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Officr of the Enoineerim-Chief, Ottawa, September 24th, 1879. The Honorable Sir Charles Tupper, K.C.M.G., Minister of Railvrays and Canals. Sir, — The letter dated 17th September, of the City Clerk of Winnipeg, and various other papers on the subject of a bridge across the Red River, having been referred to uie, you have asked me to state my views as to the feasibility of bridging the river at the point determined \i[toi» by the City Council of Winnipeg, by resolution of the ICth inst. The point selected by the City Council for bridging the Red River may be the best to be found in the neighborhood of Winnipeg, but there are difficulties wliich call for careful consideration. It is only loo well known that on several occasions, within tho recollection of people living in Manitoba, the Red River has overflowed its banks and flooded the ground on which the City of Winnipeg is projected. The several piers of a bridge might, to some extent, obstruct the channel of the river, and while certainly they would not facilitate the discharge, they might, if the site be injudiciously chosen, retard the flow of the water and inc>*ea8e the risk of flooding. Th«i river does not every year overflow and flood the adjacent country j indeed, 1 learn that it has not done so since 1861, but I am informed that recently the water has risen so high as to endanger some of the buildings near its banks. I observe in the articles of agreement made between the Mayor and Council of the City of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Southwestern Colonization Railway Company, a clause, of which the following is an extract : — " Tho Mid parties of the sreond part (the Railway Company) shall not be bound to *' take orer or accept the laid bridge from the said Qovemkent, unless they shall see fit *< to do 80 ; and that ia the event of the said bridge being svrept away or otherwiao " totally destroyed after the same is handed over to them, the said parties of the second *' part (the Railway Company) shall not be bound to rebuild the satue unless they shall *< see fit to do so." This paragitiph suggests the idea that the promoters of the Railway Company appre* hend that the bridge may be carried away by th^ floods ; it at least shows their determina- tion to assume no responsibility in the matter. The destruction of the bridge, whatever the loss, would be of little account when compared with the damage and destruction which would result to a populous city, on the site of Winnipeg, in the event of the flood water vising to the level which I am told it hai reached on former occasions. And if at any future time the river flooded its banks to the same extent, it is not impossible that the damage done might be attributed to the establishment of the bridge and to the obstruction to the discharge of flood water caused by its piers, abutments and ajiproacbes. J am about to proceed to Manitoba, and I shall, when on tbe spot, caiefully make an examination and give the whole subject my best consideration. In the meantime I feel it my duty to point out the difliculties which surround tbe question, and to indicate the possible consequences for which the Government might be held liable if they under- took to locate and construct the bridge. In view of these considerations, I am nnt at present prepared to advise that the Government should assume the responsibility of complying with the request of tbe City Council of Winnipeg. I am, etc., etc , SANDFORD FLEMING, « Engineer-inr^ hie/. ;'3 CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Office of tiik Enoineeb-in-Chief, Ottawa, December 8ih, 1879. The Honorable Sir Charles Tlppeb, K.C.M.O., Miaister of Railways (indCanHlB. Sir, I have the honour to report on the' several communications, from the Miiyor aid Corporation of Winnipeg, aslcing the Government to undertake the construction of a Railway Bridge across Red River, opjwsite the city. When the papeis were fiiat referred to me, I aildressed to you a short report, of date September 24ih, pointing out th{\t the bridging of Red River was a matter requiring grave consideration, on account of the vast body of water, which, at times, inundates the. locality. Since I addressed you on the 24th September last, I have visited Manitoba and made a personal examination of Red River for nearly 30 miles ot its course, through the Parishes of St. Boniface, St. Johns, Kildonan, St. Pauls, St. Andrews, St. Clomencs and St. Petew. Having carefully enquired into the facts respectinsj the periodical floods and* the various loca' circumstances which affect the location of the bridge, I have now to report the views I have formied on the whole question. When the water is at its ordinary summer level, the river ranges in width from 350 to 600 feet. It»flows in a M'ell-defined channel betwnen banks from 20 to 30 feet high, and presents to a casual observer no extraordinary difficulty as to bridging. Ic seems, at first sight, that a comparatively placid stream, flowing for the most part gently in its course between moderately high banks could with ease be bridged at any required point. Inves- tigation, however, brings out certain remarkable circumstances which demand serious consideration. All, or nearly all, rivers in a northo-n latitude are subject to ""reshets at the period of the year when winter merges into summer. But on the Red River it appears that these freshets sometimes assume the form of floods, and these phenomena are occasionally develo^ied to an alarming extent, and carry along with them widespread devastation. During my visit to Manitoba, I was fa/oied with an interview with the Archbishop of St. Boniface. His Grace has resided in the country for a long series of years, and has had the advantage of witnessing the annual freshets, as well as several of the inundations. Hw Grace waa good enough to afford riie tho boiiefit of his local experience. lu the year 1852 tlio river overflowed its bi .iks and completely stibmerged the level prairie for sev- enU milHS on each side. The water rose until it Htood ut least 3 feet G inches above tli% general surface of the ground around the Palace of St. Boniface, and it seemed like a vast lake, extending in all directions. The whole country