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RKPOHT OF IMlOGUlvSS i.(\. c U)h:inc TEMl'LE E irl (,t <•■<■•■ ilv., ,(■•( 'ovcrnur (,',,in,,l „/' th,- J, million of Cannula M VV IT I'l.KAst; V(,| H I-: X<'K/,|,i.;Nry, — Tho iin.h'f-i^-riod luis (ho I 'I'oyrcss J{o|,(„|, „,• ,)„, j.j„^.j ""•our respectfully („i„.c.>oi, I ioY„„M.: CiiDiidiiui I'aiiiie Hail "oor-in-Chioi; on [\a> Kxpl v<<-'ll(.'nc.y, the WHV, up t., (|,on,.l()f (lieyoMi- 187;{ rioi'iuory ,Snrvey.s made ibr A. MAOKi.;:}ZII.; Minister of Fublic Work$. PAHLK OF CONTKNTS. n^ <,i mi; \r. i;i:r<»i;T I'riviiiii- ii|iiiii. Wmk nc'^iimiili-licil H'liiniig nt' oti'u'c- it) ui(;iw,i Kxli'iil ol i''iiiiitiy iiii'li' Niitnr il (livi«inii> TIIK \VKSTi:i{N iiUMnrNlAlN IfKOION. Til"' Kooky ^^olll)tnil) '/oiw The Cfi-c.iU(> cimiii \'ii!u'i)iiV'i' atnl "^iic'cii ( 'hiicliit (<■ I-lim>l-i. I' l^.ltlirr .1 I' 11^ ili.^ ( ■•;V-I THE CFJNTliAl, "i; rifAllMK i;i;iil(iN' Tin' 'Jri'iit < Miiin.iii il I'l.iiii Tlio Niirtlcciu Ili\:-iii Limit!- ol' till' I'lMiiir [{.jriiui. Ijikox Kivr (iiii'-^tim 11 ()nii>»< Coal 1111(1 Iron Rraiiph oxjH'litioii id |'i!ii-i' Hivor TUK WmKK (tr EXl'LORATlHN IN DKTMI, ... Orjraiii/niinn of tlio -t^iH' The work m J5riti-ii Cloliiiubia, ilon<> in IST2. ttio E:t^t(Tn Hcfjion, in 1S72 the Mountain russos, 1><71.'3. Dutailod roport.- of Surveys made in 1>>"3 '*i.p. Ill i; I I 2 O •t 3 1 .1 4 8 8 y 9 9 10 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 1» 15 VI t.K.NKi; a! lil >l I IS OK Till, ,>ll{\ KV HoHiili- .11 I lie MN tliriii^'li tliK Kocky Motintitiii rii.iiii Pierfim.' tim ( 'u«i'jiiU' * 'hiiiii Honh'- i.M. - tiii> Kooky Mniinlain Zone. . . . Koiito N... I If. .111.' \i). 'J Koiil.' .N... a H>u\i> N(.. 4 lioiili' No. r>. KiKlll 'I'Miik I'lsii All's III. I. !• ^^l^r•kl'Il/,io in IT'Jil Till' ca-t l.iUv. II r.iiti' liilcl aii'l liivor .Skoeim niK UAll.U.W (iN \ AM'itlVEU ISLAND JIUl.l Ihl.'t l'< VllM S l.-l:ll|(l Iti'i I'^in^r l.i'twi'i'ti tlio Miiiii'lMiid hihI Viuicoiivit NIiiii'I Kviildlltiull i.tl Vllicniiv.'l' Nlllll'l A • I iiiiklnu' lliiiiii>;h lli" miii.'f.il iliMiii't- l{KS|ri;is IN IIIK I'UAIUIK UK(iU»N W II ''I' i'"iiiiniiiiicutioni. Tli.'iii'it I. Tli- i;n iKt'H. •iiskuli lii'waii . Coal I.. KE.S1M;I"S in •|!I|'; WimiIiLAND HKdTON Kxiiloiiitioii midi' i'liil in jiio'^i'.'ss. Koulp No. 1 Houlo No. :; Kotit" No. ;;. Com piiM live- I li-t unci's. Kn^'iiiiM'i'iii); ftviti Coiiip.iii'il witli 1 vi-tin;; Mailways Ka-y ^.'la.li.'nts in tlip din'i'tion ol' tn>ffic A clit'.ip lino i-.'coininendod in th« lir'< ."'list of Fort (iiirry. Coiu]tiii'itions. CLI M ATIC I )1 KKICI 'L'l'lE.S. 1 I'.WiK. It; ift u\ If) 17 17 17 Irt I'J 1.'4 '2S 26 2(1 27 2H 28 28 30 .31 33 .33 34 . 34.1 In th>' Woodland Kegion .34.1 111 til.' rrairit'.-i Ki'»;ioii 34.1 In tli>> M'niiitaiii K.'giou .34.1 i'lie Know. Tail at diHorent points 34.2 Wint.T .litnite m-ar tlio Yellow Head I'iiSB 34.3 VII Hiiowfiill in Itriti'li ^'olnnil'ii I>i'i|iii'ii>>ti« , ,. i.usmn' i.iri: <'N Tin: sruvKY • dNiIJ I'IN'I |{KM\I(K«< ON TIIK KKNiJlfAf, IM:-'ri,r>; "K TIIK M UVKY . TAiii.i; I, riiiutijjii 'i-tiiifif. • • II. Ml-nil riiiili'- In in Foil 'liiiry (M-lwunl , " III. Mixi'il I'liil iiii'l wii.'i' loiiUM il. i|.i M'I'KNMX A. -MXI'KltlTloN AOUuss IKF, i '• iNri.MLN I". NnTKsnN |||,; .■IJAiiA'TKlMil- Tin; iMlNTliV, A.-... ,. ... . TiiiiM.i'T l; i.v t.. .Smlln^.-t Al»;-'li', l.nU- ./tli.- \\cm).|. N't.illi \V.> I Anpli' i<> !>• 'I liiv.T Ifi'.l Ifivcr tt> Fori Kllifo Chmurtti "f wltitiT-, fill 'if -now, Ac W;il.tr Sii|.) !y- r.iii.^ki-h nil.T ... Fort Kllii!f to I'ort Kiluk'-uion .., ., Kivi'i'* ol' tlu' I'lii'i- , ...,,..,..... ... Fofl lvliniiiit'>'i t'l Yi'll '"v lli'.nl l',i.'«s , , , Coil .. ., Di>«rolitor tli" I'i.i'»-i lii\'i lo |Vi.> .I.ilino Cuoli.' Ti'li' .l.iunt' *' •■•II- !■> Iliv I'lu-itio .., Itiiiti;iry .... , AFPKNi'ix !!. ■ im:\' i; iMvi;i.' i-\'i'i:nriinv ....... .. Jn-iMii>tioii- ,.,..,... lii'|Mirt— iMiuiPiii 111 to J'lvici- I?iv('r. . Fori I 111 11 \ . L' 111 . . Cul 1{0( kv .Mount. uii I'ortagi' E>(ini:it iibovn the soil l,ill.,.M.;l 1 . ... I/iko MMliiiif ... Tlio Forks ol'ski'cii.i .... Hivei- Nii-^f* II nil. i!ir- Mil ihc ^■(>.•l^l , Tin' «no\v ! ill A1TENJ)I\ i'.— Iti'l'AM''A!, liF.roKi; LAKE .SUrElUuIt TO THE FACIFlr OCEAN riiuiiil.i li.iy III .M.iiuloli.t V'nllt'y of tho Kiiinini-tiiiui;i Urowtli ol' tiuilicr Iliiiny Hiver. ... .Mmitoli.i (i> Eiiiuouton. Flora of i\n> L'vi\iv'w> Agricultural iiro(iuiH.'« I'AI.W, .T».{ ;;i..: .14 4 .14.. '> .;».♦■. :>l (I ;;i.n .•l.'i-44 .ii .Ifl .'i!y ami .MincraU. Coul. l'CMO»> KiviM < 'anyoii I'atiiiiy ol' tlu> Kitri'Hi 'rimlicT List of pl,ii>ts Siiitnl)ility I'ov stttlirni ut, rlimite, .~oil, Ac Exoo[ilioii:il clini ill.- oC Ptano Kivor region ... Facilities lor lines of Cdiiiiniinicatiou Al'i'EN'DIX I).— (.iENKHAL INSTRUCTK A'S TO THE STAFF To EngitK'i'i's in oi.iii'gL' " 'Iran -hitmen " Levellers Ai'l'ENDlX i;. — rU')(iKi:s.S REPOKT ox survey in B. ''<•[. UMIUA, 1872 Instruction- l'o>ition '.f tlie sevt'ral surveying; [)iUties .... .Ii)urnpy to j^ute inlet iiml connneiH'enieiit of the Survey \VivMiii:.'ton to X'ictoria. ...,,.. Joiu'ncj' to (^ icsnelle Lake Exi)loratorj- Survey on Vancouver Island Fhysi«;.ii I'iMtures of I',. Columbia Engine. 'ling (^h.iraoter of the lines Surveyed \ ''How I lead Pass eastward l)itto wo-tward K iiiiloojis hy Nicola Lake 1 -ie.a of jirincipal lakes and rivers APFENDLX. (.J.--1)ET.\ I f REPORT OF OPERATIONS IN THE R( )CK Y M( >UNTAINS Receipt of in>triie,tion.s and arrangement of parlies , Paok. OS tis 7l' 71 70 7^ 79 S3 .H5 *»;, '.•6 y'J-!U4 '.•9 111- 1(14 105-1 ;w ]().-, ] I lO ItiS 111 \\•^ 114 115 IL'l- VSd \2X 129 las 141 143 Ho 147 149 lo.-; 1;)4 ISO-Ifri l.)-, ir.s 10 1 10-'- 1 73 It'll' .1 ( .\ri'EN ,1 N Co .vri'ivNi AVi Noj Mo (fei Tall Si 10 llai <'oii I'alil .Ui'E.VDl Pus-. j Nort ait'Enm: Nor; Tiie Moui riie (, riie I '^ iew ■l'h,> ( Bute Tahle 1 IZ rA(,K. r,« t> T2 Tl 7f) VJ S3 y» I.I 2 9;. 9'J-liH tiO in:.' Iii4 72 105-1 Jw ]().> lilt) KiS 111 llli Ill 115 122 121. 12c 12\ 13! 14 14; 14, 14' 14 lo li) -16 I'l l;i IC ITAlNS 102-173 lf,2 .lounicy to iK-l.! of opeiiitiou-; 12y 334 138 Al'l'EN AIT .1 AFi'l' Al'l'EX iHiii)-ii> mill .N,iii--n)g I'lvi I'lii-. (ienoial Ii'Mii i: k- .....,.,., , TaMi' •>i'(li-t:ui('r-. K'imI Kiv.-r r.D Likf- S ipei-iiir mil Xipi-^.-ini.' Snow I'll! 11,11 'mi II', 1111 i.ikc S'nioiii>i' 'I'll! mil' 'I' Buy Nt'i'i^iiiii Bay ,. .'lulling ri'in iik-: I', iluto- ofoiR'nitiy uul clci-ijiii;, S.iult Sto. Mario Kivcf aiiil Caiifl X K.-Sl'i:rrAL UKPnUT UX PASSES THHdUlJll CASCAI KdCKV .MniyNTAIN CHAIN'S I ~ thi'.mirii tlu> <; i.-o I'lo mountains ,, :lu'iii I'a.-sc- iliroiii;ii tiie Kooky Mount lin-f X I..— EXTKACrs FKdM 1;1-1MHT |( I'.i !I4 2 1 ti 219 220 223 221) 22'7 22S 22>* 2:iU MM Paok. APPENDIX M.-EX rHACri'S FROM SIR ALEXANDf:R M ACKENZIK'S .T( )URMAL.. 231-237 Approaching tlio (':tsr,iu](> Clvtiii 23J Crossiiij^ tlu' Mouiititins , 2li?> Doscont on tho Wcsti'i'ii Side , , 234 I'lirific tide water 235 'JYiioos of'C:i]it. VMiinouvei's partios 236 APPICNDIX N.— j:\ril ACir-; FR')M VAXPOinn-Ui'S VOVA'JE OF DISOMVKRY.... 23^-'-'5('> Mount StojiliiMK 23it Fil/hugli Sound 24u Pearl Von-k< 241 Smitii Inlet 243 Buike ('iin:\l 24''. Kinj; Man. I 247 DiMliCuial -A^ 0.iscad(> Cmal 24^ Si)o\v.(;i]i|i.'d Miiunlaiu- -'iJ, (iai-duer Cunl , 2") I APPF.V['IX (.».-XAVI(iATlMX t >F I.AlvE^ AND laVKH- IX rilH PRAIRIE KKiiloN 257-2(^2 Na\ igit'iin .if till' X'U'tli Sa-kiidii'w.in 257 'I'ln' (iiMU'l au'l oIImt lvi].i'l< , 'Si'- Fii''l foi' :U.Mm purjuxo- 2V,I Mns^y ]'o!t'i-e 2nu Wati'i' Il.'U Pivi r 2r)ii ilea. low J\jit:i.L:e ,. 25 ■ PiirtiidiTO ( 'lop a) hi .Daujihine liivers , 2f')l Praiiie J'.)il ig.- 2*il ].o\' au'l approaches 2<'i'^ Snow-fall in North 'J'hompsoii Viilley '2M Sno\vf;iU in .la-pci' ^'■alleJ' 27o APPENDIX Q.—LmSS OF LIFE OXTilF SUhVEY 273 •2'<(, looses suHfained iu 1871 and 1872 273 Action of the (lovornment 27.'^ !| Lo-^os su-tained hi 1S73 2f*o ^ Action of the Oovernmeiit 284 Ah-traot of total lives lost ..,,, 2S6 liFXK SIAPdF Sh Ph'id'II.I MAP 01 DI Em -KKI.ETu. (IIAKTOl •HART 01 ri.AXS Oi CHART O XI Paoe. rRNAL.. 22\-'2r, •lAJ. as.", 234 2.15 236 ERY.... 23H-'J5f) L-liAlKlE 2'5',t 24H 241 24:i 241'. 247 i:4s 24v» 2.'. t •^Oi-^' DIAGRAMS AND MAPS GKNRKAL PIIOI-MLH ACJIOSS TlIK IIOCWV ArdCN TAIN /oNK, (I) From Buriaid Inlet r/.- ?\icolii Like .mikI Co., liliiillii Vullc)' Siiikt \i (■2, Vi om Riinvud Inlet f/./ Hiver-i Frii.-er .1 'II loniiison. ...SlIKUT No. ..SlIliKT No. .. .SlIKKT No. (.")) Fi'iiui iHite Inlet i ia Chilcfitin iinil lUup River (iiin>ioxiiii;ife) . Sm:i:T No. (;!) Fiom TInwe Sound riu Lilloct ond Boniiparte Valley (4) From Bute Inlet rla Chileotin, Lake Cunim .and noarwater. (Ci) From Riit<> Inlet '•//« Foit '' aiiil North FriM (approximate) Ni (7; From Noithllentuiek ,\:m //(/ I'eace Rivei \':dloy (aj'l'ro.ximate) .'^iii:i:t No. M AT HFTIIE COUNTRY WTl IIIN TIIH :V .Aiid-NTAIN /mNI No. Siiewiiig the several routes sni'veyed, exj Icred and pioi<>(Ued Si I'Ki iFII.ES ;; F R( dJTFS EETWEEN I, A K F> .M A Ml' - i>.A A N D N 11 ' I SSI N( i . . . Shkkt N. MAP OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN TilF ll.'tiVLNTKS MAMT<'BA . ..-iiiktN. I 2 .'{ 4 5 r. 7 26i I DTAOBAMS BEBATINfi T< ) NAVKiATK N OF '1 11 !•; I.\l OF riiR iM{A[i!i;-: hecjiox. AN I) I ivi-.i;s 2(j;5-27u 2i)-. 204 2tV.i 273 Emhraeing (I.) Plan and Frolile of the (o.-md Rap NEPKUiN Siiki.t Nc 12 1.3 14 1.5 CllAltT OF THE CUA.ST oF BRITISH C(.H iVl'.IA let^een -.Nt :nd ■||i dei'reos of North Latitude ~-in;iiT No. Ift 2S1 •2Sf\ PACIFIC RAILWAY REPORT. The following Maps and PlanH, prepared to accompany thiB Report, are now in the press and will be ready for delivery in a few daye. 8heet No. 8. — Map of the Country, within the Rocky Mountaim Zone, bhewinq the beveral routes surveyed, explored and projected. Sheet No. 10. — Map of the Country between the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Sheet No. 11. — Diagrams relating to Navigation op the Lakk>) and Rivers of the Prairie Region. Sheet No. 13. — Chart ry Thunder Bay. Sheet No. 1 4. — Chart of Nepigon Bay. Sheet No. 15. — Plans of the River,s Kaministiquia and NEPiotiN. Sheet No. 16. — Chart of the Coast op British Colu-mbia between 5l8T AND 55th degrees OF NoHTII LATITUDE. 'I'( T. mny thiB very in n loUNTAIM IIRVEYBD. INCE8 or F, LaKK>> lETM'KKN ff|H.- (UNADIAN CAriKK- Kam^wav, ;:7; •■''■'" "'"^■'''''"■'''-' •> >-^^<' -win,A,,.,„.,.„„;,,,.,.^ """'^' —-"",....,.„ .„.,,,, ^,.^, .^ J ■ ♦■■'"adian I'a.-ifi, IJailuav. ' ' ' I liiivr III.' Iimiuiir I,, |j,, Sir. > "111 .>l'.'.li,.|ii >,.!'v,-(m. SAXFoRI. FiJvMix,; J'^'/tiiimnii,.! '/,,',/. 'AK. 'I'll'' llononn.Mc. Ai.kx \n,„.:,,. .\|\,kknzi <';nia>i,i. '^'»*WWW1>WWWIHB« I{K Canadian Pacific Railway. REPORT OF THE OGL\EEK-1N-CHII:f JANUARY^ 1874. ■■" ■* '■'''•'''' '''''^ ^'^»''*'m*m^aKjiis 1111(1 siirvms, wlik'li liavc liooii imikU' iiinioi' my "lirt'cCuMi. in coiiiK'ctioii with iIk' iii'ojc'C'U'il lino of niilwiiy t'roni tin' I'roxiiicos ol Onlafii) iind (^iicln'c to tlio I'iU'itie Coast. -My pi'oliniinai'y i'e[)iii'i. (iatcd A|iril Hltli, lS7:i, o'-ivc an o'llliiic 'if the iniiia- liM'v stops wliioh lia'l been taUi'M fur the iiuijioso c(iv('i' a [iiactii'aliic line lor lln' lailway liciwi'i'ij a |i')iiil iioai" Lako Ni|)issiiiy'. in tlio \'alloy of tiic Oilaw a, anil I lie I'acitii- <'oji-l. li also fuiaiislu'd a siiniinaiy oi' tlio information aciiuiicd ii|i totliai linu'. Sinoo tho date of tlio aliovi> ri'porl. tjic work nt' cxjiloration Iki> Ihm'Ii conlimiod, and. from time to \m\v. 1 liav<^ had tlio honour of laxim;,- hcforo llivtiov- cnunont momoranda of the survoyiii^' ojicrations in ditfon-nt M'clion.s of tho cmmtiy, oxplaininj,' tho ohjocts aiiiiod at and tho procrross made. hylho ond of hist yoar a va-l ainoimt of work had hccn accomplislu'd. and e.xaot data aoqiiircd. I havo, howovor, to roport, with much ro^rot, that on tho KJth ItiHtntit ft tiro hmko out in tlio bnililinijf Dcciipicil tin (ifHi-e-^ in tlii^ city, liy wliicli tl>o j^roatof piirt of tlio pliiiis, litlil imlo-* ami loinnls of tlio Hiirvc^yn wwe com- plotoly (lostroyoil. Til oon-(oiiiioneo of thin mtIous (lisa>ti'i', luiidi iiicoiivi'iiionco ami (litflcully will 1)0 oxporioiicod in cnnniKition with tlio vork in liaml. (Joncral results juv, ho\v- ovor, known; ami it will Ix- otit* 'if tho oliji'cts of this report, •while tho suliject is trvsh in tho memory, willi tlioliolpof such iVai^iniMils of plans ami docunn'tit^ as hftvo es(^apo(l flostruction, to placo tho whole on reeoril, as fully ami aceurately as pussilile. It is important in the first place to form a cleai' concojilion of the extent and ffenoral ])hysical fouturos of tho whole eouutry omhrucod within tho limits of tho cxploi-ation. THK COUNTRY TO BE TRAVKRSKD. Tho undertaking, propi»scd, is tho construction of a railway to connect tho Hoa- lioard of British Oolumhia with the existing railway .system in the Provinces of Ontario and CJiielioc, hy the most eligiMo line that Ua. These jMiinls are distant, on an air line, some five liundnMland tifly miles, hut tho coast is deeply indented hy great arms of the Noa, ai many inter- mediate places, so that the actual coastline is very irregular and will prohaiily measure several thousand mile-. The exi-ting railway system of the older Provinces does not extend any grcal distance northerly or north-westerly from Lake Ontario and the l{iver St. J.awrence; its limit may lie detined hy drawing a lino from the south-easterly angle of tho Georgian Bay, liake Huron, across to a point on the Ottawa River, not far above the city of Ottawa. Tho exploration may, therefore, bo assumed to extend from the lino last referred to, near the Capital of the Dominion, to that portion of the Pacitic Coast lying between Alaska and the St raits of San Juan do Fuca. A glance at a map of North America will .show that the tield of enquir\- extends from 7 of tho mocttho Moa- ProviiK'os <>r hin Canadian San Juan ilo ulrcdantl fifty I many inter- I ihly moasuii' d any fi;veal '■>{. J.awrenri' ; angle of the not far ahove last ivfenvd Coast lying ^niry extends litiidc on tho [itiide, and on ten (iegrecs bo found to L' fron\ throe drains into 1 = iliree oeean-i ; llie Atlantic *in- of ihr enntinenl. It i^ not alilth' astonishing, tliereforc, to liiiil that tho lia-e countries. Having !irr'iv(>d at a proper (•om'e))tion of tho extent of the lerritoi";v under (.'oti- sideration, it is imjiortaiil to de-^erihe in a few l>rief paragrajths its prmninent [iliy^ical ( haractoristies. Tlie leading hotanieal, In eonjiinetion with the geological and topograjdiieal, Icilures of the country diviile it naturally into three great I'egion-, The Kastorn is di'iiseiy woodi'd; the Western is woodi-d and mountainous; thet'entra! is a va-l low- land plain, for tlie n>ost part prairie. The.se three divisions may he referred to separately, iind it will bo convenient to deseribo first tlie "Western Region. THE WE.STEllN OR MOUNTAIN REOIO.N. The western ]>>rtion of the country omhraees tho several mountain ranges and the elevated jilafeaii which occur hetween the I'acitii' Coast and the comparatively low and level jilains. that aro watered hy tho Snskutehewan and some of the tributaries of the Maelceiizie. In a northerly and .southerly direction, it extemis from Washing- ton Territory in ihc United States to tho latitude of Peace Itiver. This is part of the great elevated mountain zone of \orth America, which commeuoes in tho Cordilleras and elevated plateaus of Mexico, and extends nearly to the Arctic Ocean, branching ot^', in the Alaskan and Yukon Mmintain ranires. towards Ikdiring Straits. This extensive, complex, and elevated region is known as the Hocky Mountain Zone. That portion of tho Rocky .Mountain Zone, embraced in the district under consideration, consists of two perfectly distinct chains of moiuitains. each with many spurs or bi'anches. an<> in lii'ii-ru N(>viii|iis ol ('lllitol'Mitl, mill i-McinU llluhi; lli<< i>iilil'<> sriiliMiiKl iif hi'ili-'li ('nlilllililll. Tlio Cii-ciiil" Cliain ri^c-. iiliniptly IV'Hii tin' »f.i ii'Vcl, |ir('*t'iiliti|( fVrim tin- wiitcr nil cxtn'tnt'ly IhiM ,'iiil(>liiuil ii-pi'it. 'I'lic iivcriii.'i» ln'i>:lit <>r tin' nuiny -cnutixl «iiiniiiit> will |irc)li:itily i'aiii;<> rroin .*>.*M)ii tn M.iKIt) t'cci iili<>vt> -cii Icm-I. ninl ■.niiif oi ilx ri'iilriil iiTilH ami inl'iir^l \»•,^]^^ rival in lU'vatinii llic iiiaiii IfucUy Mmiiitiiiii clitiiii. Tlu' main iliaiii nl'tlir I'ucky Mniinlain Znnc ii1)-it\ !•«< a L't'in-fal |iara!l('li>.ni Willi llic I'aeilic ('na»t, ami. in Hi'ili«li < 'ilnnil'ia. i^ rnnn .'ItHl to |iil( nii'f> ili-«iani rcitiii it. TlicMi inuiintaiii-* ri-f lilu' a r.ilo-i^al wall al"i\i' tin niiiit'iilal plain mi ii- I'lixtiTii >iili'. Tlicir llaiikv arc, Imwevi'i', ilci-ply i:a>lii'il. aiiil ureal cnuiitcitiirt-likc Npiifs jilt (lilt, lii'twcfii wliii'li tin- rivers ul'tln' piaiii> lakt iln'ir ii*i'. liiMiii'iJialcly (III (lie wi'^ti'i'ii llanU i>t' ili<' main Kicky .Mniinlaiii ( 'Iniin. aif tiiiinil liiiili iiiiMiiilain mii^-.c-' in iiiilfpi'iiiiriil •.'i""p--. aiiil kiiuwn liy lncal naiiici, xiifii aw •• ('iiriliiiii," "Selkirk-," ami "(inM" raiiires. Tlicy tire unly >eparaleii liy ileep elia-in- (ii- narrow valley^ Iimiii eiieli ntlier timl trum llic main cliain ; imleeil. tliey may lie c(iii«.ii|cre>l a> part nf it. Incliiclinu' llu", tlie breaihli ii\' the miiiii cliain, wliicli varies ;rr.'ally, will pn'l.aMy average iVdiii a luimlrc'l to twn linii'lrcd miles. .Miicji ul llii' U'leal miiiinlaiii liarrier rises ii\-er '^.(MMI t'eei ai'nve s('a level. 'I'lie kil'i ies| een tral peaks enter llie reirinn if |)erpetiia! siiow, ami simie ul' them liave lieeii estimated to reacli an eli'valiuii (if iri,()iM( t'eei almve tlic neeaii. Tlioro are several openinus (II- •• pa.-iscs " llirniiuli llie fJneky .\r<)imtaiii (."liain ; snnio of these jiassesare fVum (i,(lftU to 7, (Mill I'eel ahuve s<>a level. The lowest is less than 2,000 ieet. Tho Rocky Mountain Chain iiinloiiliteilly (lelcirmines the water shed oC the Con liiitMit. While tho water shed is for tiio most part coiiiciik'tit with the central crest of the main raiiije. its conliniiity is occasionally internipted hy transverse opeiiintfs atfbrding, as will ln'ivafler he seen. compai'ati\el\- ea-y jiassames I'roni one side ol tiio inuiintaiiis to the other. The most remarkaMe of these inlerniptioiis preseiiL- ilsell'in ahoiit lalitiidi' jt! - , wlu-re the.l'eace K'iver tinds a jiassau'e from llio Western to the Eastern side of tht main Jtocky .Mountain (.'hain and thus throws the wah'r shed of tho (!onliiiont, in this latitude, westerly across Ih-ilish Columhia toward.s the Cascade Alonnlains. Between tlu> Cascade and Jiocky .^^ollntaiIl Chtiins there extends an elevated [•lateaii. averayinii- tVom a little under liOllO to fully ItMMI feet almvo sea level. This pliileaii is grooved out hy (lee|i river channels, hroken hy rocky iMde;es and inferior moiintiiin masses, it has many lakes, occupying deep depressions in its surface, ami i.s intersucted in many directions hy niiinei-ous hroad, slielt(>re(l, uiululatiiii^- valleys. 1 ^.. . 1 . in 11 Nfvii tli>lniii II |ilaiii oil ii> iiinli'ilurl-likc ill Cliiiin. ate ; local iiaiiu*'>, Illy M'|iaratf(l III tilt' main lii' llii'-f «iil'- wliicli vai-io fi| iltw. Miicli III IC lol'liol ('I'll 111 liavc ln'i'ii iiilain <'Iiu"mi ; joWi'-t is U'» N I of the ('nil (Mitral ('iv>t nl f>c i)]i(Miin,ys 1 line siiU' <>t Ills pivsiiil- (he Wi'sti'in ■s till' \vat»'r iiliia tnwanls an cli'vatoi) level. Till- ami inferior ,111-t'ai'o, ana Itini; valioyrt. Tin' siifliii't' iiflliis |ilatiaii in -onii' <|Mai'ii'i's \, thirklv, n» ntlior- scantily liint'<'i'i''l. iinil ill '"•MM' ili>*li*i willmiit ^miio rd'cH'ticc lu ihcdia- rai't('?'i''tic features nl' ilic I'aiilic <''iast, al »iiinc |Miini un vliidi. Iiclwccn liic Stniil'* ot'San .Inan ilc I'lica iiiel Ala-Ua. tlie |ii-ii|iii'.i"l i{ail\vay inii-. Tliey |vi>»e>.s jn |(nit'ii-i(in tin' minerals, cual ami imn. wliieli lillNc icMed so elioriiioii-ly lo (he weiillh of I he Mother ( 'oil ll try. Vane.)ii\er l>l.'iiiil i> the mo>l -, mtherly aii'l I he hii'ire-t of ilic«e i>.l:in(|s. its .'X'reiiie li'n;,'tli is alioiit L'sil mile-; it exleml- northerly ami \\.'>terly Irom the Straits of San .liiaii lie Knea i-i a jiarallel ilireetion to the maiiil.'ine[iaralei| I'V mirrnw elianiiels ami exteinliinr alniii; the sjioie nearly liOII miles. Tlie-e i^l.iiiils h.ixe ili-iiiiei nioiiniaiii raiiu'e- "l tlieii- own, with cenlral pc-iks ii>iii^' 11 1 1 from ti.dlllt to T.I 'III Meet aliu\-e the seui-, onhmlile t|ie heiu'lil of ."snowilon. in \\'ale«.. ("iirran Tiial, in irelaml. or ('ros.,t'ell. in the north of Kinjlaml. ami more than oiie-tliinl hiijher than Hen N'evis, the culminating; point of the I'nili'il I'iin;filoni. riie eX|iosci| eoa-i> ot' the^e i>lani|s are charaeterizeil \>y lioM rocky lieaerratei| outline. These oiitlyim; islaniN. \'aiicoii\er an>l the (^iieen('litirloite!,'roii|>, stami like sen- tinels in the i'aeilie. The one guards the southern, ami llie other the northern |iorti()ii ei'tlie scahoard of the mainlanil of Hritisii ('olumhia. Heiween .\l:iska ami Wasjiiiii^tun territory, tiloni; liie Paeitie shore of the main- liiml. there exists, within the line of the lafi^er islaii'ls last ri'ferred to. ami sepiirateij i'r"iii them hy channels ami st rails o( \'arioiis wiilths, mii intricate arehiiidaiXo ofsiiialier i-laiids. He' ween the inininieralile smaller islaiiils there aie dee|i, in many |ilac<'s Milricaic |iass;ii,r,.,. Ica(liiiu- to lonu', rocklioiiid, 'ieep water ink'ts, or tioi-ils, riinnine- far into the ( "asciide ^[olllltaills, ( )ii the tiviHiiindred miles uf coast line there is ■I vci-y luftje tiiimlu'r of these remariiahle arms-ot'the sea. They are of i^reat depth, :i! |ila(H's reported fathomless. Many of tlu'iii iiieree the mountains to sindi an '•Nieiit that the larijest iron c'ads allojit could steam I'i'om the coast line, in some •"i>es, eie:lit\ miles into iIk. verv heart of the Cascade Chiiin. •Hellfhl of N'k'tnrlii Pcalciihovp tlii'Koii Irvcl, 7,1NJ fi>i.t. " .Mount Allierl Kdwimt " V-Hii " " Alexundra Peuk " ti,:M " l(:7r>ijf^i;fflimfWtffltwr't-iftr 6 T 5 .9 \ 'Plu'so iinmiiU'r.iMo islniuis. iiitricali' piissuijos. wiiidini,' cliaiiiioU ami ilt'f|i ll(ii-(l-. arc s('|iafatc(l tVoin oacli otlu'f \>y (■(Hiiitloss rocky Mulls aixl lolly inouiilnin |>t>aks : ilu- liiiUM-. in sonu'casos. risiiii; slioof out ol' i!k> ^oa and axi'iuiiiii,' a vortical mile tVoni llic watci-V iMlijjo to tlu'ir ImJil suiniiiils. Kroiu Alaska, soutlu'rly, ahuii;- llic coast to a jioiiit oii|insitc ilio miiMIc of Van c.iuvcr Island, I liosc features arc niosl uiarkc(|, ami for iliis distance tln'y constitute a lul)vrinlli ofan intricate and comjilicaled descri|tlioii, Helwi'cn the s,,uiliern Itall of Vaiu'oiiver l-land and llic mainland, llie inlricacie- t^f uavin'alion loa larife exteiii disupi'oar. 'Plio forci^oin^X outline of llie prominent cliaracteristies of tin- ijocky Mountain Zone and the shores of Hrilish Colunihia will irive some idea of the diilii-uliies to he overcouu> in cxU-ndini;- llic railway system of Canada to the I'acitic Coasi, It will ho siH'U thai two important proliUnis are presenied. rrimarilx', it is necess!u-y to discover the hest way of picrcini;- the mountain chains, hul il is scarcely less iinjior taut that the terniinatini;- point on Ihc sea hoard should he easily readied hy the lari^est (dass of vessels that, now or hcreaftci-, may navii;ale the I'acitic Ocean. Tilt: CKNTHM, Olt IMlAlltlK. HKdK^N. Between the Ivoclcv Mountain /.one. mi the racilie side, and the .\ppalaehian Zone, on the .\ilanlic side of North America, a v.i-i I'onlii'.cnial plain is spread out This i^reat lowland h^vel slrclchcs tVoni the (iiill' of .Mexico, at the -oulh, to the lltulson May .and .\i'ctic ()cean, at the north. The va-t area, alluded to, octupies the w hoh' of ihe c(Uilint>nl of Xortli America lletwe^'ll the ea-icrn and Wi'sleiai mountain systems, l( is divided h\ its river systems into two ikiI jicilccily slrai^hl and reM;ular. hul its n-eiier.'il direction is easterly and w esierl\ . and. except in the lonudliiile of |{eil i{i\er. I Iocs ii(ii esiend far lo the noil h or to the si ml h i>f Ihe internal iiuia I houmiarv line.* I; will Ihus he -een thai, assuming;' llic waler-hed to he approxima(ctl\' coiiici dent with Ihe t'.Uh p.arallel. tlu' tcreal coiiliiu'iilal plain of Niu'lh Amei'ica is divided, 'A lliii' (Iniwn Iroiii tlio cxtrcniH weslerly t>inl of l.iike Suit'i'ld" Ion poliil wlitri' Itn' 19tli piimllel ctoc^ch llif miilii Hdclty Moiiii^iilii ohiilii, wo\i|il inoip closely iii>jiio\lmiU(' tlu' illvliUiii,' lliic iiclAvefii tin' southern iiiul uorllierii araliiuKo I>msIiih. :ii'til rlitiil i(l(llt« of Viiii- I'V i'c)ii>liliit(« ;i sniitliorii liall :i iiirtf*' oxti'iil (ky M:iclu'(l liy llu' • Di'i'aii. .\]i|>alai'lii;m 1 i> sproail i>ii( ' -oiitli, l<> tlu- it'iit nC Xorlli is (lividiul \>\ :' iinrtliiM'ly \i> icMtial plain |c Arctict )i'fan if till' Missis ires (if tlio Hod lie. llio walci'- il ami ri'iruiai-. Iiiiiiliiilt' lA' IJfii loiial I'diindarv liiati'tly coinci irira isilividi'il, III \iiinillpl rnis-irH IwCfll till' HdlllllHll li'll ticiallv ns wii'I a> iiatiiralK'. tlifmiiili llu> I'Oiitro. It is diviili'd artitiiiall\ iiiti !\\ii ai Iraiiia^-i' Ijaii'iit (•iiiiiilrii's iihiitT distihiM n-dv 'I'liiiii'iil^, and naliiraiU' into two vast liasins wliicli di-ciiari;'c ilicii' waitTs in o|i|iosiic dii-c •lion ol' till' coiiiil ly now more | ai'ticiilai'l V under I'onsidi'fal ion, and 1^ w I'll, ill till' lii'i^inidiii; ol' ilii^ !• Iiollv ill (lu- iioi'tlit'i-n lla^ill. •|ioil. i-. di-iL;nal('d llu- I'raii'ic or ( 'cut ral lie To the cast of the |iraii'ii' disti'iii. and mi ilic llMli |iarallc'l o| luiiiiidf. is tlio Lake ol' the W'ooiU. it' a lino In- drawn t'roni ihal lake in a nearly straif^'lit north- wi^lei'lN eoiirse it will strike ll le '.^eliera! ll I line 111' the Mackenzie |{iver, lu'tweeli lali lll'U" ti I • and tir> - , and wil ll iroiiij'li or near a rem arkal lie M'l'les o flak ii\alliin;' in si/e l,ake-- l-'.rie and tiiitariii. ((t'lliese lake^ may lie mentioned, in tiieir (irder ot'sin'ee--si,i!i. |,:i];e \Viiiiii|iei:-. wilii il^ eom|iaiiiiiii lakes, Manifolia and Wiii- iii|)et,'iisi-.; followiiii;', we liiid !>in'r I„ik'e. Lake Wolla-'ion, |,ake .\llialiaska, (ireal Slave Laki', and, slid t'lirllieron in tl le --.■ime ii'i'i leral eoiii-.e, (i I'eal Hear Lake. T ie--e ^n at e.veavatioiis or de|ire->ioiw in ilu' •.nrlaee a|i|H'arlo occur on the vi'iiar al iiiL;' lint> lieiweeii a lu'oad liaiid ol' Laureiilian or Mei:inioi'iiliii' ro< k--, and ino rrreiil and softer tlirmalinns. It' we take llii-^ line a? tlie lia--e ol a triangle, will 1 one Ic extendi Hi;' trom llu' fjake of the Woods wi-^icrly, aluiii;' the I'niti'd Stale-- lioiindarv llie liasc of the l{oek\' .Moiiiii:iin'>, and the other -ide exteiidiiii,;- from the latter norlhei'lv aloiiir the ll'inlc of ihe iiioiinlain^ lo ihe .Mai Iteiizie 1 (i\fr. a I'X -eri|ition ot'llu' leadiiii;' [iliy>ical fcaliii'c-- o|' ihe (eiilrai eounlry will he rendered Ircincly siinide. The Iriaiiu^le will hi' iioarlv i^o^eelcs. with side- nf from !'uii in I.niiii mili"< each, and its liase will iiie;isiiro in leiiiith alimii l,."»(l(l mil This \as( Iriaiiirlc. coidainiiii;- ahoiil ,'!(lll, 0(10,00(1 acre-, iiKiy he de-crihed •^'cner- ally a- a n'rcat plain', slopiii!;- u'eiitly downwards from ii'- apex lo iis hase, lis apex ;il llic tiiol ol' the Uocky .Moiinlain chain, helween I he soiiri es nf the Mi-soiiri and till' South Saskalchew.'in, i- e-tiinaled to he ahoiil LOOO led almve -ea le\el, while Ills fruiii Lake of the WOuds to (ireal hiiAher elevalii.n than MOO or 1,(100 it- hasc, Ivini^ aloiiti' I le seru"~ o| lake exii,-iiisii Slave lialce, will iinl, it is lielic\eil. a\ei,'im' a feel aliove the •-ea. The !-i\er s\-teiiis, which carrx' I'll ihe water flow o|' ihi- Imi sloping;- |i ,'ive the Assiiiilioiiie, the S;iskalcliew an, llie .\ I liaha-ka, and the reaee. The lirsl two uiiito their waters in i,al;e W iiniipe:.; heliire liii;illy |ia--inii- oni IhroML^h the NcNon K'i'.erlo Hudson Hay, The la-l Uvu are I rihiiiarics .iT liie .Macken/.ie. and, lhroiii;li the channel of thai ri\er. iilliiiiaiely reach the Aniic ()eean Helween the Sas kaliliewaii and the Alhahaska the l\i\er ( 'hiircliill lake- il- ri-e, ami llow- mile iH'inlently in a li'eiicrally iiiirlli-ea-lein coiir-e. falling' iiltiinalely into lliid-on Hay, .\ll the rivers of this divi.-ion ol' ihe country llnw tor a ij;reat |iarl of tln'ir li'iigili in deeply eroded ehannels. treijiteutly of eoiisidorahle width, ami, as the nm- teriiils uiidorlA-iiii,' tlio ])Iains arc for the most port diif't or soft rock lormation, tlic cliamii'lswliicli liave Ikh'u I'lirrowcil out aiv iwit miicli olistnicti'd liv falls (ii>daii:,'croii.s rajiids. hut ijciicrally prcsi-iit, from tlic l.a>c ot the iiiouutaiiis lliroii^'liout llic U'ri'ali'r jiart of thi'ir nurse, a uiiillu-Di iIcm-imiI. Allli()ii,i,'!i tin; tr,anLCMlar-.--lia|K'd lerriinry i^'fiMTcd to may In- vicwccj. in a i^'oii- i-ral (K'.M-ri|ilioii. as a i;Mvai iilaiic. sli)|iiiiM' fnun its api-x downward'- in a iiortli (.'Ustorly direction to its ba.-c, tlic iiiclinalioii i- not perfectly unitoi'iTi and unhi'oiake Superior is variable in width, ranging from forty to seventy miles, and its eastern extension assumes, on tiio north side of Lake Huron, a width of about titty miles. Behind the roidcy elevated range I'eferrod to, the surface is found to be compara- tively flat. Between tJie Province of Manitoba and Lake Superior, the drainage of the I'orniation, (In- N Of (1;iiil;'vi'i>ii> lirnil^liuut tlir W("l. ill it '^C\\ •ii. iiiiitry al wiilr iikI t'lniiiiiicos, iiisiniially iiii't !, ulllioiigh the .1 111 Till of tliO •ri' ari' cxti'ii aLii ft.'alilo mix lo jiirvail a> A Vfi-y lari;;' tniiolia ainl t lit' ollur quarters llir Wood la 111 I tlT, iVollI thr 10 sot (It'll a I III i-iii clrvatlon of from I KtD lo J')ili» fort, whili' F.ako Siipoiior is tldO Irrl, ami Lako \Viniii|ii',u' Tl" fi'ol, aliovc tho. soa, 'Tin.' "Ksri'iii IVom tiio \val!'i' -luil wostwanl is \ri-\- gradual, ami llio loimify Jin- llio \vliol(> ili-taiicc i> roiiiari iiiioi'soitoil. Tln'si' ooiisi>| of loiiu:', wiiiiliiit; slioots ofwaloi'. sojiaratod liy rorky riilL:r.>; ami ~o niuni'i'oiH arc tln-y, lliat ;in liiijian in his canoo can travel in alino->i any roiniiiril ijirot'lion hy niaJvini;- an ,.ira-ional ])oi'fago. Lake Xepi;^'on lies ilireetly nortli of Lak'o SiipiTidi' iiinl lii-i li.ii'^'es iiitoii hy till' Kiver Nopiii-on. The doscent to ilie latter la'.-e is :ir>2 fool. fjako 2fc])iii;on is tho )niwt noi-iheily re-ervoir nt' the St. T.awfonre hasin, tho lifiiii of whioh is lioro i'Xleiiii(>d 12() miles iioi't li oi' ],.'iko Siijierior. Tlie oiitltm of t.]ie wator-^hed i-, howovof, so ii't'oLXulai'. that, a lew iiiile> to t he ea-( of Lak'e No))i:,'on, thr I'l'lm of till' li,'i>iii eiu'vos I'oiiml iiiiiil it i'oa;lie~ a point within "Jd miles ,,|' |,ako .^^iiiiei'ioi'. Xorili of this poiii' the. watei'-- ik'W lowai'd.-. llinUon iJa^y. Although the ii'eiiofal :i>pe('t of (ho eoiihiiy cast of Lake Xopii.C"ii) •'■* si'OAi I'foni r.akes Sii]ieriiii' and iriiron, is precipiloii-; and riiii'^.'d, (o (lie I'oai' of thi> wild and f.i.'kv froiiiier the siii'faio doseoiid- iioi'ihei'ly in ea>y >Io|m>. So imirh is iIiIn found 1.1 he the ea--o. that, in jia-sin.;- tVoiu .liaJM.' Xijii-siiii;- to [,ake .\cpii;'oii, thi'oiiL;li ihr iiilcriol' of the eoiuiliy-, tlie asrelil to the snmmil le\H'l will arlM,ill\- he lc^> than thai \ hieh is exporioiieed in jia^-^iii:,' fVom 1"..|'^,io aero->s (he |ieiiin-nla "f We-iorn Ontario. hy either the Alh.'iny and .Moos,, to .lames |)a_\', while the di'ain:i',.;e of the fii:.;'n'ed, oleN'a'ed hell iiion^^ Lake-, .Snpi'fiof ,'iiid Huron ptisM'-, into ilu? ha-in of the St. Lawi'iiiieo. Tho aijfieiillufal fesotirec^ of this oxionsivo TOi;'ion of eotind'y .'ife not pro- misiiiif. Ihil (he tiinhof which eovofs tho stiffaeo will o\i fy \ oar heeome mor,' am! la ifo valiial'lo. and its geolo;.;'ical slniedifo at!ofd.- indiea(ion> oi' minofal wealdi. tut; suuvkv. Ilavim: (hit-- pi'OM'nled a foiin'ti oiitliiU' ot' (ho --aliont phv--ii;il eli!ifae(ofi--(Irs I'f the thi'oe ii'foal foirioii-., into whioh (ho vast tei'i'Kofy iinder tonsidrfalioii is naliifiilly (lividod, I will turn to tho operations carried lui in coiinoetion with tho Sui'voy. It e.'ii'ly hccame ainiaronl thai (lie chief ol.i>(aeh^- (o ho ovofoome would [>e found to exist in the 3roiin(ain IJen'ion to (ho we>(, and (he Woodland i{e_ii,!on (o (ho €iis(. The Pr.'iirio Region in tho conlro lioinji; open, I'Hsih- ai cossihlo for ON.'iminntion H 10 JUici, triorc'ovi'f, Nirnplc' in all il'. iiatinvil fi'iiluffs, %\ii- iml fxpcctcil (o lie f'riiiiriil n\' «iiv ('imiiK'criiiif t|ilUiiilt'K'> of any kiiul. It wuiil'l only In' nt'ccs^ary to cxtrci-c ciuc aii lioiigli>, wliii-li tlu' ii\fr- ol' the [ilain, lia\o furrow I'll out. In 'lie Wooijlaml I>i',n'ion, iicai'ly all our kllo^vlt•ll^■(' of Hie couiilry u;n continiHl to tiic canoe roiiU'-i travfllcil I'V llio oflii ers and -<('rvaiii> of' llu' llial--oii Hay ('oni- pany. Tln'ri' were JMiniiriiN of niili'-' wliidi, a- i'ar a"< Known, hail lu'vci- In'cn j)cnotraltNl I'V an\ iivili/,r'l man, and tin' as|iccl ol'ihr rr^iion cNiiox'ii to view fpii liakc-; Superior aii'l Huron \va^ far from i iu'ouraL;in;i'. inilic Monnlain iu'Lcion s<.iii(' inf(U'nialion liad ln'cn Lruint-I, lul tin- mri-t niitliontii- aii'l rdialile, coiilained in ihc rcjioi'l-. pi'' -enltcj to i|ic imjicrial (Jovi-rn inenl hy Cajit. Palii-cr. rallnl in (pu'stion the po>-^iliility of ( on>t rurliui,' a Ilaihvay to the Pacilic CoaNt, witiiiii thu limit-- of the llotniiiion. All inl'ormaliou went to ,-lio\v thai ilu' ditliiuil' ii'-; {•• i'c o\ i-i'i-omh', hoth in thr W Hand and Mountain llci^-ion.-.. arc >'\' a lluinidalih' rjiurailcr. ( >n liciiiij called upon (o take in charirc the Woik o|' c\]iloi'at ion. llic(!o\crii incnt diMtiied it licsl lo lease inccntirclv unl rainelU'd liy any spccifu' in.-l rnct ioii^. i \va> .-inii.ly in|l)riniMl an>(Co)id. That the ahove line sh(ui!d touch, or hy a lu'am'ii eonncci with, ];alrk ol' e\plor;it ion in the A\'e>icrn liei;'i(Ui, in order to di-cover. with as lillle delav a.> |io-.-.il,le. ;i pr.actic;ilile line foi' the IJailwax ihrou;:-h the IJocky Mountain Zone : a line which uoiild prove the shortest and lea-t exi'cn-ive, which would he.-t suU .sei'\-e the inlcresis of the counlry, and lead lo the iuo-i eli- ihle harhour on the Paciti( Coast. Fntnili. That the route for the Railway throU:j,li the I'rairie ltec.-i.ui. wluh- con- neciinu' with ihe lines in the h'astern tiiid We-lern siclions, so ;i> to rct formhlahle rieer crossings, and :ip)U'oaeh the rich depo-its ot laN alu, ••urv rep l-llc feali that jjosei 11 i> ]>v fniiirnl of ir\ lo cxcrci-i' 'CIIIC till' It'll^' r> dl' llu' [ilaiii, •\' \V!i-. (■i>iilini'il iilil never lieeii i>ei| 1(1 view en liiH ttie inii-> ipoi'iill (i(i\t'l'li ■iiui,' !t Rjiilwiiy iiie. I'imIi ill tin • in. ilie (tc)\ ei'ii tie iii-l riietion-. •eil to ili^eii\'er, uril.'i- thill tlu Inei|)le-- weri' I line tliroiijxi' le liehveell tlie e (if'.Miillilolpii. I'ct with. IviiKc he:i|>e-l (illliel iil.le \v:iiei'-. dl' li liear on the |;i-; ii'.tle ih'iliy imil:iiii Zdiic : [iXilil lie.--t sill'- lai'h'ilil' nil tlie |n. wliiU' eiiii- .iliiee llie ili~- lie jirojeeteil, •li ile|in-i(s ot eiiiil ami iron, lit the saiiu' tiino to he eoiivciiieritly near the lari,'(> traets of Uiinl iivailahh< for settlement, .M\' lleiiort, iire--ente'l to I'ai'liaiiieiit early in 1ST-, y'iv e-- an oiii line of the eniir-c l:il<''ii h\' lie' ill eon.liietinic the examination of the country, in aeeoriiaiiee \sith the alinve iirineiiiles. it ile-erihes the ^oiu'rai oi-gunization of the -laft', the work of ( aeh siirveviiii,' iiarly, the proi^ro— i niaiio ihiriiii!; the first year, ami fiirnishos 'h'laiUtI ri ports of result- ohtained in the Mouiitiiin, Pntirie ati>l WoiMllaiul Uet,'ioiis. KXPKIHTION ACROSS TlIK CONTINENT. In onler to ae(|uiro a eoneel kiiowleiiire re-peelini^ tlu^ phjsieal eharaeler- i^ies of the whole Territoiy, ami ohlain siieh infornuition eoiieerninif its onifiiieering fealnros as only a personal examination eau t'lirnish, I eonsidereil it noccsMai'y that I should iindeitako u ]iersoiial recMunai-^sanee of the several reuions pro- peseil to he lra\crsi;il hy the liiiilway. Aceonliiij^ly, early in .liil\' 1^72, f slartcil with a small exjihu'atory expedition to eross the eontiiient. We visited Xepi^on on LaUo Superior, passed iVom 'riiiindei- Hay hy the Daw- siiii route to Lake of the Woods and Manitoi)a. On the .'Jlsf July, we roaehed Fori (iarry, and left for the west on tlie 2nd of' Auifii>t, vi-iliiiii; l'oit> h'lliee, < 'ailloii. I'itt, and Victoria, 'H /v/»^'. We I'eaehedForl Ivlnionionon the inornini;' ofthe 'JTili .\ui,ni>t, and left that place for (he ^roiiiitains on llio follow iiii^ day. After a somewhat i'aliifiiiiii;- Journey througli interminalile windfalls and other hindrances, we entei-ed the first i-anj^e of -Mountains on liie 1 Itli St^ptembcr, and ou the I'ltli reached ihe VcUow Head Pas>, and eanipod near the Continental Water Shed. Pursiiin,:^ our joiii-n'.'y, we followed the Rive'r l-'ivv-er frtun its Ycdlow IFead .source to Tote Jaune Caclie. crossed over to the Canoe IJiver. the Alhreda, and thence followed ihe Xoi'th Tliom])son River to Kamloops, at which place wi^ arrived on tlie evening of Septeinher 28th. From Kamloops we travelled to Lytton, Yalo, and Xow Westminster, examined Hurrard Inlet, Bute Inlet, Barclay Sound, Seymour Narrows. Hciit. ;ind Arran Rajiids, \ isited intei-mediate jioints, and. on the IKli Octoher. linally arri\-ed at A'ictoria in Vancouver inland, thus "ompletini;' a recon- naissance, which altou'etlicM" extended over o.'JOU miles. Some miles and an Itinerary ot' the Journey will ho fnuTul in Ajqicndix A. Diiriiiir this joui-ney T vi^ited all the surveyimr parlies within reacdi, aseertaineil what progress they had made, and gave sueh fiirtluM- direction-, as circumstances rei|uii'eil. Incidiiilally to the main oljeels of this extended exjiloratoi-y tour, a great deal of general information i-esjiecting the country was ohtaincd. This information was consideretl siinieieiiily interesting and iinpoiiant lo he given to the puhlie, in a .,*f<.l, ■«)>»■ 12 jKipuliif and Tiioro ndraclivc form.* From Iln> ]>iiMicjiti(in nt iliis vnlimi.' il i> ii"l in'i'i'^--iii'\' li' Iciiuilu'ii (lii-- fi'|Mii'l {i\- itiliiiliiit;- fai'llicr 1.1 I lir cxjiodi- limi. Ik'\iu on a mailer wlii'li Hn'cihl^ niti-acli'l my ailt'iilinn. In ii-avcllim;' nn witli'Mii -Irc'imv. ;md. all liipiiM-|i ji'ind' and lakelil> ((eeii-iuimlly are niel Willi, many (iT lin'ih ai'e -aliin' nf liiMcki-h. 'Die (|i;('-i ion of u ;iici- -ii|i|Tly i> nnl<'-nnle U',i(,r >lli'ei--s(\|| dair\' lai'inim:'. and llie j;enrral -el I lemenl i.l 'lie riidi |irairie land cannul lie ex pceti'cj. I'\-crmi,Ml,(Mm|piirlaiieii 111' liii- mal ler. I r..nddi'rcd il my dii(_\- lu iji'aw t lie jill.Militiii III' the (i'i\ ri'iiineiil lo ila--(M.ii a- I liad an i ■[.].. iri nnily. and I I'l'iaiin- mended iliai a llii>fni|o-li cvamiiialii'ii -leiiilil i.e maije wiilmiil ileiay, and ilial le-i luniiii;'- iif :iiie>iai' \\ eJU -Jii.uld In' -link a! iiileiA'als. mi a< In delennine ilie waier liearinn' ijiialil les .if di-lriel> where lln- ^-iiiTaee is de\"i'id dl' a |ii'n|'er ,-ii]ij)ly. 'I'iie ( I even I men! all I Imii/.cd --ni II an invesd^rjilinii. 'Idie Tiiatter was plaecd undei the -ii|>er\ i-idii and diii'i'lidn ef .Nfi'. Selwyii. nl' lln- (l'eo|ll^■ieal Siii'vey, and Ihai geiilleman lias cinineni'i'd liorin;;' [)! this mean- nf traeini^- the ndiieral (lo[iosii-. whieh erdp oiil on till' hank- of the Sa-l ihe sai'laee-drifl. non.' i- now expo-eij. and wdiieh are at pi'e-.Mii wilhoin a -iiOiaeiii -npp!\ ollmd. While on thi-- -id>je. t, il may he reniarked ilial i lie im|iorlarie(; nl' a llioroiio;], jrc.i|.iL;i''al I'NiimiiKilioii o!' * he eoiint ry. wilh a- iiii !.• ihlay ii- po-sihlc. can -eai'eei\ 111' . .\ i>r-raie.l. ("aplaiii ralli-.'r r. 'ported I he exi-l.'ih-e c.l' kiiL;'.' dep.v-il- of iron ore in -ei'eral ijiiarler- ln-lweeii the t v\o Sa-kaleluw ;!n-. 'Idie di -eoVi'r\" o|' thi- ore in eoniutiei ion with .-.la! al some one or more ])oin'-. w hiili could eon\ eiiiiuilh In reai'hed hy ilie !-aiI\',,i\ « il I1..11I. Iai% iTi;.- il miieh oul of I he dii.'ci eoiir-e. would reiele' the maiiura. I 'Il ■ 'il' rail- near the middh' oi 1 ho line po.-sihK-. and llms idi\ dale iIm- immen.'-e C'o.-I of a ion^r lainl Iraiispoiialion, Movi ovoi-, the esiahli-'nui. ni o)' local inanulacliii'iiiij- iiiduslrie- Woidd he a--iireil. iM-a i!i 11 i-'i • iHEAN Ti.i iH LAN.- A iliary kept ilurlut' » J'>iiiiic.v fn in tlio All.iiitli' to llie r..clllc, wllli tho V,s[>< iliUmi 01 tlie I\ii«iiKi 1 lii-Uliii'l t>l till.' t'liiiuUiuii rarliic iiail Iiitoicolonlal Uiiilwiiy-, ••.> tin U. v. Geoii^ M. (inuil, Seorutiry ',0 Uii; Kxrc'litloU' 13 111"- \nllllHi' llic (NliOili- i'h liirciM}' i-iMii:illy cx- 1111(1, ii'il iin- I'l iiili- III' (iiir HTi' lire Imii:' • innnlly uvt- ;ilcr >lll'l''y 1- >ucrc^'-('lll iitiiml I'f ''^ In ilriiw llll' ;ili'l 1 I'l'i'dtn- lll.l lllill 1<'M 111' ilic WMicr il'I>'y- ; jllaiT'l llllilfl ,cy. iiii'l tliiii of wall I' I" ,vuii'f sii]iply. 'i rrii|) out I'll i Mdmontnii. aliiir-; t;i\niii ~('ll. Utl (■ X 1 1" i| a lliiiri'ii;i;li rail >carf<'i\ nl' il'Otl mr ,1' tlii- ..re in ■l\ CIIICII Ih 1. IwoiiM rcii'li'! oliviato ill' ai 111' lf»<"i Willi Ihf H.sii u ■V. (.ieuiB' BKANCll HXI'r.lUTluN, VIA I'KACK. IIIVKII. M\- altcnti'Mi liiivini; hiu'ii [larlicularly drawn liy _Mr. Malinlm McLcod. of .\\ liuiT,''- l\ pa-'-au.c ai'i'oss tlic J?i>cky .Moimlaiii- liy ilic Valley i.f i'niri' liisi'i'. I di'lci'liiim'd, in tlu' fV'fiil nl" iml liciii;;- aMr In cxloiid iny pcrsotial i,..'iiiiiiai~-aiui.' Ill Ilia', di-l rid , In Miid I iiiliicr .-diik- ol' my a^>i-laiil- wiii'ii J roaclicd i;.iiii.iiiinii. Arcdi'diiiLily at thai [ilacc 1 x'iccii'ii Mr. ( 'liaric-. linicizky and Mr. ,l,.|iii Mati'iiii, iJutaiiisl. lor this duly, uiid lud'ori! parliiii^ wilii Mm m ;i! lM)rl. Kdrnfiri- Mii. o!i lli(> 271I1 Anu^ii-ii, 1S72, furnislicd llu-in wilii micIi wrilU'ii and \rrlial in.str'uc- i|,,ii-. a-- 1. d(H'iiird ru'Ct"'i nr J'ar' l'"ort Siiii]i-nii, on llif Paciiic ('nasi, Mv. Mai'oiin ira\tdlid •..uiiIumIv Irnni Sicw.'iri's Ijako 1.1 liii' liivi.r I'msi-r, and IoIIoutiI ilir \allry nl llial ri\"i'r to ihr Siraii oi'tl.'ni'n^ia. 'I'lic I'l'jiurts ol' tlu'sc L;ciili(.'n\('n, wliidi ai>- a]i|)i'niU'd. will lie read with L;i'rai interest. 'I'lu'V iiijlli hear t(.'s(iniiiny to iln- reinarkahlr o|i, duo- i lnMUi^h tho main Kneky Mnnnluin (.Miaiii, wliitdi roriii-- I hi (dianiud nf J'eaee l.'ivir. and cnritii'm itil ii' iirariy all thai had been pnvioiisly made' known. I'luw sjm iik in nlowiu;;- tcrniK r(>-|n- -lin^ the heaiit^' of the eoiintry, the I'ertilily ol' the soil, and thr -aiiihril \- of 'III- rlimaU' u\'er wide ar<.'as on the easli'rii side of the .Mountain Zone. (^A|>j)endl('e.s aiH .Mr. Nf.ae nin hoi; Ileal aeeoiint 111' the coiintr}' is o('s|ioeial valm 11 i^ ■P i|i\ ide I mill two seetioa^ The lirsi emliraec- ihe nsiills of his researches lu.Mwe en \.A .Siiiuirior an 1 the North Sa-kal chi'W'an. and the .scco Mid contaiiis his nl'-(;r\'a- iii'iis 0.1 the .siilijects which eaiiie iindei- his noliei' on the joiirrii-y fmm l■^)ll Ivhnon- ' .1 )/.( I'cace liiver, to I'lritishColiinihia. ILo furnishes lislhol'planl.-^ thai he cnllecfcd, ., I sIlovs-. ihe relation which the lloi'a ollho ivi^ions that ho visited hears In that of Diiiario and tiiudiec, and hy aiia'oii\ arrives at eoneliisiims with resjieci to tho agri- iiihiir.il ('aiiahilities ol'Ihe eoimlr\'. TIIK WolM\ ol' KM't.oRATInN IN DKTAIL. Al ihe lie:;-inninL:' of Ihc siir. i'\ , il hi'anie iii'irs>ar_\ \- nriraiii/.i' the .-I ail' on ."; Slide emu nien^^urate with the niagriii ade of ihe iinderlakirii;, and il a[ipeared w\ 'Mr MoT.ooil, 11 son i>f lui c'Jirlj- Iludvon ijay Odlocr f'lilpf Trailer, .loliii Mct.i'nd, senior, spent sovernl yi'iiis of Ills jiniili with Ills (atlur in liriilsli (•nhimhla. ami 01' '.•'ite jeaiH hu.- Uiken a lively interest In iipeiiUit' up the Ncrih West. He Is the etiili'i- m' " I'r.MK Hi> kk— a eanoc voyayi Horn UniLsnn's liuv to Ibi' l^iiclllc by the late Sir (ieorge Sinip.son, *c., in lS'.i-!," jmlillshed b.v Durle * .Son, Oltuwa, 1S72. 14 vi>!il»lf lu A\i<\)[ .1 cMmiiroliciixivf Mini unilnrm system for iill Held (qiciiiliiinx, so fjii fi> il \s;is i)Mv~ilil,.. lAir tliis |)iir|H(so .mMu'i'al iiislni('li, \\vn\ iinjiari'il for tli. Hiiiiliiiiic 111' cjirli iiiilis idiial mniilu'i' id' llic stulV in liis s|)('ci:il iliitif-i. In cinlcr li. ;;ivi! I'llll iliriPl'Inalluli ri'-'|piTtillU' llli-- |i!ll'l irlillll' lil'illicll ul' IIk; nrgUhi/.aliiill, IIh'Sc iii- .sliiiriidii-, arc a|i|K'ii'l(il. (AiJpiTidix !>.) Ill a lirld i>i' rii'|uii-y Ml (.'S lrii>i\i.' and. in sdinc iT-|iriM-. ■•n uiiiii\ ilini;-, ii lia- lii'cii a niallii' III' ^i.-rimi'' ditliriillN In tiiid a .- iillicicnl iiiinilici' id' lli'iiniii^jdy cnni jK'Ifiil ill' ' ri lialde a-.-jsiaiils to tarry mi tii(M'X|)l'>ration sutisl'aidorily . I was, Imw «'V('i', I'orliinalc in scciirinLC iIm' -ii'viics ofsdtnc oI'iIh' ]h'<\ men thai \vii\; ;;vailalilr. and I >liaii iinw rtd'cr lo ilnir \\orl<. rincc the date ol' in\ la>l r(|iorl. In ;Im' >|iiiiiLC of 1S7l*. Mr. Marcus Sniilli was ai)|)i>inti'ii, on my rccomiiiciida lion, lo act as my Cliitd' lir-^idciit Assistant in Ilritisii Coliiinl'ia, and Iio \vn- >|M(ially rliai".r<'d w ilii llie siirvi'Ns deemed neeessai'}' lietweeii Victoria, Vaiicomer Island. Hule Ink), and tlie i-'raser Hivi-r. Al t lie same tinio lie was dire(ded toa.ssiiim- "eneral ( liai'i^i'. in mv aliseiico. of all otlici' siirvevw •'oini' on iit the Moiinlain Jiei^ion. .\fier liie a|i|ioiniment of Mr. Smilli. all eorro'^jtondi nee ridatini^ to tlio siii'Vcy in l>rili-li ('oliimliJa Avas carrieij on wilh [liiin ; and tlironul) liim my instriietions to otiicrs were conveyed and all reports received. 'Idle renort of Mr. .Marcus Smith for the year 1872 is u;iven at lenirllr \ (^Apiiendix Vj.) Il will lie found lo tjive a detailed aeeount of overythiiii,' of impor- ' lance otl'ecled during; that year in British Coliiinhi;!. with a iiari'ativc "i lii.s own joiirneyinixs hetw(>en lUite Inlet, the llomatluo Pass and the Chileoiii, Plains to Cariihoo, to tlio Xorlh Thomp.son Eiver, and to the (iucsiiolle l^akes : it ■ also ii'ives tlio jiarticiilars of his reeonnaissance aloii.u; the eiisieily coast of Vnv i conver Island for a line of railway between Seymour Xarrow.s and l!s(juiniaiilt, III .Mr. Smith's detailed reimrt will ho found a earofully i)rei)arod deseriiition of the . physical features of British C.'oltimhi'.i, and all particulars re^ardint!: the eiiifinocr- iui^ eharaetor of the lines surveyed up to the end of 1ST-. In the AVooilIand liegioii oast of Maniloha, the tedious wiu-lc of oxploralion Ini'- been eotiiiiiued hy a niimiier of parlies, under llio .sn]iervision ol" Mr. James 11. Bowan. The dense forest which eo.'crs the face of the country every wh(ire, tni.reth(M' ■with the entire ahsenco of roads or trails, has rendered this work peculiarly labovioiis and to some extent hazardous. I refer toMr. Rowan's report for 1812, for detailod information respecting the parties and the work done during that year, in the region referred to. (Appendix F.) Before the a|ipointmeiit of Mr. Smith to the genei'al charge of all the survey- in the Mountain Region in the West, I had instructed Mr. Walter Moherly to pru- i( I'l -iii\ ■ .Ml, ril til' (' 16 lltioli-*, >i> fill' )ar»'i 1 lor 1 1 In ui'ilcr t< lidll, tlu"f tlic ]Maln iJnrlxV Mniintain cliain and inalvt an ii ^Ininicnlal siu\<\ iViiiii 'IY'i(^ .launf Caclit' tlirniiLrli llic Ycllnw Head Pass and .la-^i i r Valley. Ml'. Mi'lii'i'ly \va^ in tlic Mniuilains diifini;' the Minuni'i' of !>7'.'!iiid llic I'dllnw- iim wiiiti r. In .raniiary, 1^71', lif i'urwai'di'd u\o a ri'|ini't Crnin l.i- (|iiai it i> iti llio .lii^iiar Valley. As llii< n'|iiirl .LCivc- an ai'dniiil i<{' -..im.' t>\ llic ditliriillies lir |i:i.l Id I'Milciid will) and (lie W'lrk d \ nl'intei'e>l wliieli cann- iiiidi , lii- virw, I \ii'ii loavo 1.1 ■ iiiiii n( it (Ainiendix ,.1' llie eoiinl i'\- w il. re iillifulties ofa sjieeial nature lind lieeii jireviuiisly met. In l*;iii-li CuliiinlMa all I'll'M I Wif- made to find .'I roiite (n the I'aeilie Cua'-l, wliirli wmild pr.i\r Ic-s •iii.iiaiiu- tiiaii eillier ut' tin; liiie> surveyed iiy the Ihim.'irhr'i, i ji,. [■'ia>er. I'l till (. .i(|iiilialla Jvivor.'^. Ill addition to this worh, surveys were mado from the hasc of thr JJneky .Moiin- -terU', to',\;ird.- I'ldnionton, on (he Xoi-IJi Sa^had'h 'Willi. A i(-,siirv rvey iiia'le o r to the survey my instruction- \ \v;i i|..ii \v;i- 'IVOIl at lonL'th f the liiH' iVoin tlie ^'i-llow Head I'a--, we.-lerly, to Ten .liinn.- ( 'i,ilie, and llie ici'slu'd hetween (he ]!i\er l''i'a-('r and IJivcr* 'aime ; and tiuiic.' lli.' i-xplora- cXleiiiU'd in the diiiMlinii of l^iicsnelle ljal >ur\ey work, i'X[iloralioiis were made nortln'rly, fj'oin ihc \si-t(-rh a- Well a-i il.e e.'i>tern end- of ljaliind Rojiorts. giving an aeoonnt of all matters of 1 ji'iitance connected with the surveys, ni.'ule during the past season ( VppendicoH Those detailed Reports so fully describe the progress made, the ditliiiilties 1 tlu* work done in the year IS7.'!, that it is iio( necessary jl. am all the survey - Mobeily to pro- I i-r me to enter at length on this branch of the subject ; ! shall, therefore, at oneo IG prini'i'il Id CMii^idci' ilii- ixi'iicf.'il rc^ulls ui" llic siirvi»y (i> (liis ilaU-, iinl ^nli mil !iii iucmuiiI '.)■ tli:i( wliii'Ii li;i«, ln'on aicninpli^lii'il, (;i;Ni;i;\r, i;Ksri/rs of tiik ,sl:JiVl■;^ I \n':' IciiM' lii'^l III H'li'T I'l wlial li.i- 1. •Ml dniic, and i?, IkiiikI Iu lie [ii)s»il)|c, n, llir rr'^i'ill III' '■iHiMl r^' 'i 'I'dcl'ili'J,' 111! llic I'a. ill'- < trcail. iti;sM IN IS iiii: mmisims iiriiinv. I I lia- licch ruiiiid llial Ml' all tlic I'a-M -" I lii'iMi!;li (In- main IJnrUy Moiiiiliii cliaiii, 111' I Aim -a I lie 1 ii I iTiiai 1' Mial l"iiiiidar\- I in.' aii^l ilii' fi.'Jrd iiarallri ol' laliiu li', ilir Yilliisv Iliad I'a-- i-< iIk' nii)>l ravipinaMc, and tlial llio a|.|irnaidio In il, IVoiii Imih »ic|t> III' ilio Miiiiiiaiii liiiiina-. an' "!' -ikIi u I'liaradi r a-i \'< rfiakT tlic <s ilio L^'n'al ''niitiiunlal \vaUM'-.-.la' 1. a lai' lcv> dilliriill iiiallvr iliaii v...- ]!]•{•% iiiii>ly 'iiianiiu'd. Xtirlliiil' ilii''):!rd parallrl, iiirdiiiiali'Hi l■t•^|»^'■||n^• nilirr |).i-?io^, >iiimt (jl'lli'h «-v«;n Inwci- lliaii liic Vidl'>u- lli-a.l, lia- I'rcii olilaiiH'd. Siiiiik\' l.'i'.ri' I'a-". Ill'' lii'^l III ni'dci' a.-. Wf [irucci'd ihiillii'rl}', i-^ ("-iicciaili rcliTTi'd !•' !'i .1 rcji'ivl lj\" Ml-. Smilli. C A |p|H'iidi \ K ) I'iih i;i\ rf I'a--'^ ^iician'd- 'I'lii-* jia-^s, as wi'llas I'carc Riv(M' I'ass, >lill lnr'l,. ' ii,ii-lii. !ii>- iifrind h. ill ihc I't jinri - 111" Mo--r>. I[nri't/.ln. to r(illcrt inroi'matioii re-]u ■ ' iiiL;- llif 11 Tllu rly |m irli'Hi nl'tlii' inimtry. C A |(|)i'iidi(r^ 15 and ( '). Tin' iiit'iiiT ili'in, ;ii'i|nirrd ^^'>|l(■|•lill^• tln'-r llii'i c |ia--i'-.. alloi^N ri'a,>i'n lo lM'!ir\r tliai iIh' railway miii'lil I'l' I'ai'rii'd I lirdii^li any inii' ni'ilirm, I In I (In ijiir^lion nt'rr.-- iu^:; tin- main ( Lain lit" lln.' l;radi; Cliaiii, aii'l ii dcsi'i'iidini^ iVnin ilir love! id' llic i-lcxati'd jilaloaii. in the lifait nCr.i'iiisli ( 'njiiiiiliia, •■ tin: li'Vfi iiCllio nrcan. 'riiisi^Toal jilatcaii iiidiially stands at ;iliii,'lii'r i.'rin'i'al aliitmli' tiian Yellow ili;i'i Pa». Il' tlic IJiifliy .NroiiMtaiii'- wore ems-ed at some low(;i' ]ioint, it would iv' «>lni:Ue' tlie iieie-sll\- iit'ax'Oiidin^ to I lie level orilie plateau, nr remove tlie difHeiillii- wliieii are iindiiiili!edl\' Tiiel in inal^ in a more iiortluM'ly lutitudo winU' only lengthen the railway, without guininii; any compensating advahta /i'l I II /i IVa-er Riv balxc to Ka in:,' wliieli I l'i«-es |i\- I .liivcr Fra.se 'i'Miian and ''fi^terly by i Tlie -fix .''ii.>taii('e o| il- elevation ii'iilherly, (, •iii'l tinallx- 1; •ii.-laiice.irf). ^viirk. 1 1 ccr 'Il tile Kasier On soiiK U'laviiidalily I '"' iiecessainl "lik'^'d, w.mid oil this roiiirJi ^''<"' a (liaj 17 iiii 1 Mil. .DSSlIll'' 111 iiiiv ri'ii'^itiiiilili' niillay, (111' imji'ii l.iinc oi' iho |(a.-.st>- known In i-xi-i, mirlh ol' ili«( Yi'llow IIi'JuI, will lu' cnliani*'.!. If !» ilniilpitul. linwcvcr. il' llic ni'itlicrn ]t!i.— .i-s pon- •if-is iin\ l"'"r I ho M\'i\ para lid, a more >-alisfaflniy mitiot, ItinniLili I In'' 'ax in If MniiiilaiiiH 111 llH'ioail, tliaii any yet kiinwn. 'i'lini'iiiiu''li rx|i!.iraliniis alniu" \\ill->lii'W il aii_\ slICll II Utit't CXiHll*. I In onii'f til ;^iv(' as I'oii'fctan iiloa as [Kissilijc urilic iliaraitci' nl •ill llio liiu'"' ariM«H till' IJiirky .Mountain Zone, wlm h now cnnu- uihUm' ••(in>iil(iatiun, ijia^ram-' have ho^n U\- Moiiiii li liicparoil, -thi)\vini^ Ihoaiiiiriixiiiiato i;('iii'ral ^railii'nls. wliii li may l.i> uhtaiin'il on • ach I' laliMi li', Ml. I ijiii.. Inor'l.'P to >iniplil'y a riiMi|iai'i>on liclwi'cii tlu'iii, llu- -I'Vi'pal lines .-.iirvfyi'il of il, iVom l...ih iiii-lnii-n"ii ' UKt tlian V, ■-oinc o nil. I:. pp. .ji'i'tcil have hivn arran^'nl ainl lonil'ini'il mo as |.. I'.rni sivcn liisliml roii(«'s, h.'twcon tho join^iiiiili- ot' I'Minonlon ami the I'ai'itio <'i'ast. It ini^ht K-ailto soint' coiil'iision, il' ihi'si- roiiics vvoi'c iiiimlpi>ri'il, in tlic oi'tlor nf liiiii' in whiih the siii'\<>ys wi'iH' nnule. I have, (lu'i'eli.re. thoiii^lil il preleraMe to II limber them eoiiseciiliNcIy iVoiii the soiiih to Ihe noilh. I 'of the piiijio-e of eonipar- iii;,' ilisi.'iiices, i.iicli I'oiiie is cMcndcil to a eoninion loiiuiiu,!,. near l''..rl l'!.iinonlon on i|,e iiurtli Saskiitehewan. L'liiifi All. 1 — Meniiisai Iliirranl Inlet, neai" New Wostiniiister. l''o!Iows the Lowei* oiiii'(>s. near the N'.. ilow Ileail Pass, ninl ilieme l.y the Cale- il.iiiian anil .laspar \alleys to the eastern siilcol' the leu ky ^Mouniaiii ( 'hain, Iheine .Nisterly hy Ihe .MeLeinl and I'emhina Uivers to tiic North Saskatehewan. The i^reat illflieiilties on this line jn'e met with between Hope and Kainloops. in mlisftiiee of 12S miles. 'Phi' lirst simimit is only 'Xi miles distant I'l'mii llopf, and /- ilev.'Hionahove tide water is 'A.'i\',] I'l'et. while llopo is only 127 I'eel. I'roerediiii;' t'oliiuiliiii ' I ii'iiiiierly the ii-round falls to 2,028 feet in ;!4 miles, and a^-ain rise.s to 2,!ttJ0 I'oet, mill tinally t'alls to 1,170 Tect near Ivamloops. From Kamloojis to lvlinoni.in,a total Yellow n<"'' 1 M miles, very favourable i:;ralients may hi' ha.l with eonipar.ii ively li,i;hi 11 II • ■ vviii'k. Il certainly need not e.xeeod the average of work uii maiiv of the railwa\s il- mel Willi |l,. Chain, an. Iin II, it won theditlieiilli ■nimr thr-^ ill the Fasterii I'rovinees of the |)oinii 111.11. llnloops, ''V Ull On some portions ot' this line, lidweeii IIo|h' and K iiviiidaMy 1k' very stei'p, ranninif as lii;;h as 172 feel per mile. an. I adieiits Would ilil till' Work woi Lie eiii^ible I'.if- ■ bi' iieees-.arily heavy. ,Se\eral tunnels would lie rei[iiire.l, one of whieh, it is esti- Lvourable i""'' ■ matod, would he three and ihree-ipiarter miles in leiiii-lh. 'The aic.v'rei^ate lunnellini; llatitude ^^"'li I on this roiiLi;h soetion Would probably be over live miles, '■^- ''' "" ' ( For .1 diau;ram of the irenoral irradients on this route I lofor to Sheet No. 1. [cWrd pav;il'. IH fiiiulf \o - Hi'u'ii. Ml ItiiiTunl liili't, iinri, like WoiiU' Xm. |, ('uII.iu-^ i|i,> Uivcr Frii-cr to II )|M', li'.il iii-ti';i I of ciict-iiMir a 'icpriMriim in lln' • 'ascaijo ( '.liiiu j.v tlic ('H<|iiiluillii Viilli'v, it ( tiriiio I'l ii-ccii'l till- IJivi'i* Tracer to Lytlnn. Al tin' laltrr |«)iiil it |iii><*i's into tlic Vallos uT ihc Ijivcr Tli'>tii|isiiii, niiij ('nllinvs llic cour.i' df llllll lisiT Im 1\:i|iiIiim|i-. I'"rii|ii K;iIiiIimi|i-. Io ^'^•lll)\\■ ||i';i.| I'as-, ail'l ivllili.nl.iii, Ituiilc- N'li^. I tiini J ail' iiMmuiiii. aii>l mi liii^ •~i tImiii, liml wliicli i.-i >ai'l willi fis |ii'(i lo till' ciin' a|i|ilit'> willi I'liiiiil I'oi'ci' III III!' iitlici'. liitwrcii !lii|>i' ami Kniji- l(iii|m (lie (|i-liiiii')' i> Dirt llllll'^. AllliKii^'li III) iu,L;ii !' Mii'iiMii I", j'ar iVi'in liiMuiral'li'. I. iiiij: sIitIiIh-. aliiii"' Ijic i'aiiyiiii>< nl' the l''i'a-ir llllll llic L'lWi'i' 'riiiMil liah lln- wiiuli' disiaiici', ai'i' cm i'-<>i\(lv ri»llj.'ll. • >M ill -oilinll-- I'm niiil.llili' I'.lnirilll ii-- |irt-('lil IJn'ln-rUi'-i ; tin- \\n\U \M.ii!i III' ciimtiimi^lN liravv , aii'l iIkmm^i |ii'ii]iiii'iii>iiat»'. Ilai)ii ami i'la-'i' lliuoil iliiiuiuli vviilc vallf\> lo llic -i m, tlii-< route woiijii iin(iiif>tir):iaiily liuve lii'in tlic iialiiral aii--es over the plafeau in ili' eontrcof British CJoliinihia hy till' Marhle t 'anyon an I 15 iiia|iaile Valley to the N'rtli 'I'hoinp'on, Ilea!' tic ni )iitli o|' the (-leai'walei' Riser ; from this poinl it a-^eiMuU liir Thmiipson and riitis on the same I'oniinmi LCi'oiind a.s [{ nile- I and 'J to ^'ellowilri' I'ass and i'Mmmiton l''i'om ijowc S iimd to (he N'ortli 'riiompson, iiy ihi- i-oiilc, tin; distance i- J''! mile-; within lhi> di^iam'c the line [ia^>os o\('r tiuii' main smnmils, rani^inL; ir nlovatn>:i f'rmn I Did lo .'!.'-*J7 feet ahovc tiie m'II, and hetwccn these sinnmil - ih' f^q'oiind falls twirc [,, 711,1 feel and invt- to l,S[7 \\r<. 'IMie^e :.',-reai cliann'cs in Irv. are --U'^'ijie-livi.' of iinii-ually heavy a--ei'ndinu' and dcM ending i^n-adietil-, a- well .;■ oiiuall\' lii'i\'_\ works of coii^ttiul io'i. I'roiii the puinl where lhi> I'oiitc intei'scels th'' valley ot' the liiver 'J'^ionipson, it lakes the vanie 1 oni'-e to I'idmonton as lo'.ite- N '- 1 and 2. 'I'lie irenei'al LTradients mi tlii- route will he .-ceii on Sliicl N'o. [i. R,i,ifr Xo. 4.— ( mnnieme^ at WaddiiiLrloii Jiaihoni', on Ihile Inh.'t, lUV Frntii tin llllll;) (■' mile- ( iliiiirton I nil I'li's at dii h'ivci KlIlMT nil ,_ iiliiiiil l,-ll i lini;,'slrcl '' 111- very III laiiyuii, a a iiii: works ' jn'oaf iiiiiii Tlic . sv.ilcr and null'*, ot' w The h a|i|ii'iiae|,e. Till' hiid:,'e Tlie d. i-liit racier llie I'iM'k ex KdiiiMiiim, rmili', ••(',■ ("'••I'd lies liiver. and iH'li.'Ved nil aveided. Si •-'•■•vcy. and iiiatcly Ilu. ^ 'l''ii(ly III lioj ''' ' SluHild a loille will I" the val!e\' of tlic iromalhc > thr(>iii;h the Cascade Chain of m.iiin tains to 1, IaC l.lIM lem'e it ]ias-c.> over the ('hileotin plains to the IJiser T'la-er; il erosse-i the I' ml l*! mile- helow Soda Creek, and eontinninir ca.'^terK- l'\- I, II I 1 lailie an- Caniii, reai'hes the Uivcr Thoni]i-mi valley, near the mouth of Uivcr Cleai IrDMi ocfaa h Jihiliaii ot 15, ■ Fileli.'ally 1„ I'lC ilead of 1 1 ^VaiMiiiM.,,,, ""■ s' MIL' le\ i9 tlio Uiv.r ll.lill Il\ tin- \t till' liilt.r ht' coill'-i' of lvlin<>iit")i, nil Willi r<'>- 1' iin (') till' ->^l, d-tlii' milsvuy. Ill l';\S-, W.illlll * •.() i'\iri" till' iji'liiiici' i-. ;t"S (A . I', /•'l^•«^ 111 s7 iiiiir-. I'liiiM \\ii.i- (liii!:liiii Ilarliniir, I lie smiIoi'sIumI lii-twci'ii the llniiiiiilnu iiii'l ilir ('liiji'iitiii iJiMrs, at. itii I till IrMllinll ol'-'M IT I'l'l'l tl'loVt' till' xO!l. Siiiiin/, nil llio • '||i jinl in |, :>:i III III" wr» I of i\i' 'itm FnisiT, lilt' lii'i^'lil i>< M.TOiM'i'i'l. Thill i\\»>n\ miilway ln'iwi'i n iju' IiImtk rriimiiliMiM, 111'' I'li'Viilinii i- :!, Ill I Hit, At till' I iiwr 'I'll,. Ill |,-,, II I lie lu'i:;|it is iilmiil 1, too I'l'iit, mill llii- rrnsniii.t?!'!' tlu' l.'ivci' I'Vumt i-* .it tlu' -.innc !.\ I'l. Tlici'i' iiro li)ii>{Hlri't<'lii"' liiii' wlit'i'd the wnrK wmilil lie li;^Iit. ImiI in «.niii. -criinii'i il wniilil 111" vory lit'iivy. Asct'inlin:^ Ilii- llnniallicn \\^v a (li«iiiin'i' ol I.') milo ilirnii;,'|i tlic i,nviit ciiiivnn, Ji < oiitimiDiis iiiiiCitnii /^nuliiiit of 1 10 I'o'l \wv milt' wmil'l Ik- rii|iiifi"!, invnlv liiirwnrks nC an cxccs-ivi'ly lic.'ivy clianirlci-, ciiilnaciii^' ciitlirtfs in i^TaiiiU , iiihI u L'l'':i t iiiiiiilici' nt'^liorl tiiiiiicN, iiiiiniini in^ jn i lie a,u'u'r*',!.''ali' In ;ili,,iit t liri'c miles. (lime ilnnliii'ilh Tlic ^jroiitoHl ^v;ll^'^ ami tlio licail ot'tlio ^\\'H\ cuiiydii ; tin' a»i'iiit nii this >.(.(ii..n i- L' '.'>.'• li'v't in .'14 iiiili'i, of whit'li 1,t),")ll H'ct woulil liavi> In In' nVficnino in I'j niilcs. Tin' liivi'i- Fni.scr is crnssnl witli niiiili less ililticiilly tliaii i'N|u'('U'iI ; tlic lim- iipjii'i'afln's it on ;nll Villi ('\ I- MTN- ililVHult Tin- rliai'Mclt T nt' llic i>;i'oiiiul I't'iiiliTs oliji'ctiniialili' t'liivi's ainl !,'i';ii|i»'nls necessary, ami tlic I'nik excavation wnnlil he Acry heavy. The rcinaiiiiiii; iiiriinn nf this rniitt- i.i Ivliiiniiinii may he eniisiticroil t'avuiiralilc. I'Vii- the <[ ,i,'r:'iliL'MtM on ihit> I'ljiiti '■cc -heel No. 1. lUhXn. fi. -Th lis IS a prnjceleil inniliiicatinii i 'I' Knllte \n. I. Th haii-'c J. il'ivo WUh ^l||^c^l lies hetweell the (.'hilcniin |,hiiii ami the Thninji-nii \;illey IJiver, ami is tlio result of an exiilnriitinn inadc late last aiitiimn, hy which it is bt'lii'veil iiiiieh of the nhjeetiniiabic itoilimis nf the mule la-l ri-ferreil to, may h«- avei'tod. SIk'cI No. 5i^i\osan idea of tin- rmile Thetinn -nil'aec lino is from actual .-111 viv. and thodotiid I 1miI\ dTl wceiiile' I' la-craiMl lliniiiji-.nii \ alk'ys. slin\vsn]i]'rn\i -h inu!clv the ireiiera I'rai ieiit,s, wl ilch ' he inrni'iuat I'ln r.M cm ly ac.|uircd h ad iis cnnti ilditlv In hnne iiiav he "htaitl' cd. iiiiii Id III I iistniiiiciital survey result in the rcali/ii'imi nf tlieso i'X|HH'tiiti()ns, this route will jire-ciit \i'i'y decided advant; The ditliciilties met will trmu (iceau eve hv tl 10 ii-real cainoii ni the II nmathcn I., the level |H:iU'aa if British ( 'nliimhia, will, it is In -till remain, lull ih liraclii'ally he cnii lined inlv tilleen iiiih >l' lin alio Wl II I, ascending I ho Central litlicultii's will niniinlcd whetv the hi W iftl ic can\'on is I'l^ached. The head of the lanvnii i- lni i v fmir niili's I'rnii iii'iiii'j-i'.n I fail inr a nd 2,2Sr» feet ahnvi- th ■eu levc Th is |iniiit is not fai t'iniii tlu' s! iiie level as Fort Kdiiiont on, aim if the iiilbrmalioii reioi\'od he woll 20 foimdcil, it a[)iH'iirM <|iiitc inissiblo d. (•oiini'( ( tlioi' (\vu points, 7<'2 miliw ajiiift, liy ii railway, liavini;- I'oiiiarkahiy ca^y uinliilaliiiii-. On llic dianraiii (Sln.'1't No. 5) a love! lino i> iliawn from the head of the eanyon to Ivlinonlnn, An insjicetion of thisdiai^i'aiu will show that tliore will he an Intenuediate defue-^sjcii under tliis h'vel nnly at oiu' iiojnl, and there inenly to the extent ol'SOO leet; Mhilc the hi,i,'he-( point, the Yellow Head Pass, wdl not lie nmre ihan 1,500 feet ahove ii This iMiite eoniniaiid^ alleiition. Allhoi.Lch a \ef_\ lica\ v exjii'nditnre will iiii doiil'lediy he re([iiired loioii"-! nict the I'ailway iVu' the tii'>l lorty I'ouf niiles ea>lrfly tVoni the I'aeiiie Coasl. il 1- lliouu! ' that Iho a\era!;c eo>t |icr tnilr, thioiirh ihe \\li..!i' of the ^Fountain liegi'm. •with this e.veeiition, will he modi rule. ]t \vill he (jiiitt jios.-ihle, if prest 111 e.^peelation-. he i'eali/.('(l. to ohtaiua liiif, ea>t ot' (lie i;reat Canvon, lor the railwu)-, on this route, with as fiivmuahle iiiadieui- as those vhiidi ohiain nu the existiiii:' railways in the Ivisleiii ProviiH'es. In operaliiii; the IJailway, ordi- nary rollini' stiH'k would he availalile throiiifhout, except on the fifty miles seelieii ailjoiniiii;- the Paeilie Coast , on this scetion special engine* would he re()uired foi- tlic heavy j^i-ailient along tin; Canyons oi' the llivor lloniathco. Jioiitiyu. ("). — On sheet No. *!, is shown the a]>]ii()xiniate gradieiu.s on a route pre jeeled from Jiuie Iidet hy the Chileotin Plains to Port Gi'orge, and tliene(> hy tho valley ot'the Ujiper {"'ra-^er lvi\er to Tote .laiine ("ai he, whei'e a jiinetion is elVecic.l with the rout(; tlirough the Yellow Head Pass to the east. Eeliahle int uti.;ili(Mi lia> heen reeeived respecting this route. In i'ael, \\\v most ditiu'ult and duuhlful portions ol it have hi^eii surveyed instrinnontally, the n- maining portions ui'e ai)jnoxiniately shown on tlie diagram by a doited line, llv this route it is expected that, in crossing from Buto Inlet to Fort (ieorgo, near iln" great hend of the Pra>er. a higliei" elevaiion than the Yellow Jlead Puss would I'n attained. Hut from I'ort (leorge to Tete Jaune (."a(lie the character of the Fr.'iscr Valley is reiiorted to lie such as to leave no doubt that a favourable lino may he liml. It lias always been lelt that tliis route would be an altcrnativi' to fall back upon, in the event of dilliciilties of an insuperable or very serious idiaracter presenting thni! aelvos on the route-- firther to the south. Should it liecoiiie .nlvisahle to niake a more coiuplcie e\;inii[..ilion of this roiiti' ! think the eXj)lorat ion should he extended, ea^lei'ly a(id>.- the Hoeky ^M.f)untain eliaiii. I'} that hr.'iiudi <)f the JJivei Praser de.-igiuited ''The ^'orth Pork." Irdormation hii-fi'i:. received, which leads to the belief that Smoky JJiver Pa^-, through the motiiiiaiih. will b(! Ibiind at the h ad of thi> bi'anch which, if otiierwise favour.able. iiiiL'ln shorten the di-l.iuee lietweeii I'fuM ' leorge .'iiid Pihnonlon .Ml the inlormiiiiiih Know 11 aboiil this jiass will he found in .Vjipi'iidix K. It is n(>l exjiected that iheSii'k.^ Ki\-.'r Pass will ju'ove of lower elevation, or be generally nioi-e fa\oui;ible thiin lli'- Yi'llow Kead J'a'-^. It is possible, howevei'. although by no means certain, thai dn- 21 7t>2 iiiili'^ tho (liiiLjvuni (I I'Mnionidu. to iK'ino^sicii Ifit ; Mhile '(-t iiliovf ii iturc will uu- uilos (.'!i>l»rly lull till' wlmlu vill 1h' (initc o-roat Caiivoii. iiifli oMain nii l\aihvay, unli- ; miles M'ctioii L'(^uiiHMl I'tir the on a rouK' imv lhcnc(> I'V tho ion is fll'ccifd In liicl, the ontally, tlurc- ittod line, liy ,go, near tin' 'ass wouM li^< of the Fi-asiT no nuiy l>e lia't. back upon, in ■sentiiig tlirin- (irtliis routo I mtaiii cliain.li.^ luitioii lia^ I'l'i'- the niouiii;iinv ouralilo. \u\L'Mi he iuroniiaiii'ii that the .'^11. "Iv^ iriililii than lli'' crtaiii, thai tlu' . 3 I 111! k-auf from llic northern i,'reiit lioml of the Fraser. to the easterly sjdo of tlio MiiMiilain (.'hui n, in itrht 1)1' shoi'teneii, and it woiiM he well to te.nt the matter. h'nnti Xo. 7- — All parties, wlin have visitnl thi' liivcr Sixccna, ami aeciiiiri'it ft oni 1" i> iiiiiirs- in il nlwervalion any kiiii\vieil,;,ce respi>cliiiLi; it-; outlet :iti( i tl that ilistrii -cein to unite in an advi II' cjiaraelrr of iho t]>iiiioii rc^iH'i'liiii; the eliifihiiity it'ilic Kivi'r Skeena, as a I'oiite to the scabnurd. 'i'iie outkt ol'the Siieeiiii is situated i'lilly ;50(> niile>, in a dirni line, nortliwf^li'i-- h fi'i'in 111' I'lia- Ikite Fidet llctwei'ii these two loealiti(>s, verv little i- i; I", oiira l.lv K nown (>{' t oi'ot'theioiinti'v. So Car as I can learn, recent exaiiiiii;iii",is lia\ c been nnido olllv IM ocalitv. Ill th -uiniiier o f ISfi: It. I'alii u. !•: •ipenl j lar iii'-iiths ill exploring;- the country on tlieNorth Benlim i< .\iin, aii 1 lliciiccby the !{i\ii' lielhv Coola, throui^h a v^ay in the Cascade Abamtaiii-, to thv t-ie\;iled phiteau the interior, across which hi^ jiasscd to the l{i\cr i'la- rr. 'V\i\> ''eiiilcinan madu a section through the Hclla Coolu gup andascfrt.'iincd liiat tin .i-coni w; .\t alioiit HO niiic^ from th ~t.i ic ivaclic' an ('lf\ation n{", \ery jireeipi- ceuind of tl in ji.'iglil I'ound that li.T'iO tVct liad to ht- siirniounli'd iuahoiit lii niih further, he gained the summit at an altitude of |,:j(i(l teet. being near liiu'lier than the Yellow Head l'a;~>. Se\ cnty miles Iv .i-eertaineil, it is lielioved. with tolerable aci'urracy. from acci\ssilik^ authorities, a diagram haslieen rnni|iii.(l, showing the approximate general gradients, which it is ihoiighi may bo ioinid on route No, 7. Thisrtnite, after leavingthe North Ik'ntinck Arm and the Bella • '""la i;ap, crosses the phitcau to the (liseome piu'tage, thence by Fort McT;eo(l t<> I'eace li'iver, which it followH through tho mountains. Very littio can bo Huiiics bolow the jdaco now Icnown as Dunvoj^im loft on tin; ntii -May, followed u]> the Peace Eivcr to its snurce, continued wi'storh- and arrivtKJ at tho Pacific coast on tho 22nd .Udy. Jieturning bytlio same route, lio arrived at tho jiost whore lie had spent iht,- previous winter on the 24th Auoii-i following. 1 have made some extracts from tho narrative of this traveller, giving tho ini- prcsMions which ho formed, as far as ho refolded them, of the featuros of tho coun tjy along the track which lie followed from the central plateau, thrcugh the Cascade chain, to thoseaeoast. (Appendix M.) On comparingdatos, it will bo found that Sir Aloxandcr ^rackcnzie, reached the Pacific coast and camped at points visited ai.l iiainod by the first discoverer, ("apt. Vancouver, only a few weeks jiroviously. FJefore referring to the results of surveys in other jjortions of tin' territory, I may state, with regard to tho practicability of reaching tho Pacilir Coast, at other jioints than those referred to, that I have made every onquiiy on tJio subject, hut I cannot learn that oxamii, .'ions of any consoquence, other than Lieut. Palmer's, 'luve boon made, along tho coast between Uuti- Inlet and the Eiver Skeena, since tho time ofth- discoveries of Vancouver and Mackenzie in 17!^3. Our information, therefore, s but vague, and tho possibiliu- of crossing the Cascade Mountains from tho cast o any one of the many other Inlets, which indent the coast, in the ubsenco o!'all reliable information, can lenotliingnior.' than mere conjecture. So little knowledge of this part of the coast has been recently acquired, that th(j latest admiralty chart that I have been able to procure appears, in all essential parti- fulars to be an exact copy of the chart made by Ciijit. Vanccniver 80 years ago. A.s Vancouver's Voyage of Discovery is a book rarely met, and as thix work contains inflnination not elsewhere recorded, I have appended some oxtraef fi'om this volume in order to give some idea of the chai-actor of the <'oast. and lo assist in forming a judgment us to the possibility of reaching it from the interiwi'. (Appendix N). To oluci(iate those extracts the chart of Capt. Vancouver's disc"- «ries on this poi tion of the coast is also submitted. (Sheet >'o. KJ.) THE RAILWAY ON VANCOUVKR ISLAND. In order to ascertain hv.-v far it may bo practicable to roach Victoria, Ksqiii mault, and other ports on Vancouver Island ly a continuous lino of Railway from the rauinland, a survey was made from Watldington Harbour, at tho head of liulu Inlet. i Til I [.land. -I T nil u\'j •; al tlie ii I the line I liil''I. ■;■ leiii^lli.. I even \vi ': Car fVoin tin The Iving bell t'l li.' brid iiDiir. Ill CV( winild lie Talvir miles, lyir musi tiii'in: In Mr miiiatioii.s '" ''"luim; (■"Uiiii'v an ,:,'i'ii-Tally I The w bil' miles ; li;i\c lieav; ^^"iiM be sr •Vii e\j All".'i'iii C: ''>' quiie pn «oi!ver Islai 2S flinj:; divor- 1'X.l, oil Ills zcmI man i" li.H intrcpi'l l)\invegiii. (1 westerly it> route, 111' :4t.h Augii-i iiig tho ini- of Iho conn the Cascade )und thiU Siv visited iiii'l iously. ions of tti<' ; the Pacilif ory enquiry consoquenif. [^twecn IJuti- lancoiver ami possibility tlior Inlet>, nothing nunv oil, that til..' sential parti- irs ago. and as tbii^ mo extra''!'- (jast. and lo tlio intori"!-. iver's disC'i''- •toria, Ksqiii- f vail way from llunid of Hilt" Tiie survey oxtondod along tho north-wostorly shore of Bute Inlet to Valdeii I-,land, and passed over to Vancouver Island at Seymour Narrows; from tliis point 1111 exiiloi'i'li'^" was made along the Easterly Shore to Ksquimault, and to tiio Harbour at ilif iiead of the Alborni <'■• nn\ or Inlet. I'lir a distance of al)out 5(1 miU'-i from Waddington llarKjur, the only course for the liin' is tf> follow the base of tlio high rocky mountains wliich extend along Biifo Inlet, On this section a great number of tunnels, varying from 10!.) to 8000 feet ir. IciiiTtii, tlirough bluff rocky points, would bo indispensable, and the work generally. ,jven with unusually sharp curvature, would be very heavy. Careful examination has cstablislicd the fact that to rcucii Vancuiver Island jVoni I lie mainland the follotving clear .span bridge- would be required. At Arran Kapids * clear span llOofeet, " Cardero Channel — first opening " loHO " " " — scc-oml opening " UK) " •' " —third opening " (ilO " " Middle Channel ". " 1100 " " Seymour Narrows — first opening '■ 1200 " " " — second opening " l.;,")!) '• Tlie length of the Section across tho group of bslands, known a> \'al(li ^ Island -i, King between the mainland and Vancouver Island is about 30 mile-. The channelii til be liiidged are of great depth, with tho tide flowing from four to nine knot« an iioiir. In I'rossing the Islands, heavy rock cxeuvatiou and probably a few short funnel* Would lie lequired. Taking everything into consideration, tho works of construction, on these eighty mile<, lying between Wiuldington Harbour and Vancouver Island, W(Mdd bo of h. mii>t tlirmidablo character. In Mr. Smith's Eoport for 1872 (page I'M) will bo found an account of the cxa- minaii'ins he made from Se3'mour narrows, along the west coast of Vaiu' )uver Island I" rMpiimaidt. I have myself made a general reconnaisanco of jiorlions of tho (•"iiiitry and am satisfied, from what 1 have seen and learned, that this line would bo .i,'i'niiiilly favourable, with works of a moderate character. The wiiolo distance between Seymour Narrows and Ksquimault would be about Hit) miles ; of this distance 25 miles, between the latter place and Cowiclian, would liMM' heavy rock excavations. From Cowichan to Nanaimo, .'55 mile.-', the work \*ijii .MIm ■1 he .-iomewhat lighter. The remaining 100 miles would be very favourable. An explriration was made from the c Kc^t line lo the Harbour at the Head of the rni Canal with satisfactory result.--. This e.Xiiminatiou Bhowod tiitit it would 1)0 ([uiie practicable to carry the Tlailway to tlio seaboard on the west cca.'^t of Van- coiiv er I.-^land by this route. H Whatever point on the miiin land bo Kolocted for the Terminus ol' ilio Tran- coiitincntiil ]{iiii\vay, there tem wiih the mainland, by a direct unbroken line, such as that projected across the Vahlc* group oflslands, will bo a diificull and enormoush' expensive undertaking. Until the traffic be to some extent devel(Ji)ed and the iirospeot justify the outlay, a stciun ferry suitable for railway traffic can be easily established between Vaiironver [sImiiI and the terminus, on the main shore, sucb as would jtrobabiv for sonic time answci' evei'V' purpose. A Maj) of Bi'itish Columbia, showing the various routes >urveyed and jirojectid a<'ross tbe Rocky Mountain Zone, ami also the line exploreil from Kscpiimaulf !■> Seymour Narrows, on Vancouver Island, is submitted. (Sheet No. 8.) RESULTS IN THE I'RAIRIE REliloN. No continuous instrumental surveys have as yet been made, between the ( io>-- ing of Red River in Manitoba and tho termination of the sui-vcys through the moun- tain region, at a ]ioint about 120 miles westerly from Fort Edmonton. The inter vcning praii-ie country has, however, been traversed in various dii-ections, and, al- though tho rcconnaisance of this region can scai-cely be considered complete, enouifli is known to warrant the belief that there will be no great difficulty in projiel ing a favourable lino, with comparatively light work, from Manitoba at the east, io the Yellow Head Pass at the w^est. It will only be necessary to bring to bear on tlu' location of the line cu-dinary good judgment, to reduce to a minimum the actual cost of crossing tho large rivers and tho deep and wide ,U furrows, h..t .'ipp .•'/llllII'V. |p|;irr, to N'nl. only tlicrcwil TIk! I'ailu ; till' CMstcr i> rcMclicil The I t |iiiiiit on t C'lliiiuliia my genc)'; Chain, is i : and i;ii[icri a line of r; : tiinnigh til While ot' the I'ailw itiiiiiilled tl ill the coun I'ivcrs in till li'in, that till iiinimiinical uatci'as lar Lakc.'j Man] (if the rich I -liiver Saska rapids, be ro 3lr. Sel ^'iine import Ti.:i( ge -M'liiiilaiii II nuihilcoi'S^,, ill! (.■xccllcnt ilr. Schvyn 1 The chic ^W'iil, at the HiilCM wciuld <" Rocky ]\I() 26 A' tho Trans. ci'ii coast n| nil ofBriti-li fi's of weal ill Til.' F.astoiii rly its ciitiii; m 130 mil.-, icli loaves U'l m to its min- iiral iainl, the rail tobecoiao rod from Vii 1)111- Xarruwv of tho Island rood liarlxniiN S_\>tom with )ss tho VaMi'« akitig. Until utlay, u steam u-onvor I^^Imu'I |o liiiu' answer and projooti'd iKsiiiiimault t" loon tlic cros-- lirh I lie moiin- In. Tho Intrr Itions, and, u!- [plcto, onoui^li y in projiHl lit tho oast, to to hoar on the a niiniiiniin [) and -vvide. iiirroWH, tliroiiijjh wliioh many of tho streams of Iho plains flow. It did I,. it aitpoar advishlo to spoiid much time in stirvoy work in lh(» prairio .ijiintry. I considorod it more iinjiortant to direct altonfion, in Iho lirst nliiir, totlio>sihle, on iho eastern and western .seotion.s, and it will he some time hefoi'e the oenlral roijion i- icacheil. The forcgoini:; remarks liavo reforeneo to tlio Yellow Head Pa.s.s, as tho ohjeetivo jininl on the western side of tho prairie region. Should future «liscovorios in British I'liliimhia jioint to the expediency of ahandoning that pa.ss, for one more northerly, iiiy uoiioi-d impression i.s that tho country, on the eastern .side of the Mountain C'liaiii. is not unfavoiirahlo for tho change. Although the information is v<'ry general itnd iaipoil'oct, I have no reason to apprehend that there will he anything t(^ prevent a lino of railway heing consfructcHi, at moderate cost, to any of tho known pas.sos tliniLiirh the mountains as far north as J'eaco Eivcr. While geographical or other circumstances may nece.ssilale the comnioMcoraent ol'ilie railway at |)oint,s more acces.sihle than in the central region, it Is generally ii'linittt'd that great advantages woukl result from settlement, making some progress ill ilio country, in advancti of the railway. It fortunately happens that the lakes and livers in tho interior are so situated, in relation to imich of the land til for cultiva' lion, thai I hoy can, with moderiite outlay, he rendered available as immediate means of £6 rh.. condition iniglil bo used (liiriiit; tlio oiulv siimmor months. Ity ])ropoi'l_v funsli'iKtcii iifjli.t (IriMiglit sloiimors. No.xt to llio Cfniiid K;i])i(ls, (Iw Colo's Kails or Ila|)ids, aluno (lie (•()ntliicii( c ,,i tlu! two Siisicatoliowiins, ajijioar to oonstiliilo tjio most soi-ious impodi:'i"ii* t,, il„. niv\'iji;ation. 'i'licsc i'a|)ids arc cstimatod by Mr, Sohvyii to oxtond ovor a loiii;iiiiii Lwolvo miles, wiili ji total dcs(viil ol'proliaMy toi'ly-livo foot. Only two otlior ])Iaits are .spokon ol'a- likely to Ljive any dillieult\ to steainlioat navii^ation. especiallN lim. in,*;' the lattor pari of tlie season, wlioii the water !.•> low. Tiioy are the Crow ].:i.. liapid find Thohon's Rapid; hoth on the Jiiain Saskatehowan, the one lielow. lir hthcr aI)ove Cedar Laki'. it is not improhahle that a moderate oxpondiliir removing some oftho hw^c iif)ulfioi's. which overywiioro fill the IkmI of the river, ■ t/i form 11 channel with a imif'orrn (loi)tli .'it thcso ra^iids, would rendei- the Saskat wan navigable above the Grand Itajiids, for properly const ruetod steamers, dnrin llio wliolo summer. The sjieediost and simplest way of overeominir tlie (ri-and J?apids would he \< mean.s of a cheap portage railway, or they might ho avoided altogether by estalili^liiii a lino of communication through the Tjakes Manitoba and Wini\ipogosiH. The Intir route would undoubtedly bettor taeilitate the settlement atid devcloiiment of ih C4)untr}', but it would cost more than the route by the Grand l?apidK. A memorandum on tiie survcy.s which have boon made, in connection with tl.i proposetl route through Lakes Manit/)ba and Winnipegosis to Cedar Lake on tln^ main H,iskatihcwan, is attached. (Apjiondix O.) Plans and sections of the principal portages i-oferred to above are sulonititi: (Sheet No. 11). There is one subject wliich probably has as important a bearing, directly anl indirectly, on tlie route anrl mainienani'c of the railway across tlie prairie region, a> any other. I refer to the question of fuel. For nearly a thousand miles, the tiniin' that now o.vists will bo insuiFicient 'to meet the demand for liuilding and fern in:' jiurposos, and, therefore, the importance of a nupply of mineral fuel, at convonion' point.s, lie;'omes wvy greai. not only for consumjition on the railway, but for the n-f of settlers. The scarcity of vMod fn- sleamhoaf- will indeed be felt the nionioin ,steain navigation is introduced on the Saskatchewan, and il will iirobably he ncv- Hary to float coal down the river from the thick soiims above Iv'.monton. Mr. Selwyn has formed a theory, M'hich, if confirmed by acmal discoveries. «i- prove of incalculable benefit. His examinations convey the iniprc -i'! that the coal-bearing rocks pass with tlieir associalcil cual seams and ii''' ores beneath the clays "wliich ar-e oJi-t'ived in the vicinity (^f Fort Pitt aipl '' Elbow, and it maybe that boring along the river valley would reveal woi k:;: ams of coal at Huch a limited dej)th beneath the .surface as would render il»" available, even as low down asCarloton." rc-i. Diiriii:^- I '^■')i'I<, \vcd O COntllU'lHl' n1 i.(ii:ii"n< In ill'' vi'i' a Icnii'ii "I \,\-l> ntlllM' ]liari;v tlu' Crow !"'-• Olio lii'low. li.' 1 (.•xpcivlilii'' '1 f the rivor, so;i. r the S:iskiitili- iteamcrs, (luriin- liils woiilil 111' •'}' rby cstalili-liiiiL' osis. The l:iti." ■clopnu'iit oi" tin s. noction witli \h lar Liiko on tli' iii'C suliniitti'ii |ni;-. ilircclly invi rairiero.n'ii^ii.:^ piles, the tinil'<' ing :iii(l fem in: jl at ('.onvcui'^r.' but for 111" '■■- folt the ni'tnieii: )b:ibly ho utv<- iton. (Aisoovcrio-. «'■ tho iiii|iir--i" lso:uris iiii'l ir^' l(,rt Pitt aiM'' roveal w^iK-' l.vild rcmloi' ili: I This inaltor is so vitally important thai it oaniiot too soon bo brouijlit to the (o>t. UE8ULTS IN TUB WOODI,AND REQIkN. Ill iirciirilanoo wilh the prinoiplos laid down at tlio boginiiini; of'tlio survoy, in thf ,-iiiiiiir ol' I.S71, tho tirst efforts wei'o dircclod to the disoovory of a routo for the iiiiiiu lino, wliioh would toucli Lake .Superior, at suoli a point in its ooursi', as would iniilxo tho I'rairio Kogion aeoos>ible from that lake, duriiii;- tho season of naviga- tion. 'flu^ lirst etlbrts were not successful. The work of exploration, extcndint,' over n whole season, with a strong staff of surveyors, althougli undoubtedly the moans of ;i(i|iiiri'i,i; a great (leal of reliable and important information, did not result in the discovery of a practicablo line. Kxplnrations were continued during tho following winter and humniei-, and, by llic Olid of ]Ji72, a praetieabh; and favourable I'oute for the main lino wa.-i found. Tho route passed niund the north side of Lake Nepigon, and, in order lo I niinc( t it with the navigation of Lake .Supei'ior, a l>ran(di lino was rendered iRMi'ssaiy. 'fwo surveys for tho branch were made. The one to Thundor Bay, the other to >'i'|iit,'oi'. ]5ay. Tho (islimated distance, from tho nniin line (o the former point, wa>* iil"iiit l.")il luilos, and to the latter point aljout 105 miles. fhr jio^ition of tho main line, north of Nepigon, invidving tlu- oonstruo- tioii of so long a branch, was not satisfactory'. Surveys were therefore renewed in the spring of 187."5, in the hope of finding a more suitable location. It wiis Hdt that the siiviuii; effected l)y a reduction of tlic length of the Lake Superior branch would ofdiirnuh i^round. M" 1'^ . port It wMs known that the rugged district along tho coast of Lake Superior could not ■wholly ho avoi; of Lalce Xijiissing. Oiirini;- the present winter, two surveying ])arties have been and ;u\! still at >t of Lake Xopiiron. But the characteristic features of the district, in which •n-ork tlicy are engaged are we wilh iiiiieh impodimen II nndorstof)d and T do not a])))reliond they will moot Their duty is mainly to eonneot jn'oviotis surviys by a cliiiin of measurements in order to shorten distance? This s work", miieh of tho proiuid is marshy and broken by innumerable small lakes, can best be done in the Vrintcr season. -c^n-> 28 I iuii u«w iililc In r«'|i(ti't tli;it flic results aro t^ulisfiicldry — llial, I lie Miivivs conduct imI ill llic WiMMllaiul l{i\ti;iifii lia\ c nwnlr ravmiraltlc |ll■(^^l•c^ Assiim iiij' that the work nl' the Iv liiitor nai'ticw will b( cdiiinlclod WlIJK.Ill incotini:; ,>-cri(iiis liillii iiltii>s, I may xcntiirc to ropnrl that tlircc praclicahlc niiitu, have hcch Umiul. A tliai^i am has licm |ii'c|iai'cil for the iiiiijium' ot'ihiiwiiii; the ij;ciicral t^'raijinii^ on these lln\'e roiiles, and, as I am describing ihciii, it will he coiivciiicnt to ivti i to llio dia.tci'iiin (Sheet N'o. 1*). All three i'oiitt'> hcniii at a common point on the slioi'c of' Lalce Maiiitoh.i im,! witli the exie|)tioii of Xo. !, terminate at the south-east aiiirlc of fiake Nij,i- Hing. l{oute No. I lermiiiates at Mattawa, opjiosite liaUe \ipissiiiy-. [t may lie observed that li>n,ii; jiortioiis of each I'oule ai'e conimon, hut, in order !■ make a proper romjiarisoii of tlieii- respective lengths and n'encr.'d eiigineorin. fciilures, the diagram is prepared so as toshow each as u complete and distinct fniii, bot\v<'en the terminal [loints referred to. The distances are givi'n with as miicii m enracy as can, at present, he ascertained. Jitmte No. 1 passes north of jjake Nejiigon; its t(»tal length is 1,047 miles. JiiMtti' No. 2 passes south of Tiake Xejiigon and touclies the navigable %vatcr> .; Lake Superior, near the mouth of Xepigon River; its total length is l.OvJS milc>. Ronlr. No. I{, like No. 2, passes south of Lake Nepigon and touches Lake Siipc i ' navigation on Thunder Ray; its total length is 1,102 miles. It has already been stated that route Xo. 1 would require, in order to reach slciiin boat n;ivij,atiiin on Tiake iSuporior, a braiieh to Thunder Hay of about 150milc>; i» Nepigon Hay of about 110 miles. Rniih Xo. 2 would ix'tpiirea branch, of about ten miles in length, to reach a peiiii on Nepigon r>ay de-ignatcd Reel Rock, where steamboats now toueli, but the sinvov- which we have made I'slalilish the fact that, by straightening and dredging out ilh' ehaniud bei wi'enXe[)iii-oii l>a_\aiida sheet ol'watci' known as Tiake Kllen, the ii.ivii,,, tion of T.ake Superioi' ci.uld be extended to the head of the formi'r lake, ten mil ■ iidaiid. The main line by route N"o. 2 would toucii the head of Lake Kllcii and tlm- l)v the improxements referred to, !i branch would not be recpiired. limi/i A^i). '.', touches the navigalile waters ofTiak'o Siijierior at Prince .Arllm-' Liinding, on Thunder Haxaiid ihcrefoie ie([iiii'cs no branch. In esiiinaling tlie distance bet ween Lake Manitoba anil Lake Superior, it.-linii!. b(^ borne in mind, tlitit the navigation ofLake Sujierior can, at a tritling cost, her. teniii'd from Thunder Hay up the liiver KaministiquiA, to a point about eight mi' above Prince ArtliurV LuTiding. In the corapurisun which follows, it will 1" voniciit to call this point ICaministiquia. 89 I. Iliii siirvi'V- ik'lod willii.ii; oticablc riHitii- I'llielll to lilil .Uuniti'li.i iiw ((■ Liiko Nii'i- but, ill onion- ill eni^iiifoiiii. 1 distinct roiii, itll lis Uliull ill 7 miles. gublo W!ilor> .' 1,0;JS milc>. s Laltc SupiMi 1 () roach stciui; 150 niili'>; i- to roach a \>"\^<' Hit. the Mll'VrV- rodifiiij:; oiil \\w \vn, ti\c iiavii.;. 'ukc. ten mil- I'll lea and tliu- [■•riiico Arlliui-' ifrior, it >li'iii'' lino- (■o>i, I"''' )out oi.u'lit mi'.'' it will h- ' litutr. Nin.'i, in ilx course from Iho west to Lake Kllcn, irMiclics Lako Xopi^'on lit riiicl- Wtiy. Hy count ructiiitc locks bctwocn Luke Sn|icrior aiilanccs l'r'((in a com- miiii pi'int on Lako Maidt(d)a. 65 miles westerly from T{ed fiiver, to tlie several pinro* !d)ove relerred to, are as I'ollnws: — Hy IJoutc No. 1 — To Kuministi(|uia Ditto ( Main line.... .'!.'».'! ( Ih-ancli 14'J Ditto Ditto Ditto o, 1, . . ,1 T !• Main hne.... .{;>,! To rrince Arthur Landin"-. < ,, , ,.,, ^ ( iJrancb l.)tl m T I i.'ii (Mainline... HOr) To lijiko hllen <„ , ..^ ( uranc li 1*5 m T. J T> I (Main line.... .'505 ToKodRock llivnni^h 105 To Chief -K Bay { K" l'"'-" ''f^ •' ( lirancii 55 By lloutc No. 2, To Lake Ellon Main line r.... m T) 1 T> 1 (Main lino.... 481 Ditto To Rod Lock I Branch 10 Ditto To Chiefs J}ay Main line By Route No. 3, To Kaministiquia Main line Ditto To Prince Arthur Landing Main lin(> MiloH. 405 503 490 500 450 481 491 440 40:: 471 Tlio total length of railway to comi)lote the whole scheme between Lakes Mani- tflha, Saporior, and Nipissing, by the throe different routes is estimated as folIowB:— Route No. 1, the Main lino Ditto Brj The Ma Bri Route No. 2, the Main line Bra Route No. 3, the main line inch to Prince Arthur Landing.. .. 150 (1 line 1047 n(di to Rod Rock . 105 . ..ii);{« nch to Rod Rook . 10 e MileH. 1197 1152 1048 1102 '■—rf- -^-rTiiriiiH' ^41 30 It iipiKiiiN (Viiin tlio roro^oiii;;, Unit route No. 1 linn nut llio ailvanliifjo witl- rv. ]»(M'i to ili-t!iiiii'. It is llio longOHi routo lictwoon LiiI<(h Maiiilt)l'ii anil Siipi'i-icu It. is not tln' Nli(irti'-t, llii-iiii:;Ii roiiU-. and, taUiiii,' tlm total lonj^tli nf railway to li, liiiiit, tor main lino anilliranilifs. it oxcccijs routi; No. ,"{ ii^ (tri niik'>, ami route No. J iiy lOlmili-.. It i> now, tlu'rct'oro, hatirtlaclorily I'^^tabli^IuMl tliat llidrc will lio ?i.. Milvantanc n'ainod liy carrx ini^ llic main line In llu> norlli i<\' f-aUc N'<'|iii;i)ii. ami Mu <,-lioi<'i' Mt'm-< to I'rst i.ctwcca rdiilcs Nos. '2 ami .'I. iioiili^ No. ."! alloi'iU (lie shortost lino ol' conimuiiication botwoon T/aUcs Maui t(jlia and Suporior, boini; I'rom IS to 20 niilos sliortor tha)i by routo No. 2. Itouto Xo. 2 iw tbo sborto.-sed over by both I'oute.s, and the same i^eueral elevation attained at the loailing points. As \h>{\i routes have the same leading featui-es. 1 propose limitinj;' txiy descrijttion to I'outo No. 2. Comnieneint;' at llie southeasterly single of Lake Ni|)issing, tlie wliol»^ distance to Lakt^ Kllen, on Nepigon River, is about 557 miles. The line at Lake Nipissing is 7-'50 feet, and at Litkc KllentJOt foot, above .sea level. Between tho.sc tsve exti'eme ])oints, the route 2ia>scs over two main summits, one about HO miie.s north- westerly fiom Lake Nijnssing, at an elevation of 1420 feet above the sea, andthcotlier about TO miles eastt'rly ' ,'om the IJivcr Nei)igon, elevated 1400 feet above the sea. lie) ween tiiese two summits, for a diHtance of over ;]70 miles, there is a long fhU ba-sin, cliuiai tiri/.ed by no great inequalities. The lino for tliis long distance, will be generally very level, the ground averaging from 1000 to 1200 feet ibove the sea; at one j)oint only, Jtiver Lngli.sh, does it dip to S.'iO feet. The route, for nearly the wliolo distance east of Nepigon, runs biihind the rigged and eli'\'ited belt of country which presents formidable obstacles on the im- mediate shores of Lako Sujierior. This rougli district is crossed directly back cf Lake Ellen where it is narrow and probabl}- least forbidding". In eonsoquoncc, aluiit 25 or ;J0 mile.s of the line iioi'theasterly from Ncpigon ri'^f/ will show heavy work, while I hi'hcvi' .\i IM llii- 'll^ilK ' |)a»iii:. iii-ii;,'iiii orini^ foatiires, if oom|(ariMiii bo niado with woll known iNi-lini;- Iiailways. Ill avcending westerly from Tiako Nippi>iiii;, tho rise l<> tho liii,'ho>i puinl is Icsn, mill liir length of lino (»('oii|)ied in making the iisoent eon>idoiably greater, than in |ia>>iiig I'l'oni Liiko Ontario 'o jjuko l[uriiii by railways in I'lioraiimi arfn-Js Ihotiou- iii-iila cf Western Ontario. The (Iro.'it Western uscends 75.'{ leol. in 41 niles. Tho (I rand Trunk " !t(;7 " "IS '• The Grey and Jiruoe " l.JW " f)2 '• The Northern " 71H " 27 " Tlio total rise on the raoKio line nortli-westerly from I^ake Nipissing tutho hiyh- o>l summit east of Lake Sujiorior is tISIO foot, and tho asoent is spread ovi ra disluneo ■ It IJit iiiilos: thus indieating an average rate of aseeni minh moro tavniable than nil tin [{ailways alluded to.* The aliove will be sutlieicnt to show that a route Ims boon fouiid, ilirou^h a lon>f ^i I limi of (he country, mueh more favourahlo than was hitherto e.Vjioc led, or cveii tli'niglit, possible. 1 now refer to (ho route west of Lake Superior : • CmntUan Pdciflc Rntlway- Ahove thn 8o«. KcviiiKiu (if III. nil Kiuninlt, botwet'ii I*'ikes NlplKslng auj HiipcrlorJ — l.lU) foet MN.'VaUou ut Liilie NlpiSAliiK 7,il) *• Total rtKc iQ 111) mlloH ti»i) •• Urmi Western Ratlu>ay, Ki '\ iiiiiLi iji siiiiiiii i ottlwot'ti llumllUiii iind Detroit V'X\ '.cpX. liievaUilil lU lluiulUnil 2\2 " Total rise In 44 miles Vi^i " (framl Trunk litiitvriy. l:iivuil(iii III suiniiilt lit'twet'D Toronto iind Siirnin l/JUl foot Hit'ValluuulToroiit'J 21^ " Total rise UMiS mUes »ii7 " Tniont% Griy and Brtire llfHlway. l-iiv.iiiori (ir .-iiiiimli ueiwecu ToiDiito iinil Owen K• 82 Kolwcf'ti llif ft>|iit!;(iii river, llii< iliv laiici! i^< ali"iil IHl iiiilfr*. Tli(Mliii;t uliiivt" till' >!iii»i' li'Si.'l atiil iilxiiit ;(iM» mili'> «'a>«lcrly from KimI Uiv^r. Ill ici-'iii:;' liiioii;^li lo Kaia' Sii|n'rior from llu- wf-t, u rise ofSITfi'i'l Iiuh (in i, forn to Ik' o\( rcoiiu' ill !{IM) inilcN, ami a dc-'iiMit of 'M>i H'ol in al»oiil I Hi milo, 'riif driii'l 'ri'iinl* Itailnay, Ih-Iwci'm Montreal aii'l i'oil lami, rniniiii;^ ea>li'rK from Muiihral, iiialve-. an a^eeni ot' l.'JtiO feet in III Miile> aii'l a eorre-<|iiiii'liiii.' de.teeni ill Ifi.'f liiile^. (!(iiii|iai'i-<'ii^ of tliih iialiu'o i|o not taUo into aeeoiinl inlermeiliale iiinliilai i'li" in eiliuT ea-"t' ; tliey are |ireMM»te(l simiiiy for tlio i)iir|ioso of hrinijiii;,' out tlie saiu m features of lliu route foiiiul fortlie Canadian i'acitle Uailway. Tliey .sui,';fe.Ht tir.stly, (Iimi (lie work^ of eoii'^liiietioii for lliis line will not be heavy, ainl Hoeondly, timt. it will lie ijiiile |iu-*ilile to >eeure lemarkaldy eiwy ascondint^ gradients, in (he direetiou .r the heavy liailie. One of the i|iif«lioii.s, whieh will niKloiihtedly force itself on piiblic! ulteii fioii when the I'rairie JJoi^ion begins to raise a Kurplus for exportation, will be liio elieaii traiisiiortalion of |iro(luets lo tlio Mast. Lookinu; to this view of the (inestion the iiii'ioriaiice of a location which will seeiiro the lightosl gradientn in an oaslerly dircciioii i< manifest. Tilt' irradienl.saiid alignnuiiit of a Ttailwuy have inucli to do witii it,s eaiiuii-'iness and tlio. cost of working it; it is woll known tlial, by attention to ijicv features, in lot:ating a lino, it is ((uito possible in somo eases to double ih( transporting eajiaeity of a railway, and very largely reduce the cost of convey, ing Ireighl over it. jii of the {'anniliun T'aciflc Tl I" ilway one o f tl lose ea.se; wl lere the ul llin«l tran^liortion on gable watei's of Lake .Superior is jireei.sely atteiiiion should be paid lo its engineering features. The reduetion of the cost ul this section to the lowest figure is a question wliieh utl'ects tin future of the country, as upon it, to a largo extent, depends the setllem.-nt ot tin- wesiern prairies. The more this portion of the railway can lie made lo convey eheajily the pi'^ duets of the soil to the navigation of the Si. Lawrence, the more will the ti(;ld I'c extended within which farming operations can be carried on with profit on the feitili- plains. The intormidion obtained suggests that it will be possible to secure* maximum easterly aseending gradients, between Manitoba and Lake Superior, within the linni of 2t) feet to the mile, a maximum not lialf so great as that whi(;h obtains on tin uiiijoritv of the railways of the continent. 88 ivcr, (III' iiiili'.x. niii^ i':i-li'il\ •()rr«'i|i'iiiiliiii.' li> iiiiilul;iU"ii>. )iit. tlio hiiliiiii esltir«tly.lli;u y, tlial it will Ik; (liri'cliiiii .i' jmblic. ulttii n, will lio lU )f tllO (lUl'sliMli in an tnisli'ily itM caiiiuiity \>'r lion to ilioi (lollMl! till ii>,t of convey* and llio iiavi IV tllO lltlllii«t of tlio cost (if ;h atVcct.^ tlic ttleni.-nt ui tli-- icaply tlic i'i'i>- ■ill llic licM I'l- it on the fcitik' cure maxiniiim rithin tlio limit obtains on tin I iliink llic line >lionM be Im> utdl ^u a-* to have liic lio^t po^isiiijc alij^iilnciil, v> ill no lii'a\ icr ;;railicnl-* llian the niaNiinnni iclcrrcil in. lint llic iin|>oilaiici' of si iriti^ llic liciiclils o|' an iinlirokcn >lcain coiniiiiinicalinn at tlic cariic-i niomcnl luv Ml irrcat llial I coiiNiiU'i' tlial it wonM lu> ailvi>.alik', in the lir.sl, iii^laiicc, tii(oii >ini('l llic clicapot |io«nili|c line. Wliile atriictiiiti of II cheap teinporai'y line. a\oi lini^ for Ihc prc-cnl all costly pernmnciit ui'il,« ihal Would retard ii> completion. Ihdi'dcr to i:;ain aci (.■■.•. to the counlrya-* ••|n edily uiitl cheaply a.s po>,siblo it inifj;ht, indeed, bi'conie m^cessary to overeoiuo >|icci:il dillh'iillies by adoplinu; lein|ioi'ai'ily, for kIkh'I diNtaiiees, duviatioiiM from tho ti'iic local ion with heavy iindii latin;; ;,n'adienls and ^^llal•p<■ln■valm•(•. I have no reason, jiiiwcver. to ihiiiU that tiiis cvpi'dieiit would l'n'i|iient!y be required. I am -ali.