ra li^ovitlcEoFyaeDee Edited for the Quebec «Jiake SjJohi\l^ — =:4 • hy ' 5 4^ .A.BUIES iS9i TliES LAKE SAINT JOHN EBG-IOIsr, THE gra:naky OF THK PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. A. QTJIDE FOR SETTLERS. "--.T^ Edited for the Quebec and Lake Saint John Railway Company BY V* 1891. ^^^^^ 290170 *- w f^ 4 IT" "*% \. #v THE LAKE ST. JOHN EEGION. I. This r(>gion, of which the following pai?es give ca rapid but complete sketch, is one of the most celebrated in the Province of Quebec. It is celebrated by its traditions, its legends, its geological formation, which is still a problem, itsincompara])le fertility, and iinally its natural picturesque- ness and grandeur. It covers a spat^e of about fourteen million square acres in round numbers, between 49" and 50° north latitude and 70<> and 74« west longitude. Its population which, according to the census of 1881, was 24,293 souls, is now, in all probability, 40,000. The colonization of the basin of Lake St. John commenced only about 1851-52. At that time C'hicoutimi and Grande Baie, which are now such important centres of the 8ague- nay country, were still in their infancy ; and in the interior, beyond these two embryo parishes, ascending the Haguenay as far as Lake St. John, there was nothing but the virgin forest, and not even the outline of a township. At the present time the number of townships laid out, and more or less settled in the basin of the Lake, properly so called, is not less than thirty, the most fertile of which, to the east and west of the Lake, may well be called the " Granary of the Province." n. Lake St. John which the Indians call " Pikouagami," {Jlai lake) drains the immense valley which bears its name and is the reservoir of several large rivers. Its distance from Quebec in a straight line is about 140 miles ; from Chicou- timi 60 miles and from Tadousac 120 miles. Its greatest length l)otvveon the mouth >(' Belle-Riviero and that ofthe Mistassini is 28 mih^s, and its greatest ])readth has been calculated at 2") miles. An exact measurement ffives it a circumference of 85 miles. The lake is not deep ; the greatest averagi^ not exceeding 80 feet. At one spot near the centre, the depth has l)een ascertained to be 22') feet, as stated in an ofFicial report of Mr. Joseph Ivosa, engineer, dated the 14th January, 1885. In the Spring the waters rise from 15 to 24 feet alxne their ordinary level, and 3 or 4 feet only during the high winds in the Autumn. All around Lake St. John there is an extensive system of water communication which is, of course, of the g-reatest advantage to colonization, and which will one day ofler great commercial facilities to the valley, although the rivers constituting the system are, over the greater part of their course, navigable only for light draught vessels. The principal rivers are : on the south the Metabetchouan and the Ouiatchouan ; on the east Belle-Riviere, on the west the Chamouchouan, on the north-west the Ticouapee and Mistassini ; on the north and north-east the Great and the Little I'eribonca. The Peribonca is navigable for ordinary sized steamers up to a point thirty miles from its moutL. It is a very long- river. It is stated that one has to go four hundred miles before reaching its source, and this without finding the slightest trace of any habitation or even of man having passed there. The Mistassini is navigable for a length of twenty miles, the Chamouchouan for fifteen and th^ Ticouapee for twice the latter distance. *"^ On the river Ouiatchouan at about a mile from where it flows into Lake St. John, are the lamous falls of the same name, w^hich are at least 230 feet high, and can be seen, as OUIATCHOUAN FAHS. ■1 ■ * ■» » ••' ^■-•. .^ if it were exactly opposite, from every point on the north shore of the Lake. All these rivers drain lands of the greatest fertility. The sub-soil consists nearly everywhere of calcareous rock on which rest layers of clay, which are sometimes several hun- dreds of feet in thickness. The superficial deposits mixed with this clay consist of alluvial sands, of humus and vegetable detritus, which constitute a very rich arable soil, especially to the west and north of the lake. Of course there are exceptions, less fertile spots ; but the description just given applies generally to the whole country. Moreover, this fertility is established, a priori, by the very nature of the forests of this region, the principal trees of which are elm, ash, black birch, maple, red and white spruce, pine, cedar, hemlock and even bass-wood. III. A long time ago it was stated that the valley of Lake St. John would one day be the granary of the Province of Quebec. The fact is that it alone is sufficiently large to constitute a province of itself, and in any case it is destined to become, before long, a vast field for the supply of the capital, and one towards which the most earnest and active colonization movements will be directed. Colonization, w^hich increases unceasingly, is encircling the whole lake. For many years already it has extended rapidly towards the west in the townships of Normandin and Albanel. It is now extending northwards, and the valleys of the Mistas- sini and Peribonca will soon reveal all their fertility. This is because the Lake St. John region possesses exceptional advantages as regards soil and climate, which render it pro- ductive to an eminent degree. Mr. Bouchette stated, fifty years ago, that the climate of Lake St. John was as mild as, and even milder than that of Montreal. While at Chicoutimi, onions, potatoes and cab- bages froije on the 20rd September, 1832, they were uu- touched by frost at Lake St. John n\) to tho l'2th October. Melons even can be grown on the shores of the hike and the nights are not so cold as in other sections oi' the coun- try. These statements with reference to the climate are sup- ported by the official observations of the Meteorological Office which will be found on pages 46 and 47 of this pam- phlet. They prove that the summer temperature of the Lake St, John district is really the same as at Quebec, and warmer than at Rimouski, Dalhousie, N. B., Port Arthur, Ont., and Winnipeg, while the snow fall is one-half that of Montreal. They show also that the climate, in the fall, is remarkably mild, the average of the highest tempera- ture at Roberval from the loth September to the 8th Octo- ber, 1890, being tvvo degrees warmer than at Montreal. The following is an extract from Mr. Ballantyne's report to the Goverment in 1857: — Mr. Ballantyne said that his experience of seven years during which he had explored the various townships com- posing a portion of that line territory, had led him to view matters in such a clear light that it was impossible for him not to make the whole truth known. He could safely say, * without fear of denial, that he knew of no place in this province where there was a territory of such extent otfering such great advantages in every respect as the portions of those townships which he had surveyed. He addv'^d that the climate also was Aery favorable to agriculiure. He had observed that many persons were sur- prised when told that the climute of Lake St. John rivalled that of Montreal, and yet it was perfectly true. An impor- tant fact he had noticed was that the north-east winds which were so damp and moist on the shores of the St. Lawrence lost most of their moisture before reaching Lake St. .Tohn and there became like the south-west winds on the banks of the river. The fruit trees in the garden at Metabetchouan post on the shore of the lake prove the mildness of the climate. One has but to glance at the forests of gigantic cedars, of red and white pine, spruce and birch, to be con- vinced of the excellence of the climate and the nourishing character of tho soil. Lake St. John is thus described by a gentleman who visit- ed it recently : — " It is a magnificent sheet of water, abound- ing in lish, such as the (Juananiche (land-locked salmon) wnMghing from 5 to 14 pounds, and said by sportsmen to be equal in every respect to the ordinary Salmon, Pike, Dore, and other smaller kinds of fish. " Only on a very fine day cari the other side of the lake be seen ; at all other times it conveys the impression of an in- land sea. Following up the west shore of the lake, the scenery is very line. A distant blue point, hardly visible at first, gradually resolves itself into a long coast line, dotted with farms, villages and churches, reminding one of the St. Lawrence below Montreal. The eye never tires of the beautiful landscape : on one side fields of wheat, rising gradually from the border of the lake ; on the other the broad expanse of the lake." THE .SOIL Is almost universally composed of a rich grey clay. The land seems to be inexhaustible. At Pointe-aux-Trembles I was shown a field of wheat which had been producing that grain for the last 15 years, without the application of any manure ; and the grain I saw^ this year was as fine as any to be found in this district. Truly one is struck with won- der at the richness of the soil, for I believe there is none richer in Canada. The climate of the Lake St. John re<^ion is said to be that of Montreal ; there is no doubt of its being superior to that of Quebec. The snowfall is certainly less. In fact farmers complain that they do not get good sleigh roads till late in winter. On the 2r)th September this year, I remarked that the leaves of the trees were very little tinted, and potatoe stems were still green. Wheat and all grains ripen and produce abundantly, as may be seen from the following extracts, taken from the census returns : " ISfll. 1S71. 1881. Wheat, bushels... 10,912 13(5,099 154,589 Oais, " ... 89,:}16 117,249 211,216 Barley, " ... 30,922 71,210 47,025 Other grains 108,183 Potatoes, bushels. 101,382 150,996 287,238 Hay, tons 3,648 5,966 16,347 Butter, lbs 61,777 148,106 393,127 Head of live stock 18,746 44,772 59,795 Tobacco, lbs 67,4-37 Population 10,478 17,493 32,409 8 Potatoes, carrots and other veg(»tablos yield abundantly and of immonse size. Wheat is oi' course the great test ol' the soil and climate of an agricultural country. Let us then compare its production at Lake St. John with the bi^st districts of the Province, viz : the Eastern Townships, and we find that the census returns shew in 1881 : — Busliuls of Uusliels per Population. wheat. 1000 of pupulalloii. Chicoutimi 32,409 154,580 4,800 ' Compton 19,581 34,181 1,800 Stanstead 15,556 37,727 2,400 Huntingdon 15,495 24,378 1,600 See the result of Mr. Menard's experiment with Mani. toba wheat, page 45 of this pamphlet. We may also mention the statement of Mr. John Sullivan, surveyor, who in 1873, said that the barley and wheat at Lake St. John were the finest he had t^ver seen. The j)o- tatoe leaves wort; still green in the last week of October, which proves that the climate of the valley is favorable to the growth of cereals and garden plants. Barely two years ago, nearly all the farmers had more produce than they could consume, and of which they had great difficulty in dispo.sing owing to the want of sufficiently near markets. But now it is otherwise, thanks to the construction of the Lake St John Railway, which runs to Roberval on the shore of the lake, and will soon extend to the eastward and westward, and give the settlers all the outlets they require. This region is especially suited for raising cattle. The forage is so rich that the Lake St. John sheep are already celebrated for the excellent quality of their flesh, and this year several car-loads of these and of other cattle have been shipped. We may now without hesitation, insert a descri[)tive page which we extract from Mr. Buie's book, entitled : " Le Saguenay et la Vallie du Lac St. Jcan.'^ •' We at last stand on the shore of this miniature sea which has remained as legendary up to our dayt;, whose name still sounds strangely in some ears, and over which for a very long period hung the mysterious veil which covers •>^ a X H W B _i3 -a.