was submerged from Minnesota north to Kildonan. The site of the City of Winnipeg was completely under water, and the nearest dry land in that neigliborhood was at Burke's farm, some four miles away. The flood remained in this state for more than two weeks. After an interval of eight years (in 18(10) the river again inundated its banks, cover- ing the level prairie, but the overflow was not widespread. Tlie following year (I8G1) there was another flood, when the water rose to within two feet of the level of the flood of 1852, overflowing to the depth of about 18 inches a very large area of the prairie. Since 1861 there has been an immunity from any serious inundation, but on one or two occasions, the water has risen nearly to the prairie level. The Bishop of Rupert's Land, in his " Notes of the Flood of 1^52," estimates tho breadth of the inundated country at about 12 miles; mentions that houses and liarns, furniture and farm implem»'nt8, were swept away. The settlej-s took refuge on the nearest elevated ground, Stoney Mountain and Bird's Hill. The Bishop, wiih his household, escajjed in oanoes, and passed down the river until he reached dry land, in the Parish of St. Andrews, somo thirteen miles below Fort Garry. From this point north- erly he describes the river as being " confinod within narrower limits," and with a more impetuous current. The Bishop mentions that at the Stone Fort the river was " i-unning at the rate of eight or ten miles r :. hour." Extracts from His Lordship's journal between May 3rd and June 8th are appeniled. In " The Red River Settlement, its Rise and Progress," (by Alexander Ross) a work written before the inundation of 1852, wo find an account of an earlier flood, of which the author was an eye witne.ss. This occurred in the year 1826, the water rose about 18 inches "liigher than in 1852 and submerged a much great )r area of the level prairie. It lasted from the 2nd of -May to the 15th of June. I submit a few extracts from the volume referred to : — " The winter had been unusually severe, having begun earlier and continued later than " usual. The snow averageil three feet deep and in the woods from four to five fest. " The cold was intense, being often 45*^ below zei-o ; the ice measured five feet seven " inches in thickness. Notwithstanding all this, the colonists felt no dread till the spring " was far advanced, when the flaw of water, from the molting of the accumulated snow, " became really alarming. On the 2od of May, the day before the ice stai-ted, the water " rose nine feet perpendicular in the twenty four hours." f * * * * "On the 4th, the water overfl;>wed the Imnks of the river " and now Hprcad so fast thize, boats •• were now flying under full sail." * * * * "It subsided, of course, •' very grailually. It was on the 1 5th of June that the settlers, for the firet time, drew ♦• near the sites of their former habitations." I have mentioned that Mr, Ross's account of the flood of 1826 was prepared for the press more than twenty years afterwards. By that time, the settleis had resumed their land, rebuilt houses and been led into a fancied security. They thought they had seen the last extraoruinary rise of water to deluge the couiitry. Mr. Ross, however, wrote the prophetic words '• what has happened once, may happen again" and before his volume is. ued from the press, he had witnessed the inundation of 1852 and added a separate account of it in an appendix. The following extracts may be given of an occurrence which submerged the locality and drove the settlers from their farms from the 7th of May to the 12th of June : — * * * * "On the 7th of May the water had risen eight feet above •' the high- water mark of ordinary years, overflowed the banks of the river, and began to •• spread devastation and ruin in the settlement ; boats and canoes in great request for " the saving of lives and peoperty ; all hurry, bistleand confusion; some had to take '• shelter in the garrets, some on stages, some here, some there, in little groups on spots ♦♦ higher tlmn the rest, anxiously waiting a boat, a canoe, or some friendly hand to save •' them from a watery grave. From 150 yards wide, the usual breadth of the river, it " had spread to three miles on each side and rose fov several days at the rate of nearly " an inch per hour." • ♦ * • "On the breaking up of the river, the channel got choked "up with ioe, which ciusoJ the water to rise seven feot in an hour or two. This " oconrred at night after the pouple hud gone to bed, and it came on them so suddenly, " that, before thoy were awnro of it, themselves and their beds were afloat, cattle and " sheep wore drowned and two uion, who had gone to rest on a small rick of hay, found " themselves in the morning drifting with tho current, some three miles from where they " had laid down the night before. Others again, in the absence of canoes or other " assistance, had to resort to the house-tops ; some took to the water and hung to the " branches of tho trees and bushes, till daylight brought them relief." • * * "On the 12th, half the colony was under water and had made a " clean sweep of all fencing and loose property on both sides of the river, for a distance " of 22 miles in length. In nil this extent, so low and flat is tlio country throughout, " that not a single house was excepted — all waa submerged — not an inhabitant but had " fled." * • * * "On the 22nd, the water was at its height, and the coinci- " dence is remarkable, inasmuch as on the same day of the month the water was at its " height, daring the former flooJ, twenty -six years ago ; but it was then 18 inches higher " than it has been tliis year ; still, the paopb being fewer, the damage at that time was " less. During eight days before the change, dwelling houses and baros were fioating in " all directions, like sloops under sail, with dogs, cats and poultry in them. Outhouses, " carts, caj'ioles, boxes, cupboards, tables, chairs, feather beds, and every variety of " household furniture drifting along, added to the univeraal wreck." * * * * " At its height the wat«r had spread out on each side of the " river six milos, for a distance of fourteen miles in length — not a house was excepteJ. " Loaded boats might have been seen sailing over the plains, far beyond the habitations " of the peojile. The spectacle was as novel as it was melancholy. Three thousand five " hundred souls abandoned their all and took to the open plains." * * * * " The falling of the water allowed many of the people to " approach their cheerless homes about the 12th of June." Our knowledge of these alarming, and too frequently devastating occurrences is limited, yet besides frequent freshets which have caused no great anfi liun lont icur- m of )r to enta, ■ the le to * ftgo ilong IS'h taken n »arod, ;ted. itiint u > 'A 1 o « 13 a ai it to i 60 C U 1> u .