-tlod lliiii loi' ilie greater part of the distance between fiako Sujierior and Manitcdm, iho ]'iriii;iiient lociilion may \n' siilmtanlially adhered lo. Willi re^jard to mate-rials |lir building' jnirposox, I liavo every reason to bolipvo, il,;ii ijo Lcreat ilitUcully will be e.xpcricnccd on thi> score. Tlie "Woodland Kc;;ioii rnitiiMiilely pos-.e»es an abundant supply of timber, suitable for b'ailway work, Mii'l will be able to fiirnisli all that may Iio roiiuirivl in tlio Prairie Rei,'ion. I will now refer to (he (jueHtion of dislaii' ■■ between a common point in llio i'rnv iinf ot' ^^alliloba and points to tlie I'a^l, b}' the Can. Man Pacilic I'ailway, iiinlhy rival roiitew tln'oii;,'li tlie Uniteil Wlales, and I should ^talo thai the distances iilioiii lobe submitted are ascertained from recently aeiniired data and are bcdieveil telle iipproxiinalely correct. TakiiiL!; l'"orl tlarry"'' and Saiilt Sle. Mario as two common points, the li.llowini^ niiiip.irivoii mav be presented. Xo. 1. From Fort Garry to Sault Sto. Marie 'Cr.' w','.';'.'' Viatlic Railways built and [iroposcMl to Duliith, thence by water -ITti o"^'* •' Caaadian I'aeitie Hallway to Xejdgon, tlienec by water.. .. 41'! -l''^ hiilcrence in favour of the Canadian Houte tJO l'i2 r.>2 AVilli lespeet to tho distaiieo from Fort Clarry to the cities of Toronto and .Mon- iival by I ho ('aimdian Pacific Kaihvay, and by tlie most direct all mil route.'* built or jiri>pn>cil (•(■(( IVMubina and Chicago, Total, nillcs. Sot; 6(U To From Fort Grarry to Toronto and Montreal, all rail, ii'i I'lie Canadian I'acitic llailway to Xipissing and continuations.. . 117.' To Tend una an< I CI ucago, Tuitiii'e, Montreal 1288 Detroit, \c ir)S!» 11125 Dill erciice in favor of the (.'anadian Pacitie Hallway, lUJ U37 ' The Stone Foil Ineach ca»e. 84 AsMimiiiiC tli^.' Dnliitli llailway to bo ux tended ii'ont!; Ilio soutli slimv ofT^akc Suiiorior to Saiilt Sto. .Uiirio. tin- outlet of Lake Suiierior ln'idgeil al lliat jioiiit, ami tlie IJailway coiitimied theiii-e into Canada Ity tlie nortli shon; of Lake Huron, ilm, Ibrmini^' the inns) diivel {m-sililc couiu'etion between Dulntli and ibe cities of ("ana- da. tlie ciiniparison would stand as follows: No. 3. To Toronto From Fort Garry to Toronto and Montreal, all rail, viii The Canadian Paeitic IJailway to Xipis-iiuo-iind continnalinns 117.'! '• Peml>ina, Dulutli. and Sault Ste. >rarie 12!M! Ti> Monliv.il. 12SS 14 u; OitVei'ence in favour of (lie Canadian Paeilie l?ailway I'ilJ IfjS The tii'sl eomjiarison sliows thai the route via Nejii^on, fi-oin Fort Gari'v i> Sault Ste. Marie and all ]>oiiits V.n>\. will have ()0 miles less rail aiid 'l'^'2 niiic^ Ics-i water than via Duluth. Tlie second eomparison establishes the fail that the Canadian i'aeitie Railway Avill iirini;- Toronto 4H!, and Montreal (!o7. mile- nearer Fort Garry than tl \ arc I'v the most direct route, via Chicago a \d Pcniliina. The third eomparisou shows that by the most direct continuation of the f'nii.il States Eailway, that could be huilt iVoni Duluth easterly, the distance to Foi't Gaiiy from Toronto, Montreal and other points in Canada, would be considerably grcaii'i' lian by the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway. As.suming that portion of the Canadian llailway from Manitoba to Lake Supcrii' to be established, ai-il thu- aC^madian port on that lake placed in the .same rchi live |)osition as Duluth. we maj- draw a comparison between the railway I'ouio^ projected from these ports easterly. Taking a cimimon point near the southeast angle of Lake Nipissing, the li- tance to Nepigon is under 560 miles, while the distance to Duluth is about 'iT') miles. The Canadian route wi)uld, accordingl}', involve the con.struction of 115 n)il(> less railway, than tlie nlo^t direct line via Sault Ste. Marie througii the Unitcit Stairs to Duluth. Comjiarisou No. IJ establishes the fact that by the former route Torontu nnd Montreal would he from 120 to 150 miles nearer Fort fiarry than by the laticr. The Canadian route must, therefore, remain unrivalled. These comparisons, moreover, undoubtedly suggest, thai the Canadian line wiW not only command thetrafli(; ofManitoba and the whole northwest, but that it w'll hv in a position to draw traflie from Minne^•ota and tlie territories of the United Stato, south and west of Pembina. A map of the country between Lakes Manitoba and Ontario has been pi-ejiaiO'l to ,tCComj)any thiw report for the pur2)o.sc of sliowing the projected route of the ("an adian Pacific llailway above referred to. (f-icc sheet No. 10.) 34-1 slinli- of I,.lki> linl poiiil. iinil ;c iruron, Uiih itios of ('aim- To T" roiild Moulri.il. i::! 12SS 12:5 ir)S Fort Gurry ti 1!12 niil("< lis< ai'itic Hiiilwiiy an tl ^ !iri' 'y I of tlit> r'nii'"! to Fori Gany leralily i^rcaiii' Laki' SupiM'ior the same M'hi- raihvay I'diiio^ lii^f^iiig, till' 'ii- h is about '!7"' in of 115 inHf' Uiiitoil Slairs 'outo Ton'iilu l)y llio laiKi. latlian lino will that it w'll U- Uiiitoil 8iati>, hern pri'iiaiv'l utv) of the <'!iii fLIMATIC niKFICUr.TIES. Ill a territory covorintx so hirjj^o an area, eniluMcin^ hd'ty nionntain chains. ticvaic'l [)lateans, vast lowhiiid plains, cxtiMisivo IniTsts and i^roal hiko hasins, it inii^lit he expoctotl that the I'iiinalt' would prove almost a.-- diver>ilied a-- liic |)hy^ii'al li'aliift-- of the Murfaee. The eontiguration of the Coiitiueiit, witlioul any ([Uesiiim, has an intjiorlant ln;u'iiii;' on tlie eliniatology df the several I'e^ions under eousider'alicm. Variation (if ioiaiieraturo and luunitlily of the atmosjilu'ro are intlueneed in a remarkahlo iiuiiiiii'r by pliysieal eharaeleristies. 'i'he latter eondition eoneei-ns us mio>i, a> upon iKhpciids the snow-fall, and it is the de{)tli of nnuw whitdi mainly determines tho regularity with which a railway may he ojterated during winter. It is well known that, with the exception of the islands on tho Paeitie (.'oast, IK) jiai'l of Canada is exempt from an occasional recurrence of very low fem])craturo, .liiriiig tlie winter season. Experience has, hovever, taught us. in building our piililic works, how to deal with frost, and if we cannot wholly avoid the intUiciieo of a low temperature and great variation in temjierature, we can by proper caro and forethought guard against them, and greatly le.ssun their destructive etl'oets. Witii regard lo the snow-fall, some important facts Jiave been brought to light liy tlie survey. AVe have had parties in the field during winter, in lu'arly every sec- tion ofthe vast territory. From these j)arfies and from ot.jier reliable sources import- ant information lias been obtained, to admit to some extent of generalization. A correct idea i(lt's of tlu'se t'lovafod l)iii'riors, comparatively little jtroci])itation takos jilact-. fn tlif Cascade (^Iiaiii deep snow cxtoiids tVnm tiu> slinrcs of tin- Parjtic id iln siiniiuit, lull !:;otK'i'ally iiicrcasfs in dcplli witli tlic iiu'ccax' in altiiiidc. In ili,. soverul pa^-^-; (lirougli tlios(\ inoiuitiiiii^ the iii'|)(h of >ii()\v-rall \arics yi'oaliy. jn cording as IIm y ai'c moiv or lt>s slicltcicd iViini tlic |irovailiiii:; winds. Willi tin- view (pC olilainiiiu- exact cliinatological liuta, nictcnroiciiiii'al oKmi Na- tions were Ive|)t and rejj,'istercd at cei'ta'n stations in tlie JfixUv Moiinlains. dinin-- l)art ot' tlie last tliree years. Tlie re_ij;isiei' oflluse observations lias lieen exaniincl by Prof. Kiiiii-ston, of the OliNcrvatory, Toronto; that gentleman lias kindly fiirni^licl me witli liis iledticlions and comparisons, wlncli F submit M*ith a report by Mr, Walter Soberly on the climate of that portion of the Rocky Mountain Zone wIm'i.' he Avinlered (Appendix P). It apiiears from tlie informittion in the documents i-eferrcd to, that the dec)i('«' snow in the valley of the Jliver Xorth Thompson is found between .Sliiiwater aiil Lake Albreda, and that it sometimes reaches five feet. Between Lake Albreda ami T<5te .Taiino C'a( he. the greatest depth is about four feet. \n the tii'si week in .Maivli 1S73. the ilepth of snow in the Yellow ITead Pass was two feet. The greatest depth of snow at the Athabasca I)ei)ot. 22 miles easterly from iln' Yellow Head Pass, never exceeded six and a-half inches, at anyone time, during- the whole winter JS72-7:». The surveying party experienced, what the rosidciu officers of the .Hudson Hay Company at Kdmonton and .laspar House considered, ini unusually severe winter, yet they found it less severe in the district referivd to ,li;iii at Toronto. Prof. Kingston has made a complete analysis of the meteorological regi^lii kept by the otficers of the surveying ])arty in tl>e mountains, and has const ru'inl tables giving a comparison between the minimum temperature and ili' depths of snow at Pocky Mountain stations and various place,- in Oniari', Quebec, and the Maritime I'rovinces. From thes(> tallies it will be observed. llnH. while in autumn the Jloeky ^fountain stations are liable to a eoUl niiieli cxeeeilin:; thatofthe lOast. the winter compares favourablv, and in sjiring tlu' moindain stati"ih have a ;ery decided aihanlage. With regard to sn^.w. the total depth, recordeil fur the winter rpiarler at the dejiot in the .laspar \'alley. i- remai'kably light ccmijiMivl with other poiids, as the foUowing abstract will show: — Snow-fjill, during the winter quarter, at Depot, .laspai' N'allcy lu ineli. - I>o. " utToronto ' 5(1.7 Do. " ■ at Ottawa :)2.2 Do. '• at ]\rontreal 71.1 l>o. " at Quebec Jn2.7 Do. " atSt. J(din. N.P 7i».l Do. " at Bathurst (Pav Chaleiir.)... 112.:{ J)o. '• at Halifax, JSi.S." P.!,.') Do. '• jxt Howse Pass 7y Mi', liii Zoiu' wIm'I',, hilt tlu' iUh'))('«' StiiiwiiliT lui'i ko AIIm'oiI.'i nml iViH'k in Miinli. sterly iVoin ilu' 110 limo, (lui'iii;;- at tlic i'e>iiii'n! c'ousidoi'cd. nil olVri'oil ti' :li;iii lon'ie'iil roii'i^U'i Ills consinirtcil Ituro and ill' |os in Onlari''. olK.'i'vcd. Ili;i'. iiicli I'Xfi'i'diliL; Imiilain stati'iii> ii, ri'cordi'il I'lT iii'lit ciinijiai'r'i 111 iiii'li :)U.7 .")2.'_' ' 74.1 Klli.T ■ 7(1.1 11 L'.:; ■ I'.t..") • 70.11 ' 84-3 Tlic eliai'iictor of tlio winter climate, on tlie eiisteni a])]iroa('li lliroiiuli the IJoeK-y Moiiiii.'iiiis to tiie Yellow Head Pa.s.'^. may he jiidij;ed from the tad thai .'dioiil otie liiiinli'cd horses and mules, en^'un'ed on tlie survey, vere ohlii;'eil lo >lii|'t, I', u- thrm- M.|\i'^ durinir the whole winter. These animals, mu(di worn oul hy .'Nci'ssivcly hanl \v,ii-k and nearly starved when they reuehed the ,Tas|)ar Valley, w ere tiiriu'd out in iiii,iwiiiti'r to |)iek lip wiiat they eould i,^e(. Xo( a sinijle death orcniTcd. and llicy :ill resinned woi'U in March in fair condition, Jasjiar ValU'y i^ fully .'l.'iud feet ahove i!i,. I.vel of the sea. and nearly ten dci^rees of latitude farther iioiiji iIimii Toronto. The locality refern^d to is excej)tionally exi-inpt from snow, on account III' lieiii;.; sholtored from the I'ucitic winds hy the hin'h mountain chain immedialel>' 1(1 ilie west. Some distance (o the east, the snow-fall is undouhtedly deeper, hut iit 110 'jnint on the jirojceted line of railway hctwoen Jaspai' A'alley and IMmonton, where it passes through thich torest for ])art of the way. w ill it much exeeeil halt .il I he 'lejitli found at Ottawa. I have already stated, tiiat tlie snow-fall is found to be niiieh ereater on the ucsiei'ii than on the eastern sideof the Hoe icy Mountain ehaiii. 1'lie same eliai'iict<.'i'is- ijr i- \y to fiHliiiries, the Indians say that the snow on the level roaches, at times, a little above I III' knee, probably not much over two feet. Ill all the passes through the Cascade chain, the snow is reported to he deep. iiii'l it i- probable that in any route ailojited, through the Canyons of this I'ange. snow -ir.'ds would he required to ju-oteel the line from -now-drifts and snow sihles. A.> the si^a level is H|)proa(died the snow ed afow feet aij(]Vi (he u;eneral level in the open prairies, and other moans adopted to prevent dviti- M>ow will reiilly dll'er less obstructioM on tiie Canadian rucitic Railway than it ijor. oil line^ now workeil in Ontario, (inebee and in the other Ka.-'^ern Provinces. I,OSS OF LIKK ON TMK SIKYEY. The results ol" (ln' I'acifie Iliiihvay Survey, now rospeetfnlly presented, wliid, I trust may bo ( ■on>iderfMi, in jnany respeets, satisfactory, liavo not boon attiumi without disaster. Tlie (lesfriu'tioii liy tire of (lie railway offices, witli many valualil records, has been alluded to. It is my sad duly to record iho loss of twenty-one nic who wort! engaujed upon the work of exploration. Of those seven perished in fore-' fire-, and tMcIve were drowned. TIh'sc men, together wiih the remaining two, lost their lives through causes inii tlental to their duties, and entirely lieyond control. T have already brotight tlu- ])ainful eases under the notice of the Government, and the docuiuonts submitted (Ap pendix Q) show that the Government, in recognition of tiio fact that they jn. i-he(| in a laborious and hazardous service, has granted a compensatory allowiiii" t.0 tiieir representatives. Tlio members of the Engineering staff have undertaken to establish a memoiiiil in memory of their lost associates. CONCLUSION. In submit ting (his lleport, with the voluminous a))pendices, I respectfully coii>ido. that I am jiisfiticd in thus summarizing its conclusions: 1. That, although the iid'ormation I'especting the llocky Mountain Zone i- 1 yet suHliciently complete to establish the line to the I'acitic, several routes Imv. however, been found, on which the obstacles met with, although formidable. ;i.' not insuperable. 2. That there are reasonable grounds fov the belief that the exploration^ ii pi'ogress in Urilisli Columbia will result in the discovery of a line throiigli th- liocky -Mountain Eegion, which, taking everything into consideration, will be iiini'' eligible than any yet surveyed. 3.^Thatit is now established beyond doubt, that a favourable and comparativciv t^isy ■• »ute, considering the line as u whole, has been found from Ottawa (" tl> northerly side of Lake Superior. This result is the more satisfactory, as unfnvonralv impressions had beet; created regarding this portion of the country, many havinj; considered it evi'ii impraetical)lo f^>r railway construction. 34-5 in Home pliKt*. isary to protctt , iifow fool alidVr ( prevent ilviti- ,vay than it ■Idi- roviiK'i's. roscntod, wliid, t boon attiiini 1 h many valualil ' twcnty-ononu' periwhod in fore-- fongh cauHCH inn idy brought tin- ts submit tcri (A]' ct that they ]'»; isatory allowim.' Lblish a mcmoriiii peettully<:'oii>i'li, main Zone i^ i' ,-eral routes li-ivi I formidaliU'. ;i.' t. That it will bo posni bio to looato llio lino diivd IVoin (lie imrtiioi'ly >idi' nf l.iiiu' Superior to the Prairie Region, without unusually oxpousivo works of con- siviii'titin, at the Hunie time with remarkably lis^Iit n'railiciils in'tlic (iircctinn of the licuvy triiffic. ■). Tiiat the main line from Ottawa to Manitoba can ln' lucalcd in Mich a way a> to render nnneeossary the eonstruction of a braneii, 1<» leach the navigatiit* \vakr> of Lake Superior. :'' (1. That there will be no difficulty in finding a comparatively ea-y route aero.sf> ; the I'i'airie Region ; that the bridging of the large rivers, with proper caie in location. will I'orin no large |iroportion of the cost of the two great mountain chains in British Ouluiiibia, but, except in these localities, the Canadian Pacilie Railway will have, (in an average, considerably less .snow than existing railway^ have in contend witli. 1). That the practicability of establishing Railway eomniunicalion aeros.s the . Coiitinont, wholly within the limits of the Dominion, is no longer a matter of doubt. \ It may indeed be now accepted as a certainty that a route has been fViund, generally ■ possessing favourable engineering features, with the exception of a short section appniaching the Pacific coast ; which route, taking its entire length, including the excoptional section alluded to, will on the average show lighter work and will require less costly structures, than have boon necessary on many of the Railway* now in operation in the Dominion. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Sandfbrd B^leming, Enginocr-in-Chiet. cxjilin-atidM-* ii llinc through t!.e lion, will be iniiiv Ind eomparativii; Im Ottawa !-> ll-'' I asunfavonvalv Iry, man_\ hiwin; 84-6 TAHT;K No. 1. — Estimated Tnunuan Diht.\N( kh. * I''it((M POINTS ii\ TTiK I'ActKti' Coast. Hurranl Inlet, hy Itoiuo No. 1, to KUiiioiit.on. K.ilinoiilon t > l'"urL i ■arry. l'"oi'l< i.'ii'ij- til Liikc .Niinssliij; r, to Kdinonton. Kdmonton to NI|ils.-.lnK, as above Total distance from Bute Inlet. Bute liiUI, by Konto No. H, f> KJinouton . EUiiioiitou to Nll)i^SlIl^;. an above Total distance from Bute Inlet. North Bentlncli Arm, by Ro'ite No. 7, to Edmonton. Edmonton to Nipisslng, us above Total dist.'ince from North Bentlnck .\rm S oS a cH , -7. 7W) 17M ■-'513 7.Vt 175;i 2&HI SKi 1753 25!t:) I7,T.'1 25&1I 872 1753 950 L7iW lo. .' Mil c" ^f. -it H2 ^ r 27« 27111 I 'M; 27-in m 27Ufi 27!« 271M Zk\ 2«"1' ."■ 2:.-.i» I 27ti2 ! i«:i 2U25 2825 2»*1K 2'i' TAl'.LKNo. 2.— ALL ]?A1L EOUTES,— Fuo.m Jm.utGaiuiy K.xstwahi im I 2iioii I'ltoM I'oUT O.MUiY. (The Stone Falnth, lbe"C(^ by the shortest line along the Month shore of Lake Superior and the North shore of Lake Huron Dill'erences in favour of the Canadian I'aclflo Rallwav I hi 1173 I 1>5"' I2!li! ' Itld 1> 12.i TA13LI-: Xo. :5.— ]\UXKD EAIL AND WATER EOUTES.— Fikui Fout (;akuy E.VSTWARD. FitO.n KuttT OAlUtV To fSAl-LT STE. MAHIK. "Via United Slates Uiilways, liullt and proposed, to Duluth, thence by Lake Supe- rior to SanU ste Mm lie Via Canadi.ui I'acilic Railway, to Nepigou, thence by Lake Superior to Sault 8to Marie Rail. ■177 416 Water. 1 T^'UC Silts I S':' 251 ! IJ'" Uillerencln favour of the (,'anaill an H adllc Hallw ay HI l^l'-^J ■^']__ ~~»~(J()nlionoiis miasnrementa, have in no , case yet been made, distances must, tliereforo, still be cousi- derod approximate. 'liM..' Mll.KS. "7 ft /; SO. U7()7 271.'! 1!7II1 < 'Si' 27111 i^is 27U« 27II.I a:i 27(l!t awt' ^ir. ' 27r,!» 2702 I ;«:, — 2S25 1 1 2K:K ; iM", '. — •Jl(« aiOi; ' :a.|> l'L\ST\V.\Ul). To I lo Toronto, MDiiirwi I17:i IfiSi) l-\^ im e jllii Tl73' i2im 13! OX I lib M FoUT (r.MtliY lull. Wuler.l T'iliil 1 . 477 418 301) j 873 2r)l 1 t"ii (il 112 1 ■J'« rofore, still Ije coii>. Canadian Pacific Railway. — o- Ari'KM)I('K8 'lO 'I^HE REPORT "K I'lIK ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF Ilnrt m Alh L;ilo' Sii| ol'lli '111 l''ri)i r ,' l/ii'> ami i>|ii'ii aiK H'liii'li siii aii'l diiiici many p;ir air ivirky flows llli'd :;' caji, I'ia^'os; it i ■'l"n,.laiil|_\ - il i- clay a'l\ancL'>'\\ '^iilari.), j,( A I Om '-■'■aiii, (li, ^■ik.'ii ii|, I, ^iii'l all iJK." Ol'lli,. T'"i"ii. .if 35 APPENDIX A. KXIM.iiliMiiKV SIIIVKV i WAHIAV I'Vill'li ll\ll,\V\V. I'li'i' I H"li K "II '/'' rliill'iu'tir III' fill- run iih\i/ I iil irrsiil iirrns.'i //ii' ( ' miti iiiiil ill. I ■""- III/ llirK.ijiiilltiiiniil'Siliiill'iiiil l''li niiiiij. ihr I'liijiiii I i-iit-i' lliif. Al'ii'i' visilinn' N"('|iin'ipii, we iiimccimIc 1 to 'riniiHlcr Hmv, .'(ihI Iciiviiii;' llic sliorcs of f,;il LaUr Slicliainliw an, a 'li-lami' uf U\ mile-. (Iio roa.l iin)-ll\' :'Uii> in llic vallov 'il' llic lvaniini>i iipiia. Tar lii'>l I'y miles in \\w .Nfaiawa apiieai'^* ailapteil tor setllemeiil. tlicsuil is -anily Inani, with a>nli-oil nfclay. The tl'ii'a i«. |ii'i»\imale!y tlie -anie as the eouuiry nnrlh of Ijake Ontaiin. The >Mrt'aeij i> imiliilaliMi;- and i;enerall\ not ilit^Uealt to <'leai', lew setllei's howevei- have I'otiiiil a hiiiih- here. Till' I'enaininL; twenty miles to laliimniit is met and tho Wilier-- mil in o|i|)osite ili reel ions ; on the one hand lu i he nortJi and wesi . iinall\' pass- "liidsoii'N l?av, on the other liand lo the east and sniilli, f.-ediiii!' Lake .'^niiei'ior III"' 111 ai d ihe St, Lawrence The Urst of liiis new s\sleni nf \vater>. the l,ai M ille huo and tlie >iifeeedinji- Lakes are W(dl wooded, |irinei|>al limlier heiiii;' |iino i-|ieu and hirtdi. A! Lalie ICao^'assikolc, iiiii'o lartdi and eeijar is met, a eireiinistaiice \vlii(di siio-;;'esisa Ideality wlieri- railway lie- may he tin ii id. ii lieinn,' |iossihio lorafl tlieiii this point to Winnijte,:.:;. 'I'lie liinher. indeed, >omewhiit iiiipro\i's in (h.iraetoi' ti'oiii aiiij iliineiisioi III 1 from tliis loealitN': tiio eoiiiili-v is al •o -iHiiewlial iiicire rolling ami III liny [larts has the appearance ot' ciillivatioii. On llainy Lake, howe^ci', the -hore air rock\- ami the tinnier is sm ill, especially on the northern -ide. J{ainy \l ■!! TlllW' lliidiii'ji a more fertile eoaiitr\'; whi're visihie from ih e ri\'( V the soil iver -eeins :(ied and easy of idea ranee. The |ireilominaiini;- 1 iinher is a-peii. hut it is inters perscil lilh ma|iles. pines and (diir-. and the ( oiiiil vy appears well a'ljipled tin' -etileinent. d'he writer had Imi a limited opporiiiniiy of tnrmiim' any opinion nf i|u> ■ miilr\- siiri'i'iinilinii' the Lake ot' llie Wond- ha\'i iiii' (Hi!\- sailed throilii'h itr waters. I'roiii the Xoi'lh west Alii'le ti« Red lliver. more lositivc ooinion- inav In ( X|ire--eit 'I'his |)istriet, is soniewhal monoiniiuus in aiipcarance. hiil neverlhch -(■em> canaille of deveioiimeii t. T le lirsi I Weill \- miles In- sonu what hlaces; I ai'ini' 1 IS. in its ]iri'senl stale, swampy and will riM|iiire extensive ilrain )W . in many aiill\- wooded with spruce, tamarai- and pine, with while hircdi and asi • ■ ' hi leli- ll Tl Ih ^cij IS clay vvith a eovei'inu'ol hiaek hiaiii. Imi i li:>ch;iraeterisrie is lost, as I he tra\ eller ailvance-. wc-t. the soil heeominn- more s;iiid\-. The Hora is generally thai (jf<'enii'al ')iii;iri(i, pos.-ilii\ inark'cd hy a n'realer \ ai'iety of spe'des. At Oak roint. thirls miles from l''ort M 1 1 I I \ 1 ti i I ' '11 I > I '\- i\ 1 1' ' »i II II I I 1 I « II I V I 111 111 II I .-^ > :^1 1- llllll II- !■ .\ I III Mil I >l III . Fnini Foft (iiirrv. the ihiiIc lay iilniw^r tin. valU'v ut'llu' AHsiriil)i)im' Ifivcr, v.li;, jiltlniii;^li ii ti'iliiitarv cil' llu' Jtcil Itivcr, is ilHt'lf llit' ••('iiln- ot'a Hyntoni ofwatof-, .\ J-'diM Kllicr. itlMiiit 2"J(» milo distant iVoiu l-'ui'l (iiii'i'v, I he watiM- flows I'niin iinrilu:: sniiiTfs aii|' latiliulf, lid wren the l(»'_'iii| ami 1(»|tli line of loiitfiiinlc, / dcM'cpij-- til JMii'i Kllifc. Iiclwccii till' r)(lt!, ami .'ilst jiar-iilicl (if latitiidi!, snnicwjuii ; the cas' nl' 1(12 ilcurcc nt' loiij^iliiilc. At Kin-t Kllicc, jiowtjvci', it fi'cuivoNllio Iriljiii.irv Jfivcr (^ira|i|iollc. wlii' li r'nns tiir lu-afly foiif stwaid of |''i)i't (fari'y a tow settlers have taken '; land Tlie r •iiiaiiiiiii:' distance of lod miles is witlioiit a sini::le settlei', the last l.|. i_ liilind at Kal Creek. llithello there ha> heeli ll.i indllc'einenl to the settler I'M nil,' here. It' rtdiaiiee can he |ilaeed nn re|( ies to I lie eni|iiiries made, no d idle ill t \' lia> -n i;i lieeii ex|)erieneed in the Assinihoine Valley, wilh reiiard to llui >-iiii|ily of wood. Tlii sajne niin'hl he said with j-eji'tird (o water; where wells have hee.i dii^f. wair" In lieeii found, with few exeeptioiis. Iieeil loiiini. \\ M n l^•^^ e.Mejii n mi:-. The wiiiler-. are ili'.--"rihei|, hy tliefew settleis We saw. as very |ileasant. Cnlil ■: a low leni|K'falme, eoinineliees to he felt soiiielillie ill I >eceniher. i::em'r.'llly ill' .1' the middle of 'he month, and the thaw lakes [dace in the early weeks of .Mnivj,; the snow siddoni I'.xeeeds two Ceet iiide|iili. Tliesim i> i,''eiierally bri^'hl, and liniii." shai'ii and \'\'cr from dam|iiie-s. So far a-- exidenee (an he yathei'cd in this re-|iiT' tin- inference iii;i\ he drawn, liial the r.iilway will not he iiiijieded hy lieavy fall- "' ..*...ii. ..4' ...I..... I 1I..1.1I. .iiifl . i(' I'l-i .1 1 iiitiO i>i It'll I'l'i. 111.1 > MMi.i ilt>i4'i^ ii'l.I..!. ......til. Ii. till I..11., I'llieh oeciir in all inlii;; the winter, it is te:iri'i j^'Ljesli'd in eaidi iiidi\-idiial cii-- ■ ith. .>llal 1 1 uliM M 1 ' 1 1 I Mil 1 1 ii 11 1 1 II I' ^^. I " ' 1 .1 1 (I ^ 1 1 1' 11 111 1- 1 111! I iL' i;ii tin- inference ni;i\ he drawn, liial the r.iilway will not hi- iiiijii snow, of M'feal depth and ot' lre(|iie)it reeiirreiiee. The drifts, u Hides where simw lies on the earth eonliinioiisly throiinliiiiil t oaiiiiot wholly he avoided. l\s])ei'ieiiee. however, h.as suj^'ijesiiil the mode in whieh tlieilrift. if e\']ierieneed. tna_v ho iie \ ery |ierlinenl i pies lion arl-e-. w helher waterof gootl ipialily can be ohiiiiin: ,geiu'ialh". The fivers with their Irihiitary cieeks are not iiuarlahly com (■ni<'iil ' tie hest soil — in some instances they are at some distance from it. The ipiesliMi llieref(*re. is most iinporlant. tor if good water eannol he ohiained hy modi la'' ellort, the land, however out wardly iileasanl to Ijui eye. ,,r intrinsically rich. i;i be little ada|tti'd for dairy farming. The expense oicolleetiiig rain water in ci-Uii- and reservoirs is well known, and this ditticiilt\' has herii eN]iericnceened in value, nln"' water has to be lnisb;iiidi'd with jealous care, .and where, imiei'd. every i^all". nuist be collected in advame (d it- use, TIio writer suggests the pro]iriely ul' tli- i|llr-.t|ni Hindi' ri'iii:ra| llii- re ili.il till' iiliiaiii i Mjlillillll lll'i'. ll'iW n"ii ''Mil all ilirc' iini-'l li -iiii'lv, I' riilhiig >llIllliiW ll" IJCMT |H'aly ll rriiUlir'' ilii-iii ali 1' aiK ,Iity, lit'for i»r in (tapiiMc iirtK of till' li 1 lio real cliiuiii' Ml'lltlnli. lim- Kivi'i', whii III III' watoi's. .y iV.i ihmi iKirtlicii H'twoeii I lie .'ilii.i '■ uf loiiyiiiidi', ; \i(l(!, siiriicwiiai ■ 'WOfy tilt) tl'ililllli: lii'twoeii I lie .'ill: •imirluililv Ccriili 87 i ,|ii,«iiiiii liciii^ cafofiilly iiivcsli^atdl a^ an itiiU'|K'ii(|ciit iii(|iiir\. 'I'lu' |ir!iiiiial III, I'll' III' incctiriu' if, wfinid lit- In ^.ink wollsal illtl■rval^ uii Minif |iriiii i|>l.' nl' i.'('i.iti!i|iliii'al (li\i-*i"iii, ami -d clcli'i'iiiiiu' ilif (|iialilit'-* nl' a ili-i;f|il, that tin' n|iiiiinii i> ciilirlaiiicil, ill. It llicl'i' liri' |il.'U'("- wIlcM' Wllti'l- vill lie lllct, niily at Vers liiw liiiiilin>. I'lliluif in mIiIiuii ii at any i-ott. may, imiri'il. i'(-*iill in iiariiriilar Inralilic-, Imi tlir Liriu-ral ,,|iiiii'iii ;i|i|M'ai'"^ In I'c lliat ii will imi he tiiii:iil ililliriili In (iliiaiii w alfi', Nn tafi liavi tak Icr. tlu' la>t l« K? Sottll'l' I'll ia> -II 111 fliciilly I [ijy nl' wnnil. Th' ■.1 ihi;^, watt:' li,i iU'a<^an t. Colli..; ', i^'iMU'i-ally ab Ml' iVCck.s of .Milivji; riii'lit, anil tln'iii:' i! ill tliis ri-|iiMt, l>y heavy fall- ■'' nrciir in ail ImiL illlt'l', it i> li:iivi ii in(liviiin:ii i;i- ■r-- its chiirai-tr. [iv((> Avay In niiH'' IV. The tlnrii, ;i- :i Inss fill' u'" ' liiiiU' strt'in.' till' Niirliiii' M l\' can be nhlllilii:: )\ cnn\'ciiiciil ' Tlic .|ilr-^'i' cii iiy Hindi ra ■ -ically I'icii. i" |\\atcr in ci-Ui'- (1 in iniirli ■; III value. ^\ I ' " |>il. every i|iriety 'il' tiii iwcvcr. a^-ufci| aiiij iii:iiu .'iiiilieniiciiala c»ai'\' lielnic aii\ ijciierali/.a- ii..ii I :iii he niaih'. Ir e-'laiiii-lic'l n- a tnitli thai il >i|'|''.^ "' ^^'*'''>' ''^ ccriain ii ali iliici'liniis. a jrreal ini|ictii'« will he ;ii\i'n in ciiiiuratinn. A> a |irnhh>ni whicli inll-t tiili'C ilM'lf nil |illl>lil' allcniinli, il >iinliM he I'Xaiiiillcij willinlll ilchiy. {•'iir a liniiteij ili-*taiice in || If Wc -iwanl nl' l'"nrl lliiicc the laml i- liahi ami siiii|\, hat it a,:;ain Nlinril_\' hccnnic-. richer ami lc>.> lii;hl. anlialln\v lia»in> eiicln-eil in a l.irni'r |K'ri|)hcry. 'I'lie higher laml nn ilir riilu-c-. may If ijescriheil as hein^' snniewhat u;ravelly, while that nt' llie ln\v laii'l i- rich willi U'llty llinlllil. I'rnceeilintJ Inwai'iU the 'rnllchwnnil hill-, we liiel ^-ellllc --Injpes Cl'llW iic'l with the a^pen. with neca.-iniial -nial! I iKc Inn t;ei| li\ \villn\\>, liiailN' ()♦' tlirin aliia .Much nl' the laml ha- hecn dcva^taUil hy tire, ami il i^ llmiiMht that this cause, ateil rre(|iiently. has, alter a scries nt'yeiifs, resiilled in the entire ilestriictini of lie lieavv wnni I which, it is lielievi'il. mice envt-roil the -iirface nt' tl ic-e iiiairieH, Tlie !i-|ieiis. hnwever. ([iiickly n'l'nw ii|i. tive nv six years life inak'iiii^ them -iitlieienlly |iii'L'e fur I'emini;' |iiir|in>c. Ahipiit 110 miles In tlie nnrlhwest ii\' Fort Kllicc tin' Tmnhw I Hill- are met. Tl are mere iiniliilaline' I'liiimnce-., nai tl\ wnmled with i'eniar]\' the mule i- i;ciierally williniit litnl >er, lull il eontaiiissiiots where slii;lil wnoded :nni here Is a consnle rahh are met. .\ppareiill\- level, ill reality •nt, a- ihe cniinlr\' i- iravidled wc-iwaid. l-'i-oia Kort (larry tn l''(n'l I'alinniiinn, there is a rise n{' Nuil feel in a ilistance of '.'ill! miles by trail, while a liirtlu'r ri-e of '.HHI feet is ex|)erieiieed hefnre the base nf I lie mountain cliaiii is met. Tim- i he Inial additiniial ele\ alinii nf :i.'i(Mi feet i> >pread iiver Inni) miles, beinyat an a\i'raue urade n|' 2^! feet In (he iiiiU>, in simie poitimis iif tills. lieav\' inllinii' ijrniiml is I'mind. and the muI \arie-in richness. (ira\el is iit'-eiil on some nf ihe liii;lier i'idee>. und il is cniifideiitU' b il. that II lere Will lid lalhisliiiM- nbtainable iov railwa\ piirpn^es witlmnt ^reat ditlieiilly. liefni'e reaidiiiiii' tlii' sniilh branch of the S,'i-k;iii hew iin. the eoimtrv. i- an ai^ree" iiii:\liire nf wnmllaml and nrairie will ;iiiil with a rnlliiiiT su l(iii haiiK. Imwcv cr. liii> lln' yniilcr dcv nlioi t ; ii>|Hi, l>iil>!Uii^. IMiiiliir^. tiinl >iniill w hill' liii'i'li, till' rntiiid nil jl> liaiik^ . llii' NiiJIcy ul' ||. I'ivi'i'. Ihi\\i\ II'. cNd'iiiL- iivci' a mile in u iijlii. 'I'lic Nmlli Sii-kiilclii'wiin if«\'iy|iic,ii mill'-. ili>liiiil. mill il i-^ al licrc llnil I'ml < 'arlion i> ('•.t,'iliii>lu'il. I(t'lwi>i'ii tlir lu,, rivi'i'-. Ilif riiiiiiti'v ii>>iiiMf«' (lif ii|p|i('(iniiii'(' ul ii li'\ I'l |iliiU'iiii flcvalt'il iiImmiI .'Iiiii i, , i llliiiM'tln' Nlrt'!IIii>-. TIm' >"il. llllli'iMi;li liu'lil. i> III' ;;iHPi| I'liiiracli'i; lilt' imi'lli I IV, III till- ^|>iil is "iiiiii'wlial lii'iuuii'i' lliiiii llic -Diidi Ipi'iiih'Ii. Tlif >li'('iiiii> iinili' iicni' il,, lO.'illi I Icy: rir 111' I III 1 1,'i I mil- ami ili-i'liari;'i' inlo l-.iKc \\'iiiiii]i('i{', <)iil\ uiu' raiiiil nl.mv ;j;i't'al iiii|ini'liiii( I' i'' iiii'l in llii> lii^lanci'. Mutli iIicm' sli'vam- x-cin in i,,ni, iialiiral iii'lii'ii'> ul' riiiiiiiiiiiiii'aliiiii llii'mif^li llu- t'niinli'y wln'ii' llicv lia\-.' ili.i I'lUii'M', N'litliiiin' a^ \ I'l i>, li(i\M'\(M'. ilctinili'ly kiinwii a-- In Ilir limii iiliiavi^;! lion llii'V will iiiliiiii; I'ln llicy w ill |iripliMl>ly It ."oiiinl naxi^alili 'Hii' ■.|caiiilM,:it. nl'liirli' ili'.iiiulil, liy I'l'iniiN iiii;' -anilliai's ami slrjii^lilfiiiiii;- mhik' nf ilu' imni' itumL, i t'liaiiiii'Is. Till' nMilili'_\ nil till' Xnl'lll Sa'^UalilicWail i> ImiI Hull' WiiM.I,.,!, Lm ji almllliiU n. It1'awi«t"«, all'! Ilif Mii! aiilicars In Kr i^nnd, in >nliii' Jiiarr- -.niili'W lial ~aiii|y ailil ai'i.l. Till' cniilnin' i>\' llic lami i> irrcniilar. w illi liili-< <<[' cnn^iilfi'aMr I'lcvaliiHi! al lln- I'iim' nl' wliiili lalvi'< arc ri'ci|Uciilly In lie met. u-ciici-ally iml nl' cxlcinlcil area {''rniii l''ni't I'iil eniiliniiiiii:' alnii.n' the Xiiilh S.'i-kalehewaii, llie ^nil iiii|)i'ii\, v ami wi- inel whiU' >iu'iiec. Ianiarael<. ami |>n|i!ai'-. with thick ami hiNiiiianl ;;Ta-Ni'« Fires hail passeil nscr iniieh nf the eniintiy. As we laiiie within llH) mih. .,| Kdinonlnii. the cminliy lieeaine iimi'e hilly, ami Ilii' iiill >ii|e-\\ere eovcreil \\ •! heavy wnnil. 'The ilnra ennliiiiiiil Ihc same as mi (he easlci'n |n'airit's, lull it '\a liei'c snincwhal inure liisiirianl ; a ;;nni| ileal nt' Inw hireh ami ••enih jiiiie. /h'hhs llmk Dinnii, is iiicl in I hi-- Inealily. .\l |-',ilinnntiin Ihc i|iK'>liiin nl' cnal lir>i |ii'e>ciils itvili Hiiiiic frai^nicnls were iliii;- mil nl' (he river hank. .MtlmiiMh (hey inirncii in a hhn k smith's tni'i^e. e\iiicntl\ they were nt' inlerinr i|iiality ; heller saiiiplc-- were repnit. ■ iiy the ntti('er> nl' the Iliidsnii IJiiv Knit, a- havliiu; lieeii rmiiid liinher ii|) the rivi r All Ihc rivers Ave crossed hel ween I'rairie Porla.iii' and Kdimnilnn are inarki'l hy Ihc cliaraeicristie nt' riiiiniiii;' ill wide and deep valleys ; (his peculiarity wmii'^ ajipear tncxti ml ^■eiierally In llie prairie reninii of the ^Jorliiwest, except. pei'li;i|- llie jiiwcr ]Mirlinn~ >>\' il arniind Tiake \Vinni|ien'. llowewr small the slreaiii wlmii riin> lhi'(iu<;h lliein. the vailev - lia\i' llu'saine cliaraclcrislics. The einimistiiin'. suu'uusts no speei.'il eiiiiinecriiiL;' dittieiilty. hut il pnini- tn lica\y cxpeii>c iii'i, Hiriiclinn where i'i\'ers arc In he ero»cil. and the nece»ity nf care ami jiidy'iih m i, iiiyinji' down the route, sn as to keep the cxpcii'-c within a-- niiidcrale limii- ,- ]iossih|i'. T^ travelled muhIm il\ Ihroimh Ihe section rilei r( d to. Jle rejiorted (he coiiiilry (or ahoiit .'itMl mile- in ;i!t itiuii ; il-|M'ii> \jilloy i>r III' k'llll i> i'ililllr. I Wci'll lllc lUu kIiuiii :!imi i; , I 111' nnrlli rivi iiiiilc iifiir iIm ic liipiil III .my •Cl'lll ll» tnnil K-y liav.' ih mil fit n;i\ i^i llir wU'innl"iiii- ' limit' i'i'iHilv< I I il !|ImiIIIIil iiii|(rii\i -, s;iiriiiht fi'i'ii^M- II 1011 lllilc^ n| i- cdvcri'tl \\ ill il'ios. lull il 'V:i iiit', /iliiiis liiiiik \tVi.'M'u{>' iKilr I'lU'ii ill il 111 III I; '- w ci't' ri'iiHi'it ■' ■ ii|) llic ri\ ■ •' lull :iri' liiiirk' . liarily wnu' i' ill '"!' Ill jiiiliiiiuiii i'. •rah' limit- .- >iii(i' lr:iv ill': ly 1,'Vcl I'!:;-. ~cl'V!ltii>M. \\ ' illlillliilllllp' :i><'l lil|Cl|lt'> III ' "I' j-i'iil. wt'ii ;i ■> ailiinirij ilii H'Ctl'lj Willi '1 iiii»t t'aviiiii.ii'li ;li)\\iiiu'iii'*' ;i|' pi'iiail ili>' I !' i' cjli'il -olllli. t!\ I IIIMI mill'- i:i icii-iluiiiiiii,' till' I'liHli-rii liiiM' 111' llic |{iM k_\ .\)'>uiiliiiii«-. Imw aiiN lilt' I'Mj, |,Miallfl, tiiiiirioin lilt til Hliiiili'o in I'l'i'iiillli. In Ir nl uii i' iinliinil li<'aiit_\ . w ill) Miil iii'siir. li;i«-iiii; ri"'!!!'*'"'-- JIi'i'*' i> rmiiiii llif liismirilc w iiilti iii;^ uhhiikI Ilir ki'cjiI hfiiN uf l.iiirain Ai I'liiiii.'iilnii mil' iiiii'ty was Ntijmrair'il. iiiic |io''tluii liv i i alnn' In cxiiiiiiiu' lin- r.arr liivi'i' l>i>lriil mill I'a--. wliilf iIm' main I'spt iliii.m |iiii'viit'i| i|s fniii-o ilii'i'tllx liiwniii- llif Miiiinlaiii''. (In IraviiiLi' I'Mniiinli'ii wf |ia-»iil iIu'i'MliIi a miiniis iiilir-«|niM'i| with liillmk.- mill \M' liJM'WiM' i>riii>iiinally iiiti willi swuni)-^ nianv nl wliicli wtir ti«\frtMl wiili ■.v\Miii|i liiiy. (iiiiijiiaily llu' riiiiMlrv liccnnif- ni'n'f w mi'li i|. iiml I lit' iiniliilaliMiii un- >iiiur II iimi'i' inarKiil iliiiiacliT. .Mm'c in'i'lo wiii' i rii>M'il. innniii;; in nm^i riiMi> l|ii'iiim:li nni'i'iiw \ullf\ --, Tlu' vt';.'«'latii>ii \\ii» |iai'lii iilarly liixiiriaiil iiml tin' ■,n'as» ilii'iiiiirli wliii'li we iiasM'il v\ii-* in mmih' |ilarr> Iruiii livf losix tcri liiii'ji. In irii->inu tlic Uivi'i' I'l iiiliina Miiiif st'Vi'iilv iiii!»"- \M'>i . if llif I'lVfi' Sai| tlmi almnilaiiff nf ilii* t'liel \vu> iprt'^iiil al iiiiuT liiralilirs. ■-niiif nTil iil'^lili lifiifr .nalil_\, ( >cia»iiiiiiilly llif 'iiiinl ry lifi'nnifs nmi'f ii|ifii w itii i;i'ii\i'>. ul' ■•|ii-iii'i'. tis|i(>ii. niiil jiii|ilar. inii'i'a>inn' in -^izf. Nf \i'i'lln'lf» iniirli nl il is ilt'ii»fly wiiniifij, wliilo in iiilii'i' |ilaff> iIk' tiniiu'i' is lliin a-.nl nl iiilfi'ini' i|iialiiy. Till' a-'i'i'iil ii|i llic Mfljfiiil Ui\fr wti- fiiniiniifil riii->^i'\fii(y niilf>. 'PlnTf \va« im ifi^iilar trail, ami tlif nmlf nj llif parly \\a> llirniiuli inniimf I'liMf w iiiilTalU. Miidi iif llif .-nil i> linii', anil llm lianks nf lln' risf r art- rmiyli ami I'lmnfil. Tlic mlvaiiff iiKi'lr wa^ >ln\v anil U'llioiis. I'lisliinn' afrn>-. ilic init'i'iiifilialf Miinniil, ilif Uixci' Allialiaska wa-. I'fai'lu'il. Tlii'^ sii'fani riiii> llirnii;j|i tliltV nf ■.amUtniif, -lialf aii..i iT Ic nat'f-. risiiin' niif almvf ilit- hiIht Tlicy arc Nfry ilisliiH'lly iiiai'kfil nil linih -iilfs nj' llif >|i'faiii, li \\a>. In I'f tlial \\r nlil.'ii I llii' lii'si \-ii'W nl' llif Umky Mniiiilains, wliiili ri>t' in all llifir ^'ramifiir, |in'«iiilinu' a> il Wfi-f an iiii|ii'nt'liali|f wall lulni'f U'" 'I'lif ;i;i':iiiml alif I'nalfil in iK I liiiraclor. Tlif trail ,n'railiially apiiniarlifs ilif rivfr :im| |>a>st'-. u|i llif \alif\, N>liiili is lific aliiiiit tivo mill's wiuf. I''n||ii\\ in- ihf wimliiiyN n|' ihf rivfr, \'vi- it'iii'lii'il III!' [inrials nj .lasjH'i' Vallty, fiilfriiiy' wliitli \\f wiTf litfrall_\ in ilif vfi-\ lii'Mit 111' lilt' iiiniinlaiiis. Sit (Misy an iiiui'fs.-. imilil ih'Vit fvin lia\f I'fiii hnpfd i'mi'. .lasjifi' llniisf is lint .'l..'!')!! I'ffl alin\i' llif sfa. Lakf .laspfi' is ifii milfs Inini'. Atii r Ifavinn' llic Nivci' Allialiaska. llic jialli nl' llif f N|ifilitiiiii lay alniin ilif Kivfr Miriif. Il wa'^ lifif llial llif trail i<\' llif ailvainiiiL; party rmni tlic I'ai ilif was lirst. -1(11 ami imiiifilialfly al'lf rwanls llic ilc livf ry nf a Iflli'r rmni llic nlliffr in fliaru'f i'-i:ili|i>lifil tlif rt'i'iainly nl' lln'pai'ly ln'inu' in fln-c if iy'lilmriinnil. 'riif iiiffliiin' iiii'k |ilai'f iifar llif jiiiiflinii nl' llif .Miftif willi llic Allialiaska. 'I'lif naiiif nl' t'ii!fil(iiiiaii Valley lias lifcn niM'ii In iliis Incaliiy l>y tlic llinl-nii iJay ('niii|iany. It i.- iiirkx ami rniiiili. ami tlic i'Imt ilsill' i- a -frits nl' falls ami rapiils. Thf Inwii' ui'ninnl nl' llif \allfy i- swampy, with an nmlf rln'iisli nl' seriili liirfli ami nl' ilwarl iMilii\^- Tlif trail I'm-M'- ijif i'i\'fr sf\ fu nr fii;lil liiiif- in a vfry >linri ili-imiff . Tin' ininicilialf ascfui in llic Vflinn llfa'l I'a-- i- not ilillimh ami tlif l'a~- it>t ir i>, a- il wt-rf, an njifii nifailnw. h I III' niiilillf nl' Sf jiif 1 iii'f r win- n \s f ariivf'l III tlif ^'flln\\■ Head I'a--. Imt llif lliiWi'l'N AVfl'f ill lilnnlll. ami tlif Inucr -ln|H's nl'llif liinl|lit;iiii> Wfl'i' fn\frfi| willi vi'i'ijiiif. Aliii\'f ilifi n I'n-f hiio'f I'ncUy nia^sfs, fi-nwiu'il with pfrpi 'tiial L .fiiNiiii;- till- nicailnw at IIk' -iiniiiiit nf il a--. \\c iiiiiiiolialf l\ --I I'lic it'llif Miiii'ffs of ihf liivi'i' !' rasf r. Thf pa-say-f Irnin llif .Miftif In Ihf furni i~ ~" :it'iitlt' that il is liai'fly pfi'ffplililf. ami il wmiM hf f.Nli'iiiii tlif -iiniiiiil watiM- nW 111 f llllf r (lll'ffllnll. iw iHL' t lif \\ alf !■■ fi- riNt'i'. I\ f;i-y In niakf if I lif I'ra-f r. i mr 40 •\|il(ii;itiipn tniil. ii> past, tiist, a slici'f of waliT alioiit ton iiiilt>s in li'iii,'tli. wliicli wo laiiH'cl ^'I'llnw Mcail LaUo ; st'CDinl, liyJiaki' Mi>.'.>c, a lnnl\ ol' water of sdiuc oxtoiit II'Mlll Wllllll llu I' laser Idver i.i] )i.llv (leset iul> A I OMI --1 l{ xtv miles lievoml tlie Yellow Mead Pa>s. we eaine to a turn in th l\ el l"i'a>ei'. naniel 'I'ete .laune ( 'ai-he. Here the I"'riisoi' takes a uoi'tli\vester!\ ilirei I inn. In neai'K' niiilwav I n't ween tjie "jj - and ;").") - 'lai'allei, when it (li'sit'iuls soutlieilv ulnKisl to the I!' = liarallel. llien tni'ns to tlie west, to iiieel the i'aeitie waters lu'ar New Westminster. Our edursi'. tlieret'ore. lieiiii^ soulhwanl. we tuiMU lowanis tlie River Canoe, jiassiiii,' o-^r tlie low lieiyhl of iaml bolwoeii 'ho two -ircains, enlirelv aliandonintj; the 1- raser al Tete Jaime Cache, a^^ain to moot it liv Ihe xallt y of till' 'riioni|)soii. at Lvtton, more than lour hundred miles distant. ■flie ^'el.ow Head I'ass is |(..st of the mountains will prohahly exceed '.•.(KID or 1(1, (»()() teet . t »ui' route look ll^ ihroiiuli a country remarkahly well wooded with spruee, hemlock, cellar, while liireh. and the Douu'las^ tir. We left tlio Fraser at the Tele .laiiue Cache, and found a I'ouiilry wondirl'ully le\el, considering llu' ma,i;;nitiidt^ ot' ihe inountai:;s liy whi(di it is enveio|iei|, to the JJiver Canoe. Our course i-an to \h> east of Lake ("ranherry, a small l)od\- ot' w;itt'rsitu;ito heiweeii the two streair ams. ('i'ossi)ii; tlie Jii\er ('atioe, whii'li we wei'e ahle to ford, we passed to the east nC J.,ake Alliri'd.i, which is somewliat smaller than Lake Ci'an berry !Mid situaU'd In'twcni the Canoe Jilivci' ami the North Branch of the TiKunpson, much in the same jiosition a-^ the foi incr icinied lake. On reaiddnii; Ihe 'riiompsoii, the river was at oneo i-rossed, and we docended tin' north nriiiuh ou the west side of the valley; our ti'ail was exlrciiu'ly roun'h and unruc. .'^evi'ral streams ot' icreat width were crossed in our descent. The valley wideu'^ as it is descended, hut aii'aiii l.econie> narro\\ ami t'ull of dirticiilty. Ten or twcKc milc^ o\ci' this trail, the canyon, 'he I'dffc (/Vo/cr i.s met, which is vciy ruti'^ed ami )ire.-cnts ohstacles which would entail considerable expense to overcome. When passed, tin' valli'y anain widens ami tlu' steep spurs of the mountains recede from the river. The water of the river runs with a ipiiet curn'iit, as its name ■• Sdll- Nvater" >ii and the siirroundinjiilistriet the character of tlu' country chamces; it i- ari- Iwccii ( 'ache ( 'reek and [.ytton; at the latter jioint the Frasor is rejoined and it flows mainly thriuiyh to the head of steamboat navigation at. Y'alo. We reached Yale, the head of steamboat navigation, on the 3rd October, ami New \Vcsmin>ier ilic following e\eniiig, next ibiy wo were un the waters ol' the Pacific ocean. .Tul.v JiiJy 41 h, wliii'h wo «(imo oxioiit, ITINERARY 11 tiiiMi in tl\i' ostcrly ilircc- mlssoutliorly 'ileitis wiiiiMs wo tunuMi fi'll lio tWc, to meet it liy (lisiant. lasses in otlior lountaiiis will with spnioo, ..!• at tl>o Telo nia,i;nitn(lo ot' rso ran t(i ili'' ) streams. . to Iho oast i>r uak'd hotwcrn : sanio ji(i>iti"n t onc'-i crosscil, ; ouv trail was [ilat'os apj)i'ai's (lo^^^•ent. Tin' imcnlty. Ton wliieli is very ko to oVOITOliU". untains rocoilo s name " Still- n falls T.'.O feet |! niiU's, tl»o tiill los, thi" rivor i^ |eanu> upon tlu' aw was a small |inlry chant^'cs; ij;rass. \^ i^roat I'liains, lio ot'tlif noii's- hi'ttlci> haw their taruiiiii.' jaiU' liango. I'l*- lieii and it ll"^v> |l OclobiT, aiw waters of ili>' OF THE Expedition of Sandford Fleming, the Engineer-in-Chief, iicivn.s tin. Contiiuut, P/.TE. DESiaNATlON OF PLACES JIV llIK WAV. KSTIMAIEn SIII.KS TUAVEIXKI). I.ANK. j WATKH. July 1 July J Illy IB Krom Hnllfnx, aloiin the routp of the Intercolonial RtiUway, under con- struction and partly In operation, to lilvlt^re ilu l.ovip. To Truro " M()iictoi\ " Mlraniiclii ... " i?atln..Kt " MetapcdlM.... " Ulmouskl .... " Ulv. du l.dup. Kiom Rlvlfre du Lonp along thel " Quo be irar.d Trunk, Su Lawrenc(> and )ttawa luid Northern Hallways to ColUngwood. I''rom Colllugw(XKl by gteamerthroiurli tho Georgian Hay, l^ako Huron and Lake .Suiwrlor to Thuuder Hay. July ffl 23 I 26' 27, From Thunder Bay along the DawRon route to Kort Oarry... •I'ainp No. 1 " a " Mimlreal •' Ottawa " Toronto " C.VillliitfWciol. Kail. It! lit rorAL. I c SI) no t«i 12ti itu; llili 94 •' dwell Siiuiid " Ivllliirney " Bruce mines " Hnult Stc. Mari.' " Mlchlix)eoton Island. " Neiilgon " Tliundcr liiy 21) .'to .tl ' Hbcl)andowan ' Hrulo I'ottage .'i " Camp Ignaee 4I " Amfi'ican I'orUigo.. ^\ " Kalu.v I.iiki- (il " Hui;!.Ty Midi " Island ("amp " Nortbwi'si .\ngle . .. U: " Oak !'.iliit 10 '• (JovcrumtMit House. l.T Imi i;« .10 115 ir>ii V\< -1- ^(1 ao lU) 'if, 0(1 I no s 711 I eoT) M» Carried forward 2,(WS • Camps numlxM'ed Irom t-ako Suiicvlor. 42 ITWEnniY.— Continued. HESIUNATION OK I't-AII-.S IIY TIIK WAY. K.VrlMATKl) MII.KS TH A V KI.M |J. LAND. WATKR. /IciTAL ISTi A(IK. 1 I'miii Fort liiiiiy lo stoiio Fort niid r!lo\i);lU forward.. Rnil, hiicU. C'nnip To GoviriinieMt House. • 'From Foil iike Ciinn>.. " liii'ApFellt' " " llrokcu Arm River. " Lonely Tree Camp.. " I. itile Touchwood " IT From Fiiri Ciirltoii lol'orl IMIt. ' ISi ' H 221 From Fort I'll t to I'ort 2.'! Edmo'Jton 2l! 2ij 2rt| ^1 'JXFrom Fort Kdmouton to.Iii.-pcr 2(1 House i .•nil HI 21) " Toui'liwiKxl Camp.. 21, '• Quill l,iik.>l';aiii " . 22 " llouud Hill " I 2.1' " S. Suskaleliewan " , 21j " l-'ort Carlton " . .. J I He.irs l'ad(Illn« Lake 2li| '' .laok-lish ItiverCunip 27j " t.;ngli.>*l\ Hiver " 2s' " Fort I'ill (iuard " . .. ' Moo 31 ):t 11 4;t 12 t3 46 18 IS . 41 .1 40 U 311 I 12 29 a u Sept. 2,( N! 'i 1)1 •Aid I't) . • i.Tll 17 I IS .. I W . -II . . 21'.. 2H ,. •-'■', Fi "'■I. 1'... • l)i'slani'es"l)etweeu Fort Gurry and Kdmonlon were measured Ijy "(Jdometer.'' - ■ ..--I— i.a»awaiM< 43 IT LNmiXKY.—CuHliuued. UILES THAVl.l.[,Hi. WATKR. TOTAL s X 3 ■iXi — 1K7 U« llh>l-1"T l„ike Camp, . Athaba.a'a (-amp. . . Cali'doiiian^Valley. . . Yellow llcail Camp oT " Mno--iO Laki' ' 'ami) 17 Iviiraloops. " .W ■' IS llpvd Camp . . •5;!' " (?aiiip I'lust'i'. )l " CaiL<.i> I'ivorCamii. • ' r,r,: " ■>oj ". Albi-fiJa Camp ■"ifli " Camp Clicadk'. Ki-adU'ss rndiaii Camp. 2ll ■2i;i )S " Camp V j'Ji " Kouiid l'iMiik> Caiiip iiO " lilIlu■lui^a^is Camp. . '2S (il " Camp Thompson , (U " Kamloops "•iKroiii Kaniloop.-iU)N\ w \Vi-.slmiii^li'i'i •' Kaml.xips • )i'l. 1 Coi'iiwall.s l.ytton Vale Now Wisimiii-^tiT il 3 ! i - i I = =: r. I C 12 20 17 H,7U .1 1 ■Jii 'H I airiod lorwanl. 00 I 10 m ■-'7s .V» m 1,.W1 44 ITINERARY.— Cow7««//t;f/. KSTOIATKIt MlhKH TBAVri.li II, ( KESKiNATJON OK IM.ACKS )tv TllK \\\\. l.AMi. ' WATKK. l.iTA! /,.■',■■■.■ 1872. I Kronglil fdiwiml. Rtill. Ocl. 6 Kiom New Wostmiiister 1" N'lclorln. To Mtirrnnl Inlet. On board the stpaniiT "Sir .lames IXiiiglnss.' From \'leU)rla to Alberni, Barclay Houml and buck, steaiuer Sir .lainifs Douglas, " WaddliiKlon Harbor. " Seymour Xnnows. . " Nanalmo •' Vlotoi'iii \,'&\ " l\iflli(' Ocfiin. Total Mileiij^e. 112 Itui HO m 80 J50 l.-)0 2,l(i.^ 1,8H7 SUMMAKY. Distance travelled by Railway " " On horse back and on foot " " By wuifgons, carrliiges, Ac " " Steamers— on St. Lawrence and Pacific waters. « " Canoes and row-boats From Halifax to Victoria ) between July 1st and Oct. lUli . <, .Tola) Milcj ClIMiM M\ i-i ~|n'rl i Xnrllirl I'M lo Ihc (• IIm a(>' will ill il .■.,;fii jKii'^uiial wiiiiiii 1 1 il.' iillcml i( Ills iravti'stH l,31(. Wit (JT. vi'iraii, a 1,11-7 r;nii;-(' to i'l-aciicab i,:UI ^lMil^es v\ ; iiiili's.s it M In a, i'llll t'l|c[ll iiiiiiri'.'tl r ]i"iiil-, ill ^ "11 \ i't'aliiri-, 1 <0I|I|(|'\- li Wi> '<^1I »::; 45 MIIiES TRAVVI.l.Kl), WAIK.K. TOTAI,. ^ i 2 9 30 u s -1 l,)24 ■ .- :. 1 1!IM HU IIW 80 f '"' 1 .. i,50 , 1* ">' X, 1,8S7 485 .-.,311 ■ — - — — APPENDIX B. liislcili-l'ii'lis ilild /'i/i"i'/ II ■■i'>illiJ /lir /irdinli /'J.ipiill/l'tilt j'rmil Ellinnillnil . lilt I'liiri: I'l'ilT, lo 'III- I'ltfijir Coast. INSTRICTIONS. FiiKT Ko.MONTON. All,i:,ll>l 27tll. \^1'2. CiiAnr-KS I1muk[v,i<.v, Ksq. : My DkahSir, — •!( is impoi-tiiut tliat a> nuicli iiil'oriaiitioii ;is p()!5>iljlo be ()l>tuincil ros|n'(iiii,i; llif' CDiuitiy oxtciidinic iVoiii llnj waters of (lie XorHi Saskiitchewan, Niirlliei'ly ami Westerly \>y the Valley of Peiieo River to Mrit', 1; Columbia, and (heiteo to llie ena>t line in the latitude indicated. Ila\ iiin' ever}' euiitideuee in youi' energy and al'ilily, 1 have to request that yoa will nl onee proeet'd (o niak'o an >'\'j>Ioration lln-oim'li the rouutry, and obtain by per-DMal oliservation and eni|uiry as nuieh infurniaiion as ii is ^l(l^^ible to ae'|uii'o within the preseiit year. 1 iiave assoeiated witli you as Rotauist Mr Jolin .Mae.oun, who will specially iitleud to the folleelion of spin iniens illustrative of the flora of the district to bo >iii>-~ I i travirsed, and infoi'mation bearing- on the a^'rieiiltural ca|)abilities of the couidry. f "? With the above objects in view, you will [)roeeed by tiit> spc died route to Dun- bT. I i vui,'an. and thence ascend by the Valley of i:'eaec Uiver acros^ the Rovky Mountain '''' 't 'M raiigo to the Oinineca districl in IJrilish Coliiinliia. Vou will there leai-n as to the jinuiicabiiily of passing down tiio Sivcena River t.) Port Essiuyton, ami if cireum- fvin I .>-i;uii'e> will admit of this route i)eit)y taken, you will pi'oceed thi> way lo Vict(;ria, !iii!i's> it ajipeai" lo you more advi-able lo take tin' l"'ra/.er J?ivei' route. Ill adiiiiion to int()rn\alion olitained from |iersonal olis^Tvai ion, y>ui will mako lull eii^piiries of j)arties who may ha\e ira\ idled in the count ly, respecding its ii\iiier;d resources (especially coal ami iron), iIk^ (dimale, depth of snow at dill'eront |Miiiii->, the e.Kti'iit ol' lami suitable fu- >>'! I li'inent, ipiality ot'soil, etc., etc. Villi will rejiort to mo a> full iiiliirination a-- jm-sible rcspe(.'linij the topoj^ra pineal I'caliirr^ of the ili>tricl you will traverse, having in \iew (he o^ieiiiiiy U[i of dia iiiiiMtry by a trunk line or other lines of coniiniinicaliini. \Vi>hiniC every suci'ess to the exiieditimi, Bol levo n)o, ours wry Iriil v. SANDKORI* Flii;.\ilN(i 46 RErOlIT Ottawa, If) March, 1878. To 8aNDF0I!D FliEMINC, Es(i., Kiigiiipor in Oiicl, CiUKuliiui Piifilic Kaii\vay. t-sjH : — Til {lOfoidinicf Avilh fho instructions cnnveyt'd to mo by ytmr It'ttor, (lai('(] Edinciifoii, i27th Angnst, 1872, I iinmodia'lely made pnpar,- tioii.s for the joiniicy iiulicalcd, and touH'lhor with Mr. John Maconn, ili. Botanist 1o tlu' (Exploration, lol't Edmonton on the 4th Soptcmber lor J'fiKy Eivcr, via As.sinibuiiu' and Lesser tSlavo Lake. Being under the neccssitv ol' carrying' Avith us provL-^ions, sucli as Hour, tea, etc., in quantity siilliiiiii! to last us throuph [nid pasi the Eoeky Mountain Range to McLeod's Lnkr T laid in the necessary stock al Fdnionton, and with six pack horses :!1m' four to ride, o\ir party, consisting of Mr. Macoun, myself and two imh set out. Fovt AssiniVioine, on the Athabasca river, was reached on the Sih Sei)t.']iibcr, alter passing over 91 miles of very fair crmntry, of iui vi\< character, and land partly of prairie and timlier, the latter abundant run. Lac la Noiinc^ to the Alhal)iisci). Here I determined to cross by land to Lesser Slave Lake, and arrivi! there on the iUth September, after experiencing a very rough jouniov having but th(> oecasioiuil vestige of an Indian trail, A'ery indistinct nt Ih'.-i throtigh a]» entirely wooded, sAvanipy and, in ph\ces, very hilly count'), iitterly useless lor agricultural purpo.^es, and for a line of road ?xcessivi!y rough. Al this post ol the ITiulsou's Bay Company's we changed horses, toi'I some supplies, and started fi^r the Forks of the Smokv and Peace rivers o: the 28t]i S<>pt( uiber. The soil m the vicinity of Lesser Slave Lake Post is of A"ery fluidity, veiictables of various kinds are raised, and there is luxur pasturage along thi' souiherji and western margin of the lakc^ f miles, but on that side the ];md is W(>t. From this post^ to Lac la Bid ll'ond or ni Ked Deer Lakf, bv north side of the Lesser Shu'e L; distant in 1(> r. (Ill ;ii: line say 17;j miles, i the country is by all accounts thickly limbered. iUiil not hilly, allhougb some swamps (>xist. The Peace river was reached on the 80lh September, 'after trav 'YMWj. If) miles (by accoiuit) of a A'ery line country generally easy and level, and of excellent soil ; in great part timbered with poplar, .spruce and >omi taiiarac. (Jur general course was about nor' Avest until Ave stnick thr Pface riA'cr, Here the scene Avhich met our vioAv w^as really magniric 'lit ur eli'valiv'U Ava> an d hiid been, A'erv little less than that ot Lesser ShiV' Lake (Lesser Slave Lake is assumed to be 1,800 over sea loA'el), nil At distance from the lalt<'r, and the Peace ri\'er at this point rolled beneath n- at ;i de^ith el' some 750 feel, through a capacious valley at least tAv Avide. n'! ' is Inxuri. idee lor m ,ae la Bicln' '<- istant in an nir tiinT)en'd. nii'l d'ter tr:n c'v>iii!: and level, ami •uce ami mhik Ave stni''k thi- y^ niaL!'iiiiii"''ii' Lesser Sl:n I level), nil ;h. l(>d beneath <• least twc iiiii ■ To south and Avost, its meandering course could be traced lor a uveal rairie. 1 reached th Diiiivi \a i'an. Her( !>'• nc ured a man and 7 liorses (having' sent I nek onr Losser Slave Lake animals), and after a week's delay, started bv land uii seuth side of the Peace river lor Fort SI. John, some IHo mili.s hi^'her up. I'lrlore proceediiiii' furtfier, I shall make an extract bom lu} die.ry lative to the country and elimate about Dum enai ri' l'"ort PniJveman is situated on the north .sid e oi tlieT eaee rivev U])oii a lovt'l terrace (?0 feet above mean river level. The height of th(^ couidry behind, and around Dnnvegan, is idiont 7ni the Hooky mountain portage down to the Smoky river, (a distaiie,^ s.iy oi' 2.")(' miles,! Ih(> I'eace river Hows through a dei^iession in the eouiitry, laiiuiiiu in depth from f'On to (!00 feet. 'ITie nnderlyiiii; IcHinalinii islime- K\o]h\ and iho Avhole of this region appears to l>e composed of an immi'n.v(. layer of clay and alluA'ial soil, resiing iii)on a horizontal bed of that material. Sandstone is also found in large quantili<'s, atid grindstones (if excellent grit are to be found in the river bed. The north side of the Peace river, between tlH> porta'^-e and the Smoky river, is generally level, and partially prairie for some distance, liack, hut cut up here and there by the deeii beds of numerous trilnitaries. From. Smoky river upwards, on the south side, to about opposite Dunve'^aii, the couiury has much the same appearaiiei;, with perhaps more open countiy, C'raduallv becomes more i' " ' ' poiiil y roil: ;her, and maintains this character up to the Ro<'k\ mountain port Several tributaries occur on this side all iloAving through Veiy dei'p beds \vhi"h olfer serious obstructions to roads, but those rivei a alleys gradually ose their depth on nearing the ])rairie country which lies 20 or ''<) miles lid whi(di (^xtends from Snjokv river south, a luouiilain raiiLi-e ri ii. up to the b'o( kv The climate of this reo'ion and of the Peac valley li'Mievally is, soiiu>\\ha,t similar to that of l\ed Piver. but the ■xtveiiic's ol' lu-jit and cold are, not so great, and the elimale is teinpeted sterly winds Avhich InM'e prcA'ail, and are mild Snow i U'elV Th.'' ly the \Vt reaches, and seldom exce(>ds, a depth of 2 feet, and does not pad eliiiiat.' i.s dry and salubrious As to the fertility and exeelleiice of the soil lie le is not the least doubt. The few residentsof Dunvegan do not prai tiso an be no doubt that, if L;ood seed iiiivieultnre to anv exb'nt, but th Were \ ;nii| ised, and proper nieai AV heat AVOU Id ere ployed, laii cro])s d. I potat 0(> l)ai'le\' -nlt. lie on(> \\\i> re nt> iS^c.. >ntellt 48 ♦ heiiisi>lv(>s with rnisinor a fi'W potatoes, and for thoso the same sood has IxM'ii in UNI' lor the hist liH yeavs. At Fort St. Joliii howovcr, vve touml soiiii' -'X(.''ll('iit vcgt'tiihh'fs, which it would \n' hnrd to beat in size iiud ijunlily Horses !inly stiited lor steainors ot" hir^e ton- iia^e, there heme- ph'ii of W'. r, a 'd ils width rani>-ing from UOO yurds at Smoky river to 200 y;' 'vs I • -w 'hv Mountain portajre. We arrived at Fort S\. John i-n the 17th October, (lista)it from Uunvii- Ll'an by our trail, and by a* ' ■■'■■■( ! '5 niih's. Our trail i>assctl I'roju I'J lO 20 -des, I shoukl Judii'e, to south of ihc Peace river, and several good sized iii: utaries of the latter were crosvcl Some of tlie ('(umtry alony- this route was really vt.'ry fine, partly prairie ;iiul partly dense timber, Ihe timbered portion was, gtMierally speakinn-, runi;h The soil, in every instance, vA'as excellent, and vegetation vigorous, i'ini; spruce, poplar, bireh, etc., in profusion. A.11 this country is lit for settle- meiit. An excellent coal was found not far from Uuuvegau, and I belib've that mineral uud(>rlies the whole country. .lust l)el'ore rt'aehing the f^Miiette river, which empties into tlie P,;iie tiivi'r about o miles below Fort St, .Fohn. (and one of whose hrancheN Hows from Ihe Summit lake, I shall presently 1)rinu under your notice,) the comitiy hecomes very rough, the valley of this stream is (Excessively deep, and niib back for along distance towards the Rocky Mountains, and fr(nu this poiiii np to the ]iortai>'e, the riuht bank of the Peace is very high, rotiiih. iind densely wooded. This piece ol country would present very serioti,'- i>ii- gini'ering dillii'ulties to any road approaching the Peace river valley \y.\^< from the east. Immediately on my arrival ;it Fort St John, T engaged four Indiniisi pron'ed with me iii> the valh'y ol the Fpinette and across the Rocky Mnuii' tains by a pass used by the Beaver and other Indians to McLeod Likf. They, however, after our ariaiiu'ements were made, rej'used to yM'o.'i'ci!. being afraid of the dilHculties which we would surely have had !• encounter nt that late season. 1, therefore, determined to proceed loiiiid to McLeod lake by the Peace river, and arrangements were iiiinl at;cordiugly. Before n'oing further, I shall give the Indian account of tli.< pass: Out^ 1/1' the branches of the Kpinette takes its rise in a Mm. lake situated on the summit of the Rocky Mountains Another .strtMiii flows weswardly from the same lake and enters the Parsniji, or sout.h branch of the Peace, a little distance above McLeod's river. This s(i\'ani is said to liiive in many places, little current, and to How tlir'ui;;:! a wide \ alley with uood level IxMiches. In the spring of the year, wli'ii the crust is good. Indians walk from McLeod's lake to Hudson's Hope in four days, up this river, past the Summit lake, and down the F]piuette. Xo\v assuming the height of the l^ar.snip to be IMUO feet at entrance to McLeod rivf:, and putiino- the length of this westerly llowing stream at 70 miles, ( whu h ;^ an ample idlovvance) and givinir it a rapid and strong current, "t 49 im»» StH'd h;i> HT, WO touilil beat ill size l\l lJllUVi'n;iu, U» a thor wore crosM'd, •tly pvairic and cakinu", ronuh iiiorous. Fine IS lit ibr si'ttle- L, and I holii'Vt' inlo llii' l''';!"* T)l•an(•h<■^ li'iw^ •e,) till' couiitiy (lt'(?i>, and vniij liVoill tllis pnlli: h. I'ouLi'li. ■•111! si'viou^ I'll- r vallfV iM-« rv bur Indiniisi Rocky M"uii- McLeod l.ik''. d. to pr<'' '• lave hiid i' rocced i'<"iiiil wert' mail cconnt oT th.^ is(> in a >iiii. nothcv .stiHMiii ■sni]i, or south This sivoara How tli!'>ui;:i le \n'!>i'' ^^'''" 's IIop<' iti l'"'''~ )iiiette. Now MeLood rive;, iiilos, (\vlu(li> currt'iii, we call siil't'K put the altitude of this Summit hike at 2,")0IJ left. I'roni nil Ills. I htdiiivo, the. country hctwccn this pdint on tlic Parsnip and aci'iiu th.' F Oucsii.'i oil tilt' I' ra/t'r, to wi'st ol ilic intliT, will l)i> loiuiil <|mli' ]n;n'- tiriibli' i"i' i' 1'"*' AiTiiin, fht» jirairit' country <>ii llo' <'nsl«'in side iip- proaclu's (jiiil(> (dose to the Suminil hike — tiicii' miuiil pi'ili,ii>s hi- J(i or ;;o mile- 1)1 rou'ili and wooded country iiilervi'niiiii', Tln' uvii,.rai Jilliiude of the country on the east 8idt> ot thi' Rocky Mountains and n'/oiit the j)ortiivi' liuist III' about ISdO iect. This <)uile ayrecs with tlie Indiiri r. ports, whuli rrpvi'-'i'iii the rise tVoni the cast towards llii> pass as very ii'i'iill''. All tliis iiiliiiiiiatiMn I have ol)tiiined I'loni Indiiins, and I Icid convinci'd th;it at ;iiiv rati' the sulijcct is worthy ol' I'lillcr iiivcstiijfiition. A conipa- viM)ii of the two api)roachos to the Kocky Mouiilnius from the i'a>t, vi/., between the .lasper House route, and one pas; in u Lesser >la\f lake pcsl, crossiiiif 8nioky rivc' and traversin;^- the IxMulil'ul n-uiilry 1 have already briidly relerred to, would lie greatly in favor of the latter. 1 have seen the former and know il to be of not <>re,it worth lor settlement, whereas the Peace river route would traverse a country liner than any between Red liiver and I'jdmonton. not lo nientioji the actual ciiffineerino dilliculties whieh, I ain conlident would be vr; v uiurh lessened. Haviim' thus as briefly as po.ssible touched upon those matters, I s): dl iu)\v ri'Mune my trip I'rcjm Fort 8l. John up to McLeod's Lake. (In nic I'.tth ()ctol)cr, we started lor the K'ocky inouulaiii porlat;e and reached the head on the -J-ind. ThtM'e we were lucky eiiou^-h to lind a boat, the loan of which we obtained from ^olnl■ miners, and started for McLeod's Lake on the "J'ith. The ditterence in level between tlu! looi and head of the Rocky moun- tain portage is, I should say. between 20i> and ."iOO feet. Tht^ river here Hows throuiih the outer rauii'c or foot hills, and its course from the upper to the lower end of the canyon isueai ly seiui-ciiiular and ai>out 80 miles roiiud, while the porlii<>e road is only say 14 miles acoss. At the head, the river rusho^s throuL'h a rocky and deep chasm lOi) yards wide, but immediatidy above, the stream widens out to perhaps 2(H) or :'iitO yards. We ex|-.erienced a very slroiiu' current all the way up to the F'inlay Biamh (70 miles), and encountered two rapids or falls. From the head of the ])ortauc to within a few miles of the h'iiilay, the Peace Hows throui>-h the entire Rocky mountain range For •](• to 40 miles from the head ol the Kocky inoiintain canyon, the valley is encompas.sed by mountains of not very i.reat altitude, but a little east of the " liapide qui ne paile pas " the main range begins, and the 'iver flows through it for about 2o miles, and until within a few miles of the Finlay hranch. and within this di.stancc, peaks 4,(M.iO and 5,000 feet above th'.' eye, extend back both north and south as far as visible. The banks witliin this valley are very rugged, there are vj'ravclly tfrraces here and there, but steep and projecting rocky points occur at ''"queiit intervals, and in many places the mountains rise up ;lieer from thi' rivei, necessitating, in the case of a road, many deviations and heavy ^orks of construction. :.t,I^ Bi i— l|-l>nn,iTUJg ftO Im'iiiii (lit' Finliiy hiinuli up to IIk' »>iUriiiu't> to MiiLt'od's riv<'r (75 mill's), ilic .^Diith Itrumli kT llif 1 fiicc i.s vi'ry riipid, in I'lKit, our Ixmi wns li'iickt'tl 14) lln' fiitiii' iliHiiuii', iiiid lilt' iiii'ii WiTc (■•iiisliiiitly in tin- 1 t'lMiNi. WiiliT .soiiK'luiics to tlii'ir mitlilli's. I loiuul this hiiuu'h lo trend U.tiiMn \<- till' t:i>l i»| s..ulli, ami 1 I'sliiimto the avt'r!i!>v lull oi' Ihr ir. ill I ^. I'M't ix'V mile, (cii^lili'iu iiiclx's [x"- mih'.) ()ii U';i«;liinij' ihr lilth' i'iv»'r l»y which McLood's Lako ciuittics its \val>'vs iiiti. I hi' I'fJK'i', \vt^ iis(,'('ii(li'(l it lor M miles, mid arrived nt the ( '■•miiaiiy >; I'lare III! I he evening' ol' llie .■)lh Novciuher, just ill liiiie, ,is llie lake heuaii to iVee/e over (he iiext, day. 1 shall h"i ' ni\e ail estimate ol' the heights as determined hy ihi' aneroid. I do iii>i pr'leiid to \oueh lor tlieir aci'iiraey as, in a hiiiiicii exploialioii i>\ ihis nature, 1 could iiol leiuain loiin' eiiouyh at the i»iinc'i|Mi points to obtain aiiythiiiL;' like a <4'ood set of observations, however, 1 put ih.'in as i'ollovss : — Iji'Sser Slave Lake 1,800 Feet above sea levi'l, Dnnveuan 1,000 " " I Foot oT lioeky Mountain Portage, ..1,270 •' " Peace riv. r j Head •' " ^ ...l,;"jlO " " level. "^ iMulay l?ra,ncli 1,050 " " [ Fiitiaiice to McIiCoil'.s River '• " M. Lrod s Lake l,!-(00 " Slewan's Lake 1,800 " " Tiic c 'Uiiiiv I round McLeod's lake is rouiih and hilly, but I believri; io be Hal ;,ud .s\vaini>y *'■ s<^nlh. in the dii'-'cliou of the (Jiscombe poriiinr and I am lold tlnii, l)v I'ollowiiiu- ilowii |)arall<'l to the iM'aser am' lo wis' of that rivi'r. ai loss lie Saliuuii or Cauoe river, and in the direction ul 1''miI George (cl.'v.ilt'd l.tlMM) a ^ood liic can be I'oiind. l''ill(lin^• nrilher iiicn nor horses at Mi.'Leod's lake, and alter waitiii.' sevtM'al days, Mr. Macoun and I, with one man, started on loot I'or Stewiuts lake, distant *^"> miles, w aerf we arrived on the 14th November. Mr. Macoun here Iclt me, and I decided on wailing I'or the lake i^' I'ree/e o\ I'v beiorc proeooding lo the 8keena. in the meantime, I lnuii'l quarters with Mr. (1. Hamilton, of thi' Hudson's l!ay Compiiny, whma ! hav-' to ill ink lor his kindness ami hospitality. Tlc' counivy Irom MiLeod's lake to Fort 8t. James (Stewart's lake) is with 111" e.Ke(.piii)u of s ov |(( mill's, near the latter, of a sandy and grav.llv niitiir.', and uciu'rally worlhlcss Ibr cultivation. In ihe \ iciniiy nf .Mi-Lcod's lake, the cold is severe, and no croi")s worih mi'iillotiiii'j- are raisi'd. l-'ish abound in the lakes and streams. At the .Summit pass I ha'.'e already rel'erred lo, snow attains a il'iii liiu'' lo Indian accounts. At McLeod's lake, it raiiir"- of 6 to 10 r.'ej, aecon trom tlir'c io lour I' el and in ihc vicinity ol' Stewart's lake, it laroly exceeds two I'eet. All llie I'Diiiitrv. Irom the Summit lake down to Fort Si. .Linics, i> Ulterlv W'Tlhlt SS lev cl iltivalion, tin re are lowever, some lew mil''^ ol .senii •praiiie land ol' pi.-lly fair i|uality near Stewart's lak t, uiir l)(i:ii was y ill tht' ice coM to Irt'lld Ciill;.!. nil ol' llic rivoi iik(^ t'liiplii's its an'ivc(l ;ii ill,. list ill lilili', ;is M'miiicd l)\ ill,. IS, in a liiini.Mi iit till' priiiciiial liowi'vcr, I 1)111 ab(»\'i' sea Icvi'l, liul I Ifclu'Vi' i; icombc porlaijv <(M' aii(l Id wis' lie ilirccti.iii u; d iil'tcr waitith' )ot lor Ste\van^ her. "or 11 u' lalu' ic uiliine, I lound ipaiiy, w hnia ! wart's laki'i b ly and gravi.'llv no crops worih ns. titfains a il'piii lake, it laiigi'j l.iko, it raV'jly t Si. .laiin's, 1; It' lew mil"s oi 01 i)iiiiu'4' iiiv stay h('ri\ f in idi' i'iic[uiiv ubimt I1m> nmiitcv Iviii'/ s )ufh ,,; ill ■ N.ilJiMi laki's, and in a. li'ii' Iroin Md^'iid's Lik" lovvar(ls ilii> i{,il»ini' I'liii ,iii(l In south ol' la,ki' Tacla. [ was iiiloriin'il lliii il is passihlv jcvid, ,ii<| iV Ml all aci'oniils, could In' in idi- a. lilaM'' lor a -oiil a I'ar us a [)oiiit iii„;u lliliiiic laki' ojtposilc ||ii« lliids(»ii's Mav ( 'oiiipaiiv's I'ort. 1 ill. '11 st.ii'li'd lioiii Sl"\\'art's lak • on loot on ili.' i.'iiil D.'cciuhi-r with ,ii; .,• a''ii, packiiiy our pro\-i-,ioiis aiil ef I'ahiiie lake, and slruck the lake at tlh- villaije. All this distance I iaiuiil i[uile practic.ihle and not hilly. I <'slirnal" tli.' h-'iizht of I d<" Hahine lo 111' I'lii'hlci'ii hundred I'ccl above the sea. \t the villa-^i' here there is i '^'ood crossiipj' not: ovi-r I no v.irds wide, ')iiik> low, and n'ravelly hottoni. I here slruck westwanls lor th(> l''orks of Skei-na, distant about ,')5 uili's, I I'ollowed the miners' hors(> trail, whidi, at a- distaiwe of nino or ten miles IVoni th" village, cro,sses tl'e summit of a mountain raiiire .'\ii'iiilliit5' alony the \\es|ern side of lake liabine and north lo the llahiue rivr. The horse trail crosses the summit ai an tdevation abovo the iaki' el' aboiil J,4no Ici-t, but immediately to south '/i" ihe horsf trail is a li'Vel >wainp >'00 feet lower, out of which Hows a, littl>' stream eastnly into liabiae lake, and another (the 8usqua,) westerl\- into the \Vatsoii(|Uii, a iribuiary of the Skeena, The ascent from Hahiiie lak(» to this summit muske!^- would t)e steep ili!Oi» tertiunino miles) iinddilficult, the river would have to!)e followed in a groat ineisuie. Its b(>d is narrow and Ihe banks steeo and rocky on south side. On the summit, the snow was three feet deep Th(^ westerly k'sccnt diiA 11 the valley of Ihi' Sustj^na from i his summit, and lor tin? lirst few miles Would be easy, but after that, the river Hows throui^'h a deep and rocky ;,;'iilly (river 10 to 1.") yards wide) with steep sides. Mere a lino would have to leave the river inai'^iii and tak(> to the higher slojies, whi<^h are very uneven, and wher(> considerable cutlinsi'', nuiiifrous sumll bridy'es '>vt'r the lateral gullies, and very heavy grades, would be required. This roui^'h and expensive work would he necessary tor a distance ol siy \-2 or 14 miles, when the valley lakes a su-radients Th e Susqua river man ill, on nii'lil hank, miuhl, a-'ain be followed, '«••'/ tii/li ensn tor several miles, when it wo ul,ai th»'n ijitiTst'cf tilt' Wt'^ii'vii llnioii Tt'li'urii|>li Iniil. niul •:i»*> to u't-nt'iiil l«'\i.| ol'lln' uitlc iiiid liiu'li li'vi'l Im'Ih lies wliidi lie ;il llic hiisc of the "Iwiih,:- (l('l)oulf" riilii^t'. This liisl rise wouKl rctniiic IM) Ic'l l;i;1(1i's III li;is| lor iliicc inilt's. A Her Liiiininu' (liis Icn d, ■_'.") lllill"^ or ><> ol' n n'ocl line would 1m' (ilii.iiihd rouiitl lilt' l)iiM' olthr K'oi'lii'i' dt'hoiili' and down lln' lid'i limiK ol llic >Lr(ii,i to the llldiilli villiiU'c of KilsiucUfhl*' — here there is mII exeellelil croSfsiliiT rirloic Lioiii'i' liirtlier, I may reiiiavK thai llie lijie 1 have iii>l iiointnl oul, vix., ihal rroiu lli.' llahiiie villaLie, and down the Susencliet4 iiiidei' ill,' K'ochei deboule, is the only available one in this (liina), of sa\ il'i mil .s would in\(>lve \t'iy sleep iiiadieiils hetwem t!i.' Bnhine laki- and the siimiiiil, jjerhaps hea\ier than praelicable ; wlnh ih (leseeiit Westwards would iieci'ssitate, at least, Jn miles ot Ihi' niosi rxjMii- sive railway work, in the shape of heavy grades, deep eutliny', an to the Nasse ri\er. I must liere remark that alter making' extensive iinjuiry ret-ardili!; the valley of Ihe iSkeeiia, 1 arri\'ed at a eonclusioii entirely adverse tn ii- l)nielieal)ilily as a route. It Avas d(>seril)ed to me ns exressively roujjh, espec-ially in th;i; part of its coiir.se where it passes throuu'h the (\israde ranue. rreeipic.- ol' immense heieht immediately ovcM'haniiinu' the river, ami w ithoni any possibility ol' uetlinv l»ehiiid them, wen- spoken ol', and altoueth(M, 1 In'inil I'liouii'li 1(1 .salisly mvsc'H'thal a j'tuiriiey down that ii\er would havelnMH i'ruilless. Another drawba('k to the Skeeini route is that the liarbor is bad, tli' water beiiiii shoal, so I am told, and in the I'all of the year Ihe ice coini" down in huiie Hoes, very dauuerous to Aessels lyinu at anchor. IJesides, the whole eountry about Port lilssinti'ton is so rou^ii awl anouutainous, and there is so little land availabh> I'or a town site, tliiii t!i' Skecna route may l)e .sal'ely dismissed from I'urlher consideration I nniy say rurlher, tliat a trip I'rom the Foiks down the SkecMia, al iIki: sea.son, would lia\e involved consitb-rable exi)ense and risk, liesides lossoi time. I should have been oblieiid to haul a (^aiuie with me the entire
  • - tance, as the river was only partially Irozen.and the ice very danu'eruiis ii. nia)iy j)laces. ( therefore decided upoji strikinj^' the coast at the Nu.sn harf)our, haviiiu' hear;keena and that river. 1 accordiuiily left the I'orks on the 4th January with -I Indians, all "■ us on foot as usual, the men i)ackinu' our supi)lies. We lollowed down the f^kecna to Kitsiyeuchle, the j)oint to whi'lil have already carried my dovscription, and still keeping the river for li'u; mil"- [lasM'.l I rivi'i' I' -ioMi'lin Ill'll IH M. Sk.'.Mn ill olii.ii Mtiiiit' All Iruiiiii rciii'li'il Wi'lcoM! ■i^'llt .1: "OtI.'i',' In (JUr,.|l < h ihe Men Viclui'ia weather Fill iiitl I'er Ish ol Kilsiu I le '■(tuld he liiililv si.> A 1. :itlaiinHl, (if iiheut Kitwain- Im'oi ahove till iiiilt's of ,^•radt'.s. wide, for The ahout ihi I did elevated liiiiioiis The liiwcd ah from a j situated From p the left h 1)1' r.'a(?ht The 68 I nliovi' ill'' '.ai to li'i'Mi'lill l.'Vi'l .nil.' -K'.mW idcs ill Ii'iist tor Uld Ix' oIll.lilM'll U (»r till- >l;i'(ii, •cllclll rl'n?ihill'.' Vc ju.sl poillli'il ,11 valh'y, til th' f in tliis (liiiv. t' Wi'slclti ^i,|^ iiiid ill ii lioiili ill till- fxtii'iiif (1 till' lork> III' itv hclwmi til" il)!'' : wliil-' l!i 111' IIUISI rXp, li- !4'. 1111(1 I'i i'i|U"i,: [)ti()ll to il ])(l|ll' ic sea. or iicniv [uivy n\niiriliii': V iltlviT>«' tu ii- kujially ill ihi; ■■i'. PriTipii •■ 1 witlitnii anv CthlT. 1 ll^'Ml'l uld llUV-' li"' il •l)or is Idid, til' the ioi' <(iiii'" or. so rou^'li mil' n site, tli:t' ill' iition SkiMMin, a! lli;i' ln'sifll'^ l(P>Mli (ht> ciilirt' (li.- y dantiiTous ii. 1 at till' Na.s^' viiiij," l)('l \vi' I! Indians, all ''i )int to wliii'li I river I'ov t""' iiiil.'N, li'lt it, iind st.iKik northwards np llic Kitw aiiy;iir river to its xiiircj', imssiil I lie linlian villiiLi'e oi K il wiuieoje, and lollou'ed down the Chiaiidiowim rivi'r to its (.•onlln'ii(i> with Ihe Nusse ti\er. 'I'he latter we loljowed, Moiiii'liiiies on the ice, and soinetiine^ on llie lieinhes, and ri'.ielnd ihe [iidini villiii4')i of Kitlataniox on the Illh. McNeil'K ^lore, a little Ihlow tide water, and distant Inini llie l-.trks of Sk"'ii:i say !•>'• miles, was readied mi the ITlh Here I had some di llie ill I y ill (il)lainiiii>' Indians to take nie to |''(»il Sini|).^oii, a point on tli' sea coast qtiiali'd M'liie !•• miles to south and west Alter some delay I ohtaiiii d a Northern c iiioe and crew, . and after iDUiliii'r the loriner some half dozen miles on the ie • to open water, w(» riMi'lii'd I'oil Simpson on the -J-ird January, where I w".s most kindly Wi'lceiiied l»y Mr. Morrison id'lli.' lluds'Ui's May Conipany. Here I waited .■ii;lit days, when, t>y ^i'reat i^dod luck, the Hudson's May (''im[)iny steamer "Otter," ('apt. Ijewis, made her appearance on a tradiiiuf v(n'ai)'i^ I I'lnharked on the -ilNt Jaiiuarv, .and al'l"r coinpulsoi'ily visitini;' thtf (Jurcii Charlotte Islaiid.s, the Coast (.f Alaska, M'dia Mella, Mdlacoula (up the Heiitiiudc North Arm), I'ort Uupert, Coinox and Naiiaimo, I reachod Vicinria on the I'Jth Ktdtruary, havinu' exporieti'-ed some very .-^lormy weather. Kiinlinu' that the " I'rince Alfred" had left, I look the route rin Olympia iiid Portland, and reached San ['"raneisco on the •.i4th. I .shall now hridly descrihe lht> country passed over, fr(»m the Villai^o nl Kitsiu'euchlc to the Nasse Ilarhour. I remarked fxdbre that a i^ood and fa\')ral)le crossinuf of the Skeetia luulil he made just below that villa^'e to its ri-jlit hank. (A hridiie pro- liiildy sixty fet>t his^h and not over 000 fn leave the Chian-howan Valley and pass over ahout thirty miles of tin' country lying east of the Nasse Kiver. I did not pass over this last mentioned jiiece of uround. but had an elevated view of it from a distance, and it cenai)ily >y one mile wide, and is shel- 54 torcd Ircni Nrnwiiid. It has voiy fnir niichoriim', hut vessels lyintj- fl Avrmlii lie cxjio.sfil t.. llie teiiilif noith-ciisicrs Avhicli hlo^v risilil ddwii lev. N isst" liivcr C'iiiKiiiii l.fwis, ;i lii'iitlciiiiiH (iT grt'iit expeviciu e upon \ho (■()i^^l, pi, iioinicrs ilu' Niissf Iliiiliuur to l)e luisiilc on that iiccoiiiit. With tlic i'\o,.j lion ol lliis (haw 1 iick. and the lad of tlicir luMULi- but ono littli.' }>i.M,M level land (silualed on tlie west siih> ol' llie defile I have just niei iiiichn: availalde, this harhour niay he (■onsii from seaward ])y steamers at any iinu\ hut sailinn' vessels \voidd ■ \p.i enee sjreat dillieulty i:ellin<>' in dxitiiii! the prevalence of uorth-i a-tiil ji'ah's. and then' is nt) anchoraue outside, tin' water heinu' very dei']i. L'pon the whole, the Nasse Iviver would he a very undesiiahl Urii, ims fur a iruidv line, hut, in the event ol' the I'eaee K'iver Mil out well, a waiiii'on road may eveiituallv i)ass that way. 1 furnish hficwith a chart ol the Nasse Ilaihuur, showiim- in.U's. ele. As [or the couiilrv I j)assed ovt r. from h'orl tSl. James to lh I nniy. with tlie cxcepiimi «.l'a few Hill.' spots he)e and there. uounee it asutteily \\orlhle>s for au'ricuhural purposes. ll'S llilll lie sor.iii; !• scaiii'iii. safely I'lr A I ihe I'oik Siood arable land, but, uenerally .'peakin<>', tlie country travrv-' 1)y me was mountainous and rug<>ed, and onlv valuabf' for llf luih.r: it, nu»y contain. This fact alone, apart Irom eniiineerinu' dillicullies (which are not v.i i^reat in the case of a rout(> by the Nasse). lend'-rsit desirable that a tiM! line be curried fu'ther souili, and slrihe the coast at some other ]»oiiit il, either the Nasse Kiver or Port Kssiimtoii Durini!- my voyaiic from V 'ort Simps.-i;! (a very "jood harli the whole CO; \' l(( see isi Inn to \icto)ia, 1 had an excellent o])portunit far as Cape Caution. Nearly all the harbours from I'ori i']ssin<>ion to thai point are sitiinlh uj) lonu and deeji inlets, almost invavi;d>lv walled in by hiiiti and jiiviii; tons mountains. \]i and down those inlets tlle^v!n(K blow with terrific, violeurc. incr especially duriuL;' Ihe winter s(\ison. and sailing' ships Avould often liml : ini])ossible to 120 u]> or down Avith adverst winds. Steamers, ol (luii,- conld alw; ys m; ke li(Muh\ ay. bui still ficcasionally willi difliculty. iJellaeoula. a post o[ the IIndson'.^ I5ay Com])any. siluaii><', ii' l!; extremily of the llentinck North Arm, oflers." I believe, "an outlet iIhuul': the ('as( ades from the interior to the coast. Irom areoiinls of ihe roule l)y jnirtie.s familiar with the localilv. 1 .!: inclined to think ihal a road from Alexandria, on the Fra/er I\i\ er, le r»!. coula could l)e made uilhoul \ery great dillieulty. T'aek aiumal^. I Iki been told, havi' made the tii]) between those points in ten days. Be this as it may, tlu> valley here is verv narrow, and sun 112-h uuuintains and is. la sides, subject to ilood. Tht anchor oundrti 'ill; I 1^ 66 NillU' till' soiiip; .1. liowfvcr, iijii' ITiilf ii iiiilo IVoni fht' shove tho waicv is cxct'ssivcly shiillinv, in JMct llio f>hii.il dries at low Wiitrr, iiiid llieii it suddenly dei^iuMi'^ to tweiity-livo ;uid tliiviv I'athoins, while a little I'ai'lher out |.V) to l'ihi lathoiits ol ^\lllel• ari' li'Uiid. AVliere we anchored (ahoiit a mile ironi sliore'i iIm' iiili't was i)etliai>s a iniL iiid a halt' wide, with very hit>'h inoiiiitaiii- on e.ieli sicle liejlaeoula IS I'ullv eiuhty niile^ IVoni the entranee of l-'itzlaiuh Soniid. and iVom thi> l)i'i;imiiiiu- of Bnarke Channel vii)wards, the iidel varies i;: width iVoni oiii> Mini !i h:dl to two miles. Shii» from the ojhn'i- j-ecjuire to exercise ('aulion in approaehinu' the riitraiin' to l-'ilzhuiih Sound, owiiiu' to the suidseii roidc'^. The daiwers are, hewever, well laid down in Captain Pender's Coast Charts The naviu'ation of the (Mitire British Coluiuhian eoa-^l, lri>m lMt/hii'.:ii t'euiiil U]> to Alaska, is dillicult tor sailiuii' vessels, owinu' to tiie numerous isliuids, and narrow, intiieate ehannels. Steamers knowinu, the coast widl would not have tht> sliu'htest dilli- laillv, liul st.anu'ers makin^■ the land at any point north of \'anconver l<];iiiil lor the lii'.Nl lime would incur risks, IVom whicdi they would he com- pat;iti\ely tree ill aiiproaehiiui' the southern ports of Bvitiidi Columhia. Aureealdv to your instructions, I made eiupiiries as to the snow lall and rlimatie inJluences, which obtain on thi' I'eace river and on the westnn bUqu's of the Ivocky Mountains. Keiiiirdiim- the dei)tli of suow on the lu-airies and op(Mi country :>itu,it('(l east of the lvock\ Moutaius, and on each side ot the I'eace ri\cr, I diiiik tliat till' ii'realest dejttli ever attained will not exceed two and a half Icel ; die average is ahout two feet, but it occasiouallv happens that the S'roiuul is bare even uji to the month ot Doccm])t'r. I hclii'\e we can safely count the maximum snow fall beiweeii Jvcsser Slave Lai. e and the base of the Ijocky Mountain- f>» bo two and a half fet't. unless in i)la(tes where dril't.s might occur. hetwoen the Kocky Mountain Portage and the Finlay Praiudi. in the Vh ill a loniier paragraph. 1 have mentiom>d a de[ilh of leii ject as piobablv OL'curriiig there. A very important feature in connection with the suow fall htis! ol tiie Rocky Mountain range is its dryness : snow rarely ])a<'ks. it powdcis. and becomes cri.'<]> ; the drv state of the atmosj-ihcre l lo be (he averaue sUow depth. I shall now close this report l>y expressinu' my thanks to the. Hudson's liny Coiiipi.iiy, to whose oiliceis I am uni\ersallv iiuT bli i! for prompt, itssi.staiic,. and hospitality t'xtended to me at e\ ei'\ po.xt whi.-l, I pus.-cd m ihf course of this long and arduous jouriic\ . 1 have the honor to be, sir, Your fd^edieiit servani. C. llolJKTZKY. mml^mm??w^^&!^^^ ^vr-'Vi^'^^'."^^ '('»■■■■'«« *t*^t" 56 APPENDIX C. Ri'/iuii /)// Jiiliii. M'tci)H>i, f'Jf^i/., M. A., Bo/.iinisf to Mr. Fleming s Ex/ieditinn tf.in Lake Si/ferior fo thf Pacific Ocean. BELIiKVILLE, May 1st, iST:! S.VNl)l'i)l>'l) iMiinriNfV, RSQ. : !)k.\k Sik, — l[;',vini>- ]).h'u r('qiu'st"d by you to accompany your llxii (lilidii across t\c <:<>utiii''nt as Botanist, with the view ol" making a <'i)||ri. tioii MTplaiiis L ml asc.'iniiaiiiii' I'njin tli" Flora of the country tho capabiliii^ wliirh (li Hi -rent sec I ion so fit luii^Iit possc\ss lor at>;ri<'altural pursuits or s"Ul- miMit, r juiiied yiMir I'^xpi'diiioii about the third week in .luly hist on l,anH Superior ; and iravidlcd in your company lo Fort Oarry and Edmontoii. Ar the laili'r phx< e 1 reci'i\'i.'d your sp.'cial instructions to pr(K.".ccd on abr::;ich expedition, by way of Peace River, to the Pacilic Coast, I reached the Coast of Britisli Columbia on the 12th Dex ; took tii. spei'diesL )iuans of conveyance to iSan Fran<;isco, and from ther.ce, l)y i\il, an'ved ;(i Ottawa on the 8th January last. It now becomes my duty to report the ])otanical facts I was enahl'i! to aceiiiiiulale oil the expedition, llie deductions wliich I have drawn from tlieui, and snch impri'ssions as I may have formed respectinij the cuuntry which I ha\i' tra\ elled over. It will be convenient to dividi' this reiK)rt into two secvioiw, '.'mbracing : k>Kc riox I. — Obffi-nalions on the conntrj/ from Laki Su/terior ^•) flie Xoi'Hi Saskatcliewan.. (!) Thunder Bay lo Manitoba. (2) Manitol)a to Fdmontou. Section 11. — From ilu: North Sasfcatrhewan, via Peace Rtjer, In Br>lifk ColtDiibia^ citihrucini>' ; (1) Topography of the coiintry. {•2} G-eology and Minerals. J3) Botany of the region traversed. (4) Climate, soil, and suitability for settlement. (5) Fa<.'ilities for lines of communication. 57 rtg"'s Expeditiiin y 1st, i^ ar.suitsor si'ttk- ily last oil Liiki' Kdmontoii. At .»ed on a l)v;i;ich Jje:,. ; took ilh' thor.ce, by wil. I was t'tuihl.'d ive drawn IVom n<,' the cuiiiiiry two iir lNt.'.< l)ui;nnziiiir on the shores of Lake Superior, and up the KainiiiistH^uia, 1 I'aniiot let the pri^eiil opportunity pass wilhovd rcoordiiiL;- a lew ol' ihe oliservations luude al llud time. .\n (ipiiiion has gone abroad that the liiiids around Thunder Uay and 111: llie Kaniiiiisti(jviia ar(^ unlit lor settlement, owing to the extriM'ie cold ami smniner frosts of that region. That this opiwiou is erroneous can be .;isily seen by a careful perusal of the following paragrai)h,s. Early inthe year 1«(J9, Cf. F. Matthews, Kscp, ol f^t. John, New Bruns- wick, read a paper on the occurrence of Arctic and Weslern plantss in Coutiiieiiiiil Acadia. Amongtst otlier valuable inleiiinatioii, hi- showed thai till' Mean Annvud .Summer Temperature of >t. John, M. B , Thunder Bav. [luiiliix and Toronto, was as folloWft; May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Mean Sum. St. John, X. E 47..S o4.5 5!'. 7 60.0 5").i) 4.V. .'is.l Thunder Eav 48.t> 58.7 62.2 63. s 4S.- 41. •• 5'.».'.t Halilax '. 4S0 56M 62.?. 08.7 57.0 47.0 60. S Toronto 51.6 tJl.O 66.8 65.7 57. -I t."..(i V,\:4 In July ol the same year, T made large eolleetions around Thunder Bay, and nj) ihe Kamiuisticjuia, detecting many sub-ar^'tic and biorenl forms flose to the waters of the lakf, but none two miles up the river. Tlu^ iau>c of this was evident ; almost constajit rains and logs prevail aiound tho Bay during the hot months, lowering the temperainre and giving a i.liinnte, almost analogous to that of Halifax or St. John alonp; the shore of the lake but with a far hiffhev temperaturt^ as we uo inland from any ;ioiiil oil it. The vegetation around Lake Supeiior is noted for its luxuriance. All hfri)a( I'ous plants have a tendeiicv to increase bevond their normal size aloiii!' the west side of that can be assigm-d for this is the htuuid atmosphen' combined with a suHicieiicy of heat to devcies witii wl.ich the shor(\s of the laki- are iMiiiied, disappear ; many of the boreal lor ais b(M;'onu"> \oy\ scarce, and by the 'inie the mission (H mih\s IVom Thuiub r TJay) is p.issed," aliiii>sl a , and ihc uiidori^rowth hiM'onK's almost idiMilii'al uilh ih.ii,: lh(! Vi-ar ol' llasliiii^'.s and l''ionitna(.-, on llu,' .shorts ol' I^aki' Ontario. \ i.- mii.'s Inrthi')', and I'ornis piM.'ulinr to a dry soil bcL^'in to t.iki- the jil,!... ,■ those .seen I'aithi'i- down, wdiiic the allnvial Hals alons^ llii' livcr !?np[)ori ;, iiujst luxuriant i^i'owili ol just such plants as would hi' si'en on any rivi'i bottom in IvistiM.i or Central Cana«la. Thickets ol" wild [duni (/'/•/////,« Aiiici ii(tiiii) Ihri'e or i'our different chi'irics, goosebi'rrii's, currants, nisp. berries and strawl)errii's -j;ro\v in prolusion, iiitei">iH'rsed with v irioii< .species ot \'ibuniuni and other Capril'oliacoiis plants. The licrl):i.',M,.i, OIK'S weii' vi'rv numerous and lu.vuriant, and tlicsf, includiiu!- tlii' wi, I pe i~! {Liillii/nis mio^idi tt on/iroln/^'ns}, ihe vetch (Vichi /imr.riiuui'i . caused smdi tani;lcd thickets that il \v;is almost an impossibility lo Inn,. onc,.^ wav lliroii^h them. Wild hop> [H/tnuih/s Lu/iiihi'!) climln'il uj. almost c\ery tree, and John .Mcliityrc, l']s(|., in charge of I'ort AVi!li;iii) told m(> they produced excellent hops. For the wl'-olc di.-tance np to Kakiibckn I'alls there was a const, m: inllux, ol" new speeiis, having- a western teiulency. Between Kakabt'l,;i ]'"alls and the mouth ol' thi; river, I detected -51.5 species, all of these hciiii; naiivc.s of Hastings, except eigliteeu species, viz.: Alnus viridis. Nenmulo aeeroides, liubus Nulkaiuis, Lonicera iii\'luni (I'niiiiK (urnuits, iMsp. I with vMi'ioib rii^' licrhai'i'oii, 11(1 ill'.!' th'' ",vi!l •/'/ Atiir.ricdii'i. sibility to tori.' s) cliiiiln'il Uji 1' I'oi-t AVi!ll;iln was a feasibility of valley said by H, (^xclusiw of at quality, mul li'il ti> rlu> ri'U'ions aiMund Thuiulrr Bay. .vlaiiy I'llhc >i,ilks wi-rc lour sill feci ill Iriii'ili, Avitli lii'ads i'liUv t'iu'lit iii'/li. lolU Lilvr ilawiii, vcii'iitimi. till' soil i-triiii>'i' o .1 rrdtlish clav, hut lln'ii 1).I-r :l M ihc ciiui hv 'ici i.li'iital lii.'s, or hv tliosi' ol' (he scttli-r, a luark.'d ''li.uii>'.» wmII aic.i )liH'i I'l ill' liuial. It wil r i)"ijonio drier, ;md all kinds of i'n lUiU'li I 111'' 'Sf- avlicr. Conili'rous tn^cs, with a iliii.'k coal in '• ol nio.- cover at.T pari ol' the couiil ry ; -.vheu thi'se are o-oii,>, a n 'W er >po (re'-s ,•111 -pMii-' Ml ), but Ihev will be decidnou s one iiohably be li'ss moist ind wanni'r. There is no Ian i lit ior eiillivatioii on Lake Slii'b uiduwai.. nd tl d. le .;o;inl ry Wll M;al liT''! 1 il aad while pin. ■> ilot the landseipe, bii! ih' piiuiii)d io bin li {Bfi'i!(i inijii) rn'-iun as p 'U, ( /'. /rriiiu'oiilr.-i) and seriib pine (/ I'i'st 'vrowi h IS nifix Baiihiuiiii}. Tlie Ileiivht of Land Pi)rtai«'e is vi-ry \v an< :> Is llll mil boi'deriiiL;' mi Lac Mi lae A continuous I ore .isp.j 11. .iiul bircli. with a, sprinkiiir'' ol ri'i land -I ol sprui wliite piui v{ o. Oalsam, visional I'l'OVes of Hanksian [)ine. surrounds the Jak". [*ine u'as onL' oliserved OlilSl! to the shore and on the islan.ls. 15a ril Ike Jias 111 U(di lie a()pearance ol tlio pr th till'/ one. VI er pii iliree ssiin;- it, howev.u', the eountry Ix'i^'ins to .diani;''.} and by tln' i line we aro miles down Lake ^Vinden:■oosil■^•o!l, mixi'il with red and >\diite ones are eoi ari>\ :'ro\'' ol' Bank'siau uiiii. istantly ia''et.ini4' the eve. •hurl liiiie th 'se become continuous and the i'orest laki's the ipp .ir.uiv ill.' i)iiie lands of Ontiirio. On the portas^e betw 'en th' ab./e, luid Blick- st'iiii' lake, ihe treesare prin.'ii)ally a.>i) ui and 15 lulc-ian pine, both alt liiiiui'' iiisidera!)le si/e. On the west >idi\ the p orla/'e t'Tiuiudes in a b'';,utiriil th> hazel nnt (iJ'inil.K ro^inUa) H i'r> rrove ol' red pine ol' some extent il Ike red ash [Fraxiait^ pubesc.r .a) lirsl app 'ar w.'st ol' the h 'iLilit of I nuL .111 A-l'tiT passing;- tliroui^'h a small lal we liter a river and tor th" next null' or two loUow its tortuous wmdiiii>-s. .Shortly al'ier, W' i>i- su li'iiee ol' ehiel' ISIackstoi luateil on a, siaiU bvv, in a verr xt' nsi V- ^Tdve ol' red i)iiii ^oon a.lt''r the --hores g-et bolder and the country has ill!' appearance ol' a drier rei;'i')ii thill any we have p issed thioug'h .siiiei- ''.iviiiLf Shebiiii.lownii. Pines have laken the plai.'.e ol' spruce, aaid are the hief objects ill the land-ieaj)!' I'ine Po.ia'^'e, our next sto[)pin;^' [)lace, is ly appi'opriatidy named. Here red and white pine attain a i.irye siz'. iiiiOiv of them beiiu over three I'.'et in ametei li. esidi'iits on the portan'e say iheve ar.' large areas ol' good land in VlrllUtV an. I that red and white pine are abundant and of '/ood si/i Tills region seems i-tl to have manv .)f the charaeteristics of tlit couni v iviim ill the northern parts of llasiinos, f*i-terboro'. and Vietoria. li seeia.s 10 1)1' niore like a lake studded with i.--l.inds lliaii a ( ouiitry interspersed Wllh lak Mu.d .1 I imlier \vi 11 ve be lakeii from diis lake ie!ut liairi' ijii.nitities of railway ti.'s eould be obtained. The chores of tld Eiiiin l.ikc present ii must dreary and uniiivitiui;' appcaiinic*'. Mi,.| ,,, the islands avr Idw .ind rockv, and liavr little soil on them. ,\l ih,. western end many lar^e Moulders were seen, a siiro indieation if ih, action ol movinu' iie. As we ueaved tlu> wostovn iMid of lln' lake ih. hanks becnnie hiulier l)i\l the I'oresi ".^•r(jwth still retained its stuiiinj characlir. Manv islands, heauiiiully rounded in oiuline, were pas>eil, l,r,; very lew o| ihem 111 For enltivation. The approach to h'ort l''rauii> : Tory heautirul. As we approaeh thi' outlet of the lake and entei' K;ii:i, river, the riL'ht hank aiiiiears very much lil;.' a gentleman's park, theti-,,' slandinu' I'ar apart and haviui.;' the rounded tojts of those .seen in ,,ji, i>rounds. l?]ne Oi\k {(Jiinfii>< Pri/His rar. //isculdr) and l^alsim I'opiar (/'d////,'/, hahniuife.nt) ^vith a lew aspen are tin' princ,i])al I'oi'cst trees, 'i'hese hn the hank, and lor two nnles after leavinti' the lake we nljde down lieiw ri; walls of dvini: ureeii until we reach the fort which is heautiluUy sitiLiinl on the riulit hank ol Kainy river, iiniaediatidv h low the falls. All - . i- of urinn can ht> raised here as well as all kinds o! e'ardeu veo'etahlcs ; liui. attention is i;iven to atiricultnrc. Init eiunii;h was seen to show that iniiiiri wnuid do hei' pait if pioperly assisted, liarley three feel hii>'h, ami ii;ii over tlnit, sliowed there was nothini;' iji the climate or soil to prevuui ; hixurianf urowth. Tn the rear of the fori ihe land is wet, hnt couli! oasily lie drained as ihe fori stands over -'SO loot ahove the- river. Rainy iiiver desei'ves moie than a, passin;^' L>'laiicc. hotli. for its 1»m:'.: and its adaptaliihty to the purposes (d' carnboat n'ay overcome, one <'ontinuous stj-etch of sieaiidi..; tra\cl. At fort h'rancis two large and powiMlul .-'eamhoats are liein: bnilt, one alxne and the other htdow the " Ureat h'alls;' the former for lli navii>ation of ]\ainy I,ak(\ the latter lor th(> river and Lake of the Woed- Tlie length of lh(^ rive;' is abont eighty miles It forms the bouiul;!)-. belAve-n the Canadian and Dniied Stati-s territories. The rigid, or Ciiinf dian, bank for the Avhole distance is cover, aspen, hal-iir^ po])lar, and white and red pines near the Lake of the \\ oods. The wholeiloia of this region indicates a climat(> very like that of ('e)itm! Canada, and the hrxnriance of tlie vegetation sho\\s that the soil is cf lli- very Itest qnalitv. "Wild peas {La/hi/ri/.'i rnnosus) and A'tdches (Viriii Am n <;tin(t) were in the greatest prolusion ; the average height was aheui si' feet, but many si)ecinuMis were obtaim-d of eight feet and ni>wards A\ 'i ' the boat waswoodini;- rip 1 took a stroll i)dand and found i)rogress a i: impossible, owing to Ihe astonishiiig growth of heibae<'ous plant.s '! i' iollowiu',: plants were oV)served on Kainy Kiver while dinner was 1 iU: laviMi ill Ihi- hill. CI Vi (.'al .Vl';> bell Siiii I (itli>'r ill'' « 1 (ilUji: lake ii U Oak T:* |'( Wllieh 1 liroducii '!c<\ a?i luphii : and a I'e the .rl)o^ isi[)i. 61 ictu. At ill,.; lif'iitiDu !.[' til, r ill.- liikr ih, I'd its hIuihimI •(>!•»' passcil, 1,111 l''oil I'VllllClS ]■■ 11(1 t'lllcV liiljl). park, till' IV..,. scrii ill iiji. I*ii]>l;ir ( riip/ilii OS. ThcM' liii down 1l('l^\•.•l.)l itilully sitii;it,.(l riiii.^. All ><,vi- .'U'rtablcs ; lilti. i(i\v llltit liiii;;i, iiii;'h, and n;ii I to pi'iMi'iil ; wot, }»1ll rinili' ■ivt'r, . iov il.s li ■■ 111' i'X('i>plinl| . , llu'Vc is r,n; . :. T. From FiV th Wi'Sl \)IL ' lirh. it ish'H). * li of sl,'iiiiiii..; '/oals art' Kr!ii_ ' toriiifr t'tir tl) ■ oi' l!u' Wood- .- ilio houiiil;:!;, ri'i^lil, or ( an:- ii'iiwih ot Inr,- idii'.ns say ih;' 1 two to t'.\ ,'iil d, Tho loiv ', .ispoii. huKiir that ofCi'iitrv |i' soil is I,!' til ( Vi'i'a All! " was a1)oui !• U\ards AV'.' Irou'ross a 1;' Is plaiit,^ '!i' liiT was ! ■ I'l; iivonari'd, iiud an' only an iiult'x lo tin- vast piol'usion ol' natur,''s L,'aiitii's ill tlii.s rcii'iou : — I.ilimn CaiiadtMisc, Lath} ru.s vriin-us, rhiladi'lphiciiin, " ochroli'iiciis, Vieia Aincrirana, Moiiaida li^tulosa, ('alvsti"4ia spithanioa, Vibunium i)iibosci'iis, " '• si'i)ium, Aslrai^'alus CaiKultMisis, Aralia lii.^pidii, I'h-ysimuiu rliifr.iiilhoidi'^. L.ilH'lia Kalniii, Asaiuui (^auadi-iisis, SiuilaciiKi sti'llata, LopaiilUus ani.slatus. I', 'sidles thi'sc thi'rc wi'ri' ii'vasses and scd^^'t'S in ahimdatiii' and in:my .itluT spi'cii's not worth iin'iiiii^iiinL':. luiouuh \v ;is >(••■•> howcvi'r, lo salisly ih,' wviiiT that liainy River will yet siippoit a L vj:^' pcimlalioii ni.iinly . ouip'isi'd 111' auriculturists, li i- uiuii'ct'.'^sary lor nic to make any roiuarks i .i the (•ouiilry ifiween till' \,i!th Wi'^l Anii'io and Point l)u Chi-in, as it h,' ; heen >o IriH^urntly iiotici'd ill coiiin'ctioii with Manitoba .'^nlliui' it to sa^■ thai lu'ar the lake ilio laud, uenerallv. is low and swampy, 1''Ut as we i)rooi"'d \\ '.^.twjird I'rom the lake it '/ra dually rises, becomes drier, and eventually p;isses into prairie at. Oak raiiit, ill iirst s»dtleineiit in ike Proviuci' ol' Manitoba. .MXN'ITUliA TO KD.MO-VTUN'. Maiiitobi has l^i'en the subject oi so many reports that anylliinir iii'tlii'v Iroin me appears unueijessary. Still there are a lew i>!)ser\'ations wiii di h I Would de,.!re to record. It is generally supposed that the land saline plants lies far to the west of T'ort Lrairy. This is a iriis- icini a>; \v ithin less ilian two miles of the Fort I di'tected a species o f iiuphire {Salirornia lierhacra) and (rhissw,)i't {' henD/iorllna maritima), .iiid a lew other plants peculiar to a saline soil, 1)ut not so characteristic as ihc .ibovi'. These were all I'ound in sh How depressions ol' the "I'airie, vvlirri' th.' water did not run olT but il'olyiii'. the was evaporated by the sun. Now, se ob.servatious as w,^ proceeded wi'stward. il was very MS) \<> j)red;cate where we would Und I'rosh w.itiu-, as in all cases wdiere hi'ri was fF no outlet (except in the case ol'springvO the water was brackish^ III Mauitolui this will soon ])•; remetlied — drains will hi' cut to take o riiriai water, trees planted, and as a eo)ise(|Uence a Lireater rain fall -alls will be dissolved and carried olf irom the suriace, and salt-plants i[)[)i'ar. T nis IS no lancy sketch, as i( is a lixed (act in Physical ( Jti'O- uraiihy that to clothe Un' land with trees t.ikes away the ,>alt and '.^'ives a ■r rainl'all. Any person acquainted wdth the liistory of PalestiiH' and 'a'.Mi Xor li.'rii Ai'rica knows that what weve (he mosi IVuitiiil countries in the lid :J,"(;.0 years ayn are now barren, saline wastes, Tlie cause is we 11 aiown, the trees were cut down, none were planted in :heir place, the -.tin '.'aporatcd the rain hefon- it had time to permeate the soil, sails acciimu- l.aiul iii course of time the land was gi\>'n tip to per]ietiial barri'iincss. 'ur interior plains will yet W covered with wood, there will be a vill be more IVequ^Mit, ihi? dd channels will iii'i tieii'iit raiuia dl, .str earns \ mmmmm ^rjj^g^SisSMSlSC^fiJiSi^Ei^BS i^SfeSS&:i coiii:iiii iiuui' \\ ;ii(r, 1irii<'k'->li pools will yivc \A.ivc to i)U1(t \\ ii(. hik! tile ti iiiiiiiL: inillio;iN will only know hy Iriiditioii or old vcuonls lli.it ili» hiiHJ \\ii> oiMr L;i\t'i; up lo tlic red iiiiiii or llic huHido. To ii (■oliiihoii ol).si')Vfi' llirt-r liiiilli'is !ili» not NO ])liiili ;is tln'\ iiii |u,i liol iiii?l. A l)oliiiii-i is slriiil; with llir idi'^cnrc of ]iio>srs, mid iisk.s Imiun! till rmiM' Till' iiii>\\ ci coiiK's ;it oner. Moist iii'f is i'vii]>otid('(l loo(niirlsil(le that Manitoli:! ciin lie w ai ine, 11;-; mill ji o| 1 Ik !M iline.>ol;!, hill tin _', inACl lolisidi'l' tll;it leel ahove the S' a, A\ liilo tJie lornier is not h;dr>o inie ih Ollh :n I'eel hiiiher Ihall IiMce Lake, whieli i.- oni\ '■") miles lo till ih Her Slate I- I, llilM|" h. Lake AV of Lake Onl IMO. ^fin h ol' til'' l'io\ iiiee of ( )ni;ii io Ii. Ill' hle'lh I I'l !Miiniloha. iind the Muinnev heal of the one is lulK e(|U!il to tli.ii nlii OlIilM-. It isi leAcr lleeessiirv to sj)enk of winter tenil)er!lllires m eolllhri'n' with the raisine' ol' eereak-. es ihe riiieiiiii" ol serd.-' depends altoL.'eili( the 1 le;it ol sinnuief j\ller a .--horl sl:ie III l^'oil (l;iriy we [iroe.i'ded west ward tin eMi aiiil \\illioiil halliiie bi^autirul connti\ to Porlaue In Prairie Jvat. Cieek, the l.-oimdnry ol Ihe -'(Ireat Lone Lind " Hel'ore re.iehiii'j r Creek we were eaiiL^ht in a thunder storni. wdiieh had a marked I'H'ici dump me' our hotaniea lard or. Alter passiii!^' Ivat c;eek th(! trail led over :i wide prairio. whirh r\ tended I'ar ny the eve eorild reach, and ein'oed wiili a \ I'ul fl )ro|lisloll o! In, Ml! OW ei . 1"(M- the first lew )Ililes ll le eolllilr\ was an Vinl)lol thi(k1y scattered over ihs .'^urlace. For tlie ne\' U'' mih^ the trail viiids alonu' the baso ol' a range of lo\\ .