-- - ^"^^ 9 the vast northern solitudes. Hardly thirty years ag-o, no one would have dared to believe that Lake St. John could be reached at all, it was so far away to the north. The sur- rounding country could but be the abode of fur-bearing animals, and the Indians alone were looked upon as likely to risk themselves in those gloomy haunts, protected by the Laurentian chain, and defended by a nature reputed inac- cessible against the inroads of man. This of course was a prejudice, but let us admit that there was some reason for this prejudice, which represented the whole of the Lake St. John region as being inaccessible both to colonization and to cultivation, for this region has an appearance which no other part of C^anada resembles. Observe the waves of this inland sea rising and falling on its bed of sand and allu- vium, like a huge crab extending its many long and numer- ous rivers in every direction, like so many tentacles all ready to seize upon the settlers and draw them towards the bosom of the monster! ' ■ " Before us lies that lake whose renown, replete with leg- endary lore, has already extended to many countries. Be- fore us lies that Lake St. John region which has since some years so greatly excited imagination, which has been so much spoken of, which is so little known and towards which tend so many and such ardent hopes. Before us lies that strange miniature sea with its fishy denizens as strange as itself; the wananish, which, for hours at a time, tries all the fisherman's skill, making leaps of several feet, jumping over a fall as easily as a stream, more active and vigorous although smaller, and faster than the salmon itself; the munie, which has the tail and colour of an e»?l, the form of a sea toad, and the head of a cod only a little flatter ; the alosaet, another singular fish, which comes no one knows whence, and whose progenitors must have made many crossings ; finally the pike, the monster pike, six or seven feet in length, which is very de- structive, constantly seeking its prey, and occasionally snatches at the feet of those who swim far out, wounding them severely There at last lies before us the dreamy miniature sea, in the bottom of its wide and fertile valley which attracts us and invites us to roam throughout it, to make sure of everything that has been promised in its name and to ascertain whether under such latitudes there really exists a privileged land, which may hereafter become one of the most populous centres of the northern portion o 10 the Provinco. Lot us go and reconnoitre the valley of the Lake and .iudge of what it reserves I'or future settlers from what has been done by the present ones in less than twenty years, v.hile we may observe that the greater part of the most fertile portions of the valley are not yet opened to colonization." A glance at Mr. G-. B. Du Tremblay's report (pages 18 and 20) of this pamphlet, and at that of Mr. P. H. ])umais (pages 25, 34 and 35) will show how true is the statement of Mr. Buies that the most fertile portions of the territory are not yet opened to colonization." IV. The region through which the Lake St. John Railway runs has entered upon an extraordinary era of development, thanks to the communications which have been opened, and to the enlightened initiative of the company. The main line from Quebec to Robeival is one hundred and ninety mill's long, and it has been decided to extend it eastward as far as Chicoutimi and St. Alphonse, that is to say to the head of ocean navigation on the Saguenay River. St. Al- phonse is a splendid harbour, which the largest transatlantic vessels can reach in perfect safety. It is projected to have a line of fast steamers running in connection with the rail- way, thus enabling tourists to contemplate, on land and water, the wonderful scenery of the Saguenay. V. In 1888, the quantity of saw logs cut along the line of the Lake St. John Railway was 210,000 ; last year it was 365,000. Formerly not a log was cut throughout the whole of this region. At the present time the Crown Lands De- partment derives a considerable revenue from this, which will continue to increase, and which is already sufficient to pay the interest on the greater portion of the subsidies voted to this railway by the Province. This year four new saw- mills will be built along the line, the largest of which has ^- 'V, -X- ... -I • 11 already been in operation at St. Raymond in the early part of the summer. In 1889 the railway conveyed 79,000 passeners, 104,000 tons of freight, 27,000 cords of fire-wood, 25,000,000 feet of sawn lumber and 24,000 tons of other merchandize. The various industries which supply this traffic and the lumber trade give employment to nearly 3,000 men, Steps have been taken this year to provide three times more accommodation in the large Roberval Hotel. Besides this, another hotel, nearly as large as the latter, has been put up at the Grand Discharge. The company intends to extend its operations to the west, east and north, so as to have an extensive net-work over the whole northern section of our Province. The western extension, starting from Riviere a Pierre, will cross the whole St. Maurice region, and, following the valley of the Upper Ottawa, will extend to the northern extremity of Lake Temiscamingue. The company intends to put a line of steamers on the St. Maurice, between La Tuque and the Piles, a distance of 70 miles, which will be of great benefit to the settlers who are already in the St. Maurice valley, and greatly increase the lumber trade in that region. In the valleys of the Upper Ottawa and its tributaries near- ly 4,000,000 pine logs are cut yearly, making the enormous quantity of 600,000,000 feet of lumber. When once the railway is built, most of this lumber would be sawn in mills, along the line, transported to Quebec, and thence shipped to European and South American ports. The country through which the new railway would run is not nearly so mountainous as is generally believed. It has been ascertained, amongst other things, that the St. Maurice at La Tuque is about on a level with Lorette. A considerable portion of this country, especially the Temis- camingue and Ottawa regions, are remarkably well suited for colonization. A glance at the map shows that the projected line con- 12 stitutes tho base ot a Wi 18 travellei'.s and greatly increase the traflic over the Lake St. John liciilvvay. One oi'the chief advantages would be that the granite quarries in the northern mountains might be worked on a large scale. There are simihxr quarrios in the State of Maine, which give employment, throughout the year, to over 1000 men. Another quarry of the same kind in Now Hampshire, has giving birth to a nourishing city. Large quantities are shipped to Chicago, Cincinnati and ail the \"Vestern American cities. We will now take up in detail the various townships which constitute the surveyed portion of the Lake St. John territory, and give extracts respecting them from the reports of the surveyors who have made official explorations. Township of Bourget. All this section of the township of Bourget, which I sub- divided, is deserving in the highest degree of the attention of your department. The soil is of superior quality, being composed chiefly of grey, black and yellow clay in the val- leys, and of yellow sandy loam on the heights, the whole well adapted to cultivation. This tract of hmd is sufficiently large to form a parish and one of the best situated on the upper Saguenay. (P. H. Dumais, 24th March, 1870.) In the part of Bourget, which I have just subdivided, the land is in every respect of the best quality, and the cli- mate leaves nothing to be desired, as the frosts, which were felt in June elsewhere, were not experienced here at all. Two hundred bushels of grain were sown this spring, and the harvest promises a good yield. A road opened by Government through this township would really be the salvation of the poor settlers desirous of locating there. (P. H. Dumais, 30th August, 1870. Towiisliiiis of €aroii and Ill<^.sy. The soil, throughout the fifth and sixth ranges of Caron, east of the centre line, is very favorable to the opening of new settlements, whilst on the west side of the same line, and in the same ranges, it is very broken and rocky ; the land, however, is of good quality and the timber splendid. 14 The land, to the easi, is broken near the centre line ; but the soil is excellent along the whole line. On the west side, the neighborhood of the range line is rocky ; but, at a little distance from it, the rocks disappear and the soil improves considerably near the Quebec road, where a good part of the lots are marked by small clearings commenced last fall. Timber of all kinds, such as is met in the other parts of the county of Chicoutimi, is found here of unusual size and height, especially in the valley of la Belle-Iviviere and along its tributaries. Mill sites are numerous, and timber suit- able lor l)uilding purposes is found everywhere, notwith- standing the lumbering operations of the Hrm of Price Bros. The mountains and rocks met with, and which will be always barren, monopoliz(^ about one quarter of the area subdivided ; but the timber with which they are covered will more than repay the settler for his trouble, if, profiting by the experience of past years, he exercises more prudence and discernment than others similarly situated have done, by consulting his future interests before destroying the forest forever. {P. H. Bmnais, 81st January, 1871.) Tonusliip oi C'liaiiioiicliouau. The soil in this part of the township is generally a yellow mould, with 8]iots of grey and black earth here and there. The surface is in great part even, with undulations of the same character as in the township of Roberval. There are no mountains, only a few rocky places. The rivers Iro- quois and a I'Ours, in wearing their beds down to the rock, have formed deep cuts such as are generally characteristic of the rivers of Lake St. John. There are several good water-powers and mill-sites on these rivers. I have the honor to inform you that a number of farmers have already visited this locality to select lots ; they are nearly iJl men who have arrived at Lake St. John since last year. Tht y propose to make clearings next spring. With th ? aid of roads, which fortunately may be very easily made, these settlers will form the nucleus of a nourish- ing parish in these townships. (P- J. C. Dumais, 4th February, 1880.) 15 Townships of CliaiiioiitiioKaii and Doiiioiiles. From the reports which, from time to time. I have had the honor of addressin;^ you, you probably have remnrked the great extent of arable soil in the townships of Ashuap- mouchouan and Demeules. As regards the quality of (lie soil, none can take precedence oi the valley of ihc river Ashuapmouchouan. As in all other parts of the b'atiuonay, clay predominates. In some places, this clay is overlaid with a layer of sand, three or four inches deep ; a precious element in many respects, especially lor the growth of wheat, which, in such lands, is never attacked by the lly. The most striking feature of the Ashuapmouchouan val- ley is that the land, though exceedingly well watered, is not broken by the deep ravines, steep rocks, &c., so common in other parts of the Saguenay. At least three good parishes can be formed in the townships of Ashuapmouchouan and Demeules, and I have no doubt that they will be, if the Government only seconds the exertions of the numerous settlers who intend taking that dinction. From inform- ation obtained from competent persons, as well as from a reconnaissance, which I made myself to the north-east of the river Ashuapmouchouan, I am inclined to believe that there is a considerable tract of good land in that direction. The best proof of the excellence of the climate is supplied by the success of the settlers actually established in the township of lioberval, adjoining the Indian reserve. The summer temperature is about the same as that of Quebec, with this difference, however, that north-east winds are little felt, and are almost as mild as those from the south-west. The cold in winter is very intense, a circumstance very probably due to the extensive tracts of burnt land situated to the north and north-west. The sole means to develop the resources of this important part of the Saguenay, is to open roads, firstly between Chi- coutimi and the north-western part