IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 4. y ^ «:/. "^'A 1.0 1.1 11.25 If 1^ 2.5 — 6" i.8 U IIIIII.6 V] <9^ 7: ^ci^l •^3 /f A.'"^ -i'' ,^* ^ "V "^.V' "> o / M Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 m^^ iV iV :\ \ ^**>■> v*;v^ V.T**v'' v^^'-ww^f«»^.^v^^'■^'^-^^y■'■■ "■^••''■•^'**^* i« ,* 5,1 E ■^ (D J??: >■ s < arif'.^i: ,,!-«., ^^ H Mka^fee ^h k^m ■& ,T^, i' t N., *'.^^. t - * - * 1 ^ -, — — «..«« -Tjl y^y>i\ ^ ■■• W^: '' '•■'» ' ^ »■*- :^..-'-r/ \ 7- - ^^ i ■_.'?:#' , 1 ^^ - ■ 7 ■■•• -^^ — :/«*i>,i£ if ..''-, I A>.- -tJ- ~_, >... T (1 4---^ -\- r-^* --.-l-;Al i h i ;m *v A r fj U/esterpCapada -^>*<- MHNITOBK, HSSINIBOIK, KLBERTK HND SKSKKTCHEWHN \ ji -L I- How to Get There. How to Select Lands. How to Begin. How to Make Money. ? 12 MESTERN CHNHDH IS COmPOSED OF -I' MKNITOBK -?- Assiniboia, AlbePta and Saskatcheuian. THE COUNTRY TO SETTLE IN. THOSE who doubted, and those who wished the public to disbelieve the reports concerning the fertility of the Canadian Northwest have ceased to be heard ; the first have been converted into warm advocates of the country's merits, the others are silent for very shame s ake, an d because no one will now believe them. .^ "]W] USSft^'- ' The superior quality of the wheat and other cereals grown upon these lands and the greater yield per acre, when compared with any other por- tions of the continent, is now universally acknowledged, and, while the crops obtained are greater, the amount of labo** required to produce them owing to the nature of the soil is less than in any other country. The climate and natural pasturage are both highly favorable to stock-raising, and as a result no finer cattle are to-day shipped across the Atlantic to the English market, than those which have matured upon the plains of Manitoba and the North-West territories. It is no longer a question whether it is a good thing to go to the Cana- dian North-West, but simply in what part of that great country it will be best to make a home. The following pages if carefully read will impart a sutflciently accurate knowledge of the vast territory that is comprised in the words Western Canada. The reader will learn what the general features of the several divisions arc, which localities are preferable for grain raising, for mixed farming, and for ranching. He will learn from this book where to seek that kind of land he thinks the best, which are the chief towns, markets, etc., for each division, and will find general information concerning the beet way of getting to the west, and full particulars of government and railway lands regalations, with other information bearing on the subject of settling in Western Canada. HOW TO REACH THE WEST. COLONISTS liaving arrived in Canada at Quebec or Montreal in summer or Halifax in winter, travel to new homes in Ontario, Manitoba, the North-West, or British Columbia by the Canadian Pacific Railway in colonist sleeping cars which are taken upon the same fast train with the first-class cars. These cars are convertible into sleeping cars at night, having upper and lower berths constructed on the same principle as those of the first-class sleeping cars, and equally as comfort- able as to ventilation, etc. They are taken througli, without change, all the way from Montreal to Manitoba. No other railway can do this. No extra ■charge is made for the sleeping accommodation. Second-ciass passengers, liowover, must provide their own bedding. If they do not bring it with them, a complete outfit of mattrass, pillow, blanket and curtains will be supplied by the agent of the Company at f he point of starting, at a cost of 5r2.50— ten shillings. The curtains may be hung around a berth, turn- ing it into a little private room. In addition to this, men travelling alone are cut off from families by a partition across the car near the mid- dle ; and smoking is not permitted in that part of the car where the women and children are. The train stops at stations where meals are served in refreshment rooms, and where hot coffee and tea, and well-cooked food may be bought at very reasonable prices. The cars are not allowed to become over-crowded, and the safety and welfare of passengers are carefully at- tended to. Kvery possible care is taken that the coloni.^t does not go astray, lose his property or f^uffer imposition. Where a large number of colonists are going to the west together, special fast trains of colonist sleeping cars are dispatched. No other railway in America offers such good accommodation to colon- ist passengers, as does the Canadian Pacific. The train is met upon its arrival at Winnipeg or before reaching that city, by the agents of the Government and of the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Company, who give colonists all the assistance and advice they re- quire in regard to their new home. In cases where they have already fixed upon some locality for settle- ment, wliere friends are awaiting them, they are shown how to proceed directly to that point. If they have not decided upon such a locality, but intend to seek a home somewhere furtlier west, every information can be obtained at the Land Office in Winnipeg. Most men wish to examine for themselves the section which seems to them most suitable, and this is strongly recommended in every case. They are assisted in doing this by officials appointed by the Government for the purpose MeanW'hile, the family and baggage can remain at the Government immigrant house in safety and comfort. Providing themselves with food in the city markets, they can cook their own meals upon the stoves in the house ; and, with the bedding which has served them during their journey, ihey can sleep in comfort in the bunk bedsteads with which the rooms are fitted. Should they prefer, however, to stop at an hotel, they will find in Winnipeg public houses of all grades, where the total cost for each person varies from $1 (4s.) toSH (12s.) a day, according to circumstances. It sometimes happens that the intending settler has not much more than sufficient money to carry him as far as Winnii^eg. In that case he will be anxious to begin immediately to earn some money. The Dominion an 1 Provincial Governments have each an agency in Winnipeg whose brsiness it is to be informed where labour is needed. Societies repre- o M S q" O 5s 6 senting almost all the nationalities of Europe have been formed in Win- nipeg, and will welcome and see to the welfare of their respective countrymen. The arrival of a party of settlers is always announced in advance, so that contractors who are employing men in building, railway construc- tion, or in some other work in the city of Winnipeg or neighbourhood, may take as many of the newcomers as choose to go to work with them. Farmers are generally on the lookout for able men and pay good wages. The average wages paid are $20 (£5) per month and board. The girls of a family can always find employment in Winnipeg and other towns, in domestic service, in hotels, shops, factories and establishments, employ- ing female labour. Good wages are paid to capable girls, and little time is lost in getting a situaition. CAPITAL REQUIRED. THE question " How much is necessary ?" is a difficult one to an- swer. It depends upon circumstances. Very many men have gone into the North-West without any capital and have prospered. A little capital, however, makes the start easier and saves valuable time. Some statements of what can be done upon a certain capital, say 500 dollars (£100) or 1,000 dollars (£200) or 3,000 dollars (£600) may, nevertheless be advantageous. This information has been given by many writers, in tables of vari- ous kinds and for various localities ; but all amount to about the same conclusion, namely : — The 500 dollars (£100) will set a man down upon some western quar- ter-section, (160 acres) obtained as a free homestead or one chosen among the cheaper lands belonging to the Railway Company, and enable him to build a house and stay there until his farm becomes productive and self- supporting. In this connection a practical farmer of some years residence in Manitoba speaks as follows : " Land can be purchased cheaply here, or it can be had for nothing by homesteading. A