-^aiid hills, ::ih1 ilui over an umhilaiiim counirv. v/hieh s(>em(Ml like the old settled part- Canada, w ilhoiit h oUSes or I'ences. This is Ihe lirst roueh land sinci ItMvin:: Fortdariy — .a disiaiiee ol" nearly KKiniiles. The Kidiiie- mountain - li" little lo the iu)rth\vest ast id" h'ort Carry tothi-] makine; a dist.inc ( ( ri2.^ uiilos Iroul easi to we- m iirr \\ nil r-, ihk! ri'COI'ds lli;i! ill, ;is llic\ iiii |m ,1 1111(1 asK^s liiniMl; ;lt»'(l 1(iO(|uii 1;1-, III/ s'O/i/'ii,'; III lillf (if !l;illl! iiidy <>i uiiivi'l'' lilllilis. iUld \\;i- llic till > ^lojij, ; 1(1 williiw^ -!!, lie \\;iniii'i- ll;:'; \rv Sl;it,' i-- 1,..' Liikr \Vi:m.]|.., liit's H' llii n-'\ I'jiv lii'.;li> I I'l. li;,l lo lli.il n| i; r^'^ ill colli!' rl'ft' l(U llltoii'i'illr ■ ' iwiivd lliroii'jli illiMu' kt'i^' '"' ' lore rcicliiii'..' i'. iiKii'ki'il clii r; :; v:iirit'. w In li > > isidii <>' I" ■'•"' iihrokcii plu' • pv'ici'i'ilr 1 Uiilh cluiiiu"' ('oii>l;ii'i li!' (he ci'ci'k li l.ut tli'' I'isl 1^; kt'ts ol willo'' the IK'M 1"' hills. -IHlil:.! scltlt'd p;i'l- i{] since liMVll:. llloUllllHli- i'" ' lills a;i(l "III;' praiiii- ^''Ti' vry iotliiM"''''' ullina- IV'iiii '1 iiitol);i. '-11 ll'" th,' rni^iiii;' "■ over) wilh l''(.r I'iirhl milc.-i the tiMJl led thiMiinii n rich (■(•uiilvy. vcuvi.iti.in i,|' kind iii(»-i hixmiiiiit, Tlu' \\ liolr ol'ihis rcjioii was I'vidciitly cov .mciI Iniist id no riHH'iit dati', as th''Vt' nn- still onk- and many aspniis ri'iiiiiiiiii'iJ' I'ii't'f* iii'c u'vadnally di'imdiii'/ !li>' wlioli' (tdnnlrv of wooil, as til' laiirunis o fall i/i'i nir. n"-ii iiihriiK) were abundant, and luidcrncath tlndr shade n'lew many ciihi. ihr llowei's of the i)ine woods of Canada. I'iiie creel:, ;i t^nidl >lr w mds aiiiona'st those hilh which stretch for about lou: miles mi either sidi ..[ ill.' stream Ciradually the hills mtdted into tfie ])!i!in and a wid" d ]i;;iiri«' extendii)i>' ibr miles .spreads out bi-lbi.' u- The .-oi rv IS \\ I -Ult( ir cu W !• cl'dSSi Itiviition, but wood is very scarce. About the {MMitre ol this prairie d Doii'tiV creek, and .six miles beyond came I't ;i eravellv tra(;t trewii with boulders. l'V>r 21 miles the surfac'' ol tlie ccmtrx is li'-d by pond.s, lak(di'ts, small uToves of aspen, and thi in;!' 'i (liversi "hldUs. with broad, dry expan~ pr.ii rie 'OVered with '''r; 'Wer.- Since we stru(dv the hill, we have be, n <>'radually visin now on and h-r the of the bittle Saskatch''Wai, \\ hich run- in a vallev about "i'lO feci (|,','li : i\ ideiiilv scodped out of tlie drilt by its (iwii water-. Tie' Icadim. ' h;u;ii'leristics of the vegetation reiriaiii nnbii(I:cn. On low .spots sedgi t;r::-.>. {('inij) mixi d with wheat pr.iss (Ti-iliniu;). crird t;-rass {^•/:.-irfi,tti) and various species of blue joint ^C'llaimi'.'.'roli.'i). ( >n dry tiround.- tie 'J r;is are various specie- o ■Villa, S por .b nd .Sli)y.. with a lev*' othi'r- wild ber'/amot le>.s abundance. Tic chief lloweriiiLi' plants a In /isln'oait), various tSiinllo\ver- ( Uilnintli//.-;) (one llower-. [Il'ul- b-rki'i Irijhia), ^rold.Mi Kods(8o/«VA/' nd a muttiti d" d' Asl' lVeautiful and forjued a phasiu'.'- con- tr;)si to the monotonous country p.assed o\er belore rea(diin^ it. The on its ])auks is nearly o.11 dostroyed by the reeklessne.ssof tiavellers. tniilii li'W voars ther(> will not bo a treelel't in Ihi- couiitrv l''rom the riv (M-, ihf c'liiiitry siill kept aseondiu'.^', rid^i^ after ridtje coiiiiu'^' into view intil it la>t we rcMidied thii level of the step;'c. Ecd'orc reacliiiiL!' this lli,' ve<_;(>ta- ' Ml .showed a considt^rable retardation, owdni.'; to tic want ol hc.d and isiure ; exct^pt this, there was no chauiit ^v e camp d for th'> ni'^iit at ihi' Sail lakes, which are in a sli<>-ht depression, ofi' tli, L','eiicral hvid piai 'II an. The shores of the lakes produce mau} sdiiie plants, of which ewnuif arc th l)riuciii >(ir/iiis Ilia I i/iii:us L ^(ih'ciruid li' rhartc. L Gliui.r marifivia, L. Suada niarifinui, Duinnl. mr /nc^lra/ii, PtiH. (Urirdi •Inns haV' w id e ratine ov In w inii-1 !or \\ ih'i ,\ cr sa it ^cs lire louiid. For the m.^xt sixteen miles the trail leads ( vei tie plate:, n. In il were :!i:iny (l''pre,^sions containinii'(le])o.-itions ol saline mattei'. ;in,l a h'W 1 ikdets ■'"<> passed wt>re evid(Mitly s.iline. 'i'he surface water of this reijion. in MUiiiii'M-. is eertainlv unlit lor use willioui beiiie lill''red. w^g^^wj f^^t^Sf^msss^^s^mmss^ t)4 All<'c i>a.Nsinu' n\cr llii- phtciia \\'^' cinit' (n tho ^hnllow lnkcs— -Immuh. lul sli.'cisol' piiri' ,s\vi't \Viih.'i'--willi llitii' 'lihfharLj't' to Ihr .vdiillivvanl, iI.t.. I Miw Mic \t\:\\Ai' { \i iTioii/o iiiff(>ii/'ts\ [ov iliclirsi liiiii' since Icaviii:;' Km Creek Many laiye \\il|ii\\> ainl llioin Im.-lies [('i-uhiniis nxiinriis) \\,:\,. ol).sr'\i'(l nn till' nei;k ol'laml ilial \w\\< llie two lakes, and ovit llicse hun^, in re.-iMitns llie iiailiii'i' \iiies 1)1' ill.' Wild Hcji. which in lad is r'>e.s. These are the shriihs ol'ihe plains and are i'onn*! iVoui Oak I'oini to the mountains. ISetwem ilieSluil- low lakes and Ihrd Tail Creek the land i.s uood, and liufs been iiiilil v, iv laJely almost wholly eovered with lindnT. Now (he o'reater pari i if it remains as dead I ie.>s killed li\ last year's lii'es The next one \\ill])i'.,. halilv take the resi Al'lei leaving' the oreidc a marked ehaun'i' takes phuv in I he cliaiaeiei' nf ihe cimnlry- " the suri'aee beeoniew ecveied with liouldii> so lliiek do lhe_\ lie i)i man\ jjlates ilial it is diliieult to [tass amoiiiisi llu'ia As We near iln' .\.--sinil)oine, the siirl'ace ol' the eountry hecomes mU'h broken U]) liy various depressitms and ridges, which seem lo run in all direeiiciiis w illieul luy ajtparent order. I'dil' haid;.^ Ill' liie Assinihoine and Qirap])elle river.s are deast'ly Avooded, l))U ihe wood is of no Value, e,x.cept Ibr liriui^-, a.s it i,s prineiiiillv aspen and balsam poplai'. A lew ma[)les and birch were observed ai ili.> erossinii', !»ut Avert- ol' small si/e. The trail cros.ses the river about a mx above Its conllueuce wilh the Qu'appelle. At certain times ol' the year the lord is iiiipas'-able, owinu' to the shiltiiiii,' sa)id.s. ol' which the bed of the ii\ er is ('(nnpcsed, and the depth of water. When we crossed, ihe cliaii' ue! w a- not more than IH'ty yard.s wide and the water a little over ihiv.' i't;et deep. The river ilow.s ihiouu'h a valh'V about -•'jO I'eet below the '.'Vi'! ol' the i)raine, and is very dillicull to oej (Mitol' with loaded carts on eillvr side. Aller I inssiiii: Ihe river, the trail wouml up Ihe bank, or ruth" .steepi I'aee (d the hill, which is almost wholly <'omi)osed ol'sand and Liriivd I'oi' ten miles the .-uvraee (d'the i)rairie was comparatively level, bui .siud and ur:i\el pi'eduiiiinaN's. 8ome vi'ars since it had been ahnost co'vt^ivd wilha ihick ij,'r )\vlh Ol' Trailinu' .luuipev (.////n'/^t/v/.s •'^ubina var. pnniiniban] but now only the rooi- ami dead stems weri' to be seen. About tw'iity nules i'rom the rix^'r we crossed a plain in which there wore a uumluT nf hills and ridyes, elimbed one ami I'ouud ii all uravel. After leaviii?- tlii- plain the country improved, and for over si) miles, until we struck dn' Touch "Wood Hill-, w e were passinti' through a rolling' prairie country whue wood and fresh waier were both scai'ce ; bul the yrass was astonisjiiiiiily ;.i'reeu — so much so lliat the whole party remarked the contrast beiwet'ui' and the brown pasture ol Ontario, as seen in July, and this was the l"ili of Auuust. The Touehwood lldls are mui.'h broken and have the appearaucu o! havin;^' been ul one time the shore of a lake or sea, as the outer hills si»em more like ranges of sand dunes alonu' a sea beach than anything else. Th'' surface consists ol' shallow, brackish, lakelets, dry ponds, and rarely a mar.shv IVesh water pool, interspersed among gravelly ridges, lioiitly swtdlim;' hills and dry Hats. The land surface is covered wi!h a mn?! Ittxuriaiu < rop of grass and llowers, studded at short intervals with pictii- t).l lakt's --liivimi. llliwurd ilri'. • li'iiviiiu' Kill •i-r thcM' liuhi' iw loUll'l lilnl . UTOUUd W.'li' >lirul)s (ifilic a'''i'ii till- Slia! IM'II UUlil V. rv rttt'i- piiil III' it olli' will llV'i- ili'c tiiki's plaiv witli l)iuil(li'i>, lUiioiiHsl ihcm, )i'!'(-iia('> mU'h 11 In run ill ;lli •s ai'i' iliiisi'ly t is pi'iiu'iiniliv 1)S(M-V('il al ill" •r aUniit, ;i my. ol' the yi'iiv ill'' thi' l)i' astouishiudy Irast belweoni' Ls was the I'lil' a[)pearauci' o! Inter hill^ s.>|>m liiug else, Uw and nnvly t lridii'i'>, uoiitl}' 1:1 Willi ;i 111'"' [als with pictu- rt'S(|U lumps i>l ii(-pen and willow iluelveis liitrK licen destroyed l>y lire, and a |.\v year- in Atifi' Lieltiiuj welf into tiie lulls tin- sdil impvi.\iN mul tin luxii Mueh mI ih,' liiiiliei has llle Irlll.lilider, 1 1 Miee 111' the \', I till Vt'l •r.uioi I shows a viM'V lerule soil. Tlu'"< This is a ))a>iu over 20 miles neross; lor iinn'e ilimi two Is fif this distance the soil is saline, us evideni'ed by il» ll'iiji. mid \'i>\ len mil heVciiU, llheUl WiO( there is scarcely any wo(kI, niakin lor eood water. l''or the ne\i i|iiii\ Ue;ii'lv liliriv lill nil! Ilie collllirN cop V iiiiiiiotonous. lieinvi' i* ruiiiui.;' |)rair Hi o\ er \v nil di till pniiiar M' iiud willow dVin;.:etl lliiekets. For ill" l,i>i lid mill's ih dri.r than miy we have yet pa d t! IIOU e ( iiUllI I'V I-- h ;ind is dmiblless \erv hiuli i- H is ;illli ost on a level withihe 'rouehwood II Oil the uiuhl <>\' ill" 1 till Auiiust we had I'rost on thi.-> i)l:ili ;i I. nit lliei'i was iioii. •ll lel Ciiili'toii or Mdnioiilon at thut lime W'c now entered a liibyrmlh ol' hills .lud procerde.l throuLili t 1 111 lor liaii all 11 li(HT/( iV ,'hen we eanie to a r(niiid V extended vi(>w ol'tln^ whole eoiint limit lour miles w IVoli he lot) (l| \\ hlell W, rv To ihe iMsj .iiid lioi'ili iiiiosi unbroken forest o| aspen iiiei the view, ^'.vtelldin^• to ih. disiani 11, while to the south and west seareelv a tree w IS to he •11. I' roni ii< Inl to the sou th Sa^kalehewaii, a dist.iuce of aboiil .-Vi miles, the cmuii i\ IS imiejl brok en. th. w hoi e svirtaee hiiiu a CO lltiliUi d serie.s (d alie jiiaiils and marshes — some I'resh but the niajority salt: — ridges, hills, narrow I'vs iiiid wide j)lains. Aspen eofise and willow lliiekets were round Vlll ilwav; pii ill depressions exeept oil the Lumpy Hills, wliieli had lit v-jetation. The immediate banks ol ilie rivev on bot 1 sliie IllMl- W'l'e clothed with wood, but ol' lew s[)eeies; As|)eii. Halsam [loplar, White bir.li. jlMi'rs. "Willows and a lew other shrubs eoiisliluted iK" wood}- [)kinls on bell 1 llMllKS. Mo sses W ere observed in the ri ver vall.'v, II lirst sine> li'IUlll'. Iiii Rat (.'reidv. The river llow s throueh a narr ow \a at) out ll' wide, boih the ascent and descent are [ireiLy steep 11. r the, mo- nil .t'thi distance. Its width is about :50() yards, average dejith about !o I'eet, with a still' current, but nnieb obstruetea ])y sandbars in in my plaee- l^'roiii the If'M'l 01 the surroundinii' countrv to the bed ol'thi^ riv^ •i;)i •el. The distanci^ from the South l?ranch to Carhion on ih,. North Uianch i-nl)iiut eio'hteen miles. For the first few miles rtei a\in'. II le riv..'r tl le Mil! IS Sil li'Ut. M iidy and of poor quality: bu t lor tl r 'mainillL; (h'-ialli e il i,- exee lllV aKes are scattered at intervals over the -..l t'i;;vllier with aspen and willows, y'ive the eoin pi'.iiii. am th. itl'V piet III es(j lie lie whole distance between b'at ('reek and h'orl Carleion. a iraet ' 'I •!"'0 miles, is remarkable I'or the sameness of its II (Iini'jv' was noted al'ter erossiii!'' the Assiniboiiie. exeei>t a ora. \'ery little >w plants pecii- 10 \\ ll sandy soils. The hill-toj>, the plain, the marsh, the asjien copse, tie tl iroui;Jiont 'W thicket,— each had its own llora 'V varvina' and scarcely (>ver beeominii' intermixed. Kveii tie whole reiiioii. Ifesli pond hord cace Ixiver, ^va^ surprised to find th e same species in preeiseiv iiie I'l'OSS- iiot a same IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I |5o "^ mii ■^ 1^ |2.2 ^ U£ III 2.0 1.25 1 1.4 ill >-<^ lllll — = ^ 6" - ► ^ ^ v^ /: y /t^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 873-4503 ^J^^ ^^^ <^^i^ ^ Z/j 66 situations, Ihouuh hundivcls of miles furthor to the noith-wt'sl. Thai tht'ic is iv uiiMt uiiilo'iuity rcspiMJliiii;' soil, hiiinidity and tiMn[)iiMiur,. ihrouji'lioiil this whole region is apparent I'roni the uuvaryini,'' ehaiactrr i; its iiatuial proiliirtinns. Ho ,v much of it is suited lor the purposes nl i^,; culturi', a huiiied rii'|.|| that w heicver llie soil or ihe natural contour ol' the land would iiiti'ii'.re with till- iai.>inu,' ol' .'lain, immense herds of cattle, droves of horsi'suml llo(;ks ol .>liei'p could he raised' In proof of this I need otily slati' timt when I 1. li Cciiiral Canada the pastures were in^arly all dried up. (Jr.,«. siuii' this region duriiiu" Ihe month of .Vui>'ust, all the party were .^ll•uci; with the >4'reenncss of ihe sward, allhouiih most of the i«;rasses ha.'iiiil their set'ds long hidore. I'his, taUeii in connection with the immense hiv^j, of hnllalo th;it formerly i:razed on those boundless plains, .should can-, tii- mosl scej)tical to form i lii^her estimate of the value of this far otf land, ]; ri'quires very liitle proplielical skill to enable any one to foretell thai V'lv lew years will chii)se l)i'f(n'e this region will be teeming' with Hocks aiil herds. In "Crofuti's Tra,iis-Contiin'ntal Toiirisi's (luide" occurs this ])assa<;v.;ii speaking of tin' prairie \vt>st of Antelope, on the liiu' ol the Union Paiilio .ivailvvay : ""We now enter on Ihe best grass country in the world;" m further on he says, : " The country is destiiu'd at no dista}it day to Ix'couie the great ])asture land of the continent." Now, I passed over these plum, from Laramie to Antelope, which are represented as being the best orazii,; lands in the world, and whi(.'h are now supporting thousands of call le. and they hc;ir lu) more comparison to our plains than a stubble held docsl'ia meadow. AYhile they have 1,000 miles of sage plains - for hunch uiw soon div'.s out when pastured, ami sage brush take its place — we havo OV'': 1,<"'00 miles, from east to west, ol land covered at all times of the y(>av m: u thick sward of the I'ichest grass, and which is so nutritious as lo k'v;- horses in good condition ihouiih travelling, as ours did, at the rate )l la;': miles per day A rti'r (trussing the North ^Saskatchewan, the trail led for a lew mil ^ thiough a partially wooded country. In many places, the grass ami '.•!■ guniinous plants 'jivcw very luxuriantly, while in others the grass was. shm and crisp, or the land w'as low and covered with carices, grasses p.Mulur to wet soils and rushes {Junci/x Ballinai). The Thickwood Hills. wliKh We now passed, are pretty rough, but have rich soil and abundance ol ih' finest pasture. For many miles we passed through what had once hi'on i forest, but now it had only a few rotten logs to tell the tale. We aro ivr- tainly in a, moister (;ountry than any we have yet passed, since leaving; "u: Point, as mo.sses are beginning to appear, and the herbaceous plants iiuii cate a cool moist climate. In all the lakes we have passed, there are very few aquatic y\m\\\ Ranunculus, Polygonum, Poiainogetons, Myriophyllum, and Hippuris, ar^' the mdy oiu^s. They are gtMierally bordered with certain species ol plaiiiv If salt, a ( 'omposit;e, Glyceria, Wild Barley, a iSenecio, and A'arious .spoi" of Chenopodiace;n. All fresh water pools arc iiulicated by a grass pcculiir to tlic plains, so that a person riding along can tell the water by ii.s sur- roundings. 07 )rth-\V('st. Tl.;i: liul tt'lnprlMIU;-, rill.:,'' chiinici, r - purposes (i| i'^: i much was •i'imi . would iiitt'il.r. :t's of horsi'siiiil hI only state tll;;t diit'd up. Ci'v- irty wiM-i' >iriir.; is.sos hail ri|i.'iii(i 10 imiiuMis.' lu'ia, , should caii^i' tin is i'ar oil" land, I; ibrctcll tliai v-rv with lloeks unJ Lcu'iuniuostt) vud Coraposit(B are abundaut ov.'rywhi^rt'. Rosacea^ are wt'll ii'pi'i'SiMitod hy many species of I'oteiitilla, .vhilii u^rassi's, s' ;!:,»■ t^s and rushes inakt' up the most of the herhaije. Stipa, Tritieum, aud Calatna- <;iostis are the leadinjj types of the '.^rass family. H.>i\vi'(Mi the Thickwood Hills and Jaek Fish Likf the eoimtry is ii;utlv pliiin aud partly roiii^'h aud hilly, but the i^Tnater part is well jitted lor cultivation The hills aud ridqjes are either irravel or sand, hut always cowrcd with verdure. For thirty-three miles after p:\ssiui Jack Fish Lake, the country is beautiful and the si)i! <;x(*elleut, bMii'.^a li-^ht brown s;tn(ly loam. Crossed Turtle River and entered a roui^h >r ri'i^ion, soil ui'arlvall u'ravid and covered at times with boulders. From I'jn^-lish River toFoitPitt the surface of the country is much broken, and rau'j^es of hills with correspondiuif valleys are common. A marked chan'4'e is lakiny place in tht' ves'etatiou. The plants are of a more northern type, and indicate a cool moist climate. Many plants that were seen for the lir.st time after crossiuir thi' ^jaskatchew 'U continued all the way to Peace River — throuq'h the Rocky Mountains — and finally disappeared at the Cascades. The.se were the remains of the forest flora, as the fori-st at no remote date certainly came to the river. At Fort Pitt we had the pleasure of seeing a tine band of beantilul horses, numbering over 300, w^hich showed by their sleek sides and (inely rounded Hanks that the Saskatchewan pastures were equal to any in keeping horses in good condition. Betwe-ui Fort Pitt and Victoria the land changes every Hnv miles, and is much broken by hill and valley. Many tracts have excellfut soil, and would briusi* immense crops of all kinds, if not injured by summer frosts, which seem to be pri valent in this r.'ffii'ii. Willows and dwarf birch (Betuin iiumiln) are at times very common, their growth beinu: encouraged by the cold wet land. Before reaching Fort Pitt, a few pines or sjiruce were observed in the river valley, but as we proceeded towards Victoria many groves of Banksian Pine were seen, and occasional balsam, spruce, and tamarack. AVhether this region will ever be a wheat-raising section is a (luestion only to he answered by actual experience, but that there is no better country for raising stock can be told by any one. Peas, vetches, grasses, everything, grows most luxuriautly^; there is an abundance of water and good shelter for cattle and horses both winNn* and summer. Ai the Victoria Mission, wheat, barley, p>jas, oats and potatoes are sue- cosshilly raised, together with all kinds of garden slulf. When wt* were there, (August 2oth,) the barley was already rut, and some r)fthe wheat was coloring, hut the latest of it would not l)e worth anything, as it had h crops are raised on the alluvial Hats, near the river, but much land is cultivated a lew miles to the north. The laud around Victoria is very rich, and would produce enormous crops. Almost any of the land Irce from bushes and tn!es could he mowed, the grass is such a length. Between Victoria and Edmonton, a distance of SO miles, the soil is Very rich, but (here is much wet swampy land, the greater part however seems to be exceedingly fertile and well suited loi' agriculture. All around Edmonton, the land is of the very best quality, though the soil in some 9 6« localities is scarcoly as heavy aR roiild ho wished. Tho land on wliich ih^ II. i>. Co. rai.*<(' lln-ir linni product' is a l)r<»\vn sandy loam, piol);il)lv ai alluvium. All kinds ol yrain. rottts and v»'<>'»'tal)lcs ar«' raised in alumdiiiii, here. Fall wheat has never Keen tried, hut 1 am certain would sure,,,; as the snow covers the yround ail w inter and there are no spring l'i(»t> Most ol' their jiiouuhini:' is done in April, and their yrain is sown ili iirsi week in May. ]..ast year, their harley was cut on the I'Jth oi' Au^ihv thit year, they commenced the 'JTth, owinf in the herry and very phuiip. Potatoes are cultivat ■(! to i large extent, -l.*i(l(» hushels heinu- raised hy the H. IJ. Co. in IJsTl. The country arc iind Edmonton is much sui)erior to that in the viiinuv of Fort Garry, as there are no marsh or salt lands.and plenty ol timlni jun! excellent wati-r. SECTION II, -FROM TIIF XOKTII SASKATCHKWAN, VIA PEAi rjVFK. TO 15inT18H COLUMBIA. (1) — TOPO(5R.\rHV OF THK ("OI'aNTUY. Fort Edmonton is situated on the h-i't hank ol' tlie Norlh Saskat( lnwm 8!>(i miles north west ol' Fort Garry, in North Latitude o:{.:;i2, and "WrM Long. n. ■{.]", and at an elevation of 2,088 feet ahove the sea level. Th- river here i.«, altout i'OO yards wide, and flows through a narrow vnlliv. ahout 8(10 leet deep. The waters of the Saskatchewan Jhnv iiilo Inkc WinniiH'g. and from thence hy Nelson's river into Hudson Bay. Ahoul 4" miles, l>y carlroad, from Edmonton is the height of land hetweoi iIm Saskatchewan and Athahasca rivers, the latter Mowing hy way of Slav- lake and McKenzie river into the Arctic Ocean. It will he seen li\ reference to a map that all the rivers of the country How in a iiorih- easterly direction, and that a person travelling north west, will suceessivily cross these streams and their Avatersheds. The watersheds are iioi different from those of any part of Canada, and consist of a sevios ol lakes, ponds, marshes, musk(>gs, (peat Ijogs) and spruci' swamp- interspersed with ridges covered with Banksian pine. The dischavL" of Lac La Nonne — a .small stream ahout 10 yards wide and I.'') iiu'l)i> deep — was the first water crossed that emptied into the Arctic ocaii Between Edmonton and Lac La Nonne — a distance of ahout H'mii'' bv cartroad — the land is rollins,', and at times rises into hills, which stniil away to the west, shuttiim- in th(> view on that side. Noni' of it is dilliouli but the hist half IS much broken by hill and dale, swamp and lake. IV- tween Lac La Nonne aiul the Pt-mbina river the country is more l)rokcii. ;!i' hills are steeper and more heavily wooded, and the soil much poorer. Hi' bed of the riv«'r where the trail crosses is a moving siind ; it is about P"' yail- wide, and in the deepest part the water touched the horse's packs — wrli.u: 00 .N, VIA YVAn h Siiskat(lii'\v;ii| n-ivL'ii up the carts at this tiiui'. This river ri,s-^s in the I'jot lulls of the Uock\ uiuimtiiins, ami I'lnptiL's into tne Athabasc; i liotwtM'ii the I'lMnbiiia and I'adtU'' rivers— a stream 20 yards wide. 10 iiiehes dee[) — the laud is comparatively level ; ai'ter crossiiiii, it there is iiothiiii^ can h<' i;alled a hill imtil yjii reiich the rid<>'es which border the Athabisea. Th- li'vel <>1 the couiitrv is about '{OO feet above the iiv«'r, which ilows Ihrou'^'h a prelty wide valley The Athabasca is larg'e, beiui' wider and deeper than the Saskiil'h.'wan, The bank on the south sid«' is nnly about 1') i'ect hig-h, and ol' alluvium, whiK? that on which Fort Assiniboiin' is built, is <.'ouiposed of 2tjl''.'l Dlyravel and only one ol" earth. The I'ort is built on a. terrace, and tlii'ie are indications that the river rornituly llowed at ;i luucli higher level. To the nurlh aiul west, the hills rise to what I sui>j)ose is the i^eneral level of the country. For some distance, after passing the Athabasca, the coun- try is just a series of sand hills, ridn'cs, and swamps. Afterwards it is less bi-okiii, but much wetter, being' nearly one half swamp, or inuskeg. For six iliiys we vver<' forcinir our way thiouu'li a dreary country, the suri'ace of whi( h was lOv.M'ed with a constant succession of swamps, muskegs, brulies, thickets of willows, and other shrubs aiul trees, until we reached th ■ top of the Deer Mountains, which seem to be a spur of tht? Rocky Mtmntains. Theso uioiuitains lorm the wati'rshed between the streams ilowinii' into ilie Athabasca and Little Slave rivers, and those llowiutr into Little Slave like. As we receded from the Athabasca the country became more arctic ill its appearance, and as wi' ucan'd the top of the mountain, its vegetation >he\\e(l a high altitiule. l>y aneroid the top was al)out 8,oH0 feet al)ove the sea. 'i"he iolluwiug e.Klraet from my journal will give a true picture ol'lhr whole ren'ion, as seen from tiie lop of the mountains. • Lookiuii' back from the summit, the dreary country we have been imsMiiu ihrouuh for the last live days lay at our feet In the blue distance we could see the hills bounding' th<' Athabasca, whih; nearer were the swamps and muskegs, which caused us so much trouble. After "roing a lew rods to the north, we saw, away to the northwest, and about 40 miles (lisiaiit, the uoal for which we are bound — Little Slave lake. Far down in the valley we coidd trace Swan river — by its timber — but could not see its waters. Away to the left, al»out l.j miles oil", we coukl see House Moun- tain, even higher than the one we .stood on. The whole valley at otir feet seemed to be covered with a forest of pines and .s;)ruces, interspersed at intervals with aspen. A hiii'li wind prevailed at the lime, and showers of liiiil mid rain passing over the \alley gaveit a dreary, wintry look. We are .so high up that the rain passes down the valley, aiul only the scud •strikes Ihe little pi'ies, amonust w hich our tent is pitched. The pines (I'iHuii itio/is) ; on the verge of the mountain are old and stunted, not being more than twelve feet high. '"On the southern side of the mountain there is a gradual slope, l)ut on ihi' north it falls olf almost perpendicularly. 1 made an excursion in search ut mosses, and with much diliiculty got down about loO feet. I found that although for 40 or 50 feel the sitmmit was covered with gravel, under ihat thiTe Were dill's composed of soft sandstone, and still underneath them a layer ol' black shale (almost coal), and then a conglomerate like that at Kdnionton.'" 70 The ii iiiili's, to the vallrj ol" S^van Kivcr. Hcyoud this to tlic Ink.' i}),. grotnul I'iills rapidly, l>ut mountains aro seen constiintly to Iht* foutlnvi.' Tlif lake lies n.-arly oa^t and west, and is about 7'> miles loipj, wi':, an nM-iiigc liit;ulih of over (I miles. The south shore is lo^v and \y and extensive marshy me;ido\vs extend aroun;, as the view is (obstructed l»y willow thickets. The north shore is Kold,- and presents -i line ajipcarain'o as seen from the south side. A nnmlpn ■: rivers How into the lake on Ibe south west side, b\it all are fordable (x ,.j,' when till' wat(M' is hiuli. The pfatajic between Little ^lave Lake and Smoky Kiver is ;il)rpin > miles, and I'nr the whole distance is through a level Mmntry, i^eutly lolH:.' in parts, but witho.'t n hill. For the last MO miles it is a most lo\.. country, beina part ]>rairie and jiart aspen forest. The waterslied briw,. , the lake and I'eiiei- I'iver is known by the usual muskeg and swaiiiji, 1 ,• there is very little dillcreuce ol' level. The ai)proa Kiver is not marktnl by any chaniie in th level of the country. Without b«'ing aware of it the trav<'ller finds hiinv. standing on the margin of a deep valley, with a mighty river llnwiii. through it at u depth of t.!00 feet below where he stands. Lrokini' iipih- river he can .■-(■(• its course for many miles, as its winds through its v;ill>' and among the islniids which aie so marked a feature of its chniincl. I few miles up and farther to the left is Smoky River, a laige stream llowii;:' in a deep valley and mingling its waters with those of Teace Tvivev. ;i 'iv miles above where the o'oserver stands. Right across the river, and bcycnd its valley, the land keei)s ilic .si);i level until in the dim distance land and sky seem to meet. This i)r;ii': extends all the way to Dunvegan, on the lelt bank, and how much liirtli' it is hard to Miy, as Indians have a very indefinite idea of distance, Th;,: thi' country is level I'or a great distance' to the north is certain, as all piiil:" were agreed on that point. But how far was another matter. The !( v.: country on the j)ortage is said to extend either as prairie or aspen lor.>' right across >inoky IJiver, a)ul without a single hill to break iis unileiiiii'; until it reaches the Kocky Mountains. The Beaver ndians, who Inuilii these plains, say tht>y tire at h^ast TiO miles wide opposite Dunveiiini, aii! trom my own observation I have no doubt but that they extend in Idi^ii from the Portage b(>tween Slave Lake and Peace Tiiver to the lout ol iL Rocky "Mountains, a distance from east to west of ISO miles, l-lvidfiiil the hmd rises all the way to the mountains, bat the rise is sraip'y perceptible. Peace River is rennirkal)le in many respects, whether we con-^xli'i i • size, the country on its banks, its passage throiagh the mountains, m whr' it ultimately cmjities its waters. The loft bank all the way to the mountains, a distance of ovir "^i miles, is altogether devoid of timber, except in the hollows or valleys : the small streams which emjoty into the riA'or; while on the rigli' ''ii'ii the forest is continuous all the way to and through the mountains Si'y is the principal tree, but birch and aspen are sometimes seen. This i> 71 V'acc Tvivt'V. :i 'rw niiirkt'il Icalnrt" of all the streams throuijliout the country In all rases, th.' liaiik titling the south is either eovereil with i>rass or aspen, while the mh'lmiiin- the north is covered with a spnic" rore-.t havini^ a thick carpet nl moss The cause is apparent; a liuhl rainl'all and exposure to the sun on iIk inic hand, dries the ground, while the low altitude ol' the sun iu this iiniihern region, prevents evaporation on the other. Another feature of thi> river is its valley, which is from tOO to l.nOO vanls wide ; through this valley it meanders. I'ormiiig points, islands, sand i)r ifi'Mvcl l)ars, here running under a dill at this side, now f)n that. Kiit ever the .same, when cutting into the hank at one side, throwing up a har on the ether. These points and islands ire heavily wooded, mostly with p(i|iliir, hut spruce, aspen and birch are not uncommcm They are from ten to lil'teen feet above th'> water, and covered with excellent soil, bnt. an' subject to inundation. Any one sailinu' uj) the river W(ndd be im- pit'sscd with the idea that he was sailing lhrf)Ueh a nu)U[itaiiious country, iis the banks are constantly froui (*^0 to son fei'l above him, in many places risiiiii almost perpendicularly to the height of 'ioi) feet ai.d more. I'lxpo- Mirt'.s of sandstone, ferruginous and other gravel and clay are of constant occnrrciice, but whether tho river is cutting thr(mgh day or saiulsione, its ciui'cnt is ever the same, except where a mass of gravel obstrixcts its current; t'len it will be strong for a short distance, bxit I'ock never caust>d the sliuhtt st rapid all the way fr(»m Smoky Kiver to the Canyon at the en- iraiice to the mountain. About :2") miles In-low Duuvcgan. the river chan- ml IS iiur h confined by sandstone dills, but the curriMit is not stronger than eommon, as the following (juotation frotn my journal will show .' " From 2:40 p.m. until o:H0 p.m., were passinu- throuL;li the niost eii- chiintinii' ami sublime scenery. iJight bank of the river clothed with wood, ''Xr.'pt where too steep, or where there had bei>n land slides. In many phici's it ro8(> up from the shore to tlu* height of from oO(i to (!'•() I'cet. Sandstone often showed cliffs of 300 feet, especially below (Irecn Islaiul. The lelt hank was just as high, but, instead of wood, grassy slopes met the river, hut land slides always revealed sandstone. In places, the river had oiU a passae'c throuii'h the sandstone to the depth of -'iOO feet, aiul yet the iMU-rent showed little increase. It was full from bank to baid<, and fully >'iW} yards wide, and looked like a mighty canal cut by <>iants through a, mountain. Up this we sped at the r:ite of four miles an hour, against the I'urrt'iit, in a largo boat belonging to th(> II. B. Co., propelled by a north t'ast gale." Terraces are of frequent occurrence, f)ut not continuous, until we ap- proach within 80 miles of the mt)untains, where they assume truly giiiaii- tie proi)ortions ; they are at various heights, but seem to rise higher as we approach the mountains, until at Hudson's Hope, at the lower end o! the t'anoii, they attain their greatest height. 8uch immense masses of travel stvni to jjoint to a time when the sea washed tlu> base of the mountains, loriio river could ever have made so much gravel out of foreign material. The bed rock here is sandstone and shale, while the pebbles are limestone f'ontaiiiing fossils very like Devonian ones. Abotxt ten miles Ixdow the 'anon, the river has cut itself a i)assa!ie through a sandstone barrier, 1. ^ ~ , ''nvniira rockv island in the middle of the river, with a chainnd on each 72 .sidt'. IIiTi' would !)(' lli«' i^roiuid lor a hridi^o oithtT for a railwuy "r i wa^aiin iiiml. Tlu' [);i.ssim'i' oj the iiioiuitiiins hciiiy; t'lisior on thf Idi Icihk osviiiu- f(» till' widi'T space hctwt'i'ii tin.' mountains and the rivi'r, as w.iln, ihi' iii'ieasftl fri i,, descend into valleys iVum JOii to ;^00 leet deep, and iit other times to rise |t(i» or jui) leet al)ove the <>tMieral level. All these rivers came rmm ili.> "'J real I'raiiii'' heyond the hills, and which the uiiiied testimony et ih.' Indians v^ould make at least (10 miles scjuare. Two ol' these riveVN ]\m\ Wide channels, ,iiid hut little wiiter tor their size. While the third oii.'- tln- i!][)inette, within li\e miles of St John, was fully 1,')0 yards wide mul almosi at summ. r heiuht. This river I am satisiied rises far within ih.' inountMins, as it was allected hy the same causes which prodiu'cd the !:»>■ in I'ea ;e river l'"or miles, hoth ahuvi' and helow the mouth of this river, the country is \('ry rouyh, b\il the i>roximity of the trail to Peace rivi'ri.s evidently the re.ison. The country is always more or less roui^li in the vicinity ol' ihe river, caused hy every little stream cuttiaii' its eliaiiiul down to a level willi Peui;e liver. At Smoky river ihe altitude of the Peace river above the sea oaiinoi be more than ?".') < feet, while the le\el of the country is about l,.>(iu ifft The river and country iiradually sloj^e up all the way to the mountaiib, so that there is a considerable rise in both, still the river is certainly umWr L'.DOO leet in [)assiue- throuiih th.' mountains. At the Canon it lets ii^'lf down considerably lower than it was above, thoui^h what the exact ditl'or- enci's in level is, I cannot tell. The mountains commence at t)ie Canon and (extend all the way up to k'ithin a short distance ol the Kindlay Branch, where tliey divide inio two branches, one passini>' up that river, the other goinsj- up the Parsnip. We made the distance between the Canon and the Kindlay IJraneh to be 75 inili's, Thi^ lirst .'!() of this Iteiim' through the foot hills, as it were, the remainiii;; distance throuuh the mam chain. For the greater part of the distauci.' the river valley is from a half to a mile in width, l)ut Just where the river ♦'liters the main chain — that is, a little below Bernard's river, the valley contracts, and for a number of miles on the light bank the mountains rise almost perpendicularly from the water's edge; but on the lelt bankthereis no place where they encroach on the shore, except one, and that is only i bluir, and continues for a very short distance. Peace river valley is nut one cut by the river, but/.s a natural rent made at the upheaval of the uKHintains. I was satisiied that this was the i';i.>e wliile passing through it, ami on seeing the Canons of the Fraser, it was <;onlirmed. P.mco river valley is almost identical with that of the Frii.-er below Fort Hope. Anyone wdio has seen the one can have an exclli'iu idea of the other. Islands, points, sandbars, currents at intervals, and AV 78 towiTini;' iiMHiiitains, all nrc t}i''V»\ Bui niiylhintr iippri.adiini; to n ranyon or iroi"""'' i^ ""^ ^^ '•*' KtM'ii. Tilt' Tortasft' j)alh, ln'twcfii Hiulson's IIoix' and llic iiioiitli d' th(> CiiiiVDii. imssi's over a si»rit'> dl'saiul liills and irravi'l rid'jcs. wliicli mm-ih to lie 1)11 the Hank ol thi infuintain (»n llic riii'lil. 'I'lit'si". as w f apiJroacli.'d thi> rivir, toiik flit' I'orin ol' ttrracfs, and a nunibir had l 'V ;illi'r its iiatiiiui hi'tl was lilltMl \vitli Ihosi' ininicnsi' licajis olf-jiiid and lii.ivtd pili!(l uji hfiwcon till' Portacf and HuH's Head nir side ol the iiMtuial \ alley. Alter b"iiiir two days on the river I wrote the lollowinir: "This river « hannel is a natural hreak in the mountains. Some yreat eonvnlsion ol' nature seems to have turn the mountains a mile aj^art and so left them. The only iiiitidhniil channel is the Canyon. All the mountains passed yet are merely loidiim's. as if a <>Teat pressure had come from the west and loreed the MiMia up almost per])endi('uhirly 'l"he dij> is always to the west." .\ll lilt' wav throuifh the mountains there are only two rai)ids — one just helore yon filter the main chain, the other alttM' you leave it. In neither case hiive the nioiuitains any tl)in!>' to do with the rapid. They are caused hy li'dues of rock crossing; the river l)ul are not very had, as three men on thi' liii • wore able to haul our boat throuah. IVace river (or the Parsnip) above the Findla\ Hraioh, runs lhi(»iiuh M widf valley and has a very tortuous course, tliough its i;i'iieral direct ion is straiiiht, owiny to the imnu'iise heaps oryraA'cl 'hat seem to lill c\erv piiit ol' its hed. Every year its clnmne] (diani^'es and ii>\v laiitl is ])ein;;- liirmi'd just as rapidly as tht> old is \\aste lahlc water from the left one. This shows that the \\ alcished is to till' Oiist ward, and is anothi-r prool'to me at least that the mountains are (A' little altitude lor some distance south east of Peace River. (Parsnip ) The whole country west ol'the Rixiky mountains and t ast o| the Cas- I'adt's, se(>ms to have certain u'encral characteristics that are found throUiihout lilt' country. The whole upper country seems to he a vast plateau with ihaiiis ol' rocky hills or low mountains running without order throuiih its \vholr extent. The rocky hills are generally covered with siuntcd Douglass I'nu' {Abies Dovfrlnssii) — the wide gravelly plateaus with most diminutive I'iinksian Pine {Pinvs Bauksiana), while the swamps weri> covered with t thick g:owth oi' Spruce (i4ft/f.s alba). In the valleys ol'the river and a l^w other lavored localities, the Aspen poplar was still seen, Imt in de- 74 crt'ivsinir iiuinhcrs. Rivers and lakes I'lill of sjn'cklfd trout are lound ;ii ♦'Vt'iy (lit'ctioii. 'I"lu' wliole ol'llint part nl llritish Coluiiibia lyiiiii l»t't\\,.,:i Mclicods Luko and (iufsiu-lle on (he l''r.is.'r, a distance ol' 27" miles l.v ihr \v av ol' Furl St, .Tames on Stewart's I.ake, consists of a series of Ink,. rivers, rocky hill.s, and sandy <>r u'lavelly plateaus, covered with i nuiuv I'oresl ;rrowih and of little account as an ajL,rricultural country. I'.m th', lakes !ind rivers teeni with lisli of the ln-st nuality. DuriiiLi;- the tliree dav^ we reiriaiiied at MCLeod's Lake, Mr. Sinclair, the uentlcnian in cliars;!'..; ilie tort, cau!4'ht, in a hasket very iiiii'cniously placed at the discharue ol'ihe lake, IJt! lish. These are dried lor I'ootl ami eaten by men anil ilo:\ and likewise used I'or marten l)aits. They ('(nisisted ol lour speeics (il'troiii, sn<;kers, a fish called lins,'", and a small white lish which I take tn he 'h. snnie as thehevrini;' ol'the Ray of Quinte. A lew ol' the trout wre Lir.r,', Aveiyhiny from ti to S lbs. Stewart's river, v^hich discluirye.s Stewart's Lake, is. where I iin».,l it -11 yards wi constitute thi' w.^i branch ol' the Kraser. The Nechaco is fully as wit ni'i mountains The land at I'ort (Scoree seems to be level, but haviiiirl seen been reeardinur it. ii'M at a Lirc.it distance I cannot speak positively ol" it. As the 1' ri'[)e.itedly described, it is needle.ss for me to make any rasiT hj '•<'in:i;A (2.) OlCOUXiY A\D MlXKUALS. A few observations on the (rcoloi^^y of the country explored m.iy iiii be amiss, l)ul they are necessarily crude, owini? to the want of time audih hurried nature of the expi>ditiou. The superlicial <>-eoloi^y of the country is the same all the way iVom Fdmonton to the Rocky Moimtain Canon. The beds of all the strt'iiia.> cros.sed had i u> same yravel as that seen at Edraoulou. \Yheuevcr -rravt'l ■was exposed on our route at othci points it was the same, and even in tht Rocky Mountains and throu^-h them up the Peace Riv-^r the gravel hid much the same character. The bars that produce the line Hour gold ol the Pea' e River are idtuitical in composition with those that are worki'dat Edmonton. We were told that every little stream in the iipi)er p;iitoi British Columbia produced gold, though not always in paying c[u;uititio< 1 here is no doubt but that immense quantities of gold will yet be liroiiirh: from the Ominica country, as from the accounts ot both successful ;iiil unsucc' s.sful miners it vvas clear that the country had not been prospecuu yet to any extent, and owing to the great quantities of gravel that lilKil n;" the valleys it was next to impossible to tell where the old bed of the stroam was. I came down to Victoria with a miner named Ouest, who \va- oiu' |: a party of eight that took '^80 ounces of dust out of a claim on Lost Crt'''S — a branch of the C)minica -the last week they worked in th(> l;i" Hf 75 had ovt'r I'lO oz. of this (Itist with him. It was iill in srii nt this point wrc (luih' laryi*, and slio\v.>d till' wood librc, leading nie to the .onelusioii that it was liifnite. Spi'eiinens ol' this were lolt at MijLeod's Lake. We tried this coal in the eaiii[) lire and it 1)111 lit with some llauie Imt lelt much ash of a yellow or white color. \II tht! specimens «lid not leave the same ash. The Ibllowinu; is a section of till' river bank at this point : 1 loot ol' soil. •i I'eet ol' water washed "•ravel. .^ light grey clay. black shaly clay. lignite. bluish clay. black shale and blue clay intermixed to the river's bed Tons ol' coal were lying in th(* bed of th(^ stream, which evidently eamo Iromahove. Mr. King Ibuutl coal ou the shore of liiltle Slave Lake, which -•'I iiii'd like that found in Swan river. Ten miles from Swan river, on the imrth Wcsiern face of Deer mountains, landslides had taken place tuid .\l)osi'(l the whole face of the mountain for L")(> feet from the top. A'>oiit luity or lilty feet of the top was th*^ usual u'ravel, and beneath this suulstoiie dill's of excellent urit lit lor grindstones, then a layer of black slialo (a poor <]uality of coal) and beneath this beds of dark colored I lay lilled with nodules of clay ironstone. Slave Lake seems to lie in a depression between two series of rocks, a> tludv is no analogy betvv»>en the land of the south shore and that of the north. In former times it must have stood at a much higher levtd than it d'X's now, as we passed over gravel bars running parallel with th»^ shore, two or three miles inland, that seerat'd from their appearance as if the vator hud covered them but yesterday, they looked so clean and free from !"rtM'.^ii matters. Along the northern end of the lake the pebbles and lijulders are nearly all sandstone, diflering from all the others we have -'I'n. The saiulstone is very similar to that seen on the Deer Mountains, but i.s of liner grit. Any of the pebbles make good whetstones. Many of i!u'l)Io(.ks were still angular, showing that sandstone must be in sf/it some- vhtTt' near. CJ-rey limestone (.sometimes a cctngloraerate) and gneiss liouldtMs complete the rocks. We saw no more rock lor 70 miles until we struck Peace ItiviM-, at the ii'iiith of Heart River, a few miles below the mouth of Smoky River. itfio we found sandstone cliil's about a mile up the stream. These crossed ih.' river and ran diagonally, as an escarpment, to Peace River, crossing ■chilli ihey were fully 100 feet high on the left bank, and s.-eined to run down i-tivam for some distance. 10 76 lli'twi'i'ii Smoky Kivcr iiiid Pnt»v«»tfi»ii. u ol the hilii-r ]>hi( c In i nunihiT of plm. v >,i,,| hU>Ur clills WnnM tow el' ll|) ll'oni -"<• to .(IM) Icrt, V hih' in other.'- llh\ Wnti ri^^' only u Ifw Iccl ; in othcr> niiiiin clay mImiIc, jiasMinu' into nIhIi' m s,||, <:hiy, |iii!s>inii into Mind'-lonf, \vii> seen. A lew i.iilts hfjow I'nnM'.'un-, pa.o-cil, on till' li'.'t l)ank. a m rii-N of sandslonf i'lill> wliich rose in i|,. hciuht ol' uhoul 1(1(1 Iccl. Tlicy \\*'\*' vt'iy niu< h wcalhiT woni ;,ii ' «;han|i(' l>y the u asiinu o| the .soittT |):iit> ol il„ nu'k and the h-avinu ol' the harder ones '1 he ui)|iei' part of the rock liiiir. liurder Avas less \\awted and hence capped the oilier pal ts, <;iiu.sin'j tlpi,, to loi)k like a wall Avilh a Iniu \ cornice. K\ in wa.s ihe ca>e loi the ."•aiiu' diMnu uhu\e. Alter an exaniination 1 lound that lhe.se i>rew around and in nil; . liiu' .springs. < Mie ol' thc.sf 1 traced up the dill, and at ahout I'.Vi liit ali,, . the liver I'ouiid the .sdU'.i e ol' it. The seal td" the alkali >\ as in llir s.in,,. Htone at this height al)o\e the river, lor at le i.sl three miles ahove mid ImIiu thi' I'orl. The Huri'ace ol'lhe rock in a numher of j)la('cs was co\cri(l wiih a white incrustation, and the sprinus incrusted the Lirass and iwitjswiil, heMUtil'ul little crystals. Ahove St .lohn's the ri\er hank lor many iiiili'> is lull of this same suhstaiice, which prohahly has its source in the .saiil Ntone, Ihouiih the rock is not exjtosed. This is prohahly the "sulphnl'' lime" spoken ol' hy ('(doiiel Lelroy as occurriuii' at Dunveyan. TIhn i> N" ol'the specimens sent. We lel't the river at Dun v<'iraii. and went overland to St. Johns liv doini;- so we h'(l all opportunity ol' seeinu the countrv inland, and iiiniiv line sections luim bored and tho lossils were I'ound here. The lollowm extract Irom my journal will explain : " While dinner was beiiiir lut'i I took my usual exploratory trip. In the l)ed ol' the creek Tound ll i;ir. IC Sllll'- dark-colored I'erruuinous shale 1 liad observed on Ponce Kivcr, In ih creok were many aimulii blocks ol'an iuijierl'ecl limestone, chanuinL' i') ,! couii'lomerate, whiuh ro around ; indtblcs like these had been frociuontlv seen on 1' River." Alter travelling for throe davs through a l)ea\itil'ul countiv, wo (Min II' another deoj^ "coolie,"' or laviiie, in which Mowed a small .stream 1 i"i tho level of tho plain to the water was 2H(l foot by aneroid. Close i" win' ' 77 liver (»r |uiili,|i . VII ry ill!.'' I'liiia.i, l-r Ol' pllll .S .,;||„|. olln'i> tlii\ Willi iiilit slate 111 n;iiii' ()\V iMlllV i'ir;i|i .vliich rose III i!, cntlu'r WdMi iiiil .sollfr l>;il|s o| tl., I (»r lllf inck li.'iir. lllt.>-, C'ilUMIl'J th'1,1 (III tilt' tdp III tli;. \' iiiaritiiMi' [iln. llii' saiiii' in l)uiivi;jiiii " •JSd liM't in (Ii'iiili hittnninmis slml' Th.- lolh.win: s hciiiij |iici):iri''; \ Inlllid till' siilii'' t' l\iv»'r. Ill th'' t', ehaii'jino' to ;i )ns al)oui IV' I'-; >rkt'(l, and (Hi ili- oil for ii nuiiili'' astiiiii' liK'' alniii i!. or hitniniiii'U' in layiM- coiitaui- M>lllt' SJiri niH'li- rustt'd wiih H' '■ Iv M'fll nil I'l;!' try, \v<' iMiii'' ■' I "stn-ani It": (Most' i" \\hi: ^Vl> iliiii'd 'I Auh^ hud tukt'll i)lii(;i>, l*>iiviii<;' ii t'llU .spcliitii id llii> l>:iuk iil. Aliout li\ ' li'i't of till' siirliK'c was [\i>> rc^'iiliir prairii- loam, iii-xl ulnmt tliirt v f,vt 111 dark-('olur»'il stratilit-d clay lln'ii prohahly I'Hi |i..'t ol yidlowisli ihiv. thi'ii 11 l»iuid ol" yi'llowisli limi'stoiu' otitsidi', l»iit li'jhi Lrrc wilhin, ,i!iil al'tri wards I'oi many I'd't (day and limi'stnn' liiiids iiii.'riiiixi'( Thi' ri'ni.iiiiiiiu' shiih', and at tin' huso Miulstiiiii' i'oiii>:lomi'riiti:. liimi'stouc l>ouldi'rs wi'ri- si-i-n in tin- Inul ol' the rivi'i, Itiit no fossils ohscrvcd AiKiiln'r liir'4i' rivi'r was (rro.sscd, hut tln'ri' \\ i-n* no ro' k I'XpOslll'l'S. Miiiiil I Imv cliU's ro>i' in many plm-i's to I.V) \\>i>\. TIu'v arc ul' tin- usual r!i;ir.ii't''r, vidlowish rlay, u'i'llinu' darki-r towaids i n- hasr I'hi' piddtlcH u.r ih'iirly all thiii Hakes (d' saiidstoui', inti'rmixi'd with I'l'miiAiiious .iin'.s, ndii IS ol' hliii' limi'stoni' and n-d yraniti'. Tlu'si' seem to have ronii' Iroiii iii'iir till' souMi' of this ri\i'r. Crossed a. lew sinall streams alter tliis and saw sandstone slahs in their heds Till' Mpiui'tte or Pine l^iver is(|uiti' larye. .lust at the cro-^sinii', ahout ;i mill' :il)(i.e its conlluence Willi reace llivr, a small stream enters it Ironi ttu' south This .stream has cnit down the dill' to the water's edo-e, leavinir ,1 very irood section of it exposed. The upper part is the usual yellowish ohiv, iiiidi'inealh is ahout twenty I'eet ol' n'ravel, and the remainder Idiu.'k »lmly rlay, sometime.s harth'niui^ into rock. This hl.iek shale eontains iiinlulis shaped like a llattened hemisphere, and when hroken show a rysiiilliiie centre surrouiuU'd hy lerrui^iiious matter. Other stones are lilt and have layers ol a mineral whi(;'< looks like seleiiite (No.) .\t St. John's the Peace River Hows in a valley over sot) feet deep. Till' liaiiks do not show any rock, hut (day clills are common. I ascended till' river all *ht? way I'rom here to Hudson's Mope, and noticed that the iharactcr of the river was very diU'ereut from that helow Duuveii'an. Wide iiiid extensive terraces Itecaine vervcomiiion, and were at all heitihts, liiU the principal ones ranued from l.'tO feet and upwards in heiyht. < )no "vc crossed hotween the Kpiiiette and St. .lohn's was fully ISd feet hi'^h a'.dtlui'e niilos wide, and as level as a race course. Ahove the Hall-way RiviT, ahout 20 miles htdow Hudson's Hope, terraces are numerous and 'iiiitiiiuiius, showing on either side of the river as it winds through its viilli'y, and iinmistakahly i)rovinii' that they wen- there hefon^ the prest^it river hid was cut out. At the foot of the Canon, they rise in rei^ular steps iiiiiiiy hundred foet ahove the river, and cau.si^ much dilliculty to parties '■Mssiii'4- the I'ortaiic, owin<>- to the steepness of their sides. Iiiunediately ahove St. John's on the right hunk there is a hiirh hlulf which consists of, lirst, line rich soil, then a lew feet of tj^ravel, and the I'.'iuaiiuler to the water's edii'e a limestone coiiylomerate intermixed with (.'lay l>cds and shale. Clay cliffs with limestoim (joui^lomerate and clay 78 inipit'jiiKitcd \\ ilh >()(la ucif ol" coiif-tanl oociiivcnct' Um luaiiy luilfs. Sam!- nIoiu' (cvlainly ovt'ilics this coiiirloiiu'rat*', as il is I'ouiul in aiiiiulMi- iii:i>v. in all llif littK' hiooks thai cntfr th»' rivor. Farther up rcrriminnus >li,i;, was ([uilc (Miiiinion, Avith layers ol' Innder rork lu'twci'n. Cryshils / selenite wore picked \\p at this time. A little alter the river took ;isi.lil,i bend to the uest, and as ^ve moved \vest\vard. in our rear, on the Irii I,;,,,' rose a mountain Inlly 1, <>()(• fei't hi<>!i. About .")()(! Iih-i had slidtlcii :,ui, from !he toj) and lelt it exposed. Tlie whole ol' the roek exposid u ', sandstom^ oi' excellent ([uality, as could be seen by the masses lyiiiL' in :! r'vt-r. A lew miles above this the river runs under con^lonieralc ai '; shale dill's, eai>])ed with li'rav*'! I'ully !<)() I'eet thick. This gravel wasd.;;. Plantly laliinu', and avc ran som»' risk in passini: underneath. Mill laril; up another si'ries ol' clitls, but this time they are capped with yollowj^ clay, beneath this aboiU Ul I'eet ol" ferruginous liniestoiu' yravel, and lo ;;, Avater's cdi;e the usual shale. This arraniieuu'Ul of the strata was ih,. y\{, for a number oiiniles, and no otlier rock exposures Avere seen iiiiiil v ^vere a few miles above Halfway Kiver. The rock now exposed isblm or slate, and lor the lirst time th'' river has a rocky bottom. Thiscdiiiini,. for nules, but there is no increase of current. Al)oul tl miles ihl,,; lliulsons lloiie we see the lirst and last rocky island seen in i'eacc lliv- At this ])oint l»ii;h clilfs of a verv coarse sandstone show on both sidtN i, thi> river, with the rocky island between risim;- as hiirh as they do. If' the rivt'r was proba])ly stojipi-d for an'cs, and fornu'd a waterfall of Ironi • ' to 100 Jeet in heicht. The rock exposures after this wore slate, cxttii; rock formed by the dripj)inus of spriniis out of those immense uiavcl i;- races sj)oken of above. ()p])osite Hudson's Hoj>e this rock Avas so laiui'y develojied that it assumed ih" apjieavance of reui;lar clilfs, I'ully oO liv; in heiuht. I'arther down the river 1 had observtul the same rock, tun i' in such quantities. It i,s i)robably calcareous tufa. iSpeiil a few hours botanizinu' around thelieadol tlie Canon, and in, i the follow inii' entry in my Jcmrnal rejiardinu' the rocks : " The rock ii.-i,, close to the level (d' the Avaler. is a hard, black, slaty-lookiny mass; ovi! lyinii' it are a few layers of a hard consj'lomerate, then a little reddish mhi! stone, overlaid by about two feet of slaty shale. Above this is a layor hard conglomerate, containing iireenish pel)bles, and over all grcai iiiatj of compact sandstone, very hard ami ot a light color All the rocks a' hard and quite different from those l)elow the Canon. (Ireat lloodMi- deutly take place here as is seen l)y the piles of driftwood. There aii' groat numl)er of potholes worked in the rock, nuiny of them beiiiu (|ii: largo and dei'p." Almost due west from tlie Canyon is a mountain rising from I.Oii'M' 2,0ij0 feet. Its base, we ascertained, came to the river over liftecn mil" away. No rock exi)osurt's along the river for lUMrly twenty iniles ; ihi'ii very little of the sanu> rock as fornu'd the lowi'r beds at the CaiU'U ^^' were passing through the outer range of mountains all the- time. Kork>>in the mountains, weather whitish, and are massiv<' in their stralilitatior, Layers lying horizontally, Alterwards passed an t>xposur(> of slat'', vir. much tilted, with the dip to the west. The ui)per jiarl of the meimi,iii!- is sandstone and lies in horizontal layers. Many of the mounliiii> "' ■> ',9 laiiy mill's. Saini. in niiiiuliir iii;i,'>> - I l\'rnii;'ii)ini> sh;,;, t'l'U. Crysliils „; •ivt>r look ;i SI ilil,.|| r, oil Iht' Irll l,;,|ii, hiul sli«Klrll ;,\V|, roi'k fxptisi'd U.I, inissos lyiiii; in i!i. C{)llos heiiiij' covcri'd with urass. wliilctln' rook tiicupptT parts stood out in hold t'soarpMu-nls. lookinii' lik»> the hattU' \ (TV IIU'U Mil Is i>r iiiint'd towers. Much sandstone was seen in the heds ol' the nil streams, while tilt ijravi 1 ol tl le main river was pnnei- llv l»lne limestone rontaiiiinn' many fossil shells. Spccinictis wfrr Icl'l at M cl^lMHl S Fort, Tiir iiiounlains seem to be i>real foldings ioicid np 1>\ a jxiwer movinir Iroiii ilii Wt'st : the dip is always in thai direetinii. and the peak seiMii lilr made a passap'*' lor itself lound the I'orhine Moniitaiii. and hence the Canon which has most ccrtaiiilv Am ;/ i-i/f hii ilii' iivtr. The last rapid in the river is ahoni one mile hdow the eonllneiici' of the Fiiullev IJranch with tht- Parsnip. It is caused hy a liMltrc of tah'ose H'liisi iiiteislratilied with quartz, which lomerate. No sandstone was seen wist of the inouii tains. A few blocks of black shale, reseniblinu' coal, were obser\ (m1 Ivinu on tho bars, l)ut u> in situ. As winter had set in at this tii none m aitii. As winier nad set in at riiis time ;ict'ol'tlie i:r k;ike ami the Rocky Mountains, including;' the Smoky River country, and prohahly alony the whole eastern base of the Kocky Mountains, up to the Arctic ()cean, belongs to the Divisions K and I'" of j)r. Hectors Keport in Captain Palliser's Exploration of Ih'itish North Ameiica. He shows that Group K is the same rock which produces the coal ol'Nanaimo. V;\ncouver Is^luiid, and uiy notes will prove that lVact> !{iver. east of the mountains. I'Uiis throuii-hjust su(di strata. (•"!) TllK ROT.VNV OK THK Ki'.dloN Tit A \ l.li'si:ii 111 a hasty explora'ion like what ours was, it was aiiiiosi impossible to 'lo .justice to any one subject. Still enoui'h was sei'U to lill ilie mind of the iMOsi casual observer with wonder at the luxuriance of ihi> herliaei'ous vcirotalion throughout the whole district traversed uii to the K'ockv Monii- 'ains, eiie portion onlv excepted — the Deer Mountains, sonih-easl ol Slave Lake. I'voui Kdmontoii toLacLa Nonne. a distanc(M)f thirty miles, the whole timiitry, where not covered with wood, was (>ither meadow or the linest pasture, abonndinji' with the most nutritious rrrasses, and the woods and •luckels lilled witii the vines of the Pea and Vetch {L(i/li//nis ncliiolfurus 80 anil Virid A'tierirfpi'i). Tht' liikos vvert^ bordored by meadows haviii,r trrass iiiul stjdgvs growi.n^- on theia from throi' to Hvo feiit hiu;h, uinl i« close as it could sUiiid. I51uo Joint {lalama'Sfoalis Caniidensis), Kowi M,.n dow {Pcd Srro/iufi), and Awiicd 8t>di»"c {Oarer arislala), arc (he Icuilin.r i'onns ill these lui'adows and low i^rouuds geuer.iUv. While thi> ilrv i^-roimds and hills supported a heavy jjfrowih ol" Triticum, Villa, I'estuii Bromus, MuhltMiberg-ia and Audropog-on, of the lollowiui;' species : Triticum rcpens, cauiuum .'' Bromus ciliatus, " Ivalmii, Villa citspidata, Festuca ovina, Muhleubergia gloineraia, Aiidropogou scoi)arius, i'urcatus. Helweeu Lac La N'onne and l'\)rt Assiniboine, on the Athabascii, ih. most of the couulr'- is hea\'ily wooded, the leading timber beiuu' Sprni,. and Balsam I'oplar, though Aspen, Banlcsian Pine, Birch, Willow ami \\>h were abundant Tamarac was observed in a few places. MiK'h ol ih timbi'i' was (^uite laru't', many of the Poplars (Po/)uIns Bahuiiiileni} aul Spruces {Abifs alba) being over two feet in diameter. The average .s.Z' was from lo to 20 inches. Wherever the timber was burnt oil', wild pi>;i> and vetches covered th(> uround and ran over all the bushes. E/iiinbiint aiiii'Hs/if'o/i/tm, a l\ns/f'iiiiin, a Dt///liiniiiiii, and Lnjihanthua anis(i(u.< were very abundant, while many plants common in the forests of Ontario and Quebec were seen for the (irst time since leaving the Lake of the Woo(l\ The leading shrubs were Cranberries (Viburniatt Opulita and paucillmim: Service B(>rries {Aiiirhnirliir Canademisi var oblonixifolia), various (toosi'. berries and Currants. Hazel nuts {I'orijliia ros/rafus). Choke Chevrios {PiHHits sero/iiia). Wild roses (Rosii!;ff\ and a Pine closely allied to Pinus Hauksiaiui (Piaus inops) are very abuud- aut ove: large ar<'as (>ast of the Deer Mountains. Near the fop ef ih<.' juoun tains, Balsam l<'ir (Abies bd/sniiiil'era) was common, and was ikU m'i>ii again until we were west of the Rocky Mountains. On the extreme top ol' the mountain, at an altitude of perhaps ;5,50O feet, many sul)-arctii' species were detected, which appeared again on the trail betwet'u Me- Leod's Lake and Fort St. James. On the top were found the iollowiiiir sj>ecies ; V aceinium Canadense, ecespitosum, Myrtillus, Yitis KUna, liinpetrum nigrum, Scapania irrigua, Pyrus sambucifolia, Senecio triangularis, Epilobiixm alpinum, Lecedea geographica, Sterecaulon paschale, Scapania sub-alpina. Many Lake Superior plants were tmind, and others inhabitiuL; th' cool moist woods of Ontario. From Fort Assiniboine to the top "1' it'" 81 raoadows hnvm;, feet hiirh, uiid b 'ensis). Fowl M.^ , arc tho li';i(li:i_, Whilo till' (Irv I, Villa, l-'i'stiii'l ' si^eoios : ttti, a, a glome lain, scoi)ariixs, I'urcatus. ho Athi!l)iis(;ii, [ii. l)L'r bi'iii'^' Sprur,. Willow aiul Aldor 's. Much of ih. Bdhiihiileni) aii'! The averan'c ,s;z" riii oil', wild i)i';i> ishos. Ejiiiobiivn 'tun anisutn.< wort s oi' Oiuario and ke of" the Woodv and /taucijlonimi, various Goos.'' Choke ('ht'vrip^ ers. itance, by trail,')! ovation and tin; luce {Abies nii^ff] are very ahund- the top ol' thi- id was not soon the extrenio top many sul)-arctii' 11 between Mo- ld the ioUowiuj ,r llrt, ins, im, hica, lale, ua. inhabitin;: ih ) the top ol ih moiuitains. Ericaceous shrubs were very common. Their berries oltni make a v"ry acceptabh^ dessert alter our allowance ol' pemican. The jlopc ol' the mountains faciiii:>' Slave Lake is neither so wt>t nor so cold as tho o]>posite one The very swamps changv their mosses, and instead of f^phaiiiii— Pt'at Moss — A'arious species ol' Dicrannm and Ihpnum rake thoir place. Many species f'otind in the woods of Central Canada are iiuw dotcoled, and as wo approach the lake, f'amibar forms ar(> constantly ,vMii. Ferns, which are altogether absent on the Plains, il ^\ o i>xcept a spt'oios ol' Bolrychium, bonin to show themselves, but are still so scar.e IS to lu- remarkable only lor their snirnf//. Aspl(>ninm lilix-fu-mina, Aspidium int(>rmcdium, Crystopteris I'raiiilis, Phegopteris Diyopteris. uoiv the only ones observed in the whole reiiion. Alonu the shores of the lake were wide and extensive meadows, coven'd with a most astonishinu' growth of various i>Tasses. but chief aiiioiiu' them was tho Blue Joint, which actnnliy grew so tall and thick that loaded horses could scarcely force their way throuiih il A lew notes takon I'roni my journal as we passed Tip the shoie ol' Slave iiake, will li'ive ail idea ol' the appearance of this section of country. •'After this we got into higher land, the soil improved, there was less wood and more open land, Avliich was covered with a rank growth of bluo- joiut. The last mile was over level plain, wholly denuded of trees, and now covered with grass five foot high, various species of Golden liod. AVillow Herb, [E/ji/obittm an'^usHJolium) Cow Parsnip, {Hti-arlniDi litinilnm) Roses, 8now Berry, [SympJwncarjiKs uiTiilentalia) and a Honeysuckle tLmirera invofntrdfa). Before reaching the lake, we pas ed over a lighter >oil, and throuu'h tliickets rendered almost impassable by the trailini;- stems ol the pi'a and vetch. After reaching the lake we pursued our way alonir its nun-gin — now passing through blue-joint up to the shoulders — now Koed Canary Grass [Plni/nris «r//// hhie-joint was actually higher than my h(>ad, this niorniug. Tlu' soil hill' is alluvial, but how far it extends we have no means of determininii', -•^ our vision is bounded by willow bushes. Toiled for over six miles through extremely thick and tall grass, willow bushes, and rank vegeta- tion iionerally, arriving- at last at the goal of all our expectations Tiissing to slave Post. This is a narrow part ol the lake and about iiiilos tn>iii the Post.'" th. two Many tons of hay had been cut by the halfbreeds, for the use o l^'ist, but it was on marshy islands in the upper part of the lake. f the 82 Made a special colloction (tf th'' plants around this part of th'" Ink', whi\<. ture, caused by the constant evaporation during the long sumiri'T d;ivs In opposition to this, all slopes and river bunks having a northeastern slop- were covered with a thick carpet of moss and coniferous trees. Peaoi' Ri\ r and "// its tributaries are ol this character. For many miles the path leads through aspen woods with tiie w^xu forest llowers, but no decided change takes place? until w'e reach the lici^ht of land betwMMMi Peace river and Slave Lake. Here a utimber of sp.>ci,s shew themselves that had been s(>en in the muskegs east of Deer mouiitaiiiv The only ones worth remarking are the Arctic Raspberry [Ruhus r?////|. Although it is a summit, there is no sign of a hill but iai>relv level moorland coven'd with willows and Dwarf Birch [Bc/idn iiiimik\ with a muskeg or two to vary the monotony. Copse and grassy '^iadiv interspersed with nuirsliy si)ots, soon took the place of these, event ii.illy i pass into a level plain that extends for many miles. In my jotinial 1 ''i;- tered the following. '• The last eight miles have exceeded anything H' beauty and fertility I have seen since leavuig Edmonton. F'ar r.s thi- »■}> could reach,"' |we were travelling at this time through a prairie] '• anil, on the left, the view extended for mr.ny miles, aspen copse intiMspt'^d with willows met the gaze. We were passing along a creek, and ihf laiii rose with a very n'cntle slope on either hand, giving ixs an oppoitiuiii} oi seeing for a great distance. This prairie had at one lime been coveiv'd with trees, as the blackened trunks scattered over the ground plainly showed.'" Mo change took place after this until we reached Peace river, where I detected many species peculiar to river bottoms, but none woitli a. special notice. On the grassy slopes leading down to the river 1 I'ouiul the Three Flowered Geum [Grion, liit'onim]. The Pasque FloW'': [Aiieiiione palfu^] and an Oxytropis {Ox y tropins splendens) in full ilowvr. Evidently a long spell of dry weather had been followed by rains aiil warm weather to cause spring llowers to be in beaiitiful flower in t (ctolK'r. Mr. Horetzki rode over the portage, between Smoky Rivi'r ii'ia Dunvegan, ;i distance of at least 40 miles, and told me it was h. nitilUi S'i prairie all the; way. This was on the north or left hiink of tho rivor. As 1 proct'oili'il up the rivor, I could see that the left hank was a constant ,ueiv'>si<':' of yrassy slopes with aspen copse and Service Ijerry thickets in tliL' hollows. Th(? risfht hank on the other hand was always woocUid, the mubor being Aspen, White Birch and Spruce. The islands and points tha riiiiiiiil ihi' secondary bank of the ri\ er wev<' g-enerally covered with !..ils;iui Popliir of '1 large si/e, but spruce, asj.eii and birch were in consi- ioruble (piantilies. Long Leaved Willow [Sa'i.r lonnifolia] lirst took , iv^.'ssioii oi the recently formed mud bunks, quickly followed l)y Balsam riiilar, which, on the same island, could br seen parsing from a seedling of ^ voar old up to the hoary monarch over six fciet in diameter. As the i>l,iiuls livi old, Poplar gives place to Spruce, and this holds good I'oi the Ahule extent of the river. Spruct; was never obsi-rved on new islands, irUahvavs on the old ones. The same order of succession lakes place on i!ie Lowtu' Fraser. :>ilvei Berry [E!u'.giiu^ tn-'j;riitr i\ was just as common along Peace lIiviT IIS it was at Fort Crarry, and served the same purpose, being the ilii''l loud ef the prairie c)iick('U, which abounds on all liie piairies we pivsed over. I expected to lind many new species on Pe.iC'" liiver, but \v i> (lis.ippointe-.l. The Saskatchewan and Peace River are much alike in i'ii> li'spei;!. neither causing any appreciable change in the distribution of ^;'.■cit's. At l)aiivegan, made a special "numeration of the llora in the vicinity, [lUl till' season was getting so late that m tny fragile species had disappeared. Oih' novelty was found on the u'rassy slopes in rear ot the fort — Prickly iVar [OitHiilia]. This was the lirst of the Cactus Family I had seen in the niuutry, and was not prepared to lind it in latitude oij"' s' \\ hich is tliat 111' Duiivegan. This si^ttled the question of the avidity of the i»xpos'?d } sl'ipe.s of Peace River, and the Padre conlirm-nl i*^ by tellinu' me that irri- jaiiou is actually necessary to the raising ot good garden slulF on the it.Traceon which the fort is built. The fort is on the left bank and the I liiiid slopes to the sun. We went overland to St John's, a distance of abf)ut 1 JO miles. This [time the trail was on the right bank ; part of the way through woods, the romaiuder prairie. Yet in this whole distance I only saw two plants not Ibi'l'ore seen, viz. : Rhinanthtm Ciii^la-ii^alli and Riihiis Nulkanux. The woods were of the usual character, being composed of the same ispi'oies, and found growing in the same situations. All the watersheds n> twi'ou the rivers Wtire covered with henvy growths of Black Spruce, Baiiksiau Pine, Aspen and Balsam Poplar, while the drier slopes were either prairie, or aspen copse, or forest. Much of thi' land now bare of trees jh;i(l supported a forest of aspen a lew years since, as their remiius were [fciill to be seen. The following extract was written the day after I left Dunvegau : — For six miles alter leaving camp the country remained the same as yes- tfrday It was gently rolling, yet not a height or depression was equal \o jtuteet. Drainage perfect. Every hollow waa connected with others, and puce there was no marsh. The country was almost denuded of trees, hiruhably by fires, and had much the appearance of prairie without its 11 84 TinifoTinity. After this the country assumed a park-like chnructor— w-u almost 11 dead level and more than hall' covered with trees. These ("jirV or ten aiik's are alu-ad ol' anything lor beauty and fertility we Imvo vei Been." About seventy miles from Dunvegan wo came on wJiat is oall^l the "Mosquito I'rairie" by the Beaver hidians. Here the Indians rixr' in great numbers to collect Service Uerries, which grow to a large sizi' lui,; are very sweet These berries are used in many ways, but llie Indntn ■women seem to prei'er making them into square (;akes and dryiiio ti„.i. The leading vegetable forms on this i)rairie were the following : Anemone patens, " Viruiniana, Getim Iriflorum I'otentilJH argnta, rennsylvanica, Amelanchier Canadensis, Achillcna millefolium, Hedysarum borealis, liosa blanda, Orthocarpns lutens, lirnniusKahnii, ^fritieum repens, Aira copspitosa, Poa serotina Aster nlultillonl^, " krvis, Pol id ago a r gut a, " Caiiad«'nsis, Troximon glaucuni, Oxytr(jj)is splenden.s, Elagnus argcntea, Vioa Anieri('a])a, Lathyvus oohroleuens, Arten)isia Irigida, " dif-color, Stipa Eichardsonii, " membranacea, Trisetum subspicalnni, Calamagrostis L^anadensis, " stricta. Every plant on this list grows around Edmonton, and all grow vhp- wheat will come to periection. Service Berries are neA'er injured hy i'rf.<; on this prairie, and its vegetation shows no signs of being injured Ir, i; The Indians say that the " Big Prairie," extending for more than two (liy> journey for a saddle horse, so\ith-west of this, is covered with jnsi mi:. plants and ilowers. Winter was coming on apace, and by the time we reached the Rofk; Mountains most plants had become dried up, still enough were seen tosher I tl at the mountains were not the dividing line between the oasleriinii western flora. At the C.non a few new ones were seen, Anemone pan- f()ia and Saxifratre (ncuspitfafn being the most note-worthy. Going up the Parsnip, I picked up anumV>er of specimens, and hotwvtri McLeod's Lake and Fort St. James enough to make i*8 species ; of theso w less than 64 species are found in the County of Hastings. From Ste\v;)!t'- Lake to Quesnelle, I collected 147 species, and of these 80 gro\v in '^' same county. On my way down the Eraser I noticed that eastern 1'^™- held sway until we came to Clinton, at the commencement of the ('Msriiii" After that all was changed, and western forms took theirplaco. The flora of the whole region traversed east oi' the mountiiiii;^ in'' cates a climate with sufficient moisture to keep up a continucns lirowih while at the same time there is heat enough to bring the seed.'^ oi all 'lit plants enumerated to i>erlection. 85 zo charaotor— \v;h H'S. These (.jirV,- ility we luivo vei on wliat is caIUi the Indians rix:- to a large size ;iii,; ys, but tlie Indiiia ; and dryiiiir th,.!;. lowinii : loruf^, utn, ladensis, lanouni, |>lende)is, I'Htea, ('a]ia, :^hro]t>nens, itiida, f- color, rdsonii, n'anaroa, ibspicalnni, tis l.^anadensis, stricla. id all grou wh-- or injured by l'rf>: leinij injured bvi; ore than t^voday^ d with just s:\i/:. I reached the Rock; were ! ]lt of the ('mm\h;.> ■place. le mountain!^ iiifl/ mtinudUsuTowi!. .seed,s ol all tlit Had 1 seen the Peace lliver country in summer, when its trees were ill lull leal, and the meadows covered, with waving grass and bright Uow- .■r«, it might luiturally have been supposed that I have used too stronij Lmijuage. But passing through it when the trees were nearly lealless, the gruss and llovvers withered and dead, I might bo expected to not tell much ill its favor. Yet there was no tract to equal it in my estimation between Fort Oarry and l']dmonton. The appended lists will show the relation the llora of this region hears to that of Ontario and Quebec Complete lists having been made ;it Fort Assiniboine on the Athabasca, at Little Slave Lake, and at Duuve- •,';m oil I'eace River. The most marked feature in the whole region is the viiie niiigo of almost every species. Nearly all those that do not extend to Ontario are prairie plants, and are found around Fort G-arry. Many (.pecios seem to have worked their way east of the mountains, and were not far out on the plains, while others from the east gave out before they riMi.hed the mountains. List of Plants detected, between Little Slave Lake and Hudson's Hope, on I'eac*' River, at the head of the Rocky Mountains. The greater num- ber were detected between the iilty-liith and lifty-sixth parallels. ^> a 3' RANUNCULACE.15. 1 AuiiiioiH' putern viir. Nuttalllanit, Uray. 2 " miiltiridii, D. O :t •' Vl'(;inlniiii, L 4 •' PcKnsylvaulru, L i Thiilk'truiii Cormill, L H " (lUilpiini, Tj 7Raniinoulu8 u(iimtllls, L K " imiltlflk. «! Htflliirla liK'dlii, Smith ... «« " li.MKlldllii, Miihl . Iflt " lonnipi's, (inlillc.. . *) " horc-iills, Ultnl 41 Cornstliiiii aivcnsc, U OKnANIACE.K 42Qcranluiii (.'uroUiiiuiin, I, LJNACK.i;. 43 liluum pereiiiic, L. LE0UMIN08.K 41 AstriiKitliis dniulciisis, \i 4."> Oxylrojms nmipcslrl.'., \i 4ti " Luiiil)irll, rursli. 47 " sploiuli'iiH, Dinijjl.. 4S " (IpH.'Mi, r>(" 41) Hfiilysanim iMiroiiIc, Xiitl 50 A'lclii Anipric'iiiiH, .Mulil 51 IjiitliyruitLCliroloiuuix, Hook RDSACE.K. 52 l^uniis Ponnsylviiiilni, I, S.'i " s(r()tliiii, KUrli... 54 GoHiii Htrlotuin, I'lirsli.. 58 " irlllonini, All 5B " rlviil.., 1, 57 I'otPiitliUi Norvoulcii, 1, (to 61 fl2 63 (H rciiiiKylvniiicii, L pullchcfirlinii, liPhni. iiiiiuUi, I'lii'sli Anseiliiii, Ij trIclfiiliilH, Alt l»iluslrls, Srop divt'i'NlfollH, l.ehni ellusa, Dduiil 66 Kniniirirt A'lr;;ihlnnn, Klirh H7 Riibiis NutkioiuK, Mor 68 " IMiaiuiiTnonis, I, e^* " trltli-ini", Uicliardson 70 " arollcu.-, I, 2... 71 '■ strl.'iosus, MIcbn 72 Rosa hlai ila, All. 73 Amplanchier Canaden.'^ls, Tcjrr. . SAXIKRAGAC-K.^;. 74 Ribes ox.vcaiilhoMes • 75 " laciistrp, I'oir 76 " Jlorldiim, L 77 " nihriim.L 78 ParmisHla iialuslrls, L 71t SaxilniKa Vlrglnlpiisls, Mlch\.. 80 Heuoheru Rlcliardsonll, R. 'r. 81 Mltellamida, L . CAASSULACEiE. 82 Sedum Rhodlola, 1> . , 88 iilppiiriis vulgaris, L. HALORAQEiK. 1^ ^ I I • !• 1 I 1 ' 1 1 I I I J 1 1 1 t 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 i ! I ! I I 1 87 it a. 1 I 1 I 1 1 1 "i" 1 1 1 .,..1 1 I , I ...1 1 ' .. ! 1 I 1 ! 1 i li 1 i 1 List of Plants, dotected, &c. — Confinvri/. UNAORAUK.'IC. N a«iirn KlHhni, I.elini \'i Kplliitiluiii iiiiKiisllfollum, f, „, " pitlimtre rar, lliicare. v: •' ooloratuin, Mulix CACTACK-K. w Opunlla (V). UMBKliMKKRil':. ■* Srtnloiilii MarlliimllPii, f, m llpriulcnni liumtutn, Mlolix. ''1 TlmspHim tilfollatuni, Cimy. W I'loiitii niiK'uliiUi, I. . Ji iismoriiiizii brpvlHtjIls, X> ... N1 Slum llneiire, MIchu ABAIJACE.K. W Aralla mullcaulls, L CORNACK.K. '•i (.'oriuis CftimdeiiNlH, L ■ )' '• Hloloblefrii, Mlchx. CAPHIFOLIACE^B. !« l.'iiiiM'a boroftlls, Oronov •f Symphorloarpiis occlUentnllK, Kr M) " raceinOAUN, Mlchx . . 1"! Loulcera parvlrtorii vas, Utiuglussll (?). I'.' " luvoUicrata, Banks In) " parvlllora, Lam (7> I'l Vltairmim iiaiiclflorum, Pyl ii'i " Opii'us, li RUBIACE^T5. i'« Galium trlllorum, MIcbn. W " boreale, 1/ VALERIANACE.^;. I'n Valeriana pauolflorum, Hook composit.t;. ]|« Nardosmla |ialmatn, HiN, Ulchiti-il Ill Ariilcn rtmitilBKonl-, \,^hh \\h )'irHliiiii DruiunioiKlli, T. A (4. . IIH Troxlmoii (MiH|i|(tiitiiiii, I'urHli . 117 lll<>rHClum ('HnitdeiiHlN, Mlch.\. IIH NHlmlUHrac'ctnnsiiM, Hook lit' Muliictllum inilchulliim, Niitt. . \W llitllaiilliii iHtriini()''iiN, I, \hl 0liry8()|)NiN viluifu, Nutt CAMI'ANULACK.K. Vil ('HDipaiuilarotuiKlirollH, lj KKJCAOEvK. ISc'l Vitrei Ilium CaiiatleiiHt', Kalrn 161 " <'(Bnplt4isiim, Mlch.T.. 156 ■' Oxyi'ociMiH, L l.Vi " Vllls-Tiln-n, L 157 " Myrtlllus, I, l.'iK ArctOHtHpliyloM Ifva-iiml, Spreng. I'll) Ijedum latirolluin, Alt l«l) Pyrola rolii ihIKoUh, L 161 " Hecu ndii, L 162 " ohlorantha, Hwarm 1H;( Moiienes uii llora, (Jniy PLANTAQINAr-EiK. 16( PlautaKO major, Ij.. PRIMULACEi*;. 18.5 AndroKiice Hpptentrlonalls, L. Iil56 (ilaux maritlma, L 8CROPHU LARIACE^:. IHtl PeiitHtpmoii HcumlnatiiH, Doiigl IW Veronica Aim({allls, \j IDS OrthocarpiislutoHs, Nutt 161) rasilllelH pallida, Hiii'th 171) Rhiiiant tills minor, Klirti 171 PedoulariM braotoosa. Henth \Ti " Gro'iilandlca, Iletz 17;l Melainpyruin Auurlcaiium, MIchx. LABI AT J*; 174 Mputha CanadenslH, I^ 175 Moiiarda tlstiilosa, L 176 Ni'peta catarla, L 177 Draeoceplialtim parvltlorum, Nutt. 178 Htat'tiys aspera, dray |7» LopbaDthiiK anlBatu8, Bentb BORAUINACE-K INll CynoglONsuni Morlsonl, 1). . IHl Niarten>.la pnulculata, lX)n. I'Of.KMONIACE/H. IK'J Collemia liuearl.s, Uray. E ti ? = INB I Lab 1 1 N.B.| i 1 1 1 i 89 List of riantN, dt»tt>rtt'«'lt. l«l (IdillmiH acillii AI'OCYNArK.i;. Itt AiHicymiiii aiiilroHii'niltolliim, !< Ii SheiilurillaCHiiHclcnHiN. Nutt. .11 " iir|{eiil<'M, .Null. .. i'i KlicKiiiiM urgf iiU'ii HANTALACK.i:. W Ciiman Ira nmlK>llttlH, Nutt CATAATHH'HAVKJf). J1 1'lillllrlplu vcniB, 1, F.M^K'^nACK.^-; '.'i-i KnipiMruni iiiKnim, L VHTICACKM. ■:^ rnioa KraclllK, Alt MYKITACK.K '"".Myrloa Un\e, I. BKTTn.ACE^;. 2|^ Betnla nll)a var, popnlifi lift, Sr- ,, papyraeea, Alt . '; " pninila, I :},}, ., Krtiill l'»''''lMlllll>i, I, •J-J)^ " IH-nitlllllUH, I, AMSMACK.i:. ■-'Jii AU-niii I'liiiitiiL'i), viir. Aitiorli-uiiura, Ov. 'Zm 'IMkIo'IiIii jiiiliiMin-, t U'M *' niuililiiiiiin.il Zi'2 .SiitfltUii la Miriuliill^i 1)11^1 (iiuiiiDAcK.r:. in lliibriinrlii I "■ilxiitii, l{ Hr .. . JU " I, l'l>lll;l, Itl'-li — ii'i Mplninllio IlDniiiii/ ivlaim, I'lmp. :;h c;>.niii' I tiinatii, u. mi- MMAUK.I-X Z17 Htii'Pli>|MlN niuiilcxIfiiUiH. 1)., -Is SlUllllcllJil Tlll'llllDSll, Disl". .. liM '• sli'lhitii, DcHf i;iii ii-iroiiii, n.'sf 211 " hirollii, lller 242 Allluin Nti'llaliiin, Null 'ita " Mt'liifMii|irasiiiu, L .IL'NCACK.K. 'Jll Jiiiiciis iilpliiiis var. tiiMldulK, VI ■2M 117 •iitt ItallU'UK, l>iH. iiuroiiiii.'-, ij C'.iiia'li'ii!'!'', var. tllliurinis, \j IKhloNUH, Jj IcIllllS, WIIKI. ... CVPKRACE.K. li'il ■JSA 280 257 afvS 2.'>il ■JHl 'M2 2*< 2ttt •m i;i('(M'liarl.'i ))i\liistrls, U. Hr. . , " iiiMculHrlH, K. Br Scilpu.-^ iilnivli'ciis, MiiiJl.... " rliiarliiH, I'roHl . 3^ miirlllmus, L \ .?, Krloplioriun vaisliiatuin, L.. Curox iidUHtu, lliiott •' alplua, SwiirU " aiiuiitiliH, Wahl " aiollpii, Hoott " arlstata, K. Br " faiioscc'iis, li " caiiL'j'ccns var. vIlUU. " IJewcyauu, HoUw I N. U' 1 1 1 I I I ii I I 1 ! il 1 1 1 1 tfl hint ol' riiuits, tt'ct»'(l, ^{'..—CoHltuiinJ. Uj 1 1 1 1 I i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 I 1 ; I I 1 i 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 ' i ■ 1 1 ! ' 1 i 1 i N, a 1 1 " "i* 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 I I 1 1 1 y '.'"< n nlri'i'-ii, Hcliw .loi iiii'i, Hi'l\k •n.iinlni'ik, Hclifc ''irii'iii, liiini .. I. Ill |iii, Hciik .. In<|ii'tiiiii, I)'W nirlciihitii, Ibmlt vii;liiulii, TiliiHnh Mli'tl'clix, Mlllll.T I..IIV11, r>fwry. .. |i iiiuIikII, HiHitl M '.■".' «l ■jiii .IT 'I'i h>|iil>' liimm'vriiHt'. I ■ilT '■i^ A»|>leTiluiii MUx-rcHintna, H.Tiili :n l'iii'(,'(iptrrls iM-yoptorls, Vvp «■ .\>|i!ilinui >.|ilniilos III, Swz. var oil B'ltryclmiiii luniirloUles, Mlldo Si I-J(C)|io,1Uiiii Uu'Miiliim, Mx *«' " mi noil mi ra, L f-* " i^laviiuiin, L.. :,{; ^ , ' ooinplaiiaUim, L '-'i H.'la«liiclla niiHJKtrls, Spring Totals. 12 .\|M|i"ciiru« iirlstiiliilU'*, .Nfx I'lili'iiini'i'K''""'! '• Vllf.i i'iHi>iiliilM, Torr ^Piirllim iK.y'.hii'liyii, Miihl VKriwIloi'iifira, Wlll'l Ciiina iiniiiillnacHa, li .MiililiuiH r|.yi'iiiii ~i>liMiiiMi, llnok l'liriii;iiilli" rDiiiniiiiilN, 'I'rln flnrili'iim Jiiliiitiwn, L KlyniiN ('iiiaijiMiiit, \j. Ii.inthiiiila spiral I, Kcaiiv Wi'iiii siiliitn, Mlrlix Mrupii'splliwa, t, ... I'hiihii'lH iiniiiillnat' I'mi'liiiliipsla cii'spltd'n, Hcaiiv riiiaiiriiH I aipialica, Mi-aiiv Ki-liu'M li Ti'alls, Kiiok .-lylv.illoiini, I varli'<{:tliin), SchI ^c•lr^M)Ull'I^, Mlchx 92 Climate, Soil and Suitability for Settlkmknt. The climate ol' a country is not wholly due to its altitude or Intiuidi' The wind currents which pass over its surlace, or if the couiitry he ;; insular one, the currents that hive its shores exert a most importain mlln- ence. This being an acknowledged fact, we should not decide tor. Imstily on the climate of that part of Canada lying along the eastern slopo o\' i',^ Kocky mountains. From data furnished by Captain I'alliser's reixtrty ot his explorations, it is shown that .Jasper's House has a higher winter um- perature than Edmonton; while the latter has a much higher one ihuntha! of Carleton, which lies three hundred mih's farther to the east. Fkhii ;i parity of reasoning can we not show that a higln'r summer tempi'! atuiv i^ found along the base of the mountains than is found out on the plains? The climate in the neighborhood of Fort Edmonton is favorable lo the growthof all kinds of grain, except maize. So also is that of Big Lake, or8t. Albert's Mission, nine miles larther to the jiorth. In both localities, 1 ,siv wheat, oats and barloy, of excellent quality, and much taller than it issiyn in Ontario. The season of 1S72 was very unfavorable, owing to tlif almost constant rains, and consequent chillness of the atmosphere. Yet the crops around Edmonton all came to maturity, except a very little lale vheat, ■which was frozen on the !i?5th August. The dillerence between the .-um- mer heat of 1871 and 1872 can be better understood by the fact that the barley of the H. B. C. was ripe on the 12th August of the former year, while it w^as not fit for the sickle until the 2tith last year. Fall wheat lia; never been tried, but there is no reason why it should not succeed, us thu ground is covered with snow all the winter, and the ground is never so wet as to heave it out in spring when the winter is breaking up. F"rom data furnished by Captain Palliser's report, and others at ICrt Edmonton, it seems that ploughing commences about the 10th of April uii an average, and wheat is sown by the end of the month. Mons. l!(iuri;i .n found many plants in llower during April ; more than are generally luunJ in Eastern Canada in that month. He records observing an AiieiiiuUf [Anemone jia/ens] in llower on the plains, April 11th, and tl>e fro l:s creak- ing the same evening. During tweJity years in Ontario 1 never oliservtd our first spring flower [Ilepatica frilabu] as early as that except twice. The ground freezes up about the last of October, though there k m- erally much mild weather alter this. "While w^e remained at the i'mt th-' thermometer rose to 72 in the room, so that it was over 80 in the sun, This was about the first of September. Mr. Lewis Chartellain, whom T saw at Big Lake, had wheat, barloy, oats carrots, potatoes, turnips and other vegetables growing there. All, I'X'i'p' the wheat and barley, were on ground which was broken up for the 1 :>t time last spring. He says that with decent farming and early varielios ii grain, wheat would be always a sure crop, as nothing but IVo.^t cvi^' injured it. Stock and grain-raising will be the employment of the hn- breeds when the buffalo fails, but not till then, as it is not in their n;u- to work until necessity compels them. 93 At liuc La Nun, 50 miles from Edmonton, and on thti height of land, potatot\s and barley had b»'en tried last year, but a frost in July Ixad cut them oil. At Fort Assiniboine, on the Athabasca, no IVirming is done at present, owiny' to the apathy of the person in charg'e. He says that barley and voiji'tal)Ies were formerly raised, but that now summer frost would cut them olf Much of the land between the Athabasca and Pembina rivers is of the very best quality ; but agricultural products have never been raisi'd. Between the Athabasca and Little Slave Lake there is any quantity of !ioo(I pasture land, but none that could be called fanning lauds, owing to tlii'ir altitude and incliiiation. Summer frosts are certainly of constant occurrence, but still blueberries [ rrtrrj'wiMW Cantu/omt] lipenwell. Col- lected - in the oouutry that no one could tell when it was introducetl. The sami; variety is raised at Dunvfgan and St. John. At Dunvegan, made inquiries about its introduction, and was told that it might have come in with Noah. 1 lhous:lif if might. Mr. MeGillvery, whom I met at the Pembina, told me that their barley was nevi»r injured by frosts, as it was always ahead of it. This year it was ripe by the 12th of August. Wheat has nevt'r been tried, but the Padre said the climate was just as warm as at Lac La Hiche, where they raise large quantities of it. From my own observations, I am satis- fied that wheat would succeed, as I think there is a higher summer tem- perature lun-e than at Edmonton. Not more than ten acres of land have ever been cultivated here, the people depending on the products of the chase and the fishery for subsistence. Great quantities of white fish are taken in the lake, and the people have no dread of starvation. Made an excursion in the vicinity of the post and observed 184 species of plants. Not one of these indicate a cold climate. y of Belleville. Lake Superior, the Saskatchewan. 132 of this number grow in the vicinit 18 of the remainder were detected at 34, the remainder, were observed on The Lake Superior plants were. Ranunculus Cymbalaria, Eibes oxycanthoides, Parnassia parviflora, Louicera involucrata, Viburnum pauciflorum, Erigeron acre, Cirsiura Pitcheri ? Vaccinium Vitis-Idoea, " enpspitosum, As tar as I could judge the whole of the land, from Little Slave Lake, Vicia Americana, Mertensia paniculata, Rumex salicifolius, Polygonum articulatum, Streptopus amplexifolius, Hordeum jubatum, Stipa Richardsonii, Calamagrostis stricta, Nabalus raeeraosus. 94 to Smoky River, and on up to the ba&e ol the mountains, is of th*' vt r, best fjUality. As I did not travel over the whole tract, 1 cannot say Iron, actujl observation that this is so, but what I saw [at least 200 milts in len cnii-'! by heavy rain, about the time of the full moon in August, I'ollowct! i. clear still nights. Now this is precisely the cause of our surniiier lni>t,>, which do considerable local damage every year. Whenever tlnii' \> > circulation of air, there is no frost, as was pointed oiit to me 1)} Mr Kennedy, the Gentleman in charge of St. John. A corner ol h;(> ih'I;i; patch was killed this year, hut it was sheltered from the wind, vvhilf ihi; exposed to the air was left untouched Both Mr. Horetzki and '• ys": noticed that the temperature during October was lower in the vi^tll■y^ ' rivers than on the level country above, and very probably this is thi' ' ii>' during the summer. 95 3'}iss(iiirntisi^ 'i That the Peace RiA'er country has an pxccptioiial climate, any one fioeiiigit must confess. While we were travelling- throuuh it the constant record was, " warm sunshine, west wind, bahuy atmosphere, and skies of the brightest blue." Even as late as the 15th of October, the thermometer ^fs 48 ® at daylight, and 61 ® in the shade at noon. Within the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, I picked up three species of plants in flower as late as the 26th of the same month. Th(^se facts, and many others that could be adduced, show conclusively that there is an open fall ; and the united testimony of the residents makes it clear that sprint;- commences before the 1st of May. There must likewise be a warm suiniiier, as the Sirvicc Berries (Anie/anchter Canadensis) were gathered hilly ripe as fiirh a.s ihe l;ith July, last year, by the miuei we eiis>-au-ed at, Edmoiium ; Kiuil' berries ripeninsrat Belleville about the 10th of the same iiionth. These hnrries are so sweet that we preferred thc^m to currants in our pemican. From all thi- observations I made, both in respect of soil and ve<4-eta- tinr. 1 am : atisfied that the whole country lietvveen Slave Lake and the Kockv Mountaitis is a continuation of the prairie. I'he mountains we iTosscd between Fort Assiniboiue and Slav(> Lake would therefon- hv a spur of the Rocky Moiintains, and Sir John Richardson's remark that there was a level country all the way from the Enylish liiver or Tortaue La Loche to Little Slave Lake, would oonlirm this opinion. lie even sjoes further, and on pa<>-e 864 of his work says that : " From Meihy rortaye westward, the country, thoufjh deeply lurrowed by river courses and riviin'N, and more or less thickly wooded, partak(>s so much ol' a prairie niiinicter that horsemen may travel over it to Lesser Slave Lake and the Saskatchewan." If this opinion be correct, ami T have no reason to doubt If, we can then assert with truth that the prairie eiiditry extends all the way IVom the lower Saskatchewan by Lac La Riehe aeross the Athabasca to81ave Lake, and thence to the mountains. Here then is a strip ol' country over tlOO miles in length, and at least 100 in breadth, eontainiiig an area of 60,000 square miles, which has a climate no way inferior to (hat of Ed- moutoii. 1 know that many doubts will be cast on the trulhruliiess of fhii< .statement, but from a careful perusal of many /iiihlislie'/ tables ol' the climatoloii-y of the district in question and my own observations, I can come to no other conclusion iban this, that the day is nol I'ai distant w'lien the most sceptical will believe even more than I now assert. The .sum- mer frosts are due to radiation, and whether the settlement of the eountry will have any effect in lessening them, is a mattiM- ol' speiulatioii. T( hns always been so in Ontario, that summer frosts have ce;;sed ;is the eduntry became opened up. May this not be the ca.se in Rupert's Land and Feaee Eiver country ? Regarding the quality of the soil throughout the entire region, my note-book is unvarying in its testimony. I took every oppoitunity to examine the soil, and always found it deep and fertile. It was principally clay loam, but had much the appearance of the iuh nuilf lands along tjtreams in Ontario. Its average depth, where sections were exposed, was five I'.M't, but owing to the clay stibsoil it was practically inexhaustible. Hays would elapse without seeing a stone except in the beds of streams, and swamps were unknown on the level country along Peace River. 96 I am not prepared to say what is the cause of this exceptional climate, but one Ihinjjf is known, that the west wind, summer or winter, always brings warm weather. Now, can it be possible that this wind retains itj heat while cro.ssini^ the mountains, and gives warmth on the eastern side, while the same parallels on the west side oi" the mountains are not bt'iu'lited by it? I am more inclined to the opinion that it is caused by the st'ttlini down, as it weri', of a current ol" warm air coming trom the south, sonii- thing analogous to the gulf stream. It is a well known fact that this bi'li of warm air extends all the way down the Mackenzie, as wheat cnn hi' raistd as far north as (i'i ® . If the wind comes from the Pacific, it is a new fact in physical geouraphy, for the eastern side is certainly warmer than th-' west at the ba^e of the mountains. Thi' following table ^how:^ the temperature of Belleville, as tak.ni by Alexander Burdou, Esq., Station Observer, during the ten days betw ii the 10th and lOth of October, 1872, and the observations made by my;-cl! when passing over the portage between Dun vegan and St. John, duriui; the same period. Belleville being lat. 44 ^ north, and 77.25 west long. ; while Dan- vegan is in lat. rjM © . aiid about 118 "^ west long. KK.I.r.KVIl.I.K. DrNVl'.liAN TO Ht. Joii.v. 7 lu ra. ; 1 p.m.' n m. .Max. 7 am. Oct. li'th 41!. 2 oil. 7 4i).i> .■>s.ii 2.1. 110 47.00 9.00 p. m. nth .«.,'■) 12.7 Xi.2 H 2 ,37.iKI Noon in shade. 53.00 7.30 p m. u 12th •■iS.li 11.0 j iH 4'<.iP 32.00 70.00 1 p m. 37.00 B.OO p. m. 1 13th No Observations 2«.no 73.00 .V 00 8.00 p. m. i( 14th 4.'.7 4'<.ll .•IS.i) 50 5 30.00 41'.00 ,S.OO p. m. Noon. " 1-^th .!.■!. ti 43 7 411.0 .')0.O 4.S.0O «1 40. i» 7.45 p. m 1. mth 41.7 . l.j.7 37.2 W.3 29 00 47.00 X.45 p. ni It 17lh ■.U. 1 45.6 .■51.7 .-||.7 41. (X) 49.00 8.00 p. m. )lo to have traverKed the country in summor, whin the flora was in such a state thi t I could have brought back specimens ui the various species, my report on the botanical productions would havt> bnn far inor(> complete and satisfactory. "When all the collections arrive, hov, ever, I will makti out a complete catalogue of all the species observta between lake 8uperior and the Rocky mountains, and endeavor to show by comparison with the lloras of other regions, the actual climatic reiatious which exist betvvee'h them. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, John Macoun. 99 APPENDIX D. OENKRAL l.V.STriU(ni(J.\S To THE STAFF. First. — To Bni^iifiCfa in rkarr proper di-ciplino in the party. 2. FiViM-y niomb'.'r oF the pirty will l)i>, nudi'V tln^ EiK^-inoiM- in flvirii;(», iiiil must ob'-y his ovdi'i-s. The romniissariat OlFiccr in chart^e of tho t'lU'^pert of provisions will c^onsult with and b(? advised hy the liny'ineor i:i cluirLfe, and in thu absence of the former, th(^ packman will obey the ftrdiji's of the latter. •!. When the Engineer iu char!|e llnds it necessary to leave the party, f'V ill the event of illness, he shall nominate the person to act in his place ;or ihe time being- ; in the event of his failing" to do so the Transit-man :-h;ill take eharnre. <,'eneral 4, Arrangements will be made for forwarding siijjplies to a I'pot at or near the point of commenoemiMit ol each Division of the Siirvoy, and when practicable, to certain int(>rmediate points; this will be (Inue by the Commissariat Department, but the l>higineer in charge must, li.'l'ove starting for his field of operation, obtain a complet(? list ot all sup- pli'vs intended to be forwarded, and if any artich* appears to him to be '.v.uitiiiu' or superlluous, or if any change in the propositi arrangement r-P'H.'tiiiu- the mode of supply appears advisable, he shall at once confer witli the Commissariat (Officer, and l)efore leaving for the survev he shall ariivo at a pi'rfect understanding with respect thereto 5. The Commissariat Olficer is instructed to procure and forward the V'Tj- best of each article required, and to use every means in his power to iiiiiiituiu a sulllcient supply of provisions and stores. The lilngineer in charge must, however, look sulhciently far ahead with reference to the I'.ioveiuoiits of his party, to be able to advise that olhcer as to the nature and quantity of stores required, and the place where they must be de- ilivored, and' there must be a clear and distinct luiderstauding between tii''m that they will be delivered at the time and place; required. The ll^iiuiiU'er will also see that proper care is taken of the supplies, and that 'li«i! is no waste. 13 100 "111 wii: 1 „i, G. As tho tii'iison for licld (ipfraiions in limited, tlic Kim-incci in clii-v is oxpi'C'ti'd lo ist'O thiit t-viM'v iiu'inlxT ol" liin party pt'vibnns hiis diuv w,;., diliifciic*', mid that I'vory cHort is inadf to carry out tlio "whok' ol Ihc wir, ill a .satisl'actory inannor. T. Kach exi)lorin{j parly sliall he di'siiiiuili'd by a K'ttcr ol tlic ;il])liali.'i and all articles of equipmoiit, supplies, hooks, papers ioul records, \w\inv:- iuii to the party shall he marked \vith and known hy that letter. 8. In conducting: the survey the J"]ngineei ol' a party is exixeUil t ! at its head every day, I'xplorinu' in IVont, aiul to the right and jell nl ,. line, in order to see what ohslnielions may ))e in the way ol' the saim, ;;, if serious, deciding as to the best manner of avoiding theni. 0. It is not expected that the liril survey throuiih wooded di-i'ic- Avill, as a rule, be the best position for the railway ; it Avill, howrvir, I. the aim oi the EugiiU'cr in charge to have the "Transit Line" iiei \,;, iar distant from a practicable railway line. The " Transit J^iiie ' (ni w the measurements are taken vill lorm a base on which to \tio}vi:\ approximate section, aiul the hhigini'cr in charge, by noting liie leaiun the country on both sides of the line, will be able to make an appr(i.\ii;.;it section as tlie survey proceeds. 10. In many cases it will be desirable for the l-jigineer i]i .!i,'- ^^ bile making liis daily explorations, to take barometric e]evatinii> i.l i:. ground, noting by estimation the approximat*; position ol the iHiiiii- observation in relation to the "Transit Lii.e " Tlu'S( elevation- >]i... l)e ri'duced allerwards to the datum of the suivey. and marked ujh'H :■ plan in their i)roper position. This, as ^^■tdl as the lieiierai leaturc.-ui :. countiy, should he marked upon the plan every day, while lli>' win: fresh in iYic memory. The baronu'trie tdevatinn will aiiswei lor i ii. cross sections, and l)e useful m determining on the j)lan, the iHi.-iiii:: ' ^he approximate location liiu-, and also in conqiiliii!.; an approMiiini' ion of the same. 11. The engineer in charge must liave l\\o barometer.-, cjif \" - carried by himstdl, the other to hang in camp: the eook. if nuiilciiii'' intelligent, can. in a short time, be instructed to ol)serv«' and ii'n'iii:- re, dings, and he should do so regularly at every hour oi the d ly i this means the J"higineei' in charge, (who will note the time wluii li ■ ' ' observations are taken) will be abl'' to correct rouuUly all his (il),-er\iiiiii.> ascertain by comi)arison the height of vi\r\i poim above tlir iaiii|' :^ being known), and thus be enabled lo reduce all to the levrl aliun datum of the smvey. Barometers will be furnished by the (iuvnui:; .: 12. The Engineer in charge will lind it of great service while nxp.!- ing, to cauv with him lir ol' tlif aipluilH':, d ri'cortU, lu'lon:-- 111 l«.'ttt'r. / is I'xpi'cti'd t'' ! r\\[ mid It'll ol u, y ol ihi' Mime, uii ; L'ln. k Moodfd (lislnn- Avill, hoWfVi'V. I). rtil Liuf " ii(U vviy ^it l^iiiL'" (111 wli: !. Iiitli lo piujci,! ,a. liny lln' IciltUlvv,.; llkl' !U1 llpI'ldXll:,;;! ■jiigim'tT 111 ' a.-.' •i(.' t'l('V;ltin|i> 1.1 l', 111 d! the Jtdilli r tdrvalioii> >\i ■■■ id iiiiiiki'd uiH'ii •' ifiiil lellUlr^■^ Ml ,.v \\h'\]v ill'' Avlli'!i- !• 1 iiiiNWfi lor 1' I.. )l;iii, the pu>iiiMi : 111 ;i])i)i(>xiiii;ii' - lOlIU'tfl'.-', "l"' I" ' ook. i! iiunlfiM'' I l('r\-c and itcin ■ ur (.1 ill.