according to the quantity of effects, &c., he may
have in the car, and this plan will be found a great saving in
the item of freight. ' . "

Elsewhere will be found a tariff of rates for passengers and
freight, which will be of service to those who intend moving
to Manitoba. We give them, however, merely to afford an idea
as to the cost of travelling to this Province, and would advise
those who intend coming here to make their own arrange-
ments, aj already suggested in this book.
■ We subjoin the fcllowing extracts from letters written at
our request by G. B. Spencer, Esq., Collector of Customs in
Winnipeg, and J. W. Taylor, Esq., American CohkuI at the
same place, and the information they contain will provo of great

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service to those who may desire to come to Manitoba, and
bring with them their cattle, household goods, or farming
implements : —

" 1 will, however, add that emigrants from any of the other Pro-
vinces of the Dominion, bringing • with them any goods other than
ehects in use, including horses and cattle, «fcc. , »&c. , must furnish
the Oustonas on arrival here with a certificate and official stamp
from some one of the Collectors of Customs at or near their place
of departure, tliat the goods or animals are the manufacture or
production of the Dominion of Canada — otherwise they will be
treated on arrival here as if imported from the United States, or
any other country, not of the Dominion of Canada.

"(Signed) G. B. Spbnobr,

" " 15th January, 1877."

"U. S. Consulate,
" Winnipeg, January 26th, 1876.

"Dear Sik, — In response to your communication of the I7th
instant, asking what facilities are extended by the Treasury De-
partment to emigrants from Eastern Canada passing through Ame-
rican territory to Manitoba, I transcribe Art. 723 of U. 6. Customs
Regulations, which embodies the terms, of communications made to
this Consulate at different periods since 1871 .

' ' Art. 723. Upon due entry and the giving of a proper bond at
frontier ports, by parties intending to pash through the territory of
the United States to the Province of Manitoba ma Pembina, of
their personal and household effects, including horses, cattle, and
waggons, imported for their own use, and not for sale, the articles
may be delivered into the custody and control of the party for the
purpose of such transportation and exportation, instead of requir-
ing them to be transported over a regularly bonded route. In such
cases, Cr'Uectors shall cause entry to be made in triplicate, c«u*e-
fully specifying the articles, -vith quantities, values and duties, one
of which shall be transmitted by mail to the Collector at Pembina.
Another given to the ownei' of the goods, to be by him delivered to
the said Collector, and the third detained on the files of the Collec-
tor at the post of departure. If dosired, parties may give a bond
without sureties, on depositing the estimated duties with the Col-
lector of the port where entry is made, which deposit shill be
returned on presentation of tlie proper proofs of exportation.

" lu view of these regulations, I would advise any intending
emigrant to obtain a Consular certificate in Canada, showing items
and values of his stock, predent the same to the collector of the port
of entry in the United States, and then make his special arrange-
munts for transportation tf) Manitoba — either by giving his bond
with citizens of United States as sureties, or his individual bond
without security, or depositing the amount of accruing duties . The
latter procedure has been very convenient — the Collector's draft to
order of emigrant following the receipt of Collector Spencer's (of
Winnipeg), landing certificate.

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A PB4CTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

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" The fees to American Officials will uot exceed five dollars as
follows : —

" Consular certificate at the outset of journey from

Canada 82 60

" Entry for immediate transpoi-tation in bond to

Manitoba 1 50

" Inspection, &c.,at Pembina \ 100

$5 00

" After parsing the United States frontier, the emigrant may take
any route he chooses : but I would advise that he should remain in
possession of his eftects until his arrival in Manitoba. He should
understand, however, that his bond will not be released or the
duties refunded, if he disposes of any portion of his stock (un-
avoidable casualties, to be fully explained, excepted), in transit
through the United States.

"I am &c.,
"(Signed) J. W. Taylor,

" U. S. Consul."

If you intend taking your team with you and driving from
Moorhead over the prairie to Winnipeg, you would do well to
provide yourself with the following articles, if j'ou do not
happen to have them : —

A Tent. Tin cups.

Frymg pan. Tin plates.

Kettle to boil wat:?r. Knives and forks,(common).

Tea pot. Iron spoons.

Water pail. Some wrought nails.

Axe. A piece of leather /strong),

Hatchet. paper of wrought tacks, some

Butcher knife. stout twine.

One or two plough lines and

Bedding. ^

And your provisioi\s as follows :

Tea. Ham, bacon or pork.

Sugar. Flour.

Salt. Baking Powder.

Pepper. Butter.

Biscuits. Matches.

Some Pain -Killer in case of sickness.

Get hobbies* made for your horses to prevent their straying
av; ay from you at night. When travelling make it a rule to

• Hobbles are straps made to confine the fore feet of the horse to prevent
his galloping away. These straps are fastened on junt over the hoof above
the fetlock, the l»»g«' being allowed a play of about a foot apart. In this
way th'j ar>'!ii»l can only hop along and cannot consequently travel any
distance during the night. Hobbling horses does not in the Ixast interfere
with their feeding.

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TO MANITOBA AND TH« NuRTH-WKHT.

15

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start as early as posfiible in the morning, take long rests in tho
middle and heat of the day, and travel again in the cool of the
evening so as not to wear out your horses.

It is always desirable and in fact necessary for you to take
a supply of oats from Moorhead, to feed your horses on the way,
as grass is not sufficient to keep animals in good condition^^
where they have to travel day after day with loads. There
is, however, pasture all along the road from Moorhead to Win-
nipeg. In order to camp at the best spots for water and wood,
your plan is to enquire, as you go, at the different stage stations
along the road, as the men in charge of them will give you all
the information you desire. While you keep along the river
you are all right, but at some places you have to make a detour
and depend upon small lakes and creeks for water ; and, as some
of them are salty, if your horses should drink at them they
would probably become sick, and it is for this reason we advise
you to enquire at the stations for the best camping grounds.

With regard to the cost of travelling to Manitoba, we hav»
given a fct of rates, but we have done so merely to give some
idea of the expense, und would advise parties to make their
own terms with the cheapest line.

In reference to this aubject, we clip the following from the
Winnipeg Free Press of the 11th, which may be information
to some of our readers :

*' Immigration Rates. — Mr. John Ralston has been offered
through passenger rates from Montreal to Winnipeg for next sea-
son at $18, or to Duluth for $8 .40 per 100 lb. for freight ; horses,
$10and cattle $8, to the last mentioned point. The route is from
Montreal to Hamilton by boat, thence to Southampton by Great
Western Railway, and thence to Duluth by boat, then by
Northern Pacific and Red River boats to Winnipeg."

We are informed tliat the Beatty and Windsor line of
steamers, plying to Duluth have combined under the name of
the North-west Company, with headquarters at Sarnia. This
line •will be an extra strong. one, and doubtless parties will be
able to effect good arrangements with them for transportation.

The third question which is likely to be asked is '' What
sort of a trip is it to Manitoba V

Our reply is as follows : — If you take the steamer either at
Collingwood or Sarnia, yon will find the boats commodious
and comfortable, and the officers, as a rule, most attentive to
their passengers. The scenery along the north side of Lake
Superior is very fine, and you will have opportunities while
the boat is wooding, and receiving or discharging freight, of
enjoying yourself fishing, bathing and scrambling about the
shore picking up pebbles, mosses and curiosities. To any
one in poor health, nothing is so apt to bring the roses to the
cheeks as the clear bracing atmosphere of the lakes, especially

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

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that of Superior. Parties must bear in mind, however, that
the weather during the first trip or two of these Lake Superior
steamers is apt to be rather cold, and they should prepare
themselves accordingly. Our description applies to later in
the season. The, passage to Duluth through the lake consumes
about three or four days, unless you are detained by bad
weatlier, which will not be very often, as the boats are seaworthy,
and do not put in for every slight storm. The time, however,
passes so pleasantly, that it is hardly felt, and on the arrival
of the boat at Duluth, the almost universal feeling amongst
the passengers, is regret at the termination of the
voyage. The accommodation for the second-class passengers
is very good, and every attention is paid to their comfort. The
first thing you do on arriving at Duluth, is to go to the (Cus-
tom House, and present your papers through a broker (whose
office you will easily find), so as to facilitate the forwarding of
your effects, if you have more than ordinary baggage. As a
rule, freight is forwarded on the Nonliern Pacific Railway
without delay, but if there is any appearance of your goods
and chattels being neglected or left behind, apply to the agent
of the steamboat company, or to the captain of the boat you
arrived in to interfere in the matter. We would here refer you
to what we have already said in regard to several parties club-
ing together and hiring a car, so as to cheapen the rate of
freight between Duluth and Moorhead.

Duluth is situated on the side of a high and steep hill p.t
the extreme western end of Lake Superior^ and is possessed of
a good harbour. It has a very scattered appearance at present,
but is destined without doubt to become in time a place of great
importance. As you leave it on the cars of the Northern P«-
, cific Railway, you pass through a very mountainous country,"
nothing but rocks and pine being visible, and you cross several
bridges of immense height spanning deep ravines between the
mountains. Gradually, however, you come to a prairie country
which does not strike the eye as being very productive, the soil
being too sandy in many places, and in others covered with
great quantities of stones. The land along the Northern Pacific
II. R. is thinly settled, and we fear it will be long ere its popu-
lation will increase to any great extent. The rapid growth,
however, of some of the towns along the line, through the in-
strumentality of the railroad company, is remarkable, especially
that uf Braiiiard, Moorhead and Fargo, places of only a few
year*' standing. As you approach the Red River, the soil
improves in quality, and indeed, if you take the overland
route from Moorhead to Winnipeg, you will find tho land
along the river side fair, but a mile or two out on the prairie
it is little better than a desert in most places. It is astonishing
how little really good land there is unoccupied and suitable for

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TO MANITOBA AND THB NORTH WEST.

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successful cultivation in the north-western StAtes. Thus, along
the banks of the ReJ River in Minnesota and Dakota, the good
land is confined to a narrow strip on each side of the stream (most
of which is already taken up;, and out on the prairie it is harui'v
fit for settlement. You leave Duluth in the morning and reac'/
Moorhead in the evening, but if the Red River steamers au
running to Crookston ; you will have to change cars at Glyndon,
and tfdce a branch line of the St. Paul and Pacific R. R. to
that place. It will consume the best part of the next day ere
you reach Crookston, but when yoti arrive there you have no
further transhipment until you arrive at Winnipeg. You will
find the Red River steamers commodious, and the officers cour-
teous and obliging. The meals on board (for which you have
to pay extra), are good and substantial, and the berths clean
and comfortable. The trip down the river although a little
monotonous is not unpleasant, especially as you generally meetv
some nice people on board, and the officers of the boat vie with
each other to make themselves agreeable ro their passengers.

If you intend to go overland from Moorhead you will be able
to start the day after your arrival, and will experience the
flovelLy of travelling and camping out on the prairie for the
next eight or nine days. ^

The pleasure of travelling over the prairie may be interrupted
now and again by mosquitoes and sometimes bad roads, but
taking it altogether, it is quite an enjoyable trip. You eat
heartily and sleep well, and you have plenty to employ your
time in looking after your team, making and striking camp, .
and cooking meals. Occasionally you will find some shooting,
and at some seasons of the year, especially in the spring and in
the fall, you will meet with numbers of ducks, pheasants and
prairie chickens. It is not improbable that you may come
across a deer, a fox, a skunk, or even a bear, but they are not
numerous : altogether you will not find the journey irksome,
•especially if you take care at starting to have everything ia ■
proper shape, according to the instructions we have given you.

When you pass through Pembina, at the boundary line be-
tween United States and Manitoba, you have to re^x-di yourself
at the American Custom -Hftuse, and be careful to 8<?^, that your
bonds are properly cancelled by the officials before you pass over
5 into British territory. When you cross over into Manitoba,
you will have to obtain a clearance from our own Customs offi-
cials at West Lynne, after which you may con.sider yourself
free to travel through the British North-West. If the saving
of time is an object to you, we would advise you to take the
stage — not otherwfse, as you travel day and night (a tedious
operation), and make the distance from Moorhead to Winnepeg
dn thirty-six hours. \

And now to retrace our steps, we deem it hardly necessary to

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A PRAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND QUIDS

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describe the all rail part of the trip from Toronto via Chicago and
St. Paul, as it simply means taxing your seat in a car to be
whirled through the country at the rate of thirty or forty miles
per hour. It is the usual meeting of strangers whom you may
never see again — the calling out of stations by the brakesman
as you pass along — the slamming of doors, and the whir whir
of the wheels as you speed past the telegraph poles — catching
now and again a glimpse of fertile fields with lazy cattle grazing
in them, or rushing through dense forests, or past farm housei*
and villages, and now and again a passing train. At the
stations it is the same bustle and confusion as anywhere else —
the towns and cities appear very much alike, and you rush
through the country without an opportunity of judging as to<
its merits or disadvantages. You are pestered by news-boys
and squalling children, and now and again your eyes are glad-
dened by the sight of a pretty face amongst *he lady passengers
— you get very thirsty, very dusty very sleepy and very tired,
and you are glad when your journey is ended, your only satis-
faction being that you have got over the distance at a rapid
rate.

So now we have said all we can say about the trip, and we
again join you as you approach the city of Winnipeg, the future
great centre of trade in the North- West.

As you approach by land or by the river, the first objects
that arrest the attention are the Cathedral, Convents, and Col-
leges of St. Boniface on the eastern side of the Red River.
Next you see McLane's mill, a large three story building, and
Fort Garry, the Hudson's Bay Company post and head-
qur ters, situated on the Assiniboine River, near its mouth ;
and beyond lies what appears to be a very large city, somewhat
scattered at the edges, but comp-ictly built in the centre, and
this i.s he city of Winnipeg. It is about sixty miles from the
boundary line — the custom-house centre for the North- West,
and the seat of Government for the Province.

The growth of Winnipeg has been truly wonderful, as will
be seen in the following table : —

700 in 1871,
1,600 " 1872,
3,600 " 1873,
5,000 " 1874,

and since then a propoHionat'^ increase.

The origin of Winnipeg was caused by its proximity to Fort
G&rry, the Hudson's Lay Company post, to which a few years
back all the settlers had to resort from far and near for their
supplies. This induced several free traders to establish stores
idi the vicinity to catch the stray pennies, and as the hunters
and fur traders usually came to the fort twice a year from the

■«**»»K('W^'A«W**»?«3**«*-"3i%'llraf*ra

TO MANITOBA AND THB NORTH-WIST.

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Saskatchewan, Rocky Mountains, and Norway House for their
tf ading outfits, a good deal of trade was picked up from them
by these outsiders. The H. B. Company tried in every way
(and who can blame them for it), to discourage this independent
trading, which was in opposition to them ; but the time of
monopoly was drawing to a close, and the small village near
the Fort gradually grew in size and importance. The natural
advantages of the place, situated as it is at the junction of the
Red and Assiniboine Rivers, which connect through Lakes
Manitoba and Winnipeg, with the North and South Saskatche-
wan, reaching to the Rocky Mountains, making it thereby a
centre of trade, assisted greatly towards building it up. Stores
and dwellings increased in number ; strangers coming to the
country made Winnipeg their headquarters, and in 1869 and
1870, during the rebellion, it became the principal scene of the
acts caused by that uprising. This brought it prominently be-
fore the public of other parts'of the world, and its natural ad-
vantages soon became acknowledged, for when peace v, is re-
stored to the country, and Manito.>a be ne one of the Pro»
vinces of the Dominion, Winnipeg became its seat of Govern-
ment. In consequence of this, it was and is the centre for all
Government officials, Dominion or Provincial, to transact their
business, and all the supplies for the interior have therefore to
be taken from it. It was not incorporated until 1873, when it
received the right to elect a Mayor and twelve Aldermen for
the Civic Government oi" ihe place. if^

Old inhabitants, who held land within the city limits, which
they had purchased in by -gone days at comparatively small
figures from the Hudson's Bay Company, had their attention
suddenly drawn to the value of their real estate. They began
by having their properties surveyed into city lots, and fields
which had been used only for pasture, were all at once valued
at so much p'^^r foot, from which time lots quickly increased in
price, thus bringing wealth to their possessors.

Some idea of the rate at which Winnipeg city property has
increased in value may be gained by the following instances,
being one or two of many such cases :

One lot on Main Street,|which could have been purchased in
1871 for $500, is now held at $6,000, a small one story build-
ing on it being valued at about $500. $5,000 was refused for
this property during the past year. Another corner of Main
and Thistle Streets was sold for $500 and is now worth $10,000,
and the returns from it warrant the value.

Winnipeg as it stands at present and what it was five years
ago, are certainly two very different things ; but as we are
more interested in the city of to-day than the hamlet of yester-
day, we will deal with the former and leave the latter without
further remarks.

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The limits of Winnipeg enclose an area of about 2,000 acres
or three square miles, and if it goes on at the rate it is now
doing, they will soon have to extend the suburbs far beyond
where they are at present. The principal thoroughfares are
Main Street, which runs the entire length of the city from the
Assiniboine River to the northern limits, and Portage Avenue,
which commences at Main Street and extends to the western
suburbs, each having an almost uniform width of 132 feet. The
other streets are 66 feet wide, except Burrows Avenue, which is
99 feet. Main Street can boast of some very fine structures,
a few of which we may mention by name, most of them being
three story buildings built of brick ; and by the way, we may
state here that the bricks manufactured in the neighbourhood
of the city are of the very best description and quality, and
there can be an unlimited supply of them obtained. But in
regard to the buildings, there are first, the Hudson's Bay Co.'s
offices ; next, the Canada Pacific Hotel, followed by Hespeler's
Block, Custom House, Dominion Land Oflfice, Free Press Build-
ing, Brown's Store, Ontario Bank, Brousp's Hotel, Schultz
Block, Bain & Blanchard's Building, Manitoba Club, Merchants'
Bank, Bannatyue's Store, Higgins' Building, Post Office, Ash-
down's Hardware Store, Court House, and the City Hall. Be-
sides these there are numerous finely finished frame buildings,
presenting quite as tasteful an appearance as their more costly
neighbours built of brick. One noticeable fact in regard to the
buildings in Winnipeg is, that very few of them, if any, can be
called shanties. Going through the city it is most pleasing to
observe the neat and tidy appearance of even the meanest of
the houses. You see handsome bow windows, fine verandahs,
large plate glass panes, and other signs of taste on the part of
the owners, but no where will you find the rude cabins so often
to be found on the confines of old as well as new cities. There
are, it is true, a few of the old log houses stiil standing, but
they look so mean alongside of their more modern neighbours,
that their owners are rapidly tearing them down and replacing
them by finer buildings.

The streets, as a rule, are all well laid out, and of late the
Corporation authorities have not been idle in grading and sup-
plying them with broad side-walks throughout the entire length
and breadth of the city. A move is now being made to have
the sides of the streets lined with shade trees, which will make
Winnipeg one of the handsomest cities west of Chicago. Cer-
tain parts of the city have been laid out for public parks, their
names and extent being as follows : —

Burrows Park 5 acres

Victoria " 8 "

Mulligan " 3 "

TO MANITOBA AND TOE N0RTH-WB8T.

19

Winnipeg can also boast of one of tlie finest driving parks in
the North-West.with its stands for judges and spectators. The
city is thoroughly drained by immense sewers, built something
on the plan of the (Chicago sewerage, at a cost of over $40,000 ;
and it is proposed, at an early day, to supply the people with
as fine clear water as can be found anywhere, from the rise of
land up the Assiniboine River. In the mean time, however,
as a means for extinguishing fires, there are immense tanks
sunk at the comers of the principal streets, which are always
kept filled with water, and the city is provided with two Silsby
fire-engines, and a first-class hook and ladder ai>paratu8, in
charge of an efficient Firemen's Association.

There are, in all, eight churches in the city at present, as
follows : —

St. Mary's Church Roman Catholic.

Holy Trinity Episcopal.

Christ Church do «

Knox Church Presbyterian.

Grace Church Wesleyan Methodist

Zion Church do do

Bethel Church Episcopal do

Baptist Church.

The educational interests are not forgotten in the St. Boni-
face College ; St. John's College, to which a Ladies' School is
to be added in the spring at a cost of $10,000, r well as the
Central School, which is contracted for to be built m the spring
at a cost of $15,000 ; Manitoba College, Wesleyan Institute,
St Mary's Academy, and the Common Schoels, two in number.
The Winnipeg General Hospital is an institution which is well
kept up, both by public and private contributions.

In mills and manufactories, the city gives proof of the enter-
prise of its people, there being two large flouring mills, three
saw mills, four planing mills and sash factories, one foun-
dry, two carriage manufactories, one distillery, one biscuit and
confectionery manufactory, and a woollen mill and carriage fac-
tory at St. Boniface, besides a number of smaller factories
scattered throughout the city.

There are two daily papers, the Morning Herald and Even-
ing Free Press. There are also two weeklies, the Free Press
and Standard, besides a French paper, Le Mitis, published at
St. Boniface.

There are now over 1,000 buildings of every description
within the city limits, and included in that number are several
very comfortable hotels, amongst which the principal are : —

The Canada Pacific,
The Grand Central,

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The Intematiuiiai,
MoDchampe,
The Dominion,
Brouse's,

and several others of a minor character.

Along the bank of the river, fronting the city, the scene
presented during the summer is one of great activity. The
grist and saw mills working night and day, sash factories in
full operation, the steamers and barge.s loading and discharging
cargo, and the flat boats moored to the bank unloading their
goods — proclaim the fact that Winnipeg is a thriving and
prosperous place.

There are now three steamboats plying on the Red Rivei'
between the Stone Fort and Winnipeg, a distance of almo'^t
twenty-one miles, making occasional trips up the Aseiniboine
to Portage la Prairie, and up the Red River to Emerson on the
boundaay line. A daily line is also projected for next summer,
to run between Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie. The Red
River Transportation Company employ seven steamers, and
the new line from Moorhead intend building two more, so
that will make a total of twelve steamers plying to and from
Winnipeg.

The trade of Winnipeg has rapidly developed into a very ex-
tensive one, and the city can now boast of several large houses
doing business each to the extent of from $100,000 to $250,000
per annum. Of course this does not include the Hudson's Bay
Company trade, the Winnipeg branch of which is very great
and more than triple that of any of the outside mercliants.

In the old days the traders' carts from Fort Garry were
accustomed to go as far as Dubuque on the Mississippi for their
supplies, they then shortened their trip by going to St. Paul as
soon as that city was in a position to furnish them. After this
the brigades of carts went only to St. Cloud, when the railway
became extended from St. Paul to that place, and to-day the
fur traders who used to go to St. Paul for their goods, purchase
their outfit in Winnipeg.

Thus the march of commerce has gone on throughout the
Western and North- Western States, and as Chicago became the
centre of trade in the Western, and St. Paul in the North-
western, so is Winnipeg destined from her position to be the
commercial emporium of the British North- West.

In connection with the trade of Winnipeg we quote the fol-
lowing, taken from the St. Paul Pioneer Press :

" The trade between the United States and the Province of
Manitoba is much larger than is generally supposed. The re-
porter of the Pioneer ascertained incidentally that the Kittson line
of ateamers on the Ped River of the North had carried duiintj the

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TO MANITOBA AND THK N0RTH-WK8T.

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past M)a«on over five millions of poundH in l>unded gixnls, or goodi
which aitnply pasatxl through the United States to and from Mani-
toba without undergoing any inapeution fr«>ni subordinate uustoni
house otticiala. Three huudre<l car loads of these gcKMls wera trans-
ferred at Bt. Paul under the Hupervision of t)ie customs officers in this
city. This fact naturally led che reporter to the office of Dr. Phillips,
the ConuniNsioner of Statistics of MinnoHota, who, in order to make
his forthcoming report as complete as nossible, has obtained a sche-
dule of articles shipped into and from Manitoba tlirough the Custom
House at Pembina. Those articles are, of course, additional to
bonded giMMls, and are simply as arc grown, produced > manufac-
tured in the United States or in the Province of Mai. oba. Dr.
Phillips has appreciated th^ importance of securing some reliable
facta on this important point which seema to have been overlooked
by his predecessor in the Statistical Department t)f the State Gov-
ernment, and hence in hia corre8i»ondence with Mr. A. E, Nelson,
the special deputy collector at Pembina, he has received a complete
gchedule of articles imported into Manitf>ba during the season of
1870, from the customs district of Minnesota. A glance at this
schedule, which appears in full in the re}>ort of the Commissioner of
Statistics, shows that the aggregate value of theso ex]>orts is given
at $802,400. Manitoba is ab'e U> very nearly balance her export*
with her i'lijwrts, the value of the latter being ?7*''4,8B8 ; or within
less than !^,000 of what was paid for the articles brought into the

Erovinco from the United States. The imports into the Customs
district of Minnesota are given as follows by Mr. Melson, in the
schedule forwarded to Dr. I'hillips.

" Value of goods entered for exportation f 155,361

" Value of free goods entered 036,869

" Value of dutiable goods entered for consump-
tion 3,638

"Total imports from Manitoba... ^94,868

" Though the items are not specified in the list of imports, the
article of fur is of course the most important production of Man-
itoba, undjressed furs being on the free list. Flour, grain and lum-
ber are also entered tree of duty.

" The foregoing facts and figures ere interesting, as showing the
comn.eroial importance of Manitoba, and of the necessity of com-
pleting the lines of communication between St. Paul and Win-
nipeg. The difficulties of transportation on Red River during the
winter are well kncvn, and it only ren'.ains for the opening of direct
rail communication between the United States and the populous
and prosperous regions north of the boundary line, to quicken the
trade between Minnesota and Manitoba, into proportions which can
now be scarcely estimated.

" It is to be lioped therefore that Dr. Phillips' valuable statistics
on this subject may serve to direct attention to the subject, which
is worthy of careful consideratiou on the part of Minnesota legis-
lators, and all other citizens who have an interest in the development
and prosperity of the State and the great North- West."

That Winnipeg is to be the centre of competing lines for the

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OUIDE

carrying trade eastward and westward, there cannot be a
shadow of a doubt. Eastward, railways via United States,
will contend with those through our own territory, r^nd Win-
nipeg being the junction of the lines, will be the location for
the principal dep6ts.

There are also several local roads projected, the termini of
which are to be at Winnipeg ; and in the near future, it is not
difficult to foresee that a network of railroads westward will
be constructed through this vast country, diverging in different
directions from one main centre of supply, which from its posi-
tion and advantages must be Winnipeg. Another point in
favour of thp cii-y is, that she has the start already in wealth
and influe' •, two very powerful auxiliaries; and although
there will doubtless be other cities and towns established in the
North-West, yet she will hold the first place and will be in
fact the great feeder of the country.

In regard to the future trade of Winnipeg, one has only to
look at the immense country opening ;\p w-jstward to the
Rocky Mountains which will have to be oupplied, to form an
idea of wh}>t that trade is likely to be. One more word in con-
nection with the future metropolis oi the North-West and we
say it for the purpose of claiming the attention of capitalists to
tho splendid field here open for investments. Real estate, as
we have already shown, hai rapidly increased in value in Win-
nipeg during the past few years, and lots in the city are bring-
ing fair prices, present value ; but there is not the least doubt
that even the highest priced ^n\, in the city will more than
quadruple iv/S value in the course of the next five or ten years.
Tliere are, however, opportunities of buying city property in
what is now known as the suburbs, for comparatively low
figures, and it is to these especially we would like to draw at-
tention. The present suburbs will, without doubt in a few years,
become more central as the city extends its limits, and the va'ne
of what are now considered suburban lots will increase to a
wonderful extent. Of course the more central the more valu-
able will be the property, but an investment in Winnipeg city
property of to-day, if held a few years, will tell the same tale
as investments in Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Chicago, Mil-
waukee and St. Paul have done before in their day. It is well
known tliat parties who purebred real estate in these cities in
their early days and held it, lived to see it the source of great
wealth to themselves and their children after them.

And now, turning our steps from the city to the country, we
will take a cursory view of the Province ere we go into details
as lo its advantages and resources.

TO MANITOBA AND THK NO&TH-WEST.

.^m

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROVINCE.

The main highway, by which you enter the Province at West
Lynne, on the Ameiican Boundary line, luns northward along
the western side of the Red River. A branch office of the
Canadian Custom House at Winnipeg has been (established at
West Lynne, where yoo have to report your arrival and pass
the necessary entries, and you wi)l find the officer in charge
(Mr. Bradley), a most accommodating official, who will give
you every assistance in his power. The steamers from the
United States all stop here, and if you are a passenger on
board with your effbots, you have nothing to do, as the olerk
of the boat reports his manifest, but your personal luggage
will have to be examined by the landing waiter, the same as at
any 1 1- :'r port of entry in the Dominion.