single man can start on an outlay of $385, made up as follows : One yoke of oxen and harness, $115; plow, harrow, etc., $40; stove and kitchen furnishings, $40 ; bedding, etc., $20; lumber, doors, windows, etc., for log house, $50; provisions, $90; seed, $30. A farmer with a family of five would have to lay out $240 more, bringing his outlay up to $625. A farmer can come in about the middle of March, select his land and build his shanty ; he can commence to plough about the fifth of April ; he can break ten acres and put it under crop on the sod ; he can continue breaking for two months after he puts the ten acres under crop, and can break thirty acres, and backset the forty acres in the fall ready for crop in the spring. He can raise enough on the ten acres to give him a start; he can cut hay enough for his oxen and a cow in July, and it will cost him about $60 additional to seed the fortj acres in the spring. Suppose he puts in 30 acres of wheat, and raises only 25 bushels to the acre, at 80 cents per bushel, it will be worth $600 ; say 5 acres of oats at 40 bushels per acre at 35 cents per bushel, $70 ; say 1 acre of potatoes, 200 bushels at 40 cents, $80; 3 acres of barley, 40 bushels per acre, worth 40 cents, $48 ; and 1 acre of garden stuflf at $120 ; total $918 After deducting expenses of harvesting and the whole original out- lay the farmer will still have something to the good to start with next year." It must not be forgotten, however, that hundreds have arrived in Winnipeg without any money, and by first woricing on wages have pros- pered and become substantial farmers- These remarks are addressed to wohking colonists, not to young men of expensive habits, or others who expect to find situations as clerks, bookkeepers, etc., in the cities and towns. Very few opportunities pre- sent themselvea for employment of the kind referred to. SYSTEM OF SURVEY. THE Provinces of the North- West have now been accurately surveyed by the Dominion Government, and parcelled out into square and uniform lots on the following plan : — The land is divided into " town- ships" six miles square. Each township contains thirty-six "sections" of 640 acres, or one square mile each section, and these are again sub- divided into quarter-sections of 160 acres. A road allowance, one chain wide, is provided for between each section running north and south, and between every alternate section east and west. The following is the plan of a township :'— TOWNSHIP DIAGRAM Eiic'h section contains 640 acres ; each quarter section contains 160 acres. N. 6 Miles Squark. 1 SI C.P.R. Gov. 1 33" c.N.\\;. or C.PR. 34 Gov. _l 1 27 C.P.R. 1 1 35 C.lMt. 36 Gov. 1 30 Gov. 1 1 '29 28 ■ Gov," 26 1 25 C.N.W or C.P.R Schools 1 < ,1 C.P.R. 1 l C.N.W. or C.P.R. 22 ^ Gov. 1 1 23 C.P.R. Gov, Of 02 Gc )V. W. ^ 1 18 I 1 7 16 Gov. 1 C.P.R. U 13 C.N. . ^ C.P.K. 1 Gov. or C.P.R. \ C.P.R. 1 1 H.B. 1 9 N.W. or C.P.R. 10 Gov. I 11 12 Uov. 1 Schools Gov. i i Gcv. 1 1 3 C.P.K. 2 Gov. 1 C.N.W C.P.R. 1 or C.P.R. E. S. Open for Homkstbad, (that is, for free settlement). — Section Nos. 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36. Canadian Pacific Railway Sections- — Section Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19,21,23,25,27,31, 33,35. Section Nos. 1, 9, 13, 21, 25, S3, along the main line, V/innipeg to Moose Jaw, can be purchased from Canada North- West Land Company. School Sections. — Section Nos. 11, 29, are reserved by Government solely for school purposes. Hudson Bay Company's Sections. — Section Nos. 8 and 26. 8 HOMESTEAD REGULATIONS. All even-numbered seotions of Dominion Lands in Manitoba or the Nortli-West Territories, excepting 8 and 26, which have not been home- steaded, reserved to provide wood lots for settlers, or other purposes, may be homesteaded by any person who is the sole liead of a family, or any male over eighteen years of age, to the extent of one quartsr-section of 160 acres, more or less. ENTRY. Entry may be made personally at the local land office in which the land to be taken is situate, or if the homesteader desires he may, on application to the Minister of the Interior, Ottawa, or the Commissioner of Dominion Lands, Winnipeg, receive authority for some one to make the entry for him. A fee of $10 is charged for an ordinary homestead entry ; but for lands which have been occupied an additional fee of $10 is chargeable to meet inspection and cancellation expenses. HOMESTEAD DUTIES. Under the present law homestead duties miy be performed in three ways, and on making application for entry the settler must declare under which of the following conditions he elects to hold his land : — 1. Three year's cultivation and residen je, during which period the settler may not be absent for more than six months in any one year without forfeiting the entry. 2. Residence for two years and nine months anywhere within two miles of the homestead quarter-section, and afterwards actual residence in a habitable house upon the homestead for three months at any time prior to application for patent. Under this system 10 acres must be broken the first year after entry ; 15 additional in the second, and 15 in the third year; 10 acres to be in crop the second year, and 25 acres the third year. 3. The 5 years' system under which a settler may reside anywhere for the first two years, (but must perfeci his entry by commencing cultivation within six months after the date thereof) breaking 5 acres the first year, cropping these 5 acres and breaking 10 acres additional the second year and also building a habitable house before the end of the second year. The settler must commence actual residence on the homestead at the expiration of two years from date of entry, and there- after reside upon and cultivate his homestead for at least six monthg in each of the three next succeeding years. APPLICATION FOR PATENT may be made before the local agent, or any homestead inspector. Before making application for patent the settler must give six months' notice in writing to the Commissioner of Dominion Lands of his intention to do so. When, for convenience of the settler, application for patent is made before a homestead inspector, a fee of $5 is chargeable. A SECOND HOMESTEAD may be taken by anyone who on the second day of June, 1889, had received a homestead patent or a certificate of recommendation counter- 9 signed by the Commissioner of Dominion Lands uiK)n applir-ation for patent made by liim, or who nad earned titlt tc his first liomestead on. or prior to, that date. ' INFORMATION. Newly arrived immijjrants will receive at any Dominion Lands Office in Manitoba or the North-Weat Territories information as to tlie lands that are open for entry, and from the officers in charjre, free of expense aflvice and assistance in securing' lands to suit them ; and full information respecting the land, timber, coal and mineral laws, and copies of these Kegulatioiis, as well as those respecting Dominion Lands in the Railway Belt in British Columbia, may be obtained upon application to the Sec- retary of the Department of the Interior, Ottawa; the Commissioner of Dominion Lands, Winnipeg, Manitoba; or to any of the Dominion Lands Agents in Manitoba or the North-West Territories. For disposal of the public lands by free-grant, or sale, the Dominion has established the following agencies, at which all the business in rela- tion to lands within the district of each must be transacted :— DOMINION LANDS OFFICES, {Figures are Inclusive). Manitoba. WinnipegandDufTerin Districts Combined.— Includes all surveyed townships, Nos. 1 to 25 north ; ranges— all east of Ist meridian, and langes 1 to 8 west ; also townships 1 to 4. ranges 9 to 14, and townships 5 to 7, ranges 9 to 12 west. Agent. "Winnipeg. Souris District.— Township 5, ranges 13 to 18, townships 6 and 7 ranges 13 to 2nd meridian, townships 8 to 12, ranges 9 to 2nd meridian Agent, Brandon. Turtle Mountain District.— Townships 1 to 4, ranges 15 to 2nd meri- dian, township 5, ranges 19 to 2nd meridian. Agent, Deloraine, Little Saskatchewan District— Townships north of and including 13 ranges 9 to 22 west. Agent, Minnedosa. Eirtle District.