- dv. I iiiiK' when li.^t'i^'. all his ol»,-i\:iii';' dvi' ill'' I'ali'l' ■■ ' l]ii> l'.'\ > 1 ill"-'*' '■■' )\- the (iuvrllllU':.; lew iff wliili ''Xl' '■ lal)li' hiiii 10 ; l' oiialili'd K' " ' - \j conniiy, aii'li ;■ l.dul ill dnri'iiiiL;v 1 the stoi'i'- 1^" ' "I |:| It uiiiy rroi|UiMitIy he noct'ssiiry to ino\ i» oanip wlh'ii circuiDsUiin'i'S will ri'iid'T the ;i\ iiiliihh' I'orci' ol' parkmi'ii iiia(lt'i|n,itc lor this iliUy. at such tiiui's it will he propiT and cxpt'dicnt lor all, or as njiiny nn'mhcrs if ihi' StiiU'ii'' the I'lnu'iiu'iT in char^H! may dir 'ct, i<. assist in this work. Tlit' ijiu'liii'''!' '" 'harni- will, howmi'r, hi' i^'ovoviifd hy ciministauct's. and ush his lii'st )iidii'ni''nt in Iiaviiii>' this doin' in Niich a inaiiiitT as will least l,.liiy the survey. II. Instructions lor the instrunn'iitali.sts aro printed on the lirst paij;*^ f oiii.li of the "Field IJooks," (eopi(>s aciconipanyiii;,'- this), and the uikUm'- sK'nccl will look to the Engineer in chariife to sije those i^t'iieral instruc- iioiis carrii'il out. l.V It is important that observations of the pole or some other star should ofcasionally he made (say once in every ten miles) when the wiMlliii' will admit ol its heinu' done, in order to ( luMdv the traverse of the liUi'. file latitude of e.-rtain points should also he determined miproxi- ma't'lv, whenever a lavourahle op,iortiinity occurs, hy means of an o*>ser- vatiDii nf either the upper or lower transit of the pole-star, or otherwise; till' I'lnuiiii'er in charge takiiii;' care, however, that both thi'se objects are elfi'i'ii'd ill such a manner and at such times as not in any way to delay till' prot^'ress of the surveyiiiir party. 10. Ai thi> startiny- point and termination of each division o the Survey, the Kiiii'iioer in charge will see thiit <:onspicuous " Ueferenee Stiki's" and '• Uench Marks" are established Avith all necessary informa- tion re^pectinn' the tSurvey and adopted datum, distinctly written thereon. Wli'ii t\V(i Divisions of tlie Survey form a Junction, the two Itlniiineers in cbi'..!'' will see that the two tra- y\ verses are properly connected, and the iiii'^iie tormed bv the .■acli of the •• Field Books.'' ,„,„;^,,,^,^, iintiil, and a common ,/ Datum V with the elevation of ''^^ :i7i,iii»i,.)vi. two respective datumsX Datum O. ttius :— \ 1871, iirriviiiii' at the '^•enerally de liefoiv tli'» party on the next Divi bi' the duly of the former to push^ on until a connection is inadt I" Whenever an opportunity occurs, once a fortnight if practicable, the Hnuineer in chars'c shall forward to the Head Olhce a traced copy of the plan and section, shewing, with full details, the amount of work done to date. '^. As it is probable that there will be occasions when each member "til party will have to carry his personal bagirage, this should be reduci?d to the smallest weight possible. Keeping this in view, the following is all thiit is considered necessary to form an outlit, viz.: — 2 pair of pants. 2 luats, 8 llaiiuel shirt,s, .'5 pair of drawers, <> pair of socks, 1 pair of mitts, 2 pair of strong boots or shoepacks, 1 towel, 1 brush and comb, and a few othi'v small articles; the whole ji-rsoiial outlit need not exceed -W pounds. ill'' liiigmeor in charge will, upon his party arriving at the end of steam 'wo / ,. \ lines, measured and entered in B, IVI. \ ny, 11 i. 1 1 1 he ieviMS must also he c'on- Heiich Mark" established, the same above. the ./'^clejwly marked thereon. In the event of one party lined termination of a Division sioii has reached that point, it will 102 bout mnipitioii, m-c lluit lln* pi r.^oiiiil l)iiyi;ii•' providv'd iorcath itioiiiIki- oC lht> pnrly. 1!>. Except in spcciiil ciisfs, wliicli will Ix' (litfiiniinMl l)y tlir hikI,;. sijiiiod, it is di'."-ii!d)l(' to limit llic iHiiuln'V oi' livf anus in t'i\cli paiiv u. (.n, rilif mid out' dovihic haiit'lltd . It may lio inTcssiiry, durint;' llic i)vo I'lnuiiK'tT in cliavf;-*' of a parly; lor il,,. niid othor roasons. II at fjllicfv will t;dxc special caic that wliciicvcv !:,. chaiijios liis cainpiiis' ground, a iiolicf is distiiiclly written (upon a tiiTc elsewlu'ro. in sncli a conspitiious jiosilion tliat it can Ix' readily Mtn !•, anyone passmjf alonu' llie line) ( < nlaiuiuii the lollo\vinf>', vi/. ; — 1st. The distinii'nisliiim- letter ol' the Division ol ihe iSurvey. '2nd. Tl.e number ol the camp. Kuril < imii>sl ciiilil I !• MiiilM 11 ■! r(,i>' (iilM l.v f'( 111 11.C Ik (jliinliit; cl the illvlslmi. •?rd. The date of the removal of the camp. 4th. The probable direction and (lista)ic(> to tln^ next eamiiiiiL: iiiduiui f)lh. The mime ol' the lilnuineer in ehaiue oi'iiarty. 21. All iield not(^s mnst be clearly and distinctly made in iMiuilrii the spot, no additional notes shonUl be entered ■with the original notes nliir the day on which the latter are w ritten. 1- ield notes should not be iiiki'i! or chanu'cd in any way ; coi)ies of them may be nuide in ink and rediuvi! levels entered in ink, 22. All plans and profiles must be plotted so that the < nd ol tip' •<\u vev line (whatever nuiy be the dir^'ction ol' local sinuosities) ik avest ilii Pacific Ocean shall be at \ho lei't hand of the paper, and the end ol'tlir survey line nearest the Atlantic, at the right hand. 23. Ilori/ontal scales must be 400 feel to an inch : Vertical scales ■> feet to an inch. 24. Without in the least desiring to dictate on the subject, atliiiiinn is requested to the suggestions regarding service on Sundays, which have been idaced in the hands ol' the Engineers in charge ol' parties. 25. The Engineer in charge will be lurnished with a diary ami iioti' book, in which he will enter daily, a record of Ww progress ol' surviv iiiul every thing relating thereto. Second. — Inslriirlioiia lo Tranxif-7)ini. The object of th(> sur\ey about to be undertaken is to secure a nil- tinoiis chain of instrumental measurements through the country, a.- iii.ir as possible to the shortest and most practicable route for railway ceiisimo- tion. The information obtaiiu'd by means of the sirrvey, should b- Inliy and careiuUy put on record in .sueh a way, that no dilhculfy will i"' 'X- perienced hereafter by any one in understanding it perfectly, li i'' iW' portant, therefore, that uniformity of system in making measuremems and 103 iiiff to moMilior'. o; ', Midicirhilv liir:.' y. iiM-(l l)y 111,. uh(!,:. I each pally Ick.h. he STirvrv , Id |,,r. I' a pally : hir il,;. that Mh'ciU'vcr |,- It'll (U|)(iii a liiT(>r he readily mm'Ii !■ vi/. : — iSnrvcy. 11' (llvll-ldll. L cariJiuiit;' Lir(iu!ii; natlc in in'iicilrn )ri<>iiial notes iiltir nld not ])(' iiikrt! 1 ink and rediiivd le I nd oi' ili'> sur sities) IK ;ili'>t ill. nd the end elth.. Vertical Kcali's •> .subject, atli'iitioii ays, uhich liaw iirties. a diary and noli' ess of survrviind to secure :i i.-n- country, a> iicir ailway cciisirni;- should 1)1' luliy ally will 1m' (X- elly. It is ii;i- .'asuromeni.s and pn'scrvinir iceordN nhould be «d(>pt«'d Ihronuhout, and with that object in VKW, llie niulersi^ned requests attention lo the lollowin*;' . — I. The lirst entry in the ''Field lUiok " each niorninjr shoidd be the (lato, and ihe nnmo of the person nctinj^- as " Transit Man." 'J. Tlie Transit mnn is recinested to make lull notes as he pioceed.«<, of till' cliaracler ol' Ihe country, lakes, limber, &e., on l)olh .^ides oi ihe line. ;{. All liidd notes must bo clearly and distinctly made in pencil on the iipot, 110 additional notes should be entered with the oriiiinal no'.es alter ilu' (lav on which Ihe latter are -vvrilten. I'MeKl notes should not be inked (ir tliaiiyed in any way ; copies ol ihein may be nnide in ink and reduced Icvt'lfi entered in ink. 4 Ail plans and proliles must be ))lri|led so that the '"nd ol' llie survey liMi' (whatever uuiy be the direction ol' local ..)ssible, (in order to check the traverse), and the former when practicable; Ihese observations should be taken at sin h times as w ill not interfere with the progress of the survey Kl The chaininii' will be noted reixularly from the l)ottom of the page upwards, eacdi hundred f(>et stake driven being nottnl on a separate line, the space on each side of the column for distances being used for such notes and sketches to the right and left of the line as may be ne(;essary in order to give a general idea of the country. 14. Note every stream and river crossed, its size, direction, probable maximum volume, and any peculiarities which it may seem to possess. 104 15. Evory m*»ml>«»r of thf party will hi> under tho Enj^inocr in (har..-, and must ohcy hiw oidt'iM Tin- (■[ ^\^, Iranspoit ol pi'(>vi.sioiis will conKult with and l»ti adviNcd l»y tln' MiiL'iii'.r in (diariff, and in the alisi-iirc ol' llic loriiifr lhi> packnu'ii will nln^ ii,.. ordtTN of tht' laliiM" III. In thf I'Vt'Ht <»r till' ah.sciici' (»r ill(M»sN ol' tho Knufint'ci' in chiiri:.' ind niili'ss h(> .shall olhi'twisf dt'lfrininc, it will he tin- (liity ol ihi' Tniuyt. man to tako rli i 1M(. o| 111,, pally and dufii its niovouuMitH 7'/i//v/. — ftis/itiiis /<> Lfvlh'fs. The ohjfct of tht.' Survey. \'<;., iVf. (St'i- Iiistruriions to Tmiisit-iiKni 1. In ki't'piiiL;' licld iioto.s tlu' lirst duty ovfry inoniin^' will h- lo cni.' the datt' and thr ii.iiut' ol tlu' |..('Vt'll('r, wh ).s(' notes aro to he rt'cuiilcd 2. All lii'ld notfs iiiii.si l)t> (di'arly and dislin«ttly iiiadt> in ptMicil mi ih. sj)ot, no .idditioiiid iiolt'.s should hi' tMitcrt'd with thi' tH'i<»'iiial iinii's ai',- the day "ii whiih llif latliT arc written. ImoUI note's shouhl not Km ink. ! or ch;M)m'd in any way; copit's of th.-iii may bti niu'lo. in ink and hhIui'iI k'VHlN »Mit(nvd in ink. •{. |}('n(;h inark.s should \n\ ii'Liulnrly t'stahlishi'd about evory I..VIM I..' apart, and the flcvation al)ovi> datum written therfon thu.s : — tht> It'ttt'r uiuli'nn'ath heiny- th«' di.stiuiiuishiu!^ mark of the par- ticular division of the survey iuid of the party. I'^ach lleucb- maik must he descrilnul in the eolumn of remarks. .M ■■';',ii.li \. Not e every stream and river crossed, its size, direction, IijvmI surface, dillerenee of level Itetweeji \\\' I'acili' Ocean shall l)e at the left hand i " the paper, and the end of tlir Mirvy line nearest th*' Atlaniic, at ihe ri<>'h. uaiul. G. Horizontal sc iles must be 40i> feet to an feet to an inch. ". I'^very member of th.' party will be under the Eiiirineer in 'har-.'. and must obey his orders The (%>mmissariat Ollleer in charuc ol th.' transport of provisions will consult with, and be advised by the l'iniiiii"''r in change, and in the absence of the former the packman will nlx-y 'i! orders ol' the lattt'r. le I'jnii'ineer in cnarue w ill nam. th. person who is to tak.' diari.' of thi' party diiriini' his tempo J'ailint;' to do so the Transit-ui:in shall take eharije rarv absence or illness, in the evenly el lib S.ANDFORD FLKMIVG. E nurineer-iii ■ Chi'f Ottawa. •24th Mav. 1> <1 l>y Ih.' I'liiirii,,.,. mi'ii will (il„.y th. iMifiiift'i' III « liiir'j. lutyol' th.' Tnui'ii. itH. iiH to 'rr?iii>ii-iiiiii I ll!^' will I).' In I'lil." to lt(> rt'foidiil if ill pencil (III \\\,' >ri!)'iMii[ iioii's M',- ould not l>" ink.:! n ink siinl ivi|ii< ! lirt'ctioii, Icvi'l III ^1' practi<';il)l.., iiii,i t'lul oj" the 'V t'lll'CSt tilt' I'lUitii' t'lltl of the MIIV. V H'iiit'i'r ill ' liiii-v, in char^ii" ol thf by tht? I'iiiuiii'vr liin will oliey ill" is to tiikf cliarir" u tho OVCllt (it ll!^ D FI-EMIX(i Kv'Jcineer-iii-Chhl APPENDIX E. i\..,,,- Ifiiiiiil. nil llii .Viirif.V*, /'"(■ IH"'J. I'li /Iri'liKli ''nliiintiin. In/ Mn lillM .>;/)( ih. /;, J>.vNl>F"'i;" FliEMINll, I'lhfj Ottawa. Mav Int, Im-.H. Knf^n tieff in Chu'J, CuuniluiH Viirilic Jiniltrii//. r;iiiir vciir II l I the I'roviiu'f (»r HiiliNh Coluniltiii M\ po.sitioii and duties in icuaid to tlioi' ^^n'V(•y,s jiinl the lines to Ix- ixiildiiil, iiri' clt'iirly ddintMl in your Icttci to nic, oi Miirch liifli, 187J. nllcriini uif tlu' apiKiinlnn-nt, and that ol' May Mth, rt'ccivcd on my wav to Uiitisli Cohnnhia, ol'whii h tin- follow ini; extracts uivc the Miltsiinicc. viz : — ■ 111 the event ol' your aceepliiiLl' the position oli"eri' works I had then in charne to my siieee SSI ir, I • 1,111' (>•; lii\ i'Minicy to Ih'itish Columbia : at Toronlo I met .Mes~rs. ( i,iiiisl)\ . r.)i--i(i\\ . Mii'liiiiid and Carman, wlio wev;- eiin-au'ed lo i>'o with me. In be eiuployed '11 the survevs. We prcceeded l)y railway to .San l"'raniisc i theie ( )ia, where we arrived on llie L''Hh M aiiur to Victoria. British C!oluiiil)ia, where we arrived on lie ly. )ai lies wild had been On my arrival there, 1 loiind the pnsition ol' ihe \ ■iiu'aiicil on the surveys siiiee the j>ievious vear to l)e a,> lollow-, v i/ : Two parties ol' survi-yors, (^ and h', under Mr. K. Mcbeiniaii, h; niilcrcd in camp, the former on Canoe lixer, near Albreda lal.e. and ih latter oil ihe Kraser river, about lil'tv miles below Tete .laune Cadu Mch Ml luian, who had during the winter visited Ottawa lor the purpose of reporiiiiu' to you what had been done the previous year, had lelt X'ielorii 106 about ;i month before we arrived to direct the movements ol' his p.utii>> He inti'iuli'd, il'practicabk', to send one party down the FrasiM- riwi m boats to the mouth of Quesnelle river, and the other parly to I'XjjIon. ,i route westward iVoni All)n'da hike> by the head of Chnirvvater aiul i^n..,. nelle lakes to some point on *he Fraser River, at or below Quosnelle luoiuh As the latter route is of the utmost importance in connection wilh iln' line l)y Ibite inlet to ihe racilif coast, I S'.'Ut special instructions to Mr McLennan to use his utmosf endeavour to have it thorouorhly cxplond Two parties, S and T, nnder Mr. Walter Moberly, had also \viiit(.iv(| in cai!ip, the former near the lllai'berry river, at the west end of the Ildws,. pass throu^l) *'ie Rocky Mountains; the latltM- at the Kddy, on tlu' Iuw.t arm of the Columl)ia river, near the east end of the ICag'le pass through tli.' Cohrnibia or i^old range of mountains lying south of the Columbia iwr. The Dominion Government having d(>cided to abandon the routi> bv the Howm^ pass, Mr. Moberly was on his way from Victoria to tak.- ihi' j; piirly down the Columbia river to the l^oat encampment, theui'i' l»y ih.> Athabaska pass to Jasper house east of the Yellow head pass, to couuni'iii;,> the survey from that point westward. He had sent the T partv back ii, Kamlcops where tliey arrived 'ju the :]rd of May and h^ft on tlie Ifili, proceeding up the North l)ranch of the Thompson river to TeteJauiieCaihe to coinnience the sur\ "y from that point eastward towards Jasper liousi-. Two other parties, U and Y, under Mr John Trutch, left Viclniia 0:1 the .'>rd of April to continue the survi-ys from the point at which iheyhiid h>l't oil' work the previous year, but on their way Mr. Truich was advised of the ehange of route to be surveyed, and directed to take his partii'.s m Kamlodjjs, and survey a line from that point up the valleys of the North Thompson and Albreda rivers towards Tele Jaunc Cache. In accordaiK e with these instructions the U party undei Mr. Tntidi had commenced the survey at Kamloops, and the V party had «()iiipki.d a flying survey Irom Vort Hope (on the lower h'rasei') up the C(H|uihall:i valley to the summit of the pa.'-s and an examination of the Country tht'iiiY by the Coldwater A'alley and Nicola lake to Kamloops, aiul were now oil their way to commetu-e the survey of the upper Thompson (north hrain'h) aiul Albreda valleys to connect with a survey made by the Q i)aviy tlin preceding winter. In addition to his own parties (I" »Sc V) Mi'. John Trutch had lakoii temporary charge of the T ])arly, until Mr. Moberly should arrive lathe Yellow head pass with his other party (S ) Tliiis the I'ivision from Kamloops to Albrtnla lake (about l>!') niili'.s.i was covered by the U and V parties under Mr. John Truleh. — Thciioc eastward towards Tele Jaun-' Caehe 20 miles had been siirveyed hv tlu' Q pally under Mr. McLennan, last M'inter, and the Division from lliatpoiiii eastward through the Yellow head pass to the eastern slope of the Ivoiky Mountains was allotted to parties T and S imdor Mr. Waiter Moberly. The whole of *he line covered by these four parties under Mr. Trutch nd Mr. Moberly, over MOII miles in length, runs through a series of con- necting valleys, the botiom flats varying in width from a few hundred tw't to o.;e or two miles (except in the canyons where the mountain .-slopes come down to the water's edge). The choice for a line of railway is 107 thfreCori" confined witliiu vory narrow limits and is only a question of ditail to 1)1' worked outhy the, surveyinir parties. It was, therefore, unneces- surv tor me to visit this District till late in the season when the surveying partitas would have their field plans and profiles ri>ady — showing' the results of their surveys and the diifieult points requiring examination. This left ine the early portion of the season to devote to that District wliitli YOU placed under my speci d charge, viz: between Victoria (Van- oouvi'T isliDid,) Bute inlet and the Fras(>r River, and thence, with the two nartii's under Mr. McLennan, to coiajdete the junction with the line Ivuin Kiiuiloops through the Yellow Head Pass. I therefore commenced immediately to arrange parties for this District ,111(1 succeeded with the foiir gentleuicn whoac(^ompanied me from Toronto, nul others whom I found at Victoria, in lornuug thn>e surveying par- iii's- ojir to survey the islands and channels betweou Vaiuouver Island ami ilu' main land opposite th(^ entrance to IJute inl't, and the othiM- two to I'Diitiiuie the surveys up the N. W. shore of Bute Inlet and through the Casciulc Mountain^ by the Homathco pass, and thence across the C'hilcotiu jilain.s to the Fraser river. I/aving the ollicevs in charge ol' these parties to engage their chain- iiii'ii axt'iiien, Sir.., and get ready thtMr stores and camp equipage, I went lAcv lo Nt'\v Westminister on the invitation of His Honor the Lieuteiumt Giivi'iiior, to examine the country about one of the j)roposed termini lor the railway. I reinaiiu'd there several days ; great numbers of Indians came down the Fraser river, from the Strait of Georgia and the nuuu-rous inlets which pierc(> the maiidand, to take part in the games and festivities in celebration ill' Her Majesty's birthday. Ills Honor the Lieut, (lovernor introduced me to such of the tribes ;is wc were likely to come in contact with in making th;> surveys, explain- iiii;' to thcin the object of otir work, and eujoitiing them not to molest us in any way, biit to assist us and work for us, for which they f^'ould be well paid. \\'c then engaged some of them to be on the lookout for us when we .-houlil pass up the straits in a steamer in about a week hence. When I returned to Victoria, I found the parties all prepared for work. Soiiii' instruments, howe\ er, were reipiired lor wliich we should have to await the arrival of the lU'xt steamer Irom San Francisco. In the nu'antime rumors had come down from the mainland of a misun- Ji'r.«;laiiiliiig between some squatters in the (.'hilcotin country and the Imlian.s, and that the former had lelt the country with their cattle and I'uriit up what they could not lake with them. A> these are of tlie same tribes of Indians by whom the late Mr. Waililiiio'ton's trail party were murdered in 18(34 in the Homathco pass, which we were now going to survev, it was thought necessary that we should go armed, and also that a gun-boat should l)e sent with us up to the head of Bute Inlet, to show the Indians that we were there by the ;iuthority of the Government and would be protected, and to create an im- pression that w^e knew would soon be communicated far and near — the Indians tuiving a wholesome dread of the big guns. This caused some delav, as the Dominion Government had lo be communicated with. U 108 .TOURNKY TO BUTF. InLET AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE SlIRVKY. Oil tho 14ih .Tunc all was ready. The stores, l)u«rgag(> .iiid cainr, equipatfo avovc put on board H. M. Gunboat " Boxer," Captain Fitzjcia'.: in rouimand, and the Purveying Partiep procccdod to Esquiniaulr ai ! embarked on II. M. S. S. " Scout," Captain Cator, the senior officer of tL, station, in eommand. On Saturday, 15th June, at 3 a. m., we steamed out of Ksquimauh Harbour, the " Boxer," making for Nanaimo for coal •, the " Scout," wit!, the surveying- party and myself on ))oard for J'urrard's inlet, whciLMv. arrived at noon, and took ' n board His Honor the Lieutenant-Govern -, and A. T. Bushby. Esq., County Court .Tud^^e. We then steamed up th. Strait of Georgia and before sunset entered Pender harbour, on th. Seechelt peninsula, and anchored for the night. Sunday morning, Uith June, His Honor the Lieut. -Governor, Cuptaiii Cator and myselt, visited an Indian ranche, then returned ou hoard i . Church, after which we steamed out of the Harbour and up Ma ai^piii;, Strait, against a stiif head wind. Passing opposite an Indian Villai;v w. saw a ilag Ilyirg, and sent a boat ashore. Here we found the ("laho'N Indians whom I had engaged at New AVestminister, but the sea was ton rough for canoes, and the boat returned with only one Indian on bean], who could speak a little English. \Ve took him along with uts as inter preter, and to make arrangements for the rest of his tribe to follow. Owing to the strong head wind we tailed to reach the reiidezvoiu with the " Boxer,'" at Carriiiglon Bay, Cortes island, and had tu ])ut into Gorge harbour, farther to the south on the same island, and anchor lor tin' night. "We started early next morning (ITth June) and met the '• Boxer steaming out of Carrington Bay ; we then went in comi)any up the Sutii and cahn channe^ ^ to Stewart island, at the entrance to Bute inlet : horf the " Boxer" anchored, and we landed the Y Party, under Mr. .Michaud, for the survey of the channels and islands. The " Scout" then went Inid to Malaspina Strait to brinii' on the Indians and canoes, which we nHjuirod to take us up the Homathco river. While the stores and camp equipiiL'' of the Y Party were being landed, I took a boat with Mr. Mieli;u.! examined the channels between the mainland and Yaldes island ahi gave instructions respecting the sur\ ey. Alter seeing the party oneainp''d the "Boxer" steamed up Bute inlet, and arrived at Waddingtoii hailien alnrnt sunset The " Scout" arrived about midnight. Thoiaiih having bixt little connection with the object of the survi\-, I cannot refrain remarking the extraordinary intricacy and surpas>iii'j beauty of the Archipelago of the strait of Georgia. Islands ol inrmii' variety of size and Ibrm with deep gloomy forest clad glens and suniiv glades, low moss covered rocks risnig softly from the waters eduo. an! domes towering up one to three thousand feet in height. Bold headliiml> and cozy bays, deep and narrow channels leading in'o romantic and suki harbours : while, steaming along and lookuig noithward to the niaiul;i!;d the dark outlines of one or more of those numerous fiovds or deep wat' r arms of the sea, which form the most striking feature ol' the coast <■: British Columbia, can be traced far inland till lost in the distance anioni: mountains capped with eternal .snow. 109 THE Survi:y. ovind tho ("iiiho.'M" t" thou Wt'iit 1);k:1 Bute Inlet is one of those arras, about 45 miles loni? and between two to thvoo miles wide, its direction is nearly due north, and it pierces directly into tho Cascade or Coast chain, between walls of granite rocks, bold and. riirrnvd ill outline, rising" into domes 3,000 to 4,000 leet in height and solitary snow cappi'd peaks, 5,000 to !>,000 leet high, connected by broken sierras, altoat'tlu'v lorniing a scene of gloomy grandeur probably not to be met ^Yith ill any other part of the world. The slopes of these mountains descend directly into the sea more or loss abruptly, the bases of the lower ranges recede and form bays from which rise easy slopes covered with dense forests, those of the higher domes and peaked mouniaius project far into the inlet forming bold head- [wuh ruiiu'od and sleep, often ten-iinating in rocky cliffs descending almost p'lpciKlicularly into the water, so that the ribs of a vessel might touch the rocks and her keel bt; in deep water. The first view of these might well cause 1)110 to despair of getting a railway constructed, but a careful study of thi' plans will shew that this can be achieved and possibly at a cost that uiil KMidor this line praticafile. Jiitir 18//t. The " Scout " had brought forty Indians of the Clahoose trihe and a number of canoes made otit of solid cedar logs ; these canoes art' IVoni io to 30 feet in length and Irom four to six I'e.^tbeam and carry 2,1)00 ll>s. to 5,000 lbs. of freight. With these and the assistance of the ships moil, the stores and. camp equipage were landed and taken two miles up the Jloinathco river to the Waddington town site and placed inaliuild- inj: ercctod V.y the late Mr. Waddington. Close by was an Indian rancherie, ihen vacant, which was immediately taken possession of by oitr Indians. All the liagiiage was got up by noon next day and the tents pitched, then, with the assistance of His Honor the Lieutenant Governor and Mr. Bushby, six canoes were engaged, each with acrewof six Indians and four more Indians to assist the surveying parties on shore. His Honor the Lieu- I'niint Governor and party then took leave and went on board the " Scout " and we commenced to load the canoes for a start next morning. In ordinary cases it would be sitlRcient to report only the results of tho surveys ; hut in this mountainous country, so little known, without rfnids, in great part covered with a dense growth of timber and under- hrush or inaccessible rocks, the difficulties are so great, not only in prose- I'utinq' the surveys, but more especially in getting forward the supplies, that a brief narrative of our proceedinuvs, for at least a few weeks, will host oxplaiii tiiuse ; and taken in conjunction with the high prices of labor and provisions, will in some measure account for the heavy expenditure on the surveys. The valltiy of the Hoinathco where we were now encamped, at the h'-'ad of Bute inlet, is about a mile and a half in width with little variation tor iibout 20 miles, it then narrows as we ascend the river till at tlu' dis- tant of about 30 miles irom the head of the inlet it suddenly closes in ;'ud the ri\-('r rushes throitgh a narrow gorge or canyon between walls of urauite rising' to several Lundred feet in height. The Waddington Town Site is on the left or east bank of the river on :> Hat iii'ar the head of the inl ?t, it is covered with spruce, hemlock and typioss (or cedar) treet. of large dimensions and a very line quality of 110 tiuibtM'. A few mill's \ip, Iho hemlock and spruce iilmost disappoav I'ldm the bottom hinds, and cypress trees ol' enormoiissize lake their place ; th,.,,. measure I'roui live to lil'teen I'eet diameter at the butt, bell shaped I'ur twilw to twenty feet up from the ground, then ti't-ntly tapering tliey shoot U) straight and clear two to three bundled feet, forming perfect mo(.li']> fur unconiuM;ted columns, sxxch as a monument or lighthouse. The Homathco river is a turbid glacier fed stream varying I'roui c,\\v\n three hundred yards in l)readth, fre(iuently divided l)y uumerou.s islcl\ .; dashes across irom side to sidt' of the A'alley striking au'ainst the '^rmw clill's which hem it in ; these cliffs rise in places 300 to oOO feet in ))i'i])cii(li. cular height aiul in steps from 2,000 to fj.HOO feet ; over these, strciiuh tumble in cascades like ril>bons of silver till broken into spray in th.ir descent. From the foot of these cliffs, where not wa.shed by the rivir, the slopes are covered with huge fragments of rock, some moss cuvitim!, others wiih ti ■ fracture quiti- clean as if recently deta<'hed. Thursiliij/, Jutii '20f}i — We brok*' up camp and commenced our luaiiL up the valK'y, the Indians taking all the stores, l)ag<:'ai:e and cani]> e(|ui],;,-, in their canoes, aiul the two surveying parties AV and X following .m,! clearing out the "Waddingtou trail, which we found diilicult to iiare, ih, low grounds being covered with a dense growth of under biu-sli Mini Aralea, a creeper reaching thee to six feet hiiih with a broad leaf reseiiililiii:; that of a rhubarb plant and a to\igh crooked stem covered with H]n\v>. dangerous to touch as they enter and inllame the lle.sh causing it to tiM.r and leaving wounds difficult to heal. The trail was also frequently blocked with fallen trees ol uiiiiiiiiie size that would hav*> taken days to clear, and often a new trail had to lie cut rouiul tliem ; tu^arly all the log bridges across swamps aiul streams li;nl been burned by the Iiidians to prevent pursuit after the mnssaeie nl' M . Waddington's trail party in 1HtJ4. These we repaired sufTicieiitly lor lii passage of pack animals. At the (Mid of the first day we had onlv liniu'livt miles, where we had to wait for the canoes, as by the windings of die liv.'r they had a longer distance to go. The river was very full and rapidly rising, and to avoid the siioii'.' currents the canoes had to be kept close to the ))anks, which were strin\ li ;iiii'; )ad li'idvcst'iDlilj':: rered with siiiii.>, ;i\usiiiridge ; here we unloaded the canoes and made a temporary depot, calling it the canoe iunding. The surveying parties went on ahead, and the Indians commenced packing* the stores, ike, on their backs ; soon ai'tor noon on Tuesday the advauee party reached the ferry, 2S milos from the "Waddington depot. Three ol'the Indians had towed up a canot.' with some provisions and cooking utensils; this cajioe I i)urchase(l i'oi the ferry, and put it iii charge of two Indians I then sent back all hands to pack stores I'rom the caiiue laiidiui:', ten miles ijelow, except a small i)arty with which I went across tilt' terry, opened the trail, and bridiii'd the streams uj) to the ureat canyon, two miles above, retirrning to camp at the ferry the same evening. On the -JTth June, just one week after w<' Icl't the Waddingtou depot, both parlies (W and X) wt-re encamped at tht; foot ol' the canyon, 32 miles up tho Iloniathco river. I paid the Indians ior their trip and sent them back to AVaddington depot for anothei cargo. I then made up a party to commence the surveys and sent the others to pack the remainder of the stores from the canoe lancing and ferry to our present camp. \Ve traced the line of Mi . Waddington's tirst attempt at making a trail through the great canyon l)y the side of the river to the point where it was slopped by a perpendicular wall of granite, we then ascended the dills b\ a circuitous line to explore a route by which we could iiml looting to make the survey through the canyon. From these heights the scene ])re.'oint commenced a traverse of the Waddington trail whiib goes over a spur ol' the mountain by a zisj-zaii' course at a considerahh> du- tance from the river and at the summit its altitiide is 1300 feet alxivo the h'vel of the river. In three days we completed the traverse to Ihi' hank of the river at the head of the canyon and pitched oiir camp there. Tho d> tance traversed was a})out three miles, but in a direct line throu^rh thf canyon is only 3000 feet. AVe continued the survey by the river bank three miles jiIjovc this, which was a most arduous task ; the trail was rough and often blocked up with hug(^ masses of rock fallen from the cliffs above, and the roar oi ih' river and booming of the boulders striking the rocks as they wert> carried down by the torrent were so deafening that we coiild not hear each other speak at (-nly a few ieet distance, in conseqiience of which most of the \vi rk had to be directed by signs. The work was much iacilitated hy the "VVaddinsi'ton trail, though the bridges were mixch damaged and imprac- ticable for pack animals, we managed, howtn'cr, sometimes only by a finale log, to pass over them safely. In these three milt>s, cliffs about two hundred feet in perpeiidiculn: lace, corno close to the river in two or three places, then recede from it several hundred feet, and in places slopes at an easy angle come dosi' to the water's edge, these are strewn with fragments of rock ol i>vory size. I measured a fmv pieces roughly, which ranged from 500 to ],<""i cubi(> yards each piece. In other places the valley opens oiit in gravl bencht>s, covered with timber. Saf.tny/n>/ t've)tini<;, Jiilij idHi — We arrived at the camp where thi' late Mr. Waddington's trail party, consisting of sevenceeu men, were in I'^t'^ attacked by the- Indians in the dead of the night, while they weri' am were murdered and two escaped. Thf camp prestMited a sad spectacle, square patches ol bark neatly laid marked the place of each tent, articles of clothing, a bhudcsmith's anvil and vice, a broken grindstone, bars of iron and steel, sledge hammers and varioii.- tools were scattered about ; while against a tree, set up in an orderly manner, were hall' a dozen shovels ready for next morning's work ; no livin;: soul seems to have visited the spot since the dark deed was dnno <'vM years ago. 118 t lino throuifh the lag-od and iinprac- dimes only bv a The i)artio8 had now had ten days' drill, and I thoii<«-ht (hey understood how I required the surveys to he done and were able to prvjeei-d without jie, I put Mr. Tiedemau in charj^e ol" party W to continue the survey up the Hoiiiuthco river to the Chilcotin plains ; fixed their starting i)()int and irave instructions to each of the oflieers respecting his special duty, not concealiiiu' IVom them the difficulties they had beiorc thi'Ui. They were now lil'teen miles from the canoe landing, from which all their supplies had to lie packed on men's backs, three miles of this over the rough spnr ol a mountain 1,800 feet high ; the C'lahoose Iiulians were ^ftting tired of thi' work and would not in any case go beyond the foot ol' the C'anyoii, ;ij ihi'V weri' afraid of the Chilcotin Indians; so that all the assistance tin- paitv iuul at present to depend on was from two families of Chilcotin Indians whom we found hunting there; of these we engaged all that were capaole of packiiiii. viz : three men and two women, and the party had proba1)ly .V.t iiiiles of rough country between them and the point \o which sui)plies I. mid lie sent them Irom the upper country Ijy pack animals. At this tinu' thi' prospeet of this party getting through successfully was anything but a>>iirintr. Oil Sunday, the 7th July, 1 walked from the \V (;ani]) over the moun- tain to (.amp X, ami remaimnl with (hat party till Wednesday; I ])ut Mr. (jamsby in charge, gave him the starting point and instructions to work down the valley to Bute inlet. I had no anxiety about this party as every 'iiove brought Ihem nearer their base of supplies. Meanwhile the Indians had come up on their second tiij) with supplies, ajreat part of which had already reached Gamsby's camp; but they ''ame in with light loads and were evidently getting tired of their work ; thoy commenced to grumble, and refused the wages which I had agreed 10 ^ive them. I was Jirm with them ; gave each some money on accotint : lold them to go down to "Waddington depot and wait for me, and that 1 would .settle with them as soon as I arrived. Wedntisdaj/, lOt/i July. I took leave of the X party, ]Mr. (iamsby ac- I'lmpaiiying me down to the^ ferry whieh I had great diiiiculty in crossing, ■liver being now at high flood from the meltiny of the snow on the mouutrtiiis. 1 then with three Indians walked down the trail ten miles to the caiioe landing, where we arrived at live p.m., took our canoe and dropped down the river to the Waddington depot, twenty-live miles, in I just two hours and a quarter. To my great joy, I found a ship's boat moored to the landing, this li'louged to H. M. Gunboat " Boxer," and Captain Fitzgerald and some ol Ills ollicers inunediately came to welcome me. They had been waiting for liR'siiue Sunday, and brought with theni P, O'Keilly, Ksq , County Court I Judge, with a constable and Indian servant, who were on their way to imot the Chicd' ol the Chilcotin Indians, to enquire into and arrange the I iiilli'it'iice thai had arisen between a squatter and some of his tiihe; also jMr. D. McMillan, whom I had sent for to join the W party. The Indians in camp at "Waddington Depot (of whom a gi)' d number, h^ith their i'amilies, had come since I went up the river) had refused to ym Mr. O'lieilly and party up the river, alleging that ihe water was too 'skookum" (strong) and dangerous We called those together \vh(; had 114 jusf (.(.mt^ ilitwii with ni(>. iind askod thtMn if they would i^o up aiioth' tri}) ;it niic'i', thi'V siiid no, they wuiitcd to rest hall' a moon. I iuld th,.. this would not d them to decamp at oiir,., aj wc sliouid ciit^iiyc otlicr Indians, and tliey must not remain thi'ie in n\n\v.\ them, Tlinrsi/ni/. 11/,'; ,//////, at daybreak, we .steamed down the inlei, and it noon anchored oil' Stewart's island, on which the Z party were eii(am[i,.,l Mr. Michand in chari^re. I immediately sent a messenger to a vilhii;.. , I'hicletah Indians, a lew mih's xip the strait, asking- the cliier to hrmit down a number of his people who had appli<'d to lis I'or work and wh.a we now wished to engage. I spent the rest ot the day with Mr MnhaiM examining' the channels and the surv(>ys that had been made. Nexl iji ■We continued oui survey from sunrise, aiul at seveii a, m. we inct i;r messenger with the Indian Chief and several canoes full of Indiiuis, uii! directed them to the gunboat, to which we returned at ten a. ni. .\;; : breakfast we engaged the chief and twenty of his tribe to go witli ih - canoes to the head of Bute inlet, and thence xip the Homathco liviT w:'. supplies i'or the surveying parties. These lutcletahs are a warlike tribe, and, holding the narrow rliiiii!,.;< about V aides and Thurlovv islands, were formerly a terror to the ntlu': Indians and th(> iMrly settlers on Yajicouver Island, They are linely buii', strouLi and active, and they seemed anxious to work for u^, those whni. we (lid not engage exhibiting great grief at being left behind. We started about lujon, and on our way irp the inlet went .i.^hovf m;;! visited \\xo camps of Indians whom we had discharged the day hejoic mw recovered some rope, axes, iVc , which they had appropriat.ul ; on arriving at the head of the inlet we found several of them still occupyint;- the slv^h at the de])ot ; but at sight of the blue-jackets — whom they evideiitlv il;l not expect — they quickly decjimped and have not since gi\eii u> ai,,- trouble, I then wrote letters for the W aiul X party, telling them uhiilli"' occurred, and requesting them to furnish Mr, O'lieilly with supplii-- ''(. give him all the assistance in their power, 1 also gave Mr McMiiJu bo'h vei'bal and written instructions, and at midnight took leave and w-nt on ]>oaid the " Hoxer," wliich immediately steamed away down ihcnii' Next day, ndieved of all immediate care, I felt the re-action, and ImiivJ lacerated n,)'d thoroughly exhausted with hard labour and anxiety, I 'H- joyed til.- luxury of a thorough day's rest, as we steamed along ai.'eiiirti;' l)eautiful islands that dot the Strait of (.ireorgia. On Sunday mor;iniL', 1''" July, we arrived in I'lsquimaulr harbour just one month from tie'ilayv. started from the same place. JOUKNKV TO QUKS.VELLE MoUTH kSU FnRT AIjEXANDKIA I remained a few days in Victoria, and started — lOtli .luly- ; the first steamboat tliat made connections with the up-couutry stag"' From Yale I had a Li'ood opportunity of inspecting the line by ihi> Fru^-'' -MMMlMMr^'"" 115 ,mJ Thompson Rivers, which had hct-ii survcyod hisl year ( 187 1) ; tliis iipinnin'il •-<» iuiproini.sir\i;- ihal I shuuUl not huv<> considi'icd it worth an iiiKtruiariital hurvt-y tiji (Hin'r roviU's luid ht'cn t'Xplorr passed the Q piirty's ('anip by tho road.sicU-, a ;.i\v mill's to llu' Wi'ht t>r iiakc la Jlachc, and at IM a. m. same dav iirrivinl ,i( till' l"iii iiiih' house, heri' Messrs. K. and .1. Mci.cnnan Wtjrc wiuliiiii' lor iiie: iil'lcr coiisullatioii with the I'ornier wo ininii'diately si'Ut the hitter buck tuthe ciiinp to o-et ready a pack tram to uo aeros.s the Chilcotin country with Mipplii's I'or the W Part) etimiiiij;' up the lloniatlico Uiver. Mr. 11. M'-l^ennau and inyselt went on by tlie stuye to sjoda creek, and tlu'ii(.i' by steamboat to (.^uesnclle mouth, carerully iiotiny' the character ul tht^ banks of the Fraser on our way up. On Friday and Saturday we ixplorcd the country I'roin the mouth of the Quesiudle river, twelve miles lip to ihe head ol'the lir.st canyon, and h)und it practicable lor a railway with ii I'avorable place Ibr bridtiiny the Fraser river. Ivuly on Monilay niornuii;-, the 2!.tth July, we returned down the Fi;i!>('r l)y steamboat, and noted a line on the rij^'ht bank hivorable lor a niihvay down to a stream which enters the Fraser about :i,) miles above .^li'xamlria. ^Vl' iouiid the pack train waiting- opposite Alexandria; got itput across ihi' river l)y the steamboat, and there Mr. Mcljennan lelt me. ioLK.NKV TO HuitATlICO PASS AND RKTURN Fraser rivers. BY THE ChIECuTIX AXD .EXANDKIA ,(l_ir)th July-'; The train consisted ol' twenty pack animals, tou'elher carryiu"' over ■i.iiUU ll)s. ol' supplies, and I'our saddle animals for the mast"r oi the train, il'iiiuadore) two packers and a cook; three ol these were Mexicans and on»' Hi^li.sh. They Nvere with dilhculty persuaded to ..,'o as rumour.s were ril'eol' liu' warlike altitude of the Chilcotin Indians, but when thev saw that 1 uas (Ictcriuiued to <>'o they rtduclantly co/isenied to ;.^-o with n'le. At Alexandria (with the assistanct; of Mr. M(!(linly, a retired oliicer ■il the Huason's 13ay Comi)any) I engaged two Chilcotin' Indians a.s oiiijti.s with a horse for each and one for myself— also a iShuswaps Indmn a.s iiiii'i'pnner, who understood the Chilcotin language atul a, little In'eiich md a Canadian axeman, whom Mr. McLennan had sent me from Soda creek. We ttiimpt^l that night near Alexandria and iiext day, Tue.sclav -"Oth July, Wf started at seven a. m., on the old Bella t'oola trail" which leads by Ah'xis and Puntzee lakes; at four miles we hail risen 1,100 feet above tlie levi'l ol the ]""raser, and at six or seven miles crossed a stream 20 I'avi wide and rtiiO leetal)ove the same. Thi.s .stream is nearly parallel to the f'ra.ser l)ul runs in an opposite 'Ureciion, tlion turning at right angles hdls into the Fraser about twentv- iive or thirty miles above Alexandria, the valley allbrding ;i practicable iiUf for a railway from Quesnelle mouth southwesterly on the. Chilcotin plains. About three miles farther on we recrossed this stream at the ibrks where a smaller stream enters from the south west, the lar<>'er one bearino- 15 = o iir, iionrly wost. Wo followofl up th«i A'nll.-v of th.- smnllor str<l ill.- -ti'i'iiiu; at clcx en imlrs iioi,, AloXiiiidriii \vi' r,iiii|)('(l (No. 'J) lor tin' lULilit. Wfdni sildij, Ms/ J It///. We roiiliiiurd ill) ''"' ^iH'»<' viiiicy whhli inm ojuMU'd out iu a ciiiiiu ol' small laki's, swiiuips and iiiiir«h u^adow.s ; lo ;iv,,|,i tht'se \v<' nuidt' a dcviat.Ou to oui' ri'jht aci()s> an uid plain ol' Nuiiit tiiulHr wlu-ro \vi' had to do » uri'at deal ol (.l)oi)piiii;' s\ liidi iiuudi,; imped, .(1 um progToss. Ill tlu' al'tonioon vvi' got hack to tiic valley iiud ouuipt'd (No ;j| hy a strcani Howiny northwards ovit of a, small lake nl)out twi'Mty-onc luilis IVom Alexandria. The aneroid indicated thai we had ri.sen i-Uni t,.,.| .,, the last I'ourteeii miles ami were now ahoui 8jO(l leet ahove tlic [.v.i i ■ the sea. On our leit the hasaltii; hell that crosses the I'^raser hejdw .\ii\. andria rose in domes two to live hundred l»M't ahove the levtd ol ili,. |il;i;n and six to eiiiht miles to the noith a range ol soltly roundi'd well timbfivd hills rose I'rom the i)lain to an elevation of three hundred to six hundi. 1 leet ahove it and ran ])aiai.el lo our coursi', iieaily southwest. Tliinsdaij, \st Ak^hs/. AVe lollowed the same valley all day and iii ih, alternoon reached the Tahartee lake ; at the southwest end ol' which i.v n, extensive iishing station ol the Indians and a hurying ground ; the Iwiu. meter gave the height ol' the lake JMOU leet ahove sea level ; the wat.' llowed from both ends shewinn' that we had reached the «livide oi waic shed, the stream frt>m the west taking a northwesterly course ; lainp.! (No. 4)— 32 miles. Fiida//, •liid An^us/. Wi^ crossed to the south of the valley takiiiii ti. hill side on the inner cur\e of a lake three miles in length. At the h'Mi; oi'this we rucrossed and all day followed a line of heautiful lakes, dear i< crystal with gravelly bottoms and borders lined with black lirs and wi, little underbrush. In the evening we camped (No. 6) near the houd .! one of these lakes clost^ by a pyramid of basalt •JUO feet high ; c.'tair irnia Bute inlet and that he wcmld certainly soon be here. I gave Alexis a liwo dinner and alterwards smoked a pipe with hnu, which put hun in hi'iit' humour, and he agreed to go back with lis, at least as far as thc> I'hilcoaii river. Saturdai/, Srd August — A ride of fourteen miles across a stony and plain covered with a stunted growth of black fir. extensive swamps a\A marsh meadows to^jthe right and 'eft of us, brought us to the Alexis lak«. near one of which the chief has i rough log-house, his head-quartors. By the aneroid these lakes are abuut .".,'JoO feet ahove the level of the >e;i and a stream Hows from them southward to the Chilcotin river. By a 117 stnnun, wliich for vtT :.'n(i I,.,. I liujii' 'K'vi'ii iiiilc.>, iioii, viilicy wlucli now ll-iulow.s ; I«)iiviii(l ill ol' l)unit liiiihi.r lUdUi illllirdcd oil! ml caJiipi'd jN,) :i| t twt'iity-oin' ni!li'> riKi'ii i.iui) f,.,.tii| above (he l,.VHi i' 'ruHcr ht'low Airx li'Vt'l ol ill.' |i|ii;:i, idi'd vvi'll liialjrivii red to six luiinii,..,! IWl'Kt. r all day aiul m ih. end ol' which it. ,iii g' round ; the haio- I lt'\ I'l ; tih' Wilt." lu' divide (ir waii' y cour.se ; (.'umpi'i; le valley lakiim- ill. iiylh. At llu' h.M.; Iltllul lakes, clear i- jlack lirs and vhi; near the hciul ..: ■t high ; i'.'«tiinaii'U ove sea level ■>'"'■ )laiii ol' ai)pareiiuy chiel', and aiiotiu". et Mr. U'Kciilyln ays and w.is vt';y liained to luiii ilu' een him >tim imii '•ave Alexis a U'W'; put hull ill bi'ti'' ir as the Chilcoim icross a stouy aril nsive swamps id to the Alexis lak«. head-quartiM-s. Bv \e level ol' till' >f 1 cotin river. By a Mnnll stream llnwincr into one of the lakes we eumpi'd (Xo. »>), and re* iiiaiiicd there over Sinidiy — warm weather willi thnnd.'r showers. The idiiel' Alexis Icnjcs I'lillv lil'ly vears ol'aii-e. ratlier under the middle h''i'jht, hiis smalM)lael< re,s(Ii«,ss eves, expressive of distrust — he wa.s evi- ili'iitlv friirhteiied as he knew that a laru'e party was eominu' up the Ifo- imilhco n'er and another erossinir Ihe l''raser;il William's lake, hoth partn'.s armed and eonvery'inir on the Indiaii camps at Alexis and Puntzee lakes. [ pointed out to him that niv i)artv was not armed exeept with o)if rille Tor k.lliiiu' li'ame, and tried to explain io him the olijeet of our work, a.ssiiriii!.' him thai we should not injure, in anv way, Iiim or his peopl«^. trrndiiallv he seiMned to comprehend this, and th'Mi chatted pleasantly — if that were jjossihle IhroU'jh an inleriireter. Miiti'tiii/, ')th Aitii/isf — At sunrise Iht weather w.is cold, iilmost freezineared on our riirht lor several days and which wi> had been u'raduilly ai)proacliin!j-. The aneroid iravc the summit of the Pass 1,000 je.i above sea level an.l the crest of the raiiiri' would be liOO to AOO |'o(d above that, —we (hen desoend»>d <>Tadually into the valley of the Chilcotiu aiul reatdied the river ibout two p.m.. and Pimped (Xo. 7) about seventy-five miles from Alexandria.. .Altitiule of -ivcr. about 2,000 leet above sea level. Tii>'Sf/'ii/, i]f/i Ai/srnst. — Forded the Chilcotiu river — about forty yards wide— and ascended the pl.iteau on its riiiht bank, which is about '.Oo leet hiirher than the river where we crossed ; about three iniles from camp we .struck the runtee lake, and follow(>d up its north bank near to its head — \vi' then j)assed over a spur and in h ss than a mile came upon Puntzt^o lake; there is but a narrow neck of land lietween the lakes, aiul both drain intothe (-"hilcotin river. Ifere the (diaracl»»r of the country ch.nires consi- (I'rahly. Hetweeii Alexandria and the Chilcotin river it is a roUinir plateau, the elevated portions covered with a shallow parched soil, supportinii' a forest of stunted Idack firs from three to twidve inches diameter, and randy exceeding lil't(>en in(dies; and scarcely anv urrass. Th(» depressions arc Idled with lakes, jwiids, swamps and marsh meadows, often in long lontiiuTed chains ; the slopes of ihe valleys sustain an inferior growth of bunch ijfrass with wild vetches. After passing to the south of the Chilcotin river the country assumes more of the character of a rolliuir prairie; low ranges of hills, dotted with olumi)s of trees, triving them a parkdike ai)i>faran(>e, enclost* open Valleys covered with bunch !ra,ss and adorn. I with beautilul laki's; l>ut still the I'ouiitry is better adapted foi' n'razinn' 'iiaii for airriculture ; the soil is gen- t>rally dry and sandv, r(M|uirinu- irrijration, and the (devation of th'» valleys bciui;' nbout 8,000 feet above; sea level, they are subject to >iummer frosts. On leaviuff the Puntzee lake the pack train went b\ llie trail ovtn- a hi^h hill, but T followed up the north side of the lake and the valley at the ht'rtd ol it and over the hnv neck ol' l-nul which divides it from the Chi- lauoo valley. Puntzee lake is about six miles lonu" with a very irregular and picturesque outline. Followiu'u- up to the (.'hihiiico valley [ struck the trail at fivt> p. ra., and found the partv encamped (Xo. ^') near the ','hi- lauco river about 94 miles from Alexandria. lis Wnhii'ihni, 7//i Aiitrnsf — rroHs.'d tho Chiliinco rivor— nboni to fn WKIt' — IIIKl It mill' |). Ill ICIM IumI th.' Inot (»!• j'list iMid of Tiitlii liil |()() iiiil.'.s iVniii Aicxiiiiiliiii , till' Ir.'iil rollowini^'' llif iiortli wi'sl l)iiiik ol ili. liiki' IliKiU'/li I ehiirmiiiif viillt'V liouiiili'il with rollmu' unrk-Iiki' liilN. At el. -v,. II II II, . vvi- iiift Mr ( )'I*''ilIy'.s pnity, with Mr, T.'i.liinni luul I wo iiX'-iiii'ii iVdiii the Nurvi'viiitr i>;uty \V ; (his h;nl h(>i'ii ciirhl cli,. (•()iiiiM:jr IViini hi' cniiiii III' that purtv, nml iriive ilojtlonilih^ tu'Couiits nl' th^ (lilliciiltii's ihi'v h:i(l I'licdiiiitiT'd, I'liiiiltiii'j' liiirh iiKiiintains. cross torrriKs i)r lorciiin' ihrji Ill'JUnnrl;! W;i\ thriHiuli iiliiiosj iii])ciictral)ii' fi'diir «^\v;\inii- \Vi' round at'l"rwiud> tin! thi-y had 1 ii niisK two Iiirlians whom \vc lim! h'lt in ( hari>i' tohl th«'iii that a l>aiid ni' ('hih otin Indians — (with whom llif I'lucli'lahs lia\c :i lend) — wcri' roinin'j- down tin' vaHcy, upmi wlii.li thov thrt'W (hiwn their londs. rm to t'leir ennot's and niado lor thcr 1 mill.' Mippli- with all [lossiMc speed ; thus the W |)irt\ wore eut oil' from their IVoiu the ('o;ist, and Mr TeiiU'iiiaii was on hi« wav to Soda iii'f deavour to 'jd supplies sent IVoiii there; lint I had antieipati en il t!,. ditlienlty, otherwise the partv must have been broken up, Ibr nil iImi provisions would Imve been eonsumed Iohl;' Ijefore Tiedeman eonld hiwi' ndieved them I supplied Mr. (VReillv wi'h jirovisions Ibr the n-st r,i his iourney to \lex;mdri,i : the ehiel Alexis went baek with liiiii ninl Teidemaii and his two axi'uieii returned with i n(> ih e (» veil 111 'J' W' camped (No. !•) Iiy the maruiii of Tatla lake not lar I'roi;. thooamp of K('o;;li the y the lloiiiiitlieo river into the Bute inlet, and camped I\v a siui'l stream near an Indian burviuLi' li'iound. Friiln/i, '.Ul\ Aiiixii^f. We had now (Mitered into th«! Ilomathre \\.\>^ throuLi'h the Caseade ehain ; travelUno- for soino miles on a hiii'h t ' pan lied land covered with stunted lirs with a (diain of lakes on Loth siil- of us, (ill we eame to a deep s\vami> — 1hrou'.ih whieh (lows a .-Iiii;i;;>!i stream or canal, cnnneetinu' the two ehains of lakes into one at Pdiill Ink'. here Ave had to unload the iiuiinals and jtaek their loads by hand nvaini> a mile ;i lid lur th. Ol I wi' I'ame to a steep till! over I! illlillll !'■' >o w • feet hi'jh, over whii li we attempted to ;:et the pack train, but laili'd, had aiiiiin to unload the aiiim;ils. and with tht' assistance of a few liiiliiiii\ eaniped near, \vo carried the loads to the lake and rafted them rniiml lln' blulf. This detiiined the pick train a whole day, 1)ut I went on with :i •small advance ])'irtv. and at noon on Sunday, 12th Auu'ust, reaidied i!i" head ol' Middle Lake —estimated about 144 miles from Alexandiin— aiui camped. No. 12. iin Tiiflii Ink.', nhi.'" Wi'sl l);ilik (i| i', rk-Iik.' hills, h Mr, T.'i.lciiiui hocii ciirht il;iv< accouiils of tli. IS, crrtssiini' 'jhh'ui ccdiir s\v;unn ' Indian uuidr h IiKliiiiis. wlviii ' lldllllltllro I'iv,.; IIS whom We liiiil ins — {with wlmiji illcy, upi>M whicli It' lor thi'v h(l)\w^ •om thoir Mipplh? to Sodii •■I'i'i'k to 1 iiiititjipatt'il ih" up, for nil th'ir I'liiiin I'onM liiiv IS i'or Ihr I'l'St (,\ •k witli liiiii ;iiiil ; I 111' (M'l'liiU'j W'' hiTiiinj) of Ki'oiih liiiL!' on thi' lik'> IVoni wliirh tlitv luinhcr of lun's-'- "hod till' hoMtl 'i; 's loiiii' ami 11-'' (1 the \vati'rsh''i! Im-iisi'v rivi'V, mid inipi'd by a stn;i!l TToinatlu'd \).\i-^ a liiu'li liiiiii'iu' '''. \('S oil l.otli side- lows a >liii;'L'>!i ThtTt' was no tniil for animals lii-yond this, sf) Isctit .'mi Indian mid ono ,it the iX''mi'n with written instniction* lo Mr. McMilJim, thi'n in (-hururo of •i;irtv ^V, whose ramp was esliiiialed in In' i'ortv miles disliint, or live ilnvH* .iiinif} with II pack. Mmn/'ii/. 12//j Aui^itsl — About noon tlie packtriin arrived, and we ii,;i(|t' inlrpot I'or the supplies, Mr. TeidtMimn ami llie one axentiiu he hud Aiihliiiii ' oiiiiiieiiced to make a nil't to take the >iip|)lies down the lake I'll., poviiioii ol ilie ]),irty lielow wascritie d : tlii- three Indian^ whom I had illi iiie iVum Alexandria wmild '.''o no tarth>r and started on .'I'jill w ■ir ri'iiiiii home Most th. Ind I'llS o r ti le ||e|.. I bur 111(1(1 were awav •ilitili'i "I liNliiii'^', and it \v.i-»(nic.stii)i ible iC the lew that \vere left eould .faiii'tl li'i' till" hard work ol packmcf over a rouijh nid nickv eomitrv, I'll ihiit possibly the whole of the snr\eviii'j' partv wimM In' Ibreed to leave and come up Ibr provisions, which Wdiild serinoslv reiard their ir work ; 'iiun'ss I explained all this in my instnietions to Mr McMillan, assiir- I'lL'' liiiii I would flo .ill that possibly could be done to relie\c them, and inrnniiiiiii him that Mr. ()'K'cilly had promi.scd to use his iilmosi t-udeavors M I'li'j'iio'i' Indian packers to come to their assistance. Fortiinati'h he was siiccessriil. and a p.irtv ol Indians reached Mc- Mill'in's camp with suppli''s bi •ire aiiv ineoii veiiience had been siiU'ered. ik leave of Mr. Teideman ami started on roturii journey lakine- levels with tl aneroid, and traeiii'j' a line j'ov 'i" niilwav as I went alonij-, and makimj' rou'i'h topo'_'ra]>hical sket(.'h"s for ii" u.'i' ol' the surveyinu' l>arties. TravelliiiLr li'j'lil we advanced rapidly ii|il!)fl'(iri' noon ol' the ihii'd dav we ]ia-sedthe I'oot of Tatla lake Leavini; I'liiitzee trail we lollowed theChilaiiro vallev, and camped within nine ;il..sor llie conllueju'e ol' the (Miilancn iiiid (Miilcotiii river; W e were rlad I' have K'l'l the elevatey arrived in i^ood time, mid cai h tofd< on his b.ick a load of provisions down to the \V ]xirty, arriviiii;- when the party had rci' (lays provisions left. These Indians turned ont to be excidlent vs. and remained with the partv the rest of the season. In the eve- ' irei: !'irii l-j'i II); itiily th '.viirki 'nnqwc. camped near the Junction ol' the Chiico and Chilcotin rivers. 120 The Chilanco and Chilcotin are charmins;' valleys, varyinsr from n f.^^ hundrt'il yards to ovev a mile in breadth, in which g-roves of iiv..sa;i. open prairie alternate. The bottom lands covered with a rich iTowtho' bnno.h jjrass which, now ripi^ and mellow, looked like fields ot waving corn, throuiij'h which meandered in (jTraceful curves, iVins^od with willoiv alder and ]>oplar, the dark clear .str(>ams IVom the lakes on thi' t'le\'atM,i plains. The pain nfv.>yish irrecn of the litrhter i>'rowth of bnnoli urass an^. artemesia that rarpetcd the upper benches and rounded hills which honiii the vaUcys was in aii-rccablc harmony with the dark folia'a-c ol' th" spruv and fir trees' a,vu> could bi> obtained at rriodorati' cxpcnsi' by tlie erection ot weirs iiro>^ th- riA-ers which, above the moutli ol' the Chilco, are not subject to h. r,v floods. The Chiico is a turbuhMit u-lacial stream cominor down from thi' (,'>> cade mountains, much larirer in volume than ^Ki> Chilcotin above thi>ir : n flueuce : their united currents make a fonniaa.ble river eiqhty to n hu:i dred yards wide and very rapid. Sntiirdny, Mlli A't cros.sed the ed^'e of a basaltic ridi^'c clo.so tn •[]• river which wonlil require a short tunnel. After this a beautilr] pl.iii! for scA'eral miles: then hiu'h bluffs of chiv and rock beg-in to closi' in .11 the river, which wouhl necessitate some lieaA-y excavations. In th(^ eAeniny- we camped hi;• seven miles, where we camped. (No. 1(5.) On our jourmn' of the last two days, I noticed that the river wi- descendiiiii' at a much greater inclination than the valley, and. eonseqiwr- ly. the banks increasinu' in heiirht ; but from this point dowinvards !v valley rises from each side of the river in two or three stejis or heiichfs .• alluvial formation, shar]dy r at dilferenf epochs. <)ur present camp is on the lower bi'iirli!' the river, and bv the aneroid th(> heiu'hl is •22on feet above the lev.'] ol li sea, and that of the upi>er bench is 2480 feet, f found snbseqneiilly tk this heiirht is maint lined not only on the Chilcotin river, hut on ih'' Fraser, Clearwater and Thompson rivers, at points two hundriil iii!.- apart ; the height of the up])er benches, by the aneroid, varviii'j -"K 2400 to 2500 feet above the level of the sea. 121 un-oid. viirvinij TuesiKif/, '20lh August. For the first twelve miles of this day's Joiir- v tlie vaiU^y was rather rough, and broken with a number of land Mini some of them well grown over with shrubs and grass, others ol more ivaiit date, and looking very insecure lor constructing a railway on ; then «y oaino to a rocky bhilf, the l)ase oi which is washed by tlif river lor hall a mile or more. We could not pass this, so we had to go back and liiiJ a way to the summit of the hill, aboiit 1400 feet above the level of til.' rivov, descending on the other side into a deep ravine with slopes so .1,11) that it would not have been possible to take loaded animals down. The valley got still rougher as we advanced. ; serrated with a close >UL'cession ui lateral ravines which commence in the hills that bounu the vallev and get wider and deeper as they cut through the successive ,.'iKhes towards the river ; many of these, even on the upper bench, t'ievt'u hundred feet above the level oi" the river, are one to two hundred ieet ill bieath and the same in depth. In places where the valley is contracted by a swell of the hills, the whole' of the benches have been carried away by the river, leaving a LMiitinuous slope of loose stones, gravel and clay i'rom the brow of the iiill to the river. In other places parts of the clay benches are left standing in huge bhapelt'ss masses, turreted and broken, presenting the chaotic appearance of a country that has recently been swept and torn by a great Hood. In the evening we descended with difficulty from the upper bench on which we had been travelling, by a steep slope to the edge of the river and camped (No. 17) about four miles from the Fraser river. Weilnesdai/, '21sl August. — We left the Chilcotin river and ascended the lull which bounds the valley on the east side, from which we had a birds eye view ol the Chilcotin valley down to its junction with the Fraser, and which appeared even rougher than that which we had traversed yMteiday ; we lollowed an Indian trail along the brow of the hill till we reached a cross valley that cuts oil the acute angle between the two rivers above their coniluence ; this cross valley is considerably higher at ilie end next the Chilcotin than the upper benches of the latter, but as it shortens the distance considerably and cuts off some very rouii'h ground in hoih the Chilcotin and Fraser valleys near their junction, I directed the >urvey to be made by this route. AVe followed up the Fraser valley two '■ three miles, then we had to make a long detour to the north to head out a deep ra ine ; passiuu' this we ascended the high level of the rolling piatenu and saw spread out before us, ts far as the eye could reach, an undulating grassy plain dotted with trees, the water courses and lakes lj''iiii;- distinguishable by belts or groves of (ir and popLr, and close to u.-s was a deep but open valley which we could trace far away to the north till lost in the undulations of the plateau. In the bottom of this, right in our course, lay a cultivated farm, to which we descended — 1,40011. — by very steep slopes, and there met the owner L. \V. Kiskie, Esq., a Polish gentleman, by wliom we were hospitably entertained and from whom I received much useful information about the country. This valley looked so favorable that I wrote to Mr. R. McLennan directing him to make the iirst trial survey by that route and endeavour 1 M^ to get from the head ol' the vaUoy by some depression in the phiteaii W the Chileotiu A'aUey. We camped (No. lb) by a cross stream in the Fraser v;illev, uljoui<. miles from Iviskie's. 'J'/iuistla//, 'I'liid Aii^'ual. — Mr. Rislcie had informed me thai rln^Qpui. hadcrosst'd to ihe west .-^ide of the Fraser some two weelvs befur.-, and w.r,. now nearly o]>posil(i Ciiimney creelv. I sent the paclv-train tlicrc In- ih lower trail, iuid takiuy v\ iih me one man we rode by the re^alar trail to ;, point opposite Soda creek, where, after some delay, there beini;' no ie;iui;i i'erry, a boat was sent across lor us. Journey to C.^iuijoo. Fridai), 'I'^id August. — I sent my man i)ack to tlie <^ camp willitii. horses; wrote instructions to Mr. Iv. Mcl^ennan, who was at the bjO iii:i. house, res|)ectini!' the surveys; then hired a wa;^'i>-on and pair of horses i see as much as 1 could of the country between Soda creek and C'arihoi, while a pack-train was Ifciny- got ready for my journey eastwards. Ithj'. been suggested to me that the gap tliro-igh which the Fraser rivi'r (.'rov. the basaltic belt below Alexandria might be found narrow eiiouiih to s[i,i: with a suspension bridge, l)y which the diflicullies and cost of iros.siiiat;; Fraser valley wotiid be greatly diminislied. I, therelbre, on my way up scanned the valley closely, and estimated by the eye that at the narrowr part the dill's on each side of the river are fully one mile apart. At Alexandria the valley opens ou.t by successive benches to a rau . greater breadth than at any other portion below Quesnelle mouth, aii there are lateral valleys or depressions on each side by which their:;: table land could be reaidied with grades suihciently easy lor a good \\-iT:< road, but too steep to be worked by locomotives of an ordiuarv laiini, train Above Alexandria there are heavy land slips on the h-ft bank >: the Fraser ; bitt the right bank, of which I no\\' had a good \'ie\v, lookrii much more favorable ioi a railway line. 1 therelore directed Mr. K. M.- Lennan to make a Hying survey of the Narcosslee valley from tho poiii: where I crossed it on the trail from Alexandria to its junction with th Fraser, twenty-live or thirty miles farther north. At Quesnelle mouth we enter the Cariboo range, which is a soa •: mountains covered lor the greater part with a dense growth ol' si)ruLeami iir, and intersected with numerous narrow deep winding valleys. Hiii- has evidently been great geological disturbance; the strata is hroki'ii aw tilted up on edge at various angles, and in digging for gold old ohaiui'.^ have been found deviating considerably from the present lines of ihf water courses. There is a o-ood road from Quesnelle mouth to Barkerville— aboui u miles — and possibly a practicable line for a. railway might be I'ottnd v,p one or more of the valleys to a point near the head of the north arm u: the Quesnelle lake, but eastward from that to Tete Jaune Caciie no indication of a practicable route has yet l)een lound. I visited several oi the goldmines ; the largest works are those of Mt^^> Kurtz & Lane, about two miles below Camerontowu ; the valky ili>^^' 128 . in tho plateau in;', ser Valley, aljoiu>..; me thai: \\ir Q p,i;i-, i'ks hei'ori'. ami w-rH k-traiu ihcre liv Hi.. the reti'.ilai' tvaii Ui;, ire beiuy no lunula; le Q CM nip with t:i. was at ihi' l;3u imi.; lul pair of horses t. , crock and (.!aribo'. y eastwards. It LI ' V'raser I'ivi'r (jro><,- irrow (.Miouuh to sp; 1 cost of r!'os>ili2l:'. lore, oil my \v;iy up that at tht' narrows lile apart, e beucht's tu a mUi ;. [ut'siu'llc mouth, ii!i by which the n ;;: ;y Ibv a liood \\i\':» an ordinarv raiiwr, on tht' li'it baiih i: a good \'h'\v, ]ooi<.(; lircctod Mr. R. M.- Icy from the pom; s junction with th' which IS a ^iVi ■'. owth ot s])nu:i' a:iil iug valh'y.'^. 'I in'; .strata i.s lu'okeii ami ■•old old ehaiin-.- .■)vescnt lines ol' lii'- ax irkervilh'— aboiu '." n-iiu-ht bo Ibuiul up 1' tho north iirm '■ Tote Jauno Cacii-' d. :s arethoso.d>W' n ; the valley [kv- widens out to an extensive meadow which th"y are attempting to drain, !,iu hidierto without svicccss ; thoy arc, however, sending up more j)ower- liil machinory, and great hopes are entertained that they will ultimately be sucoesslul. I returned to Soda creek on the 2nd of September, where Mr. Mc- Loimau arrived a lew hours al'ter me and reported his survey of the Nar- cosslee valley, which was satisfactory and left no doubt of a practicable hue i'rom Quosnello mouth to Bute inlet. Next day we went on by stage to the ISO mile house, where I com- iileted my topographical sketches of the line to be surveyed between the Homatheo pass and Fraser river, which I gave to Mr. McLennan to assist him iu directing the surveys. Jot'R.NEY FROM THE 150 MlLE HoUSE TO THE NORTH Bk.WCH OF THE Thompson uiver. Fndai/, 6th September. At a.m. I started on this journey, taking with nie one Canadian axonnin, two Indians, and a train of seven animals, including saddle horses. We followed the well beaten trail leading to the forks of Quesnelle, ahout eight miles, then took an Indian trail running in a more easterly directioiL On the second day, at noon, we entered Beaver lake valley, which we followed up for an hour ; then struck across a neck ol' high iaiul to a Chinese mining camp, on the Hor-elly river, about fovirteen miles above its junction with Quesnelle lake. Near this we pitched our tent, and remained over Sunday. The country traversed these last two days is an elevated rolling plain, the highest swells being about 4000 feet above the level of the sea. It is much cut up with narrow crooked valleys, in which there are numerous small lakes ; the bottom lands atibrd a rich pasture of meadow grass and vetches The Beaver lake is the most important of these valleys. In some places it is fully a mile in breadth and contains some good agricultural lauds, and abundance of meadow* grass ; on the slopes are some patches ot int'erioi bunch grass, but we are here on the northern verge of the bunch srrass belt. This valley joins that ot the Quesnelle between thirty and forty miles above the mouth of the latter, and in connection with the Horsefly valley, atl'ords a good line for a railway between the Clearwater andFra.ser rivers. Accompanied by our Indian guide, I rode down to Quesnelle lake and took the level of it with the aneroid ; we followed Captain Mitclndl's trail IjV the Horse 11 y river, which has not been used for several years, and for many miles it was to much obstructed by fallen timber that we had great dilticulty in forcing a way through. Moiiddi/, \)/li Sefdtmbtr. — Started at eight a. in. up the Horsefly valley, which we iollowed for an hour to a poait from which our Indian guide had agreed to take us by an Indian trail direct to Canim lake, but now he acknowledged that it was so long since he had been there he had forgo'ten uc Way, and he said the country was so full of swamps and broken ground 16 124 that it was hardly pnssihlo for us to u'ct throi^'h. TVe had, thorolbre v, strike tor tlie Mitcht.'li trail, \vhi^- able swamps ; then again many ol the biidgi's and corduroy louds \v.'i rotton, and couhl not carry the pack animals; after passing a iraubfr.i: lakes, ponds and marshes, ve tbund on the second day thai we hail jw-.i the dividing ridge and the streams were now flowing southward; m 'a. OA'euing we camped m an open A'alley with plenty of good meadow i;ra,« in the bottom, and here Ldt oiie of our horses which had biokcii dum, and could go no farther. Wetinasdaji, lllli iSefj/eniber. Started at iS a. m down an ejieii vuli., and ill two hours struck the waggon road at the 111 mile hou>.'. lit!, i discharged the Indian guide, laid in some fresh provisions and tlu'ii f.iiiiin; eastwards, following the waggon road three miles, we then took ii uei beaten trail which in lour hours led us into the valley of ljiidi;e civ.k and we camped on the baidvs of that stream. Thursday, i'lth Heidember. — We followed tho same trail tu llic jioii where it crosses over to the South side of the valley and thence ovir ih hills to the Clearwater,— but as Mr. K. McLennan ;nid inlbnucd inr li.ii the R paity were coming up to tho North side, we followed an linliii^ trail on that side ; the valley here is fully half a mile wide and vi'',i:> good meadow grass, and on portions ot it, partly covered with iddii iw^ poplar, there is good soil for agriculture. About noon w<' eauie iip'w ■ party of haymakers, but they had not seen or hearu anything of ibt >ii!- viying party, and knew nothing of the countiy l)eyond the luad ol Ciiii i.. laKe, live miles distant. On arriving there we found that the ii;ul bUjii '. short at the lake as the Indians from this point travel by canoes uu ij' lake; this was perjdexing, but as 1 fully expected the surveynii; party \va.> at no great distance 1 decided to go on, and we proceeded slowly, iiickiiiil our way amongst liagnients of rock and fallen timber, sometinii'^ lolkiw;!;. a deer trail that would lead us several hundred feet up the niouiuaJiiii' avoid rocky spurs that jutted into the lake ; towards evening we iiiaii for a grove of poplars on a low tongue of land shooting into tin; ij^m expecting to lind grass lor the animals — but on arriving found only i^ow rushes lor them — here we camped (Mo. 6.) Fridni/, Villi iSeplemb^r. — Our dilficulties f'ri/ia fallen timber and <1-'?| cross gulches increased so much that we were forced to try the boin.ii. !'•' found it impossible to travel on the large boulders ; howe\ er, as the latn was now several feet below high water level, we found good footing i^ ""f'-^f-"'4*ji >^'.-i^><-^-. >.|..^J.».**aghJ 126 i(l"'i'« runiiuii;' iiouu li had bioki'ii down rniy louud fill,' to tlirt'c fi't't of watt^r on tho irravol bonchos formed from thi^ disinio- .'nition of fli<> noiu'hbouriiiir rocks. In this way wo wont for miU^s, !'ri'(|Ufiitly havini:' to swiin the animals round rocky bhilf's prqjfctin'i- into l.'i'p Wiitrr. Aboul nonii \V(« ramc to a larii't' st.i'am which wc crossed 111 iisinid l>ar at ils junction with the lake. On tht> niaririn of this was •ilciitv of niarsli i;Tass ; licre \vc staved t\vo hours to feed the animals ; we tht'U pi'oi'ccdcd, most of our wav in water, and .bout iu)on next day roachorl the I'oot ol' till' lake. Here we found the wliol.' valley covered with rich 'iTass and wild V(>tches. and remained two days to recruit the jiiiiiiiils. Tlieuuh the dilhcnlties of trnvellinir these last two days without a triil were vt>ry ti'n^at, the shore of the lake, alternatidv gravel or clay bi'iichi's .V) lo 100 ft>(>t hi'j'li and ](>u' ria'ht into the wiiifv with a few short l)lufls, presents no verv i^reat ejiii-inecriiiu' dilTiciilties Mr ill.' I ))ii-'h, and in places (.-wampy, that wi' hiul to kee]) well up the slopes ol" the liills that bound tht> valley. At I pm. we came to a mountain stream i)0 feet wide, with a rocky bed, i)m iht' water was now low and we crossed with little dilhculty. Beyond this the si'round b(>cnme so broken that we had to descend to tho lake, and try the shinirle. but we found it very bad travelling-, and had l'riH|U('iitly to swim the animals round clills ]irojectinir into deep water, or li'iivi' the lake and ascend st>veral hundred leet (o qrt a foothold for them ; ill 11 we would cet into swamps, o-n|ches, or a labyrinth of fallen timber, 'I'lm which it would take us hours to extrieate ourselvi^s. I had too few !:i"ii Willi me, havina' exjiecteil {o mi'ct the R ])artv bel'or<^ we si'ot so far. 1 Wiinls evenina', :u crossinn- a hiu'h spur, a ]->rosp(>et lav before us that "Alls nppallino-. — Instead of b-'ino- nt the foot of the lake as we cxpect(>'reat depth of water close up to its ^'loivs, Tlie south shore, thoULili 1)o]d, looked tolerably uniform, but'on '!i- north side where we were, the slopes ol a hi'jh rocky mountain came >li''''r down to the waters" (hIu'c, at |)laces terminatin;"' in cliffs several liuiidred feet in hein-ht. Between usaiul this mount.iin l.iv a toimue oflow liiiul eover.'d with cottoiiwood — In're we found some riislies that atlorded asiiiiit Iced for the animals, and we intehed our tents on tli(> beach. ^^ hile at dinner we saw lires near the foot of tlie lake, l)nt on the ''Ppositi' sido to us. which, from their number and size, we knew wercuot those of Indians, and thinkiiii;' thai thev niiii'ht be the camp fires ot the ^urveyinc partv (R) we made a lame fire on a prominent point to attract tli'^r attention " TmvA///, 17//, ,Sp//^rw/)p/-,- This inorniuiif by the aid of the telescope '^p plainly saw the tents of the \\ \vax\\\ and three dark objects on the uaier, which we thoughl were canoes coming lo us, but after waiting an 126 hour, we perceived that these did not move and that ihey were only lloatiii; trees, so tit t'.30 a.m. we started, with but a faint hcjpi' of reachiiii: tho inJ of tlu' lake, except with the aiiii> n; rock were of all sizes, from one to several hiiudred cubi(; ynr.js oarh across this it wa.'^ i)iipossible to lake th^ animals. I knew from expmi.'ii lliat the o)ily eliauee of a passage was close iit the foot of the clills, ii:,r the crest of the ran'je, from which the rocks had been detached ; croinn feonie distance back so as to traverse the mountain slope ohliipu'lv n-. commenced the ascent, slowly and painfully, now obstructed bv a m;^s^ i: loose rocks or fallen timber, now an animal weak throug-h want of fpi'd would stumble and roll down the hill till broug-ht up by a roek or tnv At last we reached the foot of the cliff and found a narrow pas.<;v.'.', rough but i)raeticable. After passinn' the rocks, we travelled r;ipidl\ i - an hour near the crest of the mountain, about 1,200 feet above the Icvfl ' the lake, till eominu: to a deep cross riivine we were forced to dcMviir nearly to the lake ; and so w'o went on all day, now ascendinir, iinw descendinir, makinir det'iurs to avoid rocks, deep ravines or massi'«o! fallen timber. — Towards evening, we reached a torrent that comi-s down between the mountain on which we had been travellinir all dav und th'^ lower range or plateau that runs at right anales to it, and forms th'' watershed between the lower end of Mahoud lake and (Hearwatcr rivir. Passing ttiis stream with some dilliculty, we knew we were sale nt l;i>r Two hours more brousjht us to the outlet of the lake, a river of thirtv 'n forty yards wide, llowinu- through the plateau in a deep narrow uforji'ri canyon. I scrambled down a slope of loose rocks to the lake and, atsoin-' distance baedc, Ibuud a place by which the pack train could di'sci'tid inn! shouted to my men, but got no response, and thousjht they had found > ■!!■' other road, i returned td th.' outlet of the lake, and, completely exhau-ii! lay down on the rocks to wvit lor the train ; an Indian had seen me mi reported it at the camp, and Mr. I'orrest now came to see who it was,—!)' assisted me in lording the river, and a few mintttes more we were di i',' camp of the long looked for K. division. From this the partv hul <-■:' ottr lir(^ and tent the previous evening, and had heard otar bell diirini; ;'i day, but thotight we were probably some miners '• prospectin:. , " iv.i.. the pack train arrived they would scarcely credit that v.e had liwu-i! animals over stich a country. These last two davs were the hardest I have had on the surveys, ai . we were in constant danger. Once my mule fell with nu' from the If''.' of a cliff into deep water, from which I narrowly escaped drowniiu : n^ a while climbing' a steep mountain side amass of loose rock and earth h'-i '< to move, carrying me tlown within lilty feet of the brink of a precipi'f •' feet hiiidi. — The whole statl were often exposed to similar daim-ers. IVc'if/csiJ,!//, ll^/Zf Sf'/if>'iiibei\ \Ve were too muih <>xhausted lo irn cii. so I spent all day in camp examininii' plans and profiles, with Mi. Maho"! the Engineer in charge of this party. I gave him the lev(ds I had tak'U ai various points between the waggon road and this camp, and iiistn.- ^,y 127 :; ,ns respoctinjT the survf'ys ; ho had very properly dpcidod to i^o up fhe siiiih sitlo of Miihoud lake, iind tho party rn;ikiii!i' fho trail were alrt-ady -viTal mill's ahtnid. All our animals had lost shoes, and were hurie and AhiUisit'il, so Mr. Mahood funiislied iiie with a fresh vrain. Tliurs'/ai/, in//i Sr/iffinher. Wt" started ai^ain, hut now, thi>U£?h the ..oimtrv Wius roniih. we had a ^nod trail to n the afternoon of the sivond day we arrived at the jxipction oC llie Clearwater and North branch of the Thompson rivers. By siioutin!? 'V attriicled the attention of the de;)0t elerk, who came ajid ferried us across, and there we camped (No. 1.'?.) H(>re 1 learned that Mr. John Truteh had waited several days for me, iiut had trone np the river two dny.- a ruce, hemlock and aspen tiees ; near Ttal't river we ::iM some fresh horses, and soon alter, the tr.il followed the slopes of the hills that l)ound the valley, which are covered with bunch rairie ; beyond this thi' slope- are much cut up wiih lateral ravines. At (J p.m , Just as it was .'I'ttiMu' dark, we came to a lonu' bridi^v close by the river, constructed by III' survey ini'- parties and leadino- on to an extensive "^lat with g'ood pas- !';!t^; here we encamped. (No. 1 o.) MdhiIoi/, iSi-fl :- : we started at 9 am,, and at one p.m reached the nimps of "the IT and V parties, where I Mi't \lr John Trutch. Here we camped (No. 16), and durintr the after- iioo'i 1 examined the plans and profiles of the TT and V parties with Mr. The V party, under Mr. Dewdney, had completed their .survey Trutch. '.o.\lbn'da lake, and were retnrnin flUlicuhics f liad met on mv w.- had thrown me a woek behind ♦^'^le titne T expectted to reach llmf imm' and thus I missed the opportunity of liavinij this important matter ('l,>iiv,.' up, and it was too late in the season to take Ihi' party hack TiiP'iilafi, '2\fli Sr/)/r)iihpr. We started at S n. m., and Mr. Trnti'h li;ivi'i' furnished us with I'resh horses Ave went at a aee ; soon alti-r ikkih we met yourself and par'v Hear the head oi' the caiiyon, more than : hnndrful miles soutli of the point where T intended to meet von. Init vn, arrived soc.ner than expected, and I was some Dislihi mil my chara'c : hut as yon had scii Mr. Mol)erly near the summit ol' the Y>ll"\\ TTead pass, and Mr Mohnn with party T a litth' farther south, ami i;iv.ii tluMU full instructions. IIkm-c was no in>cessitv |V)r mv i!'oin'i' on at jjriM'in r therefore turned back with you and we reached Mr. Trutch'.s cnnip th.. sanu^ eveniuQ". The U and V parties had now comu'cted their surreys and wcrijir- paring to return to Kami oops. .Tdurxky ruo^r Nourii Thompson to Victoria. {Tn rompnui/ iin/li Mr. Fleviiiitr.) Next inornino- we started down the valley, and at Tioon ontlicih;' day's journey Ave reach(>d the junction of the Clearwatf^r and 'Phomiv.: rivers. Avh(M'e we lel't our horses, and at 1 p. m. Fridav. "27111 Si'nt.w. embark(>d on a lara'e bont built bv the survevinii' parti(>s for cavrviiiii' •im- plies, and now, manned by four 2'ood oarsmen, we droi)pe(l rapidh' 4tnvii the river and had a ci'nod ojiportunitv of "seeint;' the railway h'ne survi'v^ i and the character of the countrv; m^xt 'day at !> p. m. we rcaidn'd K 'i;- loops, where we were received by Mr. Tait, in charii'e of ilic !I:ii|-';- T5av Tompany's Post, and sumptuously entertained. Mamlai/, '-'i^ffi Srpff inficr. AVe went l)y boat down tVie 'I'homsun r;v. ■ and bv the south shore of Kainloops lakiv cxaminin'j- thi- liiir survevcil 'ir the railwav in l^^TI to a point beyond the hiudi clitfs, where Mr. Tait hn! horses waitina" ^'^iv us.'bv which we reatdied Savannah's ferrv at suii"^>'i T remained there that niudit, but youisidf and party went on iln' -m\v evenina" to C'ornw.airs. where you were met by His Honor the I.H'iit.iniii; (Tovernor and wheiv^ T Joined you next day. Here vf)U iravc inslnn'iinth to Mr. John Trutch for the U party to surv(>y a line from Kaniloopsi' Nicola Lake ; and for Mr. Dewdney to take the Y ]iarty to the wcst I'li'l Lake La Haclie and wait instructions. On Wf'(hii'^ilai/. 2tif/ 0(/"hrr. we all started tofrether in an extra sIml''' for Yale, where we arrived on Thursday eveninu' ; next dav t)v j-t<^:it:i'" " ''hiward" we readied New Westminster, here wo received advici.-; Ip':; Mr. Iv. McLennan ol' the position of th(> Q and U parties, and tht'iv!" telehed Mr. Dewdney t<> commence at the Q party's initial peiiil ii'';i' the west (Mid of Lake^LalHache.^nid survey i line eastwaid to ne'i't thi' li party comincr from Clearwater. 121) aHlunlny, h(li Orlobei\ — "With the addition ol' sovoral trontlfnu'n ol New Wc.-iiiiiiiistcr to our party, uiid by ihf kind nltt'iitiou ol II. >icl.soii, I'lsq., \1. 1", \\i' wi'rt' coiivi'yt'd to lUiiTiird'h inlet, nml l:d\rii across iii a Miudl jii.;iiiu'i '" '!"' ''Xti'Usivc ('stal)lisluiu'ut of M«;ssrs. Mood), iJii't/ iV iMtdsoii, whi'ii' \vt' wcro hospitably fiitcrlaiiird. We wcri' llicii takfii over the luuilii'r viii'ds and saw-iniils, vvluTc we saw K)i>s ol the noble |i(.Ui;la> !• ir, over Uve feet diameter cut into planks by two cir- ,iiliii siiws, cm* jiiaced vertically over the other ; all the other .inaiiuviiii'iits and uiachineiy lor nianulaetuniii^' the lumber looked \,rv complete ; and now a steamer liandsoniely lilted up was in wait- ing, in v.liich we vv»'re takiii down the inlet, round English bay, and across the I'litmnee to Howe's ^ound ; a dtdiyhllul trip w liieh ga\" us a good iipportunity of inspecting the shores oT these beauldul inland waters; Bii':\invliile the steamer "? protiles, then re-embarked and continued down the iiili't.th'ii throuah the Arraii rapids and l)y iJcnl island through the L'aidero, .Nodali's, and Discovery channels, aiul JSeymoui' narrows, to Menzic's bay, uheTc we anchored I'or the night. Ill the iMcniiig wi' went asliore to the camp ol the Y jnirty, Mr. Michaud in charge, wln^re we examined the plans, and you L>ave instruc- iiuiis tor lurther surveys; we then returned on boanl. Next day we -laitt'd at daybreak and, closely inspecting llie coast ol Vancouver Island, wt' arrived in Departure Bay about noon. While the steamer was coaling we walked by trail through the woods, three mile> to Naiiaiiuo. >ome ul the party i)ispe(ded the coal mines; (»lhers ^lroll^(l ab(,ui oi- called on tiUMids, to pass tlu' tune till the steamer arrived. lliiJiitsiiai/, \)/li (Ji/ober. — We started early, and arrived in N'ictoria -mil alter noon; we tln'ii d'ove to hxpiiniault and went on board 11, M SS, "iScout" to visit C'apt. C'ator, the senior ollieer in command ol the North I'acilic station, who received us mo.vt ho>pilalily. We rt'tuinedto \icl(iiiaat live p.m., and the same e\cning yoiirseil and parly lelt lu the jU'ariier "Sir James Douglas" lor Baroun<.l. JOURXKY TO QuiiSNELLl'. l^AKIv Frii/di/, 11/// Ol tohei-~{ leceived your last iiislruciions this morning, ";! board the steamer "Enterprise" (at tin wharl), on whuh 1 was setting uui lor the mainland. i)n the IGth 1 arrived al Mie Blue tent, oi liiT mile 130 house, where 1 iin't Mr. Powdii-y in charuc oT Ihe V imrty, to whim I g-iiv»' instriic.tii)ii.s n'lutivi' to the I'Diirse of th'' liiu' to Itc surveyed lioimi,, east eiicl ol Kike La Haohe, so us tu cross the u iioyon road nt'nr the li^i- mile, hy whieh he woiihl i;et more easily into Hriiluc ereek va'il.'v, N,.j' (hiy I reached tlie lo'i lude liou.e, when I lui', Mr. K Mchciiniiii, uVi reported the position ol' the 'I and \V parlies, and u e arran^'ed tiih,v.\ hm- siirveyi'd up the Chimney (-reck valley, on ihr east side of tli,. ]."fj,.. river. Two (law uioi'c were spent in m'ltin;^' vcatly u pack train, am; hiring men to l;'o with me to Qiiesnelle lake. Ali»i(/ai/, lil.s/ Chi l»'r. — I started with tliree while men, twu Iiiili;i!|, and a train of seven animals; on the second days journey the trail (i(i>vi a largv farm in Heaver Lake valley, msav wliich we cnmi)ed ; tiiisval!., as lar a.- I could sec, each way irom the adjoining- hein'hts, looki'd n'liiiUh' ably lavorable I'or •'. line ol railway , and, as 1 have already sinifil, \\ifi>- is hut a short ueck ol" land between the head ol' it and Hoisf llv vallcv next day we arrived at the lorks of the Quesntdle liver; here tlitMc i< a thriving- mining- village chiellv" inhabitei' by Chinese, there bcin^- onl, three white men there, viz : — Mr. ( )liver Hare, the constable, Mr. HMnvth proprietor ol' the bridge across the Qui'snelle river and Mr jiiirkt: j miner. We had dilhculty in getting l)oals lit to go up the lake :if tlii> Im. season of the year, but, through the assistaiuu- of Mr. Hare, we ut hv succeeded in getting one lour oared Hat l)oltomed boat, and a siaall >ki!t. these were lying at tlie lout of the lake, nine miles up the rivrr. Mr Hart! and Mr Uarker kindly consented to go with us, w liicb \va,< v.rv fortunate, as Mr. Barker had b.-en uj) to the head of the ei-st arm lasi summer, and had carefully noted every bay and sheltered place Ihai would serve as a harbor of refuge in ca.se of storms, which prevail on thi.< Ink'' especially at this season of the year. Thnrs'/.ai/, 24fli 0/ lober. — We started with our pack train mi a viry rough trail up the right bank of the south branch ol Quesnelle rivor, anil at the end of nine miles came to still water in which the boats wen' lyin:r here we camped (No. 4) and I sent one of the Indians hack with th' pack animals to IJeaver lake, to pasture till our return The river for the first four miles above the forks is very crooked ami runs between high gravel benches or walls of slate rock; above this ciuivmi there is a land slip of clay and soft rock, leaving a face almost pprpi'iuliiii lar, and nearly a thousand fi-et high ; ;i.bove this the benches are low and the slopes at an easy incliiuitiou. Friday, 'Ibth October. — We put all our luggage and stores into the lar^ boat, which was manned by thr*'e white meji and an Indian Mr. Har Mr. Barker and myself, went into the smaller boat, only built for two. sf that even when well trimmed, we l)rought her gunwales in rather ilii>'' proximity to the water. I was coxsw^ain, but my chief duty \va.s l>ailiii.' out, for she both leaked and shipi)ed a good deal of water. At noon we reached Mitchell's landing on the north side ol the lake, and at lioOp m. we crossed the mouth of the lalse }iorth arm, and pa.-sed bet\v>Hii Cariboo island and two small islets; at 2:30 p, m. we reached Nim « poin^ on Lynn peniuHula, where we camped (No. 5) 22 miles from the foot o! t;u till' lake, The liin- of lI»o isoutli shori> ulthf lijl<»- I'ur tlu» liiht eis^ht mili"«, i5tult'ral)ly iiiiil"iiii, iiiul till.' sjopi-s iVoui thf WMtcr not ViTy stt'('|) ; th"ii there art! iil)()iU lour miles, in whicliit is rockv iiiul Inclicii to wht-ri' tlif mix mill, crt'clv t'liler.s tlif lako. l''roin thi.> to NIitrhi'll'> hiiKliiii)- (soutli/ is ii ii,it liciii.h ooviTi-'l with Cottonwood. MilohcH's luinliiiL!;' [Houthj i,^ on n luy loriiictl l>y ii l>i'lil lifiidliiiul that shoots uoilliwaid lioiri the mouth oi" llorM'lly rivtT, lU'urly i:ulliii<^- ih*.' laki' iu two; opposite this is false north arm, iiiul ht'lwei'U it and Nim's point lies Cariboo island. !>uhirilii/, -dfli (htitl)f,-.— \t had l)lovvn hird duriii'^' the ninht, and at il;iyl)ri'ak 'here were still white crests on tlu' vvaven, .\t 7:'i') wi" started ubliqiu'ly across the lake, making for a slmltered bay on the >outh shore; Wi' shippt'd a good deal ol' water, b\it in an hour we L-dt iindi-r the lee of Lipnett island, then passed through a narrow ehannel betwe^'u it and the mainland ; wt; then erept along shore against a liuhl ht'ud wi"..!, and at, lu::JO u.ni. came under the lee of a sandspii, win re 've lunched and waitt'd till the wind calmed down. We then went c.i till we came to the iiiidhiiid oitposite the north arm ; the cross seas from both arms strike on iii.v, and we found it impossible to roiuul it against a headwind, there- in' i.iiiuped (No. G) 42 miles irom loot of lake. The south shore of ■\vi lake, ironi where we struck it this morning, is an easy wavy line, and ihi' slopes not very stee}) All the hills that bound the lake on the south MiWare covered with timber from the water's edge to their summits; lho.se 111 tht! north are higher with summits of bald rock. Snnilui/, 21th Oclober. — It had been stormy duriru'; the night, but at ■iuiirise had calmed down, and at 7:;U) a.m , we pulled outjalong shore, and ,11 lour liours arrived at Slate Island (5S miles) where the axis of the l'aiil)(»o slate (gold-bearing) rangt; crosses the lake. We were now near hi- I'lUiance to the first narrows, where the lake is only Irom one to two link's wide, very deep and hemmed in by bold (dills all'ording no shelter; iRit it was now very calm, and at one p.m. we started niiain, hugging the shore, and in three hours arrived at Limestone camp (No. 7) — 72 miles — where the lake bends due north (magnetic). The lirst Itj miles of this ilay's journey, the shore line of the lake runs in easy curves and though the mountain slopes come down to the water's edge, their inclination is not great. Of the other fourteen miles six are bold ami rocky, but, wn'th heavy work, practicable for railway construction the re.si is easy. Mnndaij, 'l^lh Oiiobi'r. We were within seven miles of the entrance to the second narrows, the weathet looked threatening a storm, and we were afraid to take our small skitfuny faithev, we thi'refore took everything out ol the larger boat to the Camp, and with a good crew, umhv Mr. Barker, rowed up to the second narrows (7'.' iniles Irom foot of lake) ; here 1 had a hue view of tiie lake up the narrows (N. -Jo"^ E. magnetic) twenty miles to the last bend of the lake where it runs due north, six or seve',. mile- to its ucad;— we rowed about for an hour, so that I obtained views from ,«.eve- 'iil points, and I completed my sketches for the rough maji of the lake which I shall luriiish you with. This narrow part of the lak»' i.-. hemmed ill by bold rocky mountains, the clitfs along the shores rising 800 feet to ^'"j I'eet in height, in some places ovei hanging. My impression is that the lake here passes through the Cariboo range, for directly westward were the •AO snow crtppcd pciikH that \\m\ !)im'U om nnv li'li (norlli) all the way u[> iIh' l,i„., mill :i 11 tic lo till' Noutli ol ciisl wiTi' till' piMlis, appar.'Ullv "I tli" >,ijii, ruiii^'*' l)i'tw<'t'U till' rhoiiiptoii ami CliMiWiitiT, and wliicli, i (iiiiiiii;,.,| loiiii till' (fi'ld rann'o west oi' llic Columlna river, 'IIuti' Wnic no wrv hiyh moiiiitaiii.s visiUlc no. tliwards. Mr Harker coiilinns llii..,— Ill' says that tin Xiai>-iu'a rivi'V i iitiT* ili- north oast Hide ol' the lake tliroc or li apparently Hmi to Ooi) |eet ahove the level ol the lake, and rniiniii^ imul. l»d with its upper arm, nearly nortli and sonth. Krom these lriiai(>, M: liarker had a view of twenty to thirty miles through a valley oi |iii>. bearing Houtherly, hy whieh he was iniormed the Indians triivel, Iroiu yut'snelle lake to the Horselly riv»>r. The Clearwater river rises m a ran<,M' ol mountains u, ihr north ,> ol' Quesnelle lake, and nearly due east oi the latu-r it expands niioa i;ii. whieh can be rea( hed l»y a pass (the eiitraiue to w Inch I saw) suid to Ij' easy and not v»'ry hiti'h. 'Ihere is then only tin short spai.e Uyiwm Clearwater lake and the north or Carrihoo lork ol the Thoinpsuii riVfr about whieh 1 can uel no intorniation, more than that iheie ecrtaiiilv i> a pass. 1 have only met one Indian who had travelled ovei' it hoiin' \i.ir' ago, when he was too younu' to retain any clear reeolleetKiii nl ii, lii:- is undoubtedly part ol' the Selkirk range, and I have no exi)eel.iUou ilwij railway could he got through il without a tunnel o) eonsiderahle leu:;; but this route would shorten the line so much that it is well worth coiiv deration. Before I had eomplet^ul my sketches a still bree/e came up tlic lat' and we had a hai;' prill l)aek to camp ; al'tenioon it calmed down ami i! two p.m. we started on our return journey, and made Slate Island ciinip the same eveniii!!' (t'amp No. n.) The snow^ had been gradualyi'ivri)i!ii' down the mountain sides and next morning it fell within itm li. ol ilu' iiVi. oi' the lake, and everything indicated an impending storm ; the wind li;i'l sot in to the east whieh was hiir lor us, and though the lake \va> roii;;;i all went well and at 10 a.m. or Wednesday we passed Lipsiil island. ;i was too rough to cross over lo Nim's point, so we rollowod the south >hou round the headland to the Jiuuith ol' Jlorseily river ; here we lay l\vohou:> till it calmed, when we crossed over to the lieadland shooting uut Iromiii. leit bank of the Horsefly, and round the same to Mitchell's landing', on thf south shore, where wm' camped (No. il), sheltered from the storm tlml H"" swept furiously down the lake. Next day, 8lst October, we ifathed the loot of the lake where we found a pack train returning to the Ioik- unloaded ; by this w*' dent our luguage and camp equipage, and w. followed on loot to the forks and camped (No. 10.) We made this trip from the forks of Quesnelle and back iu eig.'n 183 Jivf, l)ui I icun't Ihiil uf could not irn throiiijrh to thn Tliornpsoii rivor us iiiviiH too latti in thi' H»'a»(iii ■Wi' liiiil to wait iit till' I'orks till t>iir pnck train niuii' up I'rom Ht'iivor ],|{,. ; we ihcii set i»ul lioini'waids. :iM(| I»y iiooii ol tlif ^th NuVtuiilxT irrivi'd iit ill'' IV) inilf liousf. Il lnul bi'cu Itittcrlv cold at our lust camp i\\i, l'2,) Mild MOW 11 hi'iivy snow sturni set in wliirji Innfi'd two t\i\y>*. IJiTi' 1 Iciirnt'il thill III.' K, and V p.irlit's had joim'd ihfir ,survi'y« in DndiTt' rri'ck vidK»y, ami that Ihf Q and W partii-s wcrn within a short ,ll«linii'o el' .'acli othiT in llic vaUcy nl ('hinint'v fiodv I ids(» hinl .\ h-tttT ;r()m Mr. .loliii Tnilch, sialmu: tint Ihi' T inrty hid anivi'tl ut Ka.nlnops, Irnm ilii' Y''lloVvhi>ad pass, and that (hi- IT pirtv wiiuld comidi'ti' Ihoir Mirvi'v to Xicnla riv' r in a few days. I iiaiiii'di:il.'iy drove down to tht' 127 niilo house, near which I found the W piirty <:atript'd, mid next day the Q partv came in. havintr coinph'ted tht'ir suvvev. and joined tln-ir lini' to th.at of the W p.irtv Thu"* an unitrokcn line ol instrumental survey, was completed IVora ihi' Piicilic coast at Hute inlet to the summit ol' the Yellow Head pass iu thi' Kocky mountains, au'l another line I'rom a point in the above (at tho juiii'lion ol' the f11e:>rwater and Thompson rivers) to I'ort Hope on tho Lower Krast'r ; and hefon" the end ol' the year a line ol' levcl.s was coii- ninied from Fort Hope to Pacific tide water at N. Westminster. Also a nmplt^t.' survey I'rom the head of Hnte inlet down its western shorts thenw ucross the channels and Stewart and Valdes' islands to the western of Seymour narrows, on Vancouver Inland, makinir a total of eiijht huiulri'il miles surveyed this season, exclu.sive of trial lines al)andouod ;tii(l many hundred miles of explorations. Rktttrn to Victoria. TliKi-xdn//, 1th Novenihn-. — T had arranged for the conveyance of the surveyiii'j' parties to Yale, whence they could ffct to Victoria by steam- boat. Some of tho parties were now on their way, and the others preiiar- Mil to .start ; tho packers were collectintr the stores from various points to ilie depot at i.'iO milt^ house, to which I now returned and made arranH> sleiii'li provide • I'litci*. At^Clintou the party went on by thestaye, but I remaiued d by over 134 a day to settle tome bufiiness. At Cornwall's T met Mr. "Watt, just return. ed from Kamloops; all the other parties above alluded to wen' now hfinr.. us, and on the 25th Noveml)er we arrived at Yale, thence hv tli. .((.am,.- "Onward" (the last trip oi' the season) to New "VVestminster, \nn\ lu'xt dm by the " Enterprise " to Victoria. Exploratory Survey for Line of Railway on Vanoouver'.^* huyu Remaining in Victoria till the surveyors were fairly at work on thfir plans and profiles, I l(>lt on the KUh December by the steamer '• Sir .Tam,., Douiilas" on her reuriilar trip to Comox, where we arrived the siinic cwv.