= i im S 00 > '^ V w (*j « I. — ® a. g a o «o C ]^ * 1? 'M in 5^i u CO H W Cm J H > o O o >J Ex 00 o o 00 00 0) I- — 00 « ■- » s ^ t» a; - J, :5^ '-' C O .3 i«iJt*ia f«fc»Bn«f ■nontadat Ml 1 a •A t<. 00 tf) K) I-. t- t- h- to o « 03 « n « « o 0»OkO>OO- ta ■* o> ^^ 00 0< a i s o § 9 la attempting to account for thesp perbdic&l inundations, the firat idea that strikes the mind is that they may be due to the rising of Lake Winnipeg from some cause, probably the choking of its outlet by an ice-jam during the trausitiun period between winte'' and summer. The backing up of the 'vaters of the lake is, however, fully disproved by the above table, an examination of which will show that the overflowed portion of the river has stood, during floods, more than 40 feet higher fhan Lake Winnipeg. During these periods, the facts brr -ht out likewise establish that the river was an impetuous torrent for some six miles abov aid a considerable distance below Stone Fort. The table shews further that, at times, the flood-water of the rivor haj stood above the general level of the prairie over tlie whole district to the south of Tuit's Creek, and that no part of the rivor banks, from St. Andrews to the lake, has been inundated. This perfectly agrees with recorded ev' jence, by which it appears that when the river overflows its banks and devastates the country for miles on each side, the inundations havj only extended northerly to the neighborhood of Tait's Creek, in the Parish ot St. Andrews. That, while hundreds of square miles have been flooded south of tlie Parish of St. Andrews, there is no record of any overflow fiom St. Andrews, northerly, to Lake Winnipeg. The exti'aordinary increase in volume of the water of Red River, whicli periodically devastates the country, has been the subject of vaiious speculations. Mr. Ross states with respect to the flood of 1826, that " the previous year had been " umxsually wee ; the country was thoroughly saturated ; the lakes, swamps and rivers, ** at the fall of the year, were full of water ; and a large quantity of snow hud fallen in " the preceding winter. Then came a late spring, with a sudden burst of warm " weather, and a south wind blowing for several days in succession j the snow melted at " once, and R'^d Lake, Otter-tail Lake, as well as Lake Travers (sources of Rod River) all overflowed their banks." Theae causes are sufliicient to account for the superabundance of water r — A wet full* followed by sudden, severe frost, to seal up the marshes, lakes .and saturated ground until spring ; an unusual snow-fall during a prolonged winter ; a sudden burst of warm weather, with copious rain in the basin of Red River. In ordinary years, the climatic conditions are different, and any one of the causes mentioned might be insufficient to produce any disaster, but a combination of them at any time would, in all probability, result in as great a discharge of freshet water as at any past period. Vve may thus account for the superabundant flow of water, but some- thing more is required to exfjain the ciroumstanoe that the watern accumulate and rcnoin for weeks, covering hundredii of square miles, st the level of 40 feet above the lako; into wbioh -ne river directly flows. 16 rrrr -T- .■a;--f- , ,,',■' "l- .„■ ' ' ■■. -t' .■ • 'j , , " ■ Zi An examinatidn of thd country between the inundated district and the like, reveals the remaining condition ndoessary to account for the widesprsad overflow. A person arriving at Winnipeg will obsterve that the banks of the river are of a soft and yielding character, easily acted oa by the elements. They are of clay, but the clay ifi somewhat of the character of quicksand. They are subject to slides and altei'ations of form. In consequence of the constant changes that take place, a m irked increase in the width, between the river banks, has taken place within the past fifty years. Similar changes have occurred at many places along the course of the river, as far north as the Parish of St Andrews. But here the character of the banks change, they are no longer soft and yielding, on the contrary, they are firm and strong ; in more than one locality a ledge oi rock presents itself. Generally, through the Parish of Sb. Andrews, and for so ne distance below S!x)ne Fort, the trench throiia;h which tlie river flows remains contracted, and its appearance indicates that no perce[ibible changn takes phice from year to year. Indeed, it is highly probable that this portion of tlie river is praclioally the same, in sectional form, as it was many yeats ago, and its banks are bo firm for many miles, that no material change can be predicted. To the limited dimensions of the river channel, through the Parish of St. Andrews, may be attributed the inundations — the contracted water-way prevents the free discharge ot surplus water, in periods of floois; the immediate consequences are the raising and backing of the fl JO 1 water, until the whole country to the south becomes submerged. The raising of the water at the upper enl Of the surcharged outlet is productive of another result, viz, the iiwpetuous current describe by some of the witnesses, in the conti-acted channel, at and above the Stono Fort. Another remarkable circumstance may be mentioned. It apfjcars that when the channel through the Parish of St. Andrews becomes gorged, and the water backs up to a certain level above the prairie to the south, the flood water finds an overflow to Lake Winnipeg, some miles to the west of Red River, by passing up Tait's Ci-eek to a depression known as the Big Bog, and thence by Netley Creek. This natural overflow will account for the non-submergence of the country north of Tait's Creek. It is