At West Lynne there is a Hudson's Bay Company Post
with stores, &c., and shortly afterwards you come to a ferry
which connects with the Town of Emerson on the opposite
bank of the river. This latter place is in a most flourishing
condition, and bids fair to become a large city in the near
future. Its inhabitants are entei prising and liberal, and its
position as the terminus of the Pembina Branch of the Cana-
dian Pacific Railway, will undoubtedly make it a place of
importance. Already, it can boast of several fine buildings,
amongst which are one or two churches, hotels, acd several
handsome stores. And the houses generally, as in Winnipeg,
are all of a superior kind, no shanties being visible. There
is also a Dominion Lands office established there for the con-
venience of intending settlers, t-uting up land in the neighbor-
hood.

Before going further, I will now give you a short outline of
the Red River, from West Lynne, until it empties into Lake
Winnipeg. From the southern boundary of the Province,
till you reach the lake, it is 104 miles in a direct line, but the
river is very winding in its course, which more than doubles the
distance by water. The average width of the stream is 300
feet, and the banks are from twenty to thirty feet in height,
until you reach the low and marshy district in the neighbour-
hood of Lake Winnipeg. It is navigable to vessels of light
draught the entire distance, the only trouble some places
being in the parishes of St. Norbert and St. Andrews, where
it is very shallow, with slight rapids and boulders in the bed
of the stream. It will neither be a difficult nor an expensive
matter to entirely remedy this evil, and ot late years much has
been dono by the Government and private enterprise towards
that object. The banks on both sides of the river are lined
witfh wood, chiefly poplar» UunarAC and a mixtiuie of oak^ elm^

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and birch. Between We8« Lynne, and the parish of St. An-
drews, north of the City of Winnipeg, the woods appear
heavier ana more continuous on the eastern side of the river
•than on the western, and beyond this forest line to the east-
ward and to the westward the vast praire extends as far as the
eye can reach, dotted here and there on the bluffs, and along
the numerous creeks, with groves of trees.

The prairie, as a general rule, is level, although in some
parts it is Siightly undulating, and everywhere it has an incli-
nation towards the river. The soil varies slightly in some
{)arts of the Province, but is chiefly of an alluvial black argil-
aceous mouki> rich in organic deposit, ara rests at a usual
depth of two and a-half feet on the pr?.;fie, and fr^^m two and
a-half feet to twenty feet on bottom lands. There are swamps
and marshes here and there, but on examination they will be
found to possess a firm bottom of altuvial soil, similar to the
pi'airie, and so hard that horses and cattle can wade through
them in every direction, and as they are generally at a much
higher level than the streams, the channels of which are deep,
it will not be a difficult matter to drain them so as to bring
them under cultivation, when they will prove perhaps to be
the 6 nest land in the Province.

Leaving the ferry landing opposite Emerson, you now pro-
ceed along a level prairie road, with here and there a deep
creek or coolie to cro.ss, keeping at a distance of a mile or so
4 rem the river, until you reach the site of the proposed town of
Morris, at Scratching River ; you meet with very few houses on
the way until you arrive at the latter place, where you will find
several brick and frame buildings, amongst which are an hotel,
school-house, and one or two stores. This is the point of
diversion for the Manitoba Southern Railway, which, although
at a stand still now, will undoubtedly be built in the near
future. When constructed, this railway will run from Win-
nipeg along the west side of the Red River directly south to
Morris, where it will diverge in a south-westerly direction to
the neighbourhood of Pock Lake, thus opening up communi-
cation with one of th'. finest portions of the Province, the
Pembina mountain dist ct.

After leaving Scratching River, the country gradually ap-

{)earM to bo better settled, the houses more numerous, and the
and fenced and under cultivation. You now and then pass a
tavern or stage station, a church or a-school house, and when
you get within aboi'l twelve miles of Winnipeg, you lose sight
of the prairie altogether, and enter a belt of woode. From thia
point you meet with small log houses in close proximity to
each other, belonging principally to the poorer class of French
half-breeds, until you reach " Rivifere Salic," where there is a
large r;n8t mill belonging to Joseph Lemaj', Esq., M.P.P., three

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stores, a church, a convent^ and several fine frame buildings.
From this point until you reach Winnipeg, the road continues
through the woods, and there is nothing particularly worthy of
mention, except that the eastern side of the river appears
to be as thickly populated as the western on which you are
travelling.

- You have now passed four parishes : those of St. Agathe, St.
Norbert, St. Vital, and St. Boniface, and when you arrive at
the Assinihoine river, you have to pass over on a rope ferry,
which lands you within the city limits of the levee and ware-
house of the Red River Transportation Company. ' ! ■ P; I"

You now pass through Winnipeg, and enter upon another
of the main highways of the Province. Your course continues
to be in a northerly direction along the western side of the
Red River, and one '^f the first objects of interest which attracts
your attention is St. John's Cathedral, with the Colleges and
Bishop's Court in the back-ground. Near here is Redwood
Brewery, a fine property adjoining the fur-trading establishment
of Hon. Alfred Boyd. As you journey onwards from this point,
the thriving condition of the farms along the ron ^ and the high
state of cultivation in which they are kept, attost the thrift
and comfort of their owners. You pass on the right-hand side,
field after field of waving grain, and to the left is the boundless
prairie with herds of cattle grazing here and there, proclaiming
the wealth of the neighbouring farmers in live stock.

After leaving St. John's Cathedral, the next church you pass
is that of the Rev. John Black, in Kildonan Parish, and further
on a few miles the Middle church in St. Paul's ; near Lhe latter,
on the river banl , is a fine grist mill belonging to Mr. H.
Pritchard, whi^h turns out vf .y good work indeed. There are
also several windmills in operation along the road, and some of
the old settlers prefer this primitive mode to that of steam,
asserting that it turns out stronger and better flour.

The country, which is open prairie (vith a belt of wood along
the river, and soil similar to that described between Winnipeg
and West Lynne, is very much the same all the way nntil you
enter St. Andrew's parish, soon after which you p-iss into
woods, and these continue until you reach St. Peter's Indian
Reserve. ;Ufi.-^i, ..fe-di*? 1'..- -f -;^;r'?v ;■■ ? '-, ,, ■j'^- ^'^z - ■,/■ '-''..

In St. Andrew's, there is a fine steam grist mill belonging to
E. H. G. G. Hay, and in connection with it the following ex-
, tract may be read with mterest : —

"Manitoba Flouk Abroad. — The following are uxtracts from a
letter received by Mr. E. H. (J. G. Hay, of St. V.ndrew'8, from Mr.
William Greey, Government Flcur [nspector, at Toronto, in refer-
ence to samples of dour sent to him by Mr. Hay. It will be seen
that the flour Ib spoken of in the highest terms. Mr. Greey says : —
^ * Your favour of 28th ult. , and sample of flour arrived here on the
0

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H» A PRACTICAL HAND BOOK AND GUIDK

11th instant. The floiir is an excellent first class " strong uakers/"
a tip top quality. It beats my standard of that grade. I exhibited
the sample on the Corn Exchange yesterday, and it was greatly ad-
mired by all the dealers and millers (say twenty or thirty), who saw
it, and I invited all I could. The Hour is very lively, strong, bright
and clearly dressed. It was the impression that such would bring
in price $6.25 to ^.30 per barrel. Some " strong bakers" made
near here sold for $5.15 a day or two ago. Your spring wheat miist
evidently be much plumper and str<)nger than ours of this year,
which is unusually thin and poor. Your kind is much needed in
wheat or flour if it could be got here safely. You vinderrated your
sample ; your kind is much needed in wheat ; it is much better than
my Government sample of spring extra.' "

There are several stores and taverns along the road in St.
Andrew, and two fine churches, and the bank of the river is
thickly studded with small log houses the homes of English
half-breeds, who do not farm on so extensive a scale as they
do in other parts of the Province. Of course there are indi-
vidual cases of men who farm largely in this part of ihe coun-
try, but they are not numerous. The banks of the river in
the neighbourhood of the stone fort are very high, and there
are large quantities of stone boulders to be found on the shores
and in the bed of the stream, principally limestone.

The stone fort or Lower Fort Garry, consists of about six
acres of land enclosed by a high stone wall with bastions at
each corner. Inside this enclosure are the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany stores and warehouses, and in the centre of the square
there is a fine building used for officers' quarters. An exten-
sive farm is also carried on in the neighbourhood, in connection
with the fort. A few miles below the stone fort, the new Town
of Selkirk is situated at a point where it is expected the
Canadian Ppcific Railway may cross the Red River. This place
has grown wonderfully within the pa^t two years, and it now
can boast of the best wharf in the Province, with warehouses,
several stores, and a good hotel. There is no doubt, Selkirk
will grow to be a large place, as it has a fine country suiTound-
ing it, am? having scoured a start, it is very likely to keep it
against any competitors that may arise near it in the future.
You now pass into St. Clement's parish, the road being through
the wo ds all the way, until you reach the St. Peter's Indian
rtsserve, where the country gradually begins to decline, until it
sinks into swamps and marshes at the mouth of the Red River,
where it empties into Lake Winnipeg. The character of the
soil along tiie road we have just travelled, is as follows : —
From Winnipeg to St. Andrew'o, black loam, after which the
land becomes lighter in character, and towards the bank of tha
river, somewhat mixed with gravel. From St. Andrew's down-
wards, the soil cannot be surpassed for wheat growin™

The next highway, and perhaps the most important on a in

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TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

27

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the Province, commences at the City of Winnipeg, and runs in
a westerly direction towards Portage la Prairie. It starts along
the northern side of the Assiniboine River, first passing through
the parish of St. James, which is thickly settled principally by
English half-bree''s, and the descendants of the pensioners sent
out by the British Government in the time of the Hudson's
Bay Company. About five miles from Winnipeg, there is the
Assiniboine Brewery, a large establishment capable of turning
out a fine article of beer, in the manufacture of whi :h they
I have been lately using the native hop, which grows wild in large
'.quantities in the woods, and can be cultivated to perfection.
I Beyond the brewery is Silver Heights, and the site of a fine
grist mill and distillery which was burnt down a couple of
years ago. Silver Heights, the residence of Hon. Janiep
jMcKay, is one of the beautiful spots in the Province, His
garden is filled during the summer with vegetables and fruit,
amongst which are gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, cur-
brants, red and black, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, celery, &c.,
I Ac, in great profusion.

I The aspect of the country, with a few exceptions, is very much
: the same as along the Red River, the settlement being along
the bank of the stream, and on the opposite side of the road
open prairie. From St. James you pass into the parish of St.
Charles, and from that into Headingly where there are several
extensive market gardens, the proprietors of which find a ready
pale for their produce in Winnipeg. Here also you will find
a comfortable hotel. You now pass into St. Fran9ois Xavier,
which is principally settled by French half-breeds from which
you enter Bale St. Paul, also inhabited by the same class of
people. In the latter parish there is some of the finest pasture
in the Province.

! The advantages of this country for cattle-raising on a large
scale are demonstrated by the herds of fat cattle seen feeding
(12th December) on the nutritious grasses of t'le wide marsh
in the Big Bay. It is a striking fact thp.o cattle prefer th^ snow-
sprinkled marsh grass to the carefully saved hay, often Crimes;
for what reason we ha /e not heard. With the shelter of \t'oods,
such *bod, there is no doubt, would suffice for cattle a great
portion of the winter, and, even in the " open," lessening the
time required for stable and feeding to a material extent. In
fact, we have the experience of farmers in the neighbourhood
of the great marshes, to prove that horned cattle may fatten
on the marsh grasses up to December, and as early as the 1st
of March.

The soil up to this point is the Mack loam, but we now be-
gin to come to lighter land, which, although it may not last so .
long as the former, is splendid foi wheat-growing and is easier
worked. At White Horse plains there is a fine hotel with

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOCK AND GUIDE

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ample stabling accommodatioa, and within a mile or so, a U.
B. Co. post, in connection with which u large farm is carried
on. You now enter Poplar Point, and until that parish iu reached,
the halt-breed reserves monopolize the land outside of the two
mile reserve limit ; but from its eastern line westward as far as
the eye can reach, the country is dotted with comfortable
houses and well cultivated fields, exhibiting what the neigh-
bourhood would *:->on show if the stifling embargo of the re-
serves were remuv«?d. The farmers of this section, as far as the
" Beautiful Plains" vvest of the White Mud River, are mostly
from Ontario, and, though sorely tried during the past three
years, hope to clear themselves from debt with this year's
bountiful crop, and make themselves independent in a few
years more. They claim that it is the wheat country " par ex-
cellence" of the west ; certain it is that their wheat crop of
this year was the best, and the grain ne trly all No. 1 quality ;
of many samples of wheat examined by us, shrunk or small
grains were the exception, and the yield returned from the
thresher better than was hoped for, oats averaging 65 to 70, and
wheat somewhat over 30 bushels to the acre. The land along
the river continues to be thickly settled through the parish of
High Bluff until you reach Portage la Prairie, which is looked
upon by many as the future city of this part of the country.
Wo may mention that churches, school- houses, taverns, and
stores, are to be met with along the highway at intervals, but
there is no necessity for enumerating them. At Portage la
Prairie there are two good mills, a branch of Dominion Lands
Office, a stage office, and several stores ; and taking it altogether,
it is quite a lively place. A regular line of stages carrying the
mail run between this place and Winnipeg. We have now given
a short description of the three principal highways in the Pro-
vince, running along what is known as the Settlement Belt, and
will therefore proceed to a short description of some of the
principal outside settlements. K^^f ■ v

Riviere Salle settlement is best reaci.ed by way of Headhigly
and thence south over the Pembina trail which crosses the
Riviere Salle near the upper end of the settlement. Good
water can be had by boring to a depth of a dozen or twenty
feet. The country is prairie soil, black loam, with numerous
coolies or gullies affording good facilities for drainage. Splendid
pasturage in tbs neighbourhood, with good sh'lter from groves
and fringes of noode.

r V \, ,r BoYNE RivKR Settlement.

Totmuhip 6, Ravge 4 ami 5 JVest.

The Boyne River takes its rise in the Pembina mountains,
and is about fif'y miles long. Its 1 anks are lined w^th a fringe

TO MANITOBA ANT> THE N0RTH-W18T.

99

of heavy oak and elm timber which extends into a forest many
miles in extent as you approach the mountains. The soil here,
as in the previous settlement, is heavy black loam. This part
of the Province is peculiarly adapted for stock-raising, on
account of the fine pasturage, water, and protection by timber

•

POINTE DES ChENES OR SXE. AnNE DES CHENES

is situated on the Dawson Road. The country along here has *
fine park-like appearance, wi*b large tracts of woods in th
vicinity. It has numerous surface springs, and the land is very
fertile. In the neighbourhood of Pointe des Chfines there ar
the settlements of Clear Spring and Caledonia ; the land in both
these townships is very rich and well cultivated by the settlers.
Plenty of hay, wood, and water in this part of the country.
■ Springfield Township, 11, Range 4, East, is almost directly
north-west of Pointe des Chines, on the eastern side of the Red
River, about four miles north-east of Winnipeg. This locality
is well sheltered by a range of hills o.i the north, and on the
east and south by an irregular spur from the same. Water, pure
and clear, is obtained near the surface, and hay land and wood
in sufficiency.

The soil is so rich and easily worked that, as an intelligent
farmer remarked, his far /^ seemed all ready except the build-
ings.

-' • ^^■- Sunnyside. ■ <x ,!. ''.a,:

Township 11, Range 5, East.

i>

The same remark is applicable to this settlement as to the
previous one. It extends to Vne heavy belt of timber reaching
to Lake Superior.

Cook's Creek, Township 12, Range 6, East, is in the same
electoral division as Springfield and Sunnypide, and the descrip-
tion of these two townships is applicable also to it. It is well
settled.

The ekctoral division of Rockwood contains the following
settlements :

Rockwood, Township 13, Range 2, East.
Grassmere, Township 13, Range 1, East. . ,

Woodlands, Township 14, Range 2, West. /*_/:, ^
f ' -j^ Victoria, Township 14, Range 2, East. .* .' "^^l*

Brant, Township 14, Range 1, East. - '- ' •
Greenwood, Township IB, Range 2, Ea.«it. ' . '^ J '
Dundas, Township IG, Range 2, East. * ' I ■' S

r" Meadow Lee, Township 13, Range 2, West.

■ Argyle, Township 14, Range 1, West.

These settlements are in the neighbourhood of inexhaustible
quarries of grey limestone, very valuable for building purposes.

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A PRAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND QUIDI^

Tho Penitentiary, which is situated in the Township of Rock-
wood, has been constructed partly of this stone and partly of brick
manufactured on the spot. There are also immense deposits of
gravel on tho ridges. The land of all these settlemetits is rich
prairie witli parts heavily timbered. There are abundant surface
springs from which excellent water can be obtained, and there
are also very fine hay grounds in the vicinity. The railway
reserve of the Canada Pacific has retarded the growth of some
of these settlements to a certain degree, but not sufficiently so
to prevent the district from being one of the most important
and flourishing in the Province.

To the north of the Township of Woodlands are the settle-
ments of St. Laurent and Oak Point, on the eastern side of
Lake Manitoba, and in connection with this lake wo may state
the following : The uniform depth is from fifteen to eighteen
feet, after parsing a short distance from the shore. By far the
greater portion of the land bordering on it, especially the south
end, is well adajited for settlement, and for the raising of wheat.
In many parts the shores are low and marshy at the edges, but
which are very valuable for grazing purposes. On the north
shore of the lake are innumerable salt springs, from which the
natives make a very fine article of salt, and which, if properly
worked, would yield largely. Also on the north shore are im-
mense forests of spruce of a gigantic growth, and the waters of
tl e lake are stocked with unlimited quantities of a very superior
kind of white fish. The only limestone of any consequence in
the Province, west of Poplar Point, is found in inexhaustible
quantities on the east and north shores of this lake.

The settlements of Oak Point and St. Laurent are well lo-
cated, and at the south-western end of the lake, situated near
the mouth of the White Mud River (a stream of fine clear
water), is the town of Totogan, which aspires to future impor-
tance, having about the best harbour on the lake, besides being
in the neighbourhood of first-class tillable land, and having good
road communication with the eastern portion of the Province.
A saw and grist mill, store, hotel, and several houses, have been
erected here, and the town is surveyed into lots and well laid
out. South of Totogan is the village of Westbourne ; the land
in the neighbourhood is of the best quality, and the White
Mud River on which it is situated is fringed with oak timber.
Westbourne possesses a Church of England, a large hotel, and
several stores. The river could no doubt be easily made navi-
gable for schooners and fiat-boats, from Lake Manitoba to this
point. West of Westbourne is Palestine, probably the largest
Canadian settlement in the Province. It is bounded on the
west by the White Mud River, and on the north by the "big
grass," an immense marsh which is covered along its edges with
the very best of hay. Palestine is well wooded with poplar,

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TO MANITOBA AND THK N0ETH-WB8T.

31

oak, ash, maple, elm, tbc. Wild fruits, such &» grapes, plums,
black currants, &c., grow in abundance, and the suil is black
loam, rather lighter in character than that around Winnipeg,
and so fertile, that the farmers who have settled there are as-
tonished at the yield, it being on an average larger than most
parts, and equal to any in the Province. Palestine has a flour-
ing mill containing two run of stones, with the most improved
machinery, driven by a thirty-five horse power boiler and engine
— attached to this mill is a rotary saw-mill, with lath machine,
planer, (fee. I", the immediate vicinity there is a Waterous
portable saw-mill, with twenty horse power boiler and engine,
capable of sawing 2,000 feet per hour, together with coupling,
Ac, for running a threshing machine. To the north of Pales-
tine, especially along the Big Grass Kiver, is a fine tract of good
land in every way suitable for farming purposes. There is
plenty of wood and cold spring water flowing down from the
Riding Mountains. To the north-west %e soon reach the
Riding Mountains, where there is abundance of water and wood
and arable land. The country here produces great quantities
of plums and other wild fruits.

We must now, however, retrace our steps in the direction of
Portage la Prairie, so as to complete our list of the piiucipal
bettlements.

About half way between Palestine and Westbourne, is the
rising settlement of Woodside, which is situated at the second
crossing of the White Mud River, and has a post office. The
soil is about the same as described in Pakotine.

After passing Westbourne on your way to Portage la Prairie,
you come to the settlement of Burnside, which is also a very
flourishing Township, and contains some of the largest farms
in the Province. The land is excellent here, with abundance
of hay, wood, and water. ' ' %!' ""'* /

Portage la i*rairie we have already mentioned, but we may
add here that steps are being taken for placing a splendid mill
in operation at this point, the necessity for which may be seen
by the following list of crops produced by the farmers in»the
neighbourhood during the past year.

Dilworth 1,700 bushels.

Alcock 3,000 "

Moss 2,000 "

,.;;. McKenzie 7,000 "

V; Grant 4,000 "

Monroe 3,000 "

A. McKenzie 3,000 *'

jj.omr -•••••• >•••••••• ..• ••••••••••■« ••« ••••*■ 1, yOUw

Geirard 1,000 "

Brown 2,500 "

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Burgess 1,200 busheln.

Cuthbert 1,500

Coadman 1,200

Wilton 3,000

Whimster.. ., 3,200

Ogletree 1,800

Connor 3,200

Sissons 2,000

Kittson 2,000

Bell 6,000

Fenis 5,000

Meelou 1,300

Logan 1,600

Mawhinney 2,600

62,200 bushels.

«

Having now given a short description of some of the princi-
l)al settlements in the Province, we will subjoin a list accord-
ing to the late electoral divisions, distinguishing the parishes
from the settlements.

1. Lake Manitoba,

St. Laurent (parish),
Oak Point.

2. Westbourne,

Burnside,

Totogan,

Woodside,

Palestine,

Livingstone,

Beautiful Plains.

3. Portage la Prairie (parish),

Oak Land.

4. High Bluff (parish).
6. Poplar Point "

Ossowa,
Melbourne.

6. Baie St. Paul (parish), ,

Poplar Heights.

7. St. Francis Xavier, East (parish).

8. St. Francis Xavier, West (parish).

9. Headingly (parish),

Rivifere Salle,
Boyne.

Note. — Since writing the above, the Marquette Milling Co. hare suc-
ceeded in putting their mill at Portage la Prairie in operation, and are
turning out a very fine article of flour

TO MANITOBA AND THl NORTHWEST.

10. St. Charles (parish),

St. Boniface, West (parish).

11. St. James (parish).

12. City of Winnipeg.

13. Kildouan (parish),

St. John's (parish).

14. St. Paul's (parish .

15. St. Andrew^s, South (parish).

16. St. Andrew's, North (parish).

1 7. St. Clement's (parish),

Dynover or St. Peter's,
Town of Selkirk,
Clandeboye,
Whitewold.

18. Rock wood,

Grassmere,

Brant,

Victoria,

Greenwood,

Dundas,

Meadow Lea,

Argyle,

Woodlands.

19. Springfield,

Sunnyside,
Cook's Creek.

20. St. Boniface (parish),

Notre Dame de Lorette (parish),
Prairie Grove.

21. St. Vital (parish).

22. St. Norbert "

23. St. Agathe ««

Emerson,
Hudson,
Franklin,

Riviere aux Roseaux,
Mellwood,

West Lynne, . #;

DufFerin,
Letellier,

Riviere aux Marais.
Rivifere tjix Prunes,
Rivifere aux Gratias,
Riviere au Rat.
24. St. Anne,

Ste. Anne des ChSnes.
Clear Spring,
Caledonia.

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And now in order to give our readers an idea of the produc
ing (}ualiti(m of Manitoba soil, wo publiHli the following reli-
able statement from the Manitoba Free Press, of the 16th. Sep-
tember, 1876.

It will be seen by these returns, gathered simultaneously in
■ thirty four different settlements by intelligent farmers, who in
some cases spent days in inspection before summing up their
conclusions, that the famous average of Manitoba's growth has
been somewhat lessened by various causes, some local and some
general, but mostly peculiar to this year. Tim unusually
heavy rains of the late season have done their share, especially
on low lands selected last year — an average seaaon ; whereas
this has been the wettest known since 1869. Another cause
by which the average has suffered materially is the sowing on
a first ploughing, as done often by new settlers rather than
await the slow process of rotting the sod ; the half crop grown,
is, however, better than none at all, and will go far towards
provisioning those settlers' families for the winter. The loss
by the depredations of blackbirds in some neighbourhoods sug-
gests an inquiry into a means for their destruction. Another
cause strongly felt in some places is from old and deteriorated
seed, it being remarked that where new seed was used the
difference was easily perceptible.

These returns are interesting also, as showing the remarkable
evenness of the productive quality of the land and its capacity
for producing what would be considered most surprising
returns elsewhere, under such special disadvantages as ruled
this season. Just now, when it seems so distinctly marked
that the Mi' 'die and Eastern States and Ontario are becoming
less reliable for agriculture, the endless virgin lands of our
North-West are becoming known as specially productive wheat
fields, and may be offered to their people for settlement on
condition only of building railroads to reach hem by.

AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE.

SHTTLBMBNTS ON BED BIVKR.

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3 fS ga S c8 g

^ pq O f^ a, H

Emerson 25 40 50 26 200

Whitehaven, (Plum Creek) 35 40 50 35 200 400

Scratching River 25 40 40 25 200

Union Point 30 50 25 400

St. Vital & St. Norbert 36 45 60 30 100

Kildonan 30 45 50 30 200

•/

TO MANITuBA AND THl HOlTBrWlSt. 35

g I I J ^ 3

I? 03 O Ph Oh H .,

& Ix ^"l'"*"^'.* ^ 4« ^^ 20 260 y

JN. at. Andrew's 30 30 28 3'^ ^

St. ClomentV 35 50 55 40 300 '.^'^

St. Peters 35 60 65 40 360 ^

SETTLEMENTS ON THE A88INIB01NE RIVER. * "*

St.Jaineu ,30 46 60 30 250

M. Umrles 30 40 50 30 260

Headinjjly. 30 46 60 20 150 100

5 • c. « ®T ^ 36 60 40 500

BaifiSt.pHul 40 60 66 40 200

S'^P^L^T* ^ 40 55 22 300

"'Kl'^Juff- 35 40 55 22 200

Portage la Praine 30 40 40 30 250

SETTLEMENTS ON WHITE MUD RIVER.

J?*^8*?\ 35 45 50 35 400 1000

Woodside 35 40 60 60 400 lOOi

Westbourne 36 4O 60 40 150 •

Palestine 35 55 go 200

OUTLYING PRAIRIE SETTLEMENTS EAST OF RED RIVER. ' '

Springfield 28 30 45 26 300 70«

PraineGrove 35 60 50 40 360

feunnyside and Cook's Creek... 35 40 60 200 /h'

' Bosseaii 30 40 60 30 300

UUTLTINO PRAIRIE SETTLEMENTS NORTH OF A8SINIBOINE BIVBl.

Rockwood, Victoria & Gress-

^ mere 25 62 40 20 250 500

, ?rTRLE::::::::.:;::.:^ 40 6o 30 350 ,,

Woodlands and Meadow Lea.. 30 35 60 20 200
^^^owH. 20 25 45 140

OUTLYING PRAIRIE SETTLEMENTS SOUTH OF A8SINIB0INB RIVER.

Pembina Mt 35 50 20 160

Boyne River 39 60 60 30 300

J (

REMARKS.
Emerson.— Later growth here much retarded by heavy
rams, and a local hailstorm which battered grain down ; about

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one-third of the whole area sown on the fresh soil, and pro-
duced 18 to 20 bus. per acre.

Wf.itehavkn. — Being a young settlement and crops sown
on new ploughed land, this average is very satisfactory.

ScRATCHiNO River.— Crops mostly on new ploughed land,
its average, however, is about 15 to 20 bus. p«r acie.

KiLDONAN. — Loss of average here, owing to rust and mil-
dew ; rains very hoavy ia latter part of season.

S. St. Andrevs^'s. — Wheat light, and all crops shrunken from
effect of unusually heavy rains in August.

N. St. Andrew's. — Averjiga below ordinary season. Har-
vest very wet and trying. Roots will still increase in product.

St. Clement's and St. Peter's. — Wheat and barley suffered
from wet season, still average will likely be higher than given.

St, James. — Great loss here from lodging ; samples inferior,
and somewhat shrunken by extreme wet weather.

Readingly. — Barley and wheat will be poor colour, but
all grain heavy. Root crops will yet be good. Peas a com-
paratively light crop : very wet season.

Poplar Point. — Grain did not fill as well as usual. The
wettest season known since '59 ; crops too luxuriant in stalk,
but grain heavy.

High Bluff. — All crops suffered in quantity and colour
from hea^^y and continued rains.

Portage l/ Prairie. — Average higher than given ; season
wet ; roots much damaged.

WooDSiDE. — Loss here from blackbirds.

Palestine. — Loss of average here by local causes and in-
feriority of seed.

Totogon. — Al grain, and oats particularly, suffered from
blackbirds and lodging by heavy rains.

Springfield. — Some injury here by rust from wet harvest,
grain very much delayed in ripening.