of Lake 8t. John- and later on, if the undertaking be considered practicable, between the lake and one of the parishes of the county of Quebec. (P. A. Tremblay, 1st May, 1882.) Township of Demeules* The central part, however, wjiich includes about one- third of the surveyed area, is almost unfit for agricultural purposes, being stony and rocky. The first part, shown on the plan, is not what might be called hilly, though very irregular, with a growth of cy- press, red birch, wild-cherry and other stunted shrubs. At the best, it could only be classed as wood land. The second part, shown on tin' plan as a subdivision of the first is a burnt track of land, unfit for colonization and valueless, at least for the present. The north-east, north-west and south-east parts, being the two-thirds or remainder o" the area surveyed, are of a superior and rich clay soil, more especially the north-west portion which is also very level and without any obstruc- tion to colonization, besides being covered with a variety of timber. White spruce is abundant and can be converted into merchantable timber. Cypress is large and plentiful and can also be advantageously used. To sum up, the two-thirds of the land surveyed are of good quality and fit for colonization purposes, while the remainder is not. iG. B. (lu TremhJay, 12th October, 1885.) Coiiiity of Cliicoiitiiiii—Aliiia Island. The surface of the island is not perfectly level ; it is not without a few ups and down, but, nevertheless, I consider it a fine level tract, and apart from a few rocks met with along the rear line of the first range and the rear line of the lifth range, a plough would pass anywhere. The soil in general is a fine loam sometimes mixed with grey marl. In a few instances, the first stratum is vegetable mould, and a few inches below is found clay; the only swamp I met with lies between numbers two and five of the second range and extends for about ten chains to the north. The stratum of black mould on the surface is eight or nine inches in thickness. The timber is generally large and tall. On the north side, it consists of black and white birch, white and grey spruce, fir, brushwood of all descriptions, cedar, ash and alder ; on the south side, a mountain covered with ash is also met; white birch is not so often seen, but all other sorts are ; black spruce is scarce. {E. A. Duherger, 8th March, 1864.) Alma Island is one of the finest portions of the County of Chicoutimi. It is generally low and well wooded. The soil consists of rich loam mixed with clay. I am satis- 17 fied that there are not two hundred acres of worthless land in this island. With all these advantajires, it will be a long time before it is inhabited, owin^j to the difficulty of com- munications bv the Grand Discharge, especially when the waters are high, which is generally the case after two days of rain. On the north side of the Grrand Discharge the banks are steep and rocky from number one to number ten. The height of the banks varies from number 1 to number forty-nine. In some places the soil seems poor, but it be- comes better some distance north of the bank. Townships of Dalmas and Taillon. I have the honor to submit the following report touch- ing the lands surveyed by me to the north of Lake St. John, in the townships of Dalmas and Taillon. : — The ground surveyed covers a superficies of 39.952 acres and 8 perches, and is situated on the mean latitude of 48*^ 45' and 40* 45' longitude. I am happy to be able to inform you that this tract, to- gether with the surrounding region, is superior to all the arable land previously surveyed by me. I can state that, both in point of richness of soil and extent, it is a marvellous country, superior to all the rest of the Lake St. John dis- trict ; it is, perhaps, the most fertile and advantageous sec- tion of the whole Province, and from it the G-overnment may look for fine results in the development of coloniz- ation. It would be out of place to here enter into the details of the field book, relative to the quality of the soil, timber, topography, &c., because the surface is uniformly flat, the soil a strong loam, and growing all such large timber as is peculiar to a vegetable or alluvial soil. A small part, however, on the front of the township, as indicated on the plan, is of yellow mould. Here only, on this space of ground, grow cypress and red pine in abund- ance and to a large size. The other woods of which the forest is composed everywhere else, are white spruce, tara- arac, black spruce, white balsam, which grows in cold, wet land, and another species of balsam (Pinus Lamberiina) which attains enormous dimensions. White spruce is the commonest wood and frequently reaches 35 inches in di- ameter. There is a good deal of aspen and Canada poplar 2 i*i 18 in the neighborhood of the Little Peribonca, which is of fine dimensions. The hardwood bush is composed of enormous birches, white and red bouleau, ash, cherry, soft maple, black willow, &c. The large trees, of which the forest is composed, are remarkably opnn, but at their feet there is a vigorous growth of currant, gooseberry and other small bushes. Fortunately, in pleasant contrast with other parts of the iSaguenay, fire has not yet run through these fine forests. I never saw a better watered country. There is a multi- tude of brooks and small rivers liowing over strong clay and in very low beds, but their banks are not steep and they have no beaches. The falls of the large rivers are capable of furnishing extensive hydraulic powers. This fertile, picturesque and promising tract extends for about 45 miles to the north. I myself saw Lake St. John 14 miles distant from where 1 stood, and the immense plain extends without a break in all directions as far as the eye can reach. We can count upon having an area of some 600 square miles, to the north of Lake St. John, of perfectly level and fertile arable land, capable of forming fifty par- ishes. The climate is magnificent, the vast surface of Lake St. John playing an important role in modifying the temper- ature. Another cause which operates in favor of the tem- perature of this region, from the standpoint of the ripening of cereals, is the length of the days in summer. Such is the character of the climate and the fertility of the soil of this vast region of Lake St. John that it should become a great colonization centre, especially with the aid of the new railway and a steamboat performing a regular service on Lake St. John. {Geo.'B. du Tremblay, 25th October, 1887.) Mr. Du Tremblay's report is confirmed by the experience of Mr. B. A. Scott, who opened a farm on the Peribonca, in connection with his lumber business and who obtained last year the enormous yield of two hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes from less than an acre. J, ■«■ * « 19 Township of Delisle. The description of the country along the west line of the township does not vary much ; it is generally uneven. The soil is composed of fine clay with a marl sub-soil, the tim- ber consisting of fir, black and white birch, brushwood of all descriptions, including a mountain covered with ash, merchantable spruce, and white pine. {Geo. B. Du Tremblay, 12th October, 1885.) Township or DeQuen. The part of the township of DeQuen which I surveyed, in rear of the fourth range, between lake Bouchette and the Metabetchouan river, has a superficies of 35,879 acres. I am happy to inform you that this township of about 100 square miles is, as a whole, adapted to cultivation, wood- ed with fine timber, and saleable as farm lots. This township is watered by the river Metabetchouan, river Noire, the river a Prudent, the Noisy river (Qui mine du train), lake St. Paul, and by several splendid brooks. There are several mill sites on the Metabetchouan river. The lakes generally abound in fish. Their waters are pure and they occupy a total superficies of 917 acres, 3 rods and 38 perches. The squatters who have made some clearings in the fifteenth range, as well as the settlers on the banks of lake Bouchette, speak favorably of the climate. This tract, which is actually the most important of the entire valley of lake St. John, by reason of its position on the line of the railway, will before long be a centre of settle- ment on account of the railway. {Geo. B. Du Tremblap, 26th June, 1886.) The greater part of ranges eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen is generally composed of strong loam or other fertile vegetable soils. There are a few rocks in some places ; but there are no mountains or any other obstruc- tion. The ground is level or rolling. The forest fires which rage from season to season cause more destruction and do more damage to the Saguenay country than does the lumbering in 'Tustry. The frequency of these fires has also for injurious result to destroy the or- ganic matter in the soil. {Geo. B. Du Tremblay, 7th August, 1886.) 20 Townxhip of Ilolbeau. The banks of the river are everywhere low, and con- sist exclusively of stront^ loam. They are covered with spruce, fir, elm, ash, aspen, black and white birch, &c. Not a sinj^le rock is seen, and thi^ ground, which is flat and level, is of great value for agricultural purposes. The forest is splendid In the last mentioned part of my survey, I specially noticed a great quantity of spruce, suitable for logs; also some pine. I saw no mountains. The banks of the river Mistassini, geni^rally low except opposite the Grosse Isle, consist of strong loam. The finest forest covers both shores. I saw a great quantity of white pine on the right bank, and one spot, near the centre line, is literally covered with the same. The banks of the river are low and wholly of strong 1 am. There is not a single rock, so that, considering the fertility of the soil, this river may be said to traverse one of the finest regions in the world. The forest is fine and abundant and composed of elm, ash, Canadian aspen, poplar, currant-bushes, large black birch, white birch, &c. Altogether this is a very picturesque place, and farm lots are greatly in demand at the present time. {G. B. Du Tremblay, 2nd May, 1888.) To>ynsliii> of Duffcriii. The land opened up by the rear line is of good quality, generally level and the soil composed of a stiff clay covered here and there by yellow mould. It is also equally good in the 5th, 6th and 7th ranges, to the north-west of the central line. The growth of timber, both hard and soft, in these ranges, is from 25 to 30 years old. The old trunks of trees found in different places prove that all these lands were originally richly wooded in hard and soft timber of large dimensions, the same as on the lands traversed by the linep drawn on the opposite side of the central line, where the fires have not reached. Wild fruit trees are found everywhere, such as cherry, currant, wild grapes, pembina and mascouabina (mountain ash). Roads could be opened through all the ranges profit- ably. Throughout the whole course of my survey, I found the 21 land through which I have run lines to be excellent, being everywhere a good stiff mould, often overlaying a layer of rich yellow mould over day, and in some places a layer of coarse sand over clay. Everywhere the land is level and free from rocks. I consider this township to be superior to all the others in this territory, as regards soil and climate. The lands are covered with hard and soft wood of good growth, birch, elm, ash, poplar, spruce, fir and some pine, wherever the fire has not passed. As I have already stated, the climate of the township of Dufferin is finer than that of all the other townships neaf Lake St. John, frosts occurring later in the autumn. {Gideon Gagnon, 25th March and 17th July, 1879.) Township of Keiiotsaiiii. A large portion of the land which I surveyed in these two townships is fit for cultivation and advantageous for colon- ization, The soil is not generally composed of alluvium. It is rather a mixture of yellow and grey or black earth, often mixed with sand. Such land is sufficiently fertile, and its first preparation for cultivation is not costly, on which ac- count it is often sought for by settlers. There are, however, some fine alluvial lands on each side of the river Bedard, from the seventh to the tenth range inclusive. The river Dorval also runs in great part through a tine valley of clayey and marley soil, traversing some remarkably beauti- ful meadows covered with wuld hay. It is to be regretted that the fires which too often occur in the Saguenay region have destroyed a very large pro- portion of the timber which formerly enriched these landf). The birch, spruce and white pine w hich were so plentiful in this country are replaced by a new growth of white birch and poplar springing up among innumerable black- ened and desolate-looking trunks of the former growth. The Bedard and Dorval rivers with their tributaries havo fine mill sites. Several settlers have made here some small attempts at cultivation. Others have made more considerable improve- ments and sown grain. They appear satisfied with their success, and speak highly of the climate. (G. B. Du Tremblay, 26th June, 1881.) 