clear, from the foregoing, that the inundations have been produced by natural means, which ara still in force, and tha^< in the ordinary course of nature we may expect a combination of these causes to produce results similar to those which have occurred in the past. It is futile to assume that Red River shall never again overflow its banks. Man is utterly powerless to prevent its occurring periodically, and whenever it occurs the disastrous consequ>)ncb3 will be intensified in pro[>ortion to the increased number. of inhabitants within the submerged district. It i« essential that all the local circumstances should be known and most carefully weighed in determining the proper site for our great continental lind 6f railway through this part of Canada. If, without due consideration, or regardless of th^ local experience I* U which haa been gaineil hy many now living, we vrere to carry the Kail way across Red River anywhere in the district subject to inundation, we might any year find a dozen miles of the line for a monch or more submerged, the bridges and approaches swept away, and traffic stopped until the whole be restored. Similar consequences might follow if, to avoid the flooded district, we bridged Rod River at St. Andrews ur Stone Fort, where during seasons of extreme high water the stream is an impetuous torrent. It would not be easy to plant piers chat would prove permanent in euch a position, without making them enor- mously expensive, and no piers could be built without obstructing the water-way, already too contracted. The immediate consequances of still further narrowing the outlet would be to impede the discharge and prevent the easy escape of the water, thus increasing the tendency to overflow up streaji envolving serious questions of damages, whenever a disaster occuiTed. On giving the whole subject serious attention and weighing eveiy consideration tlat seems to control the selection of a point fur crossing Red River, I am forced to the couvic. tion that the main line of the Pacific Railway should pass at some distance to the north of btone Fort, where the banks recede and allow ample space for the passage of fluod water. The bridge should not be too near the foot of the current which eminates from the gorged channel between St. Andrews and Stone Fort. It should be iu comparatively still water. I find such a locality between Sugar Point and St. Peters, within a distance of four miles. In fixing on the precise point of crossing, other considerations, less important than these above referred to, demand some attention. » In establishing the railway in this district, the traffic which in future years may come by water from Lake Winnipeg and the rivers and streams flowing into it, should not be lost sight of. In order to accommodate this traffic, the railway should be so situated that steamers and sailing craft may easily be brought side by side with the railway cars duving the whole season of navigation. Red River may be considered sufficiently deep from the Lake to Stone Fort to allow vessels to pass up to the latter place, but above Sto^e Fort, owing to rapids, the river is not navigable for lake craft, at low water. The river at Stone Fort be}^g in a contracted channel, it would be a matter of diffi- culty to cany the rail-track to the ship's side, and impracticable, without encroaching on the water-way, to find space for piling lumber, etc., and transferring caigoes. Aioreover^ below Stone Fort, for two or three miles, the river, owing to the sharp bends around Sugar Point, is not well suited for the use of sailing craft From the last turn in the channel below Sugar Point to the lake, the course of the river is comparatively straight and can. with greater ease be navigated ly craft of all sorts. Wherever the railr^ay forms a convenient connection with the deep water of the river, that point will pravtically become the head of navigation of Lake Winnipeg. In IS lilt ow »r is iffi- oa ver, .gar m^l caa coarse of time a busy town will spring up tind the land on the town site will assame a value it never beforie possessed. To the north of Sugar Point, in the locality des'gnated Selkirk, a block of more than 1,000 acres remains ungranted ^d under the control of the Government— this is probably the only block of land along the whole course of the lied Rivor which has not passs'l into private bunds or iuto the possession of the Hudson Bay Company. This block of 1,000 acres abuts on the river, where a bridge may be constructed with least ai)prehen8ion as to the safety of the structure in tim»{ of floods, and where its erection could, under no circumstances, involve questions of damages. Near the river there is a natural deep-water inlet, which Can <'asily be reached by a sliori; l>ranch from the main line ot railway ; along this inlet, and between it and the river, the land is admirably suited for a capacious piling ground. Vessels lying in the inlet are in no way exposed to damage from floods ; in proof of which, it may be mentionod that the Hulson Bay Coinpan^ have used it as a place of shelter for years past. Ihey Iiave no land, or buil lings, or other property here, but they have found no safety in the open river near their establishment at Stone Fort, and at this moment the steamer Colv.lle and another vessel, all the craft the Company has in these ]>art8, are moored for the winter in the inlet, which indents the 1.000 acre Government block. Thus there cannot be a question as to the eligibility of this point for sheltering shipping in winter, as wti* as for the purposes of navigation in summer. In conclusion, I may be permitted to say that these vaiious consideration*, in my judgment, control the location of the railway, and, guided by the facts I have endeavoured to lay before you, I am not able to recommend the Government to assume the responsibility of bridging Red River at any poiht where the proposed structure would be seriously imperilled, where prolonged interruption to traffic might be looked for on the occurrence of a disaster, the imminence of which no one '^an judge. I am strongly of opinion that the Pacific Railway should be carried across the river somewhere between Sugar Point and St. Peters Church, and the circumstances which I have briefly described dictate that the crossuig should be on the 1,000 acre lot of Government land at Selkirk. , I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, SANDFORD FLEMING, Enginenr-in-Chicf. the In 1^^^^ in NOTES OF THE FLOOD AT THE BED EIVER, 1852, £t/ the Bisliop of Rupert's Land. [HI I I EXTRACTS, Its effects were very cUTerent in difft-rent places ; they varied almost with every reach of the river, and according to the level of the bank at each spot. It was perh lips the most disiasiroua among the *''«.mdians around and above the "Upper Fort" ; it was very severe in the up|)fcr and middle Church districts; it Affected a good deal the lower part of the Assitiihoirie ; while the upp^r part of the district of 8t. James on that viver and those of St. Andrew's and the InnV^5//t.