Prairie Grove. — DamaQ;e by blackbirds and rains.

SuNKTSiDE and Cook's Creek. — Average lessened here by
drowning in low lands, and wet harvest. Root crop light.

RocKwooD, Grassmbre and Victoria. — Crops here not up
to usual average ; considerable grain lodged.

Woodland and Meadow Lea. — Average five bushels less
than would have been in average season. Seed inferior.

OssowA. — Most of area sown here newly broken ground,
average lessened thereby. ■;.sM:ml-

Pembina Mountain. — Less returns on account oflarge area
sown on first plowing, but even then good half crops returned.

BoYNE River. — Blackbirds destroyed one-tenth of the crop.
Settlers complain of unoccupied homesteads.

It may safely be assumed, that but for the special causes
mentioned^ such. as heavy raius, old saedj ^^^^ sowing on new

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TO MANITOBA AND 'IHE NORTH-WEfcT.

37

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land, the returns of the whole Province would have bet n one-
sixth better. We have collected the averages in divisions of
areas separated by the great rivers which have respectively
formed the nucleus of settlement and of whose rich valleys this
city is the natural marketing centre, as follows : ; iT v^xv

' ■' ' AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE.

Settlement on Red River.— Wheat 32 bushels, barley 42
oats 44^, peas 27J, potatoes 182, turnips 400.

Settlkmenton the Assiniboinf. River.— Wheat 33^ bush-
els, barley 40|, oats 53|, peas 19^, potatoes 150, turnips 750.

Settlement on White Mud River.— Wheat 35 bushels,
barley 40, oats 60, peas 31^, potatoes 287|, turnips 1,000.

Settlement East of Red Kivkr. — Wlieat 29^, barley 40,
oats 51 J, peas 32, potatoes 387, turnips 700.

Settlement North of Assiniboine.— Wheat 30, barley 9,
oats 41, peas 23 1, potatoes 235, turnips 700.

Settlement South of As.siniboine. — Wheat 36^ bushels,
barley 60, oats 55, peas 25, potatoes 225, turnips 600.

'"^ ' ' THE TOTAL AVERAGE PRODUCTION

throughout the whole Province of Manitoba this year, will
therefore be found to be, as nearly as may be : Wheat 32i
bushels, barley 42^, oats 51, peas 32, potatoes 229, turnipc 662jf^.

This is a much less total than was expected in the early pait
of the season; still greater than was latterly looked for, it being
feared that the continual rains during the usual term of harvest
world have utterly destroyed the crops in many sections.

The figures cited above, together with others in our posses-
sion, would indicate the total yields of the Province to be about:
Wheat, 480,000 bushels ; barley, 173,C00 ; oats, 380,000 ; Peas,
45,000 J other grains, 5,000 ; potatoes, 460,000 ; turnips and
other roots, 700,000.

It has been feared by some that the effect of the bountifn'
yield will be the reduction of pri.es below a paying point.
However, while prices are sure to range much lower than they
have for many years past, we think that next spring, when the
immigration, which is sure to pour in, begins, will demonstrate
that those who have sold their wheat at much below one dollar
a bushel are considerably out, Estimates, based upon impor-
tation statistics, place the Provincial and North- West Territorial
consumption of flour for the next year at ninety thousand bar-
rels, an equivalent of 360,000 bushels of wheat. This would
leave only 120,000 bushels for seed and holding over — plainly
insr.flficient. However, we are disposed to believe that th«
flour consumption has been slightly o , er-estimated ; but not so
much so as to leave any considerable surplus of wheat after th«

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OUIDE

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next twelve months' requirements are supplied. The flour-
manufacturing capacity of the Province has been increased by
twenty lun of stone.

Of the coarse grains the supply will be greater in proportion
to the demand, and prices thereof may be expected to range
low. But even these we confidently f xpect to see fairly remu-
nerative, as a large quantity will be consumed in fattening meat
for our own market, which hitherto has been supplied, almost
entirely, by importation, not for thfl want of stock so much as
the want of grain to bring the sane to fair slaughtering con-
dition.

Thus, taking everything into account, it is really doubtful,
had we shipping facilities, whether they would be called into
requisition for grain exportation even with this year's produc-
tion on our hands.

Immigration being bound to keep pace with our increasing
grain growing, it may be reasonably deduced that long before
we have a surplus for exportation eastward we shall be in pos-
session of competing routes of transportation in the Canadian
Pacific Railway to Thunder Bay, and the American railway
system. Neither is it going too far in the hopeful direction to
conjecture that when we have a surplus to export, an abundant
and high-priced market will be available in the wants of more
southern provinces and states for new and hardier seed. A
very high authority on the subject has predicted that for the
first ten years of our surplus production it will be exported for
seed purposes, and at the expiration of that time the North-
West will be known all over the continent as its principal
granary for the supply of breadstuffs. In view of the general
feeling of joy and congratulation, we think it would be well to
proclaim a day of thanksgiving and prayer throughout the
Province for the grand results of an abundant harvest.

'■[- In addition to the above, we give

A FEW FACTS CONCERNING GRAIN AND ROOT

CROPS

In Manitoba.

Wheat. — The average yitld is from thirty to forty bushels
per acre. Individual caoes are known of sixty bushels spring,
per acre, and as much as seventy bushels nave been produced
from one bushel sown.

Oats. — The average yield per acre is from fifty to si^y
bushele, although individual caaes are known of 100 bushels
to the acre.

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TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTHWEST.

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Barley. — Next to wheat, barley is a favourite cereal with
the Manitoba farmer ; its yield varies from forty to fifty bushel*
per acre, i Ithough as high as sixty bushels have been known.
Its r/eight is from fifty to fiity-five pounds per bushel, and it
is an acknowledged fact that the barley of Manitoba is unsur-
passed anywhere for brewing purposes, on account of the
superior quality and fine colour.

I Potatoes are produced to perfection in Manitoba. Their
mealy quality, snowy whiteness, and farinaceous properties can-
not be excelled anywhere, and the yield is enormous — as high
AS 600 bushels to the acre — the average being from 400 to 600
bushels.

Turnips yield immensely, in some cases as many as 1,000
bushels, and from 500 to 700 being quite common.

CcRN. — Indian corn is not extensively cultivated, and it is
thought that the large kind cannot be successfully raised, one
reason being the cool nights for which Manitoba, is noted, and
which is beneficial to all o^her crops except corn, but the
smaller description can be profitably grown. Sweet corn suc-
ceeds admirably.

Flax and Hemp have been cultivated and grown well, but
the want of proper mills caused their cultivation to be almost
discontinued.

Grasses all grow to perfection, especially Timothy.

Beets, CHuots, and all other root crops come to large growth,
and their quality cannot be beaten anywhere. In fact, the
Province of Manitoba excels in root crops, and in regard to
beet especially, it is looked forward to that the production of
this vegetable will in future rise to great importance in connec-
tion with the manufacture of beet-root sugar. A large field is
open to capitalists in this line.

In garden vegetables and salad plants, we may mention the
following as being particularly worthy of notice : —

Cabbages attain enormous size. ."' -^ ?>/;

Cauliflower do. "^"^^^''^' '"^'^i^' ^''"':lJ^**r^J:|

Lettuce, very crisp and fine. ' ■ ' ' *> ' y

Celery, large and white, with delicious flavour. , " • ' ' *

Cucumbers grow to a large si^ie. ' ' -'''*

Melons succeed well in the open air, first started in the hot
bed.

Rhubarb succeeds well.

Ocions are another speciality in the Province, and yield
' rgely of every variety.

'ji'omatoes do very wtU, and the generality of other garden
vegetables attain great perfection.

xhe vegetables, ho«rever, that attcin the greatest perfection

are

PouitofiB.

CaLbages,

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A PRAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND QUIDE

Onions,
Beet,

Cauliflowers.

In conclusion we may quote the following from the Montreal
Herald in regard to some Manitoba products exhibited in the
Corn Exchange of that city :

** The oats were very fine, and the number of
from one seed showed how r>roductive was the crop.

Btalks growing

^. The wild hops

rivalled anything of the culMvated class that we have seen, and the
peas and broad beans were really oplendid. Fancy early rose pota-
toes, some tubers nine inches long and weighing two pounds, the
whole of the selections averaging from 1 ^ to 1 1 pounds each. Then,
there were seedling potatoes of the first year, as large as agood sized
hen's egg, and onions — the red and brown sort, from a pound to a
pound and three qviarters. A twenty-six pounds marble head
cabbage is a rather substantial vegetable product, while a red cab-
bage of ten pounds was also on vj w. And these are no uncommon
things."

In roots and vegetables we would refer our readers to the
extract under this class taken from the report of the Manitoba
Provincial Show of 1876, and inserted at the end of this book.

The culture of fruit has heretofore been neglected in Mani-
toba, but U 1 7 the attention of nurserymen in the e^at has
been attract*. J .is countrv and several succeosfui efforts
have been madt introduce a variety of plants into the Pro-
vince. There is no reason why apple trees should not be
raised in this country, if care is taken at the outset to protect
the plants in the spring, and it has been suggested by a writer
that all young apple trees should have a wrapping of straw so
as to protect them in the spring from alteruate thawing and
freezing — a great detrirneut to their growth. It has been proved
that apple trees do thrive in this country, and there is no doubt
that the celebrated " Faraeuse" of Quebec could be produced
here to perfection. In Minnesota, not many years ago, it was
contended that apple trees would not grow there, and yet to-
day the Minnesota apple is a notable product of that State. If
Minnesota can produce apples, there is no reason why -Manitoba
should not do so equally as well. ^

Wild fruits abound in the Province, amongst which may be
mentioned strawberries, raspberries, whortleberries, cranber-
ries, plums, black and red currants, blueberries and grape, so
that there is no scarcity of fruit for the settler.

The principal wood in the couiitry is poplar, next to which
is oak, and in addition to these are the following : — spruce,
tamarao, birch, elm, ash, and maple. All along the rivers
and creeks, the banks are lined with woods, and the prairie is
dotted with groves which afford a plentiful supply of firewood
and fenv.ng for the a<ljoiaing settlers. Timber for milling pur-

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TO MANITOB>k AND THE NORTH-WKST.

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poses is procured in the vicinity of the lakes, and on the banks
of some of the streams, such as Rot ^eau, Broken-Head river —
White Mouth, Birch river, and upper end of the Assiniboine,
and at the northern end of Lake Manitoba the pine grows to a
very large size, and is of the best description.

The uncultivated portions of the prairie, and the numerous
marshes, afford everywhere a plentiful supply of hay which can
be had tor the gathering by the settler — and water, we have al-
ready shown, can be procured almost anywhere, either from
the river or creek, or by digging surface wells on the prairie.

The country abounds with game of great variety, consisting
of the following kinds :

Swans.

Cranes.

Geese.

Snipe.

Plover, &c., &c.

In the feathered tribe : —

Praiiie chickens.

Pheasants.

Partridges.

Pigeons.

Ducks.
In the larger game we may mention : —

Moose, Mink,

Deer, Martin,

Antelope, Otter,

Bear, Muskrat,

Wolves, > ; Beaver,

Foxes, Skunk, and large numbers of

rabbits are tt> be found in the woods.

The lakes and rivers are filled with fish of the following
kinds : —

White-fish,

Pickerel,

Pike,

Catfish,

Sturgeon,

Rock Bass,

Perch,

Suckers, (Red and White),
Sun-fish,
Gold Eye,

Carp, and in some parts, trout
and Maskinonge.

Black Bass,

The white-fish of Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba is particu-
larly worthy of ment'on, as being equal in quality to that found
in Lake Superior.

In the woods there are swarms of wild bees to be found, the
honey from which is of a very fine quality, and there is no doubt
that apiculture can be carried on with great success in Mani-
toba. The dry air and clear skies, together with the rich flora
of the country, afford every facility for remunerative bee cul-
ture. A very fine sample of honey was shown by a Mr. Robin-
son, from the Rosseau, at the Provincial Show of 1676.

Manitoba is destined to become one of the fine-t stock-rais-
ing countries in the world. Its boundless prairies^ covered with
luxuriant grasses, and the numerous marshes containing the

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

very best feed for cattle, are among the peculiar advantages of
the Province for this line of industry. The cool nights foe
which Manitoba is famous, is a most beneficial feature in regard
to stock, and the remarkable dryiu'ss and healthfulness of the
winter tends to make cattle fat and well conditioned. The
easy access to fine water which exists in nearly every part of
the Provincf, is another advantage in stock-raising. The abun-
dance of 1 1 j,y everywhere makes it au easy matter for farmers
to winter their stock, and in addition to this there is, and will
be for years, a rea<ly home market for beef.

In fact there have been every year heavy importations of
live stock from the United States to supply the demand in the
Province, simply because our farmers have upt heretofore paid
suflScient attention to this branch of farming. The usual
yield of prairie grass when cut into hay is from three to tour
tons per acre. It usually grows about five or six feet high,
and, although coarse, is very nutritious. Cattle can be
wintered without any coarse giain, and keep fat.

It is now over forty years since the introduction of sheep
into Red River, and no case of any disease attacking them has
ever been seen or heard of. The wool is of a very good
quality, and the yield is from six to eight pounds per fleece
from wethers, and from 2 to 3| from ewes. Beef and mutton
from Manitoba- fed cattle is very juicy and tender.

Til ore are as yet no cheese factories established here, but

J there are good openings for that branch of industry, especially

I as farmers 3nd it very profitable to cultivate stock-raising in
conjunction with their other branches of farming. There is a
large home demand for butter, which as yet seems never to be
fully supplied, aud in consequence a great deal has been im-
ported from the United States. We would recommend those
who are able, to bring with them well-bred stock, especially
bulls and stallions, Uie better classes of which are scarce in the
Province. In fact anything that will tend to improve the

, stock of any class of domestic animals now in Manitoba, will

tbe a boon to the country generally. Sufficient attention has

not been paid to this important matter by our farmers, although

there have been individual cases where well-bred animals have

been brought in for breeding purposes, the venture having

i proved remunerative in the highest degree to the enterprising
men who undertook them.

In connection with stock-raising, dairy produce, &c., and in
conjunction therewith beef and butter packing, we may again
refer to the salt springs which exist in parts of the country.
The brine from these springs yields almost a bushel of salt to
thirty or forty gallons of the water, and the article thus pro-
duced is equal to any English, American, or Canadian manu-
facture. The salt business has not been cultivated as yet to

TO MANITOBA AM) THE NORTH-WliST.

4S

any extent, but in the near future it will certainly become a
very important feature of the country, when beef, porl'' butter
and fish packing is gone into extensively.

The rain-fall of Manitoba is peculiarly favourable to agricul-
ture. In the spring and summer there are refreshing showers
at short intervals, and what is termed a dry season is seldom
or ever known.

In another part of this pamphlet will be seen a thorough
weather record for 1876, 1 ' which, however, it will be observed
that the year just passed & ^porienced a greater fall of rain than
any ot the four previous seasons. During harvest time, it sel-
dom happens that farmers are annoyed or put back by wet
weathei, while during the time the crops are growing their
eyes are gladdened by the fresh invigorating showers so peculiar
to the country, and this feature of itself is perhaps one of the
greatest boons known to the agriculturist.

In,the winter the frost penetrates on exposed places to the
depth of from thi^ee to four feet, that is where the earth is
lightly covered with snow. Where it is covered with snow, it
is seldom frozen deeper than eighteen inches. Vegetation be-
gins and progresses before the frost is all out of the ground ;
owing is generally commenced when it is thawed to the depth
of six inches, at which time the surface is perfectly dry. It is
a fact that this frost helps the growth of crops, owing to the
heat of the sun by day causing a continual ev::.>oration from
the underlying strata of frost.

The seasons are as follows : — Spring — April and May. Snow
disappears rapidly, and ground dries up quickly, sowing com-
mences from the middle towards the end of April, and finishes
in the beginning of May. Summer — June, July, August, and
part of September. Weather bright and clear with frequent
showers — very warm at times during the day — night cool and
refreshing — harvesting commences about the end of August,
and ends about the middle of September.

Autwmn. — Part of September and October.

Perhaps the most enjoyable season of the year — The air is
balmy and exceedingly pleasant. At this period of the year
the prairie fires rage, and the atmosphere has rather a smoky
appearance, not disagreeable, however.

Winier. — November, December, January, February, March.

In the early part of November, the Indian Summer generally
commences, and then follows the loveliest portion of the sea-
son, which usually lasts from nine days to a fortnight. The
weather warm, the atmosphere hazy and calm, and every ob-
ject appearing to wear a tranquil aud drowsy aspect. Then
comes winter, generally ushered in by a soft fleecy fall of snow,
succeeded by days of extreme clearness with a steel blue sky
and invigorating atmosphere, not too cold. In December the

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44

A PBAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND QUIDS

winter regularly sets in and, until the end c ." March., the wea-
ther continues steady, with perhaps one thaw in January, and
occasionally snow-storms. The days are clear and bright, and
the cold much softened by the brilliancy of the sun.

The winter nights in Manitoba are really splendid, generally
with a clear and starlight sky, and when the moon throws her
full orbed face towards the earth, the scene is one of peerless
grandeur. The cold, as a general thing, is not as much felt by
mdividuals as in Quebec and even parts of Ontario, on account
of the stillness of the air and brilliancy of the sun.

We have the testimony of the Honourable Mr. Sutherland,
Senator, who has lived in the Province for over 63 years, tha
he has never known an epidemic in Manitoba. Tlie Country
places are entirely free from fevers, agues and other ills, and
since the City of Winnipeg has been thoroughly drained, there
have been few cases of sickness within its limits. Mr Suther-
land also states, that small pox has never been known within
the limits of the Province. During the, last few months, while
that loathsome disease was prevalent amongst the Icelandic
settlers on Lake Winnipeg, we of Manitoba have been spared
the scourge. For this extreme healthfulness of oar country,
we have much to thank the Almighty — we consider this health-
ful state of the climate of Manitoba as of paramount importance
to the farmer, for what to him are fair fields and meadows,
beautiful crops and the acquisition of wealth, if to attain them he
is obliged to sacrifice his own health and that of his family.
The dryness of the air, the character of the soil, which retains
no stagnant pools to send forth poisonous exhalations, and the
almost total absence of fog or mist ; the brilliancy of the sun-
light ; the pleasing succession of its seasons, all combine to make
Manitoba a climate of unrivalled salubrity, and the home of a
healthy, prosperous, and joyous people.

TJie following is the weather record for 1876, carefully pre-
pared by James Stewart, Esq., signal observer at Winnipeg.

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46 A PRAOTIOAL BAND-BOOK AND ODIDl

MISCELLANEOUS PERIODICAL PHENOMENA.

The warmest day during the year was SUt July, the mean
temperature being 81,50.

The'coldest day during the year was the Ist February, the
mean temperature being — 30.95.

The highest reading of the thermometer was 96.0 on the 5th
Augtist. The lowest reading of the thermometer was — 43.0
on the 4th February.

The total depth of rain that fell during the year was 22.955
inches ; the total iepth of snow was 74.21 ; total depth of rain
and melted snow, 29.184 inches.

The number of rainy days, 61 ; total number of snowy days,
40.

The highest wind in the year was from 6 p.m. to 6.16 p.m.
on the 13th December , average, 40 miles per hour.

The most windy day in the year was the Ist June : average,
22.92 miles per hour.

The least windy day in the year was the 12th March ; aver-
age, 0.33 miles per hour.

April 9th, wild geese seen.

April 10th, robins seen.

April 19th, frogs seen.

April 21st, ice began to move on the Red River.

April 24th, Red River open.

April 26th, arrival of the first steamboat.

April 26th, musquitoes seen and felt.

June 27th, heavy hailstorm at 4 p.m.

August 3l8t, lunar rainbow in the north-west at 8.30 p.m.

November 13th, Red River frozen over.

December 13th, heavy storm from north-west, broke out at
4 p.m. ; the air was filled with drifting snow ; many persons
travelling lost t^ iir way ; several deaths happened from freez»
ing, and many were badly injured*

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46

A PBAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND QUID!

The ^rasahoppers first appeared in this country in the y«»ar
1818, SIX years after the commencement of the Red River
settlement.

They did not do much harm in that year, but in 1819 they
destroyed the crops, and for three successive years the hopes of
the husbandman. They did not, liowever, appear again for
thirty-six years until 1864, but did no great harm till 1868,
when they swept the entire crop of the settlement. We cannot
deny that this country has been severely scourged by these
pests, of late years ; bu*^. it is the opinion of many of the oldest
settlers that we will not be again visited by them to any great
extent for a period of years, and by that time, the advance of
settlements will have a tendency to restrict their rkvages.

It is not our desire to hide defects, and while we admit the
grasshoppers to be a great scowrge, at the same time their
visits are only occasional, and there is everj reason to believe,
that since they have visited this country so much of late years,
we will be freed from their ravages for some time. One fact is
worthy of mention, that a total destruction of crops has only
taken place six times within fifty-nine years, which, it must be
admitted, is a small average, and not sufficient to deter any one
from settling in the country on that account. Honourable Mr.
Sutherland, in his testimony before a Select Committee of the
House of Commons at Ottawa, gives the following statement
on the 3rd of April, 1876 :—

*' I think (he says) that extensive settlement will prevent the
ravages of the grasshoppers, and we have good reason to believe
that we will be exempt from them during the coming season; as
there were no deposits of eggs in the Province last year (a prediction
verified by fact afterwards, as there were no grasshoppers last sum-
mer), and in all probability we will be relieved from that plague for
many years to come. To my own knowledge, the Province was
not afiected by grasshoppers for twenty years previous to 1867,
since which date we have had them off and on about every two
years, or each alternate year."

The fall of snow on the prairie is on an average from twenty
to twenty-four inches, and as there are no thaws in the winter,
it does not pack, but is dry and light and disappears very
quickly, allowing the husbandman to commence his labours at
an early date.

The fences used in the country consist of posts and poles of
spruce and poplar, the latter of which, with the bark removed,
will last twenty years. Fences made of pine or basswood are
sometimes used, but they are more expensive, and no better
than those of spruce and poplar.

Poplar and oak wood are chiefly used as fuel, and there is
not littely to be ever a scarcity of the former, as it is reproduced
very rapidly.

TO MANITOBA AND THE N0RTH-W18T.

49

Referring to the description of wo<m1 in Manitoba, S. J. Daw-
son, Esq., in his report to the (iovernment, remarks as follows :

" The prevailing growth everywhere is poplar, and how this
species of wood should be so prevalent on soil no different fr<»ni what
it grows on in Canada, ia due to the firen which so frequently
sweep over the country. A prairie or forest even over which the
fire has passed, is just ready to receive the downy seeds of the pop-
lar, which in the month of June are constantly floating in the air.
The Indians say, and I think there can Vte no duubt of the fact, that
but for the fires the prairies would soon be overgrown with wood.
Be this as it may, the rajiidity of the growth of the poplar, once it
has taken root in the rich twiil of these plains, is truly astonishing."

As a means of precaution, and as an encouragement to set-
tlers to cultivate the growth (»f wood, the Government have in-
serted the following clause in the Dominion Lands' Act in re-
ference to forest tree culture : —

-'J

FOREST TREE CULTURR

Any person, male or female, being a subject of Her Majesty
by birth or naturalization, and having attained the age of
eighteen years, shall be entered for one quarter section or less
quantity of unappropriated Dominion lands, as a claim for forest
tree planting.

Application for such entry shall be made (Form F.) for the
purpose of cultivating forest trees thereon, and the applicant
shall make an affidavit (Form G.) that he or she is over eighteen
Jfctirs of age ; that he or she has not previously obtained an
entry of land for forest t'-ee culture, :e extent of which,
added to that now applied for, will ex( ed in all one hundred
and sixty acres ; that the land is open prairie and without
timber, and is unoccupied and unclaimed, and belongs to the
class open for entry for tree culture ; and that the application
is made for his or her exclusive use and benefit.

The applicant shall pay at the time of applying, an oflBce fee
of ten dollars, for which he or she shall receive a receipt and
also a certificate of entry, and shall thereon be entitled to enter
into possession of the land.

No patent shall issue for the land so entered until the expi-
iration of six years from the date of entering into possession
thereof, and any assignment of such land shall be null and void
unless permission to make the same shall have been previously
obtained from the Minister of the Interior.

At the expiration of six years the person who obtained the
entry, or if not living, his or her legal representative or assigns
shall receive a patent for the land so entered, on proof to the
satisfaction of the Local Agent as follows : —

1. That sight acres of the land entered had been broken and
prepared for tree planting within one year after entry, an equal

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50

A PRACTICAL nAND-BOOK AND OUII>E

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quantif- during the second year, and sixteen additional acres
within the third year after such date.

2. That eightacres of the land entered hr-^ been planted \viLh
forest trees during the second year, an eqUiJ quantity during
the third year, and sixteen additional acres within four years
of the date of entry, the trees so planted being not less tlian
twelve feet apart each way.

3. That the above area — that is to say, one-Pfth of the land
— has for the last two years of the term been planted with
timber, and that the latter has been regularly and well culti-
vated and protected from the time of planting : provided that
in casee where the land eiitered is less in extent than one quar-
ter section or one hundred and sixty acres, then the respective
areas required to be broken and planted under this and the two
next preceding sub-sections shall be proportionately les? in ex-
tent,

If at any time within the period of six years as above, the
claimant fails to do the breaking up or planting, or either, as
required by this Act or any part thereof, or fails to cultivate;
protect and keep in good condition such ti nber, then and upon
such event the land entered shall be liable to forfeiture in the
discretion of the Minister of the Interior, and may be dealt
with in the same manner as Homesteads which may have been
cancelled for no:, compliance with the law.
^* Provided that no person who may have obtained pre-emption
entry of a quarter section of land in addition to his Homestead
ei..ry under the rvovisions o: <b- section one of section thirty-
three of the said " Dominion LT,nds Acts," as amended by the
Act of 1874 :ind by this Act, shall have the right to enter a
third quart<jr section as a tree planting claim ; but such person,
if residcucupon his Homestead, may have the option of chang-
ing the pre-emption entry of the quarter-section or a less quan-
tity of such quarter section for one under the foregoing pro-
visions, and on fulfilling the preliminary conditions as to affi-
davit and fee, may receive ^ certificate for such quarter section
or for such portion thereof as may have been embraced in the
application, and thereupon the land included in such change of
entry shall become subject in all respects to the provisions of
this Act relating tc tree planting. ?'

Any person who may have boen entered for a tree planting
claim under the foregoing provisions, and whose right may not

have been

lOrteiteu

for nonconipliancG with the provisions

thereof, shall have the same rights of possession, and to eject
trespassers from the land entered by him, as are given f j per-
sons on hom teads : and the title to land enl-^red for a tree
planting claim shall remain in the Government until the issue
of a patent therefor, and such )and jhall not be liable to be
taken in execution before the issue of the patent.

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH- WlST.

^f-

3

The causes of prairie fires are numerous — Indians probably
most frequently set fire to them i>'. order the more easily to find
out their game. Haymakers do the same for the sake of clear-
ing the ground of old grass, and camp fires and numerous
smokers do the rest. Thv-^se fires happen only in the spring
^ and fall in old grass, and it must be remembered they only
occur on the open prairie. Crops are seldom, if ever, injured
. by them, and where fields are cultivated and fenced, the fires
do not reach. Settlers when making hay, howe^'er, if they
build their stacks out in the prairie, should plough deveral fur-
rows round them, so as to stop the flames from reaching them.
It is always better, however, to remove the hay when made
as soon as possible to your farm yard, so as to make sure of
your crop and prevent any possibility of its destruction by fire.
As the country opens up these files will become less frequent.
The prices in Manitoba of Agricultural implements can be
seen by the following list : — «:^^.'> > , t .'• i.^!?'., s

Breaking Plows, $25. ^>.^_, '' ^^ ^ y ' • ^ 'i'':;-uV,
Common do $18. * ' > ••; ■

Reapers, $100 to $150. ,,, .;

Mowers, $75 to |12o.

Reapers and Mowers combined, ^150 to $200. .,y<,i
Horse Hay Rakes, $35.

Waggons, American manufacture, as good as made in
Canada, $80. •,-.■•.

Fanning Mills, $40. . ^ .. , ,■„. ,...,.■

Spades, $1 each. . , .; ,;<.;• •= . ; . ••/

Shovels, $1.25 each. ^ *;• ^ * v: C .. < .

Hay Forks, 75 cents. • ^^ , .. .v'-.

Manure Forks, $1 each. '^'^■, ■ ,,1 {;.!'<;.•.••
Harrows, $15. * h^ i .