22 Townships of illetabctclioiiaii and Charlevoix- The soil in the sixth and seventh ranges of the township it Metabetchouan is very suitable for cultivation, being a rich yellow^ loam, and covered with a fine growth of hard and soft woods. In the fifth range, although rocky in some places, the land is susceptible of cultivation. The residue of Charlevoix, comprising the seventh, sixth and fifth ranges, is equally fit for cultivation, being also a rich yellow earth, and very strong in difterent places, well timbered with hard and soft woods, and well drained, ex- cept along the river Ouiatchouan, in the fifth and fourth ranges, where the land is rocky for some distance From my own personal knowledge I can say' that the climate is as favorable lor agriculture here as on the lands around Lake St, John. The timber has been nearly all destroyed by fire along the river Ouiatchouan in the fourth and fifth ranges, over an area of ten to twelve arpents on each side of the river. It will be necessary to open a road along this river, from the settlements on St. John to the rear line of Charlevoix, and to continue it thence to Commissioners' lake, in order to colonize the lands in the townships of Charlevoix and Dablon and around the last named lake. The road which w^as opened last summer in Metabet- chouan allowed the new^ settlers to make considerable clear- ings in the sixth and seventh ranges, in which nearly all the lots will be sown next spring. It should, therefore, be continued as soon as possible across the township of DeQuen to Commissioners' lake in order to open this township to colonization. {G6d6on Gagnon, 13th April, 1880.) Township of Normandin. In order to comply exactly with the instructions which I had the honor of receiving, I went without delay to the principal outline of the township of Parent at its intersec- tion with the river Tikouapee, on lot number forty-nine of the eighth range of this township. The word Tikouapee means Andrew, and was giving in memory of an Indian of that name, who, with his family, lived near the mouth of the river. The scaling of this river, very variable in its course, has been made with the greatest possible care, in order to com- I.AKK ST JOSKI'H STEA.MHOAT LANDING."!: 23 plete in a correct manner the subdivrision of the seventy-six lots of nine chains fifty links forming the width of the town- ship of Normandin. The numerous turnings and windings of this river did not allow my operations to be carried on as expeditiously as I could have wished. However, I had the satisfaction of completing the subdivision of all the lots, which in the township of Normandin front on the river Tikouapee ; this was done before the thaw or breaking up of the ice. The Grovernment should come to the aid of the settlers by making every year considerable clearings on the Grovern- ment reserves, employing for that purpose the poor settlers in this work, paying them generously, either with the pro- duce or otherwise, raising the cattle necessary for farming, &;c. If the whole were conducted with wisdom, order and economy, the Grovernment would make as much profit as any other capitalist, while proving at the same time a pro- tection and a providence for the surrounding population. If the Gl-overnment thought proper to make such an ex- periment, it would soon be repaid by the sale of provisions, ike, and by the consciousness that they would have done such good service to colonization and to the brave pioneers of the forest. If to all this were added facilities of com- munication, wherever the want of such is felt, and if espec- ially a railroad connecting Lake St. John with Quebec were built, then the Saguenay would have nothing to envy other places, being able to vie, in every respect, with no matter what part of the Province, for the success and prosperity of its own inhabitants. {P.-H. Dumais, 2nd May, 1872.) In my last report, I gave you a precise idea of the value and importance of the townships of Albanel and Norman- din from an agricultural point of view. The part, situated north-west of these townships, and which I explored lately, while scaling the liver Tikouapee which crosses this section, consists generally of the same kind of soil as that of the townships above mentioned, viz : a greyish clay loam, &c., with alluvion in the low lands. A few rocks, met here and there, give now and then a hilly appearance to this vast flat of land. The prevailing kinds oi timber are spruce, fir, white birch, cypress, aspen and alders in the low lands, with tamarac and a few very large pines. 24 The cypress i^iMieralljr grows on a sandy and barren soil ; here, on the contrary, there is not a grain of sand if I can judge of the soil by the numerous windfalls that disclose its nature at every step. This was a subject of astonish- ment to my party and for myself. But if the cypress really condescends to grow on poor soil, what would prevent it from doing so on a better kind ? The trees are ot very good height and diameter. Townships of Parent and Norniandin. The soil of the township of Parent is generally composed of a clay loam, covered in many places with a bed of sandy yellow clay. Fire has several times ravaged a great part of the tract comprised between the rivers Ashuapmouchouan and Mis- tassini. A considerable quantity of good farming land ap- pears to extend on each side of the Mistassini river, whose quiet flow seems to offer easy communication with the Lake St. John settlements. At the extremity of the point formed by the rivers Mis- tassini and Ashuapmouchouan, there are beautiful wild meadows, also on the lots seventy-three and seventy-four of the third range, and on the little islands situated at the mouth of the river Tikouapee. All the land within the limits of the township, and out- side for a great distance, is generally very level ; apart from a few rocks that I remarked on the bank. )f the river, I did not find, on all the lands that I surveyed, a pebble as big as a marble. (P. A. Tremblay, 13th June, 1854.) All the lots fronting the Mistassini river, with the excep- tion of a few in the thirteenth and fourteenth ranges, are adapted to cultivation, and offer many advantages to new settlers from the proximity of the river, which is navigable from its first falls terminating at number forty-five of the se- venteenth range; it is the finest colonization road that we could wish Tor. The soil, being composed of hard clay and perfectly level, has retained the water abundantly supplied by the fall rains. At the end of the first mile, the timber changes for the better, the soil drains itself easily, and the moss disappears. Tht land consists of alluvion, loam and clay. A grey loam is seen in the banks of the streams. The 25 land continues thus as far as the fifth mile. From this point it gradually rises and becomes andulating on the direct course of the line ; bui^ this undulation is owing to the stream, which winds through the surrounding lando in a rather shallow bed, but yet sufficiently deep to form rivulets, which drain a great part of the moist lands around. I was agreeably surprised at meeting, in Normandin es- pecially, land of superior quality, as much in the appearance of the soil and timber as in the advantages — it offers to set- tlers — of perfect drainage and easy cultivation with the hoe. On one of these burnt tracts, where wild hay grows in abundance (a significant fact, as in the other sections of the Saguenay, wherever there is burnt land, it is either noxious weeds or a new growth of trees that comes up), there is a space of several acres on which wild strawberries grow in profusion and quite undisturbed ; the plants are bushy and the fruit is of more than the usual size. The person who gave me the information was worthy of belief, and said he crossed this land while exploring last summer in company with a number of others, in a part of the township of Nor- mandin. The Tikouapee river winds to the south-east of the town- ship line, at a distance of one or two miles towards the middle of the line, and approaches it on reaching the w^est- ern end. Nothing is more charming than the valley of this stream. There is nothing like it in the Sagucnay, not to speak of elsewhere. The gentle flow of its dark waters towards Lake St. John, the elms and the willows that shade its banks reflect as in a mirror their elegant trunks, with their long and waving branches. There is a growth of tall and evergreen hay at the foot of these elms which adds every year to the fertilizing mould. Wild vines creep and twine from tree to tree like ivy, and form a continuous shade. There is nothing more inviting to the settler who sincere- ly wishes to become a land-clearer than these beautiful forests growing on well drained and slightly rolling land, with a rich and fertile soil. He would consider himself rich in owning a few acres of land fronting on the Tikou- apee river. On the ridge which skirts the valley on both sides of the river, the timber, which consists of spruce, birch, fir, aspen and a few pines, is of remarkable height and size; the 26 spruce especially being of sufficient size and quality to furnish to the trade ovor one hundred thousand saw logs. There are only a few white pine scattered here and there. Hunters have assured me that in the upper parts of the river, from forty to sixty miles back from Lake St. John, there are magnificent pine groves which cover a great stretch of land ; that the quality of the soil and the timber is everywhere the same —strong loam and mixed timber; that there are no mountains or rocks ; and that the whole is nearly level, with an imperceptible slope towards the Lake. In concluding this report, I may add that I am thorough- ly convinced that the north-western part of the territory of Lake St. John constitutes the largest, the finest, most fertile and most advantageous field in every repect for the de- velopment of the patriotic cause of colonization. {P.