— The winter had been unusually fine until the end of February, but through the whole of March a great deal of snow had fallen, which seemed sufficiently to account for the present rise. Mai/ 3rd. — These expectations were encouraged by the very slia^ht rise during the night, but fron 10 a.m. till 2 p.m., the waters gained so fast as to lead to very painful forebodings. Some houses o))po3ite to us are already abandoned, their inmates tenting on thtt little knolls behind. We hear of one settler taking a bateau right through his Itouse. From the Fort we hear that more than fifty deserted houses may be ueen. Mai/ 4th. — Rode up to the Fort ; the sight very distressing. The bridges are all giving way. May 6th. — Towards night heavy rain commenced, the firat since the breaking up of the ice. May 7th. — Horses of the Company f)a«!s down ; sent for security to the Stone Fort. They were seen fording and swimming the creeks, now swollen to rivei-s. In every direction there are processions of cattle, horses and carts going to the Little Mountain, the creaking sound of the wheels is melancholy to hear. One stable drifts down the river. May Sth. — During the forenoon a little snow and sleet fell, still rising. Water ' VIIL May 9th (Sunday). — We had heard over night that the waters were stationary at Pembina ; but the great rise iu the night dispelletl suth a pleasing idea. Many had hoped to defer the removal of their cattle till after the day of rest, but wern forced to go off at once. # # I prepared for service, but with a heavy heart. Toe pathway to the Church was open, but only just so ; the waters had entered one corner of the church- yai*d, and had the service been thre^ hours later, we could not have gone over dry shod. The g>4thering of the congregation was very different from usual. Some came over their corntields in the large boat. "JF< dneunt remoi illic, «6t nuper ardrant." where my bridge was many feet under water. Others were ferried across the creek, ■ tsw iulsi BP, X ^ J^ ;5 _ -. ^ , fyf./, I I .vi J L c a /, ^^V^'rn-)»,'U>/>lf>/f>r>rr7^ M V -vS. ---f*- Jiift^' jBtc/ ^33---— J^??;?^ Jjctkt It ^ ^rttjuey iict/c*: fJijtift rjM*y he- ivn ne Its id he liH -a ot 't. y »r I I. Ii e r» g ir \. 1 V" 1' , WiNN*P»£^ I Si S I I < r ! i ' i _. ±^_ _ f^Uft f 7 ~.~ ^ I. tit Ui<^/4 .Vt^t/o I f^T^' - h * I I ;> it \ ■J \l ^ ) t fji/fi I ■f/iilf f/ftfiVtu , J VI I L K S !0 IS 7 vri^i/uclirici/ *S'ectivn i^' Jicc/ /titir j>c/n Cht V.u i |.wii i i | jH.ii|; )H) | H ■J Si V/tt.tftfu.1 tvii/t _ .y Vrrm — -^-rninTrmrmm, M -^.-V/* •i=^Ji^££££'.2:_/l^>^. _>>i I .S'M I I I I I I I t I I •^ -^ r- TrmrrrrnTTrrTrmiTrrf) lb ! L 3o ■*-0 Mii.E, % ..1 wuo»T> mj uiMti" ""« "*»»*/ 4WV« «AA*v«W* <14 The strength of the south wind is bringing down a prodigious volume of water. The most melancholy siglit cf the dny had been when those tented on my gronnds| moved otf, and punsed over the swollen water to the north Hide of the church. Ail walker) riglit through the stream, men and w:>men up to their waiut ; the cattle were swum over, and the carts with gntat didiculty got th:-ough. Tiie Red River ojv^ned for itself fresh channels into the Assiniboine above the' jimctiun, so that from Pembina to our settlement \yi\h a broad lake, and it came down upon us — as an Indian, I lielieve, tii-st expressed it — like a race horse. Mat/ 10th. — Another beautiful morning, but the rise in the night greater than any^ previous one. The water was now in the granary and store, and I was some time standing in the water. ■ They were distressed at finding us so sun-ounded with the waters. Their accounts were most painfid. The burn of Eiiiilien, the largHst farmer among the Caniie of death. There had heen two funeials the «lay lieiore at St. Amlrew's; what coidd I do if death occurred in the upper settlement? The rise of the night had been very givat, and the wind was strong from the south-east. This caused a violent current against the house, which we could hardly stem on our return fiom the church May 13th.— After a most tempestuous night, a bright morning ; the wind falling, but still considerable. The I'ise mur-li as beforu ; not one dry spot left below ; no resting place for the sole of the foot. We had prayera in the kitcheu, standing; in the water three inches deep. What de^^-astation this one night must have made 1 If wo felt some- what alarmed, what must it have been for those exposed to the severity of the weather 1 The nearest resemblance to our condition might be found in a prolonged shipwreck, in which the waters are fast gaining on the vessel, and one, knows not what to rescue and 8:ive, or whether the ship itself will hold out to the end. May 14ih. — Rose at half-past four, the weather still stormy. The men, however, ttt\d,"Kedfie uootin, mahja/t kwinaJcitin " — It blows hard, but it is fair. We started soon after five. My sister was hrjught in a wooden bateau from the foot of the stairs, through the hall and kitchen, and thus got into the birch-iiud ciuioe. *.4« I We went right over the fields — oearly the line of our usual land-road— to avoid the strong cunent and long winds of the river. After a hard paddle, we reached our refuge at Mr. Taylor's, where many came out to welcome us. » * * After dinner I rode up to the encampment on the little mountain, where I saw Captain Hill and the peuKiouers. Found Mr. Black and Dr. Cowan th'3re also, who confirmed the good titlings of a dimin- ished rise. if ay 16th. — The cold of the previous dav had alnwjst^ prepareil us to