- ins;. The steamer was tiu'ii put at my service to visit the survcviii" parties on Valdes island, where we arrived on the evenin<>' of tlif llih'an^i anchored near the camj) ofthe X party— -Mr. (Tiimshy in charat' -i sp,Mit Sf'veral hour.s in the camp examinino' plans and proliles. I then instructtMi Mr. Gamsby to continue his suiveys, by a lin(> which I marked on the i hi:;, towards i^fymour narrows, and endeavour to connect w ith Michaiurs paiv (Y) who had gone there a lew days bclbre to work back, and Ui whuii; I sent an Indian messenger with instructions respecting the arrani>('tn«'nt> I had made. Next morning at daybreak we started down the strait (notiiicr th^ character of the shore on our way) till we arrived off Coniox. wIumv Mr Home (in charge of the Hudson's Ikiy Co's. post) met us with a ciiiioo an ; some Indians, which he had eugasred lor us lor our trip uji 'he Courtemiv river Here we lelt the steamer and proceeded to the ("onipaiiv'.s stir.' to complet(» our parly and outlit ; the same evening w «> procured ;i cai; .' and went about two miles up the river and camped (No. I) on \\w liL'ir bank. The party comprised myseli and Mr. John McLennan (o! \l\- Commissiiriat) three Indians ami a Kanaka (Sandwich Lslander). It had been my intention to cross Vancouver island by the -;-n>!U Con\\\: lake and Somass liver to the head of the AHu'rni canal (I^arclav soun(li;iii: return by Home lake and Qualicuni river; but I could not siet Indians: sro with me, they s;;id it was too late in the season, and indeed tlic !i dii;: tains were already covered with snow well down their slojies ; and tli.- four were all 1 could get to go with me, and tlu-y only agreed to uo lu tlif head ofthe ust lake. ISdIiirdd//, 14/// Decc'})il)ri.--'Wi^ started soon alter davbrenk, 'eaviiiLiiuir canoe, as the river above iliis jioint isii succession ol rapids and not nav;i.'alii.' The Indians carried our blankets, stores, ..Sec, on their backs, and ear p' • trress was slow, as we followed the banks of the river, where i1iiM'('«i> hardly any trail, but a u-oo(i tleal of fallen timber, and, in suanipv \^\■y^•> a thick uiuleriirowlh of brush ; we made about seven nriles and i ainpnl- No. 2. Next morning, after travelling about a mile and a half, we ye;\AW. the outlet of I'arcjuhar la\e, where we made a raft and crossed lo ih.' north bank ; then, to avoni the rocky blull's which proj(>et into tlu' laki aiul i)revent a passage hy the shore, we took a line that led ns a ihui^i- derable distance ii\land, among the hills and to heights irnui ihive hundred to six or seven hundred feet above the level ofthe laki'itlw 135 r. Watt, just return. I to wore now helbn' lonce hy th.' .ti>amr.' iiister. and next day ANCOUVER's Isi,AM> rly ut work on th'-ir steamor '■ Sir Jam.., ivod the siiine over.- visit tln^ ^'urvoviii:: ninii' of til.' llili'aiui y in rharijc— I spi'iit s. I then instnidfii inavked on thpoh;in, ith Michaiul's •\n-w lac'k, and to whom I ^ the arraniicmonts [ he strait inotiiii;' tlv [ Coniox, whori' Mr lis with a ('MHdp aiM ip up On' Courtfiiiiv the ('ompany'^ sto:" «' proc'tirt'd a oaii"i» (No. I) on the rkb Mt'Lcnuan (of lb Ishuulcr). hy <.ho o-r.'at ('(Mitr.; (Iiarclav soiuuliiiii'i ft not e'ct Indians : ■ 1 iiuh't'd till' niin;;- ir slopes ; ninl liu'- ai»'reed to u'o lu lii^' lyhreak, 'caviii'j'n;: sand not uavijaM''. hacks, and "iir jvi- r. where tli<'rt' \v:i' in swanipv jila'"''" niles and raiiipid- hair, we roaoliiH! and crossi'd lo ilu' i-(>jeel into tin' laK' lat l.'d IIS a C(Hhi- eights Irnin ihiv-" ;1 ol' the Uiko ; llie ;ravt'llini,' was pheasant as these hills wuM'e covered with grass and dotted valh trees sinixly or in clumps, but the eountry is much broken up by mimerous ravines which we threaded by the assistance of thedeer tracks ; 111 less than an hour s'x deer had crossed our path, one of which the ludiaiis shot and dressed lor our use ; we then descended by a ravine, and ;i; p.m. reached the shore oi' the lake about tour miles above its outlet — liere we camped (No. 8.) Mondoi/, Iti//* DeciDthc'-. — T left Mr. McLennan and three men to ;0!istrucl a rait, and takin<>' an Indian and a g'un witli ine, T followed up liie lake several mill's ; we started several deer, a black bear and an elk; Icaviiiff the Indian to hunt the latter. I ascended the mountain risini;- from till' bi'ud (il the lake to the heiiidil of l,('.';o feet above the level of the sea. From this point, I could see several miles up the valley, at the liead of ilie lake, and with my telescope could trace the dei)ression, in which lies ilic chain of small lakes fornMn<^ a pass betwi'en lake I'ar([uhar and the ::rt'at t'l'iitral lake, the surplus waters of which lluw by the Stamps and .-oiiuiss rivers into the Alberni canal, on the west const of ^''ancouver Island. This is one of the routes, and probably that allordiiiir the best grades, iiv which the west coast oi Vancouver Island could be reached by a railway 111 cciincction with the \h\U' inlet route across tlu' mainland. Commencing cUJ'eymour narrows, where the mountaiti slopes comedown in a rugged line to the waters edge and rounding ]\renzii'"s bay, a jilain extends along the .shore of the strait to C'ourtenay river, narrow at lirst, then expand- in:;' lo si,K or seven miles ill breath, and— as seen from the deck of the M'aiuer— apparently rising llfty to one htmdrod feet above th<^ sea level. A ureat part of this plain is densely covered with timber, but upproachiiig thoCourtenay river, there is a considerable (luantity of prairio !aiul,aiid on the river some liiif larms are under cultivation. So far. the country from Seymour narrows is very favourable for a Iiaeof railway : ascending the Couvteiiay riv(M- to Fariiuhar lake, ther<' isa use of '.'oO feet in about six miles; but keeping in th«> gravtd lienches el(i>e to 'he river there would not be much heavy work in constructing a railway; this valley is timbered with lir, hemlock, cottoiiwood, ci-dar and A tew white pine, generally of large size. The line would then follow the north shore of the Far(|nhar lake, ard lU two or three places would eiicouiittM- roid^y clitl's of irregular outline, luiH'a mile to a mile in length, and so hiii'h that probabl some tunnelling would hr necessary, and a considerable amount of rock excavntion. This lake pa.sses ihrou'^h the Hcaufort range of mountains; the hills liiyond do notapp-ar so hii;h, and swdl with a softer outline, but the i)ass looks iiarr>;w. a-.nl f should expect some ratlier dillicnlt work before reach- mi; the j^reat Central lake, and also on the shores of thai lake, though the hiduuis assured me the banks \\.'r(> not very hiL;li. HaviiiL;' coiniilctiMl mv observations I bci-'aii to descend, and met my In- 'lian.who had shot two (le<; and settled our aci innil, then I'own the l>.iy ami camped iXo. i!) (in ii po;-,' opposite the ste;iiiih(),;1 anchoran'e, to await the arrival of the -Sir J,,!!;.. I)0U2'1.-1S." Here we loimd the Y party eiu^,amped — they had arrived rromValdi^s island at two a. m. this dav. The " f and sent olTacanoe with provisions lor Gamsby, and instructions wIit. to be with his party on the day fixed by Captain Clarke lor liriiii:i:iL' them off. Next morninor we cuibarked on fhi^ " Sir James Dounlas" ;iiul startri for Naiiaimo at daybreak, Ca]->tain Clarke kindly keei)inu- a couvm' !!,;i; £^ave mo the best opportunity of inspectiuii' the coast between (.'oiiuix and Nanaimo. T found this a dcjise v wooded jilfiin. similar to that between Seymmr narrows and Comox Passimr the Qualicum river, I could truer tlu' pi- V)y Home lake to th(> Alberni canal, which 1 thiidi would present som,. very heavy <;-rades for a railway, as the pass looks high and the disiuiiiv across is short. Approachinti- the harbor of Nanoose, the line would have to ho taki^i; some distance inland fas I have laid it down on the chiirt) to avoid ;i hi'.'li hiil that lies clos(> to th" shore. l)ut behind which the land (alls ell to i lower level. AVe arrived at Nanaimo in th(> afternoon, lelt the sieuiin" and went to a hotel Fridni/. '20>h Derewbpr — "\Vi' hired a horse* and wag^'on, and drove, d: the road to N;inoos(>. about six miles to Dunsmoor «S;: l)io-i:-le's co.il iniiit-. takini."- levels with the aneroid. The country is broken and liilly lU'i' Nanaimo, and there \Aould probably be some rathi'r stilt" u'rades. hut ii very heavy work. \\ Nnnaimo wi^ took in suppliers, enu-auvd a eanot' nii'l thre(> Indians, and <>ii Saturday mornini!- started them down the slraii with our 1. a'e'ai'-e and stores, with orcU'rs to be at thi> head of < 'ysiter har- boi;r on Suixlnv momiue'. I euLi'necd nil' ther eanoe, and, accompanied by Mr. l-'eruaison. junior. \vi' paddled nhmu' the shove of the strait a'i(] to lli(> head ol Oystei' harbour, about lour miles el a vi'ii-- trani]-). without auv ti'jiil ; our Indians were not iheic, hul ^ni I'"!""' family were just starting' i'or their village, ahoul thri'c miles down, eii i-ii- ]37 tdiicrui' of Iniul fonuinj; tho north sido of the hiirh(nu- , we wi'iit with ;li,.iii and thti'o IduiuI our iiii'ii. Mr. ]'"('ri>u>(>ii U'l't iiic here. It wiis now very cokl.wilh a still "bnM'zc, j;i(l \vo had a hard pull (>()ini> two niih's) aeroiss the mouth ol' th-* har- imur; tln'ii alony the .shori> against a stronii' headwind, with hail and snow. It jUiui't we camped by the side of a stream on a .sheltered spot. ■ )[o'i/'ii/, H'^iil Dcrcinhfr. — It had hi'en very stormy all niyht, and on rijinii' this niornin' Nanaimo river : thence to th(> head of Oyster harbour, the ground is ^viierally low and tolerably uniform. From Dyster harlxtur, the mountain slopes come to the water's odge, ;iiid the line w^ould hav*' to hui>' th'" shore till within a short distance ol' Horseshoe bay ; it wculd then strike across a tongiu^ of land and touch ilip head of the bay, then be dellected inland to avoid a ranue of hills lying' on the coast b<'tween that and Cowichan ; there would probably be some stiir grades between Horseshoe bay and Cowichan, but not very heavy work. On /lie 'lAlli luhninri/, 187'), I resumed ray survey of the coast lino and, aecompanied by Mr. John Trutch. wi-nt over the country between Esquinianlt harbour and the head of Saani(di inlet; the distance is about tij:lit miles ; in the middle lies Langford lake, on a plateau about lOO feet above the leAvl of the sea. The s^reater part of the ascent from Esq\;i- ffiault harbour would hav(> to be made in a distance of two or thrt^c miles. The descent to Saanich inlet is all within about the same distance, by a narrow valley or canyon : but as there is no object in sietting down near to the wafer level at the head of the inlet, the line might l)e taken w^eli up the slopes to reduce the grade ; the slopes are however rocky and in some places very irregular. Miii'ii i.v/. — On board the steamer " Sir James Douglas,'' Captain t'larkc, I completed the reconnoissance from the head of 8aanich iidet along' the west shore to Mill crcH'k. where the line from Cowichan would '■ome in, as shewn on the chart. On the whole of this distance, about t\^'elve miles, the rocky slopes of the mountains ci'Uie down to the water's '•(l:;'e. (in the lirst six miles from the head of the inhd, the rocks are preeipitous, irregular and broken in outline, so that there would be heavy rook txcavation and one or more short lengths of tuniieliing. On the remainder of the distance, the incliuation of the slopes is easier and the 138 coastline more regular, so th-.t the work of coiistriiction \voul(l l,t> com. I pariUively li'jht. From Mill creek to fovvichau the irre:-iilar broken line of the co,h> i could be avoided by ruiiniiiij; a line one to two miles iVom the shore a> shewn on thr chart, where the land appears comparatively low aiiil um' form; this would shorten the distance and avoid sou\e heavv works. On the whole, the country from Seymour narrows to Nnnairao, about 'S miles, is very lavourable I'or a line of railway ; the excavations orrockmid earth would not l)e heavy, and [ho only bridging- ol'importance woul.l bpowr the Conrtenay and Qualicum rivers, neither oi' them 0V(»r liil vnrds wid' From Nanaimo to Cowichan harhonr. about 'Ao miles, thf exi^ivaii i^ would be rather heavier, but the briduinii' light. From Cowichan to P'squimault, twenty-live miles, the rock excavntioi;. would be heavy. Taking- the whole Hue I'rom Seymour narrows to lilsquimimit— ahi." ItiO miles — the average oi' the works would b." moderate, and ! think liirh;-': than the average ol' those of the Intercoloniid Kailway. I have laid dows the projected liue d'railwny From Seymour narrows to Es(piiniault, o'lihc Admiralty charts herein referred to, ^sufTiciently close for all prespiii purposes, so there is not much need for any further surveys in thi.s f|Uiin.-: until actual construction is authorized. General Physical Features of British Columuia. To assist in explaining the character of the several lines survcvedand exploded, a briet description of the position oi the mountains and rivtrsni British Columbia is necessary ; but this, irom the limited information wulniVf at prtseul, must be very general, only noticing such sul)di visions or miliar movtntain ranges as have come within the scope of our survevs and atr'iiHi; the courses of the lines surveyed. The great mountain zone, ruuuing parallel with the shores ol i.i Pacilic Ocean, which distinguishes the western side ol the Nonb American Contmeiil. may be said to consist of two disiinc: chains, each chain composed of several separate ranges, not al\va\> con- tinuous, but very irregidar and broken; sometimes having the apiH'ar;iii:f of separate mountains <>rouped in various lines, straight or curved: ainl, especially in the Cascade chain, often presenting an irregular wild m'h 'i: moiintains. These mountains do not. as is generally supposed, decrease in IwvA'- towards the north (at least up to the 55th parallel oi latititde). On the contrary, the peaks of the Rocky Mountains are hiffher in British territory than farther to the south, some of them, it is s:ud, rue 12,0u0 to H3,00U feet above the level of the sea. But the valleys or passes are much deeper in the north, thusaltord- ing better lines lor road or railway; they are, however, generally mirroff at the bottom, with a rapid river flowing through, and covered with a dense growth of timber, rendering them dillicult to explore or survey Firal. The coast chain, generally called in British ColuinltKi tn' Cascade range, and soitthvvards the Sierra Nevada . — run'- lioiitna..; parallel to the coast ; although south of the 4!.»th parallel, in taliioni'" 130 uction won 111 ]>, s, the rock oxcavatiii;. I Columbia. irreu'ular wild mm •>'■ anil othoi" states, thore are intervals of broad plains between the Pacific i),e;iu and tlie foot ot the mountain slopes; but northwards of the mouth • Itho Krascr river, aloi;i>- the whole coast of the mainland of British Co- iumbia, the mountain slopes come sheer down to the waters of the Pacilie. »(■()«'//.(/• The Rotiky Mountain chain, apparently runninir parallel to :;i.' other, l»ul really converj^ini;;' towards the north, till they ultimately be- Miiieoiie chain. 'Hie distance between the axis of the two chains on the iiiit'ol' the I'nion and Central Pacific Railways is about f»on miles, while „ii tho lines siirveyed i'or the Canadian Pacilie it A'aries from three to tour hundred miles. llotween thest^ two chains is an elevated undulatinij' plateau, rauiriniT irum three thousand to lour thous-ind Kvo hundred feet above the level ot th>'sea. This is much broken by lakes and spurs irom the main raoun- iiiin chains and inferior parallel ranj^es and by deep valleys, throng^h which tlow the rivers on their course to tne Pacitic Ocean. The brt>adih of the coast chain on the lines \vhich we have surveyed i>!rom liiO to 120 miles from the inlets of the Pacilie coast on the west to the loot ol its eastern slope. The western slope is indented with numerous liuidsi or deep water arms of the sea, running- '■]() to 60 miles into the moun- taiii chain, and the main ranges are a chaos of bold rugijed mountains ot bare rock risinu' abruptly and ttu-minating in irregular masses of snow lapped peaks Irom 0,000 to 10,000 feet above the level of the ocean. Oil the eastern slope of this chain and extending on the plateau be- iweeu it and the Rocky mountain.^, is a belt varying in breadth, but probably averaging over one hundred and twenty miles, which is sheltered from the rain clouds comin<>- Irom the west l>y the great elevation of the (aseade mountains; on this but very little rain falls, and there is conse- i]iiently scarcely any \inderbrush, and the larger trees, chiefly iirs, are thinly ^'altered singly or in clamps, giving the whole country a park-like appear- moe. This is the celebrated bunch-grass region on which there seldom falls, more than a foot or eignteeu inches of snow ; and cattle, horses and mules, :ire pastured out on it all the winter, getting no other feed but what they ■ an pick up Irom the bunch-grass and white sage, or wormwood, that grows on the .slopes of the hills. This belt extends at least as far north as the t'hilootiii lake, beyond the 62nd parallel, but there the grass is inferior, ■ud southward it extends far into United States territory. On the western slope of the Rocky mountains, and on the high plateau ii'twcen them and the coast chain, several lartj-c rivers have their sources. Tlioiie llowiiig wes'tward or southwest have cut their way through depres- MMiisiuthe coast chain to the Pacilie ocean. The Peace river alone has tut directly through the Rocky mountain chain and llowing northeasterly j'Jitis the Mackenzie, which issues in the Arctic ocean. Of those llowing \\>stward. the principal are the Naas. .Skeena. Bella Coola, (liowinii into the il'Utick arm,) llomathco (into Buie inlet) and the Fraser. The Columbia iiv.^r aUo Hows through the coast chain, but althouiidi it rises in British '"Iumbia its lower course is in l.'nited States territory. It is obvious that, by following the course of one of these ri^'ers ■■'M nearest approximation to a itniiorinly descending grade fom a pws through the Rockv mountains to the PaciHc coast will be obtained. 1» 140 But uulbrtuiiately, thoug-h the rivers (especially the Fiiiscr) de- scend with tolerable uiiilonuily, the valleys m Untish C(;liuul»ia.— every- •where uarrow — du iiut leave much luarL'iu between the river.s and Uj,. loot ol the slopes ol the lulls or hiyh plains that bound them ; and us the rivers roll onward to the ocean, cuttmy deepi-r into the earth, this luiiruiu becomes more and more contracted till, on entering the loot hills ol the Cascade chain, it entirely disappears, exci'pt where depressions haw been made by lateral streams, and the valley becomes a lueic "orcn; or trough, the slopes ol Us banks rising m a sucjession ol benches ol clay or sand mixed with gravel or boulders, with here and there a rocky spur or bluh protruding into the river. These benehes rise Iroiu -Mi) to 1,UUU ieei above the level ot the river, and where they consist ol ihilt elav som.times come down in great masses alter heavy rams, and lor a liiue dam it up. in places the benches have entirely disappeared aiul tiii' slopes rise directly irom the water's edge Iroiu 1,000 to •J,,000 leet inhei<'ht. at various angles, according to the coiupactnes.-- ol' the materials ol wiucu they are composed. Down these slopes, boulders, gravel and disiiile'Tated rocKs irom the mountains above, are eeasele^^sly rolling, rendering u very dilhcult and expensive to construct a railway and maintain it allerwards In passing through the mam ranges the aver sometmies rus)>es in a torrent lor miles between perpendicular walls ol' solid roek, Irom l\vem> or thirty to several hundreu leet m height; this is called a canyon; some- times the rocky slopes are tolerably unilorm, but olten they are hroktu with bo)d projecting spurs and deep lateral chasms. 'I'he benches mentioned above — of which there are generally rlir.e on the t'raser and its larger tributaries — evidently mark the height ol llic Water at successive periods. 1 noted similar benches being loniied un the edges oi lakes and the still water ol rivers, by the Iragmeiils ul ro:kj that are continually roiling down the slopes oi the mountains. Ih'.' upper benches oi tlie Fraser and its tributaries, more than loH miles apart, 1 iouud by repeated readings oi the Aneroid, to be all about tlu same level, viz : :i:,4UU leet to 2,oUU above the level oi the sea. tio thai these rivers at some remote period must have formed a oonnecled sevu."- oi lakes, amongst which the higher lands would appef as islands As these rivers at successive periods burst through & me rocky bam r ill the ^^ ascade chain possibly assisted by volcanic action or otiier disturb- ing cause) they would subside to the level of another barrier ami lorm new beuciies on their margin, and so the process continues, the rivers con- stantly approximating nearer to a uniform inclination throughout their course to the ocean. The l^raser at present has the nearest approximation to unilonuity oi descent, but the process is going on rapidly in other rivers as described m my survey of the iiomathco canyon. In the earlier periods there luusi have been waterlails in the Cascade ranges of awful grandeur. i have stated that the Peace river flows through tin Kocky iSiountain chain, and this is certainly the lowest pas- through these mountains. The (jriscombe portage, betw een its souiiirru source, at Summit ialce, and the Fraser river, is a nihcs m length, and less than 5i4UU feet above sea level, tio that lakiug u 14t the Fniscr) de- i'. nvi'is and iile hem ; and as the larlh, Ihis imiriiiii loot hiU^i ol uie epressioiis have 's u inert' gor"e uii ol benches ol and tlieie a locky nse liom 'J.W tu •iisisl ol drill day IS, and lor a Uiue ,ppeaii'd and Uii' WO loel mhoighl, laleriais ol wiacii and dismlegraled rendering ii very am It alter wards, ituiit-'s vuslies HI ,1 ■ock, Irom iweiiiv . a canyon; souie- they are broken ••euerally throe on the heigJit ol the being loruied mi •agmenls ol rueks mountains. Ihe than IJU miles je all about the the .sea, Jjo thai oniiecled sene.> .IS islands. me rocky barrier or other disturb- jarner and lonn s, the rivers con- throughout their to uuilormity oi rs as descnbod in riods there inusi ideur. through ill' lowest pass :eeu its bouihmi is « miit's HI that takiug ^ point woll down on the Poacp rivor oast of tho "Rocky Mountains and fol- Inwinn- that river up to its Southern source, then across the G-iscombo imrtaire to the Krnser river, and desciMidinir the same to Pacific waters, is undonhtedly the line of lowest altitude from the plains of the N'orthwest territory east of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Tliere is another line branchinir out of this, said to be of comparatively low altitude, viz : — From McLeod's lake near the Southern .source of the P^ace river, wostwnnls by Stewart's Lake and up the Nechaco river to a chain of mioxplored lakes extendincf to the Cascade chain of Mountains ; followinor thps'> the line would then pass thromrh the mountains by the Dean river and i^hiinnel to the Pacific Ocean. Rnt of this route, scarcely anythiiii^ is known except from the crude reports of Indians. Th(^ only reliable information we have of this part of the coiintrv is from the report of an exploratorv survey by Lieut. Palmer, R. E. in ^^f\^2, from the Bentick arm, by the Bella Coola river, and across the Ohilcotin jilains to Fort Alexnndria, on the Frascr. He found the ascent from the Paeilic Wiitt^rs throu'jrh the Cascade chuiii to the central plat(^an so abrupt as tobe unpracticable for a wafriron road; the plateau at the head of the prooipice beinsr -S.f^tO feet above the level of the sea. Till' Bejitick arm and the Dean chnnnel are two branches of the larirer rhnnnel enterinir the Pacific by Fit'/huirh sound. The Pean channel and river pierce th(> Cascade chain 80 to 40 miles farth»>r north than the Bentick arm and Bella Coola river, but the country traversed by each is in all probability verv similar in character. There are several jiasses throuached from the east with moderate abrades. But on the western slope the country is much more difficult. The Athabasca pass is too hich to be con- sidered eligible for a railway route. The Howse pass debouches ou 142 the UpptT Columbia valley, almost at ripht ancrles to it and with a v.rv rapid descent, as shewn by the snrvcys made of this puss in IsTi ; (^^^^\ .'^ there is little pioba})ility ol' a pass beiniif loiind across the Selkirk raii'v between ihe upper and lower arms ol" the Columbia river, n Hn,. ",. railway through the llowsc pass would, on entering- the Columl)iu valkv have to turn at a sharp an^-le and I'ollow the course ol' fhat river dn mioriii west course about lOu miles to the grt'at bend, at the IJont encnnpiinii. and there make another sharp tur)i. and run in an almost opposiic ilir.Tii ,11 for about S.J l ileh to the Iviii'le pass, throuti'h the Crn'et, 'i . " sit.u>ii n ol' the Yellowhead pass is much more i'avorahlc. \\ i. entered ^■••'•:.: Lin. e:'st by the valley ol' the Athiibasca to Jasper lluusi'; n then Ibllosvs up lu ime valley nearly due south to its junction wiili the Caledonian valley, thence up the latter, due west to the summit ol'tlic pasv Beyond this the valley continues westward by a gentle descent to Ycllnw- head and Moose lakes. Thesf lakes receive the lirst tri!)ntaries ol ih- Fraser. and Ironi Moosi^ lake that river issues in a stream ;■>() to (!0 vari;- wide, which is joined by another branch of irreater mag-nitude Iroia ih. north bel'ore it reaches Tet(> .Taune Ca(.'he. Here il encounte s tin- Selkirk rang'e, or an apparent continuation of the same, sometirnt > cillcd ih.' Cariboo range, by vvhii'h it is dellected to a northwest course, in whi !. u continues nearly '200 miles throuu'h a deep valley, completely severiiii;- this range from the main chain. Having turned this at the great bond, ihi- river then tlows almost due south lor nearly 400 miles, thence westward till it enters the Strait oi' Georgia below New Westminster. Staudiiiii- on an elevated point nt>ar Tele Jaune Cache, the deep val- ley of the Fraser is seen stretching away to th(.> !iorthwest as l-ir as the eye can reach ; then, facing round to the opposite direction, the valley is continued almost in a straight line by the Canoe river to the great bend of the Columbia, at the Boat encampment; thence up the Columbiu in tlv same direction to its source; and thus the great chain of the IVoeky Moun- tains is clelt longitudinally by a continuous line of deep valh^ys over 4^1.1 miles in length. The portion thus severed from the main range is scarcelv inferior to it in altitude, and is equally rugged and broken; it is thai terrible snow peaked range seen stretching away Iron) Tri' Jaune Cache, so graphically described in Milton and Cheadle's '• Nerth\vi'.->t Passage by land." On the westerly ilank or loot hills of this range are the irold beariiiLi' reck^. extending south easterly to the boundary ol ]?ritish Columbia, aiul north westerly in the same line as far at least as the 5(ith parallel of lalitiulf, iunl probably much farther. b'ortunat(>ly, there is a remarkable depression in this ra)ige, affording an (eligible line for the railway irom the Fraser valli'V at 'fete Jaune Cache — by Cranberry and Albreda lakes — to the iioriii branch of the Thompson river. This depvessioti or gap is from three to lour miles wide Jroiu Tote Jaune Cache to the crossiuii- of the Canoe river, and its elevation is iiii much higher than that of the Fraser valley ; thence to Albreda h'ke th-- 143 ralW is narrow and moro clovated as it crosses the water-shed between the ••ibutarit>s oF the Fra>, and flows south easterly, while •hi' FrasiT takes a directly opposite conrse. and the two rivers, after Hovr- ::;!:i;uiy hundreds of miles, unite at Lytton, havin'jr (;ircnmseril) ^ m ^;,_r.j\in"(l space about '500 miles in d;:)mi^ter from north to south, and 1*20 mill'." iVoin east to we^t : this space ini^ludes the Cariboo mountains, and i!iM\h'ili' of it has a hi;h elevation, indented with numerous deeii valh'vs .i;:,l hike basins. The direct line to connect the Yellowhead i)nss by railway with Bute iii'n't, would cross near the ci'ntr(> of this space from (vist to west, and it is h'roiiiatwe have met with the rCr CHARACTER OF LINES SURVEYED. THE Veliowhf.ad p.^s'^ Eastward. Our surveys make the summit of the Yellowhead pass 3746 feet above 'hi' level of tj.'» sea. Plans and profiles have just come in from Mr. Walter Moberly, the •''i2iiieer in chartre of the S parly, who are workiim' from the summit of '"1^ pass, down the tnistern slope of the Rocky Mountains, towards Ed- ii.onton. Prom the summit, the line follows the Mii Ite River down the Caledo- !i:an valley to its junction with the Athabasca, a distance of 18 miles, '™ a total fall of ;3;vJ feet ^ 111 the first nine miles and a quarter the fall is o:dv IH feet, with L^'it work; in the next two miles the fall is 120 ieet, but by a slight de- to; 144 viation of the lino a irrade of 1 p<>r 100 oan he ohtainod without hiirri works. Thti rest of the distance to the Ithiihasca is l)y cjisv divs-^Piuli srrades, nowhere exceedini'' 30 Icot per mile, and the works will not j,^| heavy. The line follows down the left hank of the A.thahascii rivor, pI^whI miles, where it crosses, and then follows the ricrht hank. The suuU rA this portion are easy, and the works will he liy-ht ; hnt just bi>lnw ih. ( rossinc: the river washes the foot of a ranffe of hir hcvy rock euttintr ; th..|i(>: down to the rrossini'' of Tfocky river, opposite Jasper IIousc, the trniiUl will he remarkably easy and the works litrht. The distmirc I'mm ihJ snmmit r»r Yellowhead pass to this point is 40 miles and the total t'ulU^il feet, makintr an averacre descent of 11 feet per mile. From Kofky rivor tho line runs across low sandy flats lor a mile .ml B quarter, where it strikes the foot of Miette rock, which is washi'd IhmVI overflow of the Athabasca for aboiit a mile and a half. On this pirtiiiJ there would be some very heavy rock excavation, but it is mi open (|ii"vf tion whether the line should not be ki»pt on the other side of thcrivori this point is passed, so as to avoid the heavy work here, as well as atapoi further up, also the bridiriujr of Rocky river. The survey at the date of Mr. Nioberly's desp!it(>h, '27th Fihrimv,! 1S73, was carried six mil>s bevon/ the Thompson ami Fraser rioen to Biim'ii^ Inlet, on the Pncifir mast. From the summit of the Yellowhead pass the line follows dowiuhej valley nearlv due west to the head of Moose lake, 181 :„il(>s, in whiilith''| fall is 3-14 feet; on the fir.st 21 miles the fall is about 45 iVet pi-r inilMol Yellowhead lake, thence alontr the short! of the same ^ miles levt'l,li'aviii:| the average fiill for the rest of the distance "20 feet per mile. The line follows the north shore of Moose lake Smiles to itsouiwl at the west end ; on this there are easy undulatimr irrades. Tlio \voi>:s| from the summit of the pass to this point, 27 miles, will not be heavy From the outlet of Moose lake there is verv little fall for a mili'aii'hj half, but thence to Tete Taune Cache, 18 miles, the Fraser Falls '.'ill ' givins? an aA^eraije of over ol feet per mile. Mr. Mohun. the Ensrineer in charge of T party, ran the line aloii;;iw trail on the north side of the Fraser in order to reach th .^uiniin: Yellowhead pass before the winter set in ; and his prolilo shows :io| •Thlsjsdosigiiated RoiiU' No. 2, In the Repints ol .laiumry, )S7I, 146 i)taintMl without h>';ivr| is l)y oiisy (It's-piuhu, the works wilhidihj Lthiihrtscii rivi>r, olmvnl >aiik. rill' irriulis m] ; l)Ut, just l)t>lnw th" iirh rocks fo n('nrlv,i| rock cuttiiiir ; th"ii' por House, the !.'riiil<| rho (listiUioo frnm \h 's and the total lull-Hil ly Hats for a mile iiiiill ^'iiich is wnshi'd livthj , liait'. On this pmiHiil but it is iin open (|ih.[ mr sido of the riv'>rtir 'r(% as well as at ii point I ?])iit(!h, '2Tlh Fi'bnmr,| 'iddlo riviT. Thf m I, and the fall 442 I'M, I > sain(> level, ('oiiiii>ri.'i!| n will 1)i;> li^dlt. !TTON \raser rivers to Biirm'ilit llino follows dowiuhej 81 vuiles, ill which ih-'l »ut 45 iV'ct piT mil'' tol [,ni miles lovoU'-aviii:'! lor mile. |(> 8 milos to itsouiXI irrades. Tho wor'rii" Iwill uotbehfiny. lie fall for a niilfaii'l^l Eraser fulls '.'^t ' ran tho line aloiiLi'ibJ roach lb s"ii""''' his prolilo shows ;io| iiPprDXiinatiou to a lint^ which could he ohtuiiiod by niort; careful survoyH, lull "ivt's the ttltitudo at cerlaiii woU deliiiod poial.s I'roiu which the j,.,,f,i;jt, grades can bo »'.stiniat«'d. .\t Tfie .lauiio Cachi' tho lino leave's tho vallo) <•!' tho Frasor and turn- luiriilmost at rii^ht angles follow^ up a valley on a soiithoasti'rly course to V'liiht'ny liike. Th«' distanco ironi Mooso lake t(» this is about il- milos the average descent 'Hi loot j)or niiio. By crossing tlio Frasor near tho lf(. I ol Moose lake and running down its south bank a line to Craubeny Ink,', with'^iadi's approximating tho above, it is boliovod could bo obtainod. li is nut expected, however, that the work will bo light on this ctimi as the sides of the Kraser valley are rough with bold bluti's and lii'iit slopes, and about ton miles of it runs through slate rock. From Cranberry lake to tho ciossmg ol' C.'auoo river, iJJ miles, is practi- leiillv li'vel, as the surface of the river is only 20 I'eel below that of the lake ; IthHiua to Albreda lake, lU miles, there is a rise of iltj4 feet. This is on watershed between the tributaries of the Thompson and Columbia riviTs, and, by our .surveys, is ii.bOt) feet above sea level. Tho works on Ibis section will be light. From this lake, the lino follows the Albreda liwr 10 its coiilluence with the north branch ol tho Thompson, a distance Joi tleveu miles, iu which the descent is 430 feet. For about half the Misiiiiiee, the grade on the line surveyed exceeds one per 100, but by a Ibhi deviation of the line, the grade can be rodixced to ihat or probably liiiwer rate of inclination. At the mouth of the Albreda riv;;r, the liiu' crosses the north branch loi ihi' Thouipson and follows down its right or west bank near to its Icoiillueuce with the Clearwater, where it re-crosses to the Jolt bank at an IDi'.'lt' of about 45" with 400 feet of bridging. In this distance of 98 miles, the river falls 1,080 feet ; this tail ia not uiitorm, but in no case will the grade exceiid 1 per 100 ; curves of hve r-LTies, or 1,145 feet radius, will have to be tised in several places. The wuial character of the works on thid portion will not be heavy, as the k' niiis on low Hats for abotit one hfth of the distance, and the rest on travel benches, or on the face of easy slop(,'s ; with the exception of about foht miles through the canyon, where the work vvill be heavy. Two- kds of the distance through tho canyon is slate rocks with short cut- fe of -0 to 30 feet maximum Uopth ; the balance will be very heavy p.k cutting, with a considerable length of tunnelling ; but by bridging if river twice, the tunnelling can bo reduced to one of 300 feet and nothurof st»(i feet in length. About four miles above tho mouth oi' tho Clearwater, the line to Bute inlet branches off. The altitude at that point is 1,307 feet above sea lltvei. From Clearwater, the line follows the left bank of tho north branch |o: ihe Thompson river to its junction with the south branch, where it p-ses the latter with 300 leet of bridging, altitude 1,170 leet above sea Tf^'el. It then follows the left bank of the tmited streams to Karaloops, |«tjoiU a mile lower down. In this distance of 73 miles, the river falls 191 feet, or under three lit'?: per mile. lilt Thi' ffradoH of the liii» an» onny atul miduliitinir, only variod jn pasujn., from oui' Ix'iK li It) iihollii'i (il iliU'ciriil lii'iyhi, or in riMu^ ovit a iciclivshiir to rt'diici' Ihf (iuaulit\ ot »'Xh-\n\\'. amongwt ilitiht- is the Assinihoinc hhill, 7r the dislaufi'. the line runs on benches antl luu lliU^, una the works will Ix' liuht ; altogether this section ol' the line is v.tv Huiis- lactory, and the wt)rks on the average will nt)t be heavy, l»ut nietlium, mid might' almt>sl be classetl as t;t)niparativelv light. The tlistaiict' Irtim the snnunit ol' the Yellowhead pass to Kainlooiis lu 255 miles ; this, with 4."i miles surveyed eastward, Iroin \Im sauu; pavs, to Lao a bnde, beytmd Jasper iloiise, nniking a total leii<;ili i.i :|iiii miles of line, in which is embrat;ed the whole of the Kocky Mdiiiiiaui chain, which cannot be considered as other than remarkably lii\ r.ura'n. The work on the average is not ht^avy ami far lighter than eoulil hivi been expectetl in vicsv of the gigantic mountains which hi la iii in- valleys, olteii threatening to bar a i)assagt} altogether. On ihe who;. .>: this three hnndretl miles there need be no grade of a greater iiii'liniiiim than 1 per lOO or .')-'. i^O feel per mile, antl the whole line is on a coiiipiii;i- lively low elevation, the highest point being :5,74t) feet above the sea level On the Union antl Central Pacilic railroads, in the iJnitetl Slates, inore than a thousand miles of the line is above that level, and at several [»)W- it reaches more than double that height. After the Junction of the two liranches of the Thompson rivor, imii Kamloops, the joint tnirrent Hows nearly due west for about to ini.-i then southward about the same distance to its conlluence with the Fr;eer at Lytton, and thence the latter Hows through the Castiade cliuiii tu the Pacilic Ocean. The Ime surveyed follows the left bank oi the fhoiiiiiMHi river down to Kamloops lake, about seven miles, with easy ui.ides aii'l moderate work ; thence along the south shore of the lake : about a mil. and a half down it encounters a range of volcanic rocks live mill's ;ii extent ; on about half this distant^.e, the perpendicular basaltic i.lill> project into deep water with very irregixlar outline ; in this seciKUi tlurt woultl be very heavy rock excavation, including a /',onsidera])le leii!:tii ul tunnelling. The length of the lake is about 18 miles, and its altitude alKHU l,lo'' feet above the sea ; from this the line continues tm the left bank ei i!''- Thompson river, which, as we tlescend, is a succession of benches varying frtmi twenty to several hundred feet in height, much broken up I'/ 'I'-'P lateral ravines; and frequently the higher benches come cltjse lo the n\.:, terminating in broken slopes of clay, gravel or loose rock, varietl atmt'r' 147 " nw ' III ' ***i I ^iwr — |— -T*"rT- TsssrcrsTT >iily varied m pus^mj ii»g ovtT II Kicky simr l»'»Ut 1 I l,ll|..N l,,.l,,, »l)out t(»ur mile, I,; )(:k tt) lie cut tluoiiijli, lit nmxiinum cl.-pth IRth, of ullich ill,.,,,; B8 of day. ifruvt'l rr f will l»c sdiiu? lii'iu, will l)c iiishiicrork, )rk occurs 's iiml low lliitti, una »' line IS v-ry saiiv. ivy, Imt medium, iiiKi I pa.ss to Kainlou|is is IVom the same pass, total Icimtli I.I' :;iiii li« Kocky Mduiitaiii inarkahly lavnurahii' htt;r than could luivi which li.'ui 111 tu.' '. ( )ii ihi' wholv 111 IV yrcaler iiu'liiiaii'm liiu> is on acoiiipiiiii- L ahovt' the skh level e liiiitcdr^latci-, luiir.' iiid al scvi'nil [mw- hompson river. U'lii I'ov about til uiii-i iict^ with the Vtm't ascadc ciiaiii to th'/ Ilk oi the Thoiir,-"!: th oasy u'r.idcs iunl ake : abdut a mili' rooks live iail''s ;ii ciilar basaltic clill> II this scctmu thiT'. isidorablc leiiiriii ut iltitude about l,lo'.' ht> kd't bank of tlk ol' beiudicj. varying' broken up by di'op le close to the livtr, ock. varied at uv>':'> illVt with l><)hl spurs oi' s(di(l rock shootiuif riyhl into the river ami rtiiiii' ii"' course. Allon'clhcr this sec tion Iroui Kjiiiioops to Sptnicf's liriilirc, w here the waii''4<>M road crosses, a distance of 70 miles, is very t„,|a\iiiable ; oil it there would be a nuiiil)er ol steep muhllatili'j' yr.i .■rra ulri'ai I'll rth s ol tuniiellinii', aUou'<'lher .(»riuiim' su(di a continuous succession n! very heavy works as to render this line almost imprai'ticableou accouiil 1,1 the urea t cost it would entail ; and tlioULi'h this is the Hue iidvinif the lii'>t uriiih's iluit can be obtaincil thronu'li the Cascade (diain of inoiintains, it >liouli mo; 1 not be adopted till exhaustive surveys are made ol'all the other IM.'>se( ■t prouiisiiiti' passes across thi.s chain of momu.iin.- I'riiiu Yale downwards, past Fort Hope, till the Harrison river is 1— al)out ;)") miles — thi' work would be lighter, but .should still ))e ijaj.sed as heavy work. Froiii Harrison river to New Westmiiiisti'r and Ihirrard's inlet, (10 iiiile.s tlie valley ol' th»^ Fras(>r opens out to several miles in breadth, with viiry rich low Mat lands on cither side of the river. The work on this ;tioii would be comparatively lii^ht, with easy grades, althoimh a i^ood 111 ol' bridgint;' would undoubtedly bi^ roquired. The Harbour ol' Burrard's inlet and the outer basin of En<,'lisli l)ay >o Well known as possessing in a hi;;di (b\<>'ree the riM^iisites I'or a rail- ili'i ,tri' .s lay termiiuis that no description here is necessary. *L(H)ji Line from Kainloo/is, hi/ Nicohi Luke, to Fort IIo/ic. This is a 'viatioii oi' the last line to avoid the worst portions of the Ihompsoii ana ''raser rivers, by eiideavoriny to cross the mountain chain iluouixh one ol' tho.so passes or depressions in the main raiiL^e, t'r(jri which 'he j«treams llf)w down either slope in opposite directions— iiuteatl ol ilirecdy through the mountains, like that ol' tlu' Kraser. The sunuuil ol' suc,h passes can .seldom be reached without very steep L'lades, l)ut as the valleys by which they are approached are not so deep, "^onie ol'the worst i'eaUires of bold bluH's and deep rocky canyons ave avoid- ed, or only met with in a modiiied form. 'TliK \'< loignated Uoulu No, 1, in ihe Ueports ol' Jainmry, 1871. ly 1J8 This line commences" at a point on the last line (NTo. 1) about thn- miles above Kamloops, anil takinu' a southi'ily course i'or about ihict-DjiV it crosses the south branch ol" the Thoiiii)son river, thence it lollowv i' the valley of the same nearly due east, ascending the slopes that homM the valley obliquely lor seven miles, where it enters the vail v ol Cur bell creek. Ihe grade on the hrst three and a quarter miles, from th! crossing ol' the Thompson river, rises at the rate of 1 per lOu, and on vl next three and three-quarter miles, 2.40 per 100, or 126. 7:i l*'et'per mil,. On the whole seven miles the ground is much broken and serratd with deep lateral ravines which, even with these steep grades, would !,>. quire very heavy cuttings and embankments, and a great uumLorot -,1^ long culverts constructed in the most substantial maniu'i', to carry ihl heavy embankments ; probably some of the deepest ravines would hnv to be bridged, as much of the material is unsuited i'or hi<>li enibauK ments. The average grade of these seven miles is about 92 feel, per mile kr if it were possil)le to get aline giving this it would be at the expoiik' r still heavier works. The hue follows up Campbell's valley to the summit with ascend'i, grades, none of which need exceed 1 per 100, and with no very hear v work. This summit is 29 miles from the crossing of the Thonipscui rivor. m<[ 2,900 feet above sea level ; the liru' then follows down another vallov m " southerly direction to Stximp lake, and thence to I^icola hike. lu this distance of 13 miles there are some steep descending miles of the upp.' portion of the valley tc *Suinmit lake is estimated at oO feet per mile, hut fur eight miles the grade would be about 80 feet per mile. i he line at Summit lake is 3,.')i:(j feet above the sea level, th.' liLstaiia' iroin this by the Coquihiilia valley to the Fraser rivei, at Fori lloiH, i.- 3oJ iiiile.x. and the bank of that river, where the line crosses, is 1:11 Icei above sea level, giving a fall of 3,393 feet, or an average grade of omt \W tWn per mile. But it is not possible to ol)tain a uniibrm grade wiihniit ixcov Bivety heavy work. 149 TliP bost that could he done, accordincr to present surveys, would he, oiinmencina' at summi' litke and descendini? to the Fraser with av\vater rivers, and IHO wiles from the summit of the Yellowhead Pass, the latter distance is ilit'relore ft mmon to both lines. The distatice from this point to Kamloops is seventv-seven miles ' ■ -- _ - . . by the line surveyed, on which a wnj^iron road could ^•f coiistructi>d at a very moderate cost. By the river, which is navigabb' for I'lnalicnilt at certain seasons, the distance is a few miles more. Thi'^ line traverses the fertile valleys of Bridge creek and Lake La i;Mhe, cro.' Uoports of Jiimikuj-, 187t ISO steamboiit in the summer, and th<'ve is also a good \vass id a!i'rici;l)ural and araziiiu' lands in the Chilcolin and Chilaiico v:illcvs;i> n eh and extensive as any I have seen (>ast ol' the Cascad e raiiij. thereare en' difliculties on portions oi'itol'( V(M-y li'iav which will apjjear in the loUowinti' description: The jioint at which this line commences is ]-V.n tect i'll;i";iil, level across ironi th IS th an li-h U t( between )11(>W! tht nearly two rivers aiu nortl 1 IWi'M in two miles strikes thi' leit bank ol' Ihe ('learwat(M-, vhich it almost due north i'our miles. thi'U it crosses tlu' rivi'r, with l''mi ),.,.[ i''s> liiaii loilii\V,S 1111 bridgijitr. and follows up the ri^'ht ])ank \x\ miles to the iimuth >,[' Drid^ creek, with an iiveraffe rise ol' 1S| I'eet per mile. On the whole o!' this (li>. tance the line is very difficult, and to keep ihe quantity ol' rock I'XciivatJui, Avithin moderate limits, curves ol' livi' deii-rees or 1,ll(j I'eet radiiis will have to be I'requently used, aiul Ave have put in three curves ot'li.V. I'm| and two oi'SlS feet radius; even with these we luive had to ailopt stpc|i grades, of which there are eleven miles excoedini>' 1 per 1U", the hiu'hcst o; which is 1.50 per 100 for lour miles. With these curves an.l i^'rades, the cutcinq-s are reduced to ^ho;' lens'lhs, imv of them exeeediuii' i,000 feet, wiih a mi^xiunun dfi)tii of 4'' feet, and diminishinii' rapidly towards the ends. The line tlieii fojlnw- the valley of Bridtre creek, on a westerley course, to the outlet of l;ik'' Malioud, about '^l miles: this is an exceedinu'lv difficult portion, the; nil, v is narrow, deej) and tortuous, h(>mmed bi witi\ walls oi basalt and tr.qi rock, and tin; averag'e ris<' is J 14 p-r 100, with continuous sharp (Uivi. anc very heavy roc ■uttiiiiis in w'.ucli :s i)u;luded a ttuiiud. tliroiiuii .noc) feet widr l.J^OO feet m length : tlu're is also a, ravine to cross, averaging in depth fully lOO feet belovv grade lii'e. Mahoixd lake, is i',074 leet above sea level, PA\d 'J3 miles in leiiLii!! thi' line follows the south shore, ajid for the lir.^t three miles, the 'snul' tl len encounters a t'liil are easy, and the works will be moderate ; slate rock, a mile and three ijuarters in lenvih ; a large proportion of tl; is a hiul 1 ner pendi cular cii ii; 'ndini;' into deep water wilh an irrr face ; in this there would be very heavy rock excavation, ineliulinn' a mile of tunnelliuu'. Mii.ir liiliv From this the hic'h l>ench at the head of the ud\e can, 1 ')' '' ceediii'i d'>viation of the jiresi'ut line, b(> reached with i>■rad(>^ not ex loo, but with rather heavy works. Between Mahoud ;!nd t'anim lakes the distant c is ai the line crosses the connecting sfeam (tJO to 100 feet widt».) aboui fielovv the outlet of the latter, with inoderate works; it then loll m )ou*. .) miles, .ni'l Hill' <)\\ s nil If >rih shore of Canim lake, 18 miles to its head, — this shore h line, recpurini;- fretpu'iith curves of 1,000 feet r. dius with easv und liMades, but the work will be rather heavy, as the cuttinus, theni.;li great extent or depth, will be chieilj' in slate rock. •Vl)ellllll:' lll;iliir. >\ I,' l.-ll airu-on ron.l nil t],,, rom Soda rn-ck i^, illso 'j'ivc access 111 MlililllrO \ alley.; |l> 11S(;IuIl' valine ; l,,). vy gTave character, ')!'7 IV'ct Ml)0\-e si'ii IU)l•th\\e^I courM' and ill !es> liinn tiich it lolldw.s up •, with lI'MI Iret ,j| ic JiKiiith (iT liridM,. 1' whole ol' tills (lis. (>!' rock excavatiei, l(j l'r;>t radius will curves of '.t.r, I.M'i. had to adopt stei'!i ion, the hiu-hesio; reduced to shoiv ciiiiinn depth of 4" line then lollow- the oiitlei of laki' portion, the -, nil,.', of basalt and tr.ip loiis .sharp vm\v> mel, thiouu'h roi k 00 leet wide liiii! miles ill Iciiu'lli; miles, ihe uT;t(le- ■ounters a li!ii!l oi irojiortioii "I tlii'; \vitli an irre'jui.ir 111. inidiidiiiii' lully can, !iy a ^lidii t exceediiio- ] p..r iioiit a miles, .iii'l de,) ahout a mil'' leil ictll'iM s Ulilh'' ire is a selpellU.'l' h easv uiidiilaiii!'. lis, tlloUuh el 111' The altitude ol' this lake is 2,5')0 feet above sea l(>v(d ; followiiii; «1 the vallev o r BruU'e creek, the distance is bS miles to the watershed. lii'twecu tin' Thoinpson mid Fraser rivers. .'5,104 loet abovo sea levtd. The line .'.iivi'Vpd i> loo i'ar up the north side ol' the valley, and has several steep , ades, which could be avoided by keepinu' nearer to tl:.' stream, which uould also reduce the -svorks to medium or rather liij-ht works. From this vuininit the liiK' still continues \vestward. and at three miles <'rosses th(» waL'froii i oud ; ihence down the valley to the head ol lake ivn Tfach wilh no irrade exceeding 1 per 100 ; thence alonij^ the north shore oi' this lake, with easy undulatina- q'rade.s to its outlet, by th(> Jose river ; tln>, iliiitiiiicc IVoin tiie watershed to this point, is li-l miles and the work throui^h- ont is o'L'Uerally liuht. Lake La llache, is 2,072 t'eot above the sea level, and !iMin its outlet the line lollows the Jose valley to Williams lake, 2.'U mill'.'', dcscciulinii' with a'radcs ol' tolerabh? iinilbrmity, averaii'iny •!•> loet iii'r mile .'Vi'val tiiiics. crossintr mid recrossinu," the stream, which is about 30 I'eet wide, The line lollows the north shore ol' Williams lake, ,5 miles in leni>-th with undulatinii' "'rades and nut heavy work, thence down the Jcsc vallev • rasi ■r river, a little over seven miles. Appioat hinii' th(^ Frasei, the valley becomes deep and narrow and iie de.sceiit more rapid, so that iirades of 1 to 1.00 per 100 have to be iN'u. hut with no n'vy lieavv work. Ihe line crosses the Fraser at an anji'le of about b") de<^-rees, reciuiriiiLV I ndaiiiii- .*^00 feet loni^ and ■"! ) I'eet above the river level, or 1,374 leet ,ibove sen level , it then f(dlow s the right or west bank of the river for 17 miles, in which it has to (Moss the face of some heavy clay slides and high slate rock blutls. with some gmdes of 1 to 1.2o per 100; in this secion there will t)e some very heavy works, including two tunmds through iime.slonc rock, one of LoOO feet and the other 2. '00 i'ei't in length. .A. deviation or loop line has been surveyed from the foot of Lake la Hiiche across the neck ol' land into Chimney creek valley and down the litter to the Fra.ser, cros.sing this river ab(jiit 71 miles farther ht. ' omthisiiointlheljiK'a.-cendv K'iskie's valh'V wilh i'rad.'S(d ! l'O to btiO per n to ihi' C'hilcotin plains, but with li'jht wmk I'or the lor mil es o 'Xtls miles the work will b(> verv liLMit, with undiilatin '■■U'eedin; Lirad es, noiH Tl ;vu-eiuii!.- 1 per JOO ; the higtiest point is 3,700 leet at)ove sea level. 1 lie !iit?then descends to th;;('hilcotiu valley, 24 miles, wilh an average grade 152 of 1 per 100, but in somf places grades of 1 .20 to 1.80 will have to be mspd On ten miles of this the work will be rather heavy, but the rest will W light or medium. A loop line has been surveyed from this point down the ("hilcotin valley and up the Fraser. rejoinins^ the main line at the entraticf o; "Riskie's valley ; this ffives ffood irrades, but excessively heavy works. The line now follows up the Chilcotin and Chilanco vnllevs to thi' outlet of Tatlo lake, thenee alona- the north west shore of the same, and up the valley I'rom its head to the summit or watershed between the Chilcoijii and Homathco rivers, tli'' former llowiiii; into the Fraser and the hiitir into Bute inl(?i. In thi!< distance of Gs miles the irrndes are very r.isv and the work will be <>-enerallly lirrht, the onlv exceptions are mn' roek cutiiii: of GOO feet feet and another of 2,00i.) in length. The height of Tatla l:duntains by a chain of small l.ikcs. nine n]ilt>;-i to HlufTlake, dcscendinu- with easy grades, and the work wili not be heavy with the exception of one rock cutting 800 feet lonu' and (.| a considerabl(! depth. From the head of Bluff lake for 35 miles down the Homathco vall'v to the head of the Great Canyon, the grades are generally very easy, but there are a few .short lem>'lhs of 1 per 100, and one ol 1.33 per I'M) for a mile and a half, the latter however can be improved ; on seven iniK-,-; o: this portion there will be some rather heavy rock cultinus on the hnidi'i> of Blull, Middle and Twist lakes, including a txannel 1,000 feet in leniitli Of the remainde)-, one half will be A'ery light work and the otli"; medium ; there are five crossings of the Homathco river, from 75 to l"'i teet each in width, the banks of the river are low. This point is 2,285 feet above sea level, and thence down thronghtht' Great Canon the distaiice is 14 miles, with a uniform grade of 2.10 per 100 on the whole of this the works will be excessively heavy — princip.illy deep cuttings in granite, including one tunnel of 3,400 feet in It'inrtli. and a great number of short tunnels, amounting in all to iulh rhive miles in length I'rnrn the foot of the Canyon to Waddington harbour, at the }n>ad ^i Bxite inlet, the distance is 28 miles. The line follovv's the west side .n th" valley with easy grades. On nine miles of this, the work will be rathor heavy, as there are a number of rock cuttings, chielly gianite am! several short lengths of tunnel, amounting in the aggregate to about il,'"'" feet in length. On sevn miles the work will be medium and tlu' i' mainder, 12 miles, very light work. W'ADDINfiTON IlARnOUR TO VANf'OrVER ISLAND, From the head of Bute inlet, the line follows its western shor. .''0 miles down to the Arran rapids, which separate Stewart island fi"!H the mainland. The whol< of this is on the rocky slo]>es of high mountanis. \ r. in-' g .liar aiid broken; sometimes the slopes are easy and covered vi ■ 153 limbt'V, ol'lou they are stet>p and rugi^ed bare rock, with granite clitrs ■ii'vcnil hundred I'eet in hei^'ht, close tc the water, which i« everywhere ol' .vvcat depth. With nnduhitinir g-rades, and curves as sharp as 1)00 i'eet radius, tlie wo..:s on this portion will be excessively heavy ; there will be ii lariiv {(uantity of rock excavntion, chielly li'ranile, and a great number ol' tiiiuu'ls iroin 100 feet to 3,000 i'eet in length, amounting in the aggregate ;u about eight miles, which however could be much reduced by using still sliarpv'r curves. From this point on the mainland to the west shore ol' the Seymour iiiirow.s oM Vancouver island, the line crosses by Stewart, Valdes and \lau(li' i.slands, in a rather circuitous course, to avoid high rocky hills. Tlu' (lislauce is about 29 miles, and there are six intervening channels ol' -nut depth, through which the tide Hows at the rate of four to nine knots an hour The loUowing table shews the breadth ol these channels on the line surveyed, and the probable lengths ol bridging required : — down throuirhth" Name of Channel. Brp:ai)th of Length of Channel. Bridgino. Arran Kipids Cardero (Channel No. 1. I. " 2, .......'......Z.[...'. " 3! Feet. ; Feet. 1,137 1,100 1,397 1,350 l,23t) 1 1,140 704 ' 640 1,190 1,100 2,675 i ( 1.200 1 j 1,350 Middle Channel between Valdes Islands Seymour Narrows, with rock riear centre, cover- ed with IH feet of water at low tide. The rock excavation in .Tossing thes.' islands will be heavy, with a iew short tunnels ; altogether the works on this section will be of a most iiirmidalde character. They aie, however, capable of several modihcalions. Fii- islands; thence icross the latte'- tiKi hay oil Discovery passage opposite i-llk bay on Vancouver island; and ihib reduce the ft-rry lo three miles m tide water, running two 10 four knots an hour. Rest LT- OF THE vSuRVEVvS OF 1«71 and IS72. The' surveys and rxpiorations of 1^72 have been directed in search '1 a practicable line lor the railway, through the Kooky mountains, by e line could I to the Estero !.- line to JUito iidet is more lavorable through the (loast cluiiii ii mountanis to Waddiniiton liarbour, at the head ol' the inlet, when' ti'lc water is reached, and Irom which the navigation is i-'ood to miv h.irbnur in British Columbia, liul the sui voys show a possible eoiiih'r'ijoii with Vancouver Island, via Seymour narrows, by railway, the whole ol which, o: a portion ol' it — with a lorry — could be constructed whenever circum- stances should arise to warrant tho outlay. And from fievniour !uu'ro>v> the railway could be taken to any harbour on the east coast ol' VmicouVi island, or to Allxn-ni cauid (Barclay sound), on the west coast, at raodt'vat' outlay. It is the connectina' of this Knite with the Yellowhc'ad |:i»thati> the least satisl'at:tory. The starting p liiit is too far down the Tliompsoii river to get a luroraldo liiio across to the Chilcutin plains. If It were possil)le to got across Irom the head waters o!' the iiorih Thompson, by the head of lUo Clearwater lake, to the llorselly Viilic. much of tho dilliculty would be avoided, and the distance (■'.iisidcrubiv shortened; the importance of this may dt'mand further oxaiiiiiK'iioii. There is yetanotber route which, from information I h.tve LiJiMnt'd in;.. various sources, u-ivos promise of a practicable line, and which 1 ihiiiK - well worth the ixponse of a survey. This route will leave the Thompson vaHoy at some ]>oiiu li.nvc.M; Clear\, ..iter ;ind Kamloops, thence by the valleys of the IJon.ioarii' a)i(i Hat rivers to the I'rasor river, near Lilloet : the line will then i;ios.«- ilr Fraser and follow tho shores of Soaton and Anderson lakes, and iheiii' by a series of valleys through tho Cascade mountains to Howes .\, li'ood to iiiiy h.irbnur ble cniiii.'rtioii wiik he wiiolcol whieli... cl whciit'ViT circuia- nil .S(iyiuMuv nurroiv- t coaist of VaiK'ouVt" est coast, at modorat' llowhi.'ad 1 :i» th;lt!> down the Thi/mpsoii aius. I water.s o!' tho uoni, the llorsejiy Viilir'., listaiice coiisuK'idhiV .er exaiaiiieiioii. u I liHVL'iili'unt'ci lio;,. md which I iliiiik - some point Ixjiwi'i'ii the Hoiiapiirte ;i)id will then cius.- ;lr' on lakes, and theuvv to Hovve".s .■^ouiid I'! route is vory 'h;>,'i: but its fiu'iiit'erii;: •V the lest ui' attu;i! 155 Ijro consuming- the roots of the surrounding- trees, one oi' the trunks rell KTOsslhc eainp and injured an Indian very s(>vtT(dy; at this time tliev had Ijiit a suiall store of provisions with them and the dejxit was several miles distant, with the intervening- space all on lire, and the l)ridgeK they had .oiiJ-lrut led Were burnt down. ' One man It'll over a high cliff in the Canyon and was so seriously ■iijurcd that lie had to be carried in a litter from cami) to camp as th«^ jiaity worked onward, till they reached the open valley and met the pack tr,iiii On several occasions some of those eng-aii'ed on the surveys have had til swnn for their liA'es iu deep lakes and rivcM-s ; others have had narrow .scape.s crossinir mountain torrents, in oiu? of which a poor Indian was drowned , th*' Engineer in charge with another Indian reache t the shore much exhausted. I'reiiUeDtly, the only available passage has been made by lalling trees uToss deep chasms in the rocks, or by drillinii' holes and inserting bolts 111 support a slender (tauseway of timber on the faces of clitts, washed at ilit'ir l)a.se far beneath by desultory habits of ihi' coast Indians, but afterwards when we understo. .'! !> tier how to maiiau-e liipm, we found them very itseful, more especially the tribesof the interior, nd I am glad to say that throughout the whole of the surveys and ■xplovations extending over -',n()() miles, among the mountains ot British loiumhia, iu which we met with many dili'erent tribes, we have had no I'.itticulty with any oi them ; and though sometimes a larue quantity of Mores have been in charge of only one man, several miles away from the ■imincer's camp, there has never been an article stolen or a threat used. The explanation of t li^ is simple ; they frankly acknowledge that we h;ivi' treated them with fairness and kindness, and all whom we have Hmployed are anxious to work for us again. I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant, MARCUS SMITH. 'iierally, the "^••■v; 1 commeudalili' /'-' . with dilliciihi.'.".!:. aired both ueivf ;- s ha\ e oc 'juried ole j.^ri} ("VT) w- ■ lad cleared, and :•''. 166 APPENDIX F. To Progress Eeporl on (he Surveys made in tin Eadern Sec.tuin hy James 11. Kowan, C. E, Ottawa, 5th June, 18T3. SAKDFORD i'"LEMl.\0, Esci., Engineer in Chiff C. P. R, Sib,— I have the honour to siibiuit I'or yowrinlbrmation tho following report on the work perlonaed since the dati; (jI my last (April, IM-') up to iln' present time, on that part ol the line extending from Alattawa to the Ked Kiver. It may be well, however, before speaking of the procecHlings of tlu' past year, briefly to describe the position of allairs at the date; ol my ropon above relerred to. At that date the Engineers in charge of seA'en of the eleven divisions, into which the district was divided, had coniiileted their work and \\-m\ returned, or were on their way, to Ottawa. Of the remaiiuui;- lour, th.ic were still employed completing their divisions; and in place ol the lourtli who had left the work, another was sent out. The division of one of the above, together with that last imnuHi, included the tract of country extending from the nioulh ol the Mattawn river to the great bend of the Montreal, From this point wi stward, lor about li'O miles, a favourable liiii'\\ii> found (which lurther exploration (.ould no do\ibt improve) Ixiiii;' on ih, north Bide of the " Height ol Land," or watershed, between Lake Sii))ia'iiii and Hudson's Bay. This brings us to a point which is about tl.") miles, in a tlirect lit:. north of Michipicoten, on Lake Superior, and from it wesward lo Kai Portage, or the outlet of the "Lake ol the Woods," (a distance ol about 405 miles), the route Ibllowed, in the endeavour to bring the r.iain line t' the waters of Lake ^Superior, although on some portions of a lavourabli' character, was on the whole impracticable. From Kat Portage to Red KiAcr, aboui 118 miles, was iaveuvabl'.', and can be improved. The work periormed during the past year, to which I am now about to reler, consisted in completing the 150 miles west from Mattawaii explorations north of Lake »Superior, with a view of carrying the liU' north of Lake Nepigou, and thence to Rat Portage, thus avoiding the unlavourable tract ol country traversed the previous year ; and la!»^n obtained, to dcMiionstrate the prac- ticability of const ructinL'' the line from its eastern lerminns across the •llcii:ld of Land," it was not t!0)isi(l(>red necessary to prosecute further the prrliiniiinry survt^y, through ihf^ country drained hy th<^ Ottawa river ;iml its tril)utaries As it wns most important, however, to carry throuLi-h and connect the favouraiil'' line found towards tiie eastern tiM-ininus, with the western end of the survey, and to ascertain whether a practicable lino could be found :,r,rtli of the ruoint north of Mifliipicoten, above refern'd to. A sccoid i\u-ty started from the northeast side of Lake N'epi'jon, oxploriiiLi' eastward to Louif Lake. A third party started from the same point westward, explorini>- round th'' h"a(l of I,akt> Nepi<>'oii, and thence westward about 20 miles. From this point, a fourth party explored SO miles further west, where thev wore mot by the party which had eotnpb^ted the survey to Red Tliyer the provious year, and had then started eastward from Eaii'le lake, k(>epincted, at Mattawa, with the instrumental survey made some years asro in connection w'th the "Ottawa Ship Canal," and by this means the elevation of every point, "i)Ovo tide water, alonj^' the survey line has l>e(>n determined. A list of the principal lake and river crossings, with their height over tide water, is appended to this report. The resiilt of this instrumental survey places beyond a doubt, the practioa])ility of constructinii- a line of railway from the vicinity of Lake Nipissiiio' to TI('d River, on which neither the amount of excavation and em- bankment,the hridgine ex])ecied that a consulerahlo part ol' the excavation c'\;»tinos on the line will be rock ; the emhanknn'nts will he niad i"i run: )t' the .•uti.ntis, iind cm he lormed IVom side excavations or horn wh ere mal'Tial mav more easilv l)e obtainet e in I'X.'i- wiui.'!):; Attentio.i to the particular work on which they were riioji-icd, l,.!t little tiiue lor other exploratic'iis at the disposal ol' the varunis iiaiiii's, n may he staled, however, that the country iraversi-d uuve indications.;!; nnuiy points, ol' the existonce of iron, copper, gypsum, also ol' the mm. precious metals; and I think it is not > proliahie that coal or othiiniiiicri; way, pnihiihlvir luel mav l)e lound. il not immedu on fhi" line ol" rail no irreat distan -e I'rom it in the co.jntry to the north. Snlhcieiil tiinhiT In' railwav purposes can also he procured, and, alliiouiih a considtM'atijc |»oriiiii. of the land may he unlit lor at^'riculturil purposes, there are iracts ollin ([uality to he met with at various points aloiii;' the line. Th(? expi'rience uained I'rom the previous year's work, eiiahliMl th- C ciiri'ii'i j)arlies supplied with necess:i,ries, every [lonnd of vvhicli had to he in many i)laces I'or loni>' di. lances, on men's hacks, is one ol' the o'vi'at.>' difficulties connected with carrying- on tlie survey, requiring' a lurirt' Mali of men and involving' 'jreat ('Xjiense. lla\ iiiii' now a imu'h better knowledge ol the country throii-h \vlii( the liiu> will pass than in pr^'vious yoars, advantage can be aki-ii ■: streams and lakes, to transport supplies, the exislein'c of which Wiis ih.'i, unknown. This vv'ill. to some extent, lighten the labour of takiiivr llu'in n. when either the work of lurther exploration or pormautMit loeaiion is un- dortaken. A subject must now be referred to whi(.'h is ol a very paiiil'ul iiatuh. nanu'ly, the loss ol life in connection wiMi this work durin!>- tlie pa^i v i: And, although a (U'tailed report of two accid"ui.s has alreadv iierii >u!- mitted, 1 shall here repeat the facts connected with ihem, and at tlu' same time report on two others not previously reftu'red to. The lirst accichmt this year occurred as lollow'r l)arty •oii.sistiii:; of Mi'ssrs. A. Hamilton, in chaige; K. .1 C. Abbott, Irai }{avc(K'.k. levell iMiiiiaii ; lycocK. levelliM-; d. Kiniut, chaiiiman ; with a number of axe aiul p;i'K- men ol whom CJ. Rochette was one— had completed the survey ol'ap"!- tioii of the line ilircugh the valh^y of the .Montreal river, and, on th''i: way baik to Ottawa, encamped at its mouth. Here the men were Jeir, :ii charge of Mr. Haycock, while Messrs. Hamilton and Abbott wi iii upLiK'' Temiscanuum', to the Hudson's Day Post, in a small canoe. I'or the purjM'- ., Kiiiiii: ol S( Itli nii: accounts, oblainiii IttM's. and bringinii' down Mi and Rochet'e, who wire laid np with scurvy al the Kev. Mr. I'iaii 150 work. fiiahliHl ilv uy of thi' dilliculiii- ciM'piiiL;' till' Viiiioib (•li liiid In 1)1' carrn'il i one of the !i'n'at>>' 'C|uiriiiL;' ii lari;'«' >ii'' ery paiiiful ikiiuiv. uriiiii' till' past vi'ii: ? al ready mi'i'm >u1'- Mil, ami ai till' ^-iiD' (111 tlii< 20th May. 1S72, havir.'r arniiiiri'd their husiucsM it thf IhuU „iii'sHii^ ('" !'">'. Nli'fsrs. Ilaiiiillun ami Al»l)'>tt sliirfcd Irom tli« licvd. Mr, Piaii >, with Messrs. K'laiit and K'ni-Iu'tti', in tin- small r.iiioi', dcclinini^ ihi' usi' ol a lari^iT <>iii' kindlv oH'cred t»y (he al)ovi' named Lrt'iitU'iniiii. This was till' last ever si' mi or heard oi' lln'm. Oil ilie --lid May, a man iianu'd MeV'ei-jh arrived at the eanij) from ihi' Post, and surprised at not lindin-j- Mr Ilamiltuii and j)arty there, in- iivint'il Ml Ilayeoek that the\ ha I left the I'ost two days Itefore. Tills iiilorniatioii eaiiMiiy yreat anxiety to he felt on their ae<'ount, u v'lirch lor tliein was cmtimeneed iinniediiitely. The followintr day their i;iuoi'\vas jeuiul liottoni up. with some honks, ])apers, ^:e , tied in it, ahnut tivi' lilil''s hi'low the eiUiip, or seveliteiMl miles from the Post, Nolreeof till' missiiiu' men could he found, althoutyh hy your ordfM's, the search for thini \va^ continued until the end of June. The lake was rouiih the moruiiiL"' ihev left the Revd. Mr. Plan's ; Mi'ssrs llaiuilton and Ahhot were, however, aood canoe nuMi ; is is there- ;i.iv Mipposi'd that the sick men's linihs hecominii' crami>ed from sittin-, after proceed iny,- as far as To))er Moray l^ay, that lit' stoamer would not take them throuixli to Thunder Piav, in conse(|uence the I'Vi \v refusinu' to ij-r» on, they took passage hack to Colling' wood on the steamer '■ Mary Ward " <'ii the '2(')\h November, durin'i' a verv severe snow-storm, the '■ Mary Ward" was wrecked on a shoal, a few miles to the west ol Collingwood, while eiuleavouriiify to make that ]iort. .'\ft(M- haviiia- heen for some hours on the shoal, in an elFort to reach thi- mainland, eiu'ht persons were drowned ; the remainder of the crew and passiMiirers succeeded in reachinir it. 'Htlie cio'ht men lost, three heloiured to the surveyinir party, namely: F, Cliadwick, ofSimcoe, Ivudman ; Win. Caldwell, of Tonnito ;" and C. D. Tnylor, of Orilhi, Axemen. One more aci'ident occurred on the l:ith Novcmher last, on one of the Miial'er lakes, west nf Nein-e of the party: " in the heirinniiiL!' of that mouth (N'ovrMnh'r) I found it necessnry to "si'iid ue;.rly all the partv h;nk ahout iT) miles, for tlic ])uipoS(> of jvickiiiij- ■ up the provisions. Tht^ di'reased (a fon'inan) in his anxiety to push ihe 'vork, li'ft the line where it runs clost> to the edu'c of a laki' and took to ■'ihi' latter, which was then frnziMi ovit. He sent hack three Indians '■whow.'i'e with him three miles for another load, and took their loads, '\yi'in-hii,^- 4i)() \}^^^ placiiiQ- them on two poles and started ao'oss Ihe lake. "The Indians on their return could not find (!]ancv, who had jironused to "Mum immediately. This lead to a search, and, "after a short time, they th. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^/^ ^ A% 1.0 I.I 11.25 2JL 12.5 IMI' 1^ ■" ISIS |22 kUU i.4 11.6 • % <^ /a ^W ^;j •> 7 /^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST M/^N STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS 80 (716) 872-4503 ? .^ ¥ 160 •• found a hole where he had broken throug-K, and his cap floating on the " water. " They at once sjave the alarm, but three hours elapsed btjfore the *' arrival of assistanc:o ; at the end of that time the unfortunate man's hrothnr " came, a raft was made, and the remainder of tlio day was spent in search " inj? for the body. It was not until the third day alter, that tho hoiiv " was found." This last case closes the list of casualties, which it is my painful dutv to submit to you ; and I can hut express the hopi> that somethin? wii! !).■ done by the government to aid the lamilies of those who havt- lost th>ir lives on this service. I (annot close my report without expressing satisfaction at th'' manner in which the staff generally have performed the duiii's oiitrusi'i! to them. Independent of the risks to life, which are considerable, thf hard- ships endured, especially V)y thoso whose lot it was to be out all winter, haw been very great ; these have been ch<»erfully borne, and the work in th- field pushed through in a satisfactory manner. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES H. HOWAN, Engineer in charge of Eastern Districi 161 his cap floatinir on the rs elapsed before the brtanate man's brothnr \y vvivs spent in soaivh- y after, that the hodv i it is my painful dutv that somethin? will l^ •se who have lo,>t tlvir mg satisfaction at thi' i the duvics entrust.Ml considerabl", tlii'han!- • be out all winter, haw !, and the wurk in th. 58 H. RO^VAN, rge of Eastern Distric; CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. elevations above the Sea of the principal lakes and rivers on the line of the Canadian Pacihc Railway Survey, between Mattawaand Red River Names of Lakes and Rivers. Authority. II Lake of the Woods (Rat Portage)' Crossnig of Little Lonsr lako . •o w ^^lUMf Long lake. Red River II II Crossing of Mattawa River Ottawa ShipCanal Survey Lake NiDissmgue " of Opahwonga lake....... Sturgeon lake .'_'' Me Lake Elevations. 489.00 634.00 711.00 10,30.00 1034.00 887.00 1016.00 1081.00 1013.00 616.00 970.00 1028.00 647.00 598.00 6.33.00 795.00 852.00 947.00 1327.00 1173.00 1042.00 102S.00 714.00 102 APPENDIX G. Detail lit par I of Ojxrutio.s m the Horkij Moindaiiis by llic Pa riii under 0{^ ih(tt\iit oj Walteu MoHKUliV, J-Jsq., durifii>- Hit year ISTl'. Athabasca Depot, Jaspeu Tai.ley, .lauuary liith, 1878. SaNUFORD I'EEMIMl, Esq., Eugiiieei -in-Chi"'!, Cuuadiau Taciliu Railway, ( )tta\va. Siu, — The iliHeroiit instnictions I'roin you, conveyed to nu- in Miiri.ii 187-, respertiiii;' the comi)lt'ti()n ol' the surveys between (Jrieat Sliu.swui.Lak and the viemiiv ol Foit Ldmoaioii, ou the >Joith .Saskatchewan livt.v, ivdth' llowse and Layle Passes, induced me to make various preparations tui'iisiui iheir completion !)erore the close oi' the past season, the princiijul iletaih ol which are giveu in another report i'orwarded to you. In the early part ol April i, however, received lurther iii.stiucii.iii< in Ibrming me the Dominion Ciovernment had decided to ad()|)i " Wllow Head Pass " as the one through which the proposed Canmliau I'aiili' Kaiiway should enter British Columlna; that ail ellorts were tn hirouieii tratetl to complete tlie survey.'^ ol" that line, and that I wa.s to cuiivi'V uu parties and supplies Irom the liowse Pass route to the Yellow iluad Pa?* by way ol' the Athabasca Pass. This was an undertaking ol' much diihculty as the w ateis ni th.- Columbia ri\ er, lor about one hundred miles above and nearly tln' siiii- distance below the Boat Encampment, are obstructed lor inaii) \\\\\y'> m ditl'erent places with very bad and dangerous rapids, rilUo, and rair.uiiv which render it unnavigable lor loaded boats, in places, gniiii; Jouu stream, and during high water, quite impassable lor Ihem, tliiipiiuiiou!, proceeding up stream. The banks ol this portion ol' the river aii' rovi;V; with thick torests ui which the trees are generally ol a large "ivowih. Hit underbrush dense and irom the sudden and violent gusts ol w iiul, th,ii sweep down the adjacent mountains at times, the ground is inucli oi)>lnRW by fallen timber. On receipt oi your linal instructions, and alter consultation with IL> Honor the Lieutenant (jrovernor and Mr. John Trutch, Di.'^uict £"■ giueer, who had received instructions to move his parties over t- ilif valley ol the North Thomson river, it was decided : 1. Thit 1 should instruct party T to return from the " Eddy ' on ilii Columbia river to Kamloops, where they would lind the ne( •■^^al•\ ,'■'" animals and supplies ready to enable them to proceed to the neiLiliboiiiun'i of Cranberry Lake and continue the survey m the dirertion ol tht^n.iw Head Pass, from the easterly limit of the survey made by Mr. Kw!i'i>. McLeunau's Q party. 163 ■ hy I he riir/// ii,i,l,rik. Ike yenr ISTl', \ .Taspku V alley lath, 1878. 'eyed to nif m .Marui eiiUrfat .Sluiswui.Lak.. Latcluivviiu I'iviT, iwf/th- s prt'puiMtioiis t(; I'lbun II, the priiicii)al detaih you. 'd luiUnT iii,stiuciiHii< ded to adopt " W-llow )osed Cauiiiliaii l'ai:ii. brts Weil' in in' I'ouien- : I vva.s to (.'oiivov ui^' he Yellou IlwurTa^'e a.s the w ,itt'i> 1)1 l:if e and lu'avly tlii> siui' ted Ibr iiiaii\ uiik'? ii; ds, rillk't>, and taiiyuii?. :» phico.s, Li'i'iii^' (louu I'or iheiu, lliinuuiiou:, )1 the river aret'o\v;''c of a large Truteh, i^i.^uict fa- ils pariii's over !> ili'' m the " Eddy "on ili^' id the iieci'.'>.siry lia'.'^ .'d to the iu'ii;hlwilii.""i iirection ol the Vtlii" laadt' liy -Mr. Kcdeiic 2. That out of the party I had eii •'*< '^'' ^'^"'■^'^ ^''"'"P*"*^" '''"'"' i'i'i'ty) to procet'd to Kaiu- \'v)>iiiiil thenee up the North Thompson river, throuu-h the Yellow Head IV.s, and thence easterly coiistructiiiy' a good trail I'or pack animals throuulnnu to eiial>le supplies, before the 1st of June, and most likely not so soon, as high water wour have get in and retarded the progress ol' pack trains, whereas now 1 pro^ pose to resume it and the construction ot the trail by the iirst ot March You will therefore observe in the coure taken by me the tim.- actuallv gained in accomplishing the completion ol the work will be upwaids o'l live months, and total outlay for the two seasons work most mulmaHi, lessened. From Portland I went to Wallula by the Oregon Steam iSaviirauoii Company's steamers and railroail, and thence, via Walla Walla, to Coivii;, by waggon, over a road which nature has almost entirely provided. From Colville I proceeded nearly all the way to the Boat Laiuiuii; un the Columbia Kiver by the trail 1 followed last year. " On my way up 1 made various changes in the disposition ol iho sup- plies, pack trains, &c., rendered necessary by the latest instructions lo abandon work on the Howse and resume it on the Yellow Head l'u,>.> route. I arrived at the Columbia River Depot on the 15th and the camp oi Party S on the 16th June. Immediately after my arrival, 1 set the boats at work ireightiuu ili-' supplies from the Boat Landing to the Slate Canyon— a distanci^ ol abuui eighty miles ; had a rough trail opened to get unloaded pack aiuuialsdown from the Boat Lauding to the same point, as the low Hats bordcriii" iho Columbia Kiver, over which 1 took my animals the previous year wit'aoui a trail, were overflooded and impassible, and also had the opeiiiiijji- ol ilif trail along the valley of the Columbia Kiver, from the Slale Cans on to ili-' Boat Encampment, pushed forward as fast as p> ssible. Having been compelled on my arrival at the Slate Canvon lodischary' several of the men for various causes, and as the Indians that u oikid ;'ur me the year before in the boats and canoes were away, 1 could not jrct tiu' trail opened and the goods boated as fast as 1 had expected, as otliefhauils were not to be got without sending several hundred miles lor tlicia. (liiu is one of the greatest dithculties in hurrying work in this portion ol tli.' country, for il you have a worthless or indillerent worker you iuuf.t citiiii put up with him or go without any one in his place.) Trail makiii- aloiiir the Columbia Kiver also required a great deal of work. Owing to the dangerous navigation on the Columbia Kiver and cm required in picking out a trail to avoid ail unnecessary work possibi<\ as well as to have the boats and animals employed to the best advantage, 1 was obliged to be ahead both on land and water, and l^,und it absoliueiy 166 e Yollow IToad Tas* ohaveau'aiii cinplMV,; &c., Ivoui KaiiiloopM,, ! mouiiiolUclolH.iaiid 1 utili/.t'd ill pushu,;, Iri.ss and iuo>l prubalnv y in going du\\J^ ^„;, leavier thnn the tiin,- itlier partifs Jiom ih- •voy ill tlu' inouiuai,,. as high Will,-!- \^^,^^^^ s, whereas now 1 pro- >y th« iirst ol Mardi. me the tinn' actually k will be upwards oi IS work most mukmllii fon kSteam ISaviirauon alia Walla, to Coivilic, tirely provided. J the Boat Landing on lisposilion ol tho sup- latest instruclioiis in the Yellow Head i'a^^ 15th and tin- camp o; it work Ireigiuiuii' lii.; — a distance ol abuui led pack animals duwn ow dats borderiuii the previous year witaoui id the opeiiiiiji' ol tlii' e iSlale Can) on to tli'' e. te Canyon todischar^v liaiis that woiktd ;o: ly, 1 could not get tln' peeted, a>s other liaiids miles lor tlicia. (I'iiis u this portion ol th'' orker you mu.^t citliti Trail maknig aloiii' rk. mbia Kivcr and car..* ary work po»sibi<', us he best advantage, I cl Ixxund it absolutely necessary to keep constantly in the vicinity of the trail party, the boats and i:ick trains, in order to avoid any dtday in their genoial forward move- ment; and, as I was anxious to hear how my parties were getting on })e- •ueiMi Tete Jaune Cache and Jasper House, and also to forward them in- sinictioiis. I sent a former member of tlu' stall of Party S, with two Indians whom I managed to y-et after much trouble, with letters for those parties, aiiJ one ibr yourself, as I expected you would be in the Yellow IL'ad Pass .ibout the end of August. They started on the 10th of July. To my ex- ceme vexation the member of the stall' returned in two days, having oonelncled the trip was ton heavy an undertakinsr for hira to accomplish ; the Indian.", however, went on with the letters.. They did not return until Av.Tiist 14th, having proceeded as far as the west end of Moose Lake with- out seeinsr anything of the parties. The information gained from them, ,i;id which I afterwards found to be very correct, indeed, was that Party T was not nearly so far forward with the survey as I expected ; that they were certain there had not been any person through from the Athabasca River to Moose Lake by the Yellow Head Pass this season, with the exoep- lionofan Indian with an unshod horse; that it was dilhcult to distinguish the old trails in many places; that we vvould find much fallen timber, particularly between the Committee's Punch Bow! and Henry House ; and they (lid not think it possible to iret Party S and the supplies over the .\thahasca Puss before the snow fell. All tliis information made rae e.ittromely anxious, so I decided to go over to the Tete Jnune Cache, and having got a larire quantity of the supplies down by the boats to the foot of Kinbaskit Lake the trail also opened to within a mile of it — and as I could, in a few days, discharge the boats, there beinij no navigable water below the above point we could utilize, I started on the 27th August over the mountains from the foot of the lake, in as direct a course as possible for Yellow Ht>ad Lake, leaving orders with Mr. Green to open the trail to the Boat Encampment, and thence up the .\thabasca Pass, with the utmost despatch, and for Mr. Hall to keep all the Mipplies close up to the trail party. I also instructed Mr, Hall to send aliout sixty pack animals down to Kamloo])s as soon as the supplies were ail to thf lower end of Kinbaskit Lake. The animals left on the 3rd of September, and should have reached Kamloops about the beginning of N'ovomber. I reached the Yellow Head Pass on the tJth of September. Tins mouu- t'un trip was rather arduous, as we were oblii^fd to cross the .suinmits of !ivi' distinct ranges of mountains varyinur from six to eight thousand feet '■'I h.'iuht, cro.'ising the main ridge of the Rocky Mountains twice, and the mountain sides were steep, ru£ra'*"d, and in most cases covereil with much lallfii ti'uber and underbrush, as well as with thick r()rt'.sis. My object in takiiii.'' this course was to save as much time as possible by <>utting oil" the roundabout way by the valley of the Columbia river to th(> Boat Encamp- ment, ilifiue by the Athaba.sca Pass to Henry House, and thence by the Caledonia and Fraser valleys. The Indians I had sent over Ix-fore were luurteen days travellini;- time in making the trip from Kinba.^kit lake to the .same point where I came into the Yellow Head Pass (foot of Yellow Head Lake) ; they made the cut off from the northerly end of Kinbaskit TCfi lake to tlu' Athalmsca Pass at the foot of Mount Hooker, mif] thoiirc I'ollovvcd tho Athabasca nild Yellow Head Passes It will he s,.,.„ n^,. travelliuu: liiiie it took uk' to ri'mh the saiiu' jioiut was nine aini ;i Imii (lays, as 1 arrived there at I l>.m. on tlu^ 0th Sepifiuher. Oil asei'iidiiiy- to the Ijei'^Iu, of laiul in a wide t^Tahsy de|)resMoii. at a height of six thousand live h iiidred IVu-l ahove tho sea level, tlmt ati'ordfd us a passau'e over the la^i laiiu'e of uiouiitains crossed on ilii which I'oriii tlie iiorthe irip, Ijouiidary ol' a pass iuinuHlialely iionh ol Moum \all''\s o|' the Whirlpool and (prot)ahlvi Vam- lirowil. eoiiiieetiii'^' lln- \aH''\s o rivert^. i came on ^sever:d suiall p'liids which loriii the source ul a sitrt'uin that Hows in a course i\. ,"»(»^ W. iiiiii". (variations of compass uhour 2t)^ E i, some thirty miles, ami vapitUy increases in volume, heintr led hy .s.-vcral coiisideral)ie Irihutary mountain streams, until ih'\ form a lair m/.m! rivir. which alter llowint;' with -.i ueiillc current over a gravelly he,! u,y ni.arlv two-thirds ol' i(s leiuj'th throuiih a line valley with u'rassy slopes aiii! pictures(Hie iiroves of lir trees, hecomes coniiiied in caiiy(»iis and iriirfri's through which it dashes and roars a turbulent and n/i/iarun//// suvdH >iii';im until it forms a junction with the streiim llowint'' out of Yellow 11c:k1 Jakt., a sliorl distance Ixdow it. Tlir ^oiinr. of the ahuve (fr^rn'hcd slrfuni is Ihr tn^ ■i'lun r (if llif Fniyn lircr, and the scenery around it is l)oth heaiuil'ul aii'! maiiuilicent, ami well wortiiy of encirclinsi' the origin ol' that i>raiKl riviT The small stream or rather (reek that falls int(» the head oi YcHoa Head Laki', and which is u-enerally called the source ol' the l-'rascr, lia> ; leiisith (*1 only some four or live miles and is of inconsiderable si/c. On reachinu' the bottom of the valley which is the coiitinuaiioH ofih-' Yellow Head Pass, we forded the river and were much tj-rati lied l)\ coming on a newly cut i>ack trail which we followed easterly about a iniie to ilin fool of Y'ellow Head Lake, whtM'e we found Mr. McCord's trail partv. From him I learnt the T party were in the nei^-hborhood ol tin- wor cud of Moose lake with the survey, so [ at once communicated with ili.' engineer in charge who came up to see me on tho 8th Sej)icnil)cr. Tlii> engineer in charge of party T now informed me his party had hern detained on their way up, having lost various necessary supplies in \\\<' canyons of the Thompson river and also Irom other causes. I learnt yoii had not as yet passed through en riule to tho Pacific Coast. Having now ascertained the position of my two parties westward ol the Yellow Head Pass, 1 concluded to take lour of the trail party's iiur.*i"<, cut my way through and exp'ore that pass and thence down the ("ak'.toiiin and Jasper valleys to Jasper House, belore returning by the Alliabasi'i Pass to party S on the Cohimbia river, as the above portion of llii' pr- posed line of railway had not previously been visited by any of the rail- way parties: Mr. Roderic McLeniiau having returned to Kamloopson th'> :21s't October, l!S~-J, on reaching the easterly end of Moose Lake. 1 also had hopes ol asceitaining some inlornuition as to your movements. HaviiiL' fallen on yoiir track near the head of Jasper Lake, I overtook you at the mouth of the Miette, on 14th .September, and returned with your party to camp T, one mile above the west end oi' iloose Lake and as your instrur- tions then coincided with my views respecting the I'urtherauco oi iho 167 «arvt>v and trail «»astprly, I diil not oiitor into full dotuils rpsjii^'^tiii!^ them. OuK'iVvini: y»)\i at the loot of Moose Lalvi', on tho ITth Srptt'mhcr, T con- vi'vod to iln' t'ntrinet'v in chariro of party T yonr instructions and sf''>"'r'y uriod tilif'ii l>i"i tht' ' (ossity of niiikinu- (>vory oT rt to nialiiiS r, I started from the head of Moose Lake on my return to tlu' Coluiiiltii'. liver, rin the Athabasca Pass, taking 'bur horses , it took mo two days to make about twenty rnilos Irom the Honry House, as t'alltMi tiinb'r much (bstructed our proL'ress. On the evenintr of the 24th Sopteiniter, Ijeinff th" lourth day irom Henry House, I camped one mile south of the Committee's Piuich Howl — here the snow was four inches in (ji'liiii iiiul everythini,' had a wintry ai)peuran<'e. T found a irreat deal of work would be required to make a passable trail for pack animals from the top of the mountain to Henry House, owinir to the swampy nature of the n^ronr.d lor some lifteen miles across the heiortioni of it. Kvery- rliinir looked most unfavorable for the forwardinir of the party and supplies Irom the Columbia to Henry House, T went on aiul early in the morninij if tho third day from the Committee's Punch Bowl, havinir waded almost .■ml!t■^< fords aiul dracired and jumped the horses throujrh and over thick- woods, underbrush, rocks and iallou timber, reached th«' ciunp of party S whii'h was on the south bank of Wood or Portaiyo river about two miles above the Boat Enc!>mpment, it havinsr been exactly a month since I left the party at Kinbaskit lake. I told the party it was my determination to pu,sh forward with the sui)plies and animals across the Rocky Mountains to the Athabasca river, where I had instructed Mr. McCord to build a depot, and also to finish the survey throuc^h that rant^e to its easterly base before closing" work for the season; 1 q'ave those ai'raid of nndertakincr the trip the opportunity of leavin.T. which only a few availed themselves of, and the rest of the party went to work with a most praiseworthy will, working both week davs and Sundays, throuixh rain, .snow and cold, without knockiuijr ott" for an hour until the trail was opened and the survey party to the Athabasca depot. On the evening' of the 1st October the trail was passable, though not finished, as a good deal of cordnroyinu" was needed, to the foot of .Mount Hooker, a distance of about twenty miles from the Columbia, Mnd nearly all the piK.'k aninnils on the wny Itetween the Boat Kncampnient and th»> sbovo point. On the 2nd J started bnck for party T, from the foot of the mountain, taking Messrs. Oreen and Hall a part of the way up Mount Hooker to .show them where to< open the trail and L>et the supplies to. My endeavor now \vas to sret the supplies all to the heialu of land, the J>eent to which in one place is at an amjle of elevation of about seventy-five 'leirre.'s, so that should I not be enabled to pack them all the way to the Alhaliasca depot before stop]i(>d by the snow, they would be over the beiirhr f)l'land, ami there would be adescendinu- grade alonir the "Whirlpool 'ind Athabasca rivers over which to convey them in don- ,sleighs. I arrived at the site chosen by Mr McCord for the depot on the evening of the 5th October, and found he had one storehouse well 168 ndvnnood ; this dcipot, known as tho "Athiihascii depot," is situattvl on tho left bank of Ihc Athabasca river, about four miles below the mouth o| Miettc's river, and some twentv-one or twenty two miles by truil ulmv,. .Taspiir Hoarse, and iinniediateiy bi'low your carnp No. 4K ; tlic siti- was selected principally on account of the convenience of tim1)er for huilflimr purposes and firewood, and also from the shelter aiforded by a neiifhliorin..' hiffh "bench" from the norihi'rly and southerly winds whicli blow with trreat forfo almost continntllv in the Jasper valley. Mr. Mo<'(>rd inforni"d me he hoard the survey party T was m-vpni! days previous to my arrival within one and a half miles of the "1 livid.'" in the Yellow Head Pass. a:i(l that he had already .sent his pack train tol)riii:: the surj^his stores of th(> party to this depot, as the ens?ineer in cliar;,'.' li.id informed him he tould tiot spare the train from his party Ibr that piirpov The first thinjT in the morninir of the 6th I started for the "divide," and on my \V!i\ ui> met a messemrer brinij^ins^ me letters from you nnij also oiii^ from (lie iMiffineer in charijc of partv T, informim? mo he had siart>'d for Victoria on the 8rd, takinir his entire party and pack animals. I also learnt one of Mr. Trutch's pack trains, kindly sent by that irentleman, was on tliM way up with a load of supplies for my parties. The weather had been very bad since I left the foot of Mount Huok'r, and T passed the Committee's Punch IJowl during a heavy snow storm, ii: which time there was six inch'^s of snow on the ground, the rivers and creeks became o-rentlv swollen, the trails cut up and muddy, and th." "rass all killed ami frozen. T afterwards learnt that many of the pack animiils at this time were unable to cross the different fords on Portacre river, whi'h greatly retarded the progress of .some of the supplies. T now returned to the Athabasca depot and sent Mr. McCord oiU with a few men to open the trail to meet party S, and then discharged all others here whom I sent down to Kamloops with Mr. Trutch's train, which aft^r remaininu' over one day returned. T wrote to you by that opportunity It being novv"^ quite apparent to me it would be almost impossihlo t' get all the supplies down from the "Whirlpool river, and that I should also have to take crreat risks with the pack animals to s;et them well lorward, I made a hurried trip to Jasper House to .see Mr. Logan, the goulaman in charge of that post of the Hudson's Bay Company, about getting doosliiirh- and moccassins. On my return I followed Mr. McCord's party, and over- took them twelve miles out at the "Prairie des Vaches " Next day I wvu; on and met Mr. GreiMi and party S aboiit twentv miles above the Ib'nry House; the foil o wins' day, October UUh, the trail was completed, ai,.i 1 ret\irned with Mr, Green to this depot to have everything in readinoss to move the survev party up to the divide in the Yellow Head Pa.ss On ih'' 20th the S and McCoi^d's trail jmrties reached the depot, the men wi-r-' allow(!d a day to wash clothes and recruit. COMMENCEMENT OF SURVEY. T took the party up to the 'divide" and commenced the survey on thi' ■24th October from a point near the bank of the stream flowini;- w.sftiiy from the "divide" into Yellow Head Lake, where we continued thi'surv>>y from that made by party T, and camped on the same ground they had occu- ICD piid exactly three weeks ht'foro, theiiijjht previous toslnrtintroii their return ti) Vi(Mur caelu'd about »'iuht niilch south oi ihr Conimi;. tt'i'h I'uiich IJo," 1, ail the KUpplit's wi-n' at tliiH tune al tin- itomi wIkt," 1 directed iMv. Hall to huiid u depot oJi Whirlpool iiiver, at llic I'vnww (l.n Vathes or at llu' Athahasi-a Ifepot. The pack animals ail ^;o1 down lj,.iin\ Henry llouHe linally on tht^ lird iJeceniher. My object belore stoppm;^ work lor the beaison beiny, a» belore ri'iaiirktil to'conjplete the Nevernl w ork . throuiih the ivoeky Mounlain.s and huvf li quantity of BUpplies lorwarded to the eahlerly ternunation ol ihi- truii i, enable us to prosecute the works easterly with viyor as soon ah we can >:v\ UJtt) the hehl, 1 directtil Mr. llidl to lorward supplies sullicii'iit lor ihre. months ior the survey party, and lor live months for the trail part v, m addition to those required by the i)arlies durin<( the time tin y iiii^lu yet be occupied m completing the work to Kiddle Iiiver, which 1 consider the easterly terminatioji ol the mountain work. The trail was open, and tht? iirst train load ol' supplies reuchod ihf Fiddle Iiiver on the 2Hth December. On the 30th, Mr. McC'ord cm- meuced to build the depot there, and as I had previously picked mu the places lor the animals to winter at, 1 gave Mr. McC'ord his liinil iiistruciidib and returned to the Athabasca Depot on the :51.st ; Mr. Green luiviiiij inm- pleted the survey to the Fiddle Iiiver, on th«! iJnd January, relumed \v;ii, the survey party and reached the depot on the olh; the pack annaals lor the balance of the suppli«'s to be forwarded returned and .ii>aiii K'lt wilIi their last loads for Fiddle Iiiver on the «th, and were turned uul lor [\\r winter on the 2;{rd of January. It was with much reluctance that I felt obliged to diMontiiiui' liv work, but 1 saw if 1 kept pushing on, I should lose the animals iiiul ihon- tore be much delayed at the opening of next season. I al.v) wished t ■ prepare the i>lans, reports, &c., &c., for transmission to you, which it wn.^ oixt of the question to do in camp. I propose to leave the old Hudson Bay Company's trail at Fiddle Iiiver and get out of the Athabasca Valley at thi'I(i\v ihi- .luNpir Vull.'\~ •«t)ulli ol itn Coiiimi;- Hi the poitii wlitTi' 1 r. III llh' I'lMirif (Irv ■. all i^n\ il for tUf tniil party, in ihi' time tiny iiiiylu Vi}r, which 1 consuU'r HUpplit'8 Vi'UrhiHl ill.' h, Mr. McCord com- 3usly picki'il nut the I his limil iiistruciKiib r. GrtHMi haviiii.' tmn- iiuary, it'iunu'd \v;ih .he pa(;k amiaals lor and .liiHiii li'ft Willi turmttl uut lor ihr (1 to dihooiitinut' ih'' he aniuials aiid ihi'i'i- »ji. I al.M) winIu'iI I ' to you, which it \v;i- )any's trail at ImiWIh rst practicuhl" ponii •able liiu' I can Ihul and Fort Kdnioiitoii, threo thousaiul I'ei'i ihe oastt-ni Ims'' "I some toil or twvlv" that will avoid those .