-H. Duniais, 31st January, 1872.) Township of Racine. The township of Racine, lying between Lake St. John and the River Mistassini, forms a peninsula, the surface of which is absolutely level and regular, almost like that of the lake. In the whole township there is neither mountain nor hill, rock nor boulder. The whole peninsula, which seems to have been sub- merged by the waters of Lake St. John, is composed of al- luvial sand, lightly covered here and there on the surface by a layer of grey or white sand, an inch or two in thick- ness. The shores of the lake, and especially Point Mistassini, are low. A considerable part of this township, as indicated on the plan, is submerged by the high water of Lake St. John ; but not every year. Within the limits of the land so sub- merged, there is a natural meadow, covered every year by a growth of wild hay, which is shown on the plan in its largest extent. This meadow may be utilized for cattle raising. Messrs. Price & Co., have cut large quantities of pine, cypress and spruce logs here. {Arthur du Tremblay, 0th June, 1883.) a5 a: as o 75 27 Towiijiihip of Rob<'rvaI. All the lots are adapted to tillage and it will not be long before they are taken up by settlers, on account of the su- perior advantages which the quality of the soil and the proximity of Lake St, John lend to this locality, over the new townships to the north-west of the lake. The surface is generally level, and only slight undulations are met with, but all these favor the drainage of the land. The soil is a grey and yellow alluvial loam, covered by a layer of humus or black mould for a depth of four to eight inches. Except a few^ rocky spots, where the ground changes its level, there is very little loss on these lots. (P. /. C. Dumais, 4th February, 1880.) Towiisliip of Ross. In general, all these lands are adapted to cultivation, the soil in several places being a strong black loam. The forest which covers them includes in many places merchantable timber, such as white spruce fit for making saw logs, tamarac and white birch. On the Ouiatchouan- iche and Iroquois rivers, there are also several mill sites, which I have been unable to indicate precisely on my plan. Lastly, the appearance of the country is magnificent, being generally free from mountains and oitering great attractions to settlement. {Jean MaUais, 24th December, 1884.) Township of 8t. Ililairc. The towmship of St. Hilaire, situate to the east of the township of UeQuen, and in rear of the townships of Mesy, Caron and Metabetchouan, comprises a superficies of 37,000 acres. I am happy to say that this township on the whole is suitable for colonization. The valley of the Belle Riviere, the left bank of the Cedar lakes, and the right bank of the river Metabetchouan, in the first and third ranges, with a part of the second and fourth ranges, are considerable tracts of arable lands of the best quality, unobstructed by any rocks or mountains or anything disadvantageous. This township being in close proximity to the Lake St. John railway, arid having the advantage of a good coloniz- ation road, should, I think, be soon settled. [Arthur Du Treviblai/, 11th October, 1884.) 2d Township of Signal* Apart from a swamp of about fifty acres in superficies, on the lots in the neij^hborhood of the centre line, the two ranges which I have just subdivided are certainly magni- ficent in every respect ; soil composed of clay, wheat and alluvial land, timbered with birch, spruce, fir, white birch, pine, elm, ash and cedar, climate favorable on account of the proximity of Lake St. John, whose waters temper and check the oarly fall frosts, and in proximity to a saw mill, the property of the Messrs. Lindsay, on the Grammont river. (P. H. Dumais, 22nd February, 1869.) Near the Labarre line there are also small clearings in the second and third ranges. This line runs certainly through the most beautiful land of Signal, and deserves to have a colonization road run through it to connect Lake St. John with the Alma and Hebertville roads. The land is level, well drained, and the quality of the soil superior in everv respect, (P. H. Dumais, 2nd July, 1870.) All this land in general is well suited to tillage ; a large extent of it was sown this spring, and the settlers are mak- ing new clearings. In approaching the Petite Decharge, however, the lots lose a great deal of their value ; rocks crop to the surface, leaving but little land fit for cultivation ; nevertheless all the lots are taken up. (P. H. Dumais, 30th August, 1870.) The river Bedard offers fine sites for the construction of mills throughout the part of the township of Signal which it crosses ; the branches of this river water a considerable extent of the fourth, fifth and sixth ranges of Labarre. (P. A. Tremblay, 28th November, 1865.) Township of Simard. I confined myself to the survey of the residue of the town- ship of Simard, in which I laid out four ranges, that is to say, the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, into lots This part of the country is characterized by a total ab- sence of rocks of any description, not even small stones, ex- 29 cept at the level of the river Shipshaw, and in some cases, thoup;h very rocky, at the level of the " Riviere aux Va?es." The faces of the ravines formed by the water courses are composed of a light, slippery, whitish clay, from which circumstance "Riviore aux Vases " takes its name ; its bed not having yet reached the rock, the water pouring from it into the Saguenay is always muddy, from the wearing of the clay through which it passes. Other parts owing to slight depression in this almost too level country, are swampy, growing black spruce, red spruce and tamarack, such as a portion of the eighth range between the river Shipshaw and the centre line, and near the " Riviere aux Vases " towards the east outline ; some parts of the ninth range, especially the rear, are swamps, or " savannes," almost open plains with very little wood, owing to this part being in the immediate vicinity of the foot of the range of hills bounding this plain to the north, and receiv- ing all the drainage of the mountains, which cannot filter through the clay of the subsoil, or find access to the rivers from the level nature of these portions of land. . The rest of the township is, for the most part, a good sandy loam, growing birches, black birch, firs, aspen, spruce and poplar, in some places mixed with w^hite maple and maple ; cedar is found in many places in large quantities, and ash sometimes appears ; in. these cases the soil is a black mould. {A. Wallace, 30th March, 1855.) Township of Tach^. This township, situated to the northward of the Sague- nay river, between the townships of Delisle and Bourget, has an area of 40,752 square acres, of which at least the seven tenths are composed of arable land suitable for settle- ment. Timber of every kind grows here in great abundance. The spruce has been cut into logs, but enough has been left to supply the settlers ; there is no pine timber at pre- sent, but judging from the stumps and fragments strewing the ground, I conclude it must have existed in large quan- tities. There are some water powers which may be useful to the settlers hereafter. {.Geo. B. Du Trenblay, 29th November, X879.) 80 TownsIiipM of Tuilloii and llclisle. Aflor liaviiijT traA'orsed tho abovo mentioned tract No. 1, in every direction lor nearly a month, I became firmly con- vinced that it is, in every respect, most advantageously qualilied for colonization. It also olFers great facilities for carrying on every branch of industry, by means of the power supplied by the numerous streams, falls, it. John, a height which is in- creased by 30 feet more on the sixteenth mile. The current of the river is gentle, its width from ten to eighteen chains, and its depth ten to twelve feet — during freshets, reaching in the passage up the river. No further obstacles are en- countered in ascending the river as far as the thirtv-fifth mile, where, hemmed in between rocks and broken up by detached masses of stone, its peaceable course is more brusquely interrupted by a fall of ten feet on the thirty- seventh mile, a small rapid on the thirty-eighth mile, and then we arrive at the last one in the part of the river scaled by me. Above this fall the river resumes its peaceable course in a nearly northerly direction, and maintains a width of eight to fifteen chains for a long distance. Judging from the explorations already made here and there on one bank or the other of the river Mistassibi, I have come to the conclusion that at least three quarters of the land watered by it is lit for cultivation, being largely com- posed of gray and yellow earth and clay mixed with sand at the surface, with an alluvial subsoil of great depth, not rocky except in a few places where the rocks rise through the surface to break the nearly uniform level of the plateau. These rocks are higher and of greater extent above the thirtieth mile, and seem to disappear above the fortieth mile, on the west side of the river. The ground is covered with timber of all the varieties found in the valley of Lake St. John, except cedar. The age of the forest is about eighty years, and the remarkable size and height of the trees indicate a very rich soil. There remains no trace of the old forest, destroyed by fire. For these reasons, there is not much merchantable timber near the banks of this river. A few hundred pine and a few thousand spruce trees are about all that could be got there at present. In about forty or fifty years, if not ravaged by fire in the interval, this new growth will furnish a large S6 supply of timber. But the advantages which these splendid lands offer to settlers are not likely to remain long unknown ; and I have no doubt that, were there better means of reach- ing them, the young forest would soon give place to fine fields of wheat. The river au Rat, another tributary of the Mistassini, flow^s in from the same side as the Mistassibi (the north-east) at a distance of a mile above the latter. The fire of 1870 destroyed the fine forests which had covered the banks as far as the filteenth mile. Beyond that point, the woods comprise the same varieties as are found on the Mistassmi. The only obstacles to the navigation of the part of this river scaled by me are a few rapids, which are not noticed in running down the river during the fresh- ets. There are five of these rapids in the first sixteen miles ; the water being unbroken for the remaniing fourteen miles, and as much further above. I am firmly convinced that the greater part of this region comprised within the vast basin surrounding Lake St. John, especially on the north side, that is to say, a tract of at least four millions of acres in superficies, is composed of lands of the best description for agricultural purposes as well on account of the richness of the soil as the mildness of the climate. In order to establish a sufficiently close comparison, I think I may say, without fear of being taxed with exaggeration, that we have in the valley of this lake an area of fine rich land of sufficient extent to support in comfort as large a population as that inhabiting the finest part of the valley of the St. Lawrence — that occupied by the counties of Richelieu, Yamaska, Vercheres, Bagot, St. Hyacinthe, Rouville, St. John, Napierville and Laprairie. The alluvial lands of Lake St. John are as large in extent and of greater depth than those watered by the rivers Ri- chelieu and Yamaska ; while the climate is not inferior to that of those old districts. ' (P. H. Dumais, 24th June, 1878.) nfctiibctchoiiau River. Forest fires have swept a considerable portion of the east side of the river and part of the west side has been burnt over also, which is now overgrown with white birch and poplar. The soil is exceedingly rich on both sides of the river, being generally a heavy clay bottom covered with a 36 rich loam of darkish brown colour. In the township of DeQuen the soil is very good along the river, and the unsur- veyed land on the opposite or east side appears to be very good also. Timber — There is a considerable quantity of spruce, and some excellent groves of tamarac on either side of the river. The old brules are covered with a thick growth of white birch, pophir and fir, and as there is no scarcity of water- power, there would be no more promising site for the manufacture ot pulp or the difi'erent other manufacturing purposes for which the above mentioned varieties of timber are sought. [Henry O' Sullivan, 8th March, 1887.) Extract from the Report of the €oiiimis$$ioiier of Crown Lauds for the year 1M8!