Tlie prices of the following staple articles will give some
idea of the cost of livinsc in Manitoba :-^' r ' ' ;^ ''4 jsfcf hv; ;

,. ./ ' ■■■^-■■■. . .i^? '-•

Tea per lb., 50 to 55 cents. .". .■-, ■.•

Sugar per lb., 10 to 1 2 cents. t ,',,■. , ,, ,

■.. Coffeeper lb., 22 to 33 cents.,.^ ».!»«(

,^,, Tobacco, black, 50 cents. . ,^,,

do smoking, 50 to 55 cents. r,.i,>-

Coal Oil, per gallon, 50 cents.
.,,,». Syrup, Jy 75 to 80 cents,

! . Pails, each, 3 h'^op, 30 cents ; 2 hoop, 25 cents.
Tubs, 16 inch, 90 centt. each.

A good stout Suit of Clothing for a man. from $5 k Jl'l,.
Blankets, grey, per pair, $1.50 to $3.
Canadian Blankets, white, p*'* lb., 5-< to 75 cents.
Cotton, per yard, white, 8 to 1 2 J cents ; grey 8 to 12 cents..

i:

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52 A PRAOTIOAL HAND-BOOF AND QUIDE

Prints, 8 to 12 cents ; Winceys, 8 to 25 cents. •
Woollen Stockings, per pair, 25 to 30 cents.
Flannel Shirts, each, 75 c >nts to $1 25.
Men's Boots, $2 to $3. , ,i

Women's Boots, $1.25 to $1.75.
- Felt Hats, 75 cents to $1.

In household fittings the following prices are quoted for good
plain articles : —

Table, 83.50 to .f 4.
Chair, V 5 cents to $1.
Bedstead, |4 to $4.50.
Bureau, $8 to $12.
Kitchen Stove, No. 8, good.
^*1: Complete Furniture, $27.

Cap and Saucer, 8 to 15 cents.

Plate, 8 to 20 cents.

Coal Oil Lamp, 60 cents to $1, complete.

Axes, $1.25 to $1.50. -J%' ...ov

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In Building Material ;— ^^^€^' v •

Good plain Lumber, $20 per M.
Good dressed Lumber, $25 to $30 per M.
'i Shingles, $4 to $6 per M. < w- ^^'^ ^.--
Lath,- $5.

Nails, 5 cents per lb., or $4 per keg.
Lime, 25 cents per bushel at the kiln.
Doors, $1.50 to $2.50 each.
Sash, 8x10, $1 per pair. ' *,

A good Single Harness, $20 to $25. ■: -'
do Double do $35 to $40.

In the above we have only given quotation? for a few of the
principal articles required by a settler, so as to give you an idea
of the general cost of goods in Mani^^oba, and we are of opinion
that parties can purchase to better advantage in this Province,
than to bring their old worn-out effects with them, and pay
freight on them. The reason why merchants in Manitoba are
able to sell so cheap is, because they purchase direct in Euro-
pean markets instead of through second hands.

MANITOBA MARKETS.

For many years to come an increasing home consumption
will create a local demand sufficient to prevent any exportation
in the way of breadstuifs of consequence. The prosecution of

iia

TO MANITOBA AND THE N0BTH-WB8T,

53.

''.f ..'i:

public works in the north-west by the Government of the Bo-
miniou, will cause a heavy demand for breadstuffs and other
supplies, which the farmers of Manitoba »vill be in t>3 best
position to supply. So far there has been a heavy importation
of flour, oats, and other farm produce from the United States
into the Province, simply because we have been unable to
supply the demand. It is gratifying, therefore, to the intending,
settler, to learn that lie is sure of a ready market for his pro-
duce when he raises it, and it will be years, even allowing that
we have a h^avy immigration in the future, ere we will be
obliged to find a market in the east for our breadstuff's. Mill-
ing facilities are on the increase throughout the Province, and
farmers are therefore able to turn their wheat into flour to
supply the heavy demand for that article. We can furnish a
better article than can be imported from the United States,
and it is reasonable to suppose that we can sell at lower
prices when the cost of transportation is taken into considera-
tion. The continual increase to our population whivjh is going
on, requires the settled farmer to supply the new arrivals with
food until they can raise their own, and this is another cause
of our large home demand. ^' - ' ..,.,..;.,..

The following prices for produce have ruled in Winnipeg
market for some time past, meeting ready sales at the quota-
tions named below : —

*■■' Flour (best), per 100 lbs ..........».'.. $2 50 to $3 25 \

Wheat, per bushel 1 00

Oats, « - , 0 50 ; '

Barley, " 0 45 J^ ' ^•

Butter (fresh), per lb 0 40 '

»-'" " (packed), " C 30 to 0 35

Eggs, per dozen 0 40

Pork by the hog, per lb 0 10 to 0 13

Beef, quarter or animal, per lb 0 7 ^ to 0 10

Potatoes, per bushel 0 2P to G 50

Usual quotation being from 25c to "^f^c, but reaching at
certain seasons 50c. and as high &t ner bushel.

The roads leaiiing to Winnipeg from all parts vf the rovince
are good, aia' farmers find no difficulty in bringing, m their
produce even Trom a distance. In fact, the travelled roa.i!» are
generally of nature's make, level and haxd, and even after a
heavy rain, one day's sun will dry them sufficiently to enab'e
heavily laden teams to pass over them. Every year they are
improving so far as bridges and culvertc are concerned, as the
Local Government each summer, spends a certain sum of money
building new bridges on coiUdea or streams where they are
necessary, and in keeping the old ones in repair. Thus every

|i. !

iHii

54

A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OUIDB

facility, natural and mechanical, is afforded the farmer in this
new country to bring his produce to market.

Just before the close of last season's navigation, an experi-
ment was made through an enterprising house in Winnipeg, of
exporting a ceitain quantity of Manitoba wheat for seed pur-
poses, the order coming from Messrs. Steele Bros. & Co., of
Toronto. The venture was a successful one, and will probably
be followed in the future by larger shipments from this
Province.

We quote the following, aui showing the opinjpn of Ontario
people as to the supv iority of our grain for seed, and there is
not a doubt but that Manitoba wheat will be eagerly sought
for by Eastern farpo^rs, whenever they can get it, thus open-
ing up the way for a heavy exportation from this Province.

I3efore giving the quotation however, we must say that the
wheat in question was grown from seed brought from Minnesota,
which turned out to be a very poor sample of grain, ana there-
fore, that which was sent to Ontario from this country, was
not a fair specimen of what can be produced in Manitoba.

<)-fo'^jX^^^'^''

Manitoba wheat in Ontario.

•M.

r

The Globe says : — " Manitoba seed wheat will likely be
largely sown in the spring by the farmers of Ontario, a con-
siderable quantity having been imported foom the Red River
Valley through the enterprise of Steele Bros. & Co., of this
city. Frequent changing of seed is well known to be highly
beneficial, and the excellent quality of the North- Western grain
is highly favourable to its use for this purpose.

And the Belleville Intelligencer says : — " Hon. Robt rt Read
has shown us a specimen of Red River spring wheat, which
closely resembles the Fife wheat grown here, and may be con-
eidered a fair sample. As wheat-growing has, to use a phrase
more expressive than polite, become " played out" in this sec-
tion of the Dominion, it is a matter worthy of consideration
whether a change of seed would not be effective in making
wheat growing once more profitable to our farmers. In such
case, the fine grain of the Red River country might prove of
inestimable value, as the latitude and longitude of the place
of its production are very different from those of the county of
Hastings. We understand that a large quantity of this grain
has been imported into Oqtario for seed purposes."

We want, therefore, farmers to settle in the country and till
the soil, so as to enable our supply to keep pace with our
demand.

We also require immediate railway communication with the
East, and in this connection we s,Te happy to say the Dominion
Government appear alive to this important matter. The

i

TO MANITOBA AND THE N0HTH-WB8T.

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Canada Pacific Section, connecting Manitoba with Lake Supe-
rior, is being pushed forward as rapidly as circumstances will :
permit, and when it is finished we will have direct communi- ■>
cation with the seaboard, through the chain of Lakes and the \
River St. Lawrence. This, in the future, will be our cheapsst \
route of exporting our surplus grain and bringing in our sup-
plies. In the meantime, however, we are glad to observe that i
an early completion of the branch road to Pembina is con-
templated, so as to connect us with the American railways.
The iron for this road has already been brou<<ht mto the Pro-
vince by the Government, and is now lying piled on the banks
of the Red River, ready to be placed on the ties as soon as
they are cut, and the bed of the line has been graded from
Winnipeg to Pembina. The heavy cost of freighting, rla the
Red River, is a drawback to this country, and almost an ob-
stacle to exportation ; and the completion of the Pembina
Road will be a great boon to the Province. There is no doubt
that as soon as the railway is in running order to the boun-
dary line, the Americans will have finished the building of
their road to St. Vincent, and this will give us immediate rail-
way communication with the outside world. In the future,
the twc routes — viz., the one through our own territory to
Lake Superior, and the other via Pembina and the States —
will be great competing lines for the trade of the North-West;'
and as their centre of competition will be Winnipeg, the im-
portance of that city will be increa.sed in proportion. All
trunk lines require feeders, and several local roads are already
contemplatef] for the near future, all of them being so projected
as to have them terminate in Winnipeg, in order to give them-
selves the advantage of the competing Hues eastward. Thus,
like Chicago, the City of Winnipeg is bound, by the force of
circumstances, to become the centre of a network of railways,
all of which will assist in developing this great country and en-
riching the hardy people. 't . "•;

To the westward the Canada Pacific will open up a splen-
did country, vast in extent, and equal in quality to that of
Manitoba ; and the products of that great territory rolling into
the Province for exportation to the Eastern markets, will not
only add to the importance of the Province as a |)oiut of tran-
shipment, but will assist to build up cities and towns, and
raise her merchants to eminence and wealth. ... * < ■ .|

The competing route to the Canada Pacific, westward, will
be via the River Saskatchewan and Lake Winnipeg and Mani-
toba, and already there is a fme steamer on the former, and a i
-*taunch propeller on Lake Winnipeg, running in connection
V with each other, and forming a line of water communi(»tion
between the Red River and Fort Edmonton. Already many
tons of freight have been transhipped at Winnipeg, from the

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56 A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

Red River steamers to the propeller " Colville," taken by her
to Grand Rapids, on Lake Winnipeg, and there transferred, by
means of a short tramway of three miles, across the Port-
age to the steamer " Northcote," for transportation to the
several places on the Saskatchewan. Thus it will be seen that
Winnipeg is not only a centre of land communication but also
of water.

Of the great future of the Canada Pacific, as a highway
across this Continent, we can only refer our readers to the fol-
lowing comparison of distances by that route over the Union
Pacific, of the United States : —

-* * To Victoria. To San Francisco.

!! Froip Amoor 3,895 4,110 ^^^v;

i'M, " Shanghai 5,215 5,439 'V

;i<r .? *' Canton 5,975 6,140

,;^;u(;i " Melbourne 6,930 7,205 ^

The great fur trade of the North- West, in which not only the
Hudson's Bay Company, but also numerous fur traders, are en-
engaged, the prosecution of surveys, and the building of the
Canada Pacific Railway and other public works, all unite in
creating for Mahitoba a gigantic commerce.

The opening up of the country within the Province, and also
outside its limits, is another source of trade, and when it is
considered that business is only in its infancy in the North-
West, the following figures will probably surprise many who
have not given the nwitter sufficient consideration.

From the official returns of the Dominion Government for
1875, we find as follows for the Port of Winnipeg : —

Exports $588,958 00

Imports 1,243,309 00

Entered for consumption 1,227,905 00 u

Duty collected 171,430 86

The increase of the carrying trada to Manitoba may be seen
by the following statement of tonnage from season of 1873 by
Red River steamboats : —

i 1873 23,613,0.36 *

1874 37,626,200 *

_:i 1876 76,078,680

^ The above figures will serve to show that the trade of Mani-
toba, considering that it is the youngest Province of the Do-
minion, is not small. The commerce of the North- West is,
however, steadily on the increase, and with railway facilities it
will more than double in the course of a year or two.

TO MANITOBA AND THX N0&rH-WB6T.

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The branch office of the Merchants' Bank, in Winnipeg, is
one of the best paying agencies of that institution, thus show-
ing that the trade of Manitoba is worthy of cultivation ; and
the Ontario Bank, lately established, is doing a good busi-
ness, which is steadily on the increase.

K-

HOMESTEAD LA.W.

A liberal homestead law is in force in Manitoba, which ex-
empts from seizure the debtor's ordinary furniture, tools and
farm implements in use, also " one cow, two oxen, one horse,
four sheep, two pigs and the food for the same for thirty days,
and the land cultivated by the debtor, provided the extent
of the same be not more than one hundred and sixty acres, in
which case the surplus may be sold with privileges to first
mortgagees." The house, stables, barns, fences, on wie debtor's
farm are by this Act declared free from seizure by virtue of all
writs of execution issued by any court of this Province. No
limit is placed on the value of the farm or home thus secured
to the family, whatever its value may become. This law may
unworthily shield some, but on the other hand it will protect
many worthy and honest men, women and children, and on
that account is a great boon to the settler.

Thousands of acres of splendid land in the Province are at
present locked up by the system of reserve, but an agitation is
now going on to induce the Dominion Government to open
them for settlement. There is no doubt the voice of the people
will be heard, and the Gove .nment of Canada will see the wis-
dom of throwing open the land for cultivation. When this is
done and the vexed question of Keserves settled, a large area
of fine country will be placed in the market, and intending set-
tlers Avill have the opportunity of securing many choice localities
therefrom.

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THE GOVERNMENT.

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The form of government is similar to that of the other Pro-
vinces of the Dominion, but the Legislative Council was
abolished by Act of the Legislature in Februar}', 1876. The
Legislature now consists only of a Legislative Assembly of
twenty-four members representing twenty-four constituencies.

The Executive consists of the Lieutenant-Governor, Provin-
cial Treasurer, Provincial Secretary and Attorney-General,
Minister of Public Works and Minister of Agriculture, who is
also President of the Council.

There are now the following Agricultural Societies in the
Province :

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The Marquette,
" Selkirk,
*' Provencher,
" Lisgar,
and the Provincial.

All of which have their regular annual exhibitions to promote
the interests of the husbandman, and bring this fine country
into notice.

A COMPARISON.

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A comparison of the yield of. wheat for past years in Mani-
toba with the best districts of the United States, will show its
superiority over them, viz :

'? «^ Manitoba wheat produces 40 bushels per acre. .

:" ' Minnesota, " 20 " " "*'*

■'-^'V'--; , Wisconsin, « 14 « " ^m^ifi^m

K ^i,' Pennsylvania, " 16

■P: ■ Massachusetts, " 16

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I THE PRESENT SETT?.ERS.

'■"-4*'.*. ■

The settlers at present in Manitoba consist of the following
classes :

English half-breeds,
'r'.. > . French half-breeds, nmy w« *>

;.:.'■. Scotch settlers, _ •r^Mf?A^t'.

^; , V Canadians from Ontario and Quebec, '"fy^

^^ *' ^ Mennonites, French from Quebec and United States, in,
* f . ^ ^ Besides these there are other nationalities, but not in sufficient
iiiumbers to distinguish them in the light of classes.

The English half-breed is generally a thrifty, careful and in-
dustrious man, retiring in disposition to such a degree that
strangers are apt to consider him morose and unsocial. On the
contrary, however, be is kind and hospitable, and many a set-
tler coming into the country has had reason to thank the Eng-
lish half-breed for the hand of attention and fellowship extended
towards him. There are, however, especially amongst the
"•'■ poorer people of this class, a few who from former habits of rov-
ing over the prairies and on the lakes have been unable to settle
down to farming, and in consequence have not succeeded well
as settlers, but they are the exceptions.

The French half-breed is a light-heart' 1 individual, fonder,
as a rule, of play than work. Hospitable in the extreme —
when you visit his home the best he has i • placed before you.
' Shortly after the troubles which ushered Manitoba into Con-

federation there existed a strong feeling in the minds of

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WIST.

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Canadians against the French half-breeds, but this of late
yt'ars has died out, and we never see it shown, at least out-
wardly. There seems in fact to be a strong feeling of union
at present amongst all classes whether native or otherwise,
a I all appear anxious to further the interests of the country
generally. The French half-breeds in former years were the
principal hunters and traders of the plain, and in consequence,
tlieir habits became more of a roving than a settled character,
and now the work of farming is distasteful to them. They
only cultivate a sufficient area of land to provide themselves
with the necessaries of life, and therefore have little if any pro-
duce to dispose of. There are, however, exceptions to this
rule, as some of the largest farmers and stock-raisers in the
Province are French half-breeds, and the whole class, as a rule
are improving as agriculturists.

The Scotch settler is a canny industrious man, careful of his
means, and hoarding his pennies as others would pounds .
must not be considered, however, by this, that he is mean and
parsimonious, on the contrary he is very kind in his own home
when you visit him. He respects his guests, hut if you are
inclined to bargain with him you must be prepared to cut the
matter very fine, as he will have every " bawbee " out of you
that he can before he concludes with you. They are good
husbandmen, and have ever exhibited a very great degree of
t'lirethought, so much so that it is proverbial in the Province
tliat you can never find a Scotch settler in want. They do not
farm extensively, but what they do they do well. The parish
of Kildonan it; principally settled by this class.

The Canadians are from all parts of the Dominion, and re
present the usual class of farmers and mechanics in the other
Provinces. ^5v;< i ** -m'-j

The French from the United States are those who settled in
that country, but becoming discontented with it are flocking
back to Canada, and are now immigrating to this Province.
They declare themselves well pleased with the country and the
prospects before them.

The Mennonites are a very industrious and hardy class of
settlers, but so economical and saving in their habits that they
spend very little money and by their hoarding propensities
rather retard than advance circulation.

Educational matters in the Province are in the hands of men
who give the subject an earnest attention, and although many
reforms are necessary in the present system, the evils com-
plained of will doubtless ere long be remedied. It is not our
business to enter upon the merits or demerits of any system of
education, it is sufficient to say that school matters in Mani-
toba, notwithstanding many drawbacks, are progressing well,
and at a recent meeting of the Protestant School Board it was

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60 A PRAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

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stated by the Superintendent that there were forty-three Pro-
testant School Districts in the Province — thirty schools in oj)»r-
ation, and 1.600 children ou the various school rolls.

The total uuuiuci of churches under their several denomiini
tions are :

Episcopalians 16 churches

Roman Catholics - 12 "

Presbyterians 8 "

Wesleyan Methodist ... 7 "

Episcopal " 2 "

Baptist 2 "

The C5ollegiate InstitutionSjare as follows : — St. John's Col-
lege ; St. Boniface College ; Manitoba College ; Wesleyan In-
stitute ; and there are measures being now taken to establish a
University and Normal Schools for teachers.

The societies, religious, national, literary, &c. are :

Young Men's Christian Association.

St. Jean Baptiste Society.

St. Andrew's "

St. Patrick's "

St. George's "

Kildonan Literary "

Winnipeg Dramatic and Literary Society.

Manitoba Colonization Society.

Manitoba Club.

Manitoba Lacrosse Club.

Selkirk Cricket Club.

St. John's College Cricket Club.

Sons of Temperance. ' y

Independent Order of Good Templars, 2 lodges.

United Temperance Order, 3 lodges.

Odd Fellows, 3 lodges. ' '' '

Masons, 7 lodges.

The following are the Post Offices in the Province : —

Winnipeg, * Middle Church,

Bai6 S .. Paul, Oak Land,

Boyne, Oak Point,

Burnside, Ossowo,

Cook's Creek, Palestine,

Dynevor, Parks Creek.

Greenwood, Peguis,

Headingly, Pigeon Lake,

High Bluff, Poplar Point,

Kildonan, Portage la Prairie,

Lower Fort Garry, Prairie Grove,

Loretto, Rockwood,

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

61

St. Agathe,

St. Andrew's,

St. Anne,

St. Boniface,

St. Charles,

St. Frangois Xavier,

St. James,

St. Laurent,

St. Norbert,

Scratching River,

Selkirk,

Springfield,

Totogon,

Vital.

West Lynne,

Westbourne,

Woodlands,

Woodside.

'*?■*

There is a daily mail to and from the United States and
Cai'ada, and local mails leave the Winnipeg Post Office twice
a week. There is also a mail from Winnipeg for the Saskat-
chewan every three weeks. Express and telegraph offices are
established in Winnipeg, and connect with the eastern lines.

The City of Winnipeg is connected also with the Saskatche-
wan country by telegraph, and regular despatches are daily
received to and from there. , , t

? ADVICE TO THE IMMIGRANT.

Having now exhausted all the practical information in regard
to the Province of Manitoba which we deem necessary to the
immigrant, we will proceed to give such advice as we think
may be of service to those who may come to the North- West
to settle or invest their means.

In the first place, the farmer who intends making his home
here, ought to arrive during the spring or early summer, so as
to enable him to secure his land, build a house and stables, and
break some ground before the winter sets in. He may, by com-
mencing work in. the spring, succeed in obtaining a partial
crop from his farm. Potatoes, for instance, may be planted as
late as the beginning of June, and a fair yield realized from
newly broken land. Barley and turnips also do well on the
freshly turned prairie. May and June are the two best months
for breaking prairie, although it can be done in July, but
ought not to be attempted later in the season.

The first thing the farmer should do on his arrival is to go
to the land office, and ascertain the most desirable localities
open for settlement. It will not take him long then to make
a personal inspection and select a place. There are several
ways of obtaining land in the Province, as follows : —

HOMESTEAD RIGHTS.

All persons interested in obtaining Homestead Grants or
purchasing D' minion Lands will give attention to the following
provisions respecting the Public Lands of the Dominion : —

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Unappropriated Dominion Lands, the surveys of which have
been duly made and confirmed, shall, except as otherwise here
inafter provided, be open lor purchase at the rate of one dollar
per acre ; but no such purchase of more than a section, or six
hundred and forty acres, shall be made bv the same person :
provided that whenever so ordered by the Minister of the
Interior, such unoccupied lands as may be deemed by him ex-
pedient from time to time, may be withdrawn from ordinary
sale or settlement, and offered at public sale (of which sale due
and sufficient notice will be given), at the upset price of one
dollar per acre, and sold to the highest bidder.

Payment for lands purchased in the ordinary manner shall
be made in cash, except in the case of payment by scrip, or in
military bounty warrants, as provided by law.

Any person, male or female, who is the sole head of a family,
or any male who has attained the age of eighteen years, shall
be entitled to be entered for one quarter section, or a less quan-
tity, of unappropriated Dominion Lands, for the purpose of
securing a Homestead Right in respect thereof.

The entry of a person for a Homestead Right shall entitle him
to receive at the same time therewith an entry for any adjoin-
ing quarter section then unclaimed, and such entry shall entitle
such person to take and hold possession and cultivate such
quarter section in addition to his homestead, but not to cut
wood thereon for sale or barter ; and at the expiration of the
period of three years, or upon the sooner obtaining a patent
for the homestead, under the fifteenth subsection of section
thirty-three of •' The Dominion Lands Act," shall entitle him to
a pre-emption of the said adjoining quarter section at the Gov-
ernment price of one dollar per acre ; but the right to claim
such pre-emption shall cease and be forfeited, together with all
improvement.s on the land, upon any forfeiture of the home-
stead right under the Dominion Lands Act.

Provided always, that the right to a pre-emption entry as
above given, shall not belong to any settler brought in under
the provisions of sections fourteen and fifteen of the said Act.

When two or more persons have settled on, and seek to
obtain a title to, the same land, the Homestead Right shall be
in him who made the first settlement.

Every person claiming a Homestead Right on surveyed land
must, previously to settlement on such land, be duly entered
therefor with the local agent within whose district such land
may be situate ; but in the case of a claim from actual settle-
ment in then unsurveyed lands, the claimant must file such
application within three months after due notice has been
received at the local office of such land ha^-ing been surveyed,
and the survey thereof confirmed j and proof of settlement and

to MANITOBA AND THl NOKTH-WlST.

♦■

improvemeht shall be made to the local agent at the time of
tiling such application.

A person applying for leave to he fenWfed for lands with a
view of securing a Flomestead Riglit thoreon, must make affi-
davit before the local agent (form B.), that he is over eighteen
years of age, that he has not previously obtained a homestead
under the provisions of the Dominion Lands Act ; that the
land in question belongs to the class open for homestead entry ;
that there is no person residing or having improvements there-
on ; and that his application is made for his exclusive use and
benefit, and with the intention to reside upon and cultivate
the said lands. • ■ «;) ;^j|?f' :,iy^ * v->f!^*

Upon making this aflRdavit and filing it vrith the local agent
(and on payment to him of an office fee of ten doU<ir$ — for
which he shall receive a receipt from the agent"), he shall be
permitted to enter the land ftpocified in the application.

No patent shall be granted for the land until the expiration
of three years from the time of entering into possession of it,
except as hereinafter provided. *w# ' ■ ^'- i;; r'lr ^^^'^ vut;

At the expiration of three years, the settler or Mis widow,
her heirs r devisees — or if the settler leaves no widow, his
heirs or devisees — upon proof to the satisfaction of the local
agent that he or his widow, or his or her representatives as
aforesaid, or some of them, have (except in the case of entry
upon contiguous lands as hereinbefore provided), resided upon
and cultivated the land for the three years next after the fil-
ing of the affidavit for entry, or in the case of a settler on un-
surveyed land, who may upon the same being surveyed, have
filed his application as provided in sub-section five, upon proof,
as aforesaia, that he or his widow, or his or their representa-
tives, as aforesaid, or some of them, have resided upon and cul-
tivated the land for the three years next preceding the applica-
tion for patent, shall be entitled to patent for the land, provided
such claimant is then a subject of Her Majesty by birth or
naturalization.

Provided always, that the right of the claimant to obtain a
patent under the said sub-section as amended, shall be subject
to the provisions of section fifteen herein lastly quoted.

Provided further, that in case of settlements being formed
of immigrants in communities (such, for instance, as those of
Mennonites or Icelanders), the Minister of the Interior may
vary or waive, in his discretion, the foregoing requirements as
to residence *nd cultivation on each separate quarter-section
entered as a homestead.

When both parents die without having devised the land,
leaving a child or children under age, it shall be lawftil for the
executors (if any), of the last surviving parent, or the guardian
or guardians of such child or children, with the approval of a

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A PRAOXIOAL UAND-800K AND GUIDE

Judge of a Superior Court of the Province or Territory in
which the lands lie, to sell the lands for the benefit of the
infant or infanta^ but for no other purpose ; und the purchaser
in such case shall receive a patent for the lands so purchased.

The title to lands shall remain in the drown until the issue
of the patent therefor ; and such lanv's shall not be liable to
be taken in execution before the issue of the patent. v^s j^

In cp^e it is proved to the satisfaction of theMinister of the
Interior that the settler has voluntaiily relinquished his claim,
or has been absent from the land entered by him for more
than six months in any one year without leave of absence from
the Minister of the Interior, then the right to such land shall
be liable to forfeiture, and may be cancelled by the said Min-
ister ; and the e? tM;ir so relinquishing or abandoning his claim
shall not be permitted to make more than a second entry.

Any person who hP5 availed himself of the foregoing provi-
sions may, before the expiration of three years, obtain a patent
for the land entered upon by him, including the wood lot, if
any, appertaining to the same, as hereinafter proviued, on pay-
ing the Government price thereof at the date of entry> and
making proof of settlement and cultivation for not less than
twelve months from the date of entry.

Proof of actual settlement and cultivation shall be made by
affidavit of the claimant before the local agent, corroborated
on oath by two credible witnesses.

The Minister of the interior may at any time ordei an
inspection of any homestead or homeoteads in reference to
which there may be reason to believe the foregoing provisions,
as regards settlement and cultivation, have not been, or are
not being carrieU oat, and may, on a repoit of the facts, cancel
the entry of such homestead or homesteads ; and in the c?,se of
a cancelled homestead, with or Avithout improvements thereon,
•the same shall not be considered as of right open for fresh
entry, but may be held for sale of the land and of the improve-
ments, or of the improvements thoreon, in connection with a
fresh homestead entry thereof, at the discretion of the xMinistcr
of the Interior.

All assignments and transfers of Homestead Rights before the
issue of the patent shall be noil and void, but shall be
deemed evidence cf abandonmeut of the right ; and the per
son so assigning or transferring shall not be permitted to make
a second entry, rs,. -i>tiiM.:i^£. _ ^. .JLiU^Ji.,j:,kh^ .um s^u

Any person wHc may have obtained a Homestead entry
shall be considered, unless and until such entry be cancelled,
as having an exclusive right to the land so entered as against
any other person o^ persons whomscever, and may bring and
maintain action for trespass committed on the said land, or
any part thereof.

To MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

u

' The provisions relating to Homesteads shall only apply to
agricultural lands ; that is to say, they shall not be held to
apply to lands set apart as timber limits, or as hay lands, ct to
lands valuable for stone or marble quarries, or those having
water-po ver thereon which may be useful for driving ma-
chinery.