>rly shori' id" Lac a It and basool supi)h''j miles ol' tu'' wm'i'r sruth wost-'vly ''nd _^d and sh.dt.'r. The >aiik ol'thc Athalax-a er and ton iVoin thb le heart ol' the Uocky Mountains, it cannot bo oxprctod we fchould havo mot with iiny lund ,,,|apt.'d lor M'ttlemeiit. With ilie exception oi' n few spotN of very limited extent, the valley ol ihi'Coluiiibia river, from the Howwe Ta^Htc the boat I'.ncumpmeni, is niiiit l,,rM'tlliiii<'nt, and iH covered with a den.se and hea\ y growth ol timber, ,1 whiili wliile Kpruce, Douglas lir, cedar, while pme and bir( h are the ■iri'doiniiiatiniu: Hpecies. (rrass is «tnrce and poor m this portion ol the '.illcy; the points where it was found in any ijuantity were in (he neigli- bdurhood ol IMacid river, al the head ol KmbaNkll lake, and at the liout hncainpini'iii. Around the boat Encampment there i8 a tract ^ 'lal land, where the >oil i^ ri(h, the grabs plentiful and the timber good. Through the valley of Portage or Wood river, from the Hoat Kneamp- iiicnt to the foot of MouJit Hooker, a di.stance oi about twenty miles, there IS not any land til for settlement, and the timber is ueiierally nor Douglas lir iiuvo as yet been met with on the easterly slope. The lund in the Yellow Ht'ad Pass and the Caledonia Valley is worth- \m, the grass generally poor, and the timber small sized spruce and black pine. In the Jasper valley the land may atibrd a few spots of small extent where some hardy descriptions of vegetables might be cultivated, i)ro\ ided iiiLfht frosts should not kill them : there is a limited range of excellent grazing ground, and the timber, which is almost entirely white s])ruce and Mack pine, rarely exceeds a foot in diameter. That portion of the valley extending from Jas])er House to Fiddle Kiveris very similar in its general features, but more thickly timbered. The strong, and, since our arrival, almost incessant gales of wind, carrying clouds of dust that blow in the valley, are found very unpleasant North of the Boat Encampment, we saw many cariboo and griz/dy bears diid killed several of the former. In the Jasper valley, the mountain' or big horn sheep appears to be plentiful, and we have succeeded in killing a good number, the meat of which, to tis, appears excellent. Hares and prairie chicken are numerous below the mouth of {Snare river. With the exception of the iSelkirk range of mountains, which is bounded by the "Big Bend" of the Columbia river, and terminates or "runs out ' at the Boat Encampment, the other ranges of mountains crossed or i^sed through either in the Athabasca pass, the Yellow Head pu.ss or the Caledoma, Jasper and Athabasca valleys do not appear, no far as 1 could 2.li 172 judg*^, IVorn v«>ry hurried oxiimiiialions, to contain any of the iTtn i„in 1 he YoluuiinouK in«'t.('(>i<>l<)<4i(!Hl regiHtvrs, sint'e Novrniht-r Hilij^^;] which liuve !»fcn kt'i t eontimioiisiy hy Mr. K M Kyhilt, slorckccix.r m thiK u (^ood di'al ol inlorniation uhuiil tiir tliiiniii' m i||,. Kocky Mountains, at the dillcrciit placrson Ihc (hi.'cs when tlic (iliM.naiioiis were lakt'ii. 1 tin not think thrif will he the Nlightfsl diliicnily or IroiiM.' exporiencrd Ironi dnltiuf'- snow, and I'loni snow Hlnles and uviiliiiahcs uonv.. (.^onsiiit'ring the cnornious distan(H's lhrou^>h a most ru"«t'«l couinrv that the party, suppHt-s and animals, tln^ past two seasons, iijui- iiuidi' ilmr way and hei-n transpoitcd, Ihe «langfrous navigation ol' (lie M((iillivi;iv brandi ol' Iho Oohunlna river and the very st-vert- wt-ather cudint'd Uniu 8ea8ons in the early part of the wintern, it is a matter ol' great ((jiiiTatitla- tion that we have not sustained any loss ol lil'c nor bad any acfid.iit^, tliai not u single ]>ound ol' Ihe supplies has been lost in transit, foniiiiLr li\ w n ol' the Columbia), and out oi nearly two hundred and lil'ty puck aiiiiiiiil> employed, only seven have died in all, which is not at all Nurpri.Miii' us nearly all the paek aninuds on this route travelle*! baek imd imth last Beii.- lightened as the travelling was exe«'ssively bad, the ascent ol the inouiiiiiiii v»!ry steep indeed, anr will permit. The accounts, list of supplies on hand, animals now here and elsiwlnr.'. numbt^r and rate of pay of men at i)resent employed, ikr., &f , whwh accompany this report, will show you in detail tht; position of the l)i>iriil, with ilie exception of the T i)arly'.s accounts and number of pack iiiiiiiKili, which 1 luive not got. (Ja the evening of iht! 7th January seven dog sleighs arrived, kindly sent up by Mr. llardisty, the gentleman in charge ol Kort Ivliiioiitoii, I" ahhist in getting our supplu.'s a«i\vn from the dejmt on Whirlimol riMr TheH(! are the Hleighs I had i)reviously reciuested Mr. Logan to .send iip il pobbible, as i was afraid when the spring opens the wntci Wimld rise and ])revent pack animals travelling portions of tlir trail 'ivtr the hlnnglu Hals along the \Vhirli)ool river, which are overllixidtd in high water. The dogs, alter a day's rest, wont up for a load, and reached lien' wiih jit un the I'^ih, and are now bringing all the rebt of the s ipplub liovvii iih 178 an y of the i>rt'rioui| Novt'iiiliiT Hih, IS71 liyliilt, Ki()rrKi-,.|)..r III lim»'iic(', winch I also il tlif fliiiiiilf 111 ill,, whni I he <>l)M.|Viiiiiiii,H nI (liliirulty or troiihl,; *li(l(fs 1111(1 iiviiliindii'.^ IllOKt rui^ycd couuiry MoiiN, hiiVf iiiiuli' ttni'r I of tllC Mc(;iiii\i;,\ ••atht'i- fiuluicd liotli r 1)1' great (•t al all ,siiii)nMii;f ib Imck iiiid lortli liisi and uluio.sl iiivaniil)!) >t. W'llt'll Cro.sMlnr ill.. to iiavf nil the \um\s icvul u[ llic inoiiiitaiii and plciililiil in ihr rt of Ut'ctMulicr kilii'l 'Ui Kauitoops Id till' was imicli iiii|p|(ivi'(l, I throutrli llic Vclliiw miickly iifi poHHihlc. ThiH will j?routly facilitiitt' our inovomtMitH on tho (,|)(«iiinir '•!' »''X* ftt'iiBon. The int'lhodN adopted in dcalinur with the IfulianK and half-breed'^, liclonLrim; to the di(fer(M>t tribes tnet with or employed at various times iliiriiiir the two HeasouH the party has been in the interior, have re- Miltcd inoNl HatiHfactorily. Not a sini^Ie (|uarr(d has arisen, not a sinifle irticlc has been stoltMi, and without exception the inoNJ friendly fcelinsf is now t'xistini^. Tho Indians have rendered us uuich and most valuable iissistiilice. Ilftviiit,' now completed a "teaHOn's work, extendinif over a perio ' n\ iipWiirds III' ten months with most of the party now h.-re, durinj? a portion ,1 whii.'ti ti lie the thermometer ranijed from twenty to thirty det^'rees below /.ri), 1111(1 the continual i,'a!('s of wind in the .laspe- and Athabasca valleys MTi' vcrv pierciiiL,', in which the members of the parly have encountered 110 ordinary hardships, and durins^ lht> whole of which time they have V I'li'lv lost a sintrle day's work I have much pleasure in statinij that lii.y have severally performed in an enerj^etic and orderly majiner their vnrioiiN ilulies, and thus (>nabl(Ml nic to brinj^ the work of the season to a satisl'uclory termination. I have the honor to be, Sir. Your obeditMit servant, WALTER MORKRLY, District Knjfinoer, (5. I*. R. king and .survey imm c, arc iorwardcil In V here and elsewlnr.', ed, tVc., iVi'., wliii'ti >sition ol the lii.sirnl, ib)!r oi' |)ack aiiiiuali, eighs arrived, kimlly d P'ort iMliiioiitoii, til on WhirJiiool river, Logan to hciid up il the wiitei wmild of the trail over are overllooded m d reached licie with ic s .ip^jiich down uh 174 * J. - :ujr*.n- --*-*.'- APPENDIX H. Detail Re/mrt on the Surveys in British Columbia for the year 1*^73, h,f Marcus Smith, C. E. Ottawa, January Ist, 1874, Sandford Fleming, Esq., Chief Engineer C. P. Railway. Sir, — Tn my report of the results of the surveys of 1871 and 1872, on thai portion of the Canadian PaciHc Railway under my charg**, it is .stated that a favorable line had been found from the summit of the Yellow Head Piiss down the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to a point in the valley ol the Athabasca near to Lac a Brule ; a distance of 49 miles, to which point the surveys had then been carried Also, that from the summit of the Yellow Head Pass a line had been surveyed westward, by the head waters of the Fraser to T^te .Taune Cacho, thence southerly across the low water sheds by Cranberry and Albreda Lakes to the valley of the North Thompson, following down the same to its junction with that of the Clearwater. That from and below this point, three distinct routes, with deviations. had l)een surveyed to the waters of the Pacific ; two of these terminatintr at Burrard Inlet, near the mouth of the Fraser River, in the Strait of Georgia; the' other touching Pacific waters at the head of Bute Inlet, but continued down the western shore of the same, and across several small islands and narrow channels to Menzie's Bay on Vancouver Island. That portion of the line from Yellow Head Pass to Clearwater, 1^0 miles, which is common to all the other routes surveyed to the Pacifii^ Coast, was considered to ])e generally satisfactory with the exoeption u( about 22 miles between Moose and Cranberry Lakes, which required revision. From the several routes .surveyed between Clearwater junction and the Pacific Coast, a line to either Burrard or Bute Inlet could be selected that might be considtMNnl practicable for railway construction; but on som<' portions of either line the work.s would be .so very heavy that, with the view of avoiding or reducing those, further surveys were deemed neces- sary, and it was therefore arranged. FirU. — That a Hue should be surveyed, on the left bank of the Fraser, from Moose lo Cranberry Lakes, connecting with the surveys of 1ST2. Hrroti'l. — That the country should be explored, as far as time would 175 r the year 1H73. iy nuary Ist, 1874, :)aiik of the Frascr, permit, between the head waters of the North Thompson, the Clearwater, and the Horsefly Rivers. Third. — That an intermediate route shoiild be surveyed between those diverffintr from the common trunk at Clearwater, and terminating at Bur- rard and Bute Inlet respectively. Thi. lionaparU', then descend that valley to the mouth of Hat Creek, and t'oilow up the iu.ter and through the Marble Cauvon to the Fraser valley. Cross- inir the Fraser River near Lillooet, the line would follow the shores of Seatoii and Anderson T.nkos and a chain of connected vallevs, alterrately ascendincrand descendini> through the several ranges of the Cascade Moun- tains to the .load of Howe Sound. To carry out these .surveys you decided that the party S, under Mr. Walter Mo})erly, which had passed the winter in the district to the oast of the Yellow Head Pas.s, and since the opening of spring had been continu- ing the survey towards Edmonton, should turn back westward across the Rocky Mountains, as soon as a despatch could reach Mr. Moberly, to make the survey between Moose and Cranberry Lakes, and explore the country between the North or Cariboo branch of the Thompson River and the Clearwater Lakes. For the survey between the mouth of the Clearwater and Howe Sound, a distance of about 280 miles, nearly half of which is throuirh the rufrffed Cascade Mountains, you could only allow me two parties, with which there was barely time to complete the work before the close of the season, as it was now the 1st of .Tune. However, you gave me two well organized parties, viz., Divisions M and X under Mr. E "W. Jarvis and Mr. C. H. Gamsby respectively. In accordance with these arrangements you telecrrnphed instructions for Mr. Moberly to Fort G-arrv, to be forwarded thence, through'the Hud- son's Bay Company, to Fort Edmonton with which place he was expected '0 be in communication. You also telecrraphed Mr. Jarvis, who was at Fort Garry, to meet me, with his partv at San Francisco. Mr. Gamsby, with his party and mvself, left Toronto on the llt.h Tunfl ; we arrived in San FrancLsco on the 18th. and in Victoria on the 24th of the same month. Mr. Jarvis and party arrived two davs lator ; thev had miss- ed the direct steamer to Victoria, and had come via. Portland and Olympia. On the 27th June, Mr. Cramsby's party (Xl, had made all their arrange- ments, and got their .supplies and baiiiraae put on board the Dominion I'teamer " Sir James Doudas" which had been put at my service, and in the evenino- T went on board with the party. l^'ihinlat/, June 2Sfh. — At four a. m. we steamed out of Victoria harbour and at three p. m. the same day arrived at the head of Howe Sound; we irot all the stores and bagsrage landed before night and the party camped, ready to commence work on Monday following. I remained on board the steamer, and next morning started at day- light and arrived at Departure Bay,ynear Nanaimo, about noon to take in coal, which detained us an hour ; we' arrived in Victoria at seven, p. m. 176 On tho 1st of July Mr. Jarvis and his party (M), accompanied ))y Mr John Trutch, who was enu-aijfed to assist as commissary, left Victoria bv steamboat for Vew "Wosiminster and Yale, aud thence on tho 4th, bv stages to the mouth of Hat Creek, in the Bonaparte Valley, whore the\- encamped on the 8th July, and next day commenced surveyinir a luii' westwiird towards Lillooet. I now ordered a pack train of thirty-five horses and mules to be sent down from Cache Creek to New "Westminster, and orj^anized a party under Mr. Joseph Hunter, to cut a trail for this train to work on, iuoou- neotion with the survevint.'' party (X), from Howe Sound. This trail party left Victoria on the 8th July by the rejrular steamer for New "Westminster, where they arrived the same evenintr; the pack train arrived two days later, and Mr. Hunter eui^aflfed the steamer '• Hope' Captain Parsons, to convey his party and the train to Howe Sound ; thny left New "Westminster on the evenin;^ of the 11th July, and earlv next mornina" they landed everythinj^ safely on the banks of the Squaraislit River, a mile above the head of the Sound, where the party coraiuencHci cuttinir the traii. Meanwhile an express h.id arrived at Kamloops, from Mr. Moberly's camp on the east side of the Rocky Mountains ; and, judging from the position Moberly was in, I had doubts of your despatch from Ottawa of June 5th, reaching: him in time lor him to complete the surveys, accordius; to your in.'^tructions, before winter set in. T therefore immediately sent off a despatch to him, repeatni-jr your ins^ructioiis, with a sketch showing how you wished the line to bo run between Moose and Cranberry Lakes, and giving the average grade botwoen the two points : also showing what explorations were required between the head waters of the North Thompson and Clearwater Rivers. Journey from Howe Sound [through the Cascade Mountains and up the Bonaparte River. Having now got all the parties fairly at work, I was ready for an ex- ploratory journey from Howe Sound through the Cascade Mountains, on the route now beincr surveyed, and up the Bonaparte Valley, whence the surveys would be connected with those of the previous year. Fridai/, 2!)fh Jul if. — The steamer "Sir James Douglas" having been put at my service, I embarked at mid-night, and half an hour after we steamed out of Victoria harbour, and at noon next day we arrived at the head of Howe Sound, where we found Mr. Hixon waiting for us with two canoes and seven Indians, whom he had engaged at Burrard Inlet to go with us as packers, &c. Here we also met a canoe with two white men and two Indians from Mr. Hunter's camp ; one of the white men w'ho had, been employed iu cutting the trail, had a leg badly fractured by a falling tree, and I sent him to Victoria by the steamer ; the others joined my party. The valley at the head of Howe Sound is about a mile and a half to two miles wide ; it is a low delta formed by the Squamisht River, which enters the sea by two arms, one at each side of the valley. This delta is 177 ntains and up the covered chiefly with cottonwood or poplar trees. At low tide from hall' a mile to a mile oi mud Hat is uncovered, aud it is i'uUy hail a mile Iroui this ere the water is of suthcient depth to float a vessel drawing twelve feet of water ; then the bottom suddenly slopes down to very deep water, thus ati'ordiug very poor anchorage. The leit or east branch of the river, just before entering the Sound, washes the base of a bold granite blutf, probably over I.OOu feet iu height ; it was near this that the surveys were commenced. The fork oi the river is about two miles above this, where a small stream called the Namquam comes in. Here the valley widens out, and the tiaib, up to the foot of the mountains, are covered with a tine quality of spruce, hemlock and other varieties of tir ; the banks of the river are I'riiigred with a dense growth of cottonwood trees. The tide Hows up to the lurk, but above that the river is very rapid, with numerous shoals, and we hud great dilficulty iu iorcing our large sea-going canoes up. About seven miles from the head of the Sound, the Tsee-ark-a-misht River comes in from the east side of the valley, which is heie fully a mile and a half wide, aud Hows into the Squamisht ; the I'ornur river is liity to sixty yards wude, and the latter a hundred to a hundred and forty yards. On the west bank of the Squamishl, near the eoulii.ence of the two rivers, the rocky slopes of the mountain come close to tht? water's edge, aud an Indian village is perched on a bench of the rocks. We arrived hereon Sunday about noon, and made a depot of provisions lor the use ol the men on their return home. Here we left our canoes and engaged two more men to pack for us till we should reach the camp of the surveying party. After lunch we commenced our tramp, following the left bank of the Tseearkamisht ; two miles up we crossed the line cut by the surveying party, and a mile further louud the Indian with a small canoe whom we had sent on ahead to ferry u» across the river. The crossing detained us over an hour, as the river was swift and the canoe very small, so that several journeys had. to be made. Haifa mile above this we camped on a high bench. Monday, 2Slh July. — Started at seven a.m. on the left bank of the river, the valley getting narrower as we ascended. About six miles on we crossed the Minatch liiver, tiO feet wide, and about four miles above this the valley closes in, the river issuing through a rocky canyon lieYn vve turned to the east, following the trail cut for the pack traiu, aud in half a mile we had ascended 500 leet to a small lake about tlOO yards long ; still ascending, iu two hours we came to a depot oJ stores bolonging to the surveying party, and camped, iN'o. 3. Tuesday, 2dlh July. — Started at seven a.m., aud still fullowing the zig- zag trail up the mountain, we soon reached an altitudi- :i,000 feet above the level of the sea. We then began to descend, and reached the vuiley, at the head of the canyon, about live miles above the point where wt- had lelt it. Here the valley for a mile and a half iu length, and little i'^ss than a mile iu breadth, is covered to a great depth with boulders aud debris that nave been washed down by the bursting of a lake on tiie sale of tiic mouu- taia, leaving an immense gorge iu the latter, aud dammiug up the river so 178 as to form a lake two miU's in length ; this is called Daisy Lake, inul there are trees standing in it with several Jeet ol then trunks bubmiMgi'd, t'lu'wing tliat this disruption is of recent occurrence, probably within iwcmy or thirty years. Un the shores of this lake we met Mr. Hunter, who'had charge ol the trail party, whose camp was a short distance ahi;ad. Wedntbday, iivtk Julij. — We started early, following Mr. Huutt'i's trail which had been carried well up the slope ol the mountain to iivoid heavy fallen timber and swamp in the bottom oi the valley ; in the eveiuti" \\\ reached the camp of the surveying party at the head of Daisy Lake, xdiere we also camped, No. o. Here i had an opportunity of correcliii" the readings of my aneroid, and found Daisy Lake to be 1,177 feel above sen level, and our camp a little over ^4 miles from the head of Howt^ S(;uii(l, At the head of Daisy Lake the valley is covered with very lariri' oottoii- wood trees, bui, in little more than a mile lurther up, the river ru.she.s out of a can) on through volcanic rocks, making two very sharp reverse bends. I spent two days here examining the country with Mr. Grainsby, while his party were making canoes and rafts with which to cross the river. Friday, August \st. — Some of my Indians having got sick or foot-sore, I borrowed a few men from Gamsby to replace them ; we crossed the river on a raft, and after lunch resumed our tramp. The bottom of tlie valley here rises abruptly to 400 feet above the river on to a plateau ol volcaiui origin ; the loose rocks or lava beds are piled up in cones or sorpentiiu ridges, sometimes forming the walls of crater-like basins or ponds rising one hundred to two hundred feet above the general surface. On the east side the Tseearkamisht River rushes through a tortuous cauyou, and on the west a stream 30 to 40 feet wide tumbles down in cascades from the snow clad mountain slopes ; we followed midway between the two by a narrow dry valley, and in less than three miles again struck the river near where it is divided into two branches, one coming from the north-east and the other from the north-west ; these are nearly of equal volume, forty lo sixty yards wide, very rapid, and now at high Hood from the melting of the snow on the mountains. We had no means of crossing so as to get between the forks and, there- fore, followed up the west branch, but very doubtful whether we were on the right route, as the only account we had of it was that of the late Mr. Jamieson, who had come from the opposite direction (Lillooet) and des- cending the small stream from the Grreen Lakes, had crossed the east branch of the liver higher up by the Indian trail, and probably had not seen the west branch at all as he takes no notice of it. At five miles above the fork the west branch is divided into two streams, each 75 feet to 100 feet in breadth, and a short distance abovi- that a glacial stream 20 feet wide enters from the southwest. At 13 miles above the hrst fork we found we were 3,37o feet above sea level, and the valley was rising rapidly ; a mile and a half above that point a stream 40 feet wide comes in from the north. We ascended tin' laouu- tain side opposite this to a height of 700 or 800 feet, from which \vc could trace the course of the stream to the snow line on the mountains iroui which it fell by a succession of rapids and beautiful waterfalls. Descending to the valley we followed the west branch, a uuie lurther 170 up to a deep Cany ill Ihvouf^h which the torrent rushinl, and uborc this wo could see it iallinu,- in cascades down the mountain side ; I estimated ihe hfii,fht at loot of the Canyon 3,560 feet above sea h^'cl. AVe were now sure we were on the wron^^ route and commenced our r.'turn journey, keeping well up on the slopes of the mountain Irom which we could command a good view of the valleys leading in the direction in which, we supposed, the Green Lakes lay. Our progress was slow and laborious for, besides loose rocks and fallen ninbor, there was a dense growth of brush over six feet high resemlding iiliickthorn, and a drizzling rain came on, which lasted the two days oc- lupied in returning to the survej'^ors camp, which we reached on the atteriioon of the 4th of August. During the next two days it rained too much for the surveyors to work, but the trail party had now got a line large canoe finished, with which they managed to get all the supplies safely across the rapid and Jan2;erous Tsee-ark-amisht River, which was now at high flood, and by the end of the week such progress had been made that we all camped to- ■rether, three miles further on, between the forks of the river, having ■ rossed the west branch by a rude bridge which the surveyors had con- ooiistvucted. The surveys were also carried to this point, but as the grades were not satisfactory, I sketched a more circuitous line, diverging from the first about five miles back, which the party now commenced to survey. As we were now near the summit of the first range of mountains, and the trail party, with the supplies, had got fairly up with the surveyors, I had reason to think that the greatest difficulties of the survey through the mountains were passed. Mondaij, Wlh AuguU. — "We resumed our tramp, accompanied by Mr. Hunter, following up the valley of the east branch of the Tsee-ark-amisht, which we found covered with volcanic debris for about two miles where the mountain slopes abut on the river ; a mile and a half beyond this the .-mail clear stream from the G-reen Lakes enters the valley, following this up three miles, we reached the south end of these lakes, where Mr. Hunter was rejoiced to find abundance of good grass, which the mules greatly needed, as they were getting A-ery weak through want of feed This string of small lakes is about 8 miles long, and 2,100 feet above sea level ; it is on the crown of the first or coast range, and the watershed between the streams falling into Howe Sound, and those taking a more circuitous course by Lillooet and Harrison I^akes to the Fraser River. There are large fiats or meadows of good grass on the margins of these lakes, and the mountains immediately surrounding them are detached or 111 broken ranges rising 1,000 to 2,000 feel above i\\v. level of the lakes; some with summits of bald rock, but mostly covered with timber of little value Westward the snow-clad Sierra, purple in the distance, rises in rugged grandeur barring a passage to the coast. Here Mr. Hunter left us to return to his party ; we follow^ed a line jenerally parallel to the lakes, sometimes making a short cut across a moun- tain spur. At the north end of the lakes the valley is contracted, and a river 22 180 about 40 yards wide issues from the lakes, and I'or throe miles llows ho. tween narrow l)L'iiches varying in heii^ht Irom oD toiiOOleet; bflou tin,, the beiit'hes tlLsappear, and tiie vapid river llow.s between niuired lUKuuiiiiu slopes; on the east side llie mountains are hiiih and i)re(;ipU(ius, hut, wo were traveUini"- on tiie west side on a loot hill covered vvuh liu'jj'e njiissi's ol detaehed rooks piled in most bewildering- disorder. I had dmihts ot the pack train being- able to cross thi.s, but subsequently learned ihut kr. Hunter succeeded i)i iinding a practicable pass on the other side oi the range. This rough country continues about Ibiir miles, when ihe raiii;c of loot hills drops down and the valley opens out ; about ten milo, I'lom ihr loot ol' the (Jreen Lakes, two rapid rivers, W to 40 yards wide, cuiiie ui I'rom the west within a mile ol' each other, with au arid Hat between tluiu covered with small scrub lirs. Wt; had to cross one ol these rivers 1),- an Indian bridge ol' the most slender construction, a lew poles lashed louvtluv and suspended from the top boughs of a leaning, or hall fallen tret- wliuii reached about two-thirds across the river, and fastened at lin- othii eiul to a stump; we strengthened this, but the passage was anythiii<>- \m pleasant, with a swollen mountain torrent rushing beneath. A mile beyond this a foot hill, or spur from the mountain, \i\)0 U;,-[ high closes up the valley, and the river dashes through a Canyon over a mile in length in which there are two waterfalls of TO and 50 h-et resptni- ively. Beyond this the valley descends rapidly to the Temberton mia- dows, where the Green river, which we had been following on a cuuim- nearly north, is suddenly dellected to the east by a detached round hill i mile or more in diameter which almost closes up the mouth of the valk-y ; this hill rises ahout 400 I'eet above the level of the meadows. We ahceudtil this, and froiu our elevated position had an extensive view of this sria! basin in the heart of the cascade mountains which separates the LiUoohi spur from the coast ranges. Far away to the northwest we could uaii' the valley of the Lillooet river which hy numerous lateral valleys collects. the melted snow from the distant mountains and entering the exten^ivi' meadows which lay at our feet, mingles its waters with those of the Uroon river, on the banks of which we had been travelling, the Birkenhead river from the north, and other small streams flowing in an end- less intricacy of channels through these meadows to the Lillooet Lake, and thence by the Harrison Lake and Kiver entering the Fraser below Fort Hope. The Indians told us that the Lillooet -^-ver is uavi"-ated with canui's 40 miles above the point where we stood and that there are exteiisfivi- meadows on its banks ; the iiats called the ^emberton meadows extend from the Lillooet lake westward about ten m^. uiid are from two to loui or five miles in breadth. We descended the north s'de of the hill and camped — No. 15— by a small lake, on Thursday, 14th Aigust; we had been four days couuuiil'i-om the Surveyor's camp — under 30 miles— the weather was very warm, the country rough, -without even an Indian trail, the men were very tired and glad to rest half a day while I completed my rough toponraphii al sketches, shewing the line to be surveyed; these I sent back to Mr. (Jauisby Iftl up siiu'o thi with two of his packers who had come with int> from his camp. Fii(/'iif, \5(k Auv:ust. — A larsTo cnnoc which I had oncfairod tit an Iiidiiiii iiiuip, a fow milt's distant, arrived at three p. m. ; in this wc em- barked with all our bair'T-iLfe. and, threadinur the intricate water courses, in two hours reached th mouth of Birkenhead river, on the north side of the Pemb'-iion meadows; wo thus followed up the valley of this stream, 1)y an Indian trail, and next day, at nine a. m., struck the wai^iTon road, on the romborton portacfe, ut a point about 12 miles from Lillooet lake : followiui^ this nuul .seven miles we entered the Scaalux A'alley, comiuijr down from the north east ; the road follows up this, and three miles more brouG^ht us to the ILdI way house, near to which we camped — No. 17 — on Saturday ovt'uin^-. This is on the well known Doucrlas route by which the interior of the i^ountry was reached, belore the wau'n'on road was made from Yale, up the Fraser, Thompson, and Bonaparte valleys to Clinton : it is uov\' chiedy used bv Indians, as there are only two or three white settlers in the neiffh- lourhood, and the road is overufrown with grass and brush that have spruncr travel was diverted. At the Half-way house Mr. Frank Harvie met us ; hehadalarae canoe waitiiiu- tor ixs at the head of Anderson lake, and a small pack train of mules near the town ot Lillooet ; sj I dischara-ed all my packers, sendiui;- back with them more topoi»Taphical sicetches for Mr. Gamsby. Two miles beyond the Hall-way house there is a small lake, on the water .shed ])etween Anderson and Lillooet lakes ; this is the second divide on the lino we have been travellinir from Howe Sound. From this the waggon road follows a narrow vaMey about ten miles down to Anderson Lake, which we reached on the i/th August, having hirod a waggon from Mr. Poole, at the Halfway house, to carry our ba^ffoce. Anderson and Seaton Lakes cut through ine Lillooet range of the Cascade Mountains; the former is about 14 miles loner, bearing northeast. The mountain slopes on both sides of the lake come down to the water's odire. but the southeast side is the most precipitous, and on it there are a number of loose rock slides, down which fras'ments of rock from the clifT^ above are ceaselessly rolling. On the northwest shore, thouQ'h the line appears more irregular, the slopes are at an easier inclination and the rocks are firm ; except on about a mile and a half at each end of the lake where the high cliffs project into deep water. Between the two lakes there is a portage about two miles in length, throusrh which a river 100 feet wide rushes with great velocity, as the diti'erence of the level of the lakes is al)out lO feet. Seaton Lake is about 16 miles lono;, of a serpentine form, but its general bearinu' is nearly due east. Lookino- down from the head of it a magnifi- oiint picture of mountain scenery is presented. The lake is only about ■<00 feet above the level of the sea, and the surrounding mountains rise abruptly 3,000 to 5,000 feet, with many gradations of hue as they recede in the distance. The rocky slopes on the south side of this lake are abrupt and broken, 1«2 with many slidos of loosi? rook; on the north side the slopos nro ireiiilcdr terraced, covered with hunch cfniss und dotted with lirs, execpi i„r uImiui a mile iit each end whore l)okl clill.s line the shores of the hike. At the fool of this lake we I'ound tht^ line stiikes und closiiii'- hi'iich raftrk of tho M Division, who had reached this point a fortniy-ht lu'lorc, and had yone hack to Hat Creek to survey a lin«' uj) the IJonnpavte Viilley. A mile from th(^ foot ol'Seaton Lake the Cayoush liiver from the .south- east joins that issuinir from the lake, and about two miles further on thf united stre'ims flow into the Kraser a little below the Town of Lillooct, where we arrived about noon on the H'th Aui^nst and camped — No. i!(i, 1 spent the rest of the (hiy in payini,' oil Indians and completing' mv topographical sketches of the shores of Anderson and Seaton Lakes, whicji I sent back to Mr. tJamsby, who was in char<>'e of the surveyiniji' pavtv, Division X. The Town of Lillooet was a thrivinj^ place a few years ai,'0, when it was an important station on the Douirlas route to the Cariboo i-oUl mini s. but now — except an hotel, a post oihce, and two or three stores — it is chi(>llv occupied by Chinese and Indians. The valley of the Kraser for a low miles below and twenty mileisahove Lillooet, is in some places of considerable breadth, and there are a niinihcr of very fine farms on the benches, each side of the river, most ol which require irrijjation, which is supplied from the lateral streams llowiiio- down the mountain sloi)es. But the uncultivated benches and slopos which cannot be irrigated — once covered with luxuriant i)unch grass— are now bare and arid, or maintain a sparse growth of wild saire or wormwood. The valley is well sheltered and, lying low, is very warm ; it i,s suid to be the finest district for gardening and fruit growing on the mainland of British Columbia. But the valley of the Fraser, wherever we have touched it, presents engineering difficulties in railway construction of a very grave character. Though from Lillooot to the Marble Canyon, 22 miles up the valley, thf Superior ^lountain ranges do not press very closely on the river, yet thi> foot hills or benches rising several hundred ieet above its level are in sotnc places rocky and serrated, forming short Canyons ; and deep guldio.s are cut in the alluvial benches by the streams descending the mountain slopo.s. Wetliifisila//, Avgnat 20th. — "We crossed the Fraser by ierryboat, then travelled along the waggon road up the valley, at a brisk pace ; our pack train being fresh, we soon reached the 21 mile house near which wc camped. Next day we resumed our journey ; about the 22nd mile the road hcffins to ascend the Pavillion Mountain, but we turned to the east and enterod the Mar))le Canyon. This is a narrow gap or pass between the Fraser and Bonaparte Val- leys, about 2,700 feet above the level of the sea, and 11 miles in KniL-'th, bearing southeasterly till it joins the valley of Hat Creek. It looks like a groove cut through the mountains, the white cliHs of limestone or marhh' rising abruptly on each .side from two to three thousand feet in lieiuihl, turrctted with huge irregular masses of rock, which glisten in lh<' sun- b^jams and form an endless variety of light and shade. 183 In till- oi'iiirc tlii'Tc arf» two siuall lakes, ono four milos !in Fraser. The valley is narrow, the bottom flat varyinii^ from two or three hiindriHl feet to half a miU' in Ijreadth, thickly covered with i>oplar and ;ilil(>r l)Ush«s ; in seveial places these have been cleared oil and very line fiirms obtained. Up towards the head waters the valley expands at int.^r- nils, foirnin^- very line nitural meadows. Tiio slopes ihroufrhout are rocky but not precipitous, and they are iietii'rally covered with a thin eoatin<>; of (sarth, which supports a luxuriant irrowth of bunch ofrass and wormwood, and dotted with firs to their .summits, iriving" the whole country a park-like appearance. Fihlai), 22nd yl;/<^«.\7. — We moved our camp six miles up the valley, and next day Mr. John Trutch joined our party ; we jirooeeded together up the valley on a prood trail, and in th^ evening reached the foot of the irreat chasm which extends two or three miles north-westerly to the waggon road; its maximum depth is about l,oOO feet. Wo expected to lind Mr, Jarvis and his party (M) here, but they had moved on two d lys before, and were novv^ 15 miles farth<>r up the valley. .\s I co'\Id not spare the time to go any farther at present. I sent a messenger for Mr, Jarvis. and after S(>ttling all business matters with him, I rode to ('linton, where I spent two days in examining and paying aoeoniits. On the 27th AugU'-t 1 took the down stage to return to Victoria, where I arrived on t'aturday, the 30th Augiist. SECOND JOURNEY OX THE MAINLAND. Ffitlai) \\)th Sept. — I set out on my second journey on the mainland, by the reii'ular steamer to New Westminster where I met Mr. A. S. Hall, 'ommissary to the S. division under Mr, Moberly, from whom I learned 'hat the latter had received your instructions to return to the west side of the Kooky mountains, on the 20th of July ; and that the party began to return on the following day and arrived at Moose Lake on the 18th of 184 Auafust. whore they coinmenoed Iho Hurvoy on the 20th (low!i th.' li-lt Imjik of thi' I'ruNor ; h(» uIho int'onru'd m«» that ii lew days Inter my nicssiMii.'.'! Mr. VV iK'wdut'y iirrivfl with lull inKtnu'lioiiH respecliiij^ the Niirvi-yNiiiid explorations to I).' iiiad.-, inul remiiiiied with th • party. Mr. Hall was on l^, way to Victoria to arraiiire his aceounts when I met him at N.'W \\\>m- minster. I arrived at Clinton on the 24th of Soptemher, where I met Mr ihiiiiii, who harl cotiiphitod his work in connection with the X Division aiul hu pack tniin was now on the way to winter (juarters at Kamloojj.s I t(.ok Mr Hunter with me to the 1 1 Ith Mile IIousi- neai i/ikt.' In Hnehe where my small pack train was waitinj; for me, it havuiir irnvi'(l Kome dayx Kel'ore. from the camp oi' the M Division on the head \v:ii.'rs di the l?onapart(^ river, where it had been employed l)y Mr. .]arvi< \u m\ »l)S(»noe. Wt- made a .short exploration north easterly from Lake la lluclic witli the ())>ject ot lindint;' a l)citer route thence to the North Tliump.Miii than that surveyed in IHTl'. We found two routes that looked lavi-iMltli', one bearing a little to the oast of north that would strike the valley ol'thi' IIor.se VW, anli'il\ would .strikt> the Clearwater Valh'y north of the line of iSTii. I put inv j)ack train and men in charire of Mr. ITunter, with instructions to mak'' a runninur traverse of the lirst route with compass and aneroid, and to follow up the llor.solly River beyond the rauire of hills that crosses from north to south. Mr. Hunter commenced his survev on the 29th of SepteinliiT, mid 1 wont to the 150 mile house to settle Nomt> accounts, and thence rcturiioil to Rridije Creek (100 mile house), where I hoped to yet .some ti(liM'i'.s i4 the M division \inder Mr. Jarvis. The last d«'spatch I had from him \v;i> dated a month l>eforo, when the party wore ii'-ar the divide belwciii tlii' Bonaparte and Thompson Rivers, at an elevation of 3,700 feet above .sea level ; and contrary to expectation, had not found any cross valley <>r pass between the Bonaparte and Thompson Valleys, and were then within ji*" or 000 feet of the jreneral level of the plateau. As the descent from tho divide to the l)ottom of the Thompson Valley would be about i.o'i'i ii'ot the lino would be necessarily lenuthened to ijot down with a nioiloraii' ffrade ; I therefore allowed a fortninht beyond the time Mr. Jarvis had estimat«Hl to complete liis surveys, and employed myself in makiuii' shori ("xplorations in tho neighbourhood. T/itf>.y had been very satisl'actory, as he found a very favouralile liii'' by a chain of small lakes bearinir north-oasterly, thence by a small >lri'aiii to the Horselly River. He travelled one day up the banks of I li'' river turouu-h tho cross ranire of hills, and found no canyon ; and eastward, as far as he could see with his field ulass, there were no hills, but the eomitvy was rising gradually, and the valley where he stood was about •'.!.'""i li'i't above sea level. Sof/in/ai/, 18//t Ovlnber. — Mr. Jarvis \vith his party M arrived al ilridtro Creek, havinu' comideted their survey to the Thompson River and con- nected their lino with the surveys of 1872, a few miles below the mouth ut tho Clearwater. 185 I pilid od'niost of Ihi' iin>n nt'JarviH' party, und sont hall' tho olliccrM to ViiloriM t.» work at the jdaiih and prolilo.s. 1 ilicij made up a paiiy to t'xplore th«' routo IVotn Lnko la Jlaclif to (li'ftrwiilt'r, and jml Mr. .larvis in chariro. He start. -d on ihi' :iOth ol' (Ktoln'r. taking with him two assiHtatitH, three nifii nml ii pack tram of UlU.' lIluli'H. I .started tho snni(> day I'oi Kaniloo.is when' 1 ''Xpi'clcd to nu'ft Mr. MolMily and hiH party (S). Next day at (!lintoii I had ii dt'Hi)ut(jh Iroia Mr (laiiisl)y, stiiiiin' thai his .survoyn wort' ntnirly (■i)nipl('i''d, and lu' would 111- lit hillooi'twilh ihf paily in a It'vv days. I tlu'ri-ltKi- iinnuidiatdy made irraii'ji'inent.s to have the party and their hagi'agi' «;onveyed hy hout to Lvttdii mid Ihenci! hy loach and Wiiuyoa to Vale. i arrived at Kamloops on the 'Jlrd (.)ctol)er und louiid there Mr. A. S. Hall, who haarty had not arrived, and, us 1 eituld not wait longer 1 placed money, to pay oil' the men when the party iirivt'd, in the hands ol' Mr. Tait, the ollicer in charge ol the Hudson's Hay t'ompaiiy's post there, and started on my return to Victoria in a small ^iiiuuer owned and oomnuinded hy Mr. 'I'olmie, who kindly took a course I iosf by the north shore oi Kamloops Lake, giving me a good opi)ortunity ol'exuuiining the same, and which I I'ound even less I'avorahle tor a rail- way than the south shore; the rocky slopes coming close to the water'.s ('di;ii throughout the whole length oi' the lake aiul, at several points, the high clills running into deep water. liolure reaching the lake, on the right bank ol the Thom])son Uiver, 1 had till' pleasure of inspec^ting a Hour mill recently enlarged aiul put in oxct'llfiit order by the owner, Mr. Fortune, who is now in a position to do alargi! husiiK'ss. From this and other mills further north all the Hour ne- cessary for future surveys, aiul even construction could be obtaiiuid ; also, heaiis, cattle, sheep and bacon, can now be had in the country, and the great delay and expense of importing and forwarding these supplies, will 111 future, be in a great measure avoided. From Savonna's ierry Mr. Haruard conveyed me to Yale, where we arrived on the 30th of October and found Mr. trarasby and his party (X) waitino' for the steamer " Hope," l)y which we all went together next day to New Westminster, and thence by steamer " Maude" to Victoria where We arrived on the first of November. 1 jniid oil' the men, and the olKcers of the X party worked at their ;)lan.'5 and prohles until the 12th of November, when those who had come :roin Ottawa left Victoria in the steamer "i'rince Alfred" on their journey !j'ime. Mr. Moberly and his party (S) arrived at Kamloops about the third of November, where most of his men w"ere paid ott except those returning to Victoria. He had completed the survey between Moose and Cranberry Lakes, 186 l)y tlip li'ft l)aiik of the Frnscr, \vi(h satislaclory rosulls ; and ooininciiciMl llu' exploration Iron) tho lork of tho Thompson and Albroda JviviMs on th,. 14th olOctoht'r, avttii.ir about 23 milos nj) tho valloy ol' the lornuT, urar iu the jiass }>otv,'t'»'n it and tho Cloar\vat<'r. when a heavy ^now siorni coming on ho was ol)ligod to rotuin. Ho arrived in Victoria with ih,' olHcers ol' hi^^ jKirty on tlie lOtli ot November; some ol' those went t. Ottawa, and the others having eomiileted their i)huis and prolilcs at th. beginning ol' I'ecember were jiaid oil', and Mr. Moberly lel't Victoria with me on the 10th of IJecember I'or Ottawa. KNOINKEIUNO ("1I.\1{ AOTEI? dF TIIK LlNl-^S SUKVFA'KU IX iSTli East of (he Rock// Mountains towards Fort Edmonton. In my repoit on the surveys of 1872 I described the enuiiu'eritii: character of the line surveyed from the summit of the Yellow Head I'us^ eastward, by the Caledonian and Jaspar Valleys to Fiddle Kiver, adistaiicf of -!!• miles, to which point the surveys had then been carried. I may state again, brielly, that this point is 3, 80-4 feet above sea levii, or 442 feet lower than the Yellow Head Pass, giving an average grade of about nine feet per mile ; but the grades are variable, the highest boiiisj- 1 per 100 for about 21 miles. In this dLstance of 4'.l miles the works will be generally light or medium, with a few exceptions where tho line runs on the rocky slopes ol' the mountains, requiring a considi-rable quantity of rock excavation; the aggregate length of line, on which this class of work occurs, is about live miles: the crossing of the Athabasca river on the line surved in 1S72 is410 feet in length, but the bridging on the line proposed, about 45 miles I'urthci down the river, will considerably exceed that length ; it will, however, h • in shallow water. From Fiddle River the, surveys during 1873 were continued eastward 114 miles to a point near lioot River, between the McLeod and IVMiihiiia rivers, estimated to be about 12;') miles from Fort Edmonton The line surveyed is, as nearly as practical)le according to the skei h and instructions you gave Mr ^loberly when you met him in the Yellow- head Pass in 1872, and it runs south of the trail by which you ♦ravelleil. This line however, runs on very high ground, at some points reaching •A greater altitude than that of the Yellow Head Pass, with uniavourahl.' grades the particulars of which will be found in the following : From Fiddle river eastward for halt a mile the grade is ntMrly level, thence there is a rising grade of 75 i'oi}^ per mile lor over (i, miles, with some heavy cutting, to the divide bet ween the Prairie and Athabasca rivers, the former l)eing a tributary of the latter, and falling into it about l^. iniles to the northeast. From this point the grade is nearly level for three quarters o! a iiiih' ; thence eastward, a little over 8 miles, to Prairie River, the fall is4!:> le.t or 51i feet per mile ; the grades; however, vary considerably, the hiirhest being 62 feet and tho lowest 21 feet per mile. The works ou this portion will generally be light, as the cuttings are 187 Is ; and ooinini'iici'd l)roda liivci-i? on \\xv I' (he IbniKM-, iumi- tu hoiivy .snow sioim A'ic'toria with ih,' le of those Went in i and jiroiili's at th, ly lel't Vii'iovia with YKl) IN 1873. d the en<''iiieeriiii.'' Yellow Head TasI lie Kiver, a distaiav carried. eet above sea icvii. in averao'e u'rade ol' the highest beiii!>' 1 g'enerally liirlit or the voeky slopes of ick excavation: the iccurs, is al)0ut live irved in 1S7-' is4Iii K)ut4;) miles i'urthcr it will, however, !).■ Liontinued eastward Leod and reniliina iiton rding to the skei h him in the Yidlow- eh you ^ravelled, •me points reachiiiu with uni'avoiii'iilili' owing : •ade is nearly level, over ()] miles, with d Athabasca river.\ to it about \> mill's quarters o!' a iiiih' ; ', the lall is4i:i iW{ lerably, the hiirliost as the cuttimrs an' I deep and they are principally m s IH'I Kiver wil und or ;ht loam •rossin<< Pr.iirii 11 Tk'quire 40 leet ol" iM'idgiiig. I't l"rom I'rairie K'iver to Deep Creek, on thedivide between the McLeod ;iiid Athabasca, the distance hs :2 i J miles and the rise is (US I'eet with van- able uvades, the highest being (U i'eet per mile lor ;U miles. Tlie work on this portion will bi' medium, there will be some cuttings ol' considerable length in sand and clay loam, but no rock cuttings. The descent irom Deep Creek to the McLeod Kiver is -IT") I'eet, in a distance oi' 1.') miles with varial>li' grades none exceediiiy 1 per lOil, ex- cept on the last mile and one third, the gradt> of which is 7 ol this last point, on the leit bank ol the McLeod Kiver. i> Soti2 leet above sea level; thence down tlir valley tS miles, to the i)()int ol cro.ssing the river, th(> hill is 7G0 feet, giviii:;- an average grade of 1(1 feet per mile ; thi' grades however, are undulating, the hiiihest being 70 feet r mile for half a mile, the next t!8 feet per mile for thiee (piarters of a mile, idl the rest arc under 1 per 100- The works on this portion will be light cuttings in sand, gravel and clay loam, with the exception of two short excavations in suit, sandstone. The bridge acres.'- the McLeod lliver will \hi about I'm;') feet in length, the altitude, •J70-'? feet above sea level. From the crossing of the McLeod the line rises ilo 1 t'eet in 7^ miles with variable grades, the highest being 04 feet for one mile; thence to tlu' end of the survey, f) J miles, the rise is only six feet, the altitude of that point being 3(to(» feet above sea level, 'hut the grades are undulating, the liiirhest being (58 feet per mile for two thirds of a mile. The work between the McLeod River, and the end of ihe survey will he !j;eiierally liglit, the heaviest being the embankments across .soiui' mus- kesrs ; there will be no rock work. The above description applies to the trial or preliminary line th.it was surveyed, which is, however capable of great improvement on tlu' line pro- posed by Mr. Moberly. Crossing the vithabasca farther down near Old .Man's Kiver as shewn on the map, it is expected that the higln'st <:radcs w ill not exceed I per lOdand that the excavations will be co»siderabiy re luced; the bridging of the Athabasca will, however be lengthened, but in shal- low water where the c.nrrent is not strong. From the end of the survey to I'ort Edmonton the estimated disance is 1:,') miles, and the altitude of the latter as given by Captain I'alliser is 2.0SS leet above sea level, or il4'J feet lower than the last pi)ini on the sur- vey, giviii"' an average fall of about seven an a half feet i)er mile : but the i,M'ades will be undulating ; lirst dip])ing to the reiiibina river, then risiiiy to the watershed between that and the Saskatchewan, and aiiain lalliimto the valley of the latter. Th(> excavations on this portion are not expected to be heavy most important work will be the bridging of the Saskatchewan river. tlu WEST 01-' THE ROCKY AKH'NT.MNH HKTW I';i;N .AlOOSK .\M) Cli.VNnKKllV I,.\Ki:S. From Yellow Head l"'as.s westward, that portion of the line between Moot.e and Cranberry lakes has been re-surveyed. From Moose lake the 22i 188 now lino lollovvs the right, or north, bank of thu Fraser about tlivcc miUvs, on gravel benches, nearly level, with light work. It then crobies tlu' river and lolloWB tie b'raser valley 17-^ miles, gradually leaving the river, ami running on llie slopes with an average desi-ending grade oi oo Iful por mile ; the only variations Irom a uniloiiu grade being one oi' iaA led por inile lor a uiiie and a hall, and another oL 21 ieet per mile lor at)()ut ihi.' same dislanci'. Ul the 17^ miles above reierred to about six miles are on graiiiie, tliv same distance on slate rock, and the balance on shale. The works will therefore be rather heavy though the cuttings are not deep; tJuMv will In 3 tunnels, th* united lengths ol which will be i:,t)0O ieet. From iliis puiui, which is opi)Osite Tete Jaune Cache, the line takes a southerly course nuo Cranberry Valley, descending obliquely its soirthern slope Ibi about six miles, till it rejoins the line surveyed in 187:^, Irom three to luur lmll•^ north oi Cranberry Lake. On this six miles the work will bo rather liyin, and there will be uo rock cutting. BETWliEN TUE ISORTU THOMPSON VALLEY .A.iND HOWE SoUM). * Commencing at the head of Howe Sound near the east side ol' tiio valley the line runs on the bottom Hats about nine miles, crossing the cast branch ol the Squamisht river, iibU ieet wide, at the second mile, and tln' Tsee-ark-amisht river, 200 ieet wide, betw-een the eight and ninth iiiilf, which is 14:i ieet above sea level. The work up to this point will be liuht. The line now follows the Tsee-ark-amisht valley on a course nearly north ; at the ninth mile it crosses a spur irom the mountains which will require a tunnel 370 feet in length. iietween the 11th and 12tli mile, the line recrossesthe Tsee-ark-iuuislii river, lequiring 270 feet of bridging. These two crossings of the river could be avoided, but this would necessitate some heavy rock cuttings and a short tunnel as the rocky slopi' of the mountain comes close to the bend of the river in a very irregular liiu'. From this point the lirst line surveyed followed the banks ot the river on a Hat bench to the Itith mile, but there the valley closes in and the rivcv rushes through a rocky canyon, about three miles and a half in length ui which distance it falls OUO feet. To avoid an impracticable grade at this dilficult point a deviation oi the line commences at the I'Jth mile and runs on the rocky slopes of tiie mountain to the iMth mile with a grade of 1.80 per 100 or I'o feet i)er niik for three miles, and another of 2 per 100 for four miles. Un this seven miles there will be some heavy rock cuttings, includnig ten siiort tunnels of an aggregate length of (J,00'J feet ; four cix^s.'^inu'f ol ilif Tsee-ark-amisht river, 1-0 feet each, and one of the Minatch river imi lo't. The line at the head of the Canyon is 1,015 feet above sea leV' I. Un the next four miles, one of which is on the oast shore of Paisy hike, the work will bo medium, with the i'xcoijtion ol one rock cutting Too Ieet long and 25 feet deep. The rise on this length is :^-b feet with grades vary- ing irom tili to lOG ieet per mile. ■ i'l.e lino Wtt» suiveycil Irom Howe Sound tot lie ^ortll 'iliomiihou, which wuk also tlu- w'ii.x I nnveini auU Ufjo desciiUe It; Liiit thu imliiigu on lliu Oiaaruius ruus (rom ilie \tllow Heud i'.'iijs wc^iwanl. 189 ' about lhi\'c mill.};, oil ciosiL'.s tho riv(.'i' ving the rivi'v, ami <;viide ol a,) Iffi por one oi'ibA Ifct pt'i' mile I'or iibout ih,. I are on yi-auiie, iln' . The v\orks will ieep; Iheiv wili br t. From ihis point, utlieriy eouisf uiin slope I'oi ubuui six three to lour miKvs vill bo rather liyht, .)WE .SoU>D. * the oucit side ol' ilio L's, crossing tht' t'a.sl coud mile, 1111(1 the ght and ninth uiih', j point will he light. on a course nearly untains -which will Ihe Tpee-ark-amisht ;d, but this would as the rocky slope :ery irregular liiic. banks ot the ri\>r >s in and the rivi" hall in length iii mt a deviation oi ocky sloprs or till' or !to feet i)cr niili cuttings, including )ur ei'.)».siiiL;> tiitlif atch river lo't led. ve sea leV'-l. lore ol' Haisy laki', k cutting Til" Icct with grades \ ary- uishIsoUh- Wiij I iiiivelkl ixa J'ass wi »iwaid. Two miles beyond this, is the foot of the second canyon, throucrh \»hich the river falls 425 feet in three miles. To avoid an impracticable jriule the line was au'ain ''orced to leave the bottom of tlie valley and rise nn the rocky slope ol' tl\e mountain with one grade ol' 10.') fi>(>t ])i'r mile for two miles and a half, and another of 79 feet per mile for a mile and a half, to a point between the iTth and 2Sth mile, at an eh'vntion of l,^'?.') feet above s(\'i level. Ill this last 4J^ miles there will be some heavy rock cuttintrs', including throe tunnels makiuir too'ether 2,000 fiM't in lena-th. There are also some il'fp cross ravines to briciyi^ or (ill up, oiii" of uhieh is 125 feet d"ep, 600 I'oet wide at the top and taperinor to a point at the bottom. From this point to the a4th mile on the shore of Green lake the rise is 460 I'eet, that point b(Mnir 2,101 f ^et above sea level ; the grad's to this are viirial)le, the highest being 10."i feiM per mile for two and a half miles. The east branch of the Tsei^-ark-ainisht is cro.-sed about tlie HOth mile where it i.". 100 feet wide : near this there Avill be two tunnels throu'jrh rnoky spnr.s, one 400 feet, the other 700 feet in lenii'th ; the rest of the dis- tance will be rock cnttiuijs and »^mbankments of no u-reat depth The next seviui miles the line runs alon^r the shores of the Green Inkes with easy rindulating grades, the hi^-hest point reached bidng 2,110 feet above si>a level. On this portion the work will be rather ht>avy as several of the cuttinors are 80 to 40 feet at their maximum depth, the lower parts of which will be in rock, and 700 to 1,000 fe(>t in length. There will be a tunnel 400 feet long through granite ; the largest stream crossed is 80 ft'ct wide. From the north end of G-reen lakes the line follows the left bank of tho (rroen riviT, 15 miles to the Pemberton meadows, fdlnia: in that dis- laiicc 1,411 feet or an averatre of 04 feet per mile, the hi'i-hest nfrade beinor I'lii feet per mile for two miles and a half and the lowest 74 feet per mile for two miles. Ill this 15 miles the works will be heavy, the line running on the rocky slopes of the mountain, there will be a ijreat number of rock cut- tina's;the hi>avie.st of those are ten in number averaariuir '>'^0 f>ef in len'jfth and :'5 feet maximum depth. Four tunnels will l)e required, their united lengths amountinnc to 2,7.^0 feet. Near the 47th mile Cliff river is crossed, it is 150 leet wide ; and three miles farther on the Tschawham river 120 feet wide is cross vl. The next (bur miles the line runs on the P(Mnberton meadows, nearly love], 6'^8 feet above the sea, with lia'ht earthwork ; but the Lillooet river where the line crosses is 000 feet wide and about lOjfeet deep with very little current. From the Pemberton meadows the line ascends to the summit of the next raime. Pemberton portaa'e by the Hirkenhead and Scaalux rivers, about 12 miles, at an average rise of 77 feet per mile, tht> summit beinu' 1,')1") f(M>t above sea level, the o-rades varving from one of 100 feet per mile for three miles to one ot 40 feet for one mile. In this lennrfh there will be a number of cuttings, throuah sharp rocky ■^piirs, averao-ing about 400 feet in length and running up to a point in the (centre 20 to 35 feet in height. There will also be six short tunnels, their 100 united lengths iimounting to 2,000 feot ; also one crossing of the Birkoii- head River 120 feet. From the hxst point the lino runs nearly two miles on the crown of tho ridn-e, lalliiiix in that distnuec 36 feet ; in this ther(> is one rock euttino Ton fiM't in leniith running from grade level at each end up to a pniiii in the centr<^ 4" leet in heiirht. From this thn line desciMids by an oju-n vallev 11 miles to the .•shore of Anderson liiki-. lalling O'mi foot : the point at the lake shore hcin'^^ ssit i;.,>t above sea leVel and 40 ftnt above the level ol Ihe lake. In t!u' lirst four milc^ of (his portion the grades vary i'rom T:' to it-j leet per mile, -with heavy work, the cuttings being chielly in rock incluilinii two tunnels, one .5(0 fee^ and the other 300 feot in length. On the ni'xt two miles tlie grades are easy and the work mi'dium. thn cutting? being chiefly in uiravi'l. On the balance of the distance the grades vary iVom .'> "» to 9.') i'ot't ji.t mile with some lic^avv rock cuttings, including five tunnels aggrt'tiatini •2,000 leet in lenLith. From the last point thi^ line follows the west shore of Anderson lake to its outl'>t, a distance of 11 miles, with easy undulating grades, l)ut with heavv work, as ihi' mountain slopes ome closo to the water's oi\'r<^ mu! thiM-e are a great number of sliarp rocky rid<;es to cut throuLi'h, in whirh (here will bo required six tunnols amounting loirethor to 3,200 fi-et in loniith. Near tlie h^ad of Seaton lak<' a roc-ky promontory projects into di'op water with n very irregular face ; to avoid this the line was carried oviM'a nock or dejirossion at a considerable distance from this lakt; risinir with i !;vade ol 2 pi>r 100, over three miles. On this lonirth there will be some very heaving cuttings and oiuiiauk- ments, and oui^ tnnmd 1.90() feet in length. Front ihis u.m k the lin«' descends to (he shore of Seaton lako with n continuous irvado of 1 por 100 ibr s'x miles, on which the work will b" niodinni with tho exception of a tunnel 300 foot long through a spur ol ro k Thence to the outlet of the lake, about 7 miles, the line is ni^arly lovol; on half of tliis dis(ajic(> the work will be medium, but on the othiM- hal! there arc several jilacos where th(^ mountain slopes abut on the lake inhJLi'h vertical clilTs. riHiuirinii- seven short tunuels amountiug in the aggreuMto to 2,-.^00 feet in length. Tho last point is 803 feet above sea level and 10 feet above fh'' IcvA of Seaton lake. From this to where thi' line crosses the Frasor river, n>\\v the Town of Lillooet, the distaneo is a little ovei three miles, m whirh thi' fall is 103 feet, with easy li-rades, and the work will b(> medium, ihi' cut- tings being in clay or u'ravel The cvossinii' of the Fraser near Lillooet is 117 miles fro.n tho starting point at llowo Sound and the line at the former may be consiihMvd a.s fdrly through th(> Cascade mountain ;. l''rom this point eastward will therefore be described as another Division of the line On the whole hMisrth of (his line through the Cascade mountains, ilii' works on 13 miles will l)o linfhi ; 17 miles medium, and the Ijal incc "^7 miles, heavy, in which A\ short tunnels are estimated, making together oJ miles of tunnelling. 101 ing of Iho. Birkon- tvovk lUiMliuui, th,, 1 ;')"» to 0;j IV't't pi'r uiH'Ls an'ifVi'Uiitin;;' iuffs aiul eiiiliauk- The grade line at the crossing of the Fraser, near Lillooet, is YOO feet iibovi' the level of the sea ; from this the line creeps up the east side of the Fraser valley, obliquely, with an ascending grade of 1.')0 per 100, or 79 let't per mile for i!5 miles ; the: only variations in grade being one of 1 per l-iA lor a mile, and one of 2 per 100 for two and a half miles. Only about two miles ol' this is on gravel or clay ; the rest is all on rock oil a steep hill side, in which there will be somt> very heavy rock oiitiinii's from ."^OO to •2,0n0 feet in lenti'th, with a inaKirmuri depth of 25 to Ml I'l^ot. the cross section showiiiii" a surface inclination of about 1 to 1. There are also a gri-at number of lateral ravines or gullies to cross, u'liich h)i\e be(Mi worn out by the streams desoendinii' from the mountains; most Ol' these are dry in summer, but in some of them there is a constant llow of water. Eight of the largest of these g\illies are from 500 to 1,100 feet wide at iho top, sloping to about 6 leet wide at the bottom, and from 100 to 2(50 fi'et in depth. About a mile of the line on the banks of the river is on clay .slides, L'ontiimally shifting from the action of the river at their feet : these would rt>qnire substantia] works to protect them. On the next 12 miles, through the marble canyon, the grades are L'OiH'rally easy and undulatinu", the hii^-hest ])ein!i- 55 feet per mile for a mile and a half. The highest point on the line through the canyon is 2,Sijo IV-et above sea level. The works through this length will be medium ; there are no deep i'uttinii-.s, but what there are will be in rock. Thence down the Hat Creek Valley to its junction with that of the Bonaparte, a distance of about 12 miles, the line is on a continually descendiiiff grade, averaging 1 per 100 with few variations, the highest i.'r;ide hiMiig 2 per 100 for a mile, and the lowest 15 feet per mile for two and !i half miles. The works on this section will te very heaA'y, as the line is well up on the! only variations Ix'ing' one j^rade of 73 ."'•et per mile for two aiip, au.l the work throu'4'h the canyon will not be heavy. The elevation a! the head of the canyon is 2,717 feet above sea lovol and from this, for li' miles iip the river, the rise is very gradual, avcrai,nn'f COJ feet per mile, with light work. Thence for three miles and a quarter, to the head waters of tlie Rona- parte, the rise is at the rate of 2 per TOO through a narrow valley with much loose rock on its slopes : in this the work will be rather heavy. We have noAV reached an altitude of 3,372 feet above sea level, in a broad open basin or depression in the great central plateau of IJritish Columbia. The Bonaparte river flowing gently through a chain oi' small lakes or beaver dams. The rise in the next 12 miles is only 122 feet, and the w^ork will be very light. From this to the divide or watershed between the Bonapa'te and Thompson rivers, a distance of 14 miles, the rise is 306 feet, the altitudi' of the summit being 3,860 feet ; the grades on this are generally easy, with two exceptions, one being 92 feet for one mile, and the other i>.5 feet for the same distance. The works on the whole 14 miles will be light. On the summit there is half a mile of level, then a descending yrado of 2 per 100 for nearly a mile and a half, in which there will be a side hill cutting through loose rock 2,300 feet long, and averaging 30 feet in depth. For the next 10 miles the line runs along the shores of Liicdcs-Rochcs and two other small lakes, with ea.?y, undulating grades, and the works will be light or medium. From the Fraser river to this point we havo been crossing an undu- lating or broken country ; the thin coating of soil, which covers the rocks, maintaining a luxuriant growth of bunch grass and wormwood, and ihinly dotted with fir trees. But now we are entering on the slope.s \vbi''h descend to the valley of the North Thompson, and both the quaiitily and size of the timber are u'reatly increased. The point at the outlet of the lakes last alluded to is 3.707 feet ahovo sea level, at th.^ head of a deep ravine through which the stream that cariies off their surplus waters flows into the North Thompson river. The line follows the slopes or benches on the east side of \h\^ ravine, nearly 14 miles, with a contijiuous falling grade of 2 per 100, cri).';.' tunnelling (.an be avoided by carrying the line farther up the slopes tiul on to the hig'ier benches, which would give a lalling grade of about •0 leet per mile for 30 miles in length ; this would carry the line above the mouih of the Clearwater river before the bottom ol the valley was reached ; it uoukl then cross that river and join the line surveyed in 1872, near to whtTo that to Bute Inlet branches off, on the right or west bank of the Thompson river, and thus avoid crossing the latter. The distance from Lillooet to Clearwater junction by the line surveyed if! 168 miles; on nearly one-half of this distance the work would be light; (HI one' fourth medium, and on the balance heavy work, principally in rock Hitting. Un the whole, the line by this route is not satisfactory. There are four summits or watersheds to pass over, requiring long, steep grades, alter- nately rising and falling ; and a very large proportion of the works would be heavy rock cuttings. RESULTS OF THE SURVEYS IN THE fiOOKY MOUNTAIN ZONE. To the end of the Year 1873. The surveys made up to the present time through the great mountain zone running parallel to the shores of the Pacific (Jcean, shew that a lavorable line for the railway can be obtained from the summit of the Yellow Head Pass in the Kocky Moi\ntains eastward to Fort Edmonton jii the North Saskatchewan River. The distance between these two points is estimated at 288 miles, and oil the iirst 50 miles from the summit of the pass easterly there will be a (.oiisidorable nixmber of rock cuttings, but none of them A'ery deep, and Init very little, if any, tunnelli g will be required. The grades throui;hout iliis length will be easy. Thence across the foot hills to Fort Edmonton the grades will be iiii- •lulaliiig, and none of them need exceed oo feet i)er mile; with exi:av;itioii.s 'i 110 yieat depth, in sand and clay loam, and only a lew euttiiig.s througli solt sandstone. The most important works on this section will he the bridgiiiL"- of the Athabasca, ]\IcLeod, Pembina and ^^askatehewuii Rivers. Westward of the Yellow Head Pass that portion of the line betwoiMi Moose and Cranberry Lakes has been re-surveyed with satisfactory results, 'IS the works, though heavy on some part of the distance will be. lighter than anticipated, and the ascent lo the summit will be overcome by a general gradient of 35 feet per mile. 194 Tht' wholo of the line from Fort Edmonton to the Yellow TIi ml Pass thence to the jun'.tion ol tht- two hiiinclu's ol" tht' Thompson liivtr, near Ki.iin loops, a distance oltcS miles may now he euiisidercd sutislaetoiv. From ditli-rent ponits on the western lu.rtion ol this liiu', lour (listi)i,.| lines have been surveyed throUL;h the Cascade Moiuitniii lo tlu> I'anli,. Coast, two of these teiniinale at IJurrard Inlet near New AVvhiniiii.stcr . o: I' at the iiead ol' Howe Sound, ahout -"JO miles lurther north, and ih,. other at the head ol' liutc Inlet about 120 miles to the northwest of the latter point. (In all these lines there are dilhculties of a V(>ry j-'rave characf.'r, and from the experience gained there is not much hope ol iindmg a lini> with- out excessively heavy works on some part ol' its course throniih ili>.' Cii>- cade Chain ol' mountains involvin/i' a considerable proportion ol tuuiielliui;. On some of the lines, however, these tunnels, as lar as can be jiiduvd at presi>nt, will be ol' the simplest description, oUering the greatest lacili- ties lor rapid execution. They occur in a great number ol short leiiLiths, varying Irorn 200 to "2,000 leet, through spurs ol' solid rock, so ihiit no lining with masonry will be required ; it is not expected there will be aiiv water to contend with, and the distance to haiil the materials ixcavatod will be very short. ='<' These tunnels could be commenced at a great number oi Taoes at oiitv, so that the completion of the radway would not be unduly delaved, as would be the case if the tunnelling were all in one length of four to live miles. It is through the Cascade, or the coast chain of mountains that tin greatest engineering difficulties hav<> still to be overcome ; and it is obvious that the best line that can be found through this chain, both as rcg.uds liir cost of construction atid the working expenses afterwards, should, to u large extent, govern the selei;tion of the terminus on the Pacilic coast ami a considerable portion of the route eastward, therefore the following: S'lii'l description of the principal features oi the several lines surveyed tliroa::li this chain may be of service. Route No. I. — From Fort hdman/on tu liurrard Inlet, nn^/lie I'un/ir CikisI. {via /lie YellotoliPud Pnss,^L\<)rtk Thompson, Coiiuiknila and Lower Fraser Valltys.) The total length of this line is 7.54 miles, and that part ol it trom Edmonton to the Clearwater Junction with the North Thomp.son valley, m distance of 4^8 mile.i, is common to all the liin^s surveyed tliruiii;h thi' Cascade chain, and has been described as favorable. It will be from this point that the comparison of the features of these sever d lines will commence, but the distances are given from iMliiiontnii. as future surveys that will have to be compared, may commence lurther eastw^ard than Clearw^ater. From Clearwater to the junction of the two branches of the Thomp- son the line is generally favorable with but a small proportion ol heuvy work, including 500 feet of tunnelling. • A map of tho country from tlio I'.ioUlc ((p.cim iicro.>is the Moiiiilnlii '/.me oa^lwiinl lo Uie ll-i ' ''''*'",' west loiJijiluJ ', htifWiiig 111'- .suvorul I'o.Uo-^ siii-vcyuil lor tliL' railw.'iy i.s lioiv Willi lUluoUi-'.l; .il*", iliiignim- showiug tUe dl.slu ctK uuU hclijlits of iiroiniuoiit iiouilB ou these routes 195 YpIIow TLmuI Puss, unip.soii Kivi'v, iii.ar 1 salislactorv. lis liiu", iour dislinri iiitiiin to the Tanlic lS't'\V WchtUllll.stiM' , ilwY north, iiml ihi- :o llic uorthwist of ('iMVi' charactiT, aiul , lindmt;- a liiM' wiih- •se throuiih the Cas- ortioii of inniu^lliiii;. far as ouii lie jiuliifd [>• tho gTcatcst facili- ber ol short It'iis^ths, Hd rock, so that no ed then- will bo auv materials rxcavatod aber of faces at oucf, ? unduly dolayi-d, as euglh of four to livi' mountains that the pc ; and it is obvious , both as Vt'uards \\h- rwards, should, to a he Pacilic «;oa>! uid the following; bi'ii'l es surveyed throuuh (in^tlw Pun/ii CiKtsl. huiuilialln hat part of it from Thompson valley, :i irveyed thronu'li Ih'' the features of thi-se reii from l';diiiont(.ii. T commence lurther iiches of the Thonip- proportion o! ln'i'VV till! aiUidK-d; ,.isn, .liMgnim* But from this point to Fort Hope, via Nicolfv Lake and the Coquihalla Valley, a distance rf 131 miles, there are two summits to pass over, one '.'.'JOO feet iind the other 3,520 feet above sea level, and as the jiolnts at either end of this distance arc respectively 1,170 feet and 127 feet above sea level, there must necessarily be great lengths of very st^t-p grades, some of which may be considered impracticable ; one of these rises at the rate of 172 feet per mile for 7 miles, part of it through a continuous tunnel about 3| miles in length. From Fort Hope down the Fraser valley, the line is more favorable, tliouirh Ihere would be some very heavy work on the lirst 80 miles, embra- cing the bridging of the Fraser and Harrison rivers. On the whole this line is far from favorable both on account of the grades, and excessively heavy work ; of the latter it is estimated there would be about 40 miles, including an aggregate of 6 to 7 miles of tunnelling. Route No. 2. — From Fort Edmonton to Burrard Inlet on the Pacific Coast, (via the Yelloivhead Pass, Thompson and Fraser River Valleys.) The total length of this line is 790 miles ; it branches out of the first line at the junction of the two branches of the Thompson near Kamloops, and follows the natural outlet to the Pacific by the Thompson and Fraser rivers to New Westminister, and thence across a narrow neck of land to Burrard Inlet. This line atfords the best possible grades that can be obtained from the i'ellowhead Pass to the Pacific Coast, while the Harbors of Burrard lulet and the outer basin of Knglish Bay are undoubtedly superior to any other on the mainland coast of Briti.sh Columbia lor a railway terminus, both as regards their position for commerce, the rich agricultural country in their vicinity, and the facilities on their shores for the construction of wharves, and the various works required for a railway depot. But from the blulFs on Kamloops lake to a point on the lower Fraser, below Harrison ttiver, a distance of 170 miles, there would be a large amount of very heaA'y \ orks with a very small proportion of light work. The survey of the Fraser Valley made in 1871 is very imperfect, the hi.e having been run on the waggon road from Yale to Lytton, where it is altogether impracticable for railway construction, and with no continuous levels taken even on that, so that the plans do not afford the information necessary for so close a description of the works as I have given on the other lines. But from a careful examination wuth the eye, in travelling up and down several times, I am enabled to state generally that the works will consist of a large amount of bridging over deep lateral ravines, several miles ot heavy protection works along the river to support shifting slopes of gravel, sand, clay or loose rocks, and a very large quantity of rock . excavation. The proportion of e.rcessively heavy work is estimated to extend over 57 miles iucluduig an aggregate of 7 to 8 miles of tunnelling. I do not think it probable that a better survey would materially alter this estimate. 28 f 106 Route No 'l. — From Fori Filmonlon to Tlowe Sounrl, on the Pnriiir Coast {ria Yrllmrlirait /') lim- is T5'2 mill's; it branchos out of thf first linn iK'iir CliMrwiitcr, in thf Th()mi)soii Valley, mid it is i)i(»l);il)lv the ehortcst pnicii('iil>lo liiu' for ti riulvvny I'rom l"\>rt Kdiiioiiton to iuiy liarhour on the racilic Coa»«t within the I'roviiico oi' liritish Cohiiahia. IJiU, between (Mearwiiter and the eoast there are I'our .suniuiits to puss over, with very low di'pressions between each, so that the grades tlirnuirli- out a larire portion ol tlie line are o;,.Merally very objectionable, thiTi' ht'iii:: fully 100 miles on which they reat per mile, alternatch- rising and descending- on the loiiir slopes of the dividintr raiii^es. The iiroportionate leiiijth in which heavy rock cuttinu^s occur is also very creat, beiiit;- 100 out oi i284 miles, from Clearwater to Howe >Suuii(i, and of this about 70 miles is e.rr.tsatvely hmvi/ work, embraciiiif ji irreat number of short tunnels, which could scarcely be reduced to less thin an aggregate oi' 7 miles in length. ISo that though Ihis is the shortest line, it is not probable that the cost of constructing it would be tho least. Route A'o. 4. — From. Fort Eifinonton to Bute Inlet, on the Pacific Coast {via. Yellowhead Pass, the Nurlk Thompson, Lac la Ilache and Ilumallico Vallevs.) The total length of this line is 846 miles; it leaves the iirst line alittlo above the forks of the North Thompson and Clearwater rivers, and takivs a northwesterly course, as described in detail in my report of the surveys of 1872 From Clearwater to the I'aciiic coast the line passes over throe sum- mits, the altitudes of which are 3,1 '»4 feet, 8,700 ieet, and •i,!!' i'-ot respectively above sea level ; and as the altitudes of the Thompsoii ami Fraser valleys are each about 1,400 feet, there will, unavoidal)ly, l)t' a considerable length of untavorable grades, alternately rising and falling,'. On the first 85 miles both the grades and curves are objectional)lt', and on a large proportion of this length the works would be cxcessivtli/ iieavy, both in bridging and rock excavation, and there would be probably a mile and a half of tunnelling. There would also be some unfavoiirable gradt;s and a considerable length oi very heavy work on the west side of the Fraser Valley, iii ris^ini; to the great central plateau, west of the Fraser, known as tht; ChiicoU'ii Plains. But it is expected that a great proportion ot the objectionable part ol' the line up to this point can be avoided, and the line shortened fully 4"i miles by leaving the Thompson Valley about 70 miles further up. and fol- lowing that of Blue River and the Pass westward to the Clearwater. An exploration was made last autumn Irom Lac La Hache northeast' erly to the Cleivwater Kiver, striking it about '.• miles north of tlu' line surveyed in 187"', at a point opposite the Pass leading to the Blue liiver; BO far, the line was satisfactory, but unfortunately owing to the late lu'ss ol 197 )/* till' Piiiiiif Coast, afiartf Valh ijs, 'liroiigh :hos out of ill. I first 1 it is pr()b;il)ly thi' ntoii to luiy harbour lainl)ia. bur suinuiits to puss tht> {j^nuU's thrnuijli- [ioiuil)l«', thiTc Ih'IHl' per mile, alternatt'ly irraiii>vs. uttini^s dcour i.« also iter to Howe Sound, , embraciiii,' » ixroat act'd to It'Ns thui an tho shortest line, it ? tho least. hf Pacific Coast {via. lache and Ilumathco the hrst line a little r rivers, and takes a )rt of the surveys of ses over three siuu- >et, and ;l,l!7 i'l't^t the Thouipsou and unavoidiibly, be a iaing and iallini,', e objectional)ie, and »e excesnvt^lft lieavy, be probably a mile and a considerable ;er Valley, m rit-inii' a as tho Chiicoteii bjectionable part of shortened I'ullv 4M 'urther up. and I'ol- Clearwater, a Hache uordieasi- s north of the line to the lilue [{iver; jr to the lateness ol ^t'ason the explorations could not then 1)0 extended to th»» Thompson Vnl. loy ; it is however so important, that it should l)0 done as early as possible iii'Xt .spriuif. From the Fraser Valley to the water shed at the head of the iromathco v;»lley or pass, a distan(.'e ol'I'J:} miles the works will be i^euerally lii,'ht or medium, but with grades o\\ the lirst \'\ miles risinjif from GO to l»'i feet pt;r mile. Till' features that mainly distinu^uish this route are found in its courstj I'roni this point through the Cascade >Tountains The leni^th is S7 jnijes, iiud of this ■>> miles must bt? classed as lii^ht and medium work, in about t'qual proportions ; the former ocourriny where the Hue runs on the bot- tom Hals of the valley and the latter wher(> it runs on mountain .slopes of oasy incliuiilion and toli>rably unil'orni outline. Of the balance of 32 miles 17 miles must be classed as heavy, as the line runs partly on slopes brokiMi by lateral ravines and rocky spurs; the latter will require several short tunnels, makini^ ro'^ether a leuLi'th of 35;ate li'nuth of about 3 miles. The a<>!4Teirate lenu;th of tunnellinsr on this route throuuh the Cascade Mountains is estimated at 4 miles. Ill order to complete the work oi" exploration so as to c^ain the informa- tion which appears necessary to admit of an intelligent decision on the question of route throtxgh Hritish Columbia tho foUowini? surveys are sugfjested : F«y.s7 — A line should be sur-.eyed from the valley of the North Thomp- son up that of Blue river, thence across to the Fraser river by the route partly explored last autixmn. .Sf- and — The survey should be continued across the Fraser and the Chilcolin Plains with the object of avoidiuif or reducintf the heaviest por- tions of the works on the line surveyed in 1H72. Every exertion .should be made to p(M-fect this line as it promises to be the most direct practicable route betwei ii Yellowhead Pass and Bute Inlet. It will also, to a great extent, avoid the deep snow bel;, that extends iilonu'the southwestern slopes of the lux'ky Mountains and to a considerable distance on to the central plateau between those and the Cascade chain ; and it will afford facilities for communication with both the northern and southern districts of British Columbia. The pxpeettnl results of these surveys are sliewn by the dotted lines on diairram of Route Nn. "> accompanyiuii' this Peport. Third. Should this Hue not prin'o satisfactory, and it be deemed advis- able to try a rotite farther north, then a survey should be made on a line as direct as practicable, from Tatla Pake to i\u\ (iiscome Portage at the great bend of the h^'aser above Fort (le.irge. This line would be the common approach to all the passes through the Rocky Mountains between Yellowhead and Peace river. We have reliable iuformaiion which leaves no doubt that a favorable |iae can be obtained from the Cnscome Portage, following up the valley of 198 the Fruser to Teto Jauue Cache where it would join the lino surveyod in 1H72. Th»' oxix'PttHl results of this survey, are shown approximately l)v th.' dotted lines on the diairram of Jtoufr i\o. 0. The line .surveyed l>y Lieutenant I'aliner, R. 15., in 18G2, lhroui,'h th,. Cascade mountains shews a continuous averaije tirade ol' 182 leet p,'r mi|(> I'or 1') miles, a threat part ot which is on loose ro(;k slides and precipiious mountain slopes which would re(]uire excessively heavy work to ovfrcoiin', Dia<|ram ol Houtc X<>. 7 shews approximately the prolile of tluM lino m connection with that oi' the Peace Uivor route. CONCLUSION. I have irreit ploasurfi in statini* that th(^ members of the snrvoyim.' staff under my charge, with scarcely an ('xcejition, have exerted thoni- selves with praiseworthy ei;ergy and zeal: the large amount ol" work dniic during this last season is most satisi'actory. Although there have been several accidents I have much pleasun; in reporting that none of them have during the past year resulted lulally Some of the men have had narrow escapes from drowninir, through acci- dents to canoes and rafts in crossing rapid mountain riv«M-s, hy which u number of suiveying instruments, clothing, and camp equipaije ha\ >' b.'cii lost. I must pay a just tribute to the memory of the late Alfred Waddiii;-- ton, whose sketches of the Ilomathco Vallev — from Bute Inlet— as well .is the trail which he had constructed through a portion of it, have hcfii of great service to us in prosecuting the surveys. Mr. Waddington may have underrated the difficulties of constructing a road or railway through so rough a country, but his plans, or riuhcr topographical sketches, though not very accurate, appear to have been honestly prepared as no attempt was maa^^ to shew by them the route to be less difficult than it really is. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, MARCUS SMITH. 10 line Burveyod in )proximatcly by tho 199 '■ »^jt:t .1 ■ ^t r .-ju ar APPENDIX I. ICUS SMITH. Oetiiil Report, on the Suiveiff made in the WmuUnnd Re'^ion durinff 1873, bt/ JxuKri H. Rowan, C. E. SANoroRD Flkmino, Esq., Ottawa, January, 1874. En":i>ioor'in-Chiof. Sir,— Duriiicf th« past soason and np to tho pro.sont time, eight partios (avt'nii.nii'jr 4H men ouch) havo boon eniployod in exploration, on the castt-Tii ili.stiicl (it this work. or tho.si!, one party, consi,stin<; oi' an tMisjinetT and assistant with u nnmljiT of mon, was tnnployed in fxplorini? tht' country extending i'rom the .southeast shore ol' l.,ake Nipissiiii;. ii) )i nnrthwcstiMly direction, round the north shore of that hike ton point on the east hriinch ol tho Moo.so River, (I'ort Ma-taug-:i-ina) near \vhi<.'h ])oint a connection was made with our explorations of 1S71-'-. From that ponil the jiirty, on its return journey, explored the country southward, to the west of Lake Nipissing. The object of this exploration was to ascertain whether an alternative line, to that surveyed through tho valley.s of the Ottawa and Montreal Ki vers in Is71-*J, could be found. The instruments used in making this examination were a Ilochon micrometer telescope and Aneroid barometer. These explorations indicate that, a more direct line with liirhter work can be obtained, by following the north shore of Lake Nipissinir and the valley of the Sturgeon Iviver, than by the route explored in 1871-2, or by that running more directly south from Fort Ma-tuug-a-ma and west of Lake Nipis-sing, This party reports, that the countrv lyinir to the west of the last men- tioned line is extremely ruirired, and that it is quite improbable a line of ruilwiiy could be constructed throuu^h it at anythinir like a reasonable cost. The attempt made in 1>^71 to find a line south of Lake Nepigon, touch- iiiii the shore of Lake Superior, having tailed, five parties were enga2red durinc the past season in the endeavour to Knd a practicable route from the outlet, or northern end, of l..ong Lake around the southern end of Lake Xepigoii and thence westward over the " Ileiirht of Land," which divides the waters of Lake Superior from those of Hudson's Bay. The whole of the country betvi'e'"'n these two points and lying between Lakes Superior and Nepigon. has been thoroughly explored and surveyed iu all directions; a practicable route has now been found, by which and with some improvement to tho channel of the Nepigon River, the main line can be brought to the navigable waters of Lake Superior ; or without 200 this improvpmont the construction of about 10 miles of a branch lino will elfect the same object. Two parties are still in the iiekl surveyincr a line about midway ))o- tvveen our surveys of 1^*71-2, west of the "Height of Land," and coiiupot- ing the 1>ranch line to Thunder Bay \.'ith the main line. It is expected that this portion of the survey will be completed onrlv in the coming spring ; from information already received, in relereDce ti) the country under examination, no material ditliculty is anticipated, and it is believed ihat a very direct and favorable line will be lound hotwooii Lake Superior and Tied liiver. The foregoing is a brief outline of the work in progress ami comploti'd during the past season. Everything connected with the work was cinri'Ml out in a very satisfactory manner : the stalF, both engineering aiul commi.s- sariat, fulfilling their respective duties with energy and success. The transport ol supplies through an unexplored country, when tlu> only means of carrying them is either men's backs or birch bark canoos, is of a peculiar character, requiring great energy, and involving much hard- ship and exposur(> to those engaged in it 1 regret having to report that the list of those who have lost tlioir lives, while employed on this work, has been increased liy six nami,',<; having, however, made a special report to you on this subject, I shall not now further allude to it. As the late lire destroyed the most of our held notes, plans, sections, &c , it may be well that I shoiild give, while details are still fresh in my memory, some particulars of the work performed in this district, tou-othor with a few general remarks bearing on the future progress of the Railway survey and construction. When this work was commenced, in June 1871, but little was known of the country extendinu' from the Ottawa River to the Province of Mani- toba, further than the generally received impression that a portion of ii, lying to the north of Lake Superior, was so rugged as to render doubtful the tact whether a practicable route for a Railway could be lound. At that time a line for exploration was determined on, which, from the information collected, was thou'xht would prove practicable and diri'rt, between the junction ol the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers and Fort! Ian y in the Province of Manitoba. Tlu- lirst point })eing selected as one witii which the existing railways, in Ontario and Quebec, could h(> la^ily connected. From the above-named point the exploration was made, on the wost bank of the Ottawa to the Montreal river, and alonir its northern hank lo the " Great Rend " ; from this point a direction, a little to the north ot wi'>t, was followed to tl.M- southern end of Long l.,ake, where the course was changed to the southward, with a view to forming a connection with th'' waters of Lake Superior at N'epii2-on 15ay : from this point it was ooDtimicd north of the Lake of the Woods to Red River; the total distancr Wwvx close on 1,000 miles. Havino-, from personal examination as woU as from the inlorniatioii obtained from the various enyineering parties, arrived at a toleraljly cor- rect knowledge of this region, I shall proceed to describe it more in detail. 201 f a branch lino will It may, for purposes of closcriptioii, be subdividod into four parts, as ibllows : list. The Winnipt><;' Division : lonij^th about 350 miles. •2ud. The Xopigou Division : L'nyth about :J00 miles. :')rd. The Moose Division : length about ^50 miles. 4th. The Nipissing Division : length about 100 miles. Winnipeg Division. Of this subdivision, the general characteristics are, for the 80 miles ininiediately east of Red River, a level and in some parts swampy country, with ridges of sand and gravel more or less thickly covered with timber ; iho i'.''xt 70 miles is rough, broken and rocky, especially in the neighbor- hood of Winnipeg River, which at the outlet of the Lake ol the Woods, (Kat I'ortage) where we cross it, is a stream of eonsidcra])le nuignitude, draimngan area of country of about ]0,O0U square miles; an area which is largely increased below the point where Ave cro.ss it. as will be explained ;iubse(]iiently. The Winnipeg River, from its source at the Lake of the Woods to its outlet at Lake Winnipeg, Hows generally in a direction at right angles to thf strike of the rocks ; throi;ghout its course it is much broken by islands and rapid';, having a total fall of aboirt 320 feet. Rat Portage, or the Dalles a few miles further down, are the two most favorable points for a railway crossing. The country from this point to the "Height of Land" or eastern boundary of this subdivision, has a gradual ascent, the total rise being between 400 and 500 feet in a distance of 230 miles. There are some peculiarities in this section which require particular notice. The Urst is the great extent of water surlace covcrhig it, consisting of lakes and lacustrine streams of every conceivable shape and size ; the former, for the most part, lying in the direction of the strike of the rocks ; the latter occasionally cutting across it. The hills which almost universally follow a general direction from N.E to S. W., consist i'or the most part of rock ol the Laurentian formation. There are evident indications that from time to time the whole of this countrv had been swept by lire; the wood Avith which it is covered, except where more recent iires have cleared it away, being such as to lead to this conclusion. Lastly there is a peculiarity which has an important bearing on the location ol a railway; it is that about 30 miles east of Rat Portage a "divide' is crossed, which has a course generally ea.-^terly until it strikes the "Height ol Land" altove referred to. This ''divide," which has at some points a greater elevation than the "Height of Land," throws some of the waters, which How through the "Winnipeg liiver, to the soitth ; forming tiic line of water communication known as the "Dawson Route." From the northern slope of the "divide" the waters How into English River, the outlall of Lonely Lake or Lac Seul, and enter the "Winnipeg lilty miles below Rat Portage. The country differs greatly on either side ol this "divide," that on the 202 • I )eing south being extremely rocky and rugged, while that on the r.orfh is moro level with extensive tracts of light sandy soil. Three rivers ol considerable volume are crossed on this length Ncpigon Division. The next sub-division lies, for the most part, within the basin of Lake Nepigon. The descent from the "Height of Land," to this body of water, being much more rapid than the ascent on its we&ter;i side, failino' sorao 900 feet in a distance of about 50 miles ; lakes are consequently much less numerous, and the character of the hills is completely changed, bcjiio- moro deliiched, very precipitous on their nor!hern and western sides and^'staud- ing at a greater altitude above the general level of the country. Their direction is also changed, inclining from north and south to north west and south east ; the rock of which they are formi'd g"enerally granite or trap. The centre of this sub-division is intersected, at its northern end, bv Lake Nepigon, (a body of water some 70 miles long by 50 miles wide, lull of islands) and at its southern end by the valleys of the Black Stitrgeoii and Nepigon, rivers of considerable size and volume. Jii their valleys are con- siderable tracts of good laud and timber of fair quality : consistiii;;- ol spruce, tamarac, cedar, pitch pine and a sprinkling of white and red pine. After passing these waters the country towards the east, still main- taining the same character, rises rapidly until the "Height of Laud' is again crossed in the neighborhood of Long Lake. There is in this part ol the country a " divide" somewhat similar to that described in the neighborhood of Kat Portage. In this case it runs east from the southern e'rd of Nepigon Lake, and divides the waters How- ing south int( Lake Superior from those which flow northward, but ulii- mately find their way to the same place through the valley of the Nopiiiou. To the south of this line the country is extremely rough, rocky, and mountainous, cut throirgh by the valleys of rivers running from north to south having their sources in the "Height of Land." On each side ot thusf rivers the hills rise from the water's edge, steep and precipitous to a height ot from 400 to 600 feet near Lake Superior. They are almost without a break from this point northward, until they run out in the level of the "Height of Land." As frequent reference has already been made to the "Height of Laud." and as it becomes a very important feature of that portion oi' tht; cuiiiitry yet to be described, this would seem to be an appropriate place to intro- duce a few remarks in reference to it. The "Height of Land," (or "divide" between the wati'rs which Jlow into the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River and those that empty into Hudson's Bay,) from a point near the " great bend '' of the Montreal River, to where it passes into the territory ol the United States west of Pigeon River, is of a uniform elevation varying from 1400 to 150ii feet above the level of the sea. Although throughout its course very tortuous, its general direction may be described as follows : — From the Urst point named it follows a soitthern course until within 203 on the north is more on this leno'th. hill the basin of Lake to this body ol' water, 'r:i side, Talliim- sonie iisequeutly much loss changt'd, bcino; more stem sides tuid stand- e country. north und south to 3y are ibrmed being ; its northern end, by )y 50 miles widf, lull e Black Sturgeon and their valleys are con- uality : consisting' oi t' white and red pine . s the east, still main- ight ol" Land"' is again ' somewhat similar to In this case it ruu^ ides the waters How- northward, but ulii- alley of the Nepiiioii. ely rough, rocky, and inning from north to On each side ol thesu md precipitous to a They are almost run out in the level )r. he "Height of Land." )rtion of the cuiuitry opriate place to intro- le waters whiih llow {iver and those that ureat bend" of the ol the United States g from 14U0 to loOn lout its course very lows : — course unul wiihm between 50 and fiO miles of the North shore of the Greoririan Bay, from thcnci' and at this distance, it continues parallel to that coast and the Kast and North coast of Lake Superior, until north of Michi])icoti'ii Island it m;ike« a great del!-^^ tion to the south-west ; and passing round the southtMii Mild of Lonii- Lake, approaches within '20 miles of Lake Superior, north of ihe Slate Islands ; thence, turning to the north and west it curves round the head of Lake iNepigon at a distance of 20 miles, and from there it passes, .V] miles west of that lake .and Lake Superior, in a south-westerly direction until it crosses the boundary between the Dominion of Canada and the United States. It is not a mountain range bnt merely an elevated plateair, and one remarkable peculiarity connected with it is the number of lakes which occupy its summit, whose waters could ^asily be diverted and made to llow either to one side or the other. Moose Division. In speaking of the third sub-division, extending from liOng Lake to the Ottawa river, it will be necessary to divide it into two sections — a northern and southern— the diA'iding line being the height of land as I'ar east as the great bend of the Montreal river, and the Montreal river itself from that point to the Ottawa. The southern section, along Lakes Superior and Huron, is throughout very similar in character to that described at the south-eastern end of the last sub-division. In many places the lofty hills of granite, have been swept bjre of very trace of vegetation by fire, and present a most formidable and for- bidding aspect. The northern section is in marked contrast to all this ; when the "Height of Land" is passed and you proceed a short distance to the north of it, the ■ountry is generally level and in .some parts swampy, the latter being no dnnbt caused, to a great extent, by the dense growth of timber which covers it, — fires having been much less frequent in this section. Owing to the dense growth of timber and there being no exceptionally iiigh hills, from which an extended view of the country can be obtained, it is impossible to form a correct opinion as to whether much of tliis country conld be rendered available for settlement. At many points, even south of the "Height of Land," there are tracts of very lair land, and there can be little doubt that were this country cleared and drained, the effect upon the soil and climate would be as marked as it has been in the settled parts of Canada. Nipissing Division. The greater part of t':is division, is very similar in character to Ihe eastern half of the Winnipeg division already described ; in the neigh- f>ourhood of Lake Nipissing, however, it is much more favourable, jTnd there are some tracts of good land and hardwood timber. 