expect the snow and sleet which fell this morning, and continued for some houre — a most wintry aspect for the middle of May. Nearly thirty had slept under the roo*", females and children being taken in from the tents around ; on one occasion as many as thirty-five. An evident decrease in the rise of the water, — a great mercy ; for, had it continued at the same rate, a very few days must have driven ua from our present reluge, and t^nts were b-ing prepared in the expectation that we would yet have to pitch out. Mr. Taylor arrived in the evening and reported one boat-load of our pro|)erty takrn down to the liapids ; the boat to return on Monday for more should the rise still continue. May 16th (Sunday) — A fine, cold morning. After breakfast, proceeded on horse- back to the Littln Mountain, and found thnt Captain Hill had made the necessary ))r«pa- rations, and selected a spot sheltered, as much as possible, from the north wind, ilefore me was a tal)le, covex-ed -with a script cariolo cloth, by which I stood for service. 'I'he congregation formed in a semi-circle around, consisting of pensioners, their families, and other settlers, about 100 in all. May 17lh. — I started early in thecanopto vi.sit my own house. In passing the Port, called to see the Mayor and Mr. Black. At the Fort gate the current was terrific, and we entered with difficulty. Instead of the usual bustle of May — the most active month of tlie year, all was desolate ; lioats were within the quailrangle, and one takini; in cargo from the upper windows of the store. Breakfasted with Major C.ild well ; after which the rapidity of the current soon carritsd me to my own house. On leaving the church tower, the boat went tlirough the church yai d gab', and for some distance kept its c urseovjr the plains ; but, on getting into the current of the river, the tide was so strong against us that wo made but little head ; and alter trying for some time to stem it, to littlu purpose, I urged Mr. Hunter to return, and hailed my canoe, into which I jumped, and got up in safety, through God's blessing. The waves were so high as almost to threaten to swallow us up. May 18th. — V boat came to take some provisions and seed for our use above ; but little, co'uparalively, could be done while the waves were so high, and the hous>j so deep in water and difficult to pass through. The heavy porch of oak had floated off, and the boat was now moored close by the front door. After a hard pull, we arrived in safely, but all were sadly afflicted at the loss -^f our valued and trusty cook. The rest of the day was spent in j-ealizing the delight of being on dry land, and enjoying all the pleasures which the unwearied kindness of our friends could aiford. May IQtIi. (hidi/m Reserve near Selkirk) — .All was energy around ; we seemed to have jiassed to another atmosphere. Ploughing was going on on both sides of the river. In a walk be ore breakUat, saw the seed being committed to the ground ; while, on the other side «f the road, the wheat was. already up. Seven pipuglis were at work in one fiehl, and five or six in anoUier, those whose land was dry feeling the necessity of cultiva- ting i)U a larger s -ale. The children were engaged in cleariug and preparing the little garden ai'ouud the parsonage. 16 Suhm^tftHl District. — Mr. Chapman's account of the losses in his own district was very appalliDg. The houses of twu brothers had been entiralj swept away, with their l>:u-n8 and wheat ; while along a considerable space on the other side of the river there was not one house lelt standing. May Slat. — The river still stationary. The height, on the whole, is certainly not so great an in ihe former flood, perhaps by about eighteen inches ; but as the channel of the river is doeper and broader, and the creeks very much enlarged, there may be an equal volume of water. Delighted to Hud that the water had sunk an inch in my own house. I started to pass the night there. We had a most beautiful sail. The river was like that of a vast hike studded with houses, of many of which the projecting gable was the or.ly part visible. The calmness of the evening satire an increased hope; there was a young crescent moon, and the water was falling 8lightly in the house. Mni/ 22nd. — A beautiful morning. There was still a decrease in thA water; a flag was huisted at Uak Lodge, a signal to give the good news, according to agreement, to those on the hill. ■>f our ■ being May 23rd (Sunday ) — Noticed the calmness and activity of the day. There was a better congregation, owing to the beauty of the day, between 250 and 300. The day was intensely hot. May 24th. — Stiange sights met our eyes as we proceeded. Some of the bridges we saw four miles below tneir former locality, and on the opposite side of the river. Tho railing round some of the graves of the Upper Church had also been carried down as far. A barn had been tied to a strong tree, to secure it, but it eventually floated off. The houHes, many of them standing up to the eaves in water, showed less the destructive eflects of the water upon them than some weeks after when tho waters had retired. Here (at Parks' Creek, half way between the Middle Church and the Rapids) the current, from being confined within narrow limits, became more impetuous, and we had been atrongly advised to [iroceed by land, but not being timid on the water, and having confidence in the skill of our three men, we preferred going on to the Kapids. The rapidity of the current almost made one giddy to look at it, it was running at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour. May 26th. — The breadth of the whole expanse of water was supposed to be, in some places, twelve miles — this instead of our usual narrow river I May 26th. — Wont down to our house in the morning ; gratified to find only twenty inches of water, instead of forty, in our rooms. May 27th, — There was a little refreshing rain and a fine evening, when I took a gallop up to the Little Mountain. Had tea with Mr. and Mrs. Logan, and from them obtained what I had much desired, a copy of the " Mi&^ionary ^Eegister " for December, 1820, with Mr. Jones' account of the former flood. May 28th. — ^Tbe morning being more promising, the boat came, and we went up to survey the river above Sturgeon Creek, but a shower came on and prevented us from fully accomplishing our plan, and we returned home well drenched. May 29th. — A !ove1y morning after the storm. The first sound that greeted me on awaking was the pleasing word " Pahatazoo " — It is dry. I went over to the ohuroh, entering still by the window, and found that the pulpit and reading desk had now regained their pi-oper position. F IT May 30th { Whit-Sunday). -^^. morniog of very heavy rain. It waa douhtful for nome time vhtther I oould start for lervioe, but the rain gradually lessened, aad I determiaed to make the attempt. May Slat. — The dosing day of another month, in the language of the country, the flower month ; to-morrow, the commencement of the heart-berry or strawberry month. Jun« Itt. — Rode up to the mountain to bid farewell. Creek boats passed down to-day. Beaver Jun« 2nd.