Any Homestead claimant wno, previous to the issue of the
patent, shall sell any of the timber on his claim, or on the
wood lot appertaining to his claim, to saw-mill proprietors, or
to any other than settlers for their own private use, shall be
guilty of trespass, and may be prosecuted therefor before a Jus-
tice of the Peace ; and upon conviction thereof shall be subject
to a fine or imprisonment, or both ; and further, such person
shall forfeit his claim absolutely.

If any person or persons undertake to settle tinv of the pub-
lic lands of the Dominion free of expense to the (jiovirnnient,
in the proportion of one family to each alternate quarter sec-
tion, or not less than sixty-four families in any one township,
under the Homestead provisions of the Act hereby amended,
the Governor in Council may withdraw any such township
from public sale and general settlement, and may, if he thinks
proper, having reference to the settlement so affected, and to
the expense incurred by such person or persons in procuring
the same, order the sale of any other and additional lands in
£;uch township to such person or persons, at a reduced price,
and may make all necessary conditions and agreements for car-
rying the same into effect.

The expenses, or any part thereof, incurred by any person or
pernonp, ^nv the passage money or subsistence in bringing out
an immigrant, or for aid in erecting buildings on the Home-
ster ^ '^r in providing farm implements or seed for such immi-
grants, may, if so agreed upon by the parties, be made a charge
on the Homestead of such immigrant ; and in case of such im-
mig \\nt attempting to evade such liability by obtaining a Home-
stead entry outside of the land withdrawn under the provisions
of the next preceding section, then and in such case the ex-
pense incurred on behalf of such immigrant as above, shall
become a charge on the Homestead att entered, which, with
interest thereon, must be satisfied before a patent shall issue
for the land ; provided as follows : — ' .

(rt) That the sum or sums charged for the passage money
and subsistence of such immigrant shall not be in excess of
the actual cost of the same, as proved to the satisfaction of tlie
Minister of the Interior ;

(b) That an acknowledgment by such immigrant of the
debt so incurred shall have been filed in the Dominion Lands
office; i;^ :..'! ,-■. -j^i^, i^^t^ -* i .

(c) That in no case shall the charge for principal moneya ftd-

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

vanced against such Homestead exceed in amount the sum of
two hundred dollars ;

(v'') That no greater rate of interest than six per cent, per
annum shall be charged on the debt so incurred by such iro'>i-
grant. ^^'

Then an immigrant with means can often purchase laid*
within the existing settlements, improved and unimproved, on
advantageous terms, from the earlier settlers, who, in many in-
stances contemplate moving further westward to take advantage
of the hunting and trading on the prairie, and a farmer having
some capital would often prefer to settle near churches, schools,
post office, &c., &c. The land list published in January, 1876,
by A. W. Burrows, General Land Agent, Winnipeg, is a proof
of what we say, as in it farms in the neighbourhood of Winni-
peg, Portage la Prairie,. Emerson, Stoney Mountain, and other
good localities, are offered at from $2 to $7 per acre.

Half- Breed Scrip, payable to bearer in 160 acres of Dominion
lands, can be bought at about 50 cents per acre, or less, and are
extensively used by incoming settlers for location of Goverti-
Qient lands.

The IJalf-Breed Reserves, 1,400,000 acres, immediately sur-
rounding the capital of the Province, and the old settlements on
the Assiniboine River, which are now in process of distribution
to the children of Half-Breeds, in parcels of 240 acres, will
change hands largely at reasonable prices, and rapidly be-
coming settled, will hereafter teem with prosperous cultivation.

Without going into particulars, we may mention the follow-
ing localities of surveyed lands which are now open for settle-
ment: i^V.;, V^--^^-.V^-^ ^ ■■' ^'H;' :t": - ■;<-?■ -''r* '■-■v'--^W,

DOMINION LANDS NOTICK

;ft

Notice is hereby given that, on and after the 1st day of June,
1874, the Dominion Lands in Manitoba and the North- West
Territories will, until further notice, be divided into the follow-
ing Land Districts, viz :

District No. 1, in charge of Head Office at Winnipeg, will
comprise all lands opea for sale and settlement, North of the
Township line between Townshi^js 7 and 8, p.nd East of Lake
Manitoba, and the Range line between Ranges 5 and 6, to-
gether with the settlement belt, and all lands claimed under
the provisions of the 31st and 32nd clauses of the " Muiitoba

Act.

-.iir*'!??t!»,<,i^'i,'iv***rf

District No. 2, with its office at Emerson, will eomprise Ml
lands open for sale and settlement South of the Township lino
between Townships 7 and 8, and the International Boundary.
; District No. 3, with its office at Westbourne, will comprise
all lands open for sale and settlement North of the Township

TO MANITOBA AND THE N0HTH-"WE8T. ^P,

line between Townships 7 and 8, and West ol Lake Manitoba
and the Range line between Ranges 5 and 6.

All applications to purchase or Homestead Dominion Lands
must be made to the officer in charge of the District within
which the lands applied for are situated.

; . ;,, rf .ci. ;?f DONALD CODD,

'- Agent of Dominion Laiida. ^

Dominion Lands Office, *•■ - '^\

Winnipeg, May 1st, 1874. ■'■ ':i.f ' " f , ;fif4.. J^'■;^n!*■'''•w.fr-
District No. 1. — There is very little land open for settlement
in this district, as the best locations have been already claimed.
You can obtain good land, however, by purchase of half-breed
rights and settlers' claims.

District No. 2. — There are the greater portion of ninety-five
townships open for settlement, and some of the finest land in
the Province is included in them, especially that in the direc-
tion of the Pembina Mountains.

District No. 3. — There are the greater portion of 154 town-
ships still open for settlement, and the land in the neighbour-
hood and westward of Palestine is splendid rolling prairie, with
wood, water and hay in plenty.

Who will say, therefore, that there is no land within the
limits of Manitoba or in its immediate neighbourhood open for
settlement, and what inducement can there be for the immi-
j^rant to pass thousands of acres of fine country, with all the
requisites for farming, and adjoining established settlements,
to go away beyond them, where, perhaps, he and his family
will have to undergo for years all the hardships and incon-
veniences of a pioneer life ? We advise immigrants to locate,
if not within Manitoba, at least as near its limits as possible,
and, in addition, would reiterate what we have already said,
that there is plenty of fine land to be obtained in the Pro-
vince, and no necessity for going beyond it.

Should a settler, however, wish to take up a claim on unsur-
veyed land outside the Province, his plan is to locate, and com-
mence making improvements wherever he may find a desirable
spot.

If he should be unable to select a spot suited to his ideas
within the limits of the Province, we vould advise him to go
westward beyond Palestine, and take up a claim as near the
settlement as he can find one to please him. To do this he
will require to act as follows. He may settle wherever he tiods
a place to suit him, and the Government has provided for his
case as follows : —

" Any land over and above the amount allowed to a settler under
the Homestead Law, ho will have to pay for at the Qovemm^t
price of $1 per acre up to 640 acres. " - - * - •-■ -- -. • — ■

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■<■ Every person claiming a Homestead Right on surveyed land
must, previous to settlement on such land, be duly entered
therefor with ^he Local Agent within whose district such land
may be situate, but in case of a claim from actual settlement
in then unsurveyed lands, the claimant must file such applica-
tion within three months after due notice shall have been re-
ceived at the loeal office of such land having been surveyed,
and the survey thereof confirmed, and proof of settlement ard
improvement shall be made to the local agent at the time of
filing such application.

Any person can purchase by scrip any quantity of unoccu-
pied land, surveyed or unsurveyed.

The Government has, in the Dominion Lands Act, provided
as follows for the purchase of land, and for grazing, hay and
wood : —

OEDINARY PURCHASE AND SALE OF LANDS.

Unappropriated Dominion lands, the surveys of which may
have been duly made and confirmed, shall, except as otherwise
hereinafter provided, be open for purchase at the rate of one
dollar per acre ; but no such purchase of more than a section,
or six hundred and forty acres, shall be made by the same per-
son ; provided, that whenever so ordered by the Minister of
the Interior, such unoccupied lands as may be deemed by him
expedient from time to time may be withdrawn from ordinary
sale or settlement and offered at public sale (of which sale due
and sufficient notice shall be given), at the upset price of one
dollar per acre, and sold to the highest bidder.

PAYMENT FOR LANDS . !'

Payments for lands, purchased in the ordinary manner, shall
be made in cftsh, except in the case of payment by scrip or in
military bounty warrants as hereinbefore provided. , ,

GRAZING LANDS. • . ,

The Governor in Council may, from time to time, grant
leases of unoccupied Dominion Lands for grazing purposes to
any person or persons whomsoever for such term of years and
at such rent in each case as may be deemed expedient ; but
every such lease shall, among other things, contain a condition
by which, if it should thereafter bo thought expedient by the
Minister of Interior to offer the land covered thereby for set-
tlement, the said Minister may, on giving the lessee two years
notice, cancel the lease at any time during the term.

'S?-

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

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EAY LANDS.

■ Leases of unoccupied Doiuinion lands, not exceeding in any
casp :i legal sub-division of forty acres, may be granted for the
purpose of cutting hay thoron, to any person or persons whom-
soever, being bonajkle settlers in the vicinity of such hay lands,
for such term and at such rent fixed by public auction or other-
wise as the Minister of the Interior may deem expedient ; but
such lease, except as may be otherwise specially agreed upon,
shall not operate to prevent, at any time duringthe term thereof,
the sale or settlement of the lands described therein under
the provisions of this Act, the lessee being paid in such case by
the purchaser or settler, for fencing or other improvements
made on such land, such sum as shall be fixed by the Local
Agent, and allowed to remove any hay he may have made.

The Minister of the Interior may direct that, in the sub-
division of townships which may consist partly of prairie and
partly of timber land, such of the sections or subdivisions of
sections containing islands, belts, or other tracts of timber,
shall be subdivided into such number of wood lots of not less
than ten, and not more than twenty acres in each lot, as will
afford, so far as the extent of wood land in the township may
permit, one such wood lot to each quarter-section prairie farm
in such township :

Provided, that neither the sections and parts of sections in
each township vested in the Hudson's Bay Company by this
Act, nor those sections set apart herein for schools, shall be
subject in any way tc the operation of the next preceding
sub-clause :

3. The division of such wood lots shall be by squared posts,^
numbered from one upwards, marked with a marking iron, and
planted in the section line bounding the timber tract so laid
out ; and each wood lot shall front on a section road allowance.

Provided, that in case an island or belt of timber be found
in the survey of any township to lie in a quarter-section or
several quarter-sections, but in such manner that no single
quarter section shall have more of such timber than twenty-
five acres, such timber shall be taken to be appurtenant to such
quarter-section or quarter-sections, and shjdl not be further
divided into wood lots :

5. The Local Agent, hs settlers suall apply for Homestead
Rights in the township, and in the same order as such applica-
tions shall be made, shall, if so requested, apportion to each
quarter-section so applied for, one of the adjacent wood lots,
and such wood lot shall be paid for by the applicant at the "ate
of one dollar per acre, and shall be entered oti the Local Agent's
books and be returned by him as iu connection with the horoe-

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A PRACTICAL HAND BOOK AND QUIDK

stead so entered ; and on such homestead claimant fulfilling all
the requirements of this Act in that behalf, but not otherwise,
a patent shall issue to him for such wood lot :

6. Provided, that any homestead claimant, who, previous to
the issue of the patent shall sell any of the timber on his claim,
or on the wood lot appertaining to his claim, to saw mill pro-
prietors or to any other than settlers for their own private use,
shall be guilty of a trespass, and may be prosecuted therefor
before a Justice of the Peace, and upon conviction thereof, shall
be subject to a fine or imprisonment, or both ; and further
such person shall forfeit his claim absolutely.

It is our opinion that an immigrant would be unwise to go
far beyond the line of settlement, or to undertake to go to the
Saakatchewan in advance of civilization, for the following rea-
sons :

1. The heavy cost of getting to his claim. ' -• ik-Ju i

2. His isolation until settlements reach him. ,f ■ .

3. The high cost for procuring the necessaries of life.

4. The distance from a market ; even with the chance of sell-
ing his produce to traders and others, his profits would be eaten
up by the cost of procuring necessaries which he is unable to
raise on his farm.

5. His isolation from churches and schools. ••

6. The nearer he keeps to the line of settlement the quicker
will he obtain all the benefits of civilization, especially as the
march of development is rapid in this country.

It is for this reason that we condemn the idea of inducing
immigrants to go to the North-West in advance of settlements,
and before proper means of communication are opened up to
that vast country.

It must not be understood, however, that we have any de-
sire to belittle the Saskatchewan country, on the contrary we
are of opinion that in the near future that great territory will
afford homes for thousands of hardy and industrious farmers ;
and we are also aware that as far as climate, soil, and other ad-
vantages are concerned, the Saskatchewan is equal to Manitoba.
But our d' sire is not to mislead people for the mere purpose
of advancing immigration, and the development of the country
will be sufficiently promoted by allowing the progress of settle-
ments to be gradual rather than scattered in its character.

The Province of Manitoba although young, possesses most of
the elements of civilization, and it is the centre for these to
sxtend from and spread throughout th" entire north-weat. By
adopting this plan of immigrants locating as near the centre of
civilization as possible, our settlements will be more compact,
and the new settlers will feel more contented and happy when
not too far removed from comforts to which they were accus-
tomed in the countries from which they came.

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We have already given the prices of articles in Manitoba,
and it is for the intending settler to decide whether to bring
his household effects and farming implements with him, or pur-
chase a new outfit on his arrival here. He will be able to judge
better when he ascertains from the transportation companies,
the cost of bringing old articles to this country, whether it will
be better to sell them and purchase new ones in Manitoba.

The settler having made good use of the summer months,
will find himself in the fall, possessed of a hoise, stables, and
a supply of hay for his caitle, besides which he may have
realized a small crop from his farm. When winter comes, he
will find employment in cutting and turning fence rails to en-
close his fields in the spring. He will have firewood to cut,
and may collect the timber for a better house, and more stabling
accommodation to be erected the succeeding summer. If the
setthn- arrives in early spring or summer, it will be better for
him to bring his family with him. The females can be of great
service to him in many ways, and the young men or boys can
assist him in the field and in the erection of his buildings.
If they come overland from Moorhead, it will be better to con-
tinue to camp instead of going to a hotel, not only as a matter
of ex\)ense, but also of health, as a frequent change from camp
to house, and from house to camp, is not beneficial to health.

If the settler should find it impossible to arrive here before
the fall, his best plan is to come alone without his family, and
to simply decide upon a location, and if practicable, erect a«house
thereon. This done, he is in a position to receive his family
early the next spring, but if he is obliged to bring his folks
with him in the fall, let him attend without delay to the
building of a house, and procuring hay for his cattle, which can
be done even thus late in the season if cam is taken. The
winter can then be employed as usual, in getting out fence rails
»&c., and the breaking of land will have to remain till the
spring.

The rapid development of the country and the establishment
of towns and villages will for years to come cause a demand for
mechanical labour and skill. This can be easily seen, and there-
fore mechanics of all kinds are sure to meet with employment
at remunerative wages. The manufacturing interests of the
country are only in their infancy and must rapidly become de-
veloped, it is not too much therefore to say that the demand for
mechanical labour must increase, and a good opening presents
itself to artizans of every description. Wages at present arc
good and must remain so while the demand for labour exists.

We will now conclude with a few remarks in regard to the
future prospects of the North- West, and the country immedi-
ately outside the limits of the Province. It cannot be denied
tiiat the lands within the confines of Manitoba are being rapidly

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OUIDX

taken up, and although for many years to come there will be
opportunities to procure suitable locations within the Province,
the extension of the boundaries of Manitoba is only a question
of a short time, and those who settle near the present limits
will soon find themselves within the Province.

The country to the westward of Palestine and Beautiful
Plains is one continuous prairie, with bluffs and creeks lined
with wood. The land is excellent, and the settler is not obliged
to go as far as the Saskatchewan to find a new home for nis
family. There is abundance of land of the very best descrip-
tion, with plenty of water, wood, and hay, to be found nearer
home. So, settler, keep as near a market for your produce as
you possibly can. When the Canada Pacific Railway is built
through to the Saskatchewan country, affording communication
with that vast territory, it will be time enough for immigrants
to pour in, but until then let each man coming to the country
with his family keep as near the line of existing settlements as
he possibly can.

It appears to us unnecessary to speak of the future of this
great country — the tale is told in a few words.

A vast territory which cannot be surpassed in the world for
agricultural purposes ; abundance of wood, water and hay, for
the farmer, and a liberal policy to enable settlers to take up
land ; railways in progress, and others projected to intersect
the entire country, and carry the products to eastern markets.

Whiire there is a fine agricultural country, thy merchant must
succeed, and when it is considered that the vast territory of
unoccupied land in the United States has been proved to be
•little better than barren waste, it is not difficult to see that the
tide of emigration from the older portions of the world must
flow towards the north-west, and as the country thus rapidly
fills with population, its commerce must extend and expand in
proportion.

In reference to what we have stated in regard to the United
States, we will conclude by quoting the words of Professor
Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington.

He says : " we have stated that the entire region, west of the
98th degree of west longitude, with the exception of a small
portion of western Texas, and the main border along the Pacific,
is a country of comparatively little value to the agriculturist ;
and perhaps it will astonish the reader if we direct his atten-
tion to the fact that this line, that passes southward from Lake
Winnipeg to the Gulf of Mexico, will divide the whole mr/ace
of the United States into two nearly equal parts. This statement,
when fully appreciated, wlU serve to dissipate some of the
dreams, which have been considered realities as to the destiny of
the western part of the North American continent. Truth,
however, transcends even the laudable feelings of pride and

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH W18T.

73

country, and in order properly to direct the policy of this great
confederacy " (the United States), "it is necessary to be well
acquainted with the theatre in which its future history is to be
re-enacted."

Now, looking upon that picture and on this, let us draw the
comparison. Upon the northern edge of that great Sahara,
we have the valleys of the Red River and Saskatchewan, car-
rying their rich and grassy undulations to the gorges of the
Rocky mountains ; forming an isolated belt of verdure across
the western half of the British American continent, an isthmus
of fertile and habitable lands between the Arctic wastes, which
extend to the frozen ocean on the north, and the vast deserts
between the Mississippi River and the Pacific coast. < '

I

EXTRACTS FROM LOCAL PAPERS

AND CORRESPONDENCE,

To prove the correctness of the Pamphlet.

THE SOIL. .: -

Bludgett (an American authority) states that " the basin of
the Winnipeg is the seat of the greatest average wheat product
on this continent, and probably in tJie world. The limestone
substrata of this region, and its rich, deep, and calcareous loam
on retentive clay subsoil, is always associated with a rich wheat
development, while its hot and hu nid summers fulfil all the
climatological conditions of a first-i ate wheat country. Some
fields on the Red River have been known to produce twenty
successive crops of wheat without fallow or manure, and the
yield has frequently reached as high as forty bushels per acre.
An important feature in the soil of Manitoba and the North-
West is, that its earthy materials are minutely pulverized, and
the soil is everywhere light, mellow and spongy. With these
uniform characteristics, the soils are of different grades oi fertil-
ity, according to local situations. A general ingredient of the soil
is sand, of which silica is the base, as of all good soils. It plays
an important part in the economy of growth, and is an essen-
tial constituent in the organism of all cereals. We are told
that about sixty-seven per cent, of the ash of the stems of wheat,
com, rye, barley, oats, etc., is pure silica, or flint. It is this
which gives the glazed coating to the plants, and ^ves strength
to the stalk." Now, this silica is an acid and is insoluble, but
readily combines with lime, soda, magnesia, potash, and the
other ingredients of our soil, and in this condition is readily

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M. PfiAOTIOAL HANDBOOK AND GUIDE

available to the use of the nlaut, and forms an essential element
to the growth of the cereals ; from this and other causes is at-
tributable the superiority of our wheat over all other grown
east or south.

The packages of Manitoba earth are on exhibition at Ottawa,
and experts there say that the soil cannot be rivalled by any
other spot on earth. The specimens were taken from the Lit-
tle Saskatchewan, and between the Portage and Winnipeg.

, .; : THE CLIMATE.

The first cricket match played in British North America this
year came off Monday afternoon in this city. Sides were
chosen by the Mayor and Mr. Kichards. Although there has
been very little time for practice, some excellent play was
shown, some of the cricketers showing up in good form. The
other side won the match. — 17 th April, 1876.

The difference : — New England States, the heaviest snow
storm of the season ; Manitoba — most enjoyable weather.
Comparisons are always odious. — 8th April, 1876.

Ontario papers are filled with items about the heated term.
How we can sit down and enjoy the cool breezes that waft over
the Prairie I'rovince, and pity our sweltering brothers down
oast.— July 9th, 1876.
' Look at this picture : . .

" If several inches of snow, temperature below zero, and a
blinding snow-drift constitute winter, then the genuine article
has come. Saturday night and all P 'ay it snowed, and the
Ice King ruled in all his terror. Ti. eather since has gra-
dually relaxed, and nature smiles in sunshine, while the roads
yawn in coagulated mud." — Sherbrooke, Quebec, Gazette,
October 20th. ^>:; /,■ >: .s ; ^■-•' : ':: ^> , :.■-.■•, - _.:■■- '':

And on this :

The weather in Manitoba at the same date was cloudy, but
had been fair the previous week, and glorious Indian summer
prevailed.

The extreme cold weather said to prevail in Manitoba does
not prevc .t the work of grading on the Canada Pacific Railway
being ci .1^,- on. And the question arises — could similar
work be I' o i.i any other Province of the Dominion in the
winter season 1

; When our little snow storm of the 4th ult. came upon us,
nearly every person expected winter at once, and as scarcely
any of our settlers had their potatoes and other vegetables
up, all were in a state of anxiety so long as the snow remained.
The fine weather which set in immediately after its disappear-
ance, and continues up to the present, has given ample time
for getting the root crop safely stored} as well as for getting the

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH W£hT.

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outbuildings in shape for winter. Considerable ploughing is
being done.

Mr. D. Purteous has been threshing, and his grain is turnint;
out well. From four acres of barley ne threshed 280 bushels,
or 70 bushels per acre. Threshing has not, generally speaking,
commenced. — October 30ih, 187G.

A gentleman who left Ontario in the midst of a snow storm
was astonished to find on his arrival here that Manitoba was
enjoying perfect Florida weather. He thinks that " hyper-
borean" is more applicable to other places than the Prairie
Province. — October 2lst, 1876.

First flowers found on the Prairie, April 16th.

First ploughing, April 17th.

First wild fowl seen, April 6th.

MANITOBA WHEAT.

Some Wheat. — Messrs. John R. McMillan, and John Wil-
li uus, of Rockwoori, have raised a quantity of wheat which
weighs sixty-six pounds to the bushel. Forty-six bushels
were taken to Pritchard's Mill, St. Paul's, and each sixty
pounds of wheat gave the following returns : — 42^ lbs. flour,
4^ lbs. middlings, 2| lbs. coarse shorts, 8^ lbs. bran, 2 lbs.
allowed for dust and dirt, and passing through the smut ma-
chine, stones, and bolts. The flour, we were told, compares
with any othe? manufactured either inside or outside the Pro-
vince. The wheat was raised on new land, and wae the first
crop the land produced. This exhibit was an excellent one,
and any one who fancies he can beat it is requested to send on
his figures.

•' We have been shown some fine samples of wheat grown
by Mr. Easier, at Little Saskatchewan. The wheat, which
averages forty bushels to the acre, weighs sixty-Pight pounds
to the bushel. Mr. B. came to this country with Mr. Ralston
in 1874, possessed of scarcely any of this world's goods, but
now, notwithstanding the terrible ordeal through which the
country has gone, is in comparatively easy circumstances, hav-
ing this year five acres each in wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes,
from which he secured splendid crops. He also now owns a
good house, ten head of cattle, and pigs, poultry, etc."

" Fine Wheat. — An extraordinary fine sample of wheat
grown by Adam McKenzie, of Beautiful Plains, hasbeen shown
us by Robt. Rolston. The wheat, of which two thousand
bushels were raised, is hard, plump, and bright ; and is said to
have averaged from 66 to 68 lbs. per bushel. Some taken to
C. P. Brown's mill, Palestine, produced 46 lbs. of flour to the
bushel."

Fine Wheat. — A sample of the

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OUIDl

finest looking spring wheat we think we ever saw, has been
handed us, raiseil hy Mr. Joseph W, Johnston, of the Boyne.
From a bushel and a hali 's sowing, forty bushels were harvested.
The kernels are large, and the sicin is very light in colour and
thin. It weighs sixty-four pounds to the bushel. We do not
know the name of the variety."

" An extraordinary yield is shown by the following : Seventy
bushels of wheat were threshed from a field where two bushels
of seed were sown. The happy agriculturist is our old frif^nd
Tom Taylor, of Mapletoii."

MANITOBA OATS.'

" Oats. — Mr. Thos. West has on exhibition the product of
one oat grain, a stool of 92 stems. On one of the stems he
counted 121 grains of oats. He has a number of other very
prolific stools, grown in his garden in the north ward."

"Oats.— Mr. A. H. Murray, M.P.P., has just completed the
threshing out of the first seven acres of oats threshed in the
parish of St. Charles this season, the gratifying result being
ninety bushels to the acre ! Next !"

" Oats. — Andrew Ness, of St. Charles, sowed two bushels
of Surprise oats, and harvested one hundred from them. The
ground sown was only about three-fourths of an acre."

" Twenty acres of Mr. Sifton's two hundred acre field of
oats have been threshed out, and yielded seventy-five bushels
to the acre. The remainder will keep up the average."

:,. MANITOBA BARLEY, t

" Crops. — Mr. Roderick McKenzie, an old settler of Head-
ingly, last week threshed out the product of four bushels of
barley, which yielded 1 20 bushels, and of ten bushels of oats,
which yielded over 350 bushels."

MANITOBA ROOTS AND VEGETABLES.

" Garden Truck. — Mr. Egan, of Kildonan, is doing won-
ders in this line, having had ripe tomatoes since the middle of
August in abundance. Some roots of mangold wurtzel challenge
the Province for size. A specimen shown measured three feet
and a half in length and had grown two feet above ground.
Send along your items and samples."

, Another Whopper. — We were told recently of a radish
grown in a garden in this city which measures 2 ft. 5| in.
from the base of the first leaf to the tip. Next !

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ROOTS AND VEGETABLES. ' * ■ '
{Extract from Report of Manitoba Provincial Show of 1876.)
The display in this class is decidedly the " big thing " of

of

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the show. The " products of Manitoba " exhibited excelled
f ven the expectations of the most sanguine believers in the
Prairie Province — and most certainly their huge dimensions
and unparalleled excellence* could not bo surpassed. Indeed,
the exhibit is so large that it is almost impossible to notice it
in detail. In (juality and variety the exliibit is far beyond
that of any former year, and many visitors from Ontario pro-
nounce it to be superior to anything they ever saw — the Cen-
tennial not excepted. I potatoes the early rose was the most
numerous, but there were also some magnificent specimens of
Peerless, California, Snowrtake, English, and Early Kegent, and
a number of good looking varieties unnamed. There are also
several lots of seedlings f)f this year, but of course too small to
show any marked characteristics. It is, however, a pleasing
sign that attention is being rUrected to the creation of varieties
suited to the country.

Cabbages of all kinds and of immense size are exhibited.
Mr. Egan, of Kildonan, took the first prize for winter cabbage,
with a specimen that measured four feet in circumference, and
very solid. Rev. Mr. Pritchard, St. Paul's, has one that
measures fifty inches in circumference. The first prize for a
collection was awarded to John Arkland, of St. James, and
the second to William Laurie, of this city.

Turnips weighing 36 lbs. are among the monstrosities in this
line. The best specimens of white turnips were shown by Mr.
Macdonald, of Springfield, but he failed to get a prize because
he entered them under a wrong name. The varieties shown
were chiefly Swedish, yellow Aberdeen, and white.

Carrots, parsnips, mangold wurtzel, turnip and long beet,
some fine sugar beets, were in great profusion and puzzled the
judges not a little.

There were enough ripe tomatoes and melons on exhibition
to show that with care they can be raised in this country.

A number of the entries in this class were weighed, with the
results given below. The articles, it must be remembered,
were not specially selected but picked out at haphazard. The
early rose potatoes which gained the first prize averaged two
pounds each, and others of the same variety, which did not
carry off prizes, averaged but half a pound less. There were,
however, potatoes of greater weight exhibited. The 1st prize
winter drumhead cabbages weighed 25 lbs. and 23^ lbs., and
another one balanced the scales at 23 lbs., there also being a
large number nearly reaching the same weight. The first prize
cauliflower, stripped of leaves, weighed 6^ lbs. only ; but one
to which no prize was given brought down the balance at 12J
lbs. The latter, however, was dirty and spoiled, and was thus
debarred from gaining a prize. A 19^ lb. mangold wurtzel
didn't even take a third prize — nor did a 36J lb. turnip. A

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Swede weighed 21^ lbs., but also failed to carry off any honours,
excepting admiration, and a white turnip 19^ lbs. The first
prize beet -weighed 8 lbs., and a sugar beet of the same weight
carried off the third prize only. Six carrots averaged over two
pounds eaoh, and in parsnips 2| and 2| lbs. specimens were
plentiful. Three white onions weighed a pound apiece, and
three red oces tot' ed up 2| pounds — and yet these were not
honoured with prize tickets. These few figures will give our
readers at a distance some faint idea of the magnificence of the
display in this linft, in which Manitoba takes second place to
none.