— To\Vnships north of and inc'uding 13, ranges 23 to 2nd meridian. Agent, Birtle. ASSINIBOIA. -Townships 1 to 9, ranges 1 to 30 west 2nd meridian. Coteau District- Agent, Estevan. Qu'Appelle District— Townships 10 to 23, ranges 1 to 30 west 2nd meridian. Agent, Regina. Touchwood District— Townships 24 to 31, ranges 1 to 30 west 2nd meridian, townships 32 to 36, range 1 west 2nd meridian to range 6 west 3rd meridian, townships 37 ai'd 38, 2nd meridian, to range 5 west 3rd meridian. Agent, Saltcoats. Swift Current District— Townships 1 to 30, ranges 1 to 3) west 3rd meridian, township 31, ranges 1 to 6 west 3rd meridian. All business transacted at Regina. 2 10 Alberta. Calgary District. — Townships 13 to 18, range 24 west 4th toB. C.,and township 19 to 30, range 1 west 4th ; townships 31 to 42, range 8 west 4th meridian to B. C. Agent, Calgary. A suh-agent is located at Red Deer Station, who receives entries for lands in that district. Edmonton District. — Township north and including 43, range 8 west 4th to B. C. Agent, Edmonton. Battleford District. — Townships 31 to 36, range 7 west 3rd meridian to 7 west 4th meridian ; townships 37 to 38, range 6 west 3rd meridian to range 7 west 4th meridian ; township 34 northwards, range 11 west 3rd meridian to 7 west 4th meridian. Agent, Battleford. Prince Albert District. — Township 39 northwards, range 13 west 2nd meridian to 10 west 3rd meridian. Agent, Prince Albert. Lethbridge District. — Townships 1 to 18, ranges 1 to 24 west 4ih meridian, and townships 1 to 12 between westerly limit of range 24 and boundary B. C. Agent, Letlibridge, N. W. T. From time to time the boundaries of the difierent agencies are liable to alteration as the progress of settlement renders atlvisable. In every case, however, ample notice is given to the public of any changes made in the land districts, and in the case of colonists newly arriving in Manitoba they can obtain the fullest possible information in regard to all land matters by inquiring at the office of the Commissioner of Dominion Lands iu Winnipeg. At the offices in the districts, detailed maps will be found, showing the exact homestead lands vacant. The agents are always ready to give every assistance and information in their power. For the convenience of applicants, information as to prices and terms of pur- chase of Railway lands may be obtained from all station agents along the Company's main line and branches. In no case is an agent entitled to receive money in payment for lands. All payments must be remitted directly to the Land Commissioner at Winnipeg fe. i.-.v ':. ^■ff^«>*' t;«^*s«ft>ci*;:?Ti^:«<« On the Bow Kivbr— Alberta. 11 RAILWAY Land REGULATIONS. rpHf: Canadian Paoiflc Railway Lands consiat of the odd nunibored -L sections along the Main Line and Branches, and in the Saskatc^lie- wan, Battle and Rod Deer River Districts. Tlu^ IJailwav Lands are for sale at the various Agencies of the Company in the Uhited Kin«dotn. Mstern Canada and tho North- West Territories, at the followintr prices : — ^ PRICES. Lands in the Province of Manitoba average $3 to $G an acre (I2s. to£L4). ^*"S i" ?,^ Province of Assiniboia, oast of the 3rd Meridian, average l?o to $4 an acre. LandF Wesi of the 3rd Meridian, including most of the valuable lands in tlie Calgary District, $3 per acre. Lands in the Saskatchewan, Battle and Red Deer River Districts, r. ])er acre. For the convenience of investors the following maps, showin<' in detail the lands and price, have been prepared and will be sent free to ao- plicanta : ^ ^ Central Manitoba. ^ Western Manitoba. ^ Soutliern Manitoba. ^ Coal Fields and Oxbow. ^ Between 2nd and 3rd Meridian. J, Cypress Hills District. ^ Calgary District. " The Saskatchewan Valley. r ^P^^ ^*"^^ ^^°^'" o" ^^P*^ ^' 1^' G}, H, are sold at the uniform price of $3 an acre. '^ TERMS OF PAYMENT. If paid in full at time of purchase, a Deed of conveyance will be given ; but the purchaser may pay one-tenth in cash, and the balance in payments spread over nine years, with interest at six per cent, per annum, payable at the end of the year with each instalment. GENERAL CONDITIONS. All sales are subject to the follomng general conditions : 1. All improvements placed upon land purchased to be maintained thereon until final payment has been made. 2. All taxes and assessments lawfully imposed upon the land or im- provements to be paid by the purchaser. 3. The Company reserves from sale, under the regulations, all miner- al and coal lands ; and lands containing timber in quantities, stone, slate and marble quarries, lands with water-power thereon, and tracts for town sites and railway purposes. 12 4. Mineral, coal and timber lands and (luurries, and lands con- trolling wutor-power, will be disposed of on very moderate terms to persons nivini; satisfactory evidence of their intention and ability to utilize the same. Liberal rates for settlers and their elTects will be granted by the Com- pany over its Railway. L. A. HAMILTON, Land Commissioner, C. P. Ry, Co., Winnipeg. MHNITOBK. MANITOBA, one of the seven Provinces of the Dominion of Canada, contains 11(),021 square milles, equal to about 74,000,000 acres. It is the eastermost portion of the great prairie country of Canada and extends about 300 miles from East to West, and the Southern boundary is determined by the 49° parallel of latitude, the boundary line between Canada and the United States. It will be observed that Manitoba lies further south than England. The general feature of the country is that of a broad rolling prairie, relieved at intervals, by gently rising hills, and numerous bluffs and lakelets. For purposes of description it may be divided into the Red River and Assiniboine River Valleys, and Southern Manitoba. RED RIVER AND AESINIBOINE VALLEYS. The Valleys of the Red and the Assiniboine Rivers are noted throughout the American Continent for their fertility. In them is raised the highest grade of wheat, that which fetches the best price in all mar- kets, and a greater average yield of hard wheat than is produced in any other country. Oats and barley, grow in equal profusion, roots gener- ally grow to the largest attainable size and have carried off prize after prize at agricultural exhibitions, and the native grasses of Manitoba are equalled by those of few places in the world, and excelled by none. It is a healthy country for stock of all kinds, and mixed farming, as dis- tinguished from wheat growing, is found to be the most paying method. The Red River and Assiniboine Valleys are served by the main line and branches of the Canadian Pacific, the Manitoba and Northwestern and other railways. Grain is marketed at every station, and at most of them there is a grain elevator for storing wheat, and at many of them a flour mill. Few stations are without an adjoining town or village where churches of various denominations have been established, where the pub- lic school is open free to all, and where the several stores supply all the requisites of an ordinary household or farm. In these two main valleys are, for the present purpose, included those of smaller streams falling in- to the two rivers and the lakes north of the Canadian Pacific Railway. There is now very little free land left in the best agricultural sections of Manitoba, but there is some excellent grazing country intermixed with farming land in the neighbourhood of Manitoba, Winnipeg and Shoal Lakes, and a large quantity of railway land for sale at prices ranging from three dollars (about 128) to five dollars (£1). The country is much diversified, some parts being open prairie, and others well wooded and watered, having the appearance of English parks. \ '\ • il.n' ( /'•I i':\ m> ''WM^m » ''V^'wi'"'' V ii hill '} ' I ' -I, u SOUTHERN MANITOBA. This diblrict is iKuietrnted by four branches of tlio C7unuiliaii PatMfic Kailway, ho that at no point is the fariiu^r remote from niari<»»t8. Exnept- injr the wooded liiils and liollows of the phiteau called the I'enibina Mountain, tlironj^h which the r(«ui)iina Hivt^r Iuih cut a ravine, which the railway crosHCH, and some other limited HpotH, the wliol(» of this vast ro^;ion is undulating prairie. There aro n)any Htroamw, and in th(^ south- ern part neve ral larj^e lakes; one of which, Pelican, is the largest of a