— Rode up to Sturgeon Creek to seo those there before leaving ; a pretty spot, and large encampment. Many were out ; all busy preparing tor the departure of the boats. June 3rd. — Started from St. J'-.mes early with my family ; left our kind friends with regret ; we had a quick run down ; the land is fast reMpi>earing. Tho chief fear now is the slip of the bank ; many houses are supported and propped up, lest the earth should launch forward and carry them away. Reached the parsonage at St. Andrews about hve. June 6th. — This morning we were surprised by Major Caldwell's arrival ; his first visit down during the flood. The day was somewhat stormy. June 7th. — Soon after we had dined, T started off by canoe for my own house to npo Mr. Pridham once more before leaving for Faigland. * * * * 'f he chief feature which I noticed as novel was the pyramids uf clay in front of the houses, as the people were shovelling out the mud left within from their chimneys having given way and fallen in. We were late in reaching the uppnr settlement, but on getting near the house we were so overjoyed at the sight of the stubble fields, which appeared dry to the eye, that we determined to try the land and make u short cut across. We soon repented of our rashness, finding at each step that we sunk deep in the treadherous mud. June 8th. — Rose very early to see Mr. Pridham off. The morning was very stormy, but with a fair wind for carrying him on. 18 'Wi.- .ifir IttL-i- CAHADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Manitoba District Enoinue'i Orrioa, WixMiPBO, I8th November, 1879. Samdvord Fleming, Esq., Engineer-in-Chief. Dear Sir, — I Bend you by express to-d&j a tracing of the plan of B«l River, between the City of Winnipeg and the iui'e of that name, togather with a longitudinal section of the river between the same points, and cross-sections at t'le several points which have been selected by various patties as the most favorable for a railway crossing. I forwarded to your office, about two years ago, a plan with some of the information here given. Some additions have been made at your suggestion, to the information then given, and others which I thought desirable, in order to maKO the matter more complete. The obtaining of this additional information is the cause of my not being able to forwai*d the plan sooner. On the longitudinal and cross-sections are shown the surface of the grc nd at the upper or prairie level (the levels of the bottoms or intervals in the banks of the river are shown by figures in circles on the plan), ice or low-water level, the high -water levels of 18J6-52-G1. No ordinary high-water level is given, because so far as our own observa- tion and enquiries are concerned, it varies every year ; but L may be stated in general terms as from 15 to 20 feet at Winnipeg, and from 3 to 8 feet at Selkirk below the flood level of 1 8') 2. I may here state that in m-plotting the levels of the high water of 1852, a clerical error was found, in those laid down ou the plan and profile sent you two yeara ago, by which the levol was made too high at that point The course followed in order to obtain accurately the water levels now given (and which are all reduced to a common datum of " sea level," accoi-ding to the latest correc- tions in my possession) was as follows: — A series of B. M.'s were established at various ix}ints along the river bank, and connected by levelling with those on the line of railwiy. A party, consisting of an Assistant Engineer and B j^an, following tine the course of the tiver went first to ona of the oldest inhabitants m the neighborhood, when a level was to be obtained and got him to point out some mark to which the wnter had risen ; as soon as he was gone, another party was applied to who pointed oat some pther mark ; these were subsequently tested with the level, and in most cases, foand to nn TTimrc !!! I1 11: agree veiy closely. The same course was followed at each point where levels are shown. As no authentio information could oe obtained of the H, W. of 18iG at A, no level is given. No information could be obtained of the TI. W. of 1861 beyond the point C, the reason assigned l)eing that north of that point it was not so much above ordinary H. W. as to attract special notice. As you have quite recently been over the whole of the ground yourself, it is not necessary that I shoulJ trouble you with details of the topogra[)hy in tliis report. I shall therefore only call your attention to some general facts bearing on the subject. The banks of the river, throughout the portion under consideration is very similar in chamcter, the top being the black soil of the prairie for a depth of about four feet, under- neath this is a bluish white laminated clay, of great depth as a general rulf, interKpersed here and there with thin veins of sand or gravel varying from I to 2 inches in thickneps. At a depth of 60 or 60 feet below the prairie level this clay has a considerable quantity of boulders, of various sizes in it. This clay when dry is extremely compact and solii'i, it has however a great affinity for water, and when brought into conjunction with it, absorbs a large quantity and becomes like bird lime. At some points on the river, sometinK'S on one bank, then on the other, and occasionally on both, the banks are covered from low water level to 10 or 15 feet above it, with stones varying from 1 to or 3 inches in