>, resiieetiiij; the eoiintry generally between Lake St. John and the Upper Ottawa. By analysing the reports of surveys and explorations we find that in rear of the mountain chain which extends from Cap Tourmente to the Ottawa, a littJe above Hull, there is a vast plain which extends eastwards by the valley of the Mattawin river to the neighborhood of the St. Maurice. The general level of this plain is not more than 250 or 300 feet above the sea, and its uniformity is only broken at rare intervals by small ridges or rocky mounds. On reaching the Mattawin region the general direction of this plain in- clines to the north-east and continues, by the tine plateau between the rivers Trenche and Windigo, to Lake Si. John, where it merges into that magnificent valley bounded by the mountains bordering on the Saguenay to the north-east. The length of this zone of level ground, most of which is of remarkable fertility, is nearly 400 miles and its average width is about sixty, making an area of 24,000 miles or 15,360,000 square acres. The region drained by that portion of the Ottawa between its sources and Lake Temiscamingue as far as the height of land forms another plateau 600 or 700 feet above the level of the sea, generally flat and containing much arable land both as regards soil and climate, separated on the south by a range of hilly land from the great plain above described. as a: X r>'i 87 To give an idea of the success obtained by industrious settlers in the Lake St. John district, we pubhsh the follow- ing information obtained from the cures of the various par- ishes. Saint-j^romk. Claude Villeneuvo came from Ste. Agnes, County of Charlevoix, in 1862, with four hundred dollars ; bought 350 acres of land at St. J^r6me ; has now about 260 under cultivation. Ho gets on an average 1,000 bushels of grain, chiefly wheat, 4,500 bundles of hay, 250 to 300 bushels of pota- toes. He would not sell his property now for less than $7,000.00. Alexandre Boily, also came from Ste. Agn^s in 1862, without any capital, with only his hoe, his axe and seven children, the eldest ten years of age. He bought a farm of 340 acre.s which he only finished paying for in the past few years. Has 200 acres undei cultivation. He gets 850 bushels of grain, chiefly wheat, from 2,000 to 2,500 bundles of hay and from 250 to 300 bushels of potatoes. His property is valued at $4,000.00. Want of assistants prevents him from having the whole under cultiv- ation. Chambord. Louis Villeneuve came here from Murray Bay in 1864. He had no capital beyond his axe and his courage. He took 100 acres which yield, on an average, 100 bushels of wheat, 90 of peas, 140 of Ocats, 110 of buck- wheat and 2,000 bundles of hay. His property is now worth over $2,800.00. Sabin Gagnon also came from Murray Bay in 1864, with a capital of $200,00. He settled his live sons on 400 acres of land, 320 of which are under cultivation. The crop is 145 bushels of wheat ; 115 of peas ; 206 of rye ; 108 of buckwheat ; 490 of oats and 3,400 bundles of hay. His property is valued at $7,000.00. Francois Sasseville came from Bjiie St. Paul in 1864, without any means. He has cleared 125 acres of land, from which he gets 120 bushels of wheat ; 90 of peas ; 50 of buckwheat ; 45 of barley ; 160 of oats and 3,000 bundles of hay. His property is valued at $3,000.00. St. G^d^on. Joseph Lessard came from Ste. Agnes twenty-four years ago with a capital of from $600.00 to $600.00. He has 280 acres under cultivation, and has nine children settled. His property is valued at $5,250, and he gets an average of 1000 bushels of grain every yoir. Basile Barrette came to St. G^d^on in 1872, with $2,700.00. He now has 300 acres under cultivation, and gets an average crop of 1,300 bushels. Value of his property, $6,500.00. St. Prime. Jean Legare settled at St. Prime in 1871, with a family of six young children. Up to that time he had worked as a labourer in the Messrs. Hall's mill at Montmorency Falls, Beauport. He had no means when he arrived here, and he now owns 200 acres of land worth $4000.00. He has no debts. Last year he lent over $200.00 on mortg.iges. He owns 2 horses, 8 cows, 15 sheep, and this year he has bought a mower. He has all kinds of improved implements. Alfred Dor^ settled at St. Prime in 1870 ; he was so poor that he was obliged to hire out to others. His only property was his axe. At present, thanks to his labour and energy, he has 250 acres of land, valued at over $2000.00. He is about to purchase 100 acres more. His family ccmsists of 12 children, He had contracted some debts, but will finish paying 88 fcheni off during the summer. He has 2 horses, 8 cows, 12 sheep and all the necessary implements. St. F^licien. Antoine Ht^bcrt canio here 13 years ago from St. Gr^oire, County of Nicolet, witli no means wliatever beyond his courage. He now has 300 acres under cultivation, valued at ^5.250. His crop consisted of 800 bushels of grain, 2400 bundles of liay and 400 bushels of potatoes. St. M^thode. ()n(5sime Painchaud came from Somerset, in 1880, with a capital of $400.00. He took 300 acres of land, 60 of which are now under cultiv- aticjn. His pro[)erty is vahiod at $2000.00, l)esides 52 head of cattle and farm implements. Lji.st year his crop consisted of 325 bushels of grain, 85 being wheat, 250 of ))otatoes and 2,800 bundles of hay. Alcide Hubert came from Ste. Sophie d'Halifax in 1881, with a capital of $700.00. He took 200 acres of land covered with timber. He now has 80 acres under cultivation and his property is valued at $2,500.00, besides 64 head of cattle and the farm implements. Last year his crop was 425 bushels of grain, 75 being wheat ; 280 busliels of potatoes and 6,000 bundles of hay. Besides the above two examples there are many others of settlers who have come to St. Mt'thode without any means and whose properties are worth a thousand, fifteen hundred and even two thousand dollars after some years of labour on them. Reports of the DEiiEGATES. In the year 1889 the Board of Directors of the Lake St. John Railway Company asked the clergy of the various parishes in the province to send delej^ates to obtain inform- ation for themselves on the spot, and to report their opinion as tt) the resources and advantages of the Lake St. John country. We give the following extracts from the reports: — From the delegates of Victoriaville, Arthabaska. " The two delegates from my parish who visited the Lake St. John district last autumn came back delighted with their trip, which will have the effect of sending several of my parishioners to that part of the country as soon as your branch lines east and west are built. " U. Tessieb, cur^. 16th April, 1890. From the delegates of Ste. Anne de la Pirade. " The two delegates, after visiting Roberval, went as far as Norman- din, St. Mdthode and St. Cyrille. They came back delighted with their trip and are full of praise of the country they visited. Both are intelligent farmers. They admit that the best farms are to the north of the lake, and that if they had children to settle they would send them there. Unfortunately our young men prefer to work by the day, to live in penury rather than make an energetic effort and settle upon a farm which would assure tliem an honest and happy existence. Let us however hope that the efibrts now being made on all sides will eventually induce our labourers to seek a comfortable home in the Lake St. John region. Such is my earnest desire." B. C. BocHET, priest. 25th April, 1890. 89 From Rimouski. •* The two delegates whom I sent last autumn to Lake St. John came back delighted ; so much so that one of them left me this spring to take a farm in that country. " J. O. SiMARD, priest, cur^. 15th April, 1890. From Louiseville. " Mr. F. X. Masse, jeweller, and Mr. Bellemare went to Lake St. John last autumn. The former visited Roberval, Chambord and H^bert- ville. He is delighted with his trip. He says that the soil is of the best for the growth of hay and cereals. The excellence of the soil, the salubrity of the climate and the affabil- ity of the people of the place pleased Mr. Bellemare so much that he start- ed two months later to go and settle at Roberval. Mr. Masse tells every one that the Lake St. John valley is a country with a bright future for every Canadian who wishes to obtain an honorable position." O. H. Lacbrte, priest, vicar. 17th April, 1890. From St. Paul. Chester. " My delegates visited the parishes of St. Prime, St. F^licien, St. M^thode and Normandin and found that settlers could establish them- selves with advantage at Lake St. John ##♦*#* Even if their trip should have only the effect of arresting the tide of emigration which I saw, with regret, .setting in the direction of Minnesota, I would still congratulate myself upon having sent those two delegates. I flatter myself with the hope that, in the near future, those of my parish- ioners who wish to settle in new parishes will go to Lake St. John. You have no idea of the interest displayed by those who visited the delegates on their return and how anxious they were for information of all kinds. I congratulate you on your excellent idea of organizing that excursion and also upon the zeal you have displayed in the cause of colonization. Excursions of this kind are well calculated to attract public attention to the Lake St. John country, especially in years when the crop is abundant." J. B. H. Bellemare, priest. 19th April, 1890. From Port Daniel. " For a person accustomed to judge of the nature of farming land by the quality and size of the timber on it, there would be some danger of making a mistake in several townships where the trees seem to indicate that the soil is poor. But by studying the composition of the soil we find the elements which reward the true farmer for his labours. The appointment of a director of colonization is a great thing for the Lake St. John district, for those who came there formerly, at Roberval for instance, were sometimes at the mercy of people who were interested in the information they gave. The consequences of insufficient inform- ation are most disastrous, considering the various conditions of those who visit a place with the intention of settling there. Some want an uncleared lot and they want to know where they can procure such lots on favourable conditions. Others want a cleared lot with a house, buildings, «S5C., and they want to be shewn a property which meets their views. Otherwise their trip is useless and their reports deter those who might be disposed to follow them. I visited the Lake St. John district myself and what I say of it is the result of my rapid inspection of the parishes of Roberval, St. Prime and 40 St. Folicii'ii, which I visited in sovoriil (liroctions. My visit has not yet decided any settler to go from here to Lake St. .John, for our coast requires hmia Jiile settlers more than any other jilace and our lands are at lepst as gor)d, hjit to all who wished to know niy views I said that that region has a fiitiu'e before it and deserves to he encouraged. I am pleased with the trip which made mo acquainted with a new corner of our province now connected with tlie large centres by a railway which has cost many ettorts to build but which has succeeded so well. I therefore wish your comjiany all the success which it deserves for its zeal and its results corresponding with its efforts for the settlement of the tine valley <»f Lake St. John. AudiLSTiN Gacinon, priest, cur6, 15th April, 1890. From Kamouraska. " The delegates whom 1 sent to Lake St John have conscientiously performed their mission and gave me their report which I afterwards com- municated to my parisiiioners. The delegates visited the whole of the townshij) of Normandin, St. Prime and its vicinity. They fouiul the farms splendid but they advise settlers to go to Lake St. John with some cjipit^il s(j as to allow 4>f eti'ective- ly undertaking tlie clearing of the land. « A worthy farmer of my parish intends to go to Lake St. John with five sons who are all able to work on a farm. They have a capital of fifteen hundred dollars which they wish to spend on their lots. Moreover, an experienced merchant intends to transfer his business t;) Roberval and to take up farming for the benefit of his children. I have no doubt that these families will be followed by (jthers. P. E. Bkaudet, priest, cur^. 