chain of half-a-dozen or more strung tojrether. This lake is thirteen miles lontr, and bordered by steep and lofty cliffs, well wood(ul, and the resort of deer and jraine birds. Tlie lake contains li.'ih and is a resort of large ijuantities of wild fowl. In many spots, dry durinj? all the summer niontiis, moisture enough gathers to promote a plentiful growth of forage, BO that the sowing of hay or otlier fodder is never thought of. Two tons of this wild hay per acre is not an utmsual amount to cut. There are numerous towns untl villages interspersed through tliis nart of Manitoba with the accompanying grain elevators, mills, schools, churches, etc. Most of the free laiHl in Southern Manitoba, tlosirabie for wheat raising has been taken up, but there is a large acreage of the best land still ofmn for purchase at from tbrcic to six dollars, and some tracts (jf free land suit- able for grazing. Improved land can l)e bought near the railway at $5 to $15 ( £1 to £ii) i)er acre. The soil is rich atul deep, and water is reached at a moderate depth. New coalraincjs on the Souris branch have recent- ly been opened and settlers in Southern Manitoba will be supplied witli coal at a cost not exceeding $4 (Ids) {)er ton. CITIES AND TOWNS OF MANITOBA. WINNIPEG, at tlio junction of the Red River and the Assiniboine, is the capital of Manitoba and the diief distributing city of the wholo North- West of Canada. It is situated about midway between Montreal, the Atlantic Ocean summer terminus, and Vancouver the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway on the Pacific The American Land and Title Eegister says of it : — " It is the great mart of a country of nearly 2,000,000,000 acres of rich territory ; the seat of government of the keystone province of the Domin- ion of Canada ; the centre of the political, social, literary, monetary and manufacturing world of the Dominion of the Canadian West, with its suburb, St. Boniface, the fountain head of the educational institutions of not only Manitoba, but the whole North-West. Its positive pre-eminence is yearly becoming more pronounced and commanding. Twenty years ago a small isolated settlement, then a struggling village, then a town ; when, on the advent of the first railway, it rose, within a few years, to the proud position of one of the leading trade centres of the continent. Ten railways, branching like spokes in a M^heel in all directions, gather the wealth of an inland empire to empty it at her feet The navigation of the Red River, Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba, the great Saskatchewan and other navigable streams, make tributary to its thousands of miles of important coast line. Seventy- five per cent, of the wheat land of North America is directly tributary to it, while untold wealth of iron, coal, salt, petroleum, gold, silver, lumber, fish, timber, furs, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., go to swell resources and backing more vast and varied than are possessed by any other city in the world. To-day no other city in America is attracting so much the attention 1ft of capitalists, and lui other city can otl'ur huoIi intluceni -nt8 to inseston. The most conipotent judges prontmnco ilH n-al estate the cheapest on the continent, while we look in vain elsewhore i tr a city of such natural nd- vantaKcfl or such a hri^ht and da/zlin^ future." The population of VVinnij)eu \h about L'y.OOO. The next in importances are l'orta).'o La I'rairie and Hkandon, both on the Assinihoine, the one 5() and the othor i;!!! niiies by rail went of \Vinni- pej?. ThoHo are bri)j;ht and prot^rewsive towns, oaih bcinj; a centre for a considerable area of farnuiiK country, and a railway junction \mnt. Killarney, Morris, Doloraine and others incluir been seriously impeded by it. As this snow is perfectly dry, a person never has wet feet or soaked clothing by it. Men travel with teams everywhere, taking their j?rain to market, hauling fuel, building and fencing material, and doing all their work. Stock will live out of doors, so far as the cold is concerned, but require to be fed vvith hay. They should, however, be housed at night. Every one unites in testifying to the healthfulness of the country. Ploughing is generally in the early part of A|)ril, though much of the land is usually ploughed in the preceding autumn. The snow disappears rapidly and the ground dries quickly. Winter closes promptly and decisively. Sowing is done during almost the whole of April, and is finished early in May. SETTLERS' TESTIMONY. The following are a few extracts from a great number of latters received, speaking of Western Canada and the several writers' experiences in it: Wblland, Man., Oct. 2, 1892. I am a native of Kincardinshire, Scotland, and earned my living there by working on a farm, and the wages were so small I was hardly able to earn a bare living for myself and family, and having ambition to better my condition I made up my mind to go to Manitoba. I left Glasgow on June 2nd, 1888, and went to Carberry, in Manitoba. I worked on a farm the first year, and earned three hundred dollars. I went to Well* ood. 16 tweU'e miles north of Carberry, where water and wood were handy and the soil good, and bouglit a farm of 160 acres, I paid $100 down and the balance in annual instalments. I paid $150 for two oxen and a cow, tavinp $50 to keep house till the crops grew. All the farming Imple.- ments I needed were willingly lent to me by kind neighbors. I have now a good stock of farming implements of my own. I liave also three good horses and twelve goofi cattle, besides a good stock of poultry and pigs, all of which are paid for. I have never had a failure in crops, nor '. ave T suffered damage from any cause. There are a few farmers in this country who have not been very successful. There are always people in every country who are unsuc- cessful — some for the want of economy and others who are too lazy to work,— but my experience is that any man who works hard and attends to his business can soon make a good, comfortable home. There are still homesteads to be got in some parts of the f^nuntry, but land can be bought from the C.P.R. or from private parties on so easy terms that in most cases it is cheaper to buy land in a good and well- settled district. I can, with confidence, recommend Manitoba to those who intend to farm. It has good soil, it has good schools, it has a good self- governmeiit and good cliurches. Although the winters are cold they are clear and dry. I find them far more agreeable and healthier than that of the Old Country. To the young man I would say : Go to Manitaba, where work is plentiful and wages good, and to those who wish to make a free and independent living, if you are able and willing to work, go to Manitoba. 1 am, (Signed) Alex. R. Langmuir. Hensall Farm, Oct. 29th, 1892. Dear Sir, — I came to this province from the province of Ontario in in the spring of 1884, and during the last eight and a half years I find that my family and myself have enjoyed the bast of health ; our chil- dren have had the benefit of school privileges equal to those of the older province of Ontario, and we are better financially than we were there. We have not hitherto done much in the way of stock-raising, ours being especially an arable farm. We are now, however, going into mixed farming, believing it \o be a more satisfactory system. During the past nine seasons our wheat has averaged 27 bushels per acre and oats 53. We have always kept from twenty-five to forty hogs, and have found them to pay well. I think it is desirable for a settler to. have about $3,000 (£600) to make a satisfactory start in this country. Of course, more would be better, but if he is possessed of a good constitution, energy , per- severance and common sense he will succeed. I would advise any young man who is not an experienced farmer to engage for a year or two, at moderate wages, with a thoroughly practical farmer, and make up his mind to take hold of everything as it comes, and thus learn not only the principles but also the practice of farming. Yours truly, (Signed) James Elder, Hensall Farm, Virdtn, Man., Canada. P.S. — Whilst I say $3,000 to make a satisfactory start, of course a man can get along with a good deal less, but would have drawbacks to contend with. 18 In a letter to the Hon. Mr. Gnienway, Minister of Aorriculture for the Province of Manitoba, Mr. II. C tjiiupaon, a farmer in the vicinity of Virden, says : " I will give the results of a venture I made in jxrowintj wheat, which I think you will agree was very succpssful. I bought a quarter section of land, sandy soil, Heven miles from Virden, during the spring of 1889, and broke and backset 120 acres of it. It is very smooth and level, so it was as easy to break as ploughing ordinary stubble. I sowed it with Eureka wheat, and started cutting on the 7th of August last year. I threshed 2,1)75 bushels off it. I have sold it now at 95 cents per bushel, which comes to $2,25G (£451. 