204 General Remarks.— (See sheet No. 10.) In the original line of exploration the " Height of Land " was crosst-d five times, first, about 15 miles west of the Great Bend (Montreal Rivir); second, about 180 miles further west ; third, on the east ; and fourth, on the west side of Long Lake; fif'.h and lastly, about 50 miles west ol Lake Nepigon. 1 he character of the country is very similar in the neighbourhood of either side of this elevated plateau, but outside that margin, the dilferciicc as regards its adaptability for railway construction is very marked ; for while to the south it is broken up by hills of considerable altitude, with lakes intervening, of all shapes, sizes, and some of great depth, to the north it is comparatively level and swampy. The greater portion of the country explored is covered with a dense growth of moderate sized timber, consistnig of balsam, spruce, poplar, white birch, some tamtirac, and occasional groves of white, }»ut principallv red pine; while at many points there are indications of valuable mineral deposits.^ The result of the survey along the line as above described proves that while a practicable line can be obtained from the starting point to th'> second crossing of the "Height of Land," from thence eastward to the tilth crossing was, if not entirely impracticable, extremely unfavorable ; hut it was ascertained, at the same time, that by keeping north of the "Height ol Land," most of the difficulties encountered on the line surveyed might hv avoided. This led to the exploration of a line, which, starting some miles to the east of the second crossing of the " Height of Land," passing noriii ot Lake Nepigon and thence to Red River; having a branch line coiuieLtinu it with the waters of Lake Superior either at Thunder or Nepigon Bay This line and the branches proved quite practicable throughout : hut as it involved the construction of a considerable length of branch line, about 150 miles to Thunder or 110 miles to Nepigon Bay, it was con.'iidered desirable to make a further and more thorough examination and survey, of the country in ihe neighborhood of Lake Nepigon on its east, .south and west sides. It was also considered advisable that a further examination should he made of the country at the eastern end of the district, with a view ol ascer- taining whether an alternative or more favorable line could be ohtained south of that previously surveyed. The result of these surveys has been satisfactory, shewing in the latter case that a more direct line, with lighter work, can be constructed from the southeast shore of Lake Nipissing up the valley of the Stur -"Oii River to a point, on the line previously surveyed, west of the east hraneh of Moose River. While in the former case it is proved that a good practi- cable line can be obtained south of Lake Nepigon, which may be connected with the waters of Lake Superior at either Thunder or Nepigon Bay ; and being carried from the latter point, north eastward to the north end of lionir • Iron, Copper, \91\d, iind gypsum iu larue quantities' silver also ha-, hetn (<: here Is oo«l or ligiiiU', which ^tatement is Uirnu out, to somu earteni, by u rr ijooloijical rejiiirt oa tiie Albaiij' River, ouud ; ant) tlie Iniiiaiit m* marK of Mr. Ut'll's lu lliv 205 10.) Land " was crossed (1 (Montroal RivtT); sast; and fourth, on miles wost ol' Lake le neighbourhood of argin, the difFcr.'iicc s very marked ; for rable altitude, with ; dtjpth, to the north vered with a den,si' am, spruce, poplar, hite, hut principally A' valual)le mineral escribed pro\vs that tartiug' point to ih" eastward to thf filth unfavorable ; hut it th of tht' '•Heiiiht ol ! surveyed niii>-ht be rting some miles to d," passing north ot [ich line conneetinii- or Nepigoii Ixiy lie throughout ; but gth of branch line, y, it was considered ination and survey, 1 its east, south ami mination should be ■ith a view ol aseer- could be obtained liewmgin tho atter in be constructed ey of the Stuv -eon of the east braiieh that a good practi- I may be connected Nepigon Bay; and north end of Long ouud ; iind tlif Iniiiaiii say marK of Mr. bell'-* lu Ihf Lake, will there connect with the favorable line before mentioned, thus avoiding the rough and impracticable country lying between the "Height of Land" and the north shore of Lake Superior, through which the line of 187 1-2 was run. As already stated the distance between Red River and Lake Nipissing is about 1,000 miles, but in order to find a practicable line for the railway between these points, and at the same time to connect it with the waters of Lake Superior, it has been found necessary to survey about 2,500 miles of line, and in addition a large amount of exploration. It thus appears that three practicable routes have been discovered. On either ot these the railway can be constructed with the following re- sults as regards distances : — Route No. 1. — Vln North of Lah Ncpifjoii. From. TO LAKK SUPERIOR. TO M.\TTAWA. Total length of Main Line iind Brunch. Via Nepioox. Via TiirxDEu Bay. R.iiiiiver ) Main l^tiio.... .125 ) mites R'dUiver. JHr,,,^!, no J 435 1 <« ) miles Brancli \m\ 13S MIU'S Main Line.. 9S2 1,132 miles. Route No. 2. — 17a Npigon Bay. Kroni I To I^ake Siteriob. To Lake Nn'issiNO. i Total Length. Remarks. Miles I Ml!"s Red Kiver, I Nepigon River 41ti South East Bay U73 | MI'es I 1(73 I No Bran- h Line i lequlr. il. I Route No. 3.— Vl7 ! Miles 1,037 I yo BrHnt'li Line lenulreil. N'lTF, :— The distance from Red River to Like Manitoba Is estimated at 83 miles. If the contemplated improvements, to either Nepigon or Kaministiquia Rivers, are not carried out, the length of line between Red River and Lake Superior would be increased between 8 and 10 miles. The features of the country lying between Red Kiver and Lake Supe- ior are now^ so well known, ths't further explorations would seem to i)e unnecessary, and the location survey may be commenced so soon as the general line to be followed is determined ; there can be no doubt, how- 206 ever, but that further exploration on the eastern portion of the l)i8trict would lead to further improvement on the line. The g-eneral character of the vv^ork on all these routes would he \>rv similar : — Routr No. 1 may have some slight advantage as regards oTii. dients, but this would be more than counterbalanced by the lulditiouiil length of line to be constructed and maintained. The principal physical difficulties to be contended with in the con- struction of the Railway, throughout the whole section of the country uii- sideration, are the <>rfnt extent of water encountered on the route, its rockv character and inaccessibility. It is nevertheless believed that, a vcrv direct line can be obtained, the quantities of excavation and eml)ankmiMit not exceedinir the average of railways already constructed in other pails of the Dominion. The last difficulty can be overcome to a considcrahle extent, by means of the knowledge of the country already obtained. There are not many large rivers to be crossed on the line as proposed, au'i of these, not more than three or four which will reqiiire bridges ol'-JOo feet span. Timber of good quality and in sufficient quantity for the vari- ous purpose of the railway, can be obtained either upon the ]in(M)i jn Its neighborhood. The gradients will be favourable, in no case exceeding I foot per lOn or 52-HO feet per mile ; and of this maximum gradient, the percentauv will be small. The destruction by the late fire of most of the prolijes, pre- vents my givini;- greater detail under this head; but, the aceompanyinu- " Profile' of Creneral Gradients," (see sheet No. 9) compiled from data still in my possession, will ffive a correct idea of the country traversed Snow Fall. The question of snow-fall is a subject of great importance when taken in connection with this work. Few, if any, reliable facts in connection with it, as regards the country now under consideration, have been hitl^.erto known; the following from observations made by oiTr own parties will throw some light on the subject. Commencing at Ottawa, where the average depth in winter may be taken as about from ;i ft. 6 in. to 4 It , it decreases gradually as we proceed westerly ; in the neighborhood of the Great Bend of the Montreal River, it is 3 ft. in.; on the height of land, north of Michipicoten on Lake Superior, it is 2 ft. 8 in. ; west of Lake Nepi'.:on, it is 2 It. 3 in.: and at Red River, from 2 ft. to 1 ft. (J in. Near the shore of Lake Superior, the depth will average between 3 ft. and 4 ft. There is a marked difference, however, between the character ol' thi> snow which falls throughout the whole of the country to the west ol the Montreal River and that which falls east of that longitude. In the lornier country there are no thaws durinrv tage as rogards n'm'. d by the additioiiiil ed with in the con- )i of the country uii- 11 thcrouto, its rocky -^lieved that, a very "iw and emhaiikmt'u'i •ucted in other parts tne to a considerable 'ady obtained, he line as proposed, 'quire bridges ol'-JOii [uantity tor the vari- 311 tlie line oi in its eding I loot per jijo the percentauv will of the prolijes, pre- the accompanyiiii;' ►ih'd from data still •y traversed ortance when taken acts in connection have been hit!:erto ar own parlies will )ttawa, where the 5 ft. 6 in. to 4 It , it eighborhood of the leight of land, north ot Lake Nepi'^ion. it Near thi' shere and 4 ft. le character of the to the we.st ot' the do. In the loriner >\\ is conse(jUeiitly (.'ontrary. frequent the country to the need in removing 11 indicate, once or ro ; in the interior, miner, during the (lay time, in the months of July and August, the heat is as great as in this part of Canada, but the nights are always cool. ''hen once spring commences, vegetation is very rapid; the ice and snow tiave hardly disappeared before the trees are in full leaf. While on the subject of climate, I may mention that Mr. Crawford, the 11 li. Coy's, officer at Red Rock, cleared about 15 acres of land last spring on which he raised some very fine barley, oats, potatoes, and tur- nips ; in his garden were peas, beans, carrots, cabbage, and a few heads of Indian corn. He informed me that when he lived at Nepigon Lake he had raised tomatoes in the open air. Haiiuours on Lake Superior. The relative merits, as regards the Railway, of Thunder and Nepigon Bay for a terminal station, on Lake Superior, have been already stated ; but there is another point in reference to them which requires to be taken into consideration, namely, their respective advantages as Harbours. Owing to peculiar circumstances, such as the important Post of the Hudson's Bay Company (Fort William) and one terminus of the " Dawson Route" to Red River, &c., being situated on the shores of Thunder Bay, it has been much frequented for yi'ars, and settlements have been estab- lished in its neighborhood ; its advantages are consequently well known, and it has many interested advocates. Nepigon Bay, on the contrary, was comparatively unknown and un- frequented until the commencement of this survey in 1H71. It, therefore, has few advocates, although the Railway surveys have demonstrated the the fact, that there arc in its neighborhood and in the valley of the Black Sturgeon River, extensive tracts of land of as good quality as are to be found in the vicinity of Thunder Bay ; and, during the past summer, min- ing has been carried on to some extent in the neighborhood. In addition, therefore, to pointing out the advantages likely to accrue by opening up this, hitherto unknown, part of the country ; it is most desirable that all the known advantages and disadvantages of both bays, should be clearly and fairly stated, v/ith the view of enabling a decision to be arrived at, as to which point the tevrainus shall be placed. It will simplify the consideration of the subject, to examine each bay separately, and to divide it into these heads, viz : — 1st General description, •2nd. Depth of water and direction of channel. 3rd. Ice. 4th. F »g. The 2nd of these is said to have an important bearing on the 3rd and 4th. With the view of making what follow^s more inteligible, a copy of .■Admiral Bayfield's chart of both Bays is herewith submitted, the correct- ness of that of Nepigon has been verified by our surveys. The course usually followed by steamboats is shewn by a dotted line thus , 208 Tni^NDER Bay. (See sheet No. 13.) I.s7. General Description. This bay is on the north-west shore of Lake Superior, and has an arcH of about 200 square miles It lies in a direction g-enerally from iioith-oast to south-west, and is l)Ouiid. on the west and north, by the main land ; on the east by the promontory of Thunder Cape, which divides it from Blnik Bay ; and on the south it is divided from Lake Superior by a number ol ishmds, of which Pie Island is the principal. Outside these islands at a distance of about 14 miles to the south-oast is Isle Koyale, which is about 4.3 miles long and from 7 to x wid.' ; this island belongs to the United States. With the exception ol' a small group, (the "Welcome Islands,) which li.' about four miles east from the mouth of the Kaministiquia Kiver, thero arc not many islands in Thunder Bay. 2nd. Depth of Water and Direction oj Channel. The principal entrance to Thunder Bay, and the one generally usimI, lies between Thunder Cape and Pie Island ; it is about five mili's vcuh' and has a depth of water ranging from 100 feet to 237 feet. The goneial depth of the bay is given on the chart as GO feet. The coiirse from the entrance to Prince Arthur's Landing is direct; i'lom the same point to tho Kaministiquia River a slight detour has U> he mad^^ in order to clear the Welcome Islands. The navigation is good tor either steamboats or sailng vessels ; but, in the event of a gale from the south- east, the lee of the above-named islands is the only point in the bay where shelter can be obtained. The yreat width of the entrance to the bay and its exposure to storms, having the full sweep of the lake, from the quarter just mentinnod, would render it unsafe lor vessels to attempt lying at Prince Arthur's LanduiLrat such a time ; indeed this place is exposed from north-east round to boiith- east, the nearest land (Thunder Cape,) being 14 miles distant. There are, however, two means of meeting this didiculty which present themselves : either the construction of a breakwater to prnliM.t thf works at P. A. Landing, or converting the Kaministiquia river into a harbour. The Ibrmer woull be a costly undertaking, and if th' latter were adopted it would be necessary to dredge out the bnr whirh has formed at its mouth. Some expense has already been incurred on this work, but it would require a farther considerabh^ outlay, before tbf channel would be wide and deep enough to admit large A'essel.^. of thf class now in uso upon the lake; even then, sailing vessels wm)uU1 havo to be towed in and out, and if it were considered desirable, in the interest of the railway, to carry the navigation any considerable distance up the river, this would be still more necessary, owing to its tortuous course (See sheet No I-t.) it may be stated in connection with this sul)iiH't. that considerable diihculty has been experienced at other points on Canadian lakes, in keeping the entrance to harbours formed in rivers free iVoiii deposits of earth, sand, &c. 209 3/y/. Ice. Tlu'ii' is also the dnnooT that il this point, won' seloclcd ibr a hnrhour, it would bo closed at an oarlier date than I'liiice Arthur's Landiu'j: ; iiiv own t'xpeiienci' leads me Id I'orni this oiiinioii for, n'heii I ciiiiio •roiii Nepii'on to Thunder Bay, on my way to Ottawa, about the (i(h of last November, althoui^h there was only a slis^ht coatinufolice round the >hoivs of Nejiifiron Kiverand Hay, and also round the shore of Thunder liay, the ice on the Kaministiquia Uiver was front -S to "i inches thick. The fact ol" the entrance to Thunder liay beinof exposed to lyales, as belbre stated, is not altoni-ther an unmixed evil, for they have a tenclency to break up thi' io»> in the liay, which, on a chanire of wind, will float out into the Likr, thus aecountinjL^ ibr its sometimes opeiiinc,' earlier, in spring, than at (ithiTN, Still, on the other hand, the great width of the opening renders it probable that, on some occasions, alter the bay is clear it may be again choked up by ice driven in from the lake by one of these gales. The average date lor the Opening and Closing of the bay is about the ^th May and 30th December. 4//i. Fogs. There can be no doubt but that lake Superior, generally, is subject to logs during the season of navigation. They occasionally come 'A\ very suddenly, and are much more frequent some years than others. During the summer of 1^<72 they were extremely prevalent. On one occasion I was on board the steamer when within about three miles of Michipicoten Islaud, the weather at the time being perfectly clear , in a very short time the i'oy became so dense that we were obliged to lie off the island for 3H hours. On another occasion the same thing occurred in the neighbourhood of Passage Island, near Thunder Bay, when I was on my way to the latter place. It is, however, a fortunate thing that fog and siorm do not occur at the same time. The danger and delay in reaching Thunder Bay arrising from this cause, would be much lessened by the erection of light-houses and fog- bells or steam whistles, on Passage Island and Thunder Cape ; bvat, as the former belongs to the United States, there may be some difhculty in carrying out this suffffestion. The direct distance between Prince Arthur's Landing and the Sjult Sle. Marie is 265 miles ; this distance is slightly increased by the fact that the steamboats are obliged to call at Silver Islet with the mails, freight, etc., and would be still further increased if they call, from stress ol weather, or toobtain a supply of wood, (of which there is abundance, maple,) at Michi- picoten Island, for the course usually followed by steamboats see the dotted line on chart. (Sheet No. 13.) Nepioon Bay. (See sheet No. 14.) ].s7. General Description. This bay is situated to the north and east of Thmuler Bay, and has an iiiVa of aboxit 170 square miles. It lies in a direction generally from east 810 to wofit, ftiid is bouiuled on tho west l)y a poiiiu'-h land on them as Ste. l^iiace, still their suiumits are several hundred I'eet above tlie surlaco of the lake. The total length ol'thix channel is \\ miles; it is throughout over 1.1 mile in width and perleclly straii^-hl ; the depth of water at its outer end is 'IV'i icel, and at its inner end ."{nO I'eet. l''rom this point to the head ol'the bay, Ktnl Uock, (35 J miles) tho course is alnu/st straight, leadinu' past the i^liiiuls La Verte and La (Jran<>(', excellent landmarks, which rise perpen- dicularly out ol tho water to a heiylit of 700 or 80(1 I'eot. Throughout the whole ol' tho above mimed distance tho d<'i)lh of tho water varies from 50 'W't to HO jeet, over a width and area ami)le for any class of navigation '.hL'tlior steam or sailing. From Rod Rock, whoro thoNepigon rivt'v Hows into the bay, tho rivi-r is at present navigated by tho steaml)oats for a distance of two miles, up lu the Hudson's Bay Post; (see sheet No. I.')) the channel being 800 fool wide and from 14 feet to 30 foot deep. In this distanco there is one curve uhicli, owing to tho current, reciuires lo be passed with (taution ; this wmild 1)0 done away with by the improvement to be adverted presently. From iho H. B. Post to Lako Ellen, a distanco of throe (juarters ol a mile, ilie river is at present unnavigal>le, owing to tho crooked (diannel and >wil't current, although there is a good dopth of water. Lake liUen is miles long, from half a milo to a milo in width, and from 'I't foot to loo lyet deep. In order to render tho river easy of navigation betvvoou tho JIudson Hay I'osit and Lako Ellon, the channel would have to be strai^'hltMied and 'lot'pened. This would have the ell'ect of lessening tho current and extend- in^' the navigation !(• miles inland, to the head ol Lake Ellen. The diniculty ("xporionced in preventing he formation of bms ai the mouths of rivers converted into harbors, hu- bi'en relerrtnl to already. These bars being formed by the doi)osite of material held in suspension ill the river water and deposited ai the point where tho current ceases. The position of Nepigon river is exceptionally favourable in this res- jWL't owing to the great depth of hike EUe.i ; this sheet of water, acting as a souliiig pond for the river, btd'oro it (mters >,'.>ni.gon bay ; while, at the same time, the straightening of tho channel worild stop the scour from the banks ijt-'low that lake. l\\ this river, as at the Kaministiquia, sailino: vosseis would have to be 2-1 M ' I towtnl np rinrl down ; this, howcvor, t« alrondy u iit-cosNity Mitli fviry Niiiliii'j: vt'; si'l which t'lUns Lakf SuinMior, un ihi-y hiivc lo he lowid Iritni th»» ht'iul of Laki' Huron to tlu' loot ol Lnko Supciior, throuifh Si. Mnr\'s rivor. nnd caiinl. The la(!t Ihiit propcUcrs aro I'lisl hocomiiiLr the almost unhcrhiiil niiaiis of transport, in all our inland waU'rs, tends to doinijr away wiih this dull- culty altof?t'th»>r. Sf(l—I<:e. So litth' ndiahlc itifonnatioii as to thf exact dates ol' the opoiiiiii: an.! flosiny ol' Nepijfon hay can lMM)htain»'d, the destruction, hy the Imriiiiiu' ol th(! ollice, of the orii^inal documents containinecemher. I receivecl a li ihr from Mr. Crawford a few days ago, dated the 4tli Jan., in which he states that Nepiyon Hay was not frozen over on the 3rd Jan. The i^reat depth of the eastern channel through tht* hay aad tin current of the Nepiu'on River, will prohahly account for its late clo.siiii: ; while its well-sheltered position may account for its being somewhat lati-r in oiiening than Thunder liay. Herewith is a tahle of the dates of the opening and closing of ihi- Sault 8te. Marie River and Canal from the year 1843 to the year \>*T'\. This table shows 'hat the average date of their opening is the ist o| May ; and that the average date of closing is the '20lh of Novcniher : wliili- the latest date on which they closed, during a period of thirty yenrs, \v;is the Uh December in the year 1849.'- Therefore, although the canal opens, on an average, 14 days earlier, it also closes from 15 to 20 days earlier than Nepigon Hay; so that it appears from these facts, the navigable season of Nepigon Hav is loiiuer than the navigable season of the 8ault Ste. Marie Canal. It also appears that both Nepigon and Thunder Bays remaining open alter the date when the canal is closed, but there is no great advantage to either in this fact ; as however Thunder Bay opens on an average a week earlier than Nepigon Bay, and the canal opens earlier than either. Thunder Bay has an advantage of about a week over Nepigon Bay, in the leiiifth of its navigable season. 4th.— Fogs. The general remarks, previously made, respecting fogs in cotiiiee- tion with Thunder Bay apply here. Although 1 have been fretpieiitly in and out of Nepigon Bay, I have never been delavi'd by log, nor do 1 ihiak they are more prevalent here than elsewhere on the lake. That the steamboats have been delayed from this cause, and have iini enfcri'd the bay, there can be no doubt. But as the delays ucrurred diiiin'^' the nttcmpls to enter, there is little doubt bxxt that they would be entirely avoided if there was a good lighthouse and fog bell, or steam whistle, at the eastern entrance to the bay. Our own experience in connection with this subject has been, that the fog may be quite thick on the lake outside the islands, while the bay is compaiatively clear. *Scc page 2U. 213 Miinir is till- 1st o| Th»> (lirt'cl (listiuici' hi'twciMi Kt'd Kock and thf Simlt Sto. Mnric is 2;Vl inilc.s: iiiul ol' this, U) miles thri)iii,^h tho buy is compU>tt>ly uliclttTt'd, thus li'itsiMiinir *!»•' mnount ol" the cxposi'd iiavigiitioii ol the liiki-, tho dim- ^fiTH i>r whii'h lire s'ill iuitlicr ifdiiccd, on this roiito, by th«^ tart fhat 111'' I'Xc.t'JitMit and vv<'li-lightt'd Imrbour iit Michipiootcn I^*lllnT. M.MMK KlVKU xVND CaXAL. Year. i>i'i:s-i:i). ("ro^i-.D, ]X4.'i Novomber !S|4 April ■:! " 1S15 • '• :!l lC4(i Hl7 ISH l-'-lll is-n is-,2 isi!;l. I Mil ISfi.'-) lS(.i(i. •IS ;7. ISfW IMt). I 1S70 ; 1871. j 1S72 I b7;i Mav.. April Miiy.. April... M.i.v.... April.. 1W4 1 " • 1.S55 Mny.. IS.Ifi " . 1S57 ' " . lS,-i-t " . K-,!> " . ISfiO .\prll. 1S(U Mii.v.. .•\pril . Mn.v. 17 2.i i Hi " 2 !l " ' 2ii " 'J !i DiiroinliiT n \iivrmlier I o.s <" 2 2.'* .>< Pcccnibpr . ."> Novrnilior 27 neccnihor 2 NovpiiibiM' I necoiiil) I'. Mny. AlHil May. . 2 Pofoinljt r . I Novi'iiiliiT 2!i IKcMiilior S Ndvi'iplicr ;«• Tile (liitoh lor tliif year lia\c iiol liccii cihlniiieil. 115 I 4, . .. 2 . ... 27' .... a ... ;!n ... i.-i ... 1 . . . 'JO . . . 21) ... 20' ... 2!l' 1 ... n^ ... i: . . 211 •1' ... .i| ::'.| . 2n! , 1 .. ^. APPENDIX K. Special Report. On Ihe Paasei lltrous^h the Cascade and Rocki/ Mountain Chains, hi/ Marcus Smith, Esq., Ottawa, June 2, 1873. S.vXDPouD Fleming. Esq., duel' KiiiiiiKHT C. r, R. Survey. My Dear Sir. — Soon aftor my arrival in British Columbia last year I I'udcavori'd to aot all the iiil'ormatioii pos.sihU' about tlu' st>voral passes lluouiih the Cascade and Roeky Mountain chaius, and in my h'tters 1 have luiiushed you I'roni time to time such .scraps ol' inl'ormation as I could pick up. lUit iu my ri»port of the surveys and explorations of 187- I have only alluded to these passes in a i^-eiu'ral way, as much oi" what 1 had learnt ivspccting them was necessarily va<>'ue and imperfect, havinii' been ob- 1 iiiu'd Irom the rt'ports and conversation of persons haviuc.ts. 1 have therefore thought it 1)etter iu>t to mix up such information with iliiit which has lieen obtained from actual survey or inspection, l)vit to suhiait it in a special report. Passes Th hough the Cascade Mountains. The most southerly pass throur VaUeys, was survey- ed early in the summer of 1S72 The next in succession northwards, be- tween the same points, via the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, had been sur- vi'yed tlie previous year ; and imuKvliately alter my arrival in 1H72, the survey of the llomathco Pass, from Huti.' Inlet, was commenced, and it was eomph'ted the same year. -Mt>anwhile, I had received information al)out another pass, from Howe Sound ro Lillooet, which led me to Ixdieve it was worllia survey, especially as this route, lying- between that of T^-ascr Klvcr and llute Inlet, appeared on the map to he the most direct between Yellow Head J'assin the Ixocky Mountains, and the Pacilic Coast. Farther north, about midway between Ibite Inlet and the Skeena l^ivcr, there are two more jiasses. The lirst, of these — from the North li"Utinck Arm to tlie central plati^au, via the Delia Coula River — has been livquciitly travelled })y traders and others, and in lS()-2 Lieutenant Palmer, Iv. Iv, made an exploratory survey ot it, and his Kejiort furnishes all the in- formation necessary to form an opinion of that pass as a railway route. The other pass — from Dean Channel to the ccMitral plateau, via the 1'ean or Salmon River— is a little farther north ; of this I can get but little iuloruiation. I think all reports concerning it must be conjectural, and 216 • I derived from the vague statements of Indians, as I cannot learn that ever a white man has passed throua'h that way. Sir Alexander McKonzie tin. veiled in this section in 1793 : he did not ho'vever follow the Doaii Riv,.r down to the sea, bnt crossed by a portage to the Bentick Arm. My own impression is that this pass will be found very little, if any, better than that by the Bella Coula, the sources of which and those ot' th(> Dean River arc very near together and fully 4000 feet above the sea level, and the course of the latter to the sea cannot be so miich longer than that ol' the former to materially alter the general grade, though it may possibly bf more uniform throughout. To endeavour to get from either the Dean or Gardner Channels to thp Tazella La'ces, supposed to be the sources of the Nechaco ]{iver, apppius even a more hopeless task, for these lakes cannot be much under ;?Oil(i I'e.'t above sea level, and may be much more ; between these lakes and tho Pacific the Cascade Mountains intervene, and we know of no openiui; through M'hieh this barrier can be crossed. To set the question at rest, however, it may be expedient to send an exploring party to examine this region to see if there is a route feasible enough to justify the cost of a survey. I have now referred to all the passes 1 have heard of throiiiili the Cascade Mountains, between the soitthern boundary line of British Columbia and the River Skeena, which I think worthy of considoiution. Passes Throuoh the Rocky Mountains. The Howse and Yellowhead passes, through the Rocky Mountains, have already been fully reported on. Northward of the latter I have infor- mation of three other passes, which I give in their order of succe.ssion, northwards, First. — The Smoky River Pasn : From the north branch of the Fr.iser, on the west side of the mountains, to the head waters of the Smoky River, on the east side. Secant/. — The Pine River Pass : From the Parsnip, or south branch of the Peace River, on the west side of the mountains, ascending by a small river to the Summit Lake, thence descending the eastern slope of the mountains by the Pine River. Third. — The Pence River Pass: Following the course of the Peace River which rises on the west side of the mountains and Hows (I'leotly through these to the plains northeast of them. It would be next to inipract.ical)le to connect either of th(>se passes with any one through the (jascade Chain south of Bute Inlet. Hut in connection with the latter the Smoky River Pass appears to be in the niosl direct line to the poiiits necessary to be reached east of the Reeky Mountains. I, therefore, directed niv enquiries more particularly le that pass; but almost rlie only information I could obtain about it is iriuii the following memorandum kindly lurnished nie by A. C, Anderson, I'.^q.:-— " As regards the pass at the head ol' the North Fork, towards whnh Mr. Smith's en([uiries were specially directed, I can say nolhinu' ol my personal knowledge. All the information I possess is from other sources *;»**- 217 not learn that ever a ider McKonzio tra. low the Doaii I^iv,.r ;ck Arm. My own if any, better than those oi' the Dean a the sea level, and iger than that ol' the 1 it may possibly W ner Channels to \\\^> haco Kiver, nppear.s nch under :!0oii feot these lakes and tho now of no openino- :podient to send an is a route feasible ird of throui>'h the y line of Hritish ■ of consideration. AINS. ky Mountains, have atter I have iuror- order of succession, anch of the FiMser, the Smoky Kiver, or south branch of endino- by a small stern slope of the )urse of the Peace and flows d-'reetly ler of these passes ute Inlet. lUil in s to be in the niosi st of thi^ Kneky :)arti(;ularly to that jout it is ivoiii the Anderson, ]"!>(]. :--- rk, towards w htrh ay nolhinu of my from other sources Hid chiefly from my Bows-man in ^S?>5, an old Iroquois f>uide, named It ere, who had a i^reat knowledge of the country. He pointed out to me a stream oil die left a,s we ascended, which he called Riviere a la Boucane (so named ill niv map) for the reason, as he explained, that there was here a short lortiiu'e, commonly used by th(> Indians, and former'y by the Iroquois trap- pi'is of the Northwest Company, falling- on the North Branch (of the Fniser) by which there was a commuuication through a pass in the Rocky Mountains, with the Riviere a la Boucane or Smoky River, falling- into the Peace River." •' Of the nature of the Pass referred to, in the Rocky Mountains, I can- not aive an opinion : b\at that it is tolerably practicable, at least, linfer, both Irom what Rene told me, and from the fact that h(^ had received from In- dians some buffalo meat, in a fresh condition, which had been killed on the Smokv River opposite to the heads of the north branch of the Fraser." "If the exploration of the Pass in question should be decided upon, ami the route eventually found advantageous, I would suggest that a con- venient line of approach from the Athabasca would probably be found by the valley of the Riviere de Baptiste." " The trappers formerly frequenting Jasper House, usually followed Free-man's River or some of the other streams issuing from the same di- rection near Jasper's, when on their way to Smoky River, their frequent lesort, but of course the river first mentioned, issuing lower down, M'^ould have the advantage of shortness, and would possibly present other facili- ties as being the largest and therefore occupying the widest valley." Mr. Anderson has also told me that Rene was never tired of e.cpatiat- iiiff on the merits of this pass. I have, however, no expectation that it will be found so low as the Yellow Head ; for Indians haA'e little apprecia- tion of heights, and provided they get a trail tolerably free from broken liTOund, swamps and fallen timber, they would think it very good though it might have insuperable difficulties for railway co)istruction. Of the Pine River Pass I coiild learn very little, but it is said that canoes can be taken up the stream on the west side of the mountains, from the Parsnip River to the Summit Lake w'ith ^''ery few portages, and that the Pino River flows out of the lake northeasterly to the Peace River. If this is the case the Pass cannot be very high. As you have sent an exploring party specially to examine the Peace River,! need say little about it here ; but from what I have heard of it, and from the fact of the river running directly through the Rocky Moun- tain chain, and consequent lowness of the Pass, the same kind of difficul- ties, thongh perhaps modified, would be found as in the Fraser River in its passages through the Cascade chain. All these northern passes are objecitionable for the railway route, not "Illy on account of the greater length of the line, but more especially that ii greater proportion of it w^ould f)e within the region of deep snow that I'Xtends along the southwestern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and a con- siderable distance on the central i)lateaix adjoining. It is very doubtful if any pass will be found so favorable in this respect as the'Vellowhead, Yours most truly, MARCUS SMITH. ii>mf- 218 APPENDIX L. Exlrarls Jroin lieporl hij Lieutenant H. SpliNOKlt I'alukj:, Uoijul l':iif^, on the North Bent i nek Arm and the Route thence through the Casratk Chain of Mountains to the interior of British Columbia. Tilt" voyanHi Iroiii Victoria to North IJiMitiiick Arm. in Iciiu'lh .lUom 44(1 uiik's, ailords thoso who pcrloria it uii opportunity of witn.'.sMuu' ^nmr of till' most intricate, and perhaps th(! most woiKlcrlul inland navi'jaiidii ill the worM. The steamer coarse winds throUL,fh an arcliipelaLio ol sur- ])asf-ing beauty— ish>iids oi almost every size and shape, presenliii:^- an ever-rei'urrinL>" succession of inouiitaiu and valley, headL.nd and l)a\, and eml)racinii,- all the beauties of alternate prairie and woodland seeni-ry North ot .lervis inlet the mountains which cluster round it aiid iii. other inlets to the south of it, and which, Irom their detaiii()U, have been spoken of as a dislinet coast rau've, become ))lended liv cfnitiii- uous cliains with the superior crest of the Cascade Mountains whiili, Irom this point northward, may be said to run in a ireneral northwesterly diivc- tion, parallel, or nearly so, to the coast, and distant Irom it about .V) mil.'.-. This chain, which appears to increase in altitude w^ith the iiiciia-.' oi latitude, is here and there partially pierced by the numerous dccp-wah i arms of tim sea whieh form the principal characteristic leatureof the w tiolr western coast-line of British North America, and, exteiidinu' inland hi distanc(\s of from '20 to 100 miles, have received severally (lie nanii > I'l Arms, Inlets, Sounds and Canals. By the few who, for tradin^■ and other i)urposes, have penetrated tlu'sr arms of the sea stranje stories are told of the grand and g-looniy charauti'i- of the neighbouring scenery. Glaciers, rarely met with elsewhere in tin' country, are here of iViMiuent occurrence, and, near Knight's Canal, w.' hear oi' a river which Hows lor lo miles through a magniliceiit iilacii'i' tunnel 100 feet in heii>ht and from 100 to 150 yards in ))readth. In the Seymour Narrows, through which the steamer track pas.'a>, which, especially when auyravated by high winds, cause datiucr ol' im small moment to liy-ht cralt. Tides are said to Im' of excessive stveiejili throughout nearly the whole of this inland navin-niion. the inds >u;illy extremely variable and anchorages unirequent, and J.^'iice it is rcaM>iiah!>' to inler that the passage to the north by the Gult of Georgia, ah hough 219 pcculiiirly fiivoraV)lo to steam iiavii^ation, should lienor he attoinpltnl by iiiiv laiu't! vi'.s.sels vvithoul the assislaiico ol' sslL-ain jxiu'er. Tassing the north end ol' Vancouver L-land, the course crosses Queen rharlolte Sound and runs to the east ol' Calvert Island. Tin; Sound thus (■roH.vd, about ;^0 niih's broad, is open to the North Parilic, and subject tlu'rel'ore to heavy ocean swells, whoso magnitude and consequent danijer an' heighteiud by the meetini'' ol' the ebi> tits the bold, blull Iront ol the mainland. North Bentinck Arm, a mere water-lilled indentation in the mountains, soni«' -i) miles in length ami from 1^ to 2^ miles in breadth, may be taken as a lair type oi' the other inlets o)i the coast. Piles ol' mountains broken up towards tht; seaboard in singularly tumbled though rounded masses, but increasing in altitude and compactness as they approach the centre ol' the Cascade range, snowy peaks, pine-clad slopes, rugged dills and preci- pices, naked, shapeless masses of trappean and granite rocks projecting upwards to vast height.s, gloomy valh'ys and picturestjue waterl'alls ; these in constant siiccession, lorm an aggregate of sublime and wild, though strangely desolate and unattractive scenery. Like North l^entinck Arm, we are told, in these general characteristics, though perhaps even more wild and bleak as the latitude increases, are the other inlets on the northwest coast. In all the mariner meets with water of vast depth and rarely encounters obstacles to navi^'ation in the shape of rocks or sho'ils, though all are alike siiljject to violent winds and powerlul tides, and therelore unfavorable to navigation by sailing vessels of lar< arm, and discharges itself into its northeastern corner. On the 2nd of July, l«ri2, at 1 p.m., the thermometer in the shade standing- at oii ^ Fahrenheit, th(( temperature of the Nookliaik liiver was aseei taiiied t(, be 4!t-'T I'ahrenheit, and the same result was obtained with regard to tlie water of the head of the arm, which, owing to the volume of the \ookljalk, is fresh for some distance outwards. Th(! valley of the Nookhalk for 40 miles irom its luoutii is undoul)tedly of estuary formation, low and, lu many [)iaces, swampy throu.ghout, and to the same process by which, for ages past, the Liud hn^ been gradually forcing back the waters of the ocean, viz. : the deposit of the vast quanti- ties ofalluvium and drift which have been brought down l)y the Nookhalk, is to be attribtited the existenct^ ol the laru-e, lUit mud-shoal which extends across the head of the arm. This shoal, composed of black, fetid mud, supports a rank vegetation of long swamp grass for about half its 220 ' I distance outwards ; it is baro at low wati»r spring tidos for about Tnu van.s from high water mark, and covered at high tide with I'roia i to ,s Iim-i ol' water, and at a distance of 800 yards from shove terminates abruplly in a steep, shelving bank on which soundings rapidly increase lo 40 and soou to 70 fathoms. On this shelving" bank, where it approaches the south shore ol the arm, exists the only available and partially sheltered auchoraae in the neighbourhood, and, as instancing the extreme narrowness of the belt of water in which it is practicable to anchor, J may mt'Utiou liiat, when here, 1 was assured by Captain 8wanson of he steamer Labouch.'Vt', then lying in 16 fathoms water, that nothing but the oxitward How from ihy Nookhalk river prevenied his vessel Irom swinging to the wt^sterly winds which were blowing at the time, in which case, had she n luainod at anchor, she must inevitably have tailed on the shoal. Another small anchorage is said to exist at the mouth of the Nurauaiais river, about 3 miles down the north shore of the arm, but, as this point is too far removed to be of any importance with reference to the future establishment of a route, I did not lose time in examining it. From the present anchorage upwards, steep rocky cliffs run at a high angle into the water of the arm, and, further west, into the low, swampy land, intersected by small s.'euii'hs from the Nookhalk river and from the sea, which extends for some distance within actual high water mark. To build wharves and perhaps a few sheds on the rocky shores of the anchor- age, and thence a road along the mountain sides to the spot indicated in the accompanying plan as suitable for a town site is the only method ] can arrive at by which to meet the reqiiirements of any fixture trallic liiai may occur on this route. The site I have selected is, in fact, the only available ground in the neighbourhood, a sloping tract of land of a))0tu 1200 acres in extent, covered with a prol'use wild vegetation of clover, vetches or pea-vine, grass, and berry- bushes of A-arious descriptions, lini- beied in places and generally dry, but breaking up towards the river and the head of the arm in low swamps aiud ponds, and damp, gra.s.sy hiiloeks and ridges. On the north side of the river mt.ch of the land is heavily timheied within the line of high water mark with cedar, cottonwood and some si)ecies of fir, but is so singularly dotted with low marshes and damp, steaming ground which encourages a dense growth of the /uuiax harru/a a» to be unadapted to white settlement, though the natives, who dw.'ll in confined areas and derive many of their necessaries from the j roducts ol swamp lands, would probably value it highly, and, retaining this, be s of the may mcutioii iluit, X'amor Labou(.'lit'vo, Avard How from ilu.' 5 to the westerly , had she nanaiued th of the Noranamis but, as this point is ence to the iuiure ng it. cliffs run at a high ;o the low. swuiujjy river and fioui the h water mark. To hores of the anchor- le .spot indicaU'il in s the only method I y future traliic that s, in fact, the only act of land of about eg'otation of clover, IS descriptions, liiii- vards the river and mp, grassy- hillooks IS heavily timben'd ;onwood aiul some narshes and damp, ;he /tena.c horrida as ves, who dwell in om the I roducts ol aiuing this, be cjii- ih side oi liie river f the Nookhalk ar^ med Ko-om-ko-otz, her up on the south by Anuokeeisum, I, about 12UU souls. )se met with in ih^' eir purely savage ley consist of rude ilabs of cedar, and some of the lodges, more especially those of the chiefs and medicine-men, aro caudily painted with straiiffe devices, prominent among which is the red hand, the Indian symbol ol power. The natives themselves arc physi- callvn line race, tall, robust and active. They, as is u.sual with the Indian tribi's west of the Cascade moiintains, subsist chiefly r.pon salmon and berries, eaten fresh in siimmer and dry in winter, an which form prominent traits of their character. Sir Alex- ander Mackenzie christened Ko-om-ko-otz " Rascals' Village," and I willingly contribute my testimony to the justice of the title. To their immoral habits of life, and partly also to wars with the Hydahs, the bloodhounds ol the northwest coast, may be attributed the gradually proirressiiig extinction of the race, clear evidence of which is afforded by the siaht, at different points further up the river, of the ruins of deserted lodsvs, once the habitations oflard ; sirk rlijl dren wiM'e lied to trees, and naked, ' of LieutiMiant Colonel Foster, M. P. P., >'appers I-ldwanN and Hreakenridiie ol' thi- TJoyal Kniiineers. a paidcer and myself, withcinht horses. It would hi' tedious to deseribe al length the various ohstarlos that opposed our progress, and the sundry shifts to which we wen' jmi m l)rosecutinii" our dillieult journey. In this report I propose simply tn divulc the country travelled over, into sections in which the leadins; iiatur.il features are sullicientlv uniform to sdmit (^f one 2f(Mieral descriptioji lor eaeli. and I'ommeuce, accordine'ly, by speakini^' ol' the kihst si'.criov some 48 miles in leuiith, exlendinii' from North ilentinck Arm to Shtooiht, the head of canoe naviiiwtioii on the Nookhalk. The Nookhalk River, with its raj^ids and rocks, its uumherless i.slaii(l>, bars and snuiiK, whitish back are usually low and Hat, and liable in many ])laces to inundation, support a thick arowtli of cotton-wood (a species of poplar), willow and other trees peculiar to damp soils, and an underbrush of the densest nature, consistini;' of eranhi'iTv, dogwood, crab-apple and many other similar bushes. Th(> river, as is usual with streams Uowing through alluvial soils, is exces.sively lortuou.s, alternating with u'reat regularity from side to side of the valley, hut very rarely approaching the mountains so clostdy as to render the task of roiul- making a dilficult one. It is almost superfluous to add that the si ream i.s impassible for steamers, but canoe iiaA'igation as far as Shtooiht is, I Itelievi', practicable at most seasons. Countless tributaries, of (>very size from tiny cascades to impetuous mountain torrents, IVmhI the Nookhalk on its passao't' thrnuii'h the hills. Prominent among the latter are the Skomahl, thi' Snootehlee. the .Noe- satsum and the Tcheetsmeeltanie Irom the south, the 'I'salloonii, tlir Tsatleanoot/ and the Kahylkst from the north all stri'ams of snnn' siz«' which dra'U large lonuitudinal valleys of the mountain system. The Nookhalk Valley, w^hich averaires from one-half to one ami a-half miles in width, openiiui- out considerablv at the conlluences of the ]irinri- pal tributaries, is wailed in by giant mountains of from two tlionsainl le six thousand feet in height, presenting the usual variety ol' scenery nn'i with in mountain travels in this country. Some of the slopes, partieularly those between SooiK or covering ot any kind, and rise very abruptly from the valley, iiiav-i \'t' luibroken walls of s8 and their superior altitude. The hitter, crowned by a cluster of jagged, pict\iresque j)eaks, is the sn])iect id' tradition among the Bella Coola Indians, lor they believe its summit to have been the abode of an ancient chief oi their tribe and his s(|uaw, who climbed there at the time of the Deluge and were saved to perpetuate their race. Other magnihcent mountains and clusters of mountains are met with on the journey, embracinn' most of the elements ot grandeur that can be imauined in scenery of this description, and the numberless waterfalls which are seen in many parts, though more particularly towards the upper end of the valley, and which, on the melting of the snow, precipitate them- si'lves inconsiderable volume down the crannies and crevices of the moun- tain sides, are worthy of notice, as adding much to the sublimity of the scenery. The valley abounds with the natural features usually met with at low altitudes in this country; tracts of heavy fori'st, and dense underltrush, such as we see in the valley of the Lower Fraser. succeeded here and there by 1,'roves ot alder, willow and swamp woods; occasional open patches of low bt'rryl)ushes, forests ot smaller timber with a comparative absence of l)rush- wood, large alluvial flats, abrupt mountain sides, poor gravelly soil, patches ofswainp land, innumeral)le brooks and .s7(,'//g//.s-, and larjiv quantities of fallen and, occasionally, burnt timber; these are the prominent characteristics of the Nookhalk valley, and will at once be recognized as incidental to the valleys of most of the mountain streams on the coast. An Indian trail of the rudest descrii)tion winds uj) the valley, usually following the river in all its sinuosities, and also offering great impedi- ments to travel. It is found to be impracticable to pa(dc the horses over this section on account of thi^ extreme narrowness and frequently miry nature of the trail, the fallen timber, the absence of bridires, iVc; and the bau'iiage was transported as lar as ,Shtooiht in a canoe. At three deserted Indian village-sites we ibund sulficient grass growing to all'ord temporary subsistence lor the animals. These deserted sites are named Nookeetz, Asaii- anny and Nooskultst, distant respectively ten, sixteen and tW(Mitv-two miles from Ko-omd\0-otz, and, at the latter, the trail crosses from the left to the right bank of the river at a spot apparently as well suited for that purpose as any that could be found. Another large village, at present in- hahited, exists at Xootkleia, thirty-lour miles from Ko-om-ko-otz, at the conllueiice of the Kahyklst and the Nookhalk. and here also w^e found fair lefd lor a day or two for our small band of ho es. Although the present trail passes ihrouiih a great deal of swampy land, there is nothing to prevent a good bridle-path or waggon-road being car- 2?4 riorl tho whole wiiy to Slitooilit. euro biMiii? taken to hiiir the iiiuniitiiiii sidt'H \vh('rt' it is iiectv's.snry to avoid low, M)rt i>Toniu1, a mcasuri' wliioh would also shorten the distance umferially. 11" a road ol any kind l)i' imulc, ■r(iNsiii'.r I'oiiurliinn Odlllt 1)11 I think it <^aiinot do hetter than lollow tiie loll hank to the Indian at Nooskultst. liius avoidinsj- i w o hlutl's on the riajht hunk at S and Asananny respectively, then cross and continue a. lar as Sht the ritrht l)ank. Haj.pily in this valley there is a comparative .ih,« Mice ol' rockv l)hiil< runnina' sheer uito the river, wiiich necessitate the tasK ol blasting, lor the stream randv approaches the actual ha.ses of the montains, an( «'iiiion,«i or ■■ jinsses iiowlicve .)cc\xr. There is an unavoidahle slide of IVan-nientary rock, hail' ii niiU' in lennMh, at 27 miles Ironi K. point upwards receives tile Indian name Talcliak(\ runs in a soulli-'«;ontli- •Msleriy direction, its conriio btMiiff traceable lor about ten miles, and ht* Atnavko takes a ^'cuenil east-northeasterly direcfion as tar as Cokclin or the Cxreat Slidt>, lourt-'cn miles distant, at which point will termitiiili' lli'- SKCOND sKCTlox oi' the jouruey. Althouph the Atnarko valiey is similar in many row' in great i)rol'usion, the trail leaves the Atiiarko rnnniii'i' about southeatit and strikes to the north \\ai > har- aoter of the vegetation and the scenery. The trail now tuiierges f»n an t'lt'vated. rolling district, where the mountain.^, with whose summits we all' nearly on a level, seem of inconsiderable height and lose much of their lug'oed appearance. Small, stunted lirs take the i)lace of the large pines and cedars of the valleys, the trail, though hei\' and there rocky, improves, the soil becomes sandy and liudit but lirm, britsh less plentiful, and grass, though of poor quality, ai)i)ears in patches. Down by a gradual descent ofoUi) feet to the brook Hotharko, a tributary of the Atnarko, and up its valley 7 miles in an east-north-easterly direction to its forks, meeting with uoserioits obstructions but fallen timber and occasional small rocky slules. The space between the lorks of the Hotharko, which run in south-easterly and west-northwesterly directions, is occupied i)y a peculiar motintain mass ufhasaltie rock, lo5U feet in height, which has receivetl the name " Tiie I'l'ecipice." The ascent of this mountain is excessively steep, the trail at lirst running up the backbone of a singular spur, further up winding amoiiii' crtitnbling fragments of rock, and, liually, reaching by a di/zy path Ae summit of the perpendicular wall of rock, lUO feet high, which crowns the mass, and from which it derives Us name. The clifl is composed of blocks of columnar basalt in the shape of mul- iaiii,ndar prisms averauing, in their perfect state, about two cubic feet in "ize, usually stained of a dull red colour and somewhat vescictilar. The blocks are fitted together as perfectly as if by human agency, and the layers are horizontal ; thus, ou the summit, which is perfectly level, patches 226 nn^ met with in which, the scant soil hiivma" hoiMi wiishccl away, the joint. iim-dl thcM' siii'zular stuucs, ulinosl icsiMiiMiuLi- Mo^-iii^' p-ivciin'iit, isciiMrlv viwiMi' , and, townrd.s tin' cd-j^cs oi'thi' clilf, IiirLff portions oi' tlu' lock li i\v crumbled iiw;iy, I.Mvint? N'amlini!: i" muny places abrupl, colntnniir ni.is^.s ol' a.s muL'li as lii'ty I'd in hci'^lit, uiiicli, viewed l'r(nii a siiort, disinnci. almost assume the a|)peiirani;e ol massive artiiioial aiul liattlemenlfd siruf. turoN. ###•*## # *# The KOUIITII descriptive section eiuhraces sixty miles of the route, vi/; from the I'recipiei' to the vSummit Lake. Arriviipj- at the top of the Preri- pice, ;{^4() feet cu)ove the h'vel of the .-'a, the traveller euters on the Icv.l of the ^TiMl tdevaled platiMU which inti'rveues l)elweeii tlie (\isLiiilr Mouiilaias and the Kraser. Lookini; eastward the plateau presents hui few objects to attract attention, and the eye throws weary in w.mderin',' over u vast expanse ol' wavinu' forest, unbroken savti by the lakes iiiid marshes which arc invisible from the I'-eneral level. To the west the tow- urnif.;' peaks of the Cascade rani;*^ come clearly into view ; its limil>, ulii.h we have now reached, Ix'iui^' indicated by isolated clustm-s of hills to iIk- south of us, here and there ^oariuuf up into yreut, massive, lonely pi',ik>, but preserving no distinct arraniiement. A!.^ain with the increased altitude is noticed a characteristic; c1i,uil!i' mi th«' veyt'tation, and the verdtire of the plateau stsems to i^row thimn'r ami inferior as we travel eastward. Shallow, meayro soil, colisislin^• chiflly ol decomposed uranitic and trappean rocks, su[)ports a dei.se forest growlli oi' stunted firs, rtirely excet'dini;- lifteeii inches in diameter, nnd an iiili-rior grass, which becomes poorer and poorer after passiiiL; Snildh liake ; kinni-kinnik or uru /ir^i, tlie native tobacco, is almost tiniversiil ; her«! and tlu're wild strawberry plants and, occasioiuiUy, a scant under- brush of wild roses appear, and a thin growth of cotton-wood friimcs the banks of the running streams. The altitude of th(> trail to the east varies slightly with the uiidula tions of the country, and the summit ridge, near which w.itev llo\v> respectively to the sea and to the Fraser, is crossed at a distance of about lifty-live miles Irom thr^ Precipice, and a height oi 4360 feet above the >ca The extreme elevations of the rolling plateau are vtuy inconsiderabK'. seldom more than 800 feet above the general h^vol # # # Our Journey lay along a narrow Indian trail of varied characlci. sometimes passing over smooth, level tracts, excellent for travel, soiuetimo traversing rocky districts and boulder beds, winding a great deal lo avoid as far as possible the swamps, and crossing them, when obliged to do ■so, almost invariably at the narrowest part. In the woods a great deal ol fallen timber was met with, and our path f.-equently lay for miles ihroimh dreary tracts ol naked trunks, scorched and t)lackene(l by the pa>saL!i' of the forest iircs, which arc frequently started t)y lightiungo. the neyiii^viiuc of the natives, and sweep over immense areas. -^ * * * The belt of country lying between the Summit I>ake and the C'hilcotiii river, and forming the KiFTli skotion of our journey, pres^ I's moni attractive features than any other pertion of the route. Ranges of roilins: hill.-: Oi as much as 1000 feet in height unclose broad, open valley*, ivaicivd by gentle streams, and embellished with chains of picturesque lakes. m Nhi'd iiwiiy, thi'joiiii. p.iVi'mi'ut, iMl,.;,rU- ioMs ol' the loci; im-;, ipl, (!oluiimar iii.iss.-.s (Hii a Nliort, (listiiiic,., i bilttlt'llU'llli'd siTHv. * * # ilt's of (he rout,., vi/; till' top of til.. I'rc.'i. r t'iitt'r8 on tlic lcv>'l UVOt'll ih.' Ciisciulr platl'lUl pl•('N(•llt^ hill woary in w.unl.'riiiM- '0 by tho lakes iin.l r<) thd west the tow- !W ; iU liiiiii>, wliirh ustcivs ol' hills to th«' assivo, loin>ly pcik,., racteristic I'li.iiiiii' m to grow tliiiiiiiT mid coii.si.stiiiLC 'diii'lly ol 'hsc forest yrowtii ol' t'ti'V, and an iulcrior r passing .Smlcih IS almost uaivt'i'Mil ; ally, a scant iiiKlcr- oa-vvoo(l IViiiuvs the ;ly with ihf undula- which w.ilfv ||ii\v> a dislani'o ol ahuiu I'eet above lln' >ea i'i'.vy iiifonsiderable. )t' varied oharacler, "or travel, soinetimo great deal Id avoid en obliged to do so, ods a jrri'ut deal of ly lor miles ihroiiuh il by the pa>saLiv of tig o. the neuili>v)it;i' ke and the C'hileotin ley, prest ■i''^ nioru Jiaiiges ol' roiliiiir pea vallej"4, ivaierod picturesque lakes. Although coiiHiderabh' tracts of douse forosts are met with on the heights iiinl on the mountain Mlopes, this gives way in the hjwhmds to an open- titnlxTed, grassy country, such as is met with in the Similkaiaeeii and other w.'ll-known districts of British Coluinbia, and the valleys also embrace niiiaerous comparatively level, open prairies of various extent, which ailbrd bunch-grass pasturage in lair abundance and will pr«>I)ablv be found to be eonvenieiit wintering posts for some of the animals of the upper country. Hnt the soil caniuit be said to possess properties favorable to iisrrictdture ; it is cranked and sandy and ex('essively dry, and the buindi- L'niHs, nowhere growing thickly, is mixed with large quantities ol' rtr^ewisiVi peculiar to poor, unprodu<'tive hinds. At I'unt/ee, sigail'ying in Carrier language "Small Lake," thirty-nine- raili'S trom the Summit Lake, my Indians left me, and I was detained six days in ellbrts to procure other means of transport for the remainder of the journey. From an elevated point in its neighbourhood a lint* view was obtiuned of the surrounding country. Looking back to the west the cloudy outlines of the Cascade range, distant Irom 00 to 100 miles, and bounding half the circle of the horizon, prestditedaii almost unbroken front, a solitary irap in the southeast disclosing the probable entrance to the valley ot the lloinaltho river flowing ^o Bute Inlet. In the northeast and east the view- was limited by the high mountainous districts of the Quesnel and Svvilt rivers, and the terraced ranges bordering the valley of the Fraser, the in- trtrveiiing districts on all sides being occupied by a great, waving forest plateau, embracing high, dry ridges, swamps, lakes, valleys and prairies, such as have formed the subjects of foregoing descriptions. As regards routes from the coast, the impression conveyed by this irliinpse at a very large tract of country is that, on emerging from the Cascade ra:?gtf, the principal dilhculties of travel are passed, and that, thence, there is no impracticability in making a road across the plateau to strike the Fraser valley at almost any point south of the fifty-third parallel. The determination of the best line through so extensive a district would neces- sarily l>e a labour involving weeks or even months of exploration, the main object of course being to avoid as far as possible the lakes and swamps, and, irui(led by the relative geographical positions of the termini, to lay out as straight a road as the natural features of the country admit of. At Puntzee the Indian trail from Bute Inlet, said by the natives to be distant five good days' travel (probably 125 miles) joins that from North Bentiiick Arm. * * * iff j/^ j(^ j^ Leaving the Chilcotin and mounting a steep, grassy hill, about 800 I'eet hiffh, which forms the ea.stera slope of the valley, we a<>'aia attained the general level ot the plateau and entered on the sixth and last section of the journey, extending to Fort Alexander, a distance ol about eighty-seven miles. To describe this i i detail would be merely to recapitulate what has been said of the fourth section. *##:)(::)(: It was a relief to emerge from this bleak succession of forest and swamp and, twenty miles from Alexander, to welcome once more the siylit of a brawling stream, the ^Sananorringlee, skirted by forests of large timber and terraced hills of bunch grass. Twelve miles down it« valley 25 ' r '' •>2H noticim>' at each staj^e of oiiv projyress indications of a gradually dccroasiiiir altitude, alter which a walk of eij^ht miles over the basaltic ranue lundor ing the valley of the Fraser led us to Fort Alexander. W > reached the Fori on the evening" of the 13th of Au between the Precipice and AlexancUn-, the valleys of the Pootzeako and the Chilcotin, and the final descent to the Fraser being the oidy point- where hills worth mention occur. As will be gleaned from previous descriptions, swamps are very general, so much so that, after leaviim- tlu> summit of the Precipice, we never encamped with dry feet. Probably ui all, the actual extent of swamps traversed, in pieces of from -r. jr. !th of AusruNt with on.' ied 17J days, hut six ol' leaving 11^ days as the ', or of tho tabh' at the to Alexander to be '2U ! applies simply to the to air-lines or possible ily of minor details but v^ould be desirable and lished, and it is reason. } Alexander would not * * # th of th;; year at Alex- averages 70 - Fahien- swarm in the valley. Iver freezes frequv^utly. iually appearint;' at the >nths, but the duration ir wet jeason, thouyh tid October the driest il far into the sunuuer, * * .teau, I must Ji(>tice, as ntire absence of hills of the Pootzeako and being the oidy point- Baned from previous that, after leaviiii,^ tlie ry feet. Probably in as of from -t^ to 4nii nisure this imnuini!\. •ovv'est crossing points reliable data, thouuh I from the tilide east- reaches to more than the greater part of ii vember to May inclu- compare favourably iing east of lln^ I'la- itry favours the early obtain in flic (l'ii>e length the merits ol elative advantages as ports for foreign commerce aflforded by it and by Victoria or New West- minster respectively; and the latter question has, iu all prol)a])ilitv ivcoivcd ere this the attention of officers of Her Majesty's NTavv Apart from these considerations, as well as from the questiojis of climate and road-making, my own impression is that, viewed simply with reference to land travel the Bentinck Arm route is, from its high continuous elevation and Iroiii the general absence of o-ood soil and pasturage in the districts •••hich It traverses, unlikidy, for the present at least, to acquire importance as an arterial hiijfhway to the established gold mines of this country. Bute Inlet a|)pears to possess far grea,t(>r advantay-«s of geo<>-raphical pusuioii, aiul we learn from the Admiralty survev that there is a"i)i.ssal)le anchorage at its head. # ' ^ ^ Thp in.ilii l.r.ancl. o( tl.o tllver Namnloe, whifih empties itself Into the |.'nw«ral).,ut twenty miles „h..ve Fort Ale.xunder. 280 TABLE Shewing the approximate altitudes above the Sea of some points on the north Bentinck Arm Route. STATION. Nookeetz (ruined village,) Asannany do., Nooskultst do., Nootklela (Inhabited village,) »btoolht(Hprlngs,) Atnarko river at Tapanito-.vcx)!, do. atCok(Ili) (Kootoffreat Slide,). Summit of the Great .Slide Summit o( the mountain above the slide Hotbnrko brook at, the foot of the Precipice . , Summit of the rreclplce NImpob Lake Towteestsan Summit altitude of the trail ou the niateau., Summit Lake Lake Chautslai' Lake Chant-hopeen Fort Alexander Al'I'UOXIMATi: HKroiir i.v FEKr AUOVKTHE .SK.V I.KVEL. 107 227 :;i(i S!j2 AU mo '>-m im> im asiu m\ Ava ■im ■w:n a^2l) 3-'80 H'O NoTK,— An iiccidi.'nt to tlir> iMtrDmotpr prevented any obsurvatloas for allltudo beliiif tiikcii bttwocii Lake Chan'.-hopeen and B'ort -Vlexander. H. S. P. I... 281 APPENDIX M. me points on the north Extracts from the Journal of a voyai^e through the Northwest Continent of America by Sir Alexander Mackenzie ; Descriptive of the Country on the route taken by that traveller from the Central Plateau of British Colum- bia through the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Coast. Jnly 11///, 1793. — I passed a most TincomforJable nii^ht, the first part of it I was tormented with flies, and in the latter ueluged with rain. In the morning the weather cleared, and as soon as our clothes were dried we proceeded through a morass. This part of the country had been laid waste by fire, and the fallen trees added to tha pain and per- plexity of our way. An high, rocky ridge, stretched along our left. Though thp rain returned, we continued onr progress till noon, when our guides took to some trees for shelter. We then spread our oilcloth, and with some difliculty made a fire. About two the rain ceased, when we continued our journey through the same kind of country, which we had hitherto passed. At half-past three we came in sight of a lake ; the land, at the same time, gradually rising to a range of mountains whose tops were covered with snow. We soon after observed two fresh tracks, which seemed to surprise our guides, but they supposed them to have been made by the inhabitants of the country who were come into this part of it to fish. At five in the after- noon we were so wet and cold (for it had at intervals continued to rain) that we were compelled to stop for the night. We passed seven rivulets and a creek in this day's journey. As I had hitherto regulated our course by the sun, I could not form an accurate judcrment of this route, as we had not been favoured with a sight of it during the day ; but I imagine it to have been nearly in the same direction as that of yesterday. Our distance could not have been less than fifteen miles. * * '■■'■ VllhJuly. '■'■• '■'■' At seven o'clock, however, we were so fatigued, that we encamped without them; the mountains covered with snow now ap- peared to be directly before us. As we were collecting wood for our fire, we discovered a cross road, where it appeared that people had passed within seven or eight days. In short, our situation was such as to afford a just cause of alarm, and that of the people with me was oi a nature to defy im- mediate alleviation. =■= '-■■'• * ='= The weather had been cloudy until three in the afternoon, when the sun appeared, but surrounded, as we were, with snow clad moiintains, the air became so cold, that the A'iolence of our exercise was not sufficient to produce a comfortable degree of warmth. Our course to-day was from west to south, and at least thirt y-six miles. The land in general was very bar- ren and stony, and lay in ridges, with cypress trees scattered over them. 282 • t We passed seA'-oral swamps, where we saw nothing to console us, but a iew tracks of deer. ,Mf) \Wi. — The weath(^r this luornincr was clear but cold, and our scanty coverinir was not sniliciont to protect us from th'> severity ot the niffht. About five, after we had warmed ourselves at a larjye fire, we pro- re(»ded on our dubious journey. In about an hoiir we came to the cdfri' of n wood, where we percei^'ed an house, situated on a crreen spot, and liv the side of a small river. Th<^ smoke that issued from it informed us that it was inhabited. I immediatelv pushed forward towards this mansion, whilf my people were in such a state of alarm, that they followed me with the utmost reluctance. On lookini^- back I perceiA'ed that we were in an Indian lile of fifty yards in leuffth. '•= She added also, that from the mountains before us, which were coverpd with snow, the sea was visible ; and accompanied her information with a present of a couple of dried fish. "We now expressed our desire that tho man might be indiiced to retiarn, and conduct us in the road to the sea. ■ \Mh Jvly. — Our ffuide informed me that there is a short cut across tho mountains, but as there was no trace of a road, and it would shorton our journey but one day, he should prefer the beaten way. "We accordinifly proceeded alons? a lake, west five miles. We then crossed a small rivi'r and passed through a swamp, about southwest, when we besan crradually to ascend for some time, till we gained the summit of an hill, where wo had an extensive view to the southeast, from which direction a con.sidov- able river appeared to flow, at the distance of about three miles : it was xo- presenteu. to me as beinsr navijjable for canoes. The descent of th<' hill was more steep than its ascent, and was succeeded by another, who.sc t'^p, thousi'h not so elevated as the last, afforded a view of the ranee of moun- tains, covered with snow, which, according to the intelligence of our unido. terminates in thci ocean. We now left a small lake on our left, then crosf-ed a creek running out of it, and at one in the afternoon came to an house. n[ the same construction and dimensions as have already been mentioned, but the materials were much better prepared and finished. The timber was squared on two sides, and the bark taken off the two others; the ridge pole was also shaped in the same manner, extending about eight or ten feet beyond the gable end, and supporting a shed over the door ; the end ot it was carved into the similitude of a snake's head. Several hieroglyphics and figiares ( . similar workmanship, and painted with red earth, decorated the interior >\' ,ie biiildinc'. * ■'' ''' We CO cinued our journey along the lake before the house, and cross- ing a riv' r lat flowed out of it. came to a kind of bank or weir formed by the natives, for the purpose of placing their fishing machines. irian\ el which, of dificrent sizes, were lyinii: on the side of the river. Our iruide placed one of them, with the certain expectation that, on his ret\un, he should find plenty of fish in it. We proceeded nine miles further on a irood road west south-west, when we came to a small lake : we then class- ed a river that ran out of it, and our guides were in continual expectation of meeting with some of the natives. To this place our course was a uule and a hall' in the ^ame direction i\s the last. At nine at night we ciossed a river on rafts, our last distance being about four miles southeast (^n a 233 to console US, })ut wiiuling road through a swampy country, and along a succession of small laki's. W hemlock ircoM ludod iiidocd at that ! wore also tho largvst We were now acn- 'ies were quiti^ ripe. :o follow them as well oiug- I'ar stray I'or wc barrier as nature no ^ecaution to mark the passed. This small eight and streii;:th of we saw a lartre (juaii- ite level of the river, protruding rocks in- low dark, without rli'' ■)le to have seen tlicni, i/ds from the thick- olour of asses' milk, any places Ibrms the fall from mountains made cj/lication to o conduct us thither, ;mall baggage, in t\vo ream was rapid and weir, such as I havi' shot over it without board again and \v.' r, some with piM^pe' great rate for about we must land, as the d that the Caniuliaiis u ill th" world, l>ut jlves ackiu'wledged, Jul// IO//1.— At one in the afternoon we renewed our voyage in a large canoe with four of the natives. We found tho river almost one continued rapid, and in half an hour we came to an house where, however, we did not land, though invited by the inhabitants. In about an hour we arrived at two houses, where we were, in some degree, obliged to go on shore, as we wtiro infonned that the owner of them was a person of consideration. :fc :|4 * ;ft :(: We made our stay as short as possible, and our host embarked with us In a very short time we were carried by the rapidity of the current to another house of very large dimensions, which was partitioned into ditlerent apartments, and whose doors were on the side. * # The navigation of the river now became more difficult, from the mimerous channels into which it was divided, without any sensible dimi- nution ill velocity of its current. We soon reached another house of the conimon size, where we were well received. * The inhabitants of the last house accompanied us in a large canoe. They recommended us to leave ours here, as the next village was but a small distance from us, and the water more rapid than that which we had passed. They informed us also that we were approaching a cascade : I directed them to shoot it, and proceeded myself to the foot thereof, where I re-embarked, and we went on with great velocity till we came to a fall, where we left our canoe and carried our luggage along a road through a wood ibr some hundred yards, when we came to a village consisting of six very large houses, erected on pallisades, rising twenty-five feet from the <4rounil,w hich differed in no one circumstance from those already described. but the height ot their elevation. * * From these houses I could perceive the termination of the river, and its discharge into a narrow arm of the sea. As it was now half-past six in the evening, and the weather cloitdy, I determined to remain here for the night, and lor that purpose we possessed ourselves of one of the unoccupied houses. The remains of our last meal, which we brought with us, served for our supper, as we could not procure a single fish from the natives. The course of the river is about west, and the distance from the great village upwards of thirty-six miles. There we had lost our dog, a circum- stance of no small regret to me. * * Ju!i/ '201k. — At about eight we got out of the river, which discharges itself ))y various channels into an arm of th^ sea. The tide was out, and had left a large space covered with sea weed. The surrounding hills were involved in fog. The wind was at west, which was ahead of us, and vory strong ; the bay appearing to be from one to three miles in breadth. ;K * :i: * * At two in the afternoon the swell was so high, and the wind, which was against us, so boisterous, that w^e could not proceed with our leaky vessel, we therefore landed in a small cove on the right side of the b:iy. Opposite to us appeared another small bay, in the mouth of which is an island, and where, according to the information of the Indians, a river discharges itself that abounds in salmon. * * ■' When we landed, the tide was going out, and at a quarter past four it was ebb, the water having fallen in that short period eleven feet and a half 25i 986 Since we left the river, not a quarter of an hour had passed in wliich we did not see porpoises and sea«otters. Soon after ten it was high water, which rendered it necessary that onr haggage should he shifted 8overai times, though not till some of the things had heen wetted. We wtTc now reduced to the necessity of looking out for fresh water, with wliidi we were plentifully supplie*! by the hills that ran down from the niouutaius. * * * * :i: July 21s/. — As I could not ascertain the distance from the open soa, mid being uncertain wheth 't \"q were in a bay or among inlets and chimiiols of islands, I c ^ue'' y s^\rch to a proper place for taking an ohsorva- tion. We stee^ I tirjiefoie, along the land on the left, west northwest a faiile and a half, \h\tn ut^^hwest one-fourth of a mile, and north three miles to an island; the ^; • ;.. .tiuiiing to run north northwest, then alnni;- ihc island, south southwest hah ^nile, west a mile and a half, and from tlieiice directly across to the land on i he left (where I had an altitude) soniluvHst three miles. '■= From this position a channel, of which the island \w kit appeared to make a cheek, bears north by east. '■'•- * We coa.sted along the land § at about west southwest for six mile(» and met a canoe with two boys in it, who were despatched to summon the people on that part of the coast to join them. At some distance Irom the land a channel opened to us, at j^outliwest by west, and pointing that way he made me understand that Mack hah came there with his large canoe. When we were in mid-channel, 1 por- ceived some sheds, or the remains of old buildings, on the shore ; and as, from that circumstance, I thought it probable that some EuropeiUi.s niiffht have been there, I directed my steersman to make for that spot. The traverse is upwards of three miles northwest. We landed and found the ruins of a village, in a situation calculated for defence. The place itself was overgrown with weeds, and in Ihf outre of the houses there was a temple, of the same form and construction as that which I described at the lai-ge village. * * We had no sooner landed, than we took possession of a rock, where there was not space for more than twice our number, and which admitted of our defending ourselves with advantage, in case we should be attacked. ;!< :■; -Jfi ■ -^ ' + These men also told me that Macubah had been there, and Idt his ship behind a point of land in the channel, southwest from us, from \\ iuiice he had come to their village in boats, which these people represented by imitating our manner of rowing. * * ''' ^ 22nd Jul//, The voiing man was now vtMV anxious to persuade our people to depart, as the natives, he said, i\ I're as numerous as musquitoes, and of very malignant character. This infuniia- tion produced some very earnest remonstrances to me to hasten our departure ; but as I was determined not to leave this place, except 1 was absolutely compelled to it, till I had ascertained its situation, thest> solici- tations were not repeated. * * * u^'Jxl'.i •The ("npe or Point Menzles of Vancouver's. SNumed by VaucoUTW Khijfii Island. S87 paseed in which we it was high wator, I be shifted Koveral ted. We wtTc now iter, with wliit li we from the luunutaiub. ;j; 31X1 the open sea, and inlets and cliaunels ' taking an obsorva- "t, west northwest a nd north three miles vest, then alnno- ili,. alf, and from thence altitnde) soul li west h the ishind wc Iclt ,'est for six inilt'^i and hed to summon the L to us, at soutliwest band that MAcriiAii mid-channel, 1 i)or- n the shore ; and as, tnn Europeans inishl for that spot. Tht» , situation calculated ds, and in thr cfutre and construction as ion of a rock, where and which admitted should be attacked, * n there, and Icli his romus, iroin win-nee ople represent I'd l>y man was now very es, ho said, w ere as cter. This inlonna- me to hasten our place, except I was ituation, these solici- '■ u.t.loti'.i In relating our danger, his agitation waa so violent that he foamed at the mouth. Though I was not altogether free from apprehensions on the occasion, it was necessary for me to disguise li.v m, as ray people were panic-struck, and some of them asked if it was my determination to remain there to be sacrificed? My reply was the same as their former importuni- ties had received, that I would not stir till I had accomplished my object. * * * * :(! My altitude by an artificial horizon, gave 62« 21' 83" ; that by the uatural horizon was 62° 20' 48" north latitude.t I now mixed up some vermillion in melted grease, and inscribed in large characters, on the southeast fiice of the rock on which we had slept last night, this brief memorial, — "Alex.ander Mackenzie, from Canada, BY land, the twenty-second OF JULY, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDKEl) 4ND NINETY-THREE." * * * t Tills I louiiU to lit) the chefk of Vuucoiiver's Cascade Canal. ,t^ 338 APPENDIX N. Extracts from a Voj/age of Discovert/ to the North Pacific Ocean iti 171"L* an fr«"'sh water that thus descended gave a pale white hue to the Canal, ren- dering its contents entirely fresh at the head, and drinkable lor twenty miles below it. This dreary region was not. however, destitute of inhalii- tants, as a village was discovered a few miles from its upper rxtreniity. which seemed constructed lik- that described in Desolation-Sound tVir defence ; the inhabitants were civil and friendly. ''■ July 28//*. — We had not been long under weigh wefove we were joincil by the Chatham, and steered to the northward for the channel leading t^ Deep Sea Bluff, which I called Fife'.s P.\SSA( IE. As we crossed the main arm the squally hazy weather permitted our seeing, but very iiuperiectly, the seA'eral islands and rocks that it contains. About two o'(doek in ili • afternoon we entered Fife's Passage, and found its eastern poi"!^ luinied bv me, after Captain DufF of the Royal Navy, Point Dukfi, situate in latitude 50° 48', longitude 2;]3 ® 10'. A small rocky islet lies oif Point DufF covered with shrubs ; and olf the west point of this ]>assage, named PoI^T Gordon, bearing N. 83 "W. from Point Dull" are several wliiie llai barren rocks lying at a little distance from the shore. Although the tide appeared to be in o\ir favor, we made so little progress in this iiilei. that we were compelled to anchor at five in the afternoon not more than two miles within thi^ entrance in twenty fathoms water, on the northern shore, near some small rocky islets. The shores that now surrounded us were not very high, composed of rugged rocks, steep to the Sea, in the i liasnis and chinks of which a great number of stunted or dwarf pine trees wuie produced. * * :;; ^- :(; =^ 289 Orcan in 1702 tho )", where its width y diroctidii to its ir. To this, iil'ttM- liimo of Kn II hit's •veyod, are iornu'd licuUirly IVuiii thi' educed iiiaiiy cata- l)arren sides. Tht> i to the Canal, reii- ikabh' lor twenty lestitute id' inhabi- upper extremity. sohition-Sji'und f"r re we were joincii hauiiel h'atlni'j In crossed the main A'ery iiuperleellv, two o'chx'k in ihi' eni poii't ( named DUFK», situate ill islet lies olf Toinl i.s ]nissaii'e. named several wiiiie Hal Althongh the tide i in tliis inlet, Ihat t more than two 3 northern shore, rrounded us were 5ea. in the chasm? rf pine trees were Juti/ 81.sf. — From Deop Sea Bluff, the shore of tlie main, ik ross this gmftll opeiiins-, took a direction N. 50 VV. for about four miles; then extended N.N.li , about a league to a point, where the arm look a mort» easterly course, passiuff an island and several rocky islets, forming passaifes for bouts only ; whilst, to the westward of the island, the main channel was n mile in width, and no doubt was entertained of our finding a greater depth of water than we required for the vessel. # # # * We pursued the examination of this arm to its head in latitude 51 ® lon'.;itu(le 23:1 ®4tt'; when it terminated in a similar way to the many before described. Its shores, about a mile apart, were ccimposed of high, steep craggy mountains, whose summits were capped with snow; the lower clill's though apparently destitute oi soil, produced may pine trees, that seemed to draw all their nourishment out of the solid rock. The water, near lour leagues from its upper end, was of a very light chalky colour, luid nearly fresh. From its shores two small branches extended, one wind- iiii>- about four miles to the S. E. and S. W., the other about a league to the /Iw^'7/,s7 1.s^ — We kei)t the continental shore on board through a very intrier\t(^ narrow branch Ihat took a direction E by N lor near two leagues, and then terminated as usual, at the base of a remarkable mountain, con- spicuouslor its irregular form, and its elevation above the rest of the hills in its neighbourhood. This I have distinguished in my chart by the name of Mou.N'T iSTKPHENS, in honor of Sir Philip Stephens of the Admiralty. It is situated in latitude 51 ® 1', longitude 23-^ ® 20', and 'may serve as an excellent guide to the entrance of tha various channels with which this country abounds. * * * * * The narrow possageby which we had entered, is a channel admissable for boats only ; and thence to the foot of Mount Stephens, was merely a ihasni in the mountains, caused, probably, by some violent efforts of nature. This idea originated in its differing materially in one particular from all the canals we had hitherto examined ; namely, in its having regular sound- ings, not exceeding the depth of IH fathoms, although its shores, like all those of the bottomless canals, were formed by perpendicular cl ills, from their snowy summits to the water s edge. The stupendous mountains on each side of this narrow chasm, prevented a due circulation of air below, by excluding the rays of the sun ; whilst the exhalations from the surface fii'the water and the humid shores of the canal, wanting rarelication, were, in a i^reat measure, detained, like steam in a condensed state ; the evapor- ation thus produced a degree of cold and chillness which rend<;red oiir night's lodging very unpleasant. * '•' '* Au>j:usf i)tli. — By this expedition, the continental shore was traced to the western-most land in sight. We had now only to proceed along it, as soon as the wind and weather would permit our moving. This, however, M thick log and a calm prevented, until Sunday afternoon, when a light breeze between S. W. and West, enabled us, by sunset, to advance about two leagues to the westward of Point Boyles, which, by compass, bore from us S. 85 W. * * * * * * * Between this point and a cluster of islands, bearing west, a channel appeared to lead along the coast of the Main land, in which were some 240 ! Hinall iHlt'ts iijiil rocka ; Houth of tho cIubUt, the hnzo ami tnfr riM(l..rotl it inipossildc lo del*'! tiiiiio of what that repioii principally coiiHiNti'd, tlioui^h the iuiptTlt'ct \ it'w wo ohtiiiiu'd, i^iivn it tht» iippottrancc of ]).'iiiM i,,,,, |, hrokon. Ill this situation, wo had tlO and 70 fathoms, muddy liotldin. ]>\\t lus we had suiruiciit spaco to pass tho ni<;ht in under sail, I pr. the more ready to pursue the uhove iiirntiuu.d channel ill the mornin;^. * * # # ♦ ♦ Aitfj^usl »i///.--Th(' I OH' had nosooner disjjersed, than we ft)imd oium'Ivcs in the channel for wliicli I had intended to steer, interspersed with iiiiiiir. rouH rocky islets and rocks, extenl;ui(i.'s towards llie shore ol the continent. The rei^ion to the S. \V. still reiiiain,.,! ohscured hy the foii' and hazo ; at i'lt.'rvals, hovvever, somethini; el' it miLdit be discerned, serviny^ only to shew there was no assa<^e to navigate, than that immediately iMinrc us alonjjf the continental shore. # * # * Anii-iJsl Kli. — The rocks between our present anchorai^o and the < »( eaii havinu' the appearance of bein*^ almost impenetrable, Mr. Whidliey was dispatched lo dis(!over the mo.,t safe channel for lis to pursue The day-liirht just served him to execute his commi8,sion ; and on his reiurii ut niirht he informed me, that there were three passages : one nearly tliiouirh the center of the rocks ; another about midway between the coiiliiieiiial sliore and a very broken country to the southward of us ; and a tlnni l»e- tween the nearest cluster of rocks and the continent. This for a small dis- tance seemed to be clear, l)ut further to the northwestward a lal)yriiith ot rocks appeared lo stretch, from the continent towards the land, iormiii>f lik'' two islands. These rocks nearly joined to the north easternmost about 1' miles from us, l)earing by compass N. 60 W., the westc^mmost at about tlie ^aiaf distance, N. ti4 W. The nearest cluster of rocks, whose southern pmt w.is almost in a line with the easternmost island, not quite a leaeui' iVoin us, wc were to pass to the south of, between them and other rocks ami roi ky islets, to the westward and S. W., forming a channel about two miles wnle, in which no visible obstruction had been discovered by Mr. WliiiUtoy. These rocks and rocky islets pret-ented an appearance of i)ein<)' as ic irly connected with the southern broken shore, as those further norlh did with the continent, giving us little to expect but a very intricate and luiziirdou.-* navigation. :|; =(:*** ;t: ;|; Aug'usf ^Ih — AVe now appeared to have reached the part of the Coast that had been visited and named by several of the traders from Europe and India. The Experiment, commanded by Mr. S Wedgborough, in August, 17^'J. honored tht; inlet through which we had lately passed, with the name ol' "Queen Charlottk's Sound;" the opening on the continental .shon' was discovered, and called "Smith's Inlet" by Mr. James llaima. thf same year; the high distant mountain that appeared to be separai.' I liom the main land, formed part of a cluster named by Mr. Duncan "C.m.vi'Ut's Islands ; " and the channel between them and the main land, w as, hy Mr. Hanna, called " FiTZHuan's Sound." These being the names liivoii, as far as I could learn, by the first discoverers of this part of the coast, will be continued by me, and adopted in my charts and )^»nal * * Ml and foj^ ri'Mil.'rotl couHiNtt'd, Ihiiiiifh ICC of h.'iiin iiukIi ju»l(l) liottdiii, but 4ttil, I prol'irrfd mo ' tthovt' iiiriitiimid * ♦ ♦ kVc found <'Ui,s..l\,.,s iporsod witli ihiiih- tf clUNttT 111 i>|:iU(ls i. W. Niill n'luuiii.Ml [iDtliiiiijf (tl' ii iiiiLrht prohahilitv n| om nmuodiiitclv Ininrc racfc luid tin' ' •'..jm \o, Mr. Whi.llM.y lis to pursuf Thi' ud on his iciuru at one iit'ivrly ilnouirh (Ml tht^ continental .18 ; and a liiird he- Phis for a suiall di>- ward a hit)yrinlh oi' le hind, loniiiinf hl southern i>;iit was I a leau'ue IVinn us, icr rocks ainl loi-ky )Ut two miles wide, by Mr. Wlihlboy. of beinu' as nearly icr north did with ate and ha/.iinlous artofthot'oasi thiit Europe and Itiiliu. in Aui-'usi, IT^iJ. , with the Uiniie ol' continental shore James llaniia. iho be separate! trom luucan "Cai.vkim''^ nain hiiul, w ^i^, l^y r the names iriven, xt of the coast, will inal * * August \Ot/i. — Having a lino l)reo/e from the caHtward on Friday ninrnina', wo wcij,'hcd at seven, and stooil acroKs Quo»'n CharloiicH Hound lor the ejitrance of SmiJh's Inlot. The Chatham beinif orfb'red to h'ad, at hull-past ten madi) tho signal for sounding's, at the deptli of 10 to IH fkthiuns. In this situution the island, near whi'dt the Chatham had irroun led, bore S. I.". E. distant al)out t! or 7 leagues; atid tin- iat>yrinth of links that before had appeared to extend along the contincnial shore, now neemed to exist no further than a low sandy point bearing by compass J']. kS. E. at the distance of al)Out two leagues. The shore of the Minin tVoiu this point seemed free from rocks, and ).ossessed muu*' small candy bays to the south point of entrance into Sm'ih's Inlet, which l)ore ti\ ronipuss N. IH W . about a leag»u> distant ; wliere detached rocks were apniii seen to encumber the shore. Th" weather, less unfavourable to our pursuits than for some time past, permitted our havin-.^' a tolerably distinct view of th(^ surrouiuling country. The opening before us, l<'il/hugh's Sound, appeared to l)e extensive in a northerly direction. At noon we t'oujul our observed latitude to be r>l^ 2V, longitude •2'V2'' V. In this situation, the south point of Calvert's Island bore by compass N. -'.' W. itn wi'sternmost part in sight N. 60 W. two clusters o'' rocks, S. "•'! \V. and N. 7ii \V. thes(> were discovered by Mr. Ilanna, who named the former "Vii;(HN," the latter " Pkari. Kockk," both which being low, and at sniiift distance from the shore, are dangerously situated. The south point of Smith's Inlet terminating the continental shore in a noiihwesterly tlireition, bore by compass S. 40 K. from whic'i the " Virtiin " rocks, about thirteen miles distant, lie N. 75 W.and the "Pearl rocks" X. 'M W. distant about eight miles. With intention of continuing the investigation o*^ the continental shore up Smith's Inlet, the "Chatham" was directed that way; but, as wo advanced, the great number of rocky islets and rocks, as well l)eiieath as above the .surface of tlie sea. and the irregularity of the soundings, induced lac to abandon this design, and to steer along the eastern side of (Jalvert's Island, forming a steep aiul bold thore, in quest of Port Safety, laid down ill Mr. Duncan's Chart, or of any other convenient anchorage we might Hnd ; and from thenct! to dispatch two parties in the boats, one to prosecute iho examination of the broken shores to the south-erstward of us, the other to explore the main branch of Fitzhugh's Sound, leading to the northward. In c()nse(|U(!nce of this determination, the necessary signal WHS made to the "Chatham"' ior quitting her pursuit; and we made all sail to the northward. On pa.ssing tho* which we had considered as the south point of Cal- vert's island, it pro d to be two small islets lying near it ; and I'rom the soutliernmost of theiu, the Virgin and Pearl rocks in a line lie S ils \V. the tormer eleven, and the latter four miles distant. As we pro(!eeded up this sound, the eastern shore still continued to be much divided by water ; towards the sea it was of moderate height, thou'^h th« interior country was considerably elevated ; the whole was apparently one entire forest of pine trees produced from the chasms in the rugged rocks of which the country is formed. The western, or shore of Calvert'* island is lirra, and rose abruptly from the sea to a very great height, worn- u% iugly composed of ihe same rocky materials, and like the easttiii shm-e, entirely covered with pine trees. 4w.irM>'/ Wth. — About four in the afternoon a small cove was discovon>(l on the weaterii shore, bearing some resemblance to Mr. Duncan's Port Si I't'ty, but dilTerin'^ in its latitude acccording to our run since noon. Ai.p.'avijitrl however, likely to answer all our purposes, we hauled in for it ; th.' shon^s we found to be bold, steep on either side, and soundings at the luliaticn were from 2;] to 80 fathoms^ soft bottom. ''.Ve anchored abou*^ "^ix in ih .m,.. ning in IT fathoms on the south side of the cove, as did the C'hutham rm the opposite shore, steadyinglhe vessels with hawsers to the trees. M s IUm, object after the ship was secured, was to examine the cove. It teniiinal'^cl in a small beach, near which was a stream of excellent water and an abundance of wood ; of these necessaries we now required a eonsiderablo supply ; and as the Held of employment for our boats would be cxttMi.sivc, there was little doubt of our remaining here a sullicient time to replt>iush these stores. Eeiiig tolerably well sheltered in this cove, I was willi'iir to hope the Chatham might with security, and without much diliidiltv, bn laid on shore to examine if she had sustained any damage whilst .s!rikiii>^ on the rocks. '■■'- '*• ''■' "'' * -^ Our sei)aration had scarcely taken place, when our soiitherly breeze freshened to a brisk gale, attended by a torrent of rain. Tlu' wind, how- ever, having favored our pursuit, we reached the eastern shore about tiye miles to the northward of the cove where the ships rode. It was low but compact, with one small openhig only, impassable lor our boats by breakers extending across it. On the western side two conspicuous opeuiiin> had been observed ; the southernmost had the appearance of being a very line harbour; the other, about two leagues further north, formed a passive tn sea, in wdiich were several rocky islets About noon we arrived at the. point where Mr. Johnstone's researches were to commence, nearly in the direction of north from the ships, and at the distance of about It! miles. From this point, the north point of the passage leading to sea, lies .^. 3!t "W. 4 miles distant ; but the thick rahiy weather prevented our seeing any objects thiit were to the northward. * i= AugiiAlliili. — We resumed our examination along the starboard or con- tinental shore, extending from the above point about a league and a hall' in a north direction. Here the inlet divided into two capacious braiicln ■<; that appearing to be the principal one still continued its northerly <"urse, the other stretched E. N. E. and was in general about a mile wide. In order to prosecute the survey of the continental shore, which I i)resunn'd this to be, the latter became the first object of our examination, lor which we quitted the former, whose width we estimated at a leauue. ■i- * •' * '■'^ Here the mountains which appeared to be a continuation of the snowy barrier from Mount Stephens, retired a small distance from the beach, and the low land, occupying ihe inter- mediate space, produced pine trees of inferior growth, from a bed ol'niuss and decayed vegetables in the state of turf, nearly as inllamniable as the wood which it produced. A continuation of the unpleasant weather con- fined us to this uncomfortable spot until Monday afternoon ; when about four we again proceeded up the branch, which from the. 243 e the eastoDi shore, cove wasdiNcovenMl Duncan's Port !S;it't'ty, i> noon. Appt'aviiiir, in ibr it, ; tlirshon^s lings at the cii trance I about <\x ill ih -m ,.. Lid the C'hatliam <,ii to the trot's. Mv Him cove. It t('niii"iial.>(l client \Viitcr and an uired a coiisidoniblo would h^} extensive, jnt timi' to replenish ore, I was willing to mtioh dillii uhv, be ;nage whilst nlrikiiiu •■!■• ■■:■ -^ >ur southerly breeze n. The wind, hou- ;eru shore iibout, Hv.