diameter. This is noticeably the case from 2 or 3 miles above "St. Andrews Rapids" to the "Lower Fort." At two points on the river, viz. : — Cross Sections No. 6 and 9, rock in situ ia found and has been used for building purposes, but at the first named point it can only be quarried at low water. Owing to the nature of the clay above referi'od to, it has, when brought in contact yrith the water, been forced out into the river at low-water level, by the weight of the superincumbent earth, and is carried down to the lake, where it baa formed an extensive "bar" at the mouth of the river, having only from 4 to 6 feet of water over h at low water. The oozing out of this materi^il from under the banks causes them to crack and settle down almost perpendicularly ; these crachs sometimes occur as far back as from 100 to 300 feet from the outer edge of the bank. By this settling down, the materi;il, which otherwise would not be disturbed to any great extent Ijy the current or ice, becomes disintegrated, and is easily carried away by the freshets and ice. Owing to this cause the river valley is much wider at many places than it was fifty years ago, but there are numerous points between here and the lake where, from some unexplained cause, this action does not seem to have occurred to any extent. Tliere is an extensive swamp known as " the Big Bog," which, commencing at the western limit of, thpoity, extends northerly to Netley €rfiek, near Lake, Winnipeg; at Selkiik it isT mUt»« west,of'the liv^r., 20 ■» i> i ■ About 13 miles from here, Tait's Creek, a kfge ooal6 drains a portionof this swamp into Red River. Yon will observe that at this point the great fiood levels begin to fall awny more rapidly, and from here northward to the neighborhood of the lake the country has not been under water on these occasions. This is no doubt due. amongst other causes, to the fact of the water of the river on these occasions flowing out through this valley iuto the big bog from which tiiay found their way into the lake through Netley Creek. While from this point southward to some distance south of the International boundiD-y, and for a considerable distance on each side of the river, the whole has been seen covered to -■ depth ot several feet, by pei-sons still living here. It is said by persons whose residence in the country ia only of a more recent date, that such flooJs will mver occur again as the river bed has widened sufficiently to prevent them. It is to be hoped that such events m ly not again o:cur, but if they do not, the above will not be the reason, for, as aht-adj stated, there are several points between here and the lake which are little, it any, wider than they were 50 years ago. I have given this whole subject a great deal of consideration since I first came here, and tny opinion is that these stages of extraordinarily high water are due to a combina- tion of events which are, I think, as follows :- Ist. A series of wet se:oiii-se, leaving out of consideration altogether that such a jamb of ice might occur there as would cause the inundation of that portion of the city standing on the higher level, and the iue does now jam to some extent at this point every year. If, on the other hand, a bridge were built at Provencher Avenuft and Broadway, and an embankment formed from it on the line of Broadway to Main street, and the water should rise so as to cover the low ground north of it, a claim could not be raised with any show of reason that the bridge was the cause, until the water had lisen high enough to overflow ^^he embankment, by which time it w ould be over the country, on both sides of the river, for some distance. The section of the river at the Stone Fort would seem, at first sight, to present a very favorable crossing, but owing to the circumst'tnce already named, and the fact of its being very costly, if not impraciicaljlo, to form a connection botveen the railway and the water level of Lake Winnipeg, for freighting purposes, while the bunks of the river at and for some distance below this point aie so high and close together that sailing vessels could not work their way up to it fiom the lake; and, in addition, the current here is very swift In view of the fact that the conveyance of freight by way of Hud.sons Bay is now a subject of serious consideration, such a connection becomes a very important fact The land in this locality in all in private hands. At Selkirk, a bridn^, although somewhat longer than at the last named point, would not require such high piers. By the construction of permanent trestle-work, across the valley on the east side of the river, all danger of obstructing the free flow of water during floods would be avoided, while the trestle-work would be completely protected from the action of iue by the natural conformation of tiie ground, and the fact, as stated by all who were questioned on the subject, that, by the time the ice reaches this point, it is very rottea and broken up into pieces of small size. ouid the ling the who ^ery tl The low ground, above referred to, and the conformation of the river would afford an admirable site nnd fivcllities for the construction of a larg? extent of wharf aocommo' dation, which could be reached from the railway level at small expense ; while the lower banks, wider and straighter valley, and slight current of the rive;- admit of sailing vessels as well as steamers easily reaching this point. This is domonstrHted by the fast of their constantly doing ho, bringing in lumber from the lake and unloading it at the village of Selkirk, which has sprung up on the west bank since the line was located, here. The land on the east side of the river is held by the Government, and has been now, for some years, surveyed and laid out as a town plot, for which it is admirably suited, and from the sale of lots in it, if a bridge across the river were built, sufficient a-id more than BiifTicient funds could bo realized in time to pay for the expense of building the bridge there. I remain, dear Sir, Yours truly, JAMES H. ROWAN. P.S. — Borings at various points of the river, including Selkirk, have demonstrated that a good f undation for a bridge can be obtained at any of the places indicated, at a moderate distance below the bottom of the river. J. xl. R.