4s) I paid $8.50 (Hs) per acre for the land, or say $5(50 (£112) ; my ex|)enses, including seeding, tliroshing, etc., amounted to $485 ; so that I have the land for nothing, and a net profit of $1,200. These Agures. are correct, becatise I have taken great care to keep an accurate account of my expenses.'' Brandon SSun: "As an instance of what can be done by pluck and perseverance, together with careful Tnanagement, the case ire of tlie grain fields is tile evenness of surface sliowing the soil to be of uniform strength. There are fields of hundreds of acres, in wh'"li the grain all stands about the same height. 1 was informed that ther. was no midge, weavel, rust or blight of any kind to injure tlie grain." GOVERNMENT CHOP REPORT. The Dejiartment of Agriculture in the IVIanitoba Government jinl)- lishes annual reports showing the acreage undor cultivation in the )'»-o- vince, and the liarvest yielded. These reports show the following figures : — AvKRAGB Yield. 1890. 1891. 18!)-J. Bush. Bush. Bush. Wheat 20.1 2o.3 2i'.7 Oats 41.3 48.3 43. U) Barley 32.1 35.(5 32.1'J Potatoes 235.0 180.4 Produce of — Wheat 14,665,799 23,191,595 Peas 23.00 Oats 9,5i:'.,433 14,7(i2 (i05 Barley 2,0()1),415 3,179,879 Flax 17.00 Put atoes 2,540,820 2,291,982 HSSINIBOIK EASTERN ASSINIBOIA. The District of Assiniboia lies between the Province of IManitoba and tlie District of Alberta, and extends north from tlie International bound- ary to the 52nd parallel of latitude, and contains an area of thirty-four million acres. It is divided into two great areas, Eastern Assiniltoia and Western Assiniboia. Each of these divisions has its own peculiar characteristics ; the eastern portion being essentially a wheat-growing country, and the western better fitted for mixed farming and ranching. In Eastern Assiniboia the great plain lying south of the Qu'Appelle river and stretching south to the International boundary, is considered to have the largest acreage of wheat land, possessing a uniform chara(!ter of soil, found in any one tract of fertile prairie land in the North- West. The eastern part of the District is known as the Park Country of the Canadian North-West. At Regina is the junction of the Prince Albert branch with 3H the main line of the C. P. K. This branch ninning north-west through the Qu'Ai>f)elle District afTords a lar^'e choice of land for mixed farming. The Qii'Appelle District containH a large tract of excellent farmiu" conntry, watered l)y the Qu'ApiHjlk* Uivor and the Hslung lakes, a cliain of six lakes, in all about twenty miles long with an avonige breadth of a little over a mile. The land is rolling prairie dotted with blnll"-', the soil is lilack loam and clay subsoil. The waier of the lakes and river is excellent and stocked with tish. It is a counrrv renowned for wild fowl and other game, of which settlers obtain an abundant supplv for the table- As in -Manitoba, there are (umvenient markets for grain and farm produce at the railway stations, with schools, churciies and stores at the several towns and settlements. AVESTPJRN ASSTNIBOIA. This division of Assiniboia, extending to Kininvie, about forty miles west, of Medicine Hat, a town on the south brancli of the ISaskat'chewan river, is at present more occupi(Ml l)y rancuers raising cattle and sheep than by farmers. It is everywhere thickly covered with a good growth of nutritions grasses (the grass is usually the short, crisp varietv, known as "Bufl'aloe (irass)," which becomes to all apiHjarancedry about inidsummor but IS still green and growing at the roots, and forms excellent pasture both m winter and summer. A heavy g'-owth of grass suitable for hav IS found in many of the river bottoms and surroundini; the numerous lakes and sloughs, i'rofessor Maconn, in his exploration of these hills, found that the grasses of the I'iatean were of the real pasturage species, and produced abundance pf leaves, and were so tall that for miles at a time he had great dithcnlty in forcing his wav through them. Although their seeils were all ripe, August Mth tiieir" leaves were tjnito green. ^It IS amazing the rapidity with which poor emaciated animals brought from the Last get sleek and fsit on the bnfJaloe grass of the plains. The supply of timber on the hills is consises and fuel, and in attending to cattle and doing work which cannot be undertaken during busy seasons of spring or summer. STOCK-RAISING. RANCHING, Etc. The country is well adapted for stock-raising on a moderate scale, such as would be suitable for mixed farming. Cattle must be fed, and should be sheltered three months to four months every winter. For bands of from 300 to 500 it is unsurpassed. Horses winter out well, and can, therefore, be kept in large hands. Sheep require the same care as cattle, and are better in small flocks. DAIRY FARMING. Etc. Any portion of this district will answer all the requirements for dairy farming. In and on the slopes of the Eagle Hills or south of the Saskat- chewan would be most suitable, owing to the luxuriance of the grass and prevalence of springs. North of the Saskatchewan there is abundance of grass in m;\ny places, particularly in the vicinity of .lackflsh and I'urtle Mountain. Pure water in abundance everywhere. Nights are cool. Home demand has always exceeded the supply, so that dairy products have had to be imported. Fuel consists of wood, which can be had in abundance in all parts of the districts, except in the extreme south. AN ENGLISHMAN'S VIEWS. Prince Albert, N.W.T., Nov. 8, 1891. Dear Sir, — In compliance with your request for mv opinion of this country generally and the district of Prince Albert in particular, I arrived here from England about four months ago, and since then have made several trips hither and thither for the purpose of seeing the country pre- paratory to taking up a homestead. I have never seen any country so admirably adapted to the requirements of settlers who wish to " live by 29 the lainl," and espociiilly for tlioso wlio aro dpHirnns of onjmtriag in mixed fanning or cattin hroediii^. 'I'iio country l)«)tw»(eii tiio rivt^rs, with its I)ru8(|n(» uiKhilutioiis, iiiimeroiis lal<»'n and pictnres |iio hlnlFH, the l)road slojies of tho liirch IMIIh. and beyond tiie Carrot Kiver, whnro the wide prairio is stnddi'd with tinilmr hoitx and interHected by rippling' brooks, Hoern lo cry aloud for tho gettier. All am trood ; wood, water and hay are in abundance. The nxceedin;; fertility of tho riili, dark soil is evidenced by tlie luxuriant L'rowth of the wild pea vine, natural Krasnos and otlu^r l)eef-producinj; herbajre, while jrarden vei^i^tables of nearly every descrijjtion can be brought to perfection. The climate, in my o|)inion, \n without exception the mf)st enjoyable I have ever met with. During' the hottest days of Hunitner the heat is less oppressive than in Euro{M\ while the nij.'bt8 are cool and pleiisant. Of the winter I cannot yet speak from exi^rience, but no one seems to complain ..• tl'e low tem- perature, and some ap{)ear actually to consider winter tlit nio^t pleasur- able season of the year. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, S. H. SCKOGGS. TESTIMONY FROM UNITHD STATES F'ARMERS. r>elepates from the State of Vermont visited Western Canada with the view of reporting upon the country for their friends in the Ea.stern States. The followinji; are extracts from the several reports : " I will only say that I saw the best wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, cattle and land that I have ever seen. 1 think it is the place for a poor man."