> )de. It was low bu! >ur boats by l)reakevs )icuous opeuiii:i> had of being a very liiii' formed a passai^e tn n we arrived at the |meiico, nearly in the e, of aliout l("i miles. g to sea, lies S. 31* ?ntod otir seeing any he starl)oard or oeii- a league and a hall capacious branclie> ; ts northerly cfiurse, ut n mile wide. In e, whi(di I pvesuuied vmination, lor uliieh a b'au'ue. which appeared te Stephens, retired ;i ccupyinu' the, iuier- , from a bed ol'mo&.s s inflammable as the easant weather coii- afternooii ; wht'ii which .froiu the from ilic beach, took a direction N. by E. ; the furthest point seen in that line, was at the distance of about 3 leagues; this, after passing an extensive ,iove on the starboard side, we reai-hed abotit nine at night. Excepting ihisci've, and that we had departed from, none other was seen, the sides of this canal being composed of compact stupendous mountains, and nearly norpeudieular rocky clilfs, producing pine trees to a considerable height above the shores, and then iu>arly barren to their lofty summits, which were mostly covered wdth snow. Auixiisl, Wth. — During the night we had much rain ; the next morning the weather was cloudy, with some passing showers, which at intervals enabled us to obtain a tolerably distinct view of the reii'ion before us; and (nx the iirst time since the commencement of this expedition, it showed the l^raueh we were navigating to be about two miles wide, extending in a N. K. I>\ 1'^ direction, several leagues ahead. * ;• i- \\\ noon we had reached the entrance of this branch of the inlet, where, Oil a small islet near its eouth point I observed the latitude to be .',1^ VJ', making the station at which I had parted with Mr. Johnstone, and which I had concluded to be the continental shore, in latitude 52^ 3', long- titiide •J:12'^ 19'. This rendezvous was about 37 miles from the station of the I essels, in as desolate, inho.spitable a country, as the most melancholy creature could be desirous of inhabiting. The eagle, crow and raven, that occasionally had borne us company in our lonely restiarches, A'isited not these dreary shores. The common shell fish, such as muscles, clams and cockles, and the nettle, samphire and. other coarse vegetables, that had been so hiiihly essential to our health and maintenance in all our former .'xcursions, were scarcely found anywhere here to exist; and the ruitis of our miserable hut, near where we had lodged the preceding night was the only indication we saw that human beings ever resorted to the country before us, which appeared to \vi devoted entirely to the amphibious race; seals and sea otters, particiilarly the latter, were seen in great numbers. x\u'j:i(!il IS///. — The entrance into Smith's Inlet, was nearly (dosed by rockv Islets, some producdng shrubs and small trees, others none ; with innumerable rocks, as well beneath as above the surface of the sea, render- inu' it a very intricate and dangerous navigation ibr shipping. Within the islets and rocks, the northern sliore appeared the clearest; but the oppo- .site side could not be approatdied without some ditliculty, not only from ih.' numerous rocks, ]>ut from a irreat oceanic swell occasioned by the pre- viulinu,- tempestuous weather. From the entrance into the inlet, whose north point lies from its south point N. 20 E., about a league distant, they found it extends, nearly in an east direction, about six leagues : here it toeka tarn to the north eastward, and terminated in latitude ol'-' 21", long- '.itmle 232"^ 47 J'. Aboiit 3 leagues within the entrance, the rocks and islets eeased lo exist" and the inlet contracted to a general width of ai)out half a mile; tliouuh in particular places, it was near twice that distance from .shore to shore ; both of which were formed by high rocky precipit;es cov- ered with wood. About half way up the canal a village of the natives was discovered, which our gentlemen sujiposed might contain two hun- dred or two hundred and iifty persons. It was Ituilt upon a detached 2(3 244 rock, connected to the main by a platform, and like those hefore mention- ed, constructed for defence. * * ^= '■''■ * On the 16th they eiitered another opening, about a league to IhiMiorlh of the north point of Smith's Inlet. The entrance into this .sceitud less dangerous than the former; it had, however, on its southern side, many rocky islets and rocks ; but they discovered no one below the .surliicf oF the water, nor any danger that could not easily be aA'oided ; and, by kicpinn (,n the north side of the entrance, which is about half a league iierns?!, n fair navigable passage was found about half a mile wide, between the north shore and the rocky islets that lii' oti' its southern side. Aloiiii- (his tht> Jontinent was traced about a league, in an east direction, where the open- ing took its course N. 15 E., aboxit ItJ miles, and terminated iii latitud.' ,31'-' 42", longitude 232^ 22'. About a league and a half south of this stalion, a small branch extends about four miles to the "W. N. W. ; and, half a, h'auue further south, another stretches about the same distance to the N. K. In this inlet, which 1 have distinguished by the name of IJiVKit's Canal, the land continued of a more moderate height further up tlian Iuib generally been found to be the case ; but where it branched oif in the iil)o\e directions towards its head, the shores were composed of liigh, steep, roekv mountains, and. like Smith's Inlet and many other canals oi this kind tluit We had examined, allorded no soundings ui the middle, with MO falhoms o| line ; though in the bays, found in most of these Canals, anchoram- niav, in all probal)ilily, be procttred. Having finally exnmined theses bvanchoV, they returned ])y a very narrow intricate channel on the northern .slioro, leading through an immensity of rocky islets and rocks, until they reaehi-d Point Addenbrook, and again arrived on the ea.stern shore of l'"ilzhuL;'li's Sound ; making the land they had passed, in going up this last inlet, on their larboard side, an island about six or seven miles long. -'■ •■ Since my return from the last boat expedition, 1 had fortunately obtained, during the few short intervals of fair weather that had occurred, some tolerablv ffood observations for the latitude and louifitude ul' this station. The former, by three meridional altitudes uf che sun, ai)peared to be 51'*' 32', the latter, 232^ 3' 15": the variation of the compass 17* 7' t'a,>t- wardly. This cove is at its entrance, the poiuts of which lie fmni ca(h other N. 30 W". and S. 30 E , about a qiaarter of a mile wide; and fioni thence, to its head, in a direction S, 68 W. abovit a mile. A small rock aiiu two rocky islets lie oil" its north point of entrance. '•■ * Hence 1 have distinguished it by the name of Safety Covk; and have only further to add, that the rise and fall oi the tide was al)ont tin feci, and that it is high w^ater at the time the mo(ni passes the meridian The same circumstances respecting the tides wre observed by tliose eiui)liiyed in the boat excursions from this station. Aui^ust V.Hh. — Iji the morning of the llMh, we sailed out of Safety ('"Ve, having, for the lir.st time since the eommencenu^nt of the present month, a pleasant l)reeze fron\ the S. E. with serene and cheerful weathiM-. Ahoni eleven o'clock we had the gratilication of being joined by our otlier ho;;! party ; and from Mr. Johnston 1. learned, that aV/OUl A miles to llie N, !•). nl the spot where I had quitted them, they j)ursued a narrow branch of the inlet winding to the south and south-westward, to the latitude of ol^ o"i due 245 se before inci\tion- league to llic north ) this soeuii'd less iithern side, mmiy V the surrarc >>\' the and, by keepiii'j nn ^ague acrns?;, a fnir between the north e. Along this the I, wliere the open- ted 111 hititu• ■ '■ 1 had fortunately that had oe,curred, longitude td" this e sun, appeared to ompass n*-' 7' east- hich lie front oarli le wide ; and liotn A small roek and Cove; and have 'as about tiii feet, le nieridiait The those etiiidoyed Init of Safety ('"V. . L present moiit'ii, a weather. Al'out |)y our othor ho;,i to (heX.K.orthc Lrauch of the mlei Ide of ol^' 57'. due south of the place of our separation. The inclemency of the weather detained them in this situation until the IGth, when they pursued the main branch of the inlet, which is I'rom one to two miles l)road, in a north- -easterly direction, to a point which I called by the name of P(5iN'r Mknzies, after Mr. Menzies who had accompanied me, and afterwards Mr. John- stone, in this excursion ; here the inlet divides into three branches, each nearly as wide as that they had navigated. The first led to the N. W , the .i^eci'tid to the northward, and the other to the south. Several leagues to die S. W. of Point Menzies, the water had assumed a pale white colour, and was not very suit, which had encouraged thtun to push forward in constatit expectation of finding its termination; but on reaching the above station, all hopes entirely vanished of carrying their researches I'm ther into execuiio'i, having extended their excursion beyond the time 1 had pre- scribed, and the period for which they had been supplied witli provisiojis. Tliese oti the morning of the 17th, being nearly expended, Mr. Johnstone considered it most prudent to decline any further investigation, and to return to tlie ships. These they reached two days afterwards, almost exhausted with hunger and fatigue. Voi/age of Discover// Continued in 171'3. Ma/j1-)lh. — This was the most westerly projecting part of the continent ill this neighbourhood : from whence the shores of the mainland take a N.N.E and south-eastwardly direction, and make it a conspicuous cape, ttTminating in ruuged, rocky, low hummoeks, that prodtree some dwarf piite and other small trees and shrubs. This capo, from the danii-eroiis naviu'ation in its vicinity, 1 distiiiLfuished bv the name of C.vi'E C.A.UTI0X ; it is in latitude ■11= 12'. longitude 2:52 - !•'. '■'•' '■'- -^ The south iKiint of Calvert's Island beini;' in latitude 51 ° '27", loiiiiitude -32 - .V, was found to be correctly placed. The v.iriatinu of the compass liilowcd in this sittration was IS® eastwardly. Slum alter noon soui(> very dangerous br«'akors were discovered, over uhieli the sea. at long intervals of time, liroke with great violence # * Their eastern part lies from Cape Caution, N. 72 AV., distant aboitt .') milfs ; but the rcndvs th it lie oil the shore 10 the northward of tlie Cape, rcdu.c the wullli of the chaiitiel between them and the breakers toa])out a Ii'auite, through whiidi we passed without noticing any other obstruction ibat was not suliieii'iiMv conspiettotis to be avoided. Mail 2C,///. --With a gentle breeze from the E. N. Iv, we stood u]) Fitz- iingh's Sound ni the eveniuLi', with all the sail we could spread. Tliis, by t'oui' I lie next morninu", bmuoht us opposite to the arm leading to Point Meii/U's, V. hose extent was left undetermined, and where, in a cove on ih(> south shore, about eight miles within its entrance, I exj>ceted to join liii' Chrdham; but the wind being unfavourable, and the ebb tide settitig out, we made little progress until six o'clock, when we worked up the artn vvith the ilood tide, and a light easterly l)ret'ze, attended with much iitin, and thick misty weather. * * '•'' ''^ As many necessary repairs in and about the Discovery demanded our iunni'cliate attention, aiul that no time might be lost ; I determined that, while these on board were employed on the retj^uisite duties, two l)oat 246 parlies should be dispatched to prosecute the examination of the lnokm region before us. '■' '' * * •; On the 29th Mr. Johnstone was dispatched in the Chathain's cutter attended by our small one, to finish the examination of this inlet, which he was prevented doing last year by the badness of the wealhiT. Tlu- next nioriung, accompanied by Lieiitenant Swaine in the cutter, F >.i out in the ynwl to examine the main arm of this inlet, that appeared to talo; its direction northerly to the west of, or without, the arm in wliich the ships were at anchor. This, after the Right Honorable Edniuiid i'urkt,', I named Hukke's Canal, '" '■'•' '■''' ^ * About nine in the forenoon we arrived in what appeared to Ik tho main branch of the inlet, leading to the north from Fitxliugh's Suiiiu! After a much-respected friend, 1 named this Fishkr's Canal. Si-iui' detaclied rocks were passed, that lie N. 14 AV., about a league Iroui the north-west poi)it of entrance into Burke's Canal, which obtained thr uaiiu' of Point Walker ; it is situated in latitude 51® 5(jh\ longitude 282=^9'; its opposite ])oint of entrance, named Point Edmond, lies from it S. •>'• E., near two miles. Off Point Edmund lie several rocky islets : with uiic on the opposiu^ shore, a little within Point Walker; but the channel is fair to navigate. We had a fresh southerly gale in our favor, but the cloudinc^is ol the weather prevented my obtaining an observation for the latitude l'\>!this purpost', thouom the north point the eastern coast still continixed nearly in its former direction lor two miles and a half, and then took a more eastwardly bend. The country we liai passed along, since Ave had entered Fisher's Canal, might, on the western side, be considered of a moderate height; its surface, composed prineipally of rocks, was imeven, and full of chasms, where a soil, formed hy the decay of vegetables, produced some different sorts of pine trees ol sleiuh-r growth, the maple, birch, small-fruited crab, and a variety of .shrubs, and berry bushes. The eastern shore rose more abruptly, and was hounded behind by very lofty rugged mountains covered with snow. As W(^ i^roceeded along the eastern shore, we passed, and lel'l for Inture examination, an opening on the opposite shore, that took a N. N. \\ diri'c- tiou, and was of such considerable extent as to make me doubtful wlntli'V ii mighi not be the main branch ot the inlet. Agreeably, however, t<. iir, :''u^mer practice, we kept the starl)oard shore on board, as the most pusitiv" means of ascertaining the continental boundary; and as we advanced, the laud to the northeast ( i the above opening, forming the northwest :;deo! 247 nation of thf lnok.u hie Cliathaiirs cutter of this inlet, wliich ' the weulhiT. Thf, I the cutter, I >.■( out lat appeared to take L^ arm in wliich the ible Edniuiul i'urke, •■i- ^.- * t appeared to he fho 1 Fitzhugh'.s Suiuul ;eu's Canai-. Sdiiii- it a leag'ue Iroiu the h obtained the name j', longitude '2-'<'2 ^ 9'; lies from it S. ii'i E., ■ islets : with one on he channel is lair to the cloudiness ol the lie latitude, luirlhis some roeks near the ;hore, the eaiial heiiiLr a compact shore, lies g, in latitude a^'' OT ; usual with tln^L;»'iie- i from its south point vo small islands, and ning" formed a u'ood the north point the ^ction tor two n\'\h"* he country we liad ight, on the western omposed priniijially soil, formed l)y the pine trees ol slender iriety of shrubs, and y, and was bounded snow. d, and left lor laiure )ok a N. N. \V diri'C- ne doubtful wheliier dy, howevi'r, to my ,a's the most pusitiv" as we advanced, y the name of .r.< Tsslaxd, after the family of ray late highly-esteemed and much la.muteil friend. Caiitain James King of the navy. Point Menzies was seen from this sta- tion lying S. 88 E., about 8 leagues distant, and the north-east point of Biirke's canal on the opposite shore JS. 78 E., two miles and a half distant. The continuation of the inlet to the eastward was (n^idently the sanu> that had undergone the examination of Mr. Johnstons, and determined to a '■(■rtainty that we had the continent again in view. *■ i * 248 ' ) Tho weather was now serene and pleasant. With a ijentle .soutli wpst bree/e, alter breakfast, we continued to examine the north east luHtK^h, and at noon I observed the latitude in its entrance to ber)2^]','' flo' whence point Menzies will be immd to be in ,'i9 '^ 18' ^'0"; beiii<,'4' lunhi'r north lliaii thr latitude assigned to that point on our former visit ; Itnt its longitude did not appear to require any eoirection. 'J'he appearance of the country we had passed by varied in no respect from what has alr»>ady been l're(|uently described, eiceptini-' lh;it the m'lple, bircii, erab, aiul other small trees, seemed to be more mmn'rous and or a laryer size. Two or three whaifs,one near Point Menzics, M'vt.riil seals, and some sea otter had been seen; these were remarkahlv sliv, as were two blaek bears Uiat were observed on the shores. ■ " Jioif 'Ind. --Early the next morninnf, with rainy, unpleasant wentlier, \vw ai^'aiu proceeded, keeping the starboard or continental shore on hoard, to the lillh unexamined opening, lying iiom Point Kdward, on King's Island, nearly north, about 6 miles ; in general a mile, but sometimes a leaiiiif \vid<'. We passed an islet and some rocks lying on the eastorn or slarhoard shove, ^.'here we breakiasted, and afterwards continued our rcsfarches until about two o'clock, when we stopped fo dine in a bay on the wtstoiu shore, into which llowed the most considerable rivtijet 1 had yet S(H ii in this co\uitry. The tide was then at the lowest, yet it admitted our l)oats into its entrance, which is about thirty yard- wide and four feet deep, and dischai;ies!i water until prevented by the il'"'l tide The spring !i(Uvs appeared to rise ahor.t sevc*ji leet. Tligii water 1 IJi ]<)m. after liie nu:)on passes the meridian. Tliis brook soon decreased in diuien- sions wiiliin the entrance, and .-horlly m st itsidfin a valley, bounded :,t no great distuneo by high j)erpendicular mountains. June r>r northeast, and preserving the same width. ^\^■ j. -s.-d a small islanuo about a league v. e arrived al a point on the Wer;t(M'n shor(\ lr<)iii \\!i"!i(e the arm toy the same route we had come. ! lUiia iiani'' 249 1 a i^entle soutli wpst e north oast l-mnoh, e to be ;V2 '^ li'' flu'- •"jO"; beiii(r4' lurth.-r foruuT vi.sil ; hut, iis varied in no rt-sport oiceptiii-.' (h„t the be more numerous oint Meii/ies, S(>vorul e romiirkalilv shv. as pleasant weal her, \v« al sihore on hdnvd, to rd, on Kind's Inland, jtimes ti leaii-iif wide, eastorii or starljoard lued our rcsi'archos 1 bav on the wcstovii let i had yet seni in it admitted our boats i four leet deep, and ;ed ))y the llni.,| Lide [igh wat.-r llii. ](hn. di'crt'a.sed in dnnen- alley, l>ounded ut no le^ u]-) thr a'!ii. .^till width. ^^\^ j.i'-s-d e took up- our nt).>dt' Tlie wal'r wa.- our. ilaviiu i^'onr hore, Iri'hi w l"'!irc aU'l ih'Mi, :i- Wiis iiid. we had avriv^'d. and udc, wlii(di 1 tnin^I omt I n'avc till' iuraii' ire(l, JJj:a\'- C a.\\1,. me ])r()ok \\ hi'ii \se ic lU'Xl, uui'xpiurt'd uiti'ht, aii.l o;i th'' le wi(b', lyini;' in a y, and !iiipl''.i-.ini, had 'i-aehed wiihui itiuh' ">va> ')'2 - '-i-, i\i\ we reliirn''d hy The width of this canal did not anywhere exceed three quarters of a mile ; its shores were bound"d ])y procipu^es much more ]>erpendieuhir than any we had yet seen durinj^ this excursion ; and i'roni thi' smumits of the mountains that overlooked it, partieularly on its north-easti>ni shore, thore fell several larj^e cascad<>s. These were extremely 'jrand. and by much the larijest and most tremendous of any we had ever beheld. The i.aipetnosity with which these waters desct^nded produced a stroiiu' our- [iMit of air that reached nearly to the oi)posite side of the canal, tlinuuh it was perfectly calm in every other direction. At first I consid'-rtHl these cascades to have been solely occasioned by the meltiiiir of the snow on the mountains that siirrounded us ; but, on comparinir theni with several smaller falls of water, which, by their cohmr, by the soil brnuudit down with them, and other circumstances, were evidently produced Irom that temporary cause; but the lari^er torrents appeared to owe their ori,^!n to ,1 more creneral and permanent source. This arm I distijiiiuished by the namo of CASCADE Canai.. ■''■ * '■■■ * June bth — Our visit here detained us about half an hour, ail'-r which we proceeded to the third une;cplored openiiii^. This w as about S. -VJ \\ . and about a league distiint from the south j»oint of Cascade Canal : here we rested, and in the morning of the 5th. found it terminate about '1 miles in a „ overly direction. From thence w'o proceeded to the next arm ; this was the first we had noticed to th:> eastward of that, of which on the 80th of May I had entertanied doubts of its being the main brmieh of the inlet. We are now favored with pleasant weather, and a ge M • gale from the N, E. and 8. E. This, by nooji, brought us within abouu a mile of the irm's termination, which, from its entrance in a N. N. E. direction, is ab at oraile.-s, hero 1 observed the latitude to be ")2® lO", the lonirilinle '202 ® IJi". This branch finished in a similar manner with the many others, though its shores were not so steep, nor did they afford such falls of water as were seen in Cascade Canal. From hence we continued along the continejital shore until the evening, when we reached the d()uV)tful opening, and found its entran( \ to be in latitude ')2° 12'. lonsritnde 282"^ "': it is about three quarters of a mile wide, and has a small islet and several rocks extending from its north-east point. Ketween these rocks and (he western shore there ai)peared to be a fair navigable channel. Alxiul a mile up this openinti: on the starboard, or contim'iital shore, wt' lenniiued during the night on m\ insulated rock, that had formerly been appropriated to the residence of the natives. It forms the north point of entrance into a c(>v<'. where a sunken rock lies, not. visi])le until half tide ; wuhinthis rock is a clear sandy bottom, that might be found <;onv'nient for 'lie purpose of laying small vessels aground to clean or repair, as we esli- liiated the tide, though not near th«? height of the s]irings, to rise fourteen J! lifteen feet, and to be high water at the time the moon passes the meri- i'lui. "^'e were detained at this station by thick, foggy, and rainy Wi'ather, aiion-h'd with a stroiiiT south-east gale, xintil ten o'clock in the fDrenoon of "iietkii when the fog jn some measure clearing aw'ay, we proeeededin our researchrp up this arm. It lies in a general direction of N. 20 W. for about ' i''!ii;-ues ; the eastern or continental shore is steep and compact ; Imt, on '!iij western shoie, we intssed, live or six miles within the entrance, five 910 rocky islots proflncini^ some treos, and aclmittiiicf a passage for boats hi'tu ,>eu them uikI llu' slioro; and on the same sid«', about seven miles wiihiii tlio eiitnuicc, ih a lill■^•f'r islet, having between it and the shon* a rock ; on w hich wasan Indian \illai,''(' that contained many houses, and seemed to hr wry populous. ••= ''• ■•• * !■ Our Miiiti', however, lying wide ol eithiT their village or their reiir.'mont, ^ve did iioi increas*.' (heir apprehensions l)y approaching ncurcr \i, ihcrn, but couliiiui'd our survey up the arm, that still took a northerly flir.-rtinM, leaving on tlw western shore a spacious opening extendiiiLr to the wt-stward, and passing a small island covered with pine tree', that lies m'iirly in luiil- ehnnnel oi'thc arm ww were pursuing. Ilsivinu' reached, a])Out two in the afternoon, a point on the t>asteni shore, about !0 miles from the entrance, \vt^ stopped to dine, and w <-]■>■ here A'isitod by some Indians from the A'illage in two canoes. :;;■ ;!: :i; * :!= :|: :i: * From this point we found the arm take first a direction N.40 Iv near a league, and then N. 30 W. about 5 miles further ; it was in general liMuihall to three ((Uiirters of a mile wide, and terminated as usual in low Nwampy land,inlaliiude 52' 28i', longitude 282'^ 4'. From hence we retuiihil and halted for the ninht, about 2 miles from its head on the western shon\ Jinir. l/li. — The next morning we proceeded to the branch leadiiiL'- to the westward, tliat we had passed the preceding day ; and about ciuht o'clock reached a small island lying near the northern shore, about two miles to the westward of its entrance, situated in latitude 52'' I'.K', loiiui- tude 2H-1'' r. ':■• The weather became serene and pleasant, with a gentle breeze lioia the southwest. We now quitted the high, steep, snowy mountains, turn- posing the shores we had lately traversed ; lor the sides of the oiienin;; before lis, comparatively speaking, might be considered as land of moderate height. Its surface, covered with w^ood, was very uneven, and Ix iiii;-very simii ', • to the general appearance of the land near the sea coast. L;a\ c us reason to believe this channel would lead towards the ocean. Tlio con- tinental shore had been acciirately traced to our present station, and thi' communicaiiou of this channel with the ocean became an obje.i [ lunch wished to ascertain, before the vessels should be removed further iiit') this interior and intricate navigation; w»ll knowing the tardy and disauivriihle progres.s in so doing. To effect this purpose in the best manner I was able, I continued to trace the channel hnuling westward, passing by on the starltoard or continental shore, an opening that appeared to tiMUiinato in a spacious ])ay, at the distance of aboiit two miles. Another ojn'iun^ was seen immediately to the w^estward of this bay, that appeared ul' "i>ii- siderable extent, leading to the N. N. W., and had two small island^ n-arly in the centre of its entrance; but, as we had now been nine days iioni th'' ship, our stock of provisions was too much reduced to admit of onv uiidor- taking further examinations, especially as every foot we advanced w r had additional reasons for supposing we should find a chanind in thi> iu'iu'h- bourhood that would lead to the ocean. From the last openinu' iiie coast trended S. 40 W ; in which direction I well knew we could not I0112; continue without meeting the sea; and having proceeded thus ahout a 251 ige for boaislii'twceii ven miloH within tht\ )rti a rock ; on which 1(1 setnuL'd ti» Ix' vory je or their rclir.'inont, iin<^ nearer to ihem, I northerly fliri'ctimi, liiiir to the westwiird. •it lies nearly in luiil- point on th'^ eastern ) (line, and w fvc here •ection N. 40 E. near a IS in general i'mn) halt asual in low >\\iuiiiiy ince we retinntMl ;uid as land of moderate leven, and b* iny- very le sea coast, uave lis le ocean. The con- sent station, and the. line an objeri [ much ved further nito this (ly and dihaiiivcnhlc best manner I was tward, passing by on ppeaved to terminate s. Another o;n'nin£^ that appeared oi con- o small island- nearly .Ml nine days imni the admit of onr under- we advanced we lii«l •hannel in thi- noiiih- ast openinu" I lie ^'^'"'^ we could nnt Ions; (ceeded thus idiiut a leairue, I stopped about noon at a point on the northwest shore to observe ilunditude, which was r)2® 17', longitude -J.'U * ,54' ; und whilst i was so ,!iniii"V' d, Mr. Sv>.iine wan sent forward, with dire(dions, on hisdiscove:insj a clear channel to sea, to return. As I was preparin>r to follow him, the cutler wa.s seen coming back ; Mr. Swainc reported that from a point lying S, li W , a mile and a half from our station, he had seen the ocean in a direction S, "0 W. ; the furthest land being about 3 or 4 leagues distant. BeiiiLT now satislied that all th(^ land forming the sea coast, from the souili entrance into Fitzhughs S(nind, to the i)lace from whence we now looked into the oiean, consisted of two (>xtensiv(^ islands, that were again probably much sub-divided; I considered the object of our errand accom- plished, and wo sat oil on our return towards the station of the vi-ssels, t'roni whence wo were 45 miles distant. ■''■ ■■' '■" •<= ■!= - The \u'xt morning Mr. Johnstone infi)rmed me that on the forenoon (i| lie- 'lOth (d' May he reached I'oint Menzies, from whence he found an arm lying in a direction with little variation S. 83 E. Bv noon they had iidvMiiced about .'> miles from Point Menzies, where the latitude was ob- served to be 52-' 15', and about 4 miles further passed an island on the ciisieru shore The weather being pleasant, great progress was made until the evening, when they reached its termination in latitude 52' 1", longitude 1W IS'. Its width in general a little exceeded a mile, and the surrouud- iiiu' eountry exactly resembled that which wo had fouiul contiguous to those branches of the sea that have been so repeatedly described. ■■■'• Krom this curious place of residence Mr. Johnstone came back along the pastern vhor(>, and about five miles from the termination of the canal, he nlisevved the latitude to be 52® 4'. About seven the next morning (1st of June) the arm leading to the northeastward was 'Mitered ; this was ibund about 1 ir-'o and a quarter wide, lying in a direction of N. 02 E. from its north point fit enrrance; and, at the distance of elevi '" miles, it terminated in the usual ",vay, in the latitude 52"' 26', longitude 23 > liV. Here was another habitation it the same sort. Having now completed the examination of this branch, the party returned along its northern shores, and at the point of entrance ^Ir. .Tdhiistoiii- found my directions to return to the vessels, which they reached ill ill" forenoon of the next day. In their way th(>y saw several bears ; two yeiuig cubs were killed, and proved excellent eating. * •:• Jiinr IC^/li. — In the afternoon we weighed and towed out of the cove, whieh I distinguished by the name of Kestoration Cove, having there passed and celebrated the anniversary of that happy event. =■= This uninteresting region allbrded nothing furthisr worthy of notice, ex- cepting the soundings, the dimensions of the cove, and the very few astrono- niical and nautical observations, that, under the unfavorable circumstances of the weather, could be procured. The breadth of the cove at thi> entrance, ill a north and south direction, is about a mile and a quarter, and its depth, from tile centre of the entrance in a northeast direction, is threc-iiuarters of a mile. The soundings, though deep are regrlar, from 00 fathoms at the, entrance, to 5 and 10 fathoms closi^ to the shore. The land on the; opposite side of the arm is about two miles and a half distant. ■• '■''■ The northwest point of entrance into Milbaiik's Sound, now bore by :oiapassS, 16 \V., and the southeast point, named after the third lieutenant '2^ 252 of tlio Discovory, Cape Swaink, S. 18 E, ; in this direction wns a sinnll island abont two miles unci ii hall' IVom us; and from thiit i.sliiud S. 14 ^\^, at tlu' distance of !il)out half a loiiuiui', lies a very daiiufrous suiikcu rmk. W,. ]iasst'd to the westward of tli'^se, ])ut th • Chathnm went bet wim-h tlii.ni and tlio eastorn shore. whi( h still continued broken and rocky, forniinn ■! '>:is. sai^-c with the iibovi- sunken rock and bn'akers about half a mil.' wulc, when- the sDundinys wfie found to be very irieirular. On llif wcsti'va shore an openinu' was seen extending' N. Ss "W., having th.- appi'iiraiu,. ..i IradiiiLilo 111'' sea, with two vimv l.irii'e low l!at rocks lyiii>>- bclm,. ji ; thi. near('>t shore was on that side, and Itort^ AV. N, "\V. at the di>l:niie of a uiile. Cape Swaine Wi.s [onnd by our observations to be in latitude .VJ ' in', lonu'itude '2or'4il'; and the northwest poini of entra)u;e into Milliauk's SouikI, which T called Point Day, oll'which lie several barr.'ii Knky isL-ts, in latitude ."):2 ' 1-1 V, longitude -j-'Sr-f]?'; beiiii)- in point oj' latiiudi'', IV fi th" s.iulh ol' the situation assi-^iird to ii by ^Ir. Duncan, and who roii'^idi'r'. its loMiiiiuib' lobe W to the west ward of our calculations. A^ lli ;1(lvali>i'd. the south west wardly brcezi- freshened with i')!ea'<;int \vi The ("halham was direi'i,'d t-i lead, and by Ibiu" in tiie al'ternooii, ha\iii.^ reacl'i'd ilie extent of Mr. Johnstone's r(\searches, we (lireeteil Miir Vonli' up a iliaiinel about a mile wide, leadiiiLi' to the northwestward, who.-' eii- trance lioni Milbaiik's Sound is situated in latitude .VJ^' 47', atnl lon'j'itiuli' (l.iV ihef. ') I 2^>^' cnauiie j\s we advalie d in a direction irom its entiM'ice \V nan owed to aliout a loui'th of a mile, and havii il;' i>rof (j 4 mill's, the Chatham suddenlv found only ('» hithoms watei. mi st ri tehiiiL;' IVoui the starboard .ir coiitinciital shore into mid-cliaiin we p whieli 1.. the liar 'ii' ah'iut -hnal ; i!iis d on the ojiposit" side in IS and -'• fathoms water. l!e\niid ili •cliii' lowest part of the channel, formed by a hie'h roipul lit of the southwest shore, apj^earin^' like an ishiinl ; th' 1 «!•()• ,irin widened to near lialf a leau'Ue. and an extensive openinu', takiiiL;' diri'ctioii. iuilicated a communication with the ocean. .Mil The wind continuine" lavorahle, and the weather pleasaiil, \ve iii:id' a toler iblV i(iod orou'ress aiony- the continental shore until about i line III llH' ereuiiiL'', when we anchored in oS fathoms water, -within about hall a cahli lenulh ol" ^he south poi:it of an opciiinii' leadini;- to the east ward, wher.' rl tis nearly to their v<-\-\ summits. '^ '-^ '■'■■ '■'''' ■■"' '■"• Jutir Tilh — .\bout noon on the followin:; day ]Mr. .fohnstone r'^turiifl and communicated the follovvine- particulars of his exeursiou . Th" west- ern branch he found to extend X. i")') AV. about 12 miles, where it iiiiitt'd with two extensive arms, one leadinii' nearly north, the other aboui west. The western one continued about 2 leagues, wht're it united with two other b.-auches more extensive than the foririer, ont^ taking a southerly, the otlier a luirthwesterly direction. The lirst of fheso was pursued, and having bv noon of the ^-''rd advanced about 2 leagues, the latitude wa?; observed on the larboard side to be 5'3« 11', longtitudt^ 281' 8"; the varia- III WHS a small island .11(1 s. 11 \y., at tlu. sunken vnck. We I hclwi'cii llicni and )(:ky, lorninm- a tia^. it lialf a mill' w'iji., IV. On Ihc wvstcra iL>' thf appraraiii ,• .,1 lyin,i>' Ix'loiv ii ; ili,. lit till' (li«laii( i. Ill' 11 I' in latiindi- .V2 I.T, met' into Milliaiik's hnircn rockv i^li'is, it ol' latitu'li", I .' lo , and wliM ( oiividriN ilioiis. As (h,. d.iv li ))li'a'-aiit wciiilii'V, IV al'tmuinii, h:,\iii'j ' dir<'ctiri)^'i'i'di'd alnnl : Wati'l, 11)1 :i -.!;.i;ll ti> iiiid-i'lMiiii"! ; 'Ills A ati'v. lli'_\ "\\'\ !'i;>. \- ;i liin-)| I'lillMd |.!i). an island : tli'- .mn g, takinii' a >i.nth"r!y jdcasaiil. ^v^ ni:;d'' a til ahout niu'' in ih" n about liall a rah!' .s isiwavd, wlii'i'i' tlio lad been naviuatniL;' id Avc Wi'Vi' iiLiaiii itains, Ibrniiu:^' 'ari- early to tliidv \-ri-\ .bdinslonc i''ti,inn'il ur.^iDn . Til" west- 's, where ii uiiili'd ic other a))oui '.vi'-t. it united with two ' taking- a sontle'vly, e was pur>nfd, ami '8, the latitude was 2.'U'^;3"; thf vana- 253 tioii ol the eoinpass 21"^ 10' east; ami hiifh water -0' aftor the ni(>'>n passed die int'reidscrvali(jii tlili''red little I'roui the gouimil character of the surroundiuu' region. That oii the sea coast was somewhat less mountainous, tdiielly covered with ,vood, ami h'ss ciicumberecl with snow than the barren, ruggiil summits ol'the moun- taiiis ol' the interior country. I'y seven in the evening we had advanced i'rom th(» anchora'j,!' we had quitti'd only live miles up the western arm ; it was about a mile in walili, and the stei'pness of its rocky sides all'orded little prospect of ob- taiiiiiiL:' any anch( on which we could dt>i)end for the niiilit. We had reiM'atedlv traversed from shor(> to shore Avithoul linding bottom with I'i.j and Is.") fathoms of line, though within h.df the ship's length ol'the rocks. The tide was now making against us, we wert^ constrained to rest our sidi's against the rocks, and by hawsers fastened to the trees to jireveiit onr being driven back. Our present resting place was perfectly safe, hut this is not the case against every part of these rocky preeii)iees, as they are frequently found to jet out a few yards at or a little beneath low- w. iter mark; and if a vessel should u'round on any of those pr()jiM'ting parts al)Out hiu'h water, she would, on the falling tide if heidinu- I'rom the .shore, be in a very dangerous situation. ■'■' '•' •' The next morning [June 24th] as they were preparing to proceed, a smoke was discovered i> 7 ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. MS80 (716) 872-4503 fV iV s ^^ \\ 9) <^ 4!S O^ U.A > 254 • ) reached that part of the inlet which took an easterly direction Mi. ^\]^\,\. bey observed more drift wood than he had seen on any other purt ol' tho coast. After breakfast the party entered the south-easterly ]»aiirli, and found its shores composed of mountains that were barren towards tliiir summits, but well wooded near the. water side. As they advanrod, its width increased to aV)out half a league ; and in a direction S. (50 Iv ;).i miles from Point Staniforth, an island lies nearly in mid-chanin'l, where they stopped to dine. At the entrance into this arm a tide was tnimd in their favor, and not being more than half Hood by the shore, Mr. Whidli.'v ■was flattered by the prospect of carrying the flood tide some di.-^taii' ■ ; it, however, shortly turned, with a breeze, down the arm, and they werr six hours advancing 4 miles. They quitted their dinner station, leaviiiii' unex- amined a small arm extending from the southern shore, and pur.siu'd UK- main branch, taking a direction from the island S. 55 E. This wa.s tradd along the southern shore 10 miles, until they arrived at a place that had the appearance of being a small bay ; here they stopped for the nighi ;i!ter having advanced through a very desolate country, whose inhospitalde shores were formed by .such steep barren rocky precipices, as rendered the landing very difficult. A very few trees were thinly dispersed, ol a slender dwarf kirid, produced upon the naked rock. At daylight on the 26th the situation was discovered, instead ol heiiiir in a snjall bay as had been supposed, to be a little way within the eiUraiic of a small rivulet, about a cal)le's length wide, admitting, for about a louith part of that extent, a passage of 5 fathoms water It took a winding course to the south west, between two mouniaiiis. the tide of the Hood ran strongly up, and the ebb with such impetunMiy that th>' boats could not make the least way against the current. As many sunken rocks were lying across its entrance, Mr. AVhidlny did not think it an object worth hazarding any further examinatiini , ::'.u\ for that reason he proceeded immediately up the arm, taking an irrr-ulur direction, first about N. 50 E. for eight miles, and then about S. 55 E. 22 mile,< ; where, as usual it terminated in shoal water, before a border ol low land through which flowed several small streams or rivulets of fresh waier The latitude appeared to be 53 ® 20', longitude 232 * 17'; it was hiuh w.n -r by the shore, aO" after the moon passed the meridian, and the rise and lall of the tide was about fourteen feet. On the morning of the 27th they returned down this arm, whieh, alter Sir Allen Gardner, I called G-ardxer's Canal. On this occasion Mr Whidbey observed that the face of the country through which they had passed Irom the little rapid rivulet, was almost entirely barren w aste nearly destitute of wood and verdure, and presenting tu the eyt^ one lude mass of almost naked rocks, rising into rugged mountains more lolly than he had before seen, whose towering summits seeming to overhang their bases gave them a tremendous appearance. The whole was covered with perpetual ice and snow, that reached, in the gullies formed between the niountiiins, close down to the high water mark ; and many waterfalls of various dimen- sions were seen to descend in every direction. By the morning of.the 2Sth, they had reached the small arm m the southern shore, that had been passed unexamined on the afternoon ol the 255 directioii ^]y, AVhij. any other part of the -easterly branch, and barren towards tlirir LS they advaucod, its direction S. GO E. ^ I mid-chaini(>l, wluire n a tide was tnuiK! in e shore, Mr. \Vhi(U„.y de some distan'' ■ ; it, •m, and they wvir six station, leaviiiLS' luitx- are, and pursiii'd ih.; 1 E. This was, tra( I'd ad at a phice that hud )edfor the niirhi nit.'r , whose inliiispitaljli> icipices, as rcndiTi'd thinly dispersed, ol a ered, instead ol' l)i'ini: y within tlie eii(raiiL" ing, for al)out a lourth ween two inomitains; ith such irnpetunsiiv he current. ranee, Mr. AVliidli.y ler exaniinalion ; and n, taking an irrr-ular boutS.5."j E.2:2m)li'.<; a border ol low land ulets of i'resli waiui 7'; it was liiu'h wii'i- and the rise and lall this arm, which, alter ►n this occasion Mr. mgh wOiich they had itirely barren \vastt>, tv the eyt> one rude ins moreloHy than ho OA'erhang their bases )vered with perpeiual ween the ninunlains, .ills of various di men- ;hc small arm on ihr the afternoon ol the 25th. This they now found extending S. 35 E. nine miles from Point Staniforth, where it terminated as usual. From thence the party proceeded about seven miles up what appc;ared to he the main branch of the inlet, )vhere they rested for the niuht, on the eastern shore, opposite to an island lyini;- nearly in mid-channel. This station lies I'rom Point Staniforth N. 10° W. eight miles The .shores of the continent, from the southeastern arm, were nearly straight and compact. * The weather was calm, with heavy rain in the morning of the 2fHh, aiid so it continued all the day; notwithstanding this Mr. Whidbey resumed his examination in tho afternoon, along the eastern or continental shore. From their place of rest it took a north direction for nine miles, to a projecting point that obtained the name of Point Hotkins, forming, within those limits, a deep bend, in which were many sandy bays. The shores hero were moderately elevated and well covered with wood. Two openings to the south of this point were passed on tlie opposite shore. From hence the main inlet appeared to divide into two branches, one taking a northeasterly, the other a northwesterly direction The former, as being a continuation of the continent, was first attended to, and was fottnd to extend N. 37 E. seven miles to the south point of a small branch about half a mile wide. The eastern shore here formed a large s.andy bay, and to the westward some rocky islets, and an island about four miles long were passed. * * ^i; -.f: On making signs to the Indians that they were going to rest, all these immediately retired to another cove, at a little distance, where they remained perfectly quiet ; and at four the next morning (the 30th) they accompanied them again in their researches up the main branch of the inlet. From hence it was about two miles wide, and took nearly a north direction 9 miles, to the latitude 5-4* 4'. longtitude 231® 19', where it was terminated by a l)order of low land; whence extended a shallow ilat irom side to side, threniih which a small rivulet discharged itself at its easterti corner, uaviuahle for canoes only. This termination differed in some respect from many of the others; its shores were not very abrupt, but were iiounded on each side by a range of lofty mountains whi(;h, how- tvor, were not (as had been constantly the case) connected at the head of the arm, but continued seemingly in a direction parallel to each other. The valley between them, which was three or four miles wide, formed nearly a plain, and was covered with tall forest trees, mostlv of tlie pine tribe. This plain was supposed by Mr. Whidbey to extend some leagues, to where the distant mountains appeared to connect the two ranges. Our party made a late breakfast near the entrance of the rivulet, where they found the remains of an Indian village. On their moving from ihence, their Indian attendants took their leave, went up the rivulet in their canoes, and were seen no more, Contrary winds, though the weather was now pleasant, retarded their progress so much, that by nine at night they had not reached more than eleven miles in a direction S. 20 W. from the head of the inlet. Here they stopped for the night on th(> western hore, close to a very large waterfall, about ten feet abov^e high water mark, that had its source in a lake of fresh water which appeared to be deep, lying in a northwest direction. About three in the morn- 256 ! I ing of the 1st of July the party proceeded down the wost»>ni ^hore, and Boon arrived at the western division of the main inlet, incniiipihd on the 20th of Juno to have been seen from Point Hopkins. This, wlnih took a direction S. .'35 W., was about a mile wide; its western shoir InMni: still a contiiuiation of the continent, its eastern having- the aiipiMiiiiKe ol being an island, or a j^roup of islands; so that little doubt was ciil.'itaiia'il of finding- a iia,ss;ig-e by that route, instead of returning- by tlie wav th.'v had come b'or this reason Mr. AVhidbey did not hesitate to proceeif \- i\iAr arriving at the southwest extremity of the land which, in their way up t.» Point Hopkins, had formed their western, and on their return from Peiii; Ashton, their eastern shore. This, which I called Point Cr.MMiNd, is situated in Lititu(b' 53" 18J', longitude 230'' 58'; from hence the islot on which Mr. Whidbey had left a note the 23rd of June, was seen lyiuL; umirly oast, at the distance of about nine miles. Thus his conjectures were proved to have been well founded, and that the intervening land composed an ox- tensive island a])out thirty-three miles in length, and from three to elevi.'U miles in breadth. This island, after that noble and indefatigable promoter (d' the Ihiti.^h commerce, Lord Hawkesbury, I named Hawkesuuky's Isi^lam). j-'rom Point Cumming the i)arty returned to the ships as already related. 257 APPENDIX O. Navigation of the Lakes and Rivers in thk ruAiuiE IIi:(iion. (1) Re/iort on the subject of the navigation of the North ami Main Sasbatcheiran, bij Alfred R. C. SelwyN, Esq., Director of the Geofngicrl Surrei/. Montreal, 0th Jaiiunry, 1874. My Dkar Sir, — I havo just I'l'coivotl your noU' ol' yo.storday, askiiiu' al)out. the navina- tioii oi' the 8a.•^kat(•ho\va)l. Fir.sl, 1 may say I did iidI scii th.- Mossy Portiiiii' or auv portion oi'oithor Lake WiiiiU'iiOL-'osis or Lukf Maiiitolia, and, thel•^•^o^(^ cauiiot siy uiuch ahuut that route. I am, howi'Vi'i , iir(ij)iiii()U tliat except lor the purpose of lacilitaiiiii^' the settlement ol' the ricli laixls which lio\vi'.>l ortheahovt^ luimed lakes and the uppiM'soureesof Assiuihoiuc liiver, which is douhtless a consideration in i'avor ol' the Manito!>a Lalce routr, the route rid Luke AVinnipeg and the CJrand Rapid would he the he.-t on which to esl;ilili>h steam communieation, unless the Mossy Portau'.' and Beavi.'r Por- taii'e e(Mild he (■«//''///fv/. The Manitoha Lake route would invdvetoo many transhipments to make it a permanently desirable one, either as regards time or expi'nsi'. ])eaver Portage might, perhaps, be avoided by using VValer lieu Rivi'V, -^uiiposijig that river to l)e navigable lor steamiTs, whieh is, I believe, iliiulitrul. Myjourney down the Saskatchewan was perrornu'd between the 12tli (il'Si'ptembor and the 17th ol'October, and ther<'l'ore in soair respt'cts at a very unlavorable season tojudgi; ol'the practicability ol' navigating it with steauihnats. Throughout the whole length ol'the river, th'^ channel is more 'ir less subdivided by islands, and every sub-channel is again cut up and ob>tru(t''d by shoals aiul sandbanks. Of course I saw these almost at their wor^t. as the water was everywhere from two to four feet lower than it would be ;U th.- opening of navigation, in May or early in June. Xothiug whatevi-r •an,] lielieve, be done that would obviate or lessen the consiaul I'ormation ;uul ^hilting of these shoals and saiulbars, and the consequent annual changes ill the position and depth of the main channel, a circumstance which must ulways reiuler the navigation of the Saskatchewan above Fort a la Come dilli' ult, and more or less subject to delays, and especially so towards the latter end olthe season. For four months, however, under ordinaiy «ircum- stanros no serious obstacle would l)e encountered in the navigation of the rivi'r by properly constructed steamboats, from above the Grand Rapid even to Kueky Mountain House. Moderate length, powerful engines, light draft, md as much strength as possible below the water-line are essential points in the construction of any steamers which may be built ibr navigating the Saskatchewan. 258 • I TIjc ultcr failuro iiiid oss of the Hudson's Bay Company's stoamiioiit lust yoar, \vi li the d(>tails oT which you are perhaps acquainted, may In- asi-nlu'd almost entirely to want of attention to these requirements. ShV wa> lar too lojij^ and too weak both in hull and machinery, and when I saw li< r \\ inn .^ wreck oil llie l»aiik of Iht; river, at the head of the Grand Rapid, 1 |i ii ,011. vinced tiial the man who built her could never have traversed the loiu,' for which she was dt'signed, and I subsequently learnt that this wa> a( lually the case. Towing- Hat ])oats or barges, as practised on lied River, wcmiM, I think be quite impracticable on the Saskatchewan, for the reason that i!i nianv places the current is too strong, and in others the available channels hi 1 u ,■,11 the islands and sand!>ais or shoals are too narrow and tortuous. The only really insurmountable obstruction to steam naviiratiou ii.iui Fort (larry to llocky Mountaia House is the Grand Rapid. It uppi-ars to have been inirefully measurt d by Trof. Hind, who states it to be ;., unU^s in length, with a total fall of 48 J feet. Whether the outlay requisite Fur ,1 canal and locks to surmount this would be repaid by the result is a niafter for consideration. Between the head of the Grand Rapid and tli- r.,ailu. ence of the twoSaskatchewans, there are only two places, especial Iv 'iiiriuir the latter part of the season, when the water is low, where steamboats might experienc(* some dilliculty, and would possibly require to hi' waipid against the current — these are the Cro.ss Lake Rapid, and 'ri>l.ir,'-. 01 Thobon's Rai)id : ilie one between Cedar Lake and Grand Rapid, and thi' other between Cumberland, or Pine Islaiul Lake and Fort a la Conic. Immediaudy above the confluence of the north and .south branches are the Coal or Cofes Falls. Next to the Grand Rapid, these falls appear to im; to constitute the most serious impediment to the navigation. Tliey extend over a length, according to my estimate, of rather more than twelve niilcs. I am not able to say exactly what the total fall is, but my two baionieters gave a diilerence of 0.44 and 0.45 respectively, between the juin tion and the upper end of the falls ; this would indicate a fall in that disiaiice ol from 40 to 45 feet. Enclosed is a tracing from my note book of the s! .ti h survey I made ol this part of the river. The width is from IVi to IT" or 200 yards, and the rapids Aary in length from 100 yards to about a (jtiarter of a mile. The bed of the river is everywhere filled with lariie rounded boulders of gneiss, granite and limestone ; and when we passed, many ot these were showing above the water, while more were covered only a lew inches deep. This was on the 4th of October, and then no steamboat could have passed either up or down with safety. Our boat, an ordinary Hudson's Bay batteau, 42 feet long, 30 feet keel, and drawitiir only ahout 18 inches, touched the rocks several times, notwithstanding that \\ e had a careful and experienced steersman, w^ell acquainted with the deepoit channel ; with two or three feet more water in the river, of cour.>e the appearance of these rapids would be greatly altered, and, as there is no solid rock, the danger and difficulty of their navigation might begreatly lessened, if not altogether obviated by the removal of some of the l?rg(? houldors, which might probably be effected at a comparatively small cost. Thi' current on this i>iece of the river, must, however, always be very heav\, uiid proper arrangements for warping boats up these rapids in case of luees.sity nupai)y'ssto;iiiil)out lust aiiitod, uiiiy In- aM-iilicd iitMits. Shi' \va> liir too when I Kuw lirr lyinu- a I rand Rapid, I \r\\ .on. traversed th.- r.,ui,. for , that this \v;i> aciiiallv I River, wotiM, I think e reason that i;i uvmw lable channels luiw.'.ii I tortuous. steam naviiratiOn ihun I Rapid. It appi'Mrs to states it to Ix' :. , inijiis i outlay roqnisit.' lur ,i y the result is :> niatti-r Rapid and tli- rwuHu- laces, especially during,' low, when' stc;nnl)oal» y require to hi- waiprd Lapid, and 'I'oliir,'^, or Grand Rapid, au'l th-' and Fort a la Conic. south branchts an- die se falls appear tn inc to "igation. They exitud lore than twelve miles. ut my two baiiunefer-j ween the juiieiion ami ill in that distance of lote book of I lie sleleh is i'rom bVi t() IT'i or irds to about a ([Ucirter id with larii'e roundi'd m we passed, many ot ire covered only a lew en no steainlxiai eould ur boat, an ordinary d drawintr only almut tandinu; that ^ve had a ed with tlie deepest le river, ol' course the nd, as there is no ^olid it begreatly lessened, of the brgci b.nildors, ely small co.'-i. Thi' lys be very heavy , and ds ill case of neo'i:i(> M line hard ridgt; ol" land along which the H. B Co. havf buill tlu'ir wjiu^'on road. Tho total length in a straight line hetvveen th»! Jakes is n.Mrlv luiu niilpB. Travelling in a southerly direction from Cedar Lake the laiiil ris.s gradually to a height of it;;.14 I'et^t at a pointonly one (jimrter of,, inilrlr.,m the shore of Winnep»goosis, then des(;ends suddenly to its hcacli. \\ mn,,. Eegoosis here presents a wide surlace, ailbrding no luvtural ])riitecti(.iii to oats from tln' heavy storms which are so frequent in these purls Th ■ bottom of the lake, roniposed of limestone gravel, slopes away giuduailv to a depth of six feet at 'JOO feet trom the shore. Some good timber can he obtained on this section from In" to Is' in diameter. Watku Hkn Kivek. Behreen Lnkfs Winnfjwf^oosiH and Manitoba. The total distance by this river between the above lakes is ^10 miles, and the dilference of level 18. 7;) feet. After traversing a long reach of Lake "Winnepegoosis, the Wati-r H.m, River is entered, flowing in a northeasterlv direction })etweeii low niu'- !i\ banks, with a current of :{ miles an hour over amuddy bottom ; ils av i:"jv width is about oOO to HOG feet and depth 5 to tj feet; the diirereuc ol K'Vi'l on this section known as the " North Branch" is abo it tl feet Water lien Lake is now reached, a very shallow sheet of walcr, lillcd with boulders lying on a still clay bottom, and so close togelher iliai iio channel can be louiul; the average depth in July, 1872, Wh.s only ■'< !••■! but Hudson's Bay Co's. servants state that in 1S71 the depth did no! i'x<'. ,m1 2 feet, and that they have known it to be as low as I'-G". Leaving Water Hen Lake the river flows at an averagt; rate of IVom 3 to 4 miles an hour in a southerly direction to the " Forks." Thr depth varies from 3J to 17 ftH't, and the channel is in many places obstruetnl hv large boulders, so as to interfere seriously with navigation. Along the banks of the river a tew tamarac, about 12' in diain can h. obtained, the rest of the timber is worthies.-?. The average width of this portion of the river is about 500 fci, iho bottom is stony as far down as the Forks, where it becomes muddy. Meadow Portauk. Beliveen Laken Winnepegoosis and Manitoba. The total distance between these lakes is nearly V\ miles, and thf dif- ference of level 18.70 feet. This portage traverses a low marshy neck of land separating Lakf Winnepegoosis Irom Manitoba, and may be considered a rival roulo to th-- Water Hen lliver. Hs general course is easterly, and the greatest elevation attained abevo Winnepegoosis is 10 feet. A test pit sunk at this point gave 12" black loam, 3" small limestones, 12" marl and then more limestones. The timber in this section is very poor — a few scrubby oak 12' diaia. can be obtained. No stone appears, except along the shore ol Maniioba 261 ivt' l)uilt their wnu^'on io. Jakcs is iK'iirly |,>iir lar Lake the lanll ii.s.'v '(juarttT ol'ii inil.'lrom r to ita bcui'li. Winiie- natural ]ir..trctiMii to t ill thi'sc i)ails. Tli.' ■slopes away m-aihiaih ion from lo" to 1> iu initobn. bove lakes is -'{O miK's ^•oosis. the Wat.-v 1I>m, n JH'twt'cii low ma'- !i\ ly bottom ; ils avi:i-v the feet di'ep at 2,000 t'l'ct distance from the shore in Winnepegoosie, and in Manitoba the same dopth at ()60 feet from the shore. rAKTIUDOE Cuor AND DaUIMIINE RlViCll. Between Lakes ManHoba and Winnipeg. The waters of Lakes Manitoba and Winnepegoosis flow northeasterly to Lake Winnipeg through Partridge Crop Kiver into St. Martin's Lake, thence through the Little Saskatchewan to Winnipeg, a total distance of about 08 miles, with about 41 feet fall. "Partridge Crop Kiver" is nine miles in length, flowing through channel 500 feet wide, constantly broken by rapids and obstructed by boulders, the depth being only 2' 6" on the crest of the rapids. As these soundings were taken when the water was high, according to the best information obtainable, about ten inches may be deducted for low water. Near the bend of the river (see plan) it widens out to 1,300 feet, and here the depth is only 3 feet lor a distaJicc of 1,300 feet, with a gravelly bed covered by boulders. Through St. Martin's Lake a channel was found with 8 feet of water, bottom muddy with weeds. At the narrows it shoals to -I feet and after- wards passes over a mad bar with only 2' G' water; Shoal Bay i.s entered near the mouth of the Little Saskatchewan; tht-re is no reiiular ehanuel : the bottom of line clay covered with boulders makinir iiaviiralion very dan;.;erous. Total length of this lake on navigable route 21 miles. The av(;rrtge breadth of Dauphino river is 2G0 feet, with a depth of irom 3 to 4 feet, it Hows in a northerly direction at a rate of from 1 to 7 miles an hour ; the banks are low and marshy on the northern branch, while on the ^^iihtern l)ranch they are from ti to 20 feet high. There are thirty rapids on this stream, and the bottom, composed of coarse gravel, is covered with very largo boulders. In some of the rapids the greatest depth is not more than two feet and the current from 7 to 8 miles an hour. Timber is iioor in this section. Juniper and Tamarac, from S" to 15" through may be found. The total fall between Lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg is about 42 feet. Before entering Partridge Crop river, Lake Manitoba is very shallow — lor a distance of a mile not more than 3 feet can be obtaineil. At the mouth of the Dauphine Kiver a line .sheltered bay of Lakt; Win- nipen; is t'litered, with deep water. PRAIRIE portage. Between Lake Manitoba and the Assinibuine River, near Portage la Prairie. The southerly end of Lake Manitoba is bounded by a narrow oank of saiul varying from 100 to 200 feet in width, and 4 to 10 feet in heii;ht. This bank encloses a deep marsh, producing reeds and rushes from 6 to s i'eet iu height. Numerous water holes are also found, with an average dt'pth of 7 feet, until the mouth ol Portage Creek is reached. 1 1 !i 262 This creek is from 800 to 500 feet in width, with from 1 to 2 ffot ol soft mud, and a clear depth of 8' 6" to 5 leot of water. No timber of any value is to be found in this section of tho, cnniitrv. and only a few dwarf oakn are to be seen. From the head waters of Portage Creek to the Assiniboine lliv. i the distance is 7 miles across a gently rolling prairie, but to reach water (miii- munication in Portage Creek of ;>' G" in depth the distance woult ol r. nection of tho cfmntrv, Assinihoiiu' liiv. i tht? it to reach water (miii- distance would \>y in I October, iHT'i. 14.>*2 t, 3 feet still' cliiv ami Kleviiti'iu above till' S,;i. et No. 11 71'» 7(^4 77"' 1 1 II S68 APPENDIX P. yiekorolof^ir.al Observatfom in the Rocky Mountains, — dnturtions hi/ PuoF. KiNOSToN, of the Magnetic Observatory, Toronto; nnd Report on the Winter Climate of the Yellow Head Pass and appronrhes thereto, by Mr. Walter Mobkrlt. Maunetic Ohservatory, Toronto, Canada, March 28th, IS74. S.\Ni>FORD Fleming, Esq., Ottawa. Dk\u Sir, I assure you that no time has been lost in making such use of your Mitoorological Register as it was possible for m«; to make under the circum- >tances. The columns of your register were transcribed so as to form 15 sepa- rati- abstract sheets, from which the various columns in Table I. were dt'rivL'd. Tables II. and III. give a condensed comparison ol the Rocky Mountain Stations, with several places in the settled regions, and I think ili:it the West will not lose by the comparison. Table IV. is an attempt to make some use of the recorded direction nf winds; but little is possiljle with so few examples. The written reports of Mr. Moberly are very interesting. I send them i)ack at once, lest you should require them ; but I have taken the liberty '>! having a copy made in case of desiring to refer to them again. Hoping that what I send will be of service to you, I remain, Truly yours, G T. KlN(K-*TON. Tables derived from the Meleorolo'^ietd Rei<^ister kept at certain stations in the Rocky Mountains, from November, 1871, to October, 1S7-3, under the im- mediate direction of Mr. Rylatt, of the Pacific Railicai/ Surrey. T.^iiiii; I. — Contains a summary of the observations. The averages and other numbers are given for monthly periods when the months are complete ; but where this has not been practi- cable, in consequence of change of station, periods less than a month have been taken, and sometimes periods composed of parts of two consecutive months. The numbers given as the mean temperatures are the arithmeti- cal means of the means at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., excluding those for noon 964 or 8 p.m. Monns ihuH found, though not abBolutely correct, do not diffor );(rt'atly Irom the truth. The niiddio ol tho throe daily readings of the thermoiiifl.r wi-ro taken U noon IVom Nov. 9th, 1H7I, to Jan. 17th, 1872; after wIik lith,.^ were lalien at .'5 p.m. This explains tho double entry in January, \x^'i In one InNtance only waw tho temperature recorded an low ils—iu*. namely at Howe Pass in Dec., 1871 ; but m tho thermometer \vn.s not graduated below that point, it is posNible that on that oceasion the J I actual temperature wa.s lower than — 34". '| TABLE I. t Siiitw)(iri/ of Miliuiiili'ijiriil O/inrni till IIS tuftiit In orliiln ilittrirtt of ihr Ri, ky Mdiiiit'iliis, /mm SnrrmUr If'Tl lo Oclolier 187.'J. (1) Howe's Tass, Columbia Rivek, Latitude 51 ° 23* N. Lonoituur. 'I IIATKH. Is71 Nov.Hih l«. tilth. IV-O. Ixttoaiht 1N72 Jan. iHt. to .'JlHt Fehy, Isl. to2sili.... March iKtUi.'ilKt... April lHlUi30i>i May lNtU).1Ut Jun« )Htln26th TliMI'KKATUHK Moiiii l*a.ni. 1 16 a .Mpiiii .NlKlll .'1 p. III. 21.7 Mfii n II |i in. Iii4 .Meiin X II III. II p.iu. liil) Wvan .Mliiliii AliHolulc Mliilin. IllRhCKt oliKi-rvfil Temp. 12 II -MM .iD.o (1.0 11.7 -0.2 0.2 -7.U -;ii 30.0 10.(1 21 7 J 1«.7{ 12. U U 6 0.8 -17.6 31.0 17.2 it). 9 IS. 2 17.7 12 3 -20.0 10. .•)(). G 1,-1. « .fO.fl :«I.K 21.0 0.0 58.0 :W.4 o.-!.-! :tl.l) !ifl 7 2H.0 21.0 70 f)i a (r).2 4»0 51.1 3(1.0 »).0 MI.O 1*1.2 7^ , /") ,-.2.5 'MM in ;. :.l , HB.ri Numlior )f ilrty.H of llalti. Ill' . 10 I I I l).0 I 5 I 1.0 I 7 l.o I I I I) : lufbeii. 1«.S ».« n Pott. .0 , t I TAMfiK I.— (C'nNTIMKt.) Siiuinmri/ (>/ Mi'fromliiijioit (/l>'iriiih'''iii tnim in ',it,iiii ilislriilt nj' tin A'cA'// Mdniiliiinii, /'iviii X'ii;mltrr, 1^7 1. '" 0.7tf/<.iii. M |i.iii. Minlin I Mliilni, i T'luc Nuiiiiier of I lay M »( lUIn .NiiiuIht Amount of ilayn of Hiiow, ol Mnciw. (7j Siimntit AlliudiiHKi I'litH, oiLitiiTiatbtolTUi., i.'itJ , JMi I ,;i.ii I II M ;i:i L' i as n | .xi o (H) Wlitrf/xiitf liiiir, :\fh( M 7 ! 7.rt Q.ii : — '.o.ii ; in II I I -<) .-1 -.11 ill s 1 I 5 I I (9) Athabasca nRPOT, Latitude .')2® 56' N, I.onoitudk. iH'a- .l,iiiiiar.v l»t Uii'lUt,. Kei>iiiry iKt to IMth,. M«rili M toSUt... \\-i]\ M tn lllh. .. .\prll lull to. l27 1 II ia.7 •J-..-. in. II II 7 4 4 -24.5 .1II..I 1) r, 211. fi Hs.s 2H " 2S.2 17.. •! -11.11 «i ;i 2 4 »<.2 411. ;i ll't (1 .1.1 1 2ft :i IH 5 riti r, l> U 1 1 (10) Fidtih' /ill fr Depot. 43.9 I .M.n I ;i».5 I 41.4 I 21) n I 15.0 au- I 5U..'I 4l.a I 4.5(1 87.7 ' ;H.O Mny Halilo.llHt.... 49..') I>iiie M to 6th. lai.e Mil to 30th... Iiil.v I -I lo 7tb,.... «!.» (11) I'hiisdnt <'>imf>. .V).2 ;t7,.-i I 4:< I I .'11. .5 I 27.11 .51.7 411,1 I 4i 2 ;!«.2 H.'<.5 III II 71.0 ;i2n I lij.o (I'J) Mi-Lcod liivir Drpot. Kl.n HI 2 ; III. 4 . -ti II I 4M II 0(1.2 I 60 . 5 I 411 2 .^4.7 I IW 7 21.11 30.0 THO 70.0 (13) Fi-) VriiiiUiri/ Valley. 413 1 44.fi ' .'10.7 I 28.0 | liT 7.5 4.1) 1.0 3.11 fl..5 It 2 3 1 « " it • •n I 1 » 1 I •*).» 266 'I Tabls II — Is desij^ned for the purpose of comparing the low temperatures in the Rocky Mountains with those of eastern stations. In order to effect this comparison it has been necessarv, for ihf spring and autumn quarters, to combine together observations rniulc at different stations, the combinations being indicated by the distiii.h- ing numbers of the stations given in Table I. The first comparison is between the quarterly means dI" (ht; daily mean temperatures in the Rocky Mountains and the corroispoiulinj; means derived from several years at various eastern staticjiis. From this comparison it is seen that in autumn tho Rocky M(hui- tains temperature one day with the other does not fall so low ub at Peterboro and Pembroke, but that it falls lower than at other oasteni stations. In the winter the daily minimum in the west is lower than at eastern stations, but in the spring comparison is in favor of th« west The absolutely lowest temperature at the Rocky Mountains htatioii> are then compared, first with the mean of the absolutely lowfsl in each quarter, obtained by combining the lowest temperatures of that quarter in each year for several years, and then with the absolutely lowest of the quarter in the same term of years. TA13LE U. CoMPAKisoN of I tie rriMtn ininimii and tho ;ii various otlior ntationrt in tlio Dominion, and also with tlie menns ot tho nhaolni" minima dorivc , a , ::; ^ 09 If ,; a 7, it -3 „■ 1 1 k DD 1= Is i 1 1 (2 1 a 9< c c a c ■y a 7. 1 Meom Minimum Temprratiire. u <( It .16.9 " 1 31. B aa.i (1 ».K 11 1.6 tl 8 8" 4.0 o.s M ^.5 (1 " 28.8 27. (i| " 27.1 ai.4 U 40 8 ;i(io;iv^,.i».i . I i 10.7 .■! 4 II :' iti I ! ) ;(.')! 2s 0'2M .W.:| Mean of Abtoliitelf/ LowcH Tcinpnratunx. 8.0 !B7 7.2 8.3 4.2 sao, 25.0 12.9.11.1 2.7 8..1 :i.r, :i.(i u s I'i.t 35.9 20.0 !a.4 2.l..'5il'J.Bl h.n 20.9 4.7i 9 ;{, B.4. II..; i).:l Abmlutfly Lowell Temperature. MM iW.O .31.0 5.1 8H.1 11. 11.4 14.0 «.« II). 1 l''> l.'.O. S.l! 41.0 88..-. 45.0 au.o.as.o.w-^ :■; - u i " U.O 'Hi 1 20.9 23.1 32 C 2:).ev('r was T 1 Canii: '■".MI'\I11.S().^ <|iiiirl('i '''■'■■•IIl'icl- iiiiiil,!;^ IVhiu.i.v Willi, :-!ii,:,r|,.r. Taju.i.; IV,- leronce of the f 207 Oil oxaming- Tablo II. it is se«n that in the autumn, stations 5, are liable to a cold much oxcooding that oi' the cast ; that the winter of the west may l)e compared lavourably witli that ol'tlm east, and that in spring the west has a very decided advanlage. It is to l)e remarked, however, that conclusions drawn i'ronx such scanty materials must l»e considered .is only provisional. From TxiiLE III wIkmc the snow that i'oll in the three wiiit<'r months at Howe's Pass and Athabasca Depot is compared with the avenige fall derived from several years at various places in the Province of Ontario, kr.., it will be seen that the fall at Howe's Pass is exctcdivl by that of several of the Eastern stations, and that the snow at Athabasca Depot WHS remarkaldy light. A hiMvy fall amounting to 30 inches fell in one storm at Pleasant Camp in May, IHT^J; but this was obviously an (exceptional case. TAHfiK III. I "Ml'MUSoN ol'tlii' (Icjilli iilMiow r(;c()Cilc(l in lln; iircci'iliiii;' liiMc 2^>. -v* V, •-I c ■7, ^ *• f" £ h c t •/; "■ - " 0- ■;; I X t i; c i ■z is a -«0 . I in. in. 27..'! l.i :! 21.1)1 21). a I 77. a IU.1.2 in. in. III. ill. in. ill. 4S.I), 21.2 10.1 211. -J' 17.11 .'ii'.K 2;;." ;;ii.i) I ; I ' I :«).;![ 27.0, 12 1) 2:i r ill .> II .! 11). 1 4« I) I I I I I I l.).»l 22.1) 'Al.W 17.'i! l.l.ll; 2.! •"> M.l! :.ii ■! 111.2 71.1 102.' 70.1 ID 5 lis (i 52-2 I i I 1 12.. J Taui,!'. IV, — Where the winds from difleront points are compnied with re- lerenct! to their frt!quency, it is necessarily very imperlect on account of the shortness of the period embraced. 27.', « **<»- « < !» '■■« ' ■ 268 M TAliLK IV. Tabli' .slu'wiii^ the i'lrquciicy with which tho wind hicw from the i.yi/ Walteii Mobkuia', Esq. Sandford FLK^riNd, Esq., Eiii!^im>er-iu-Chief, Dear t5iu,— In .su!»niitiiiiu a resistor of metoorolno;ical observation.s (aki'ii during part of Ihc yi'ar isTl, '7 '2 and '73, at various points in the* lio'ia- Moun- tains, I dt>.'-irc to iici^ompany them Aviili tho foUowini'' roiii,iiK.> oji the climate of a portion of that region : — With vegaid to the nature of the winter climate m the Yellow Head Pass, and .some of its approaches, I will briefly state the uio.nI nnportaii! information ohtaim-d The liuliiins that live in the neigliliorhood of Tete Jimne (':i' lie in- formed me the greatest depth of snow during the winter in the wide vailey at '^i . 209 Cranberry Lake is about four feet. From what I could jrather from thorn thJ snow generally boffins to fall there about the first week in November. Thoy also told me the snow in the valley of the North Thompson, below tho forksof Albroda and above Stillwater, beuins to I'all .1 li-w days before it (IfM's at Cranberry Lake, and continiies on thf ^-roiiiid lattM- in the sprinii- ; imliriii!? from what I could make out from them the u;rt'at(^';t di'plh in the vall-'V of the North Thompson rarely exceeds five feet. Wht'ii I tried to tret throui;h ihe mountains south ol'thi- vall(>v of the XortU Thompson, about twenty miles above its junctinn with thi- Albreda River in the direction of the C'h^arwater Lakrs, I encountered a snowstorm on the 21st October, but at that time was soini" ei<>ht huudr'Ml let above the i'-vel of the Thompson Itiver, where I leit it. I thinl; 1 took the wrong opening in tho mountains, as I subsequently learnt from an Lidian that I should have taken the next one above it in order to uet to the north end of Clearwater Lake. From thence, on my journey to Kamloops, the woather was remarkably fine and no snow fell. !n the valley of the Fraser, from T«He Jauni' Cache to the summit of the Yellow Head Pass, light drizzling rains fell in the autumns of IST'2-:], and we had frost ahout the beainning of October. At the summit of Yellow Head Pass, and at the lak'> of the s;nae name, thi'ie was two fetst of snow in the lirsi wick ol' March, Is73. Easterly from the above summit, through the Caledonian Valley, we h;icl very fine weather from the 24th October until the 7th of November ; oil the latter date about two inches of snow fell during the night at our rump on the Miette, nine miles from the Athabasca. The total fall of snow in the winter of 1872-3 at our depot on Jasper Valley, twenty-two miles east of the summit of the Y'ellow Head Pass, Avas two feet one and a half inches, and the greatest dei^th on the ground at one time was six and a half inches. Jasper Valley, from the Miette, and as far down the River Athabasca a.s I have been, viz. : about forty miles below Jasper House, has a dry climate. With the exception of a few occasional drops, I never saw any rain. There were some spells of frost in November and a continuance of very cold weather, from the 13th to the 28th of December ; it was cold in January and for four or five days in February ; at other times during the wuiter the weather was comparatively warm, frequently not even at the freezing jjoint. The winds that blow with much violence render Jasper valley unpleasant in the winter; the northeast wind always brought cold and the southwest warm weather. From the beginning of March until about the 20th of May, with the oxcrpiion of a little snow on the 2Gth and 27th of April, the weather was remarkably fine. This is the best season for field work, as the Hies do not maki' their appearance imtil the beginning of June. Comparatively speaking, the winter months in the district nd'erred to are not as severe as at Toronto. To give an instance I will mention that the jiack arrivals (horses and mules) with the expedition after an unusually liard .season's work of about nine months duration, when they were very (J i s 270 much ^\•onl out and nearly starved after packiuj:;- the supplii's ov.t the Kocky Moimtains by ihe Athabasca Pass, the allitu(b> of whidi is ijoj;, |,,,,| above tilt' tea, and iit a time when severe weather and snow storm- w i, almost incessant, the animals were turned ont about the lirtili olManuarv toshil't lor themselves as we had no Ibdder for them. Not a sini^lc on., of them died, and they were all in lair condition when ihey resmuctl work the lollowiniT March. The I'rost does not appear to penetrate the earth lo any di'pth iiuh,' mountains as the snow covers the yround belbre the severe wcallicr .-.t.s m. Apparently the water in the rivers is not as cold in the winter as it is after the snow begins to melt and the rivers rise. In the winter the stre;iias are led from springs, but when the cold weather breaks up the icy lold water from the melting snow is the principal source from which thoy are ffd. Un leaving- our depot in Jasper Valley on the 14th of March, 1 lomul on the banks of the Athabasca only two or three inches of snow in placov. On the top of the high ridge between the Athabasca and McLeod Kivors, west of the height crossed by the Hudson's Bay Trail, there was IVoin three to four feet of snow in the early part ol April ; on the IGlh of April when I crossed this ridge by the Hudson's Bay Trail, there were a few patches of snow at the summit from nine to ten inches in depth, but oii arriving the same d val- leys through which they blow,) caused me to notice that when there was a prevalence for several days of wind from the north and east, the weather was much more severe than when it blew from the south and west, yihim 1«7; 271 fivni /lie iiiounlnins.) Last year I was surprised at the warmth of the strong wiiuls that blow down the valley oi' the North t:»askatchewaii Kiver from the south ami west during the time (latter portion of October) occupied in raakiiia: the trip from the summit of Howe's Pass to the Kootanie Pliiin, uu the North Saskatchewan. The extremely cold weather we had during portions of the months of November and December in the Howe's and Yellow Head Passes, was succeeded in both instances by remarkably mild weather, similar to that of early spring in the Province oJ' Ontario, and during which, when occu- pied in writing and drawing, we kept the doors of our huts open as they were unpleasantly warm. The very small quantity of snow we met with at our depot in the Jasper Valley, (22 miles from the summit of the Rocky Mountains) and the small quantity found by Mr. A. H. Clreen about the end of February, 1«T2, near the summit of Howe's Pass on the open ftat south of Mount Forbes, where it v;as all iiewlff Jallen snow from six to twelve inches in depth, (dilfVrence caused by drifting) and decreased rapidly as he des- cended the North Saskatchewan a short distance ; the ground being bare ill places has, in conjunction with the observations made as stated in the last two paragraphs, led me to infer the climate of the two Passes is vt>ry similar. Another circumstance also appeared at first rather singular: from various reports and tables I have examined, those of Colonel .1. H. Lefroy, R. A., Capt. Palliser and Dr. Hector, respecting the climate of the country. East of the Kocky Mountains, (p'ort Edmonton for instance,) the snow appears to attain a greater depth, and the weather a greater degree of sevrrity than where we spent part of the winter east of the Yellow Head Pa.ss, From what I have learnt of the valley of the North Saskatchewan near its source, I think it not improbable the same would prove to be the case there ; and it is my impression, although it may appear rather uii- reasoiiable, that the mean winter temperature through a series of winters will show a much milder climate to exist at the two above mentioned points than at Fort Edmonton. December appears in all these places to have the longest continuance of cold weather. The above peculiarities apparently being the case, it naturally follows that there must be causes by which they are brought about, and as far as I can as yet form an opinion I have attributed them /irincijiall// to the following : 1. The valleys of the upper waters of the North Saskatchewan and Athabasca liivers present a remarkable similarity in many respects: both '»eiiig wide with extensive flats and fjranches, ligh'ly timbered and pene- trating with easy and gradual ascents to the height of land in the Rocky Mountains, the valley of the Athabasca being a little wider in places, but that of the North Sasktchewan '• carrying its width " to the height of land ffhich the other does not quite so fully. 2. Immediately along the westerly base of the Rocky Mountains there is a large, extensive, and continuous valley of comparatively low altitude to that of the adjacent mountains, extending from and connected with the i . I 272 II I' * plateau country (The "Great Columbian Desert'') east ol" Walla Walhi, (I'roin which locality — dry, arid, and warm — it is connected l)y th.- valli>v of the lower Columbia, with the Pacific Coast,) and which vallcv is IWruied or rather prolonged i'rom the northeasterly corner ol' that I'lati au in latitude 47'^ N., long-itude ll(j'^ W., by those known as the Kootaui.^ (a> lar as latitude 50'' IS' N.,) the McGiilivray branch ol' the Coluui])ia and th.- Canoe and Cranberry Riv'ers to Tfte Jaune Cache in about latit\idi' i)Z'^ N., and also connected with Walla Walla by the portion of the C<)luTul)iii Valley between that point and the Boat Encampment at thi' coiillu 'in i- ol the Canoe and Columbia Rivers in latitude oli^ 7" N.; this i^rcsal vall.'\ has. various branches extending- lar into the mountains on either side, aiiinn::st which are those ol Blackberry River, (Howe's l*ass,) I'ortage liivev, (Alha- basc.i Pass,) and the valley ol the Fraser, west ol' Tete Jaune Cai-lii-, ( Vtj- luw Head P. s.) 8. It is a well established fact that the climate on the eastern sidi- ol the Rocky Mountains is much more seven; than that on the western side in the same latitude. The Howe's, Athabasca, and Yellow Head Passes, branohtis ol th(' great valley of the western slope, connecting with those of the Niirih Saskatchewan and Athabasca Valleys on the eastern slope, allonl as it were ''deep channels " through the mountains for the influx of thi' waiiii air of the Pacific Slope and ocean, the influence of which is so mticli i ii here, but on mixing with the colder atmosphere east of the K(ii;k\' Mountains, its ameliorating effect rapidly decreases, and at no yieat dis- tance east of their base is unfelt. I am, &c., &c., WALTER MOBERLY, 273 alia Wulh,, till' valli'v 'v is Innnt'd I'liiti'aii ill Cuot;ilii.> (i|v Ilia ami th.' iititml." 03'^ t' C()liuul)ia )llllUi'Hi.(! ol t vall.'V hiKs Ji', ainoiijst iver, (Aihii- jiwhi', (Yfl- eni .suli- v\ resU'rii side :'ht!s ol' th(> (' tho Norih allord as it )!' iht^ wanu much i"li the li-.'ky lo si'iiMt dis- ERLY. I APPENDIX Q. Reports, Recommendations, Orders i» Council, and other documents in refere.ive to the loss of Officers and Men engaged on the Survey up to January 1st 1874. LOSS OF LIFE IN 1871 AND 1872. Office of the Enoinker-in-Ciiief, Ottawa, January 28, 1873. The Hon. H. L. Lanoevin, C.B. Minister of Public Works. Sir — I beg to submit for the consideration of yourself and the Gov- miment some particulars in reference to three serious accidents, iiivolvinij loss of life, that have taken place during the prosecution of the survey. 1st Accident. — The iirst of these occurred on the 7th August, 1S71, on the north shore of Lake Superior, between the mouth ol Nej^igon river and Long lake. The cause was fire in the woods, by which seven men, connected with the survey, lost their lives. Of these, two were white, and the others Half-breeds or Indians, I'ND Accident. — The second accident occurred on the 20th May, lS7i>, on Lake Temiscaniingue, Upper Ottawa river; the cause was the upsetting of a canoe, by which four white men were drowned. 3kd ACCIDENT. — The third accident occurred on the 20th Nov., 1^72, on the Greorgiau Bay, near Collingvvood; the cause was the wreck of the steamer " Mary "Ward." By this accident eight lives were lost, three of ihem belonging to the survey. lif,l ArriUent l*arliru/ars. — The details of the first accident are given at paae (38 of my " Progress Report" last year, it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them here, I .shall ther -lore confine myself to stating what has been done in aid of the sutl'erers. The two white men were named respectivtdy "VVm Maiheson and Alex. Mnclair ; the former was hi'-ed at Nepigon and had iit one time been ;u the employment of the H. B. (Company. No information could be obtained ;u reference to his home, connections, or friends. The latter, Alex. Sinclair, was hired at Toronto, where his family re- side. Through the representations of the Rev. Mr. McDonnell and others, ^liat he was the only support of his father, the sum of !i;4i)(J.0() was granted by the <.TOvernment to the latter. With reference to the Half-breeds or Indians, enquiries were made of of the H. 15 Co.'s officers at Michipicoten and Pic, which places were the ! I i 274 V I •i heiiclquiirtcis of Uic iiicii who were lost, iind ihfir liimilics, iis to what it would l)t> best to do lor thf lattor ; iiotiiiy ue to the II. IJ. Co'y. ^o^t, in a Miiall canoe, for the purpose ol settling accounts, obtainini>' letters, and i)i'iiii:iiiLr down ^^essrs. Knout and Kochette, who were laid up with S(!urvy ii th.' Kcv. Mr. I'iaiis. On the 20th May, having- arranged their business at the 11. U. Coy, post, tliey — Me.^srs Ilamilton ami Al)bott — started from ihe K(>v. Mr. riaii'- with Mr. Knoiit and R(»chette in the small canoi-, declinin!;' the u.se of t larger one kindly ottered by the above named gentleman. This wa^ ih.' last ever seen or licardof them On the 22nd Maya num named Mi V"ii;li arrived at the camp from the Post, and, surprised at not st'einu' Mr. llainil ton and party thtM'e. informed Mr. Haycock that they had lelt Ihe \w^y iwe days before. This information causini<' great anxiety to be felt on theiv accoiint, a search for them was immediately commenced, and, thi> lnlii.\v- ing day, their canoe was lound, bottom up, with some books. papi'r.<, \-c.. tied in it, about live miles ])elow the catnp, or 17 miles from the I'ust. Xo trace of the missing men could be Ibund, nor, although by my onlfis th" search was continued until the end of June, were any of the l/n,iii - n'- covered. The lake was rough the morning they left the Rev. ^Ir. rian'.- ; M'S-vs Hamilton and Abbott were, however, good canoe men, it is theri-lbre sup- posed that the sick men's limbs becoming cramped from sitting in th-' 'i"!- tom ot the canoe, they endeavored to change their position, thus overt ir \\\\V2 the canoe, and, the water being extremely cold, they wn:ire nii ili!i' im swim any distance and consequently were drowned. 3a/ Accident Paiiicularn. — The details of the third aceideiu aiv ai« Ibllows : — A party, in charge of Wm. Mi\rdoch, Esq., C. E., was .m'dI io make an exploration from Thunder Bay to the main lineof Sitrvey, Tlnv left Collingwood the loth Nov. last, onboard the St-?amer Cuuib'ihiiid, limling, after proceeding as far as Tober Moray Bay, that the sti annM- would not take them through to Thunder Bay, in consequence of tli'' 'I'W refusing to go on, they took >assage back for CoUingwood on the steaiiicr Mary Ward. On the -6th November, during thick weather and heavy wind iht' Mary Ward was wrecked on a shoal a few" miles to the west u\^ C'clliiig- wood, while endeavoring to make that port. > i 276 > Id wlhit it 11'' l:i,I ,111(1 n' I'nuld, !iv lir.l all th;. idciii ar.' a^ liv: K. .!(' CMiaiiiiii in . was uiif-- rallt'y of (hi' Lt its iiioiilh. "s. llaiuiltoii ^t, ill a Miiall 11(1 l>riiiL;iiiL;- iirvy :ii til'' 11. v.. C.v r.Mr. rian^ lb' I'M' "f I 'his \va> i!i.' L-(l M.V-i-li • Mr. llami! Ihc ])()^i l\V(i loll, on thi'iv th'> iulii.w- [pai)i'rs, ,V':.. (> Tost. No orders ill" Ixiilii'^ ri'- n's; M''>-vs rci'ori' su])- I- ill th'' '"■•• -)\-i'rlivnii)L' imal'li' '" h'Ul arc as was M'lil 10 cv. Thi'V uii'iherhiiKl, he stt'aiai'r th'" ercw hi' sti'aiiu'r y Wlii'l l!i'' ul' Ci'lllilg- \' ii\!»M Ilalf-hreods or Indians. Names unknown. ' i( It It It II ffo, •Jnd A ccident. 3rd Accident. II t 111 an t'd'ort to rt'ach thv niaiiilaiid alter haviu;^ been lor sonu' time on til'' .sh<^al, eii^hl persons were drowned; the remainder ol the crew and litters succeeded in reaehiuL;- land. :)t'the eiyht men lost, three helonu'ed to the stirveyiiiL;' party, namely ; F. Cluulwick, o| Simcoe, Kudman ; W.Caldwell, of Toronto; and T. D. Tavlor, of Orillia, Axeman. ! deem it my duty now, to l)riji<>^ under th(f notice of yoursolf and the uo\iiinnent, the eases ol' these ! I uiilortunate men, who lost their lives in ih(> service of the pul)lic. Their names are as follows : — 1st. Wm. Matheson, I'ackman, lost by Ist. accident. ■lm\. Alex. Sinclair, .".rd. 4 th. 6th. )■ iith. I 7th. J ^ ^'^th. A. Hamilton, Esq., in charge, !Hh. E. J. C. Abbott, Transitman, 10th. G. Knout, Chainman, nth. (r. liochette. Packman, liith. F. Chadwick, Rodman, 1 "ith. Wm. Caldwell, AAcman, 1 Ith. T. IJ. Taylor, do " •' 1st. Wm. Matheson, as already stated, no particulars in reference to him could be obtained. He was hired on the 'Jlst June, 1«T1, at iji.'lO.OO P'M' month, and lost his life on the 3rd Aug., 1871. He would, therefore, 1)0 entitled to $43.00 and had received on account If 75, leaving a balance ill his favor of 840.25. Alex. Sinclair was hired at Toronto in the beginning of June, 1871, at i30,'^ii pL'r month ; his wages were paid up to the date of his death, together with an advance of iJlOO.OO to his lather; and in addition to this the Gov- 'nniient granted the latter i^400.00, making the total assistance granted hi ihis case !i|i")00 00. :ird, 4th, oth, Cth and 7th — Half-breeds or Indians. Their families have 'iteii treated in the manner already explained; the assistance allbrded their iamilies being et^ual to about $50.00 for each man lost. ^ih. Arthur Hamilton — The circumstances con'iected with this case mv peculiarly distressing, and are as follows : He was sent to lied Biver 111 the survey connected with the road from the Lake of the Woods to Fort 'rarry. At the time of the disturbance in that place he was arrested, by crder of Kiel, and confined in prison, but after six or eight weeks conline- mcnthe made his escape, and returned home in a destitute condition, having lost his clothing, instruments, &c. He made no claim upon the Govern- ment for these losses, feeling thankful that he got home in health. lie was hardly settled at homo after this, when, by the destructive fires which raged in this part of the country during the summer of 1870, he lost " thai he pos.sessed, his wife, child and himself barely escaping with their On the 1st of July, 1871, he joined this Survey, and proceeding to ail livos. the ( ountry north of Lake Hiiron, completed, during the Summer and Autumn of that year, in a very satisfactory manner, the duties entrusted 28 i I \ ' 276 ;' ! to him. IIo was sont iip tho Ottawa Rivor in the lattor part ol I'.l.i nary 1872, renuiininj? out until this Survey was coinplotinl, unci was on 1,,^ ^y^^^. home, alter a severe winter campaign, when he lost his life, as pr.'N iuusl'v described, on the 20th May, 1872. He leaves a widow and tu.. votuil. children entirely unprovided ibr. Ilis .salary, $lf!0.00 piT moiitli li,,; ]„.,,'^^ paid to his widow up to the -Slst of May last, and I hav'< advaiicd i MnuJI amount in addition. Dth. E. J. ('. Abbott— This gentleman was employ. 'd on tlu' Siuv.'v from the Isl .Tuin', 1H7I, to the datt>of his death, and was on liis way l,,,),,",. after a very hard winter's work, fie leaves, I believe, u widowed inotli, .. who was, probably to some extent, dep(Miden( upon him. His sihiv \\;i> $\00 per month, and there remains a balauct> of !«!2t5.1H due his \un\s 10th. Geo. Knout was a young man IVom Nova Scotia. He wasnn. ployed on the Siirvev i'rom the 1st June. 1S7I, to the date of his d.atli. und spent the whole oi the winter in the Woods. His salary was s.!;,, which his friends received in full up to the above named date. 11th. Cr. Ilochette was a .single man, a French Canadian by l>irth and had been on the survey from the 1st ?ept., 1871, to the date ot hi-, dia'h His wages were $20.00 per month, which his friends have received in lull up to the above date — and in addition 4 months wages granted by Gov'Tiiiurut 12th. Fred. Chadwick, came from Simcoe and was employod on ih.' survey from the 1st July, 1872, to the date of his death. He was one n| eight orphan children, who were, I believe, to some extent, dcpiMul' iii upon him for support. His salary was $40 per month, part had b.eii i);ii(l him on account, leaving a balance due to his heirs of § 114,50 Tor si'ivnct rendered up to the date of his death. 18th. \Vm. Caldwell w^as a single man who was hired lor tin- survi'v in Nov., 1871, and had only returned home a short time before th." aiiidont by which he lost his life. He had been settled with upon his return, und having re-engaged with Mr. Murdoch's party in November last, was ln,i in the manner already related. His wages were $30 per month 14th. T. I). Taylor, leaves a wife and several chiKlreu ; was iiiMii:i'd last Nov., and was ronsequently but a short time in the service wh n lu' lost his life. 'I his closes the list of painful losses; herewith will be found ibe wlicj'' in a tabular for)n to facilitate reference. Having thus submitted all the facts in my possession coniiiM iid wiih these men, I would respectfully present their several cases for ilu' most favorable consideration of the (xovernnieut, and at the same lime -U'^'icst that the course pursued with reference to the volunteers mighl lorMi u guide on which to act in reference to these parties, as, although dyiiiL;- IVoni different causes, they were yet exposed to great danger.s, and perished liki- the volunteers, in the service of their country. fShould the (.Jo\ eiiiui.'iit see fit to act on this suggestion, I would recommend, in order iliai iln' Canadian Pacilic Hallway — to which the amount wculd \n' clearly i hiruv- able — may bear the expense, that instead of granting pensions in tlies.' ca.scN the several amounts, to which the heirs of the deceased would appear in U entitled, be capitalized and paid over for their benefit. I am, Sir, vour obedient servant, SANDFOKD FLEMING, Chief Eniiiiie-r ;? y. ■ . i 277 ol' l''i'hruary, IS on lii> way s l>lf\i..il>.!y i t\vi» young ntli li,i> tir,.|i iiii''il i .-iiiall 1 ill!' Siirvt'v lis way Ii.iin'c »\Vi'(| mntli.v. H siliirv U;i> lis ln'ir> III' \\ a> I'lii- • i>; lo>i th. was piiL''a!r('d irr U li a he lul iLi' will'!'' h llh'il''ii Willi i'or ilu' 1110^1 - lim.' >uu''ii'>i . /. linlii roiiii a .* 1 living' li'iiiii J XTlshinl llkr ■. (;ov('r;iiiii'iit ^ w (1,T thai tllr i ■ally i-'lrii'iiv- v> 1 llii'sr caso. V , appt'ar to 1)1 < J'jiiLiMiii'''' /. w * s 5 g 1 p V to. s 5 -iS s 2'S - ' c- - = = J «' & 33 M I .•? » ? rf 3 I » ^ < 7 R ''i 1 S »! r- rs 2 I? ^ t» » -, s ,^ U = = S -J J. •-> ;« as H S 3 s ii; ^ ? S; S 5 a u 9 Q C Ed H S a JQ o M Q Q a M 2 ^ E : j)iiymt'nt.s ol cortiiiii huuis ol iiioiicy IhIIk. r. jmc- Bi'nlativt's of thi' ollictTH who losi iht'ir lives durin}.'' thf I'licilif Siii\.vn, and roqui'st that the payments therein authori/.cil n»ay he niiuh- lorllnviili I have the honor to he, t^ir, Your 01)edienl Servant, F. HltAUN, Strrclnnj. SandI'OUD Flkminci, Esq., C.E., C. r. H. S., Ottawa. Cu/ii/ of a lirport of a (\iiiinulle.e (]!' Ihn Ilofiorahic Ihf Privi/ I'diiinil, aii/in'rci/ btf His E.vvfllcnrif the (ioverniir (irnnal in Coiitiril, "Is/ Muj/, \>^'-\ On a Memo, dated l.st March, IWT-'J, IVom the IIoii. the Minisn r ol Public Works, represeiilinif that (he Chitd' Kngineer of the Pucilie lunlwuy Survey, in a report dated 2Sth .Tiinuary last, state.s that 14 lives wer^ lost out of the stall ol' dheers and men employed on the Survey. Iroin lh<' month ol' August. ISTI, to the present, date, and relates t! ereiii tli.' (.ir- cumstanees attendinji' these sad losses, and which in britd are stair. 1 a> follows :— Ist. On the 7th ol' August, 1>n of the Survev were lost «\\h five others, in an endeavour to reach the mainland from the steauiii Mary Ward, which had stiandt.'d on a shoal in Georgian Bay, near Colliuijweuil. That the names and position of the lost men are as follows: — A. Hamilton Engineer. E. J. C. Abbott Transilman F. Chad wick liodnian (t. Knout Chainhearer. W. Matthewson I'ackman. A. Sinclair Do. O. Kochette Do. W, Caldwell Axeman. T. D Taylor Do. and the 5 Indians or Half-breeds whose names are unknown. That the families of these live Indians have been settled with U< ili'ir satisfaction. i J 27 !t Thut by iiutluirily ol' nn O. C, puhHcd on tlu' SAth May IiinI, ihf futh^'r ol'A. Sinclair, onoot'tho white victiniH of tljt» lirMt nccidi'iil, was paiil a Niun ot'v'.oo, vvliich WUH otjuivalt'nt to IH nionthH orhis luti' son's pay. 'I'liat in (hi- cum' oI' W. Malthtnvson, tli»' oIIht white vii'tiin ol the lirHt atcitlent, no particnhiiH fouM he obtained as regards his I'aniily or lonnec- tioiis. Th(> Alinister ret'onimonds that th<' representati\ cs of the remaining ilt't'casi'd l)e settled with on the same terms as were aecorded in the ease of Sinclair, vi/ : by allowinff them a sum e(iuivalent to IH months r)t' their late relutiv(!H' pay, as iollowH; — Pay per A«ii't to be paid Month. Mo'h. I'amilv, .\. Hamilton ijiltJO is siiHHO Iv. I. CV Abbott 100 X IH IHOO (1. Knout 85 X IH tiSO G. Uochettt! 26 X IH 4t)8 r.Chadwick 40 x 1H TiO W. Caldwoll 30 ]■: IH .')40 Total ijiTO.^H Tho Conuniltoe Hubmit the above n'commenilations lor your ICxcol- li'ii<:y's approval- such payments to be charired aijainsi appropriation lor 1'm< ilic liailway Survey. Certilied, (Signed), W. A. IIIMSWOIITII, To the Honourable Clerk V. C. The Minister ol Public Works, &c., HiC, &c. Statement of Account in each case, showing balances now payable. N A M K ith !o llii'ii- A. 11 V.MILTON ... K I C. AHROTT U. U.NOIJT 'i. IML'HKTTK... y. LIIAI)\VK'K ... II I ALDWKF.L... liillilLC." AlloWUIK'l AilvMii.."! llaliiiiccii of h.v 1)11 lu- T"IAI,. >tr II(l. lu Council. ( iVfr|iii|il. |lc * $ * 9 $ 2N80.(i(l •2NiO IKJ 1H8 511 •>!U 41 215 IS ISOO.fKI •J)ii) IS ano IH KW.W RIO 00 S ■21) 521 Ml itw n> 4(W.0<1 11(1. (Kl ■158.00 HI. 56 7'JI.OO s:il.,-.« S.'<4..}a .>10.0i1 MO.W •.iO.115 .il«..15 280 LOSS OF LIFE IN 1873. I ' Canadian Pacific Kailway. Ottawa, SOlh .l«iiuiny, is7.( SaNDKOUD lM-KMIN(i, I'lsQ., Fngiin'cr-in-Chiof. Dkar Siij, — I bog to sul»niit (he following report of serious accidents which oci nr- red on this work during tho pist summer, to take the place of one, on lht> same subject, which was destroyed by the late lire. Tho lirst accident occurred on the 24lh July last at Whitejish Lako, near the starting- point of Division M, 1873. By it three packmen lost their lives, whose names were Joseph Hughes, Devizes P.O., London, Ontario. Arthur Torrie, Milleburgh " Neil I'atterson, Napanee " The parfi(;u]ars of the accident are as follows: — Three men, nanioly. Joseph Hughes, Arthur Torrie and Henry Thomas, were crossing AVhiti- fish Lake in a small canoe, and when near the depot, which was estahli.sht'ii on the .shore ci" that lake, the canoe, by some accident, upset in 2-3 feel ot water, about 100 feet from the shore. Neil Patterson who happened to be standing there and saw the acci- dent, swam bravely out to their assistance, but was seized hold of by HughcK and they both sank together. A. Torrie also went down about the same time, but Henry Thomas, said to be the poorest swimmer of the three, succeeded in reaching the land. By this time, some of the men lit the depot attracted by the cries, run down to the beach, but were too late to render any assistance. It was estimated by these men that the whole thing occurred within three minutes Three days afterwards the bodies were recovered and buricnl in ow grave, near the depot, a board being placed at its head, having the names of the men and the date of their death written upon it. What little personal elfects they had were Ibrwarded to the Head Office, Ottawa, and were destroyed in the late lire. They were, however, of little value and consisted of some wearing apparel. At the date of their deaths the follownig amounts were due to them for wages : — J. Hughes $40 75 A. Torrie 44 79 N. Patterson 29 19 Before concluding the reference to this accident, I would respectfully suggest that, as Neil Patterson lost his lile in the effort to save others, his case deserves specinl consideration. The second accident occurred on the 21st October, at Red TJock, while the parties were waiting the arrival of a steamer to take them homo. VAY. Uiiiv, l^rl. hicli occur- one, oil lht> •t'fisli l.akc, '11 losl their Bii, niinicly, i'n\ seemed to be qiialilied for a higher i)osition than he then occupied. I had enclosed with my former report, a letter received from him since hi-^. return home, which fully bore out my opinion of him. If something could be done in the way of procuring for hiin a position a> clerk in an olUce, I belv've it would be more satisfactory to him than a pecuniary consideration. He was paid in full to the date of his discharge, and I directtid that he should be given two months pay extra, amounting to iijsGn.OO, to support him until able to move about again. In addition to the above mentioned loss of life by accident, I regret extremely having to report the loss of two of our "chief commissariat oliicers in the Held;" whose deaths, if not caused' were at lensl. accelerated hv unavoidable hardship and exposure to which they were exposed while I'lmaged carrying out thi'ir very arduous duties. The first of these was Mr