Melons ripen to perfection, and our garden vegetables are
beyond anything I have seen in Manitoba or the Northern
States. Turnip-radishes for instance, reaching the enormous
weight of four pounds (measuring 27 inches in circumference
and 9 in depth), and retaining all the good qualities appertain-
ing to the smaller varieties.

Cauliflowers measuring twenty-two inches across, being by
no means the exception. In proof of the earliness of our gar-
den we, to-day, enjoyed the first salad of the season grown in
the open oir. — June lith, 1876.

Mr. Sondermann, of the city, has any quantity of large
tomatoetj, und a Kohl-rabi as big as his head. Mr. Corbett, of
Springfield, possesses a squash as big as an average-sized flour
barrel.

Green corn is offered at twenty-five cents, and cabbages at
thirty-five cent's a dozen ; new potatoes at fifty to sixty cents a
bushel. — AugvM 5th, 18/6.

At Piatt's boarding house, Selkirk, there i.« a beet six feet
seven inches in length, of course including the tops.

Some tine ears of corn >vere brought into the city, Saturday,
by Mr Longbottom — the first of the season. — August hth,
1876.

THE PROVINCIAL FAIR.

Thirty pound cabbages and turnips, 31b. potatoes and Brob-
dignonian vegetables generally are so common ohat the mar-
vellous show of them was only surprising to strangers.

A quantity of very fine tomatoes, which were being raised
by Mr. Richard Egan, of Kildonan, for exhibition at the Pro-
vincial Agricultural Society's Show in October, were stolen the
other everhig from his garden.

The Manitoba Products. — Mr McLaughlin writes from
Hamilton respecting his show of Manitoba products at the fair
there, that the turnips, onions, red cabbage and potatoes would
have taken the prize oTer anything exhibited. Though the
grains were not a good sample, they attracted great attentio;^
He could have sold bushels of them for seed at very high prices^

TO MANITOBA AND THE N0RTH-WB8T.

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and was offered tweuty-five cents each for the potatoes — no two
of the early rose potatoes which took the prize there would
weigh as much as any one of his wtuld. No feature of the
show attracted half as much attent on as the Manitoba tent,
and he was kept busy all the time explaining features of the
map. Mr. McL. prophecies an unusual immigration next year.

MANITOBA POTATOP]S.

Potatoes. — James Sinclair, of Greenwood, gathered 262 ibs.
of Snowflake potatoes from one pound planted.

Mr. Omand, of St. James, comes to the front with a five
pound potato, which has been secured by Mr. RolstoM, who
will send it to Ontario for the people there to gaze at.

Mr. F. 0. Shipp, of Point Douglas, i?fted in his garden,
Saturday, a potato weighing just four pounds. This was grown
upon land which has been cropped for the past forty years.

Manitoba is not only to be noted for its huge potatoes, bat
also for the enormous yield of the tubers. A quarter-acre patch,
belonging to Mr. J. W, Sifton, of the C. P. R., panned out
two hundred and seventy-five bushels — an average of eleven
hundred busheii? to the acre.

Recently, seventy-six potatoes were taken from one hill by
Mr. Henderson, of this city, of which fifty-five were larger
than hen's eggs. This is illustrative of the wonderful produc-
tiveness of this country, and shows that it is no " small potatoes,
and few in a hill." ^

Mr. Barclay, of Stony Mountain, this season, tried potatoes
on first ploughing of land, partly and thinly covered by low
bush ; he had doubts as to the result, as it is desirable generally
to first plough the land and rot the s(h1 prior to seeding ; the
result, however, was a most surprising crop under the circum-
stances, the return having measured 466 bushels of largf^ healthy
potatoes to the acre.

Tremendous Yield. — Mr. Mullard, of Victoria, got one
pound of potatoes from Hamilton of the Early Snowflake
variety, from which he has raised one hundred and sij.ty-one
pounds. Mr. M. expects his whole potato crop to av^erage
over five hundred bushels to the rcre.

Mr F. J. Hosken has some magnificent specimens of pota-
toes grown in his garciem at St. Bonifact^ wf^st, of the English
Regent variety, imported from England. From one hill s'x
huge ones, and a patent pail of smaller ones, were taken. Mr.
H. intends sending aamplea to London, England, and show
those at home what, IVlanitoba can produce.

An Ontario paper which always thou^t our stories of the
great size of Manitoba products were c«widt!rably larger than

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

editor having been convinced by a gentlemen whose veracity
cannot be queBtioned, who stated that he himself had seen four
pound murphies dug up from a patch here. This is only
another instance of the correctness of the saying ; " Truth is
mighty, and will prevail."

We were shown some remarkable potatoes from the garden
of Mr. John Higgins, of the city. They are of the Early Rose
varieties, and will average at least one pound each throughout
the field, while numbers can be picked that weigh two and
three pounds. It is also remarkable, that these potatoes are
all solid, and as mealy as any murphy ever grown. Some of
tAie hills turn up one or two tubers with respectable sized
potatoes stuck all over them, each cluster being as much as the
usual produce of a hill elsewhere. Mr. Higgins says that this
country is the paradise for Irishmen, as it undoubtedly xrows
better " praties " than any other place in the world.

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MANIIOBA TURNIPS.

Mr. J. B. Clarke, on the Drever Farm, St. James, has seven
acres in turnips — three acres of yellow Aberdeen, and four of
Swedish, the product of which is beyond the average — the
former about 1,200 bushels per acre, and the latter 1,000.
In the absence of a lively market for this sale, Mr, C. intends
feeding them to sheep and cattle.

John Taylor, Heaaingly, says, that he has a field of turnips of
enormous size , one turnip which he weighed turns the scales
at eighteen and a half pounds.

MANITOBA GENERAL CROPS.

Mr. Winram of Sunny side, wan in town lately, and reports
the crops in that township as averaging more under the thresher
than was expected — wheat turning out 25 to 30 bushels, oats
75, barley 50. The former is much better in quality than an-
♦^icipated, and the oats and barley *re extra fine grains.

Crops.— Mr. Giilis, of St. Andrew's, reports iD5 bushels of
oats, from three and a half acres of breaking ; Mr. John Fraser,
of Kildonan, 70 bushels of oats per acre ; Mr, Good, of Grass-
mere, 37 bushels of wheat to the acre, and 64^ bushels of oats
p' ^^e from freshly broke ri aod. Send on your reports and
1)1 es.

The settlers along the Dawson Road have had good crops.
MesTs McQuade. Wright, Nesbit, Robertson and Dunlop, report
wheat, oats, and barley, fully up to the average of our report.
Settlers here have good stacks of hay saved, and are realizing
cash therefor at good prices. A considerable breaking of land
is being done, so that next year the area sown will probably be

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double that of this season. Prairie chickens are tolerably
plentiful, but rather wild.

The Messrs. Mclvor, of Greenwood, were in town, Tuesday,
and report that their threshing machine has put through this
season 35,000 bushels of grain, it is now working at Portage
la Prairie, where most all the threshers of the Province are
gathered. They also report, in their opinion, that of all the
grain they have threshed, wheat will average 35 bushels to the
acre ; barley, 50 bushels ; and oats 75. Of wheat they have
threshed as high as 50 bushels to the acre. The best wheat
will be kept for seed\

To the Editor of the Free Press.

The threshing machines are busy here now, and I send you
the following, which I vouch for : —

My neighbour, Mr. Wm. McLeod, sowed twelve bushels of
oats upon six acres of land, and threshed six hundred bushels
of good oats, full measure. The oats stood uncut fully ten days
after they were ripe. As his wheat and oats both came in to-
gether, the oats must have shaken at least eight bushels to each
acre. His wheat averaged thirty-four bushels to the acre. Mr.
Donald McKay threslied 1,100 bushels of oats from ten and a
half acres of land. I could name many who threshed from
ninety to one hundred bushels to the acre.* I would like to
know if there is any other place in this Province, I may add in
the Dominion, that can beat High Bluff ! If so, have the
figures sent on. The above is perfectly reliable.

James Whimster.

Dec. 27th, 1876.

About the good crops in Manitoba, the Toronto Mail has the
following cheering words: — " This is a year of abundant crops
in Manitoba. Mr. J. C. Smith, of Sessions, Cooper & Smith,
Toronto, returned the other day from a visit to the Prairie
Province, and reports that the yield there this year is splendid.
He saw fields of oats and timothy hay averaging five feet in
height, and we have been shov/n samples of oats, wheat, and
barley, given him by Mr. William Ma:s, of High Bluff, which
indicate a most luxuriant growth. The average this year is
placed at seventy bushels per acre for oats, and fifty bushels
per acre for wheat and barley. He found, on the 3rd of August,
turnips growing from seed sown two months before, that had
then reached the circumference of eighteen, twenty, and twenty-
two inches. The samples of Manitoba grain referred to, picked,
while growing, may be seen in the ofiice of the firm, on Front
street. The large ci-op of this year cannot fail to give Manitol)a
a start, and the date when the new Province will have produce
for exportation is evidently now rapidly drawing near."

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Everywhere throughout the country the busy hum of the
threshing naachine is heard, and the farmers are jubilant over
the results. Notwithstanding the unusually trying harvest the
crops in many cases are turning out very fine. In a recent
drive through the townships of east Red River we noticed a
specially good sample of wheat passing through the machine
on the place of Mr. Forbes, his crop of 600 bushels averaging
thirty bushels to the acre. Messrs. Tuson, Macdonald, James
Archibald, Corbott, Ogilvi-.-, and others, of Springfield, report
very fine gi-ains, with yield fully up to the average reported.
Oats and barley are generally of unusually fine quality and pro-
ductiveness. Mr. George Aliller, of Cook's Creek, on a sowing
of two acres of fresh broken sod, reaped eighty bushels of first-
class oats. Mr. FuUerton reports a fine yield of huUess oats.
Mr. W. J. Allan has some fine grains of Montana rye and
wheat of good promise from a few seeds sent to him from
Montana last spring. Messrs. Ross and Ede, and in fact all
the farmers of Sunnyside, are well satisfied with their splendid
prospects for the future. The country everywhere presents a
novel and gratifying appearance, in being dotted with stacks of
grain in every direction the eye may turn. Farmers, though
selling a load or two of wheat at the present prices for immedi-
ate necessity, are inclined to hold the bulk of their crops for a
dollar per bushel?

MANITOBA HAY.

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The weather remains fair and warm, and the season of In-
dian summer seems likely to continue late into the fall. Even
now a few of the dawdlers in husbandry have but just carted
the last of their hay, and had the season continued stormy and
wet some of the cattle would have fared lightly during the
winter months off even the dry and stalky stuff which has last
been taken from the ground. It is a fact but little appreciated
by the practical farmers, though well known amongst their
more scientific brethren, that the earliest grass crop, cut when
in flower or when the seed is just forming, yields a far more
nutritious, though less bulky, food, than the more mature pro
duce : and that the same stock will thrive better and keep in
better condition — and with less waste — on the average yield f
the younger and sweeter hay, than they will on the older and
coarser feed, taken after the sjm has subsided and the saccha-
rine matter has hardened into seed.

The hay crop is of the most luxuriant character, and is now
ready to cut. The legal date for entering on public land to
cut hay is the 15th of July.

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MANITOBA FRUIT. J*: :;, ,

Strawberries and green peas and new potatoes are amongst
the luxuries that can be found in some private households. —
July 1, 1876. "*

Large quantities of blueberries are brought into the city and
readily disposed of at from fifteen to eighteen cents a quart. —
July 2^, 1876.

A hundred pounder water melon is to be found in Hon.
James McKay's garden. This ip good news for the boys. '^

There is an abundance of strawberries in the country this
year, far exceeding the produce of former seasons. — July 29,
1876.

Strawberries are in the market, and sell at twenty-five cents
a quart.

WOOL-GROWING IN MANITOBA.

Our attention has of late been drawn to the fine texture and
length of wool produced in this Province ; and from inquiry
we learn that sheep, as far as they have been tried, are here
almost, if not entirely, free from disease — the mutton is of
good quality, and the fleeces heavy. This is a matter of major
importance, and though we cannot overlook the value of the
stock as a food producer, the value of the fleece, both for home
manufacture and for export, is a consideration which will com-
mend its production to the farmer and stock raiser ; and the
expansion of the small bands of sheep which now giaze on
the prairies into large flocks will be but the matter of a
little time. This freedom from disease is doubtless due in a
great r asure to ^ho usual dryness of the cUmatt- ; and v/ith a
sufiftoie). oy of hay, and the natuial shelter of the blufls in the
woovIn districts, they thrive well during tht* winter, and re«}uire
b'vt little care. Sheep under favourable circuni tano«» return*
large profit to t^ii owner, and in, a climate fKlAi't«d to their
production t^ » isually claim a large share of attention.

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Sport, —0. Y. Alk)%ay, writi»g from Manitoba to iiwcdR ih
Montreal, says : " I have just finished my fall duvk hant. The
Hon. James McKay and c^y«elf in two days ktHea 480 large
stock ducks and 103 fall 4^#o< We also got three I'urge moose
and any nnniberof cKickena, rabbits, <»%eu Puring my sumiaer
TMnbkxs I si v> kitl thret' bears."

GvMB. M«a«r». Wm. i^amKrs and Toni rhs|>TiHm >»at%
returned (hMn % te^ Ito kdiM Manitoba. They ?>ucceeded in %

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day and a half's shooting in bagging two hundred and thirty-
five ducks and four large geese.

A party consisting of Messrs. H. G. McMicken, Robt. Woods,
and S. L. Bedson brought down seven hundred and eighty-three
ducks, in two day's shooting on the east side of Lake "Winnipeg,

Some gentlemen who were out al#ng the stage road to Pem-
bina, report prairie chicken plentiful enough about twelve oi*
fifteen miles from this city.

A gentleman who returned from Emerson, Monday, reports
immense flocks of wild pigeons met with on the course of the
stage road. • .

' MANITOBA FISHERIErx '''

The extensive fisheries of Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis
are now, and justly, attracting attention, and promise to be
more largely worked than heretofore. Whitefish, which, from
its su])erior quality and demand, forms the chief fishing, may
be said to come into season on or about the 15th Aug., then
they are fat and firm and in prime order ; later in the fall they
are of inferior quality, although they again improve towards
the spring, and are by some considered to be better in quality
in the early fall. The chief takes are at present made along
the western shore of Lake Manitoba, at Big Point, Sandy Bay,
and Manitoba Post, also at Big Sandy Point, where some ten
nets Are worked the year round. Gold-eyes are taken in abun-
dance in the Fairford river, and at Salt Point in Lake Winni-
pegosis, the annual take of whitefish is very large. The occu-
pation is also pursued to advantage around several of the
islands, and many of the best fishing grounds in the upper
lakes are at present not at all or but partially worked, and this
is owing in a great measure to the uncertain and inefficient
means of lake communication. The average weight of the
whitefish may be taken at about three pounds, and as such they
are valued in the neighbourhood of the fisheries at from two
to three cents each, while in the southern settlements the large
and constant demand for them is ill and sparsely supplied at
from twelve to twenty cents each. The development of the
trade only awaits the establishment of a suitable depot or
depots at some easily accessible point on the southern shore of
the lake, to which the early fall fish may be taken in bulk, and
where they may be dried, smoked and salted, or otherwise
cured as may be deemed suitable for the market, and thence
supplied to the consumer.

..;... WILD HOPS AND RICE. .{ ^^

Wild hops abound in the woods and bush, and are being
gathered for sale and domestic use ; the wild rice along the
river and lake shore will also shortly be ru^e.

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85

STOCK-RAISING IN MANITOBA. :

A letter from Manitoba to the Sarnia Observer, dated June
6th, says : — " The feed on the prairie is splendid just now.
Cattle can fill themselves in an hour's time ; the grass, in fact,
being waving everywhere in the breeze. The laud here is very
easily worked, when once you take a crop off it. There is, in
fact, no trick at all in cultivating it ; but if water was always
as plentiful as it is just now, there would be very little farming
done, as people would content themselves with keeping cattle.
I could keep a hundred head easily, as I could, with a mower
and sulky rake, cut and save all the hay thoy would consume
in the winter, within two miles of my door, as there is a vast
hay marsh stretching away to White Mud River ; and as for feed
for them in the summer, it is in the greatest abundance."

A letter from Mr. John W. Parker, of Headingly, to Mr.
John Hood, of Dalhousie, is published, from which we select
the following items that may be found interesting here : —

" The Province's resources for agriculture and stock-raising
are unbounded, and beyond what most of you Dalhousie people
could imagine. I am cutting barley now which I sowed on
the 1st of June, which will yield nearly sixty bushels to the
acre. I planted potatoes about May 10th, and sold the new
potatoes (nearly full grown) on the 12th or 14th of July, in
Winnipeg at $2, to $2.50 per bushel.

" There is no better stock-raising country on the American
continent but for the long winter and the hay making ; but
there is plenty of wild hay of an excellent quality to be had
for all present wants, and nearly every one cuts hay and grain
by machinery here, so that we cut it cheaper and easier than
you do in^ Dalhousie. My two men (Wm. ilobinson, from
Lavant Lake, and Samuel Mclntyre, from Almonte) cut 100
tons this year, and had it done in time for harvest. We used
four oxen for cutting and raking, and let the horses run idle.
We find oxen just as good, nearly as quick, and far cheaper
than horses. We have oxen here which will walk as fast as
any common span of horses, and they work double or single in
trains, or cart harness all the same.

MANITOBA A GOOD MARKET FOR THOROUGH-
BRED STOCK.

This season's crop is now apparently so certain to be a large
return, and the area sown is so great, that fanners will this
fall be enabled to go into the purchase of stv k more largely.
The special advantages which the rich natural grasses of this
country offer for cattle raising, is leading many to turn their

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A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

attention to it. Those who have already invested in cattle
have found it especially advantageous, yet at no time have the
markets of the city been fully supplied, and in consequence
poor, lank, and worn-out working ox meat is readily sold at
the price of Christmas beef in Ontario. Indeed, so limited is
the supply of the cattle in the country, that droves from Min-
nesota and Iowa have a practical monopoly of our market,
and with milch cows at $30 to |40, and working oxen at $130
to $150 a yoke, it is no doubt a profitable trade. Little has
been done towards the introduction of thoroughbred stock,
from want of surplus capital in the hands of our farmers,
though they are fully alive to the importance of the subject,
and undoubtedly would, singly or in neighborhoods, be ready
to invest in such if brought in for sale. It has been suggested
by some of our leading farmers that if some enterprising
breeder, either in Ontario or Minnesota, would try our market
once, they would find the speculation a very profitable one, and
a favourable opportunity will occur during the fall exhibition
of the Provincial Agicultural Society, in this city, in October
next, of meeting all the farmers of the North- West, at a time
when their bank accounts will be in the best possible condi-
tion. A word tQ the wise, etc., etc. ,,, ,,

Christmas Markets. — N. P. Clarke's stall was hauusuiuely
decorated for the holidays, and the manager, Israel Johnston,
made a most tempting display of Christmas stall-fed beef,
raised by Mr. Alexander Adams, of Clear Springs. The animal
dressed tipped the beam at 1,062 lbs. Some fine Manitoba
mutton, purchased from John Bourke, St. James, were shown,
three sheep averaging 85 lbs., dressed ; and there were turkeys,
geese, chickens and oysters till you can't rest.

Easter Beef. — Mr. Rocan made a fine display of Easter
beef. One ^nimal, a fine cow weighing nearly eleven hundred,
was stall-fed by Mr. John Higgins, and was purchased from
him at a good round figure.

IMPORTATION OF LIVE STOCK FROM UNITED
STATES AND CANADA.

' ' ' (frUma/r Eepublican Gazette.)

The chief feature of our monthly fair on Saturday was the
unprecedented array of beef cattle, oxen, steers and cows,
though but few of the latter. Fifty head came in from Ben-
ville county, but the major portion of the stock was fatted in
this county. Upwards of two hundred head were sold during
the day to Brackett, Elliot & Co., of Minneapolis, who intend

TO MANITOBA AND THE NOETH-WEST.

87

to take them to Fort Gnrry. The drove, numbering thi^e
hundred and ton head, left on Monday for the aforesaid point.

Bill Smith arrived on Saturday night with two hundred
and fifty-^hree fat cattle in fine condition, and which will go a
good way towards supplyin ^ the tables of hungry Winn ipeggers
during the coming winter.

T. J. Demers, of Montana, left this city by boat last Friday,
highly satisfied with his sale of horses and cattle. He intends
returning to Winnipeg early next spring, with tr.o thousand
head of cattle and four hundred head of liorses.

Large droves of cattle keej) coming in from Minnesota, and
meet with ready sale at price's that seem to satisfy the drovers,
latest rates are : three year old steers, $30 to $40 ; four year
old, $35 to $50; oxen, $150 to $180 per yoke ; milch cows,
$35 to $50. Good animals meet with ready sale.

Stock from the West. — Mr. T. J. Demers, recently ar-
rived in this city from Frenchtown, Montana. He with a party
of eight, left that place on the 13th April, with ninety horses
and six hundred and seventy head of cattle. About twenty of
the latter and a few horses were lost.

Several large droves of cattle imd flocks of sheep passed
through Moorhead last week, headed for tlie British posses-
sions.

Another instalment of fat and working cattle — three hun-
dred head — have arrived from Uncle Sam's dominions for N.
P. Clarke, who is represented here by Isaac Johnston.

Stock Coming. — Mr. L. Worthington started from Sauk
Centre recently, with a drove of one hiftidred and twenty-five
cattle and six hundred sheep for the Manitoba markets.

Droves of cattle are expected in shortly from Minnesota.

The first importation of Berkshire pigs was made Sunday,
by Mr. J. Dent. The pigs were brought in from St. Thomas,
Ontario.

Large droves of cattle are passing Ptmbina almost daily,
and nearly a thousand sheep have passed during the last fort-
night.

A drove of two hundred and sixty-five head of cattle passed
through Fargo recently from Stearns County, Minn., bound
for Winnipeg.

Two droves ci cattle, one, eighty-two head, and the other,
two hundred head, passed through Fargo this week for Win-
nipeg, from Southern Minnesota.

The above will give some idea of the business to be done in
Manitoba, in the way of stock-raising.

WELL BRED STOCK REQUIRED IN MANITOBA.

Extract from the report of the Directors of the Provincial
Agricultural Society : —

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" It would be highly desirable if a greater degree of attention
wiere given to the raising of cattle, hogo, sheep, etc., as the
wants of new settlers, government working parties, police, etc.,
will for some years furnish a profitable local market, and its
supply will retain in the country large sums which are now
sent abroad. The supply of choice breeds would be a legiti-
mate object for the enterprise of your society ; but inasmuch
as your resources will not at present admit of it, the matter
must be left to private enterprise, to be suggested and en-
couraged by the members of your society who may correspond
with stock-breeders, informing them that such shipments would
meet with remunerative sale here, especially at the time of our
annual exhibition.

FARMING IN MANITOBA.

A Mr. Lewis arrived here Saturday before last ; was out
to see a farm on Monday ; on Tuesday he had concluded its
purchase, and on Wednesday had planted potatoes on some
broken ground, and now is erecting a house. That is the
kind of men Manitoba wants and the kind of men who want
Manitoba, and who will in a few years be counted Jucky.
Pluck and common sense it is, only.

A contract for cutting and threshing one field of oats, not
many miles distant from this city, was recently let for $1,200.
This will give an idea of what farming is in the Prairie
Province.

Early. — Mr. Jas. Jefferson, of Greenwood, commenced
ploughing on the 10th April.

Ploughing has been commenced in Springfield, Rock wood,
and other parts of the Province. — 22nd April, 1876.

MANITOBA '^AIRY PRODUCE.

The large competition in the butter class — there being over
eighty entries — and the invariable good quality of the exhibits,
would have been remarkable in older countries, and mark the
fact that this Province is one of the best dairy countries in the
world. •

CONTEMPLATED CHEESE FACTORY— A GOOD
OPENING IN MANITOBA.

Cheese Factory.— A Mr; Colwell, from Ontario, contem-
plates starting a cheese factory next spring near Grosse Isle.
This gentleman is in the business in that Province, and will
move his entire plant hither. — Dec. SOth, 1876.

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IMPORTATION OF BUTTER FROM UNITED STATES.

A heavy shipment of butter — two tons— has ja«t be»'n im-
ported from Minnesota by Snyder & Anderson. It is also to
be hoped before long Manitoba will be able to produce a suffi-
cient supply of this commodity.

./ ,, . MANITOBA FUR TRADE.

Furs — Messrs. Kew, Stobart & Co., made the tirst shipment
of their furs, amounting f aboat $45,000, Monday. They also
sent out 205 l)ales of buffalo robes.

The "Manitoba" took out three hundred and sixty ihrce
bales of furs Friday evening.

An immense quantity of ftirs is stored in the old Pacific
Hotel building,

MANITOBA TRADE.

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Taking the crop report of Manitoba published, in this paper
for its text, the London Advertiser says : " Those already settled
in the country (Manitoba) stand a good chance to get rich by
selling food to the new immigrants, and immigration will keep
pace with increased grain-growing, so that by the time there is
a surplus for exportation there will be a railway outlet by
Thunder Bay and another by the American Railway systein.
Ooarse grains can all be used with profit for fattening meat for
the home market, which has been .supplied almost entirely by
importation, not for the want of stock so 'nuch as the want of
grain to bring the same to fair slaughtering condition." -

Country Produce. — It is very gratifying for persons in-
terested in the growth of this city to n^te the changed aspect
of affairs on the street as compared with last fall. Now, on
fine days. Main Street is crowded with teams laden with all
kinds of agricultural and dairy produce, wool, hay, «fec., for
which the owners receive good prices — mostly cash — and in
consequence, city quadrupeds and bipeds are more highly fed
than ever in this new country. Wednesday we noticed on the
streets, farmers from the Rosseau, Woodlands, the Boyne, Grass-
mere, Greenwood, Cook's Creek, Scratching River, Springfield;
and in fact nearly every settlement in the Province was repre-
sented. Our merchants are buying liberally the products of
the farmers, and the latter are thereby enabled to pay off their
debts, which places them in a good position for next season's
operations. — Dec. dth, 1876. y '

In referring to this Province it says ; " Manitoba is the
youngest Province in the Dominion, but by no means the least
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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

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promising. Its trade is steadily augmenting. The total value
thereof in 1876 was $2,505,615, of which $1,735,427 w6re im-
ports, and ^770,188 exports. The latter, up to this time, have
been chiefly furs. Its imports are largely obtained from Ontario
and Quebec, and are familiar to our mercantile friends. Mani-
toba, and the North- West generally promise to prove, before
many years, a valuable field for Canadian manufactures."

The fur market opened dull md inactive, but within a few
days past heavy sales have been made at good prices. In this
article a new system has been inaugurated, and is found to work
well. Instead of buying by the bale, unexamined, at an average
price per robe, the bales are opened, and every hide valued and
paid for according to quality.

The immensity of the Manitoba trade is evidenced by the
fact that the Ontario steamers are heavily laden every trip
with goods for this Province, and one steamer lately had to
leave three hundred tons for another boat to bring.

The amount of business transacted in Winnipeg is really as-
tonishing. One can form no conception of its extent unless he
has ocular demonstration of the fact. Some idea may have
been formed by the allusion in my former communication to
the customs' receipts and steamboat traffic, but, to be convinced
of its magnitude, one must really see it.

Of course the reader will very naturally say, How can this
bo ? whence all this business ] there are only some thirty thou-
sand souls in the whole Province, and why this amount of busi-
ness to supply this mere handful with the common necessaries
of life. But, dear reader, the homo business proper is a mere
beginning of the gross trade of Winnipeg. Why, sir, the open
prairie surrounding the city, while I was there, was literally
covered with the tents and carts of the inland travellers ; the
streets literally crowded with the ever creaking Red River carts,
and the stores and taverns wtre filled with the vanegated
crowd that owned them, throwing their money about in a way
which indicated that they were bound to make things generally
agreeable as long as it lasted.

The following is clipped from the (Tfo6<''s English correspond-
ence : ** The advancing trade of Winnipeg, a few years ago a
little village, cannot be better shown than in the fact that a
merchant is now in London making largo purchases for ship-
ment to Winnipeg direct. It is impossible in the face of facts,
to shut one's eyes to the growing importance of the Prairie
Province."