— S. C. Pollard, Emx. Vt. " The best wheat, oats, potatoes and barley I have seen are at Prince Albert and Stony Creek."— Azra Rinnfy, Jericho, Vt. " It is the best place for a poor man to make a home for his chil- dren."— W. A, Pollard, WeMford, Vt. " I can most heartily recommend it to anyone who wants a cheap home with a jiood living: and money laid up for the future."— ylr//tr/r Ellis. "The soil is wonderfully rich, producing: a variety of luxuriant grasses that make the finest hay in the v/orld. There is no place in America where a maii can create a comfortable home in so short a time, and my advice to every young and middle-aged man is not to allow this land to be taken or given to railways without making a selection first, as no doubt these fine farming lands that are given' by tho Canadian Government to those who wish to become settlers will be very soon taken and made 'homes plenty.' "—yl. /'. Goff, Rich/ord, Vt.. "I consider the country well adapted for mixed farming, and the pioneers have little to contend with in making a home for themselves and families compared to what the old pioneers of the New England States had.-^. J. Wilder, Sheldon, Vt. " I should say that the country would make a fine home for a young or middle-aged man. The lands are so very low in price or free to homestead that those who go there with the intention of getting a home in earnest must succeed."— 3/. W. Rounds, Enosburgh Falls, Vt.. " After thorough inspection of the country between Prince Albert and Stony Creek District, I think it one of the finest countries for stock raising I ever saw, also grain raising, and am convinced that any indus- trious man can make a comfortable home inside of three years."— jf. S. Ransom, Jericho, Vt. All the other delegates made similar reports. .'-3?^ffT??*r «»'•,••*• 30 A party of Delegates from the State of Maine, reporting upon Western Canada as a field for soltlemout, say : — " Wo started out to inspect the Carrot River and Stony Creek districts, and \ve believe that this is without doubt one of the finest, if not the tinest, country on the continent of America, as all the recjuisites for successful farming are found here in great abundance and of a very fine cla>^s ; the water is first-class, and there is just enough timber for building pur{)rses and fuel, without it being in tho way for farming operations. We spent four days looking over this country and stopjx>(l one night at Mr. Myers' place. We saw 1 is cattle, and would not believe our own eyes when he informed us that they luid not had a roof over their heads all winter, and had been fed on the hay made from natural grass of the prairie ; the cattle were all in first-class condition, and most uf them even fat. Everything l)ore evidence to prosperity Jn this country. Mr. Myers grew .'5.3 bushels of No. 1 hard to tlie acre, and oats weighing 45 lbs. per bushel, with HO bushels to the acre, and barley with a yield of GO bushels an acre- We ihen visited the Stony Creek district, and had a look at Mr. Campbell's farm there. lie raised 432 bushels of oats on 4', acres, weighing 42 pounds per bushel, and as fine a lot of oats as was ever grown. " We noticed that the prices paid for farm produce were such that, with reasonable care and good management, a poor farmer in tho Canadian Northwest ought to become independent in a few years. The climate is a very agreeable one, and although it certainly is cold here in the winter time, still anybody does not seem to feel it as muc'i as in the eastern coun- tries, it being extremely dry. During the most severe storm of the season we drove all day, the ilriver without gloves of any kind, and not even an overcoat on, while some of our party were very thinly dressed an \ had no cover for our hands wliatever, and we cannot say that we suffered from the cold very much. "In conclusion we wish to state that the best evidence wo can give of our entire satisfaction with tlie country is this : that as soon as we possibly can wo are going to sell out our property in the State of Maine and move to the great Canadian Northwest, where we intend to take up land and make our future home, and our advice to every man, woman and child in the State of Maine particularly, and the United States gen- erally, is : 'Go and do likewise.' "A. H. Price, North Fryeling, Maine; C. uIurphy, Maine, F, A. KtssELL, Andover, Maine ; E. Murphy, Maine" A delegate from the State of Michigan, reporting to the farmers in his State, says : "I was very much pleased with the appearance of the Prince Al- bert District. The country in the immediate vicinity is admirably adapted for stock raising. It is hilly and contains numerous small lakes and marshes, where the hay grows from two to three feet long. The hills, too, are covered with a.very luxuriant growth of grass, pea vine, etc. There is an abundance of timber, (spruce, oak and poplar), for fencing and firewood. About fifty miles from Prince Albert, along the Stony Creek and Carrot Kiver, there is a locality unsurpassed in the Territorities for mixed farming. Homesteads (Free) can be had in this locality, or land can be purchased for $2.50 an acre." " People enjoy to live in a country where there is some good scenery. Along this line, though the surface of the country is gently undulating, yet in some places it is sufficiently broken to become delightfully pictur- < X c X a X . iTf-wS-***^!**™''"**'^***-' 32 esque. For a short distance we ran through a very beautiful valley, and frequently we got glimses of delectable plains. Many of the villages that are springing up along the line are very pleasantly situated, either in Bome secluded dell or on a sheltered hillside." Yours very truly, (Signed) A. Knkchtel, (One of the delegates from Michigan.) KLBERTK. The most westerly of fhe several divisions of the Northwest Terri- tories, which extends from the western limits of Assiniboia to the eastern limits of British Columbia, within the range of the Rocky Mountains, is divided into Northern Alberta and Southern Alberta. They are unlike in essential particulars and are therefore occupied by difl'erent classes of settlers. NORTHERN ALBERTA. This division of the territory contains a large extent r! I'; ;ui g land unexcelled for grain and root crops and vegetables by any on the con- tinent of America. Live stock of all kinds is raised extensively, includ- ing horses of all grades, from heavy draught to Indian poniefi, horned cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry, including turkeys. Native horses do well without stabling all the year round, but good stock of whatever kind requires good treatment to bring it to its best, when it is most profitable. There is a varied and nutritive pasture during a long season in summer; there is an abundant supply of hay procurable for winter feeding, and an abundant and universally distributed water supply. There are few summer or winter storms. Building timber is easily procured. The winter climate is less severe than that of the districts along the Saskatch- ewan further east on account of the chinook winds. As a consequence, a better class of cattle can be raised more cheaply and with less danger of loss in this district than in some other parts. The advantages which tell so heavily in favor of the district for cattle raising tell as heavy in lavor of dairying. There is a large flow of rich milk for a lone season, and the quality of the butter made here is unsurpassed. The Macleod and Edmonton Railway, operated by the Canadiii;,; Pacific Railway Company, passes through the two divisions from Mac- leod in the south to Edmonton in the north, affording market facilities at a number of convenient points along the whole distance. There is a flourishing town called Edmonton on the north bank of the Saskatchewan in the vicinity of the old Hudson's Bay Company's post, of the same name, and a new town called South Edmonton at the terminus of the railway on the south bank. Land of the very best quality is found on both sides of 'he river, as well as in the neighborhood of the railway stations, for over a hundred