2l8t April, 1890. From L' Islet. The bad state of the I'oads and heavy rains did not allow the dolegateH to carry out their progranune. They could only visit St. Louis and St. Je- rome, but they asked many cpiestions of the residents and were able to form some idea of the place. The soil seemed to be extraordinarily rich and very suitable for the growth of forage, cereals and vegetables. What they saw was much better than that of our country parts. They were struck with the spirit which seems to animate the settlers of Lake St. John. How satisfied they seem to be with their lot, how they love their country, how they feel no regret for what they have left behind and how glad they are at having had the courage to tear themselves away from their friends to seek the means of bringing up and settling their children. Chakles Bacon, priest. Ist May, 1890. From St. Ci/ri/le, L Islet The two delegates whom I had selected to visit the Lake St. John valley were delighted with their trip. They were full of praise of the rich- ness of the soil, the beauty of the forests and the scenery. They made a report on their trip whi h I enclose herewith. Our young people here seemed at tirst rtather pleased with the idea of clearing new land but when spring time comes they have to follow the cur- rent and go to the brick-yards in the United States, where they lose their health and their future. When will our young men understand this ?. . . . M. J, Fii,LiON, priest, curd. 27th April, 1890, \- w o ai W H •/I I «-i ■li V > OS * V I 41 Extract from the report of the St. Cyrille delegates. We went to Roberval direct and the next day in going through th& parishes of St. Prime and St. F^licien we observed some places where the soil was too sandy for cultivation, but as a rule the soil is good. We were told that at Normandin the soil is still richer than in these two parishes. On returning from our trip we declared and we again declare that the Lake St. John valley is advantageous for settlers, because there are no rocks or boulders and because the country is not mountainous. Of course there are here, like elsewhere, obstacles to overcome but there is nevertheless a good chance for any settler who wishes to go there. Anicbt Loed, St. Cyrille. 20th April, 1890. Ir^n^e Lokd. Extract from the report of the delegates of St. Etienne de Lauzon. From the interviews we had with farmers in certain localities, it seems that the soil throughout the whole extent of the Lake St. John valley is of the same quality as where we saw it, very fertile and requiring but little expense to farm profitably. There are hardly any ditches. We thought we noticed that if the inhabitants of the Lake St. John district were as laborious as they might be they would be comfortably off. They sow, with harrowing, eight., nine and ten years in succession, and after that period they still get an abundant crop of peas. The township of Dutferin, thirty-three miles from Roberval, is being cleared. The price of the lots is twenty cents per acre or $20.00, which is payable in five yearly instalments of four dollars. From what we have seen we encourage all hard-workingand energetic farmers who wish to provide a future for their sons, to go to Lake St. John and clear lots in the township of Dufferin amongst others. There are also townships on the east side of the lake which can bo crossed by steamer in two hours. At St. Joseph d'Alma the soil is of superior quality. There are lots for sale with some cleared land for $ilOO each lot. FRANgois Vbrret, March, 1890. FRAMgois Martbi. Report of Rev- IM. Dub^, cnr6 of Ste. Julie de Somerset- Sir, — Taking advantage of the liberality of the directors of the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway Company who wish to encourage agriculture and colonization, I visited the fane valley of Lake St. John during the month of August last. My companion, Mr. Antoine Herm^n^gilde Dumas, an active and in- teUigent farmer, and myself, leftSte. Julie on the 11th August and reached Chambord junction at 6 P.M., on the 12th. After going 177 miles through the mountains, after having run along abysses, rivers and lakes, one is well pleased to reach Chambord, a charming parish on the delightful shore of the great Lake St. John. As soon as one sees it as the train issues from the mountains there is a general exclamation of : *'0h ! how beautiful," 42 The next day, the 13th, we went to Roborval. The site of the village 18 very fine Jiud there is a splentlid view from this populous centre. On one side we see the parishes of St. Louis and St. Jerome, on the other the Indian Reserve, Tikouapd, Mistassini and Peribonka. On our way we visited the convent just built by the Ursulines, a fine three-story building which would do credit to our cities. At a distance of about lialf a mile is the Roberval hotel, frequented by tourists who come to fish and who, when they chi>ose, can go by steamer to the Peribonka. A short distance further is a fine steam saw-mill where the track ends. In the parishes of Chan\V)orr St. Prime we saw the farm of Mr. Lippens, the brother of our celebrated agricultural lecturer. Mr. Lip- pens thoroughly understands farming. Every one knows that in Belgium, the country from which he comes, agriculture has reached the highest de- gree of perfection. We saw on his farm a fine field of vegetables and a fine crop of cereals. With St. Prime the valley of Lake St. John conuuences. There the aspect of everything changes ; the mountains disappear and the horizon is far away. The soil is very good and the crop al)undant. Tile church is a mile from the lake ; it is a frame church built of cedar like the churches at Chambord aTid Roberval. It will socjn be replaced by one of stone. The ciirf', Mr. Belley, is an energetic man and works hard for the advancement of liis parish, whose prospects are bright. On the 14tli we visited St. Felicien, a parish of 1,000 souls. The village and church are built on a height facing the river Aschouapmouchou- an, which at that i)lace is about four hundred yards wide. We cross it to reach Tikouape. In the spring the steamer ascends it as far as the church. The soil at St. Felicien is also of the best quality. In rear of this parish, at the river Dort^, there is a mission which at present consists of sevei\ families. The crop this year has a splendid af)pearance. Good farms may be Srocured there on very favourable conditions by applying to the Crown iaads Agent. Tikouape? or St. Mdthode is a new parish which has a priest since a year. Thei'e is excellent land at this place, but unfortunately the over- flowing of the river caused by the high waters of the lake in the spring is a greiit drawback. Tlie water covers a considerable j)ortion of the land in May and June at seed time, which compels the farmers to leave it in meadow or pasture. We then went to the township of Normandin and jiroceoded as far ns the chapel. This is beyond a doubt the finest of the townships around the lake. The soil is clayey and fertile. We had ocular proof of this in the shape of fine meadows anil fields of grain. In the vicinity of the chapel some farmers live whose buildings show that they are well to do. Every one agrees in saying that St. Cyrille de Normandin will soon be one of the most Hourishing parishes of the Sagu May valley. The township of Albanel, where some settlers already live, is also very fine. There is land there for hundreds and hundreds of settlers. When the railway will run through these townshij)a, wliich it is sure to do before long, the Saguenay will be the granary of the Province of Quebec. < - 43 From Nommndin we retraced our steps to Roberval, passing through the Indian Reserve, where we had the pleasure of meeting the reverend fathers Arnault and Laporte. The latter is at present superintending the construction 'of a large three story-stone building with a mansard roof. We saw several Indian families camped in the neighborhood of the chapel. The horizon is here very distant and the view splendid. On the 16th we went to Chicoutimi. The first j)arish which we visited was St. J(5r6me. The church and village are close to the lake. The site is very pretty. To reach it we crossed in a scow over the cove formed by the lake and into which the river Metabetohouan falls. This is the old Indian lauding place. The works on the Chicoutimi branch have stopped at this point. The line will have to cross the estuary on a bridge which ia estimated to cost not less than $90,000. There is also very good land in St. Jdrome, but the ground is hilly. There are many gullies wliioh make good sized hills. There are the same kind of gullies in H^bertville. H^bertville, named after its founder the late lamented Rev. N. J, Hubert, cure of Kamouraska, is a fine large parish. The village is built on the banks of the river des Aulnaies. The church, built of fine red granite, is on an elevation commanding the village. It is 1.50 feet long and 60 wide and crowned with a fine steeple. It was built in 1880 by the pi'esent cur^, Rev. B. E. Leclerc. The interior is not finished, but the sacristy, commenced under the supervision of the late lamented Rev. Andr^ Pelle- tier who had charge of the parish for four years, is large and well finished. This church, with tlie Cathedral at Cliicoutimi and the church of St. Al- phonso, are the finest of the diocese. The parish of Hebertville is one of the most populous. There are very fine farms and everything has the appe-irance of comfort. After Hf^bertville we visited St. Domii.ique, passing by Kascouia, a mission of St. Cj'iiac with a resident priest. St. Cyriac is a ])oor place not suited for cultivators, surrounded with rocks and mountains. It is a fishing and hunting place opposite Lake Kenogami. St. Domini(jue has a church and presbytery built of stone, which are due to Rev. Mr. Kdrouac, the [)resent citr^. There are several rich farmers there. There are fertile valleys amidst the mountains. On the 18th we arrived at Chicoutimi. This is the chef-lieu of the Saguenay district and tlie residence of the bisliop, whose palace is a fine brick building situate in rear of the Cathedral, on the bank of the Sa- guenay. From the gallery one can see the village of Ste. Anne, and the Messrs. Price's sjiw mills. Near the church is the cimvent of the Good Shepherd as well as the Seminary which has just had a considerable wing added to it. A little furtlier is the Marine Hospital under the manage- ment of the Ursulines. In front of the hospital is a fine granite column to the memory of Mr. Price, who was called the " Father of the Saguenay." They are now working at finishing the cathedral, which promises to be very fine. On the 19th we were at Notre-Dame de Laterri6re, a fine, rich parish. The church is of stone and was built by the late Rev. J. Hudon, who has just died at St. Philippe de Ndri, in the county of Kamoumska. This gobd priest laboured in this parish and at Hdbertville with true apostolical zeal. A woollen factory was started in this j)ari8h but did not succeed. It is a pity, for such an industry would have been very beneficial to the agri- cultural population. Our time being limited we were unable to visit Ste. Anne, St. Charles, St. Bruno, St. Joseph d'Alma and St. G!M«5on. 44 The cwr^ of the last named parish, Rev. Mr. Paradis, — told us that there was very good land in it which could be bought cheap. A correspondent of the Courrier du Canada informs us, on the 8th September instant, that in the townships of Taillon, Delisle and Tach^ there is room for many flourishing parishes ; that there are already settlers in these townships, there is a chapel, saw and flour mills, and that roads are being made. So much the better. Let us hope that the example of these hardy settlers will be contagious. Monseigneur Begin, the worthy bishop of Chicoutimi, endeavours to follow the example of his lamented predeces- sor, Monseigneur Racine, to encourage these intrejiid settlers by procuring them all the religious assistance they require. The editor of La Presse, of Mrmtreal, is at present writing articles in praise of the Saguenay region which he has just visited. When one knows no matter how little about the history of this part of the country and recollects the many and difhcult trials to which the first settlers were exposed : frost, inundations and the dreadful conflagration of 1870, one may well be astonished at what he now sees. But if the settler is courageous and laborious, we must admit that he is rewarded by the fer- tility of the soil. After a lapse of twenty years we no longer find a trace of these ciilainities. If our Canadian youths were really fond of agriculture and took up the lands which the Government liberally off"ers them instead of wasting their strength for the benefit of our neighbours, what a fine future would be theirs and what a wealth for *;he Province of Quebec. In some years the Saguenay would have increased its yield five-fold. Such, Sir, are the impressions we have brought back from our trip. In accordance with your request we hasten to make them known to you. It only remains for us to thank the directors of the Lake St. John Railway Company for their kindness towards us. Please convey our grate- ful thanks to them. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, P. P. DuBE, priest, cur4. Ste. Julie de Somerset, 11th September, 1890. Report of the River Quelle Delegates. " St. Prime, situated nine miles from Roberval, is a parish remark- able on account of its geographical position, offering great advantages to farmers, who appear to profit thereby in every respect . The parish has three double ranges. The roads are very straight and cross it direct, and there are farmers at each side. St. F^licien, which is 18 miles from Roberval, offers in every respect the same advantiages, with the excepticm of the first range, which is not quite as advantageous for the farmer, but for which he is recompensed by the picturesque view of the homesteads scattered on the banks of the Ash- uapmouchouan River. Normandin, which is 18 miles from St. F^licien, is remarkable for its great extent of flat and very fertile land. The cultivation of the land is well advanced for the time, and the houses are all built with taste. We also visited some fine herds of improved cattle. The most attractive farms are those belonging to Messrs. Girouard, Lalibertd and Beaudet. Further north we espy the district of Albanel, which, with time, will rival Normandin. 46 St. Jerome, situated on the borders of Lake St. John, is one of the largest parishes of that district. Its inhabitants are mostly settlers from parishes of the south shore. Their homes bespeak ease and comfort. H^bertville, situated twelve miles lower down than St. Jerome, in- land, is the largest parish of Lake St. John, and is inhabited partly by settlers from the parishes below Quebec, the greater number from the County of Kamouraska." Antoine Gt'Y. Octave Lj-Ivesque. Roberval, 2Slh April, 1891. J. G. Scott, Esq., Quebec. Sir, In reply to your despatch. The following will show the result of the sowing, on my farm at Rober- val, of 2 lbs. of wheat which I received from Mr. McTavish, of Winnipeg, in March, 1881. That same year they produced 207 pounds. In 1882, these 207 pounds produced 38 bushels. In 1883, I realized out of my Sowing of 38 bushels 742 bushels, weighing from 70 to 71 lbs. per bushel. Therefore at the end of three years, 2 lbs. oi wheat had produced the very satisfactory result of 742 bushels. It was my farmers Edward Lavoie and L^on Mathieu who cultivated this wheat. Reverend Cur^ Lizotte was witness to this trial and can certify to the truth of the above. Y ours truly, EULOGE MeNAUI). Letter from His Eminence Cardinal Taschereau. Archbishop's Palace, Quebec, 9th May, 1890, J. G. Scott, Esq., Secretary, Quebec & Livke St. John Railway Company. SiE, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday 'vith R copy of circular No. 275, which offers so many advantages to those who wish to settle either alone, or with their families on the splendid lands of Lake St. John. I take a great interest in the colonization of that region which formed part of the archi-diocese of Quebec during the first seven years of my episcopacy. I visited it in 1874, and the liigh opinion I formed of it induced me to ask at once for the erection of the diocese of Chicoutimi, in order to pro- mote the development of that importtmt section of the country. The many parishes which have been formed since that date and the really wonderful increase of the old ones, have exceeded my expectations. The building of the railway and, above all, the liberality of the com- pany has had a great deal to do with this admirable progress. The company has therefore earned the gratitude of the whole Province, and I beg you to believe that no one feels it more than Your obedient servant, E, A. Card. Taschereau, Archbishop of Quebec, 46 Letter from the late Monseigneur Labette. Rome, Hotel Marini, 30th May, 1890. Dear Sir, — I have just received your circular of the 5th May, and I tepprove of it on all points. In truth, there is splendid land in the places you indicate for colonization, and I have no doubt that stock-raising, the manufacture of butter and cheese, with the cultivation of grain and ensil- age, will render this region as prosperous as any other in the country. The district of Quebec should continue to send its children there. They will find friends and relations whoso courage and endeavours have been crowned with the greatest success. This example before their eyes can but stimulate their zeal and their hopes. Continue to promote cohmization, and Lake St. John, the whole country and your railway will derive greater benefits. Monseigneur Manpiis will be of great use to you. The Pope showers favours upon him because he is at })rosent a colonizing Excellency. It seems to nie that, from a distance, asuiall poition falls on me, and that the settlers will be grateful ii)r it to God and to their country. Yours truly, A. Labeli.e, priest, Ass. Min., &c., &c. J. G. Scott, Esq., Secretary and Manager, ' . Quebec and Lake St. John Railway Co., Quebec, Canada. ./ ADVICE TO THE LAKE ST. JOHN SETTLERS FROM AN ONTARIO FARMER, MR. JOHN FLATT, OF HAMILTON, WHO VISITED THE LAKE IN 1800. "The first thing to be done is to thoroughly i)repare the soil and put it in aUch condition that it will yield a good croj). When this is done, con- sider what kind of grain will yield the best return for the trouble it gives. TiiO land which tlie settler intends to sow in the spring should be . ploughed the previous fall, and the furrows between the ridges made deep enough to carry ofl'all the water, shortly after the .snow is melted, and the frost is out of the ground, say a dei)th of three inches. It Avould be better to sow oats and wheat before anything else in the spring, and other grain afterwards, but without delay. I would advise you to mix grass seed with all your spring sowings, leaving a part of your land in hay, and ploughing the remainder. In the portion which you intend to plough in the fall, sow a bushel of clover seed to every ten acres ; in the portion left for hay sow a bushel of timothy and a bushel of clover seed to every ten acres. Now that you have numerous facilities for sending all kinds of produce to market, it would be advisable to make a good selection of the grain you wish to cultivate and to consider whether it would n(jt be profitable to grow hops for instance. Poultry raising would also pay, I presume, as Quebec nmst be a good market for poultry and pork." John Flatt, t OQ "- c . s c ^ O S *■ t. ^ J «^ S * i-H aj *; TO «H a ■« c |l>.s " Q « aT -^^ SQ S >> "^ PI «5 00 O S ^s^o ■ OQ ■Cjoiohj asooiv — 47 — ^ « 10 a> "» »^ Pm ^ cc e^ -< CO :' : I . CO 00 M j 06 Tj! 39.1 . CC C^ C^ , ^ I I (jj c-i T^; p- ]ri : ; ; CO CO N '. W 1^ N IN . o o p- 00 i° -; X OS oJ PU M -^ c< N ; OC •* "> [CO : e4 -i< CO : pi CO to O lO o i" CO CO t~ -H Cm M CO CO w ; 00 O O < 00 ! p-4 O) 0» i '^' • pM cq CO . 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Ci .' \' a. A ■L^,, sVi mJUic M /));;.•. u .^1 iG: 'yV/ , Frus-crvillc lif.dii Loup) 'i. Sftangois .JK'f \---"S' ^. ^/o )St.Pi errc wif^ ^ 'V/ 'L'IsleC '^<3< .,46^ eo on 100 ^ ^. *-^.( M''^' I ens Portrfi'uf ''iP' /grand PILESVfl \J^ / I C /V StFelik-deValois 'V Jbli(/lo\ ^ [flVitifi /J-igA L, \ ^ ^""H Jortliiur L,nrioruio L'i^omption Eichmond THE QUEBEC AND Sbcrbrook^ it^ (vBryson < ^VS'^. oV Bt-Johns LAKE ST.JOHN RAILWAY i AND EXTENSIONS. O Cobdei! Ifewport^ flor '^r. '*"♦'/ '^RHY/ / •"••m^. -'J' '■I V_ 5 49 To persons ciis^as^ed in the Innibcr trade e transport from Quebec to Lake St. John for honafKh settlers and their families with HOOfts. of household effects for each adult, and ISOlbs. for each child. All baggage over I^OOltis. but not exceeding one car load for each family, will be carried at the nominal rate of it cents per lOOlbs. liana full' intending settlers who wish only to visit the lauds with the in- lention of buying for settlement, can obtain a half rate return ticket from Quebec to Lake St. John for.1!>2.7r) on presentation of a certificate from the Dominion Im- migration Agent, or the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture. Settlers will tiiul excellent lands under cultivation at Lake St. John (or sale. For information respecting the sale of lands, etc., apply to Mr. Geouob AuDKT, Crown Lands Agent at Itoberval, Lake St. John, Monseignenr Marquis, at the Department of Agriculture, Quel)ec, and European immigrants may ap- ply to Mr L. Stafford, Dominion Immigration Agent at Quebec. For other information see our timetables. N.B. — In order to \ rocuro a certificate from the Assistant Commissioner, the ftpplieant (if of the farming class) must produce a certificate from the clergyman in charge of Ilia parish, as a proof of good faith. TO SETT.r.EI^S. T^h.9at Ziands. tiood Climate ! liood Wood ! Excellent Water ! 2,000,000 iu>re's dt'the finest wlioiit limds in the Pn)vin(H> of (iiicbGO nro iimw otFeroii for sale by the Proviiioial (loveniiiieiit iif 20 eonts an iiere, in the IitikeSf. John Terri- tory, oii.y 10 honi's (listant (litl) miles) by rail from QMebee, Canada's Krealest seaport. These lands are situated in the followinpr Townships, amongst many others, viz.: Acres Acres surveyed. surveyed. Albanoi a"),4V2 i Bequen 58,707 l>()lbeaa 48,000 Dufierin 20,180 M6tal)otehouan Ki.SOo Norrnandin 20,421) I'arent 40,.ff.'i Ha.-ine .S1.0(H) Hoberval 10,00;} Koss IS.IKHI Saint-llilaire ;{0.000 and by (jovernment coloaiz- Asliuapmouchouan .... 20,:i.")() ISaffol 2l,a71 Bourgct 21.2IU Caroii 22,4t)7 Charlevoix 20.0."iH Diiblon 2;f..'17A Diilma.s 20,400 Delisle l.-„.-)ti4 Demeulea 20..'{1.5 All the lands are of easy aeees.s by sioaiuer on tlie lake ation roads from railway terminu.s at Rnberval. The steamers run as follows on Lake St. .loiui diiriuff the se isou of navigation : — Tiie steamer "Undine" leaves Koberval at 8 a. m on We laes(lavs and .Saturdays for St. Pelioieii. arriving there at 11 o'clock, stoiiping at the Indian Ilosorve and at St. Prime going and returning. The " Parlbonca "will make two or more trips weekly, to the River Peribonca, in the interest of coloiii/, ition, and the R iborval s:e ini s iw-niill. The " Mlstasslnl " makes a tri|( daily be'weiMi Uoberval a id the Orando Dis- charge during ttie tourist sea.'^on, coiiinioncing the l.^h .June. The effects oi honajidr settlers will be conveyed iimlii. XDIST-A.nsrOES. The principal points in the Lake St. .John and Saguonay districts, their population and approximate distance from Chaiubord .Tunction are ii.s follows: To the West. Miles. St. Louis 1'* Roberval 13 St. Prime 22 St. F^licieri 31 St. M6thodo 36 Normandin 49 Peribonca 4-5 The mileage of the Railway and branch lines when completed will be as follows : — Main line— Miles. (Juebec to C ■ mhord Junction completed. 177 Chambord to llobcrval oomplntod 13 l!K) En,stern Extension to Chieoutimi and St. Alphonse (5 mi'.os completed) 70 La Tu(iuo Branch .Si) St.Gabriol " 10 Western Extension toTemiscaming 400 To the Population. East. Miles. Population 1000 17 20 2000 800 1400 St. Bruno .WO 1100 St. Joseph d'Aluia . 23 800 nC'berlvilie 10 2(i(K) 800 St. Cyriae ;« ?.m Rivii^re aux Sables ^^ \m) 300 ('hie(uitinii 54 ■5000 200 St. Alphonse fi.'i 1200 Bagot ville on 2400 20 N. D. dcLaterrii^ro. ■55 2(X)0 Total 700 ".MdKNINO CiIHONICLK" STKAM I'UI.NTINO K.STAIIUSHMENT. .^Q ^-i to / > « QUEBEC AND LAKE SI JOHN DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS FOR 1891. DIRECTORS. Mr. Fi.ANK ROSS.. Quebec. " E. BEAUDET " SIMON PETERS Hon. p. GARNEAU, Minister of Public Works. Mb. GAVIN MOIR Hon. F. LANGELIER, M.P Mb. THOMAS A. PIDDINGTON " JULES TESSIER, M.P.P " JOHN THEODORE ROSS . , " EDWIN HANSON Montreal Hon. GEO. IRVINE Quebec. " Judge J. A. GAGN6 ChicoutimL Mr. JOSEPH J. FREMONT, Mayor of Quebec Quebec. OFFICIERS. FRANK ROSS President. ^LIS^E BEAUDET, rDET, \ IS, J . Vice-Presidents. SIMON PETERS, J. G. SCOTT Secretary and Manager. ALEX HARDY General Freiglvt and Pasajnger Agent. E. A. HO ARE Chief Engineer. ^ . 762 25^^8 Genepal Offices, Quebec. MOBNINO aUBOmOLE" STMAM PRINT.