Bonded Goods. — The proposed change in the Don-.inion
ttriff is causing quite a flutter among the merchants. One paid
a bill of $2,500 the other day on his stock of bonded goods ;
others are still awaiting definite advices from Ottawa. The
aggregate amount of duties which will be paid in here at once,

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TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

91

if the tariff takes effect, will not be less than $30,000 — a pretty
good show for a " pauper" city. — Februwn/ 19, 1876.

"^OR THE Old Country.— Gerrie & "Willie" were among
;ne passengers this morning for the East. Gerrie, vre under-
stand, is homeward bound — with the object of purchasing large-
ly for the Indian and jobbing trade, of which this city is the
centre. We beg to notify the shrewd inhabitants of the Gran-
ite Citj, that notwithstanding an absence of 40 years from his
native Aberdeen, they will make a mistake if they regard him
as another Rip Van Winkle. All we can say is, we wish him
success and ban voyage.

Manitoba Freight. — The Moorhead Star says : — " Enor-
mous quantities of freight consigned down the river and bound
west to Montana and Bismarck, continue to arrive here. It is
estimated that 2,000 tons of Manitoba freight are now in the
yards here, with large daily arrivals. One day alone 600 tons
of flour for river transhipment were received. The steamers
take all that the stage of water will allow, and yet the accommo-
dations are great."

Staticians of the eastern provinces would be surprised to
see invoices of 1.000 pairs of blankets, 300 pieces of wincey,
300 dozen hose, and like quantities throughout a large stock
for a business house in the four year old city of Winnipeg.
Most of our houses now import directly from the manufactu-
rers in England and Scotland, and next year it ia likely all
will do so.

The amount of duties in Manitoba for the year ending 30ch
June, 1876, was $253,045.88, as against $171,430.86 in 1875,
and $67,471.97 In 1874.

For England. — Mr. John 0. LeCappollaine started for
England this morning, where he goes to purchase goods for
Mr. J. H. Ashdown's spring trade.

Hard Times. — One of our city clothing stores took in fifteen
hundred dollars over the counter one day last week.

A train of sixty carts, laden with furs purchased by Mr.
Bannatyne and Mr. Patterson, passed up Main Street, Wednes-
day.

TRADE WITH THE INTERIOR.

Up to this date over 1,500 carts laden with supplies, goods,
etc., have been sent west from this city on Government ac-
count to the various mounted police posts. It is estimated
that about 2,000 more have gone out on private account for
traders, telegraph contractors, and the Hudson Bay Company ;
and three months of the season is yet left.

Travellers from ♦^^he west report that traders parties are
strung all along the road, coming to ihe capital for their yearly

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market. It is expected that on account of the large catch this
season, their purchase of goods will be large.

A heavy order has been received by Mr. J. H. Ashdown
from the Hudson's Bay Company for tin-ware for outlying
posts. Among the articles are 3,000 tin pails, 1,300 round
pans, 1,500 oval pans, 1,800. pint cups, 1,500 half-pint cu pa,
and 400 teapots. The amount of the order will be about
$3,000.

Mr. Owen E. Hugh'^s, of the firm of Kew, Stobart & Co.,
who left here last summer for a trading trip towards the setting
sun, has succeeded in establishing a trading post at Cross
Lake, one hundred miles north of Norway House, and about
five hundred miles from Winnipeg, where he is doing an ex-
tensive business. He has sent in an order for a large amount
of goods, with part of which a train started on Thursday, and
the remainder will be shipped shortly.

A large number of carts, laden with freight, will leave in a
few days for Fort EUice, Shoal Lake, etc., on Government
account.

The amount of goods going west from this city must be
enormous in the aggregate, as nearly every day trains of carts
laden with merchandize are sent out.

;\;;; AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY. ;

. We understand that Mr. James Barclay, of Stony Mountain,
the contractor for the new^ penitentiary, intends erecting a
foundry and agricultural implement manufactory on the river
front, near McLane's Mill, on laud purchased from the H. B.
Co. We congratulate Mr. Barclay upon his determination to
remain and invest his capital here in this much needed and
undoubtedly remunerative enterprise.

The wire and castings for one hundred fanning mills, being
manufactured here by Dick & Banning, were brought in by the
Manitoba, and the mills will be finished this week.

About two hundred reapers and mowers have already been
sold this season by the implement dealers of this city. One
.firm, Dick & Banning, have disposed of eighty-three machines.

MANITOBA WHEAT FOR SEED.

On this point we have the opinion of a very high authority
on the subject, viz : J. W. Taylor, Esq., U.S. Consul at Win-
nipeg ; than whom no man has studied the subject with closer
attention. He says, " that on a recent visit to the east he was
surprised to find that Minnesota spring wheat, when forwarded
and sold separately in the eastern market, commanded ten per
.cent, more than wheat of Canada and New York State. I'urther,

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TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH WEST, If

that spi'ing wheat raised on the line of the Northern Pacific,
and St. Paul and Pacific railroads, brought five cents per bushel
more than the same wheat raised 150 miles further south."
His inference is that Manitoba wheat, when there shall be a
surplus over local consumption, will bring 15c per bushel pre-
mium : almost enough to cover transport to Montreal or New
York. This appreciation in price is owing to the increase in
weight and gluten of the flour, attributable to the northern
climate, and other favourable circumstances. Manitoba wheat
is already In demand as a desirable change of seed in the ad-
joining States, and the Department of Agriculture at Washing-
ton proposes to distribute 200 bushels in small quantities over
the United States. *

MILLS IN MANITOBA.

Crops and Mills. —Mr. W. Smith, miller, of Portage la
Prairie, is in the city. He reports barley nearly all cut, and
oats far advanced in cutting. He saw three fields of oats cut
o:i Wednesday near the stage road. Crops everywhere north,
west and east of Portage la Prairie are magnificent, and will
give an unprecedently large yield ; the loss by drowning is very
insignificant, the worst managed farm showing a better growth
than a model farm in Oitario. Mr. Smith is adding another
run of stones and a new boiler to his mill at Portage la Prairie,
making now three run with a' capacity for grinding 1,000
bushels in twenty-four hours. His Mill at Point de Chene is
being pushed to completion, and will be ready for grinding early
in the fall.

From Mr. Smith we have obtained his estimxte of the grind-
ing capacity of the mills of the Province for this season's har-
vest : —

Palestine, C. P. Brown, . . .1 run

Totogan, Chisholm & Bubar, . . 1 "

Portage la Prairie,, W m Smith, . . 3 "

St. Norbert, J. Lemay, , . . 3 "

Point de Ciiene, Wm. Smith, . . 1 "

: Winnipeg, J. W. Mc Lane, . . 4 "

Bas?Ht& McMillen,. . . 2 "

St. Paul's Parish, H. Pritchard, . . 2 '•

St. Andrew's, E. H. G. G. Hay, . . 2 "

.«; Mapleton, Hudson's Bay Company, . 1 "

This mak^s a total of twenty runs of stone with a grinding
cipacity of 4,000 bushels per day.

Tiie people of the extreme western settlements are "iiuch
pi eased with the convenience which Mi'. C. P. Brown's new

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mill at Gladstone is affording them. It is turning out a first-
class article of flour and giving universal satisfaction. The
mill is one of the Waterous Engine Works Co.'s, of Brantford,
twenty -horse power portable saw and grist mill combined, which
Mr. Brown purchased last summer. We barn that he had no
trouble in erecting the mill, it having been all set up at the
works, and marked before taking apart, which, with the plan
eeat with it, avoided all trouble.

Another Mill. — Mr. James Spence, of this city, has pur-
chased the remains of the Tait mill at Silver Heights, and im-
ported new machinery including two runs of stones, and is now
engaged in the erection of a first-class grist mill on the Mirey
Creek, just east of the Manitoba Brewery, which he expects to
have in running order by the first of October next.

A new grist mill has recently been erected in the heart of
the Mennonite settlement, about fifteen miles from liat River.
It is a two and a half storey building, 26x34, and has one run
of stone, the motive power being supplied by a twelve horse-
p nver engine. The builders are Messrs. Maud & Co., of Berlin,
Ont,, and^the machinery was procured from Gouldie & McCol-
lough, of Gait. The mill will cost about $4,000, and is expected
to be in running order shortly. Mr. Weins, a Mennonite, is
the proprietor.

At McMillan & Bassett's mills 2,400 bushels of wheat are at
present ground every week ; but with the new boiler which is
being put in, the quantity will be increased to 3,000 bushels.

An excellent sample of flour from the Marquette Milling Co.,
Portage la Prairie, stated by competent judges to be equal to
any XXXX in the market, has been brought into the city.
This mill is running full time, and a large quantity of its flour
is finding its way here.

A third run of stone is being put into Billy Smith's mill at
the Portage. The mill is now running night and day.

McLane's Mill is now busy filling a large order for flour for
the Mennonites. Five hundred sacks were sent out Tuesday.

Four hundred bushels of wheat were delivered in two hours
recently at McMillan & Bassett's mill, for custom work alone.

Twelve lots were recently purchased at the Town of Selkirk,
by Mr. Martin Hoover, of Port Elgin, Ontario, who intends
erecting on the property a large grist mill of four run of stones.
Mr. Hoover left for Ontario yesterday to complete the necessary
arrangements.

Selkirk is to have a new grist and steam saw mill and sash
and door factory. Messrs. McCroskrie & Thomas have the
matter in hand, and intend pushing the business to its fullest
extent.

The saw mill of Mr. Alex. McArthur, on the Winnipeg river^
has been purchased by Messrs. Thompson & Walkley. '';

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TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

95

Still Another. — McKay & Smith's tnill at the Pointe de
Chene will be in working order this week.

Another run of stone is being put in place at McLane's mill.

' CITY OF WINNIPEG. :.4 V I

WiNWEPEG, AS Seen by a Stranger. — Mr Warring Ken-
nedy, a prominent Toronto merchant, who paid a visit to
Winnipeg recently, thus gives his impression of this city in the
columns of a Toronto paper ;

" The City of Winnipeg is the door through which immigra-
tion into the Province of Manitoba must pass, and is the great
distributing point, not only for the Province, but for the whole
North- West territory. It is situated at the confluence of the
Red and Assiniboine rivers, on the west bank of the former, at
an elevation of thirty feet above water level. Only a few years
ago it was merely a village, containiiig some dozen of houses.
In 1872, the population was 300, now it is 6,000. This rate
of increase in four years has been equal to that of Chicago's
early days in ten years. In 1830, the population of the latter
was only 70 ; in 1840, it was 4,470, although it now has 300,-
000. This growth of the City of Winnipeg, as may be expected,
has favoured the development of property, and some have
become rich by merely investing their savmgs in cheap city lots.
Many lots bought three years ago for fifty dollars, are now
worth five hundred. At present, suburban lots are considered
the best investment. This growth, although rapid, has not
been unhealthy." •

PROGRESS IN THE NORTH-WEST.

The following letter from the Bishop of Siskatchewau is ad-
dressed to the London Free Press : —

Dear Sir, — I reached this place on Tuesday, the 18th inst.
— not quite a week from London, Ont. I could not help con-
trasting the speed of this journey with the comparatively long
period of upwards of three weeks that was required to complete
the same distance when I with my family came to Red River
from London, just ten years ago. I have now before me the
printed copy of a letter I sent on my arrival to my old friend
Mr. Siddons, then the editor of the Prototype. It. was there
stated that we came via Milwaukee, Prairie du Chien and the
Mississippi to St. Paul, where we stayed a few days and then
went on to St. Cloud, the farthest point we could travel by
rail or steamer. From that to Fort Abercrombie, a distance of
1 80 miles, we travelled by stage, at 60 miles a day, passing
through the sedition of country that was the scene of the Indian
massacre of 1862. At Fort Abercrombie we commdnced our

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prairie journey with the covered waggoiis and carts. It occu-
pied U8 in all seven and a half lays.

What a change has taken place in these ten years I I left
London this nionth on Tuesday, the 11th, at 7 p.m., and
reached Fish ir's Landing, at Red Lake River, on Saturday, at
10 p.m., where I went aboard a steamer that brought me to
Fort Qarry on Tuesday at 5 a.m., on the 18th inst. In that
same letter to Mr. Siddons I speak of " a small village near
Furt Garry with a number of stores." The small village often
years ago is now the city of Winnipeg, with, I suppose, about
six thousand inhabitants. In the eneigy and business enter-
prise of her merchants, I believe Winnipeg to be quite on a par
with the most prosperous and thriving cities of the United
States. Commercially speaking, I feel sure that Winnipeg has
the opportunity of a splendid career before her, and she has
already shewn that she numbers among her population a body
of men who know how to turn good opportunities to account.
One illustration of the business energy of Winnipeg I find in
tlie contrast between the state of prices there to-day and what
I found ten years ago, as the following extract from the above
quoted letter will show ; — " All imported goods are very dear,
owing to their having to be carried over the prairies in carts.
Some things required for household use are two, three, and four
times as dear as in Canada.'"

At the present moment my impression is that groceries and
dry goods of the best quality can be procured in Winnipeg at
about as low a figure as in Ontario.

There is every prospect of a ma^^nificent crop in Manitoba.
As yet there is no appearance of grasshoppers, as far as I can
learn.

Very faithfully yours, ,,
J. Saskatchewan.

St. Andrew's, Manitoba, Ja!y 26, 1876.

This is what the correspondent of an Ottawa paper thinks of
the Prairie City : — " A stranger's first impression on arriving
at Winnipeg is, that it is a dull, dreary place, but a walk through
the principal streets completely disabuses his mind of that fal-
lacy, and convinces him that there is not a livelier place of its
size in the whole Dominion of Canada. The amount of busi-
ness done is indeed surprising. Stores are numerous, and they
all seem to get plenty of custom. Oae thing certain is that, as
in other Canadian cities, there are no failures or rumours of
failures, but on the contrary, every merchant appears to be roll-
ing up wealth. Without any exaggeration, I can say that there
appears to be more business done than in C-tawa ; there is.
more bustle on the principal street and more evidences generally
of business activity.

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTU WEST.

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REAL ESTATE.

How many now in Ontario will regret forever the opportu-
nity now passing of acquiring the best wheat lands in the world
through investment in scrip ; in five years, when those lands
now settled upon are worth $20 per acre, they will be ])urchas-
ing ten acres for wliat would now purchase ten hundred.

A cash offer of |3,000 was recently made for the small lot
on Main Street, next Dr. Bird's drug btore— and refused.

An Ontario gentleman, now in the city, purchased a year
ago the Queen's Hotel on Main Stre..D, for S2,600, and now
receives a rental therefrom of $1,100— a pretty r.eat return
from a small investment in V^innipeg city property. — Juli/
29/A, 1876.

OPENING OF NAVIGATION ON KED RIVER.

The River. — Of course it is impossible to tell with any
certainty the exact time when the Red River will unfasten its
" icy fetters," but the probabilities are — ^judging from the
present condition of the weather— that navigation can be re-
sumed as soon as last year. The first steamboat to arrive at
Moorhead last season was the " Selkirk," Capt. Alex. Griggs,
which touched our levee at 3 p.m., Thursday, April 22nd!
The first boat in 1874, arrived on April 24tli, and the first in
1873, on April 2Gth. The state of the weather at this writ-
ing is such as to prophesy an early opening of navigation,
although all conclusions must necessarily be over half guess
work. 'The large quantity of snow now on the ground may
augur a liberal quantity of flood water, which with our u^ual
spring rains, will give a good stage of water the first part of
season, at least. — Moorhearl Staf, April 8th, 1876.

"The First Boat."— "The first boat" of the season,
arrived on Tuesday, ?6fch inst, being the " Minnesota," having
a cargo of 5,165 sacks of seed wheat for the Central Rolief
Committee.

This is the earliest arrival of a steamboat from the United
States, ever known The nearest approach to it was the arrival
of the " Selkirk " on the 28th of April, 1871 ; and the next
nearest, the arrival of the " Selkirk " on the 30th April
in Ulb.— April 29th, 1876.

rf« The following are the dates of the ice leaving Red River at
the Stone Fort, from the journal of Wm. Flett, Esq., H. B.
Co. :— 1869, 19th April ; 1870, 9th April; 1871, 24th April ;
1872, 4th May; 1873, 27th April; 1874, 1st May ; 1875, 28th
April.

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NAVIGATION OF THE SASKATCHEWAN.

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A gentleman in St. Paul has written to his old home in
Massachusetts, to remove the erroneous impression that pre-
vails there that that city is the extreme North- West corner of
habitable creation. He says : — " No better grain-growing
country exists than extends for 500 miles north, and 600 miles
west, while 1,600 miles north-west from this city, streams are
open and pasturage is grown a full month earlier than here
air-line distances are meant). Nor is this vast North-West
unapproachable. You can, to day, take rail from here to the
Northern Pacific crossing of the Red liiver, and there take
your choice of seven steamboats, of from 300 to 600 tons each,
to Fort Garry, Manitoba, 600 miles by river, (about 280 miles
by land.) At Fort Garry take a lake propeller (like those on
Lake Erie and other eastern lakes) through Lake Winnipeg,
275 to 300 miles to its north-western end ; then take a river
steamer and go up the Saskatchewan, and its northern branch
to Fort Edmonton and beyond, 1,400, or within 450 to 500
miles of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and when you get
there you can go ashore and telegraph the same day to your
home in the Connecticut valley or Berkshire hills. These are
facts. The wires are up, and the boats are there and running."

The Rev. L. Warner, who has been for the past two years
engaged in missionary work in the Saskatchewan country, has
recently returned to Ontario. Mr. Warner left Victoria Mis-
sion— about twenty miles east of Edmonton — on the 26th of
May, and came down by the H. B. Go's steamboat, the North-
cot^, to Grand Rapids, near Lake Winnipeg, where the goods
are transhipped from the steamer navigating the Saskatchewan
River to the boat plying between that point and the City of
Winnipeg. The goods from* either steamer are taken over
the portage, which is four miles long, by means of a tramway
which the Hudson's Bay Company has laid down.

Mr. Healy is of opinion that were the navigation of the
Lake Manitoba, Winnipegosis, and South Saskatchewan route
improved by the canalling necessary, some nine miles only, at
High Bluff and Mossy Portage, which would allow our river
fiteamers to ascend to the mountains, the entire trade of that
magnificent country w^ould naturally tend this way. The
Manitoba Southern Railway was intended to be the first link
in a chain designed to connect this country with our city, and
we hope it may be proceeded with. Mr. Healy states that
Fort Hamilton and Fort McLeod are about the same latitude
as Fort Gitrry, and yet the seasons are very different, ploughing
beipg quite possible ia December, in fa"i their finest month is
November. Though the thermometer is sometimes very low.

TO MANITOBA AND THE NOaXH-WEST. 99

yet the cold does not continue long, and altogether the seasons j

are very favourable for agriculture. Cattle feed out all winter |

and fatten on the rich grasses, and the only objection to sheep- " |

fivrming on an extensive scale is the presence of wolves. Our
space limits our remarks or this interesting subject, but we
may revert to it again.

The "Colvill,"H.B. Go's steamer, Captain Hackland, arrived
at the Lower Fort on Saturday, the 2l8t ult., from Grand , ,

Kapids, having made her last trip to that place for this season.
She brought in about twenty-five passengers, including Capt.
Aymond and his family, and the crew of tlie Saskatchewan
steamer " Northcote." Amongst other freight were two teams
belonging to the H. B. Co. The " Colville " has been laid up for
the winter about five miles below the Lower Fort.

STAGE FROM MOOKHEAD TO WINNIPEG.

The stages commenced running on fast time, Thursday,
through to Moorhead in thirty-six hours. The mails will arrive
between four and six o'clock in the mornings, instead of in the
evenings, as formerly.

STAGE FROM WINNIPEG TO PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE.

Mr. Blake, of Blake & Lyons, Portage la Prairie, has pur-
chased the stage line between Winnipeg and that place, and is
now in the city to purchase horses, etc. He intends re-stocking
the line, and making it really a first-class one.

. ^ EMERSON.

It may be well to preface the following statement of build-
ing improvements made iti Emerson during the past summer, by
the remark that Emerson is but two years old, the first build-
ing being put up in June, 1874. Considering the drawbacks
to emigration in the North West during the p.ist year or two,
the growth of this place may be considered remarkable, and an
indication that it has very superior advantages as a business
point. Such a start as Emerscn has obtained previous to the
completion of the railroads which Avill terminate there, insures
a rapid progress when the rails are do\rn. It may be observed
that the buildings put up, though not very costly, are of a per-
manent character, none of them log buildings, but built of sawn
lumber, vyith shingle roofs, and most of them well plastered.
Nor are they huddled together as observable in some new west-
ern towns, but placed as if inviting the erection of other and
more imposing buUdings in their midst. It is noticeable also
that private means alone have been used to put up these build-

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A PRVOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND ODIDE

ingg, the Government not yet having had occa^'ion to build.
The cr>8t of these biiildingB foots up upwards of thirty thousand
dollars.

FRENCH EMIGRATION FROM UNITED STATES TO

MANITOBA.

I'rora the Toronto Globe : — A letter from certain French
Canadian settlers in the township of Letellier, Manitoba, which
appeared in Le Nouveau Monde of the 4th inst., gives some
very interesting facts connected with their experiences in the
Prairie Province. The writers came from the Eastern States
in M;vy last, and are the pioneers of what they believe will bo
a Very great emigration from these quarters to Manitoba. It
was only on the 5Lh of June that they took up their titles to
land, and for $10 each received 160 acres of what they say is
land of the very first quality. As the season was rather too far
advanced to hope for a good crop from land newly broken up,
they received from the Government the right to put in a crop
in land on the Gi^vernment farm at DufFcrin, which had been
ploughed some time before, and was ready for seeding. Fif-
te( n heads of familias joined and planted barley, potatoes, &c.
For two weeks after there was not a drop of rain, and so they
feared they had lost their time and seed. In spite, however,
of these fears, they were at the time of writing, certain of reap-
ing from twenty to thirty fold.

Nineteen more French Canadian families will leave North
Adams and Fall River, Massachusetts, for Manitoba in August,
1870.

A number of French Canadians in the United States have
written to friends here to purchase land for them, they intend-
ng to emigrate here in the spring. Le Mdtis states that the
emigration from the Western States to Manitoba will be con-
siderable next year.

A number of French Canadians who came here from the
United States last spring, are settling at Rat River.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

Three Card Montf. MEN.-:-People travelling through Min-
nesota cannot be too wary of scoundrels in the shape of three
card monte men, with whom the railroads and steamboats are
infested, and who are daily and hourly robbing the travelling
community. Fisher's Landing, and the Northern Pacific,
abound with these characters, and every day we are hearing of
people who have been robbed by them. Oar advice to travel-
lers is to avoid every stranger who speaks of cards, no matter
in what way the subject is introduced.

TO MANITOBA AND THB NORTU WBHT.

JOl

MANIIOBA.

We haw always refrained from advising intending imini-
grants in their selt'ction of localities in the North- West. The
most detailed infoimaticn on this point can be acquired at the
Land Office in Winnipeg, and immigrantB, if they desire to
settle in the southern portion of the Prt/ince — in which is
some of the finest laud in the colony — can obtain information
and select their holdings immediately upon crossing the inter-
national boundary line, and without going to Winnipeg, But
location depends so much upon what a man intends to do, that
advice given without a knowledge of the circumstances of t! e
person who asks it, is not of much value. I'here are purts of
the Province which some ininiigrants pa^s by as undesirable,
that others who pro;>06e to raise stock are eager to obtain. So
for some men it 's better to b'ly a holding in the setth ment
belt, wliile for others the Government homestead, which costs
only ten dollars and its settlement duties, is equally advantage-
ous The information and advice of a friend settled in Mani
toba is the most valuable that can be obtained, and an immi-
grant, after his arrival, need not be at any expense, while
prosecut.ng his inquiries, for house-rent or forage. A tent
supplies the one and the prairie the other. But it should be
remembered that when the winter comes employment in Mani-
toba ceases, and the immigrant vt'ho may have worked hard in
fencing and breaking land, raising a house for himself aiid build
ings for his animals, has a long v. inter to pull through, and for
the first year cannot, of course, derive much from his farm.
But there must always he some difficulty in making a fresh
start in a new country ; und if, as is generally believed, Mai;i-
loba has not to fear the return of the grasshopper for some
years, a farmer who, having his own choice of i. cality, fails to
make a comfortable living, will have less ability than hundreds
of the old settlers who never learned the principle of farming.
— From the Globe.

LETTER FROM MANITOBA.

The following well- written and interesting Iter on Mani-
toba affairs was received from Mr. Robert Fer^-'son, formerly
of Grey, by Mr. Mark Cardiff, of Brussels, who has kindly
handed it to us for publication. Its contents will be perused with
interest by our readers. The letter is dated the 19th o^ Janu-
ary, and is addressed to Mr. Cardiff. It reads as follows : —

Dear Sik, — Thinking that a smattering of Manitoba affrars
would be interesting to you, I proceed to give you a few facts
concerning this " land of grassL uppers,' that I have gathered

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A PBAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AND GUIDE

%'^k

during my shorL stay here. Upon entering Winnipeg, after
our protracted journey over the Dawaon Route, I was some-
what astonished to find a town of about 6,000 inhabitants,
which for stir and business fairly eclipses any of your Ontario
towns of the same population. A number of excellent brick
buildings have been put up during last summer. The new post
office is a stately edifice, and is quite an ornament to the town.
The brick, which is made in the vicinity of the town, is hand-
some and of a superior quality. Any person taking a tour
through tliis Province, could not fail to be delighted witt the
many promising features which it presents. Its rich prairie
soil, free from every obstacle that would impede the progress
of agriculture, and many bluffs of timber which makes the beet
of wood, and can be procured by most of the farmers without
going many steps from his door, make it all that can be desired
for farming. Last Monday, Mv. Broadfoot and I went west
about four miles to the timber limits. We travelled all the
afternoon in .* dense forest, as level as a floor. Most of the
timber is first-class building material, and all of it the best of
rail timber. All the farmers in Palestine can get all the stove
wood they require almost at their door, and only have to go
four or five m.iles for building and rail timber, while some have
these conveniences right at hand. — From the Seaforth Expositor.

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MANITOBA.

Emekson, Manitoba, Dec 31st, 1875. ^y

,![ As many friends in Lennox and Addington have expressed
i desire to know more about Manitoba and '' The Great North-
West," I now write to them through the columns of your valu-
able paper. 1 have been here about two months, and can
form an idea of the country, its people, prospects, &c. I can
truly say that the land is vast beyond conception. God alone
knows all about it ; just think of plains in British America with
an area of 295,000 square miles, stretching from the Lake of
the Woods to the Rocky Mountaina and from the United States
boundary to the Arctic Ocean. Manitoba is but a small part
cf this immeuse region. Th.re are three vast steppes or prai-
ries, the one rising above the other until they reach their
western limits at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Ti.o Red
River Valley, one of the three, has an area of 65,660 square
miles. Of this, the Lakes Winnipeg, Winnipegosis, Manitoba,
Cedar, and St. Martins occupy about 13,900 square miles. It
is the most fertile of all the plains of the west, and easiest of
'.ecess to a people coming in from the east. Supposing that the
half of this or 3,400 bquare miles of this (2,176,000 acres) were
sown with wheat, even at the average of Minnesota, seventeen

ir ; .

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH WEST.

103

bushels to the acre, the crops of the Red River Valley would
be almost 41,000,000 of bushels. A field on the Pembina
River, near this, which this year escaped the grasshoppers,
fielded 1,800 bushels or 45 to the acre.

As to climate, I have found the wititer clear, dry, and plea-
sant. It is colder than some parts of Ontario, but on account
of the dry atmosphere it is not so much felt. It is very healthy ;
women having poor health in Ontario often become strong
and vigorous oat here. Stouter, healthier children, I never
saw anywhere. I have not seen a funeral since coming here.
Spring opens a^^out as soon as on the Bay of Quints. Winter
sets in about the beginning of November, The fall of snow is

t ' much lighter here than on the St. Lawrence, We have just

enough to make good sleighing. For four years the country

-/' ' • has been swept by grasshoppers, but God who sent them can
just as easily take them away. The impression hero is that
they will not return for a series of years. If so, there will be
a great emigration v/estwai'ds. Let people come ; there is a
stretch of one thousand miles from this to Peace River yet to be
possessed. Wheat and barley ripened there this season on the
1 2th of August, In the Peace River Valley there are million?
• ' of acres ready for the plough, A.t Bow Rivei, 800 miles west
of here, there are plains where cattle can graze all winter.
This place is on the gr^at highway. Seven steamboats with
^ barges pass weekly, and in one season 400 flatboats with cargoes

valued at $5,000 each passed down from Minnesota to Winni-
peg. Lest I weary your readers I v/ill stop here. Any parties
wishing further information I will be happy to aid. My address
i& Emerson, Manitoba.