miles south of it. Coal is mined in the banks of the Saskatchewan, and on the bars of the river a small but paying quantity of gold is taken out during the summer months. So pood IS the reputation that this section of the country enjoys that settlement was made at a number of points before the railway was complete and in 1882, when the road was in full operation, a more regular stream of 34 settlement began. There is, however, such ample room for choice of locations that thousands can find room for selection in the free sections. This, however, will not continue to be the case for many years. SOUTHERN ALBERTA. To-day Southern Alberta stands unequalled among the cattle coun- tries of the world ; and the unknown land of a few years ago is now looked to as one of the greatest future supply depots of the British markets. Great herds of range cattle roam at will over these seemingly boundless pastures. With proper management the profits to stockmen are large, as can be readily imagined when it is shown that $42.00 per head was naicl for steers on the ranges this year, animals that cost their owners only the interest on the original investment incurred in stocking tlie ranche, and tlieir share in tlie cost of the annual round ups. Year- linsrs are now being sent into this country all the way from Ontario to fatten on the nutritious grasses of these western plains, and it is reckoned that after paying cost of calf and freight for 2,000 miles, the profit will be greater tlian if these cattle had been fattened by stall feeding in Ontario. There is now on the ranges of Alberta hundreds of herds of fat cattle, which at any season are neither fed nor sheltered ; cattle too, which in point of breeding, size and general condition; are equal, if not superior, to any range cattle in the world. Shorthorns, Herefords and Angus bulls have been imported at great expense; but the interest on the outlay is both satisfactory and encouraging, and the young cattle of the Alberta ranges would compare favourably with the barnyard cattle of Great Britain. The local market annually consumes from eighteen to twenty thousand beeves, with a growing demand, while the great market of the world is within easy access. Tiie number shipped for England is annually increasing. TOWNS. The chief towns of Alberta are Calgary, Edmonton, Macleod and Lethbridge. Calgary is a bright and busy town of about 4,500 population. It is situated at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, about sixty miles east of the Rocky Mountains. It is the centre of the ranching dis- tricts of Alberta, and tuppHes many of the smaller mining towns to the West. It is built principally of white stone, and is the junction of the Macleod and Calgary branch with the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It is an important station of the Mounted Police, and in a variety of ways does a large and increasing business. It has several excellent hotels, several churches and schools and first-class stores. Edmonton, on the north bank of the Saskatchewan, is the present market town for the farmers, traders, miners, etc., on the north side of the Saskatchewan, and is a prosperous and well laid-out town. South Edmonton, on the south bank of the Saskatchewan, and the present terminus of the Macleod and Edmonton Railway, is another ri.«ing centre, where good hotel accommodation, stores, etc, are estab- lished. Macleod, on the Old Man River, at the present southern terminus of the Macleod and Edmonton Railway, is the chief centre of business for ISM 35 that section of country. There is also a villajre with liotels, stores, etc.^ at Pinchers' Creek, about tliirty miles west of Macleod. LETHimiDCB, the terminus of tlie Alberta Railway and Coal Co. from Dunmoro, on the line of the C P. R., situated about thirty miles east of Macleod, is a progressive town doing a good bu.sine.ss. .CLIMATE. The climate of Northern Alberta is much like that of Manitoba, though not so cold in winter, and the winter is shorter. The Chinook wind reaches the Edmonton country to some extent and tempers the climate. No one finds fault with the winter, and no crops liave ever been touched with frost in that district. It is a mistake to suppose that snow is regarded with dislike by settlers, except in the great ranch- ing districts. There is, however, a good deal of complaint on those rare occasions when the snow-fall was very light ; and the new-comer should not be anxious on the score of that which older hands all regard as a benefit, facilitating as it does many operations for which there is hardly time in the summer. In Southern Alberta the conditions are difl'erent. The action of the Chinook winds is more direct and stronger than in the north, with the result that the snow-fall in much ligiiter and does not remain on the ground for any length of time. The country is mainly composed of extensive rolling j)rairii- covered with the most nutritious grass, which, being self-cured in the fall of the year, aiibrds food for cattle and horses during the winter. This endless supply of fodder, coupled with the comparative mildness of the climate, makes Southern Alberta a most valuable grazing country, and has led to the establishment of the ranches already mentioned. THE COST OF STARTING A RANCHE. For the benefit of intending settlers an account of the cost of starting a ranclie is herewith given : Take as example a jjerson t)ringing in a band of 500 head of good grade two-year old heifers, at say $25 (t;)); also -0 bulls at $50 (£10). In the first place, he must locate a suitable site for buildings, etc., in the vicinity of good water ; a running stream is, of course, preferable. Then pomes the erection of lii.s buildings— a log house, which will cost al}out $150 (£30) ; a horse stable to accommo- date eight horses, §50 (£10) ; a shed 100x20 feet for weak cows and calves during winter, say $75 (£15), and a pole corral for branding calves, etc., about $15 (£o). These buildings will be suthciont for the first year, and can be added to as his band incr^-ases. Next comes the purchasing of say fifteen saddle horses at about $60 (£12) per head ; one team of work horses at $250 (£50) ; mower and rake. $125 (£25), and a wagon and harness, $125 (£25). This will be the principal outlay ; in addition there are the smaller tools, furniture, provisions, etc. HOW TO OBTAIN A RANCHE. If it is the intention to embark in the business of raising cattle horses or sheep on a large scale, an extent of ground equal to the rancher's requirements can be obtained under lease from the Dominion Government on the following easy terras : 36 Settlers can obtain leases of public lands not exceeding four sections (2,650 acres) in the vicinity of the settler's residence. The lease shall be for a period not exceeding twenty-one years. The lessee sliall pay an annual rental of two cents an acre. The lessee shall within three years place one head of cattle for every twenty acres of land covered by his lease at least one-t) ird of tlie number of cattle stipulated for.shall be placed on; the range within each of the three years from the date of the order-in- council granting the lease. Whether he be a lessee or not, no person shall be allowed to place sheep upon lands in Manitoba and the North- west without permission from the Minister of the Interior. Leases of grazing lands to other than settlers, or in larger quantities than that specified above, are granted only after public competition. Full particu- lars can be obtained on application to the Minister of the Interior, Ottawa.. Maps showing the lands now under lease can be seen at the Land Commissioner's Office in Winnipeg. Maps can be secured there free of cost, showing the lands open for sale intlie ranching districts and their prices. HORSE RAISING. As a horse breeding country. Alberta will be to Canada what Ken- tucky is to the United States. A country where the horse attains the very height of perfection. Its high altitude, its invigorating and dry atmosphere, short winters, with luxuriant grasses and plentiful supply of purest water, combine to make it eminently adapted for breeding horses. Although the industry is still very young, the Alberta horse has become