John Scott,

Pres, Miitfionaiy^ ■
— Na/panee Beaver.

Mr. Liliies, of West Pilkington, has received a letter from
Manitoba, where four of his sons have been for some time.
They say :— Don't fear of us starving in Manitoba; we are
V doing better than we could do in Ontario despite the ravages

made by the grasshoppers. Two of us have cleared one hundred
' ' and sixty dollars per month all summer, burning lime and sel-

ling it at 45c per bushel, another has averaged $5 per day with
his team, sometimes teaming to the new Penitentiary, and
sometimes workmg on the railroad. The fourth works a* his
trade — waggon-making — in Winnipeg, for |!60 per month,
steady employment. Our potato crop is splendid, our peas are
excellent, and we had one tield of wheat that suffered no intru-
sion from the pest. The weather is mild, prairie chickens are
very numerous, and our anticipations as regards a good time next
year are big. — Qalt Repcrtvr.

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104 A PEACTICAL UAND BOOK AND QLIDE

THE GREAT NORTH WEST.

Professor Maconn, the Government Botanist, was examined at
great length by the Committee on Immigration at Ottawa, recent-
ly. He has crossed the continent twice, and made extensive in-
quiries into the floral and geological formation of the North- Wef,t.
. He has f specially vinited the Pe-ice River district, of which he
speaks with the utmjst enthusiasm. His descriptioQ of the vast
area in the interior to the north-west of Fort Garry was coulem de
rose in every respect, yet he gave si .eh proofs of his knowledge,
that non-j doubt'jd the truth of hiri assertions. It is generally
supposed in Ontario that the country lying east of the Rocky
Mountains is uninhabited by white people. This is not correct,
for, under the patronage of the Hudson Bay Company, numerous
settlements are springing up eveiyivhere, and a large population
(juietly taking up the country. Professor Macoun, who is inti-
mately acquainted with the geography ol t'aat region, says thut
settlement ihere is infinitely far more easy than it was in Ontario
thirty or so years ago. There is but one break in t!ie navigation
i'rom Port Garry to Edmonton, a distance by road of 850 miles,
or by water upwards uf twelve hundred miles. This break is a
short rapid, but both above and below it the Hudson Bay Com-
pany have steamers which ])ly the season thioughout, ther^ being
plenty of water up to October, The Professor found that the
entire district along the J'eaoe River for a distance of seven hun-
dred and sixty miles in a belt one hundred and fifty miles wide
on each side, was as suitable for the cultivation of grain as that of
Ontario. He had brought samples of wheat weighing sixty-eight
pounds, and of barley weighing fifty-six pounds to the bushel.
The climate was even more suitable than in Ontario, for there
were no wet autumns or frost to kill the young grain. There
were but two seiisons — summer and winter. He said, in illustia-
tion, that on a Thursday last October, the he^it was so great that
lie had to shelter hiuiself by lying under a cart, while on the next
Sunday winter set in i i full vigour, and continued steadily. The
plants he found in that region were the same as those on Lake
Erie, and further dibcoveries satisfied him that the two areas were
similar in every respect. The ice in the rivers broke up in April.
Stock raising was not diflScult, because the grass remained fresh
and green up to the very opening of winter. He had seen thou-
sands of ctcres of it three and four feet long on levels two hundred
feet above the Peace Pvivcr, He estimated that there was 1'52,-
OoO.OOO acres of land in that region adapted to the growth of
cereals. He had tested the temperature, and sl;iowed by figures
that the average summer heat at Fort William. Fort Simpson,
Edmonton, and throughout that region, was siruilar to that of
Toronto, Montreal, and higher than that of Halifax. He was

■.■mmmmmmmmm

TO MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

mO^^Qi*

positive that the climate was uncommoDly suitable for agriculture,
and stated that the farther one went north|the warmer the rummers
became. There was no doubt they were abundantly long enough
to ripen wheat thoroughly. Besides the peculiar excellence of
that country for cereals, ho had found thoupands of acres of'-f
crystallized salt so pure that it wai; used in its natural state by ^•
the Hudson Bay Co . Coal abounded in the richest veins, and ^t
was so inter stratified with hematele or iron ore, yielding 50 per >
cent., that no locality could be better for manufacturing. Thou-
sands of acres of coal-oil fields were found. The tar lying on the
surface of the ground was ankle deep ; miles and miles ot tht V
purest gypsum beds cropped out of the river banks ; coal beds '
abounded along on the eastern slopes of the Rooky Mountains,
and extended in large seams throughout the country at its base
for a distance of one hundred miles. In short. Prof Maoonu be-
lieved the North- West to be the richest part of Canada, and pro-
phesied that it would yet be the home of millions of people
prosperous and happy. *s^

An early opening of navigation on the great lakes is expected.
The "first boat " at Thunder Bay is looked for about the 6th or
6th of May, more than two weeks earlier than it arrived last
yew. ^ .■,%.vv.w.^.„,v

Winnipeg, Sept. 6tih, 1§76. ^

Dear Sir, — in answer to your inquiries, under date Aug.
30th, I have to say : —

Government land of the first quality, prairie or wooded, can
be had within 30 to 60 miles of Winnipeg and near other ntvv
settlements, with stores, church and school facilities, by every
male over 18 years of age or female head of family, on the
folloving terms, viz. : — A homestead of 160 acres, free ; a pre-
emption of 160 acres at $1 per acre, on a credit of 3 years;
V both to be partially cultivated and made a bona fide farm, and
the homestead resided upon.

The land in the Red River valley is a rich black loam, and
will average two feet in depth ; it is very productive and last-
ing. Further west the soil is lighter and more miacd with
sand. Where settled upon, as far west as 200 miles, Ontario
emigrants prefer it, as being earlier and more workable, and
also very productive.
^, New land should be broken in time to be thoroughly rotted
-^ for cultivation next year, though a great part of the crops of
J this year were sown on the newly broken sod, cross ploughed,
but realizing only half a crop.

The degree of cold is undoubtedly greater here than in
Ontario, but is drier and healthier. This season we have had
a greater rainfall than for the past two years ; usually our pro*

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106

A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK AND OTTIDX

portion is lesB than in Ontario, though the dews are much
heavier.

Thinking farmerc have come to the conclusion that one dollar
per bushel for wheat in Manitoba, when the cost for fenced-
land, prepared for the seed, is not ten dollars per acre, and the
crop Ib thirty to forty bushels per acre, is quite equal to one
dollar and fifty cents per bushel in Ontario.

The valley of the Assiniboine, espec'ally on its heavily
M'ooded side, the south, is remarkable for its numerous and
fine wild fruit,— plums, cherries, gooseberries, dewberries,
currants, grapes, sascatoons, raspberries, strawberries, and
cranberries being found at various places in great profusion.
Wild hops are also exceedingly plentiful opposite the village
of High Bluff, there being acres of it apparently equal to any
we cultivate. Mr. Alcock, of that place, has promised a full
exhibition of it at the fall show.

The attention being paid to cattle we notice, as in Sunnyside,
is on the increase, and it is hoped that ere long our importa-
tion of beef will also cease. It must be remembered that
incoming sattlers will always require large numbers of cattle
for first supply, so that a large increase must be made before a
surplus is reached. Messrs, Taite, Taylor, Cunningham, Hall,
Farmer, Bremner, Trestan, Clouston, Stephenson, and others
have good herds to which they are rapidly making additions.

•(?«rr

QUERIES ANSWERED.

In reply to an intending settler in Manitoba or the North- West,
who writes us from Ontario, we would say : — Battleford is the
future capital of the North-West Territory. The Indian title
has been extinguished to the territory for hundreds of miles
around that place. Battleford is about 650 miles west of
Winnipeg. The land upon both the North and South Sas-
katchewan is good for settlement. That entire section of
country is known as the Saskatchewan valley. Coal abounds
there. The only practicable emigrant routes to Manitoba are
open during the season of navigation by rail via Detroit or
Port Huron and St. Paul to Moorhead, and thence by Red
River steamer to Winnipeg, or by the lake steamboat to Duluth,
thence by rail to Moorhead, and thence by Red River steam-
boat as already stated. Through tickets and full information
can be obtained at most railroad and ticket offices in Ontario
during the season. A first-class stage runs between Moorhead
and Winnipeg all the year, which conveys the mails. First-
class general purpose horses are worth from $300 to $600 per
team. Agricultural implements, furniture, etc., can mostly be
bought in Winnipeg to better advantage than they can be
bought in Ontario and brought through by immigrants. Cana-

*••

TO MANITOBA AND THB NOBTH-WBST.

107

^>' ■ /^*'^

dian waggons are too heavy for this country, and the ploughs
are not at all adapted.

But it is now established as an indisputable fact, that wheat
can be grown successfully from east to west of the Fertile Belt,
and northward far down the Mackenzie River and its tribu-
taries. In the lower parishes of lied River the yield throws
all Canadian experience into the shade. The same land has
been sown with wheat for fifty years, and, without being ma-
nured, has returned when unmolested by grasshoppers and
floods, as much as sixty bushels to the acre. Westward, the
return is from thirty to forty bushels per acre, the soil being
lighter but cleaner and more easily worked than the stiff" clays
of Red River, and much less affected by drought. These state-
tiients may seem exaggerations to the reader, but they are
literal truths and beyond contradiction. When we consider
then the ease with which farming operations may be carried
on in the North- West ; its adaptedness to'machinery, the absence
of stumps or stones rendering the whole breadth of service
available , and the prodigal yield ; we can clearly appreciate the
necessity of immediate enterprise in developing the country
both by rail and water. The immediate construction of the
Pacific Railway is warranted by every consideration of sound
l)olicy and public interest. Thirty years hence it will employ
three lines of railway to carry the wheat of the North- West to
tide-water, and all the canalling privileges which can be devised
as well. For the last few year^ a market has been found for
the surplus production of the country sufficiently remunerative
amongst the Indians, from immigrants themselves, and from
internal consumption. But now that immigration is likely to
pour in in vastly increased volume, it will soon be necessary to
provide a cheap as well as a speedy transit for grain, and to
this end a water route is as necessary as a railway. The dif-
ference in cost of transport by water and by rail is in the ratio
of one to three, and this difference is so immense, when taken
in connection with the remote centres of production, so as to
make the opening of a water route imperatively necessary. It
ia fortunate that we have two routes to the sea, mainly by
water, and that it is not impossible to connect the Saskatche-
wan with Lake Superior. The development of this route
would establish the greatest system of internal water communi-
cation on the continent, and the time is coming when barges
will load at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and discharge
cargo at Montreal ; or, at all events, when there shall be but
one or two transhipments between these points. — Friym the
Ccmadian Monthly.

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A P&AOTIOAL HANDBOOK AND GUIDB

From a Corrfispondent.

TOTOGAN.

The past week has seen much done in the progress of fall
ploughing, and the continued open weather seems to promise
the farmers ample time for the completion of their preparations
for the winter. The progress of the threshing has enabled us
to obtain more accurate statistics relative to the yield of
wheat ; and these confirm with remarkable accuracy the
estimated yield published in the Free Press, a short
time since. The average would have been higher had it
net been for the great luxuriance of the straw in some districts,
which caused it to be laid early in the season ; and for the par-
tial damage done by the birds — the latter being chiefly con-
fined, however to the river farms, and those districts where
the brush and timber predominate, being little felt on the
more open prairie, where the best samples of grain have in
nearly every instance been produced. A farmer in the imme-
diate neighbourhood affirms that the yield of his wheat would
have reached fully fifty bushels to the acre had the birds been
less destructive ; the crop under existing circumstances threshed
out a net forty bushels to the acre. He has perhaps been the
greatest sufferer in the vicinity from this cause. i

RAINY LAKE DISTRICT.

The country immediately to the north of the Rainy River hav-
ing been blocked out into townships last winter by Mr. Reed,
P.L.S., is now being subdivided. A great portion fronting upon
the river has been completed, and by the opening of navigation
all the river frontages will have been surveyed and be opened for
settlement. The surveyors report a great quantity of muskeg in
the back townships, which they say can easily be drained, and
will make fine farming land, little or no clearing having to be
done. There is a belt of higher land upon the bank of the river,
varying in depth from half to three or four miles. The whole
country in rear is interspersed by low ridges, with similar laud to
that upon the bank of the river. These ridges, as a rule, follow
the course of smaller streams, of which there are several i-unning
into the Rainy River. The soil for agricultural purposes, though
not so strong ad upon the prairie, is considered very good. The
rapid and luxurious vegetation of wild vetches and other under-
growth never failing to astonish people who come from Ontario.
I have often heard remarks passed by emigrants upon their way
to Manitoba to the effect that if they had had such land as that
below they would have stayed where they were. Upon the river
belt and ridges, the principal growth of timber is poplar and

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TO MANITOBA AND THK N0KTH-WE8T.

109

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white birch, the former attaining a size which makes it the build-
ing material of the country. It has been proved ia juanitoba
that poplar in a log house will last longer than oak, and V have
seen several instances of old houses, thirty or forty years o. , be-
ing pulled down, and the poplar logs remaining as sou: d as
they were the day they were put there. I believe in Ontario that
the growth of poplar is generally considered a bad indication for
the soil. If so, that must not be taken as a criterion for this
country, and it must be remembered that the prairie, whose won-
derful wheat-growing properties are well known, grows scarcely
any other timber. Between the ridges and the muskeg proper,
are generally belts of tamarao, cedar, and spruce. The length of
Rainy River has hitherto been quoted at seventy-five miles, but
the survey proves it to be somewhat in excess of that distance.
Its average breadth is about 150 to 200 yards, taking its rise
from the foot of Rainy Lake, two miles from which is situated
the village and Port Frances, and emptying into the Lake of the
Woods. Its waters abound in white fish, pike, pickerel, and
sturgeon ; whilst in the country are to be found moose, cariboo,
bear, otter, mink, marten, &g. Partridges, pin-tail grouse and
prairie chicken also abound m great quantity. There are two large
rivers running into it from the south, which are at present known
as the upper and lower American rivers ; their junctions are ,
about twelve or sixteen miles below Fort Frances respectively.'^
About fourteen miles from its mouth, a small river, known as the
Rapid River, tails into the Rainy River, on the American side,
in a pretty cascade. This is also a fine mill site, and it is said
that the country in rear abounds with pine. Grasshoppers are
almost unknowm here ; sometimes, when they are very thick in
Manitoba, a strong westerly wind brings a few, but as they have
to cross a large tract of wood-land and water, they never arrive
in quantities sufficient to do any damage. Neither as yet have
they bred here to any extent."

BEET ROOT SUGAR.

The Monetary Times is of opinion that the production of
beet root sugar, if prosecuted upon a sufficiently large scale,
could be m^e very profitable in Canada. A calculation is
given setting forth the estimated results of the manufacture of
a thousand tons of sugar beets in the States of New York and
Pennsylvania, as made by an American gentleman who has
given long consideration to the subject. It is as follows : —

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A PftAOTIOAL HAND-BOOK AMD GUIDE

Expenses.

1,000 tons of beets at $4 per ton $4,000

Estimated cost of manufacturing at $5 per ton . . . 5,000

Total $9,000

Results.

200 tons of pulp at $2 per ton $ 400

30 tons of syrup $20 per ton 600

60 tons of sugar at $250 per ton 15,000

Total results $16,000

From which deduct expenses 9,000

Leaves a profit of $7,000

Beet root sugar manufacturing will likely, at no distant day,
be a question of much interest in Manitoba and the North- West,
for, without doubt, our soil fls immensely superior to anything
upon the continent for the production of the sugar beet.
Already the matter has engaged the attention of some men,
and we are persuaded that if the manufacture of beet root sugar
can be carried on profitably in any part of America, Manitoba,
and the North- West but await the construction of railways to
uifer superior advantages for such an important industry. ^

In conclusion we would refoT: «ne intending settler to the
" Descriptive Reports of Townships in Manitoba and the North-
We Territories, October 31st, 1875," in which he will be able
to gather a great deal of information in regard to the soil, hay,
' wood, and water of the Province of Manitoba. The book can
be had on application to Col. Dennis, Surveyor-General, at
Ottawa.

II . US-

!:1

ADVERTISEMENTS.

J. BROWN & CO.,

General Commission Merchants, Tobaccos and Cigars, Wholesale and Retail

Main Street, opp. Notre Dame.

WINNIPEG MARBLE WORKS. DAVID EDE, Dealer in American and Italian
Marble, Monuments, Tombs, Tablets, Headstones, Mantles, Grates, &c. One door
east of Post Office.

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M. WELLBAND, comer of Main and Notre Dame Streets.

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Boots and Shoes. Fine Work Specialty.

Farm and City property for sale.

ARCHIBALD WRIGHT, Manufacturer and Dealer in
Harness, Saddles, Collars, Trunks, Whips, &c.,
Main St., between City Hall and Court House, WINNIPEG, Manitoba.

D

R. BENSON, (Late of Lindsay, Ont.,)

Physician, Surgeon and Accoucheur.
Comer of Bannatyine and Rorie Streets, WINNIPEG, Mnaitoba.

ONTARIO BANK, Winnipeg.
Agents Dominion Government, and Bank of Mc-^treal,

GEORGE BROWN, Manager.

H

ON. JOSEPH DUBUC,

Barrister, Attorney, Soliciior, and Conveyancer,

" tOflr

Office :— Post Office Street, Winnipeg.

GF. CARRUTHERS, Fire, Life and Marine Insurance Agent. Ocean Steamship and
, General Agency. References — Hon. W. N. Kennedy, R^strar, and Duncan
Macarthur, Esq., Manager of the Merchants' Bank. ; ,,. i. V

B

OOKS, STATIONERY, FANCY GOODS, TOYS, &c. A good assortment on hand.

At WASHINGTON & BROS.,

Main Street, Winnipeg.

J

AMES STEWART,

Druggist and Pharmaceutist,

Main Street, Winnipeg.

GEORGE D. NORTHGRAVES,
Dealer in Watches, Clocks and Jewellery of every description,

Main Street, Winnipeg. " \

^^HORNTON & SUTHERLAND,

X Wholesale and Retail dealers in Groceries, Provisions, Grain and Feed.

Main Street, Winnipeg.

M

RS. DAWSON,

Millinery, Underclothing, and Fancy Goods, -^ ■

Main Street, Winnipeg.

FOR VOUK TOBACCO, CIGARS, AND PIPES in everr variety, go to M. R. CAN-
NIFF'S Tobacco Store, next door to the •' White House/' Main Street, he keeps the
heapest and best stock in Winnipeg. M. R. CANNIFF. ^

' " ' J__' ' ' ' ■!— ..I^l ■■ I . ■■ . .Ill I ■■ ■■ .1 ■ . I. I.I. I ■ III.,,.. .1 .. _,.,.-...,_.,_,.,. -----

FIELD, FLOWER & GARDEN

SEEDS.

AGRICULTURAL AND GARDEN

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

ROBEBT R. KEITH,

^^

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ADYKTiTISEMENTa

I

Barristers, A-ttorneys and Solicitors,

Office— Next to New Posl Office,
MAIN STREET, WINNIPEG.

D. M. WALKER.

S. C. BIGGS, B.A.

:POIITT

sxoxts.

ID O XJ a- 1- -A. S TEA.

MAfti STKEET NOKTH, WINNIPEO.

tfir Always on hand a large and well-assorted Stock of first class Groceries and Provisions
imported from the best Mark'jts and sold at the lowest figures.

J. OATHOABT.

"" H,aB3A.X4 B3STA.TBJ.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA.

Ifir Dealers in Farm and City Properties, Military Land Warrants, and Scrip bought and
sold. Locations made on reasonable terms. All business promptly attended to.

Alex. Macdonald. P. O. Drawer 9.

J. M. Macoregor.

Of' Importers and General Dealers in Fancy and Staple Goods, Ready-made Clothing,
Boots and Shoes, Carpets, Floor Oil Cloths, Cocoa Matting, &c. Tailoring Department attached
to the Establishment, Mr J. G. Sonderman, Cutter. None but first-class workmen employed ,

Haring enlarged our Store, we are now enabled to show the largest and best selected stock In the above
mentioned lines. We ddly competition in our prices.

BEBTBAfID & PBUDHOHME, Sign of the Bed Ball, Main St, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

JOHN F. CALDWELL & CO., [Members of the Pharmaceutical Association of Quebec,]
Dealers in DRUGS, CHEMICALS, PATENT MEDICINES, PERFUMERY,
TOILET ARTICLES, &c., <tc. Prompt Attention given to all orders by post ; and goods
carefully packed so as to ensure safe transit to any part of the Province or North- West
Territories. APOTHECARIES' HALL, (Late Dr. Bird's), Main Street, opposite Notre
Dame Street, Winnipeg.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Farms, Sections and Quarter Sections, Scrip, Half-Breed Claims, River Lots, City
Property, &c., bought and sold. Investments and Property managed for non-residents, and all
the departments of a general Real Estate and Investment business transacted.

Township Maps, Maps of the Settlement Belt, and the only authorized City Plan, Ac, for
reference at this Office.

A. W. BURROWS, Main St., Winnipeg.

D.

SOOTX <SZ; OO.,

Importers anc Jealers in

Furniture, Wall Papers, Mooldings, Mirrors, Picture Frames, Sewing
Machines, &c-, &c. AU Work warranted to give satisfaction-

MAIN STREET,

WINNIPEG.

"y HB MAiriTOBA CARAIAGE and SLEIOH MANUFACTORT.

■"• Fii\e Carriages, Wagons ar\d Sleiglis,

Home made and Imported. Lumber Wagons, a specie ;o. Blacksmitbing and Repairing of
all kinds c'one in first-class mr»nner.

SOMAS LUSTED, Proprietor.
Cor. McDcrmott Avenue, Arthur and Albert Sts., Winn i^g.

advIKrtisements.

GEORGE ROY,

Oommission Merchant and Oeneral Dealer in

GBOCIBIIS AMD P10¥ISIOMS,

HARDWARE, DRY GOODS, FANCY GOODS,

Immigrants will find a supply of everything required by the farmer and settler,

at the lowest prices and best quality.

Remember the Address— St. Bonifece, opposite Ferry Landing*^
H. S. DONALDSOIvr &^Ra^ *

DEALERS IN

Books, StaUo&orj, Wall Papers, Fancy Hoods,

CLOCKS, WATCHES AND JEWELRT.

HOEBIS & LA2ABUS' FSBFECTE]) SPECTACLES. ' '
WATCHES AND JEWELRY PROMPTLY REPAIRED- ENGRAVING NEATLY EXECUTED-

Sign of the Big Book an'^ Watch.

1S€I£ ft S&ie!CS!S«^».;

SAW MILLERS,

Dealers in all kinds of iSawn Lumber, Hash, Doors and Blinds.

MANUFACTURERS OF FANNING MILLS.

Agents for the Ki/rhy Reapers cmd Mowers, both Single amd Combined.

Waterous' Engine Works, both Saw and Grist Mills. Climax and Vibrator Thrashing Machines.
Little Giant Threshing Machine. Empire Seed Drill, ten acres in one day.

DAT'§ HORSE RAKE.

The above Machines are the best made on the Continent. Send or call for Circulars that yuu /

may know for yourself. i

Saw Hill and Yard, Foot of Post Offloe Street, Winnipeg.

Dry Goods, Building Material, Flour, etc.

WINinPEG & GLADSTONE.

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PXiOPXUCSXOXt GI-XaAJDSTOXTS 2>^JlJZja.

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ADVERTIHEM^TS.

yv. H. LYoisr,

^1 H PO B ti B_,_,||>

—WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN-

I* • r r JIL

vv

.AJ^ID XOB.A.OOOS.

Main Stfeet, Opposite the Post Offioo,

^;\^i]sr:NiPEG.

J. W. WINNETT,

-AND—

MANUFACTURER.

iCSi

i0" Immigrants will find it to their advantage to purchase
^.'sir household 'arnituie at this Establishment

liiberal discou 't to Immigrants and others furnishing houses complete.

Eemember the Address:—

MAIN STREET, Second door south of Merchants' Bank,

ADVIRTISICMENT8.

lase

lete.

Pioneer FumitTire Souse.

AGENTS FOR
FOROYTH'8

Celebrated Mowers, ftc.

Ik

AGENTS FOR

"W -A. 3Sr Z B TR,

dEWINO MAOHIHES.

BISHOP & SHELTON,

Dealers iu and Hannfactiirers of

Furniture, Pictures, Frames, ic.

UNDERTAKING A SPECIALTY.

Caskets and Shrouds, itc

Intending Immigrants note the address —

BISHOI> & SHELTON,

Hotre Dame and Main Streets, Winnipeg.

Book anc Job Printing House,

* Is Prepared to do all kinds of

Plain AND ORNAyV^ENTAL POINTING,

Of every description, on reasonable tenns.

Cards, Indentures,

Bill Heads, Funeral Notices,

Circulars, Blanks,

Placards, Ac., Ac,

Le Metis is extensively received by the French-speaking population, and
has a large circulation, both in this Province and abroad.

It will be found s, goood medium for advertisements.

J. C. S. ROYAL, Manager.
St Boniface.

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•^mmmmammimi

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ADVSBTrSEMENTS,

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^^^^^T^S'it

Main Street, IVinnipeg.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN

»%_»^-'/^, ■■ .**~*r

>%%\

Wines and X^qtuors.

,:^"'J-'.,

HAS CONSTANXi,y 0» J|AND A LARGE STOCK OF

1;^

v-i4^T

71^1. %%%m%, i¥giiri, f ii^@@®s.

*«^.iJ-

FOBS, B A C ON, HAM,

FLOUR AND FEED, OATMEAL, RICE,

And everything in his line required by Immigrante, Surveyors, .reighters,
Contractors, Country Merchants and others^

At as low a price as any other House in Town.

CITY AND TOWN LOTS FOR SALE

nr

WINNIPEG AND SELKIRK; AT CANADA PACIFIC RAILWAY

CROSSING OF RED RIVER;

iXSO

RIVER LOTS AND QUARTER SECTIONS

In the moat dem ruble porta of the Frovittce.

AJDVEBTI8EMENTS.

THE MANITOBA

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DAILY AND WEEKLY,

IS

—THE LEADING NEWSPAPER OF MANITOBA,—

HaTing a Larger Circulation than all other Papen^ !n the
Province Combined.

•:--o— :-

TEE FREE FUESS

Is the best Advertising Medium Possible

THEOUGH WHICH TO EEACH THE PEOPLE OF MANITOBA,

Aim

The best Newspaper to read to gain Information about the

Prairie Province.

STJBSCSIPTI02T BATES r-Weekly, $fi.50 per year ; Daily, 25 cts. per Week.

Advance Payment.

Advertising Rates furnished upon Application,

KENNY & LUXTON,

Publishers.

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;i.«,

H. 0. MoinOKEF.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

M hi "*i"'

W. D. TATLOE.

«

" ..'■■"■ '■■*:- ,.«"'vV-,

•.?,

Winnipeg, Manitoba,

^'

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M-

G-ENERAL

AGENTS FOR THE

MiLBURN Wagon Company,

^.■■-■•' \^'-^-^ :i%4-^ -1-4 '^'1^-f '■■■%■

Babcock Fire Extinguishers,

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ST0Y1S JLMD TINW^ll.

HI j, AGI^ICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, * j ..jj
^HEET Jf^ON'^YoR'^ Of EVERY pEgCF^IPTICN.

IMMIGRANTS

//fl/? Stfj^p/y thersefues with euery thing in our Line necessary to the
i'armer and Settler, at Reasonable Prices. _

Gu*? as a call and we will guarantee tc suit you, both as regards Quality

and Price.

LYLOR.

I

rs.

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N.

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the

iiality

AGENTS WANTED.

SPLENDID

SUBSCRIPTION BOOKS,

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

OP

THPS* ©tUTH'WE, O

'09

AND

4EMOIR BY HIS SONS,

The BEV. C. J. GUTHRIE and D. K. GUTHRIE,

1 vol., Demy 8vo., 820 pages, with steel portrait. Price, Cloth
$2 50; half Calf, $4 00 ; full Morocco, $G 00.

IliB

HISTORY OF CANADA,

COMPLETE IN TWO VOLUMES,

From the time of the Discovery till the Union of 1840-41

1060 Pages. Price, $4 00.

IV/TH SEVERAL OTHER POPULAR, FAST-
SELLING BOOKS.

For Temjs, Circulars, and full information, address

JA8. CLAEEE & CO.,

60 T«rk Stroetb TQUQinO.

■

9 &ms%

^'

I'

PLOWS, WAGONS,

Eeapers and Mowers,

SULKY JIAY RAKES, &G.

Stoves, Cook and Heating.

Building Hardware

AND

FraiISHM©S,

AHB THE

Largest and most complete Slock of

GI-EITEIIAL HAED'WAES

To be found north of St Paul.

Main Street North,

WINNIPEa

''vi