noted for endurance, lung power, and freedom from hereditary or other diseases. There are at present in Alberta several grades of horses, varying in point of quality from the hardy Indian pony (Cayuse) to the beautiful, well formed thoroughbred. "Thoroughbreds from Great Britain and Kentucky, Clydesdales Irom Scotland, Percherons from France, and trotting stock from the United States, have been imported at great expense, and the result is that the young horse of Alberta will compare with any in Canada. Capitalists coming to this country and wishing to engage in this busineso, will find millions of acres of unoccupied meadow lands, possess- ing every attraction and advantage, from which to choose a location. During the last five years many thousand cattle, sheep and horses have been raised in thesourthtrn half of Alberta on the rich grasses without any feeding or shelter other than the shelter found along the hillsidee or in clumps of trees. The cattle and sheep when taken off the pasture are fat and fit for any butcher's shop in the world, and the horses are rolling fat. SHEEP. Alberta to-day offers what the Australian colonies had to ofier thirty years ago ; millions of acres of rich grass lands, well watered and adapted in every respect for first-class mutton and fine wool, where cold rains and dust storms, so injurious to the fleeces, are almost unknown. It also has a railwav running through the centre of the grazing lands and PQ < 6 a u K O M :-}8 markets for mutton and wool within easy reacli. The clear, dry l)racini? air of the country suits sheep, which suffer from little or no disease. Sheep mature early owing to the fnie <|uality of the grass. To winter them safely, good warm roomy slieds, plenty of hay, (10 tons to the 100 head) and attention is all that is wanted. TESTIMONY OF SETTLERS. Cau;.\ry, L'Oth January 1892. My brother and I came from Peterboro' Ont., and settled in Alberta 20 miles south-east of Calgary, inSeptmnber 1883— we had only sutlicient to bring us here— since which time we have been engaged in almost exclusive grain raising, having no means to invest in stock until lately. In 1884 ',ve had no crop, except for potatoes ; in 1885 we sowed 4 acres and raised 2;')0 bushels; in 1886 we sowed 15 acres, and raised 1,000 bushels of oats; in 1887 we sowed 30 acres, weighing 42 wheat; in 1891 we sowed 110 acres, and raised 3,900 bushels of wheat. Each year our wheat would grade No. 1 hard, and yielded per acre from 40 to 55 busliels. We have had better success in raising wheat than any other crop. Barley and oats have always done well with us. We have never had a failure in grain-raising. Shikld Brothers. I came from Port Hope and settled on Sheep Creek, in Alberta 20th July, 1883. When I landed, all I had was S70. I paid $32 to have four acres broken. This I .sowed in 1884, and threshed 225 bushels of wheat, part of my crop being spoiled. n 1885 1 sowed 14 acres ; threshed 500 bushels. 1885 do 10 do do . 1,500 do 1887 do 28 do do 1,800 do 1888 do 40 do do 2,000 do 1H89 do 45 do do 2,800 do 1890 do 100 do do 2,000 do (drought). 1891 do 200 do do 7,065 bushels. . T own 900 acres of land, all of which is fenced. 1 own 76 head of cattle and 14 horses, 1 binder, 2 mowers, and implements needed for cultivation of my land, and work 5 teams. I estimate the value of my estate as follows — : 960 acres fenced at $10 $9,600 00 76 cattle 2,000 00 14 horses 2,000 00 Implements 1,000 00 $14,600 00 27th January, 1892. (Signed) Joseph Prick. 89 TESTIMONY OF XTNITP:D STATES SETTLERS. Bath, South Dakota, Oct. 2()th, 1891. I left Aberdeen for the purpose of examining the agricultural re- sources of the Canadian Northwest. We reached Winiiipetr, a splendid city, where the af^ricultural exhibition was then going on. Here we saw the products of the country from Calgary to the lied River. Tlie display of grain, roots and stock was enough to gladden the heart of any farmer. The horned stock was the best I ever saw in any (country. From Win- nipeg I went west to Qu'Appelle, and I wish to say that for wheat grow- ing that valley is hard to beat. We pushed west to C^algary, a splendid growing town, to the Red Deer, where v,e stopped two days looking over the country. We pronounce this a first-class stock country. We went to Edmonton over the country for 20 miles around, where every farmer told us they were more than satisfied with the country and their success; good soil, plentv of timber, first-class coal right on the surface, hay and grass in abundance, stock of all kinds rolling fat. At all the points mentioned there is plenty of free homestead land. Any person 18 years old can file on a quarter section. I tell mv friends that I found the country much better than the agents at Aberdeen described it to me. That farmers desiring homes cannot do better than settle in the Canadian Northwest for tho above and other reasons too numerous to mention. B. C. TALBOT. Nov. 23, 1891. Dear Sir,— Having been delegated by a number of my neighboring farmers in jNIichigan to inspect the western territories of Canada, I left Michigan late in August last, arriving in Edmonton on September 11th. From that time I remained in the Edmonton district to acquaint myself as thoroughly as might be with the different localities until the 18th inst. During these two months I travelleil a good deal in every direction from Edmonton, and speaking generally of that district I may say that for the purposes of mixed farming it has no superior and few equals under the sun. The sample of grain is first-class, and the ^'ioid far exceeding the farmer's own expectations. Wheat went 4U to 50 bushels to the acre, averaging about 45 ; barley 45 to 50, and oats 80 to 100 bushels per acre, while vegetables and roots showed a still more remarkable growth. I saw a farmer dig up 100 bushels of potatoes a day N:vith his manure fork, and so did each of his attendants, and Isaw many a cabba,~c -'''f^iehing 15 to 20 pounds. The soil is rich to an extraordin- ary degree, as the above mentioned products amply verify. Water is plentiful and of fir-jt class quality, small lakes iieing found in many places, as well as running streams. Timber is plentiful for farm use and build- ing, besides a never failing supply of good coal, which a farmer can take from the banks of the Saskatchewan and load his wagon free of charge. All these pro[>erlies combined make the district all that can be desired for mixed farming. In conclusion, I may add that as soon as circum- stances allow I shall return to the Edmonton district and settle. H. Paige, Of Spencer Creek, Antrim County, Michigan, U. S. A. 40 Fort Saskatciikwan, Deo. 7th, 1891. L. A. IL .ILTON, Esq., Land Commlmoner, C.I'.R., Winniiteg, Man. Dear Sir, — I arrived here on tlie 18th of April, and found the spring well udvanceil, and grain that was in early was up and looking firu^. I rented land, ])ni in L'o acres of oats and 12 acres of barley, and one of potatoes, threshed 21(1 sacks of out«, weighed some of the sacks, and they weighed from 100 to 110 ll)s. Had GOO buHhels barloy and 500 bushels potatoes. I consider that I had a good crop all round. I have been threshing all fall and hav(* seen some better and some not so good. I feel sure that we can raise as good wheat as any place in America ; as for oats and barley we are away ahead ; potatoes, cabljage, turnips, onions, beans, peas, rhubarb are beyond descri{)tion. No man would believe it till he sees it. 1 have seen some fine fields of timothy. Have seen the fattest cattle here I ever saw. Sheep do well, and there is lots of money in hogs, as we can grow barley and not half try, and there is a good market north for more pork than will ever be raised here. The growth of grass is i-omething wonderful on the high land ; it was three leet high, mixed with pea-vine. Better pasture a man could not ask for. Any person wishing for more particulars can write me at Fort Saskatchewan. I will answer all questions so far as my experience will carry me- I remain, yours truly, John McLbllan, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Formerly of Rollette Co., N. Dakota, U.S.A. ■'^r/Mm'm- "', ^:,^A«*- • '■"■■■■ '' ^-^Yf^f fr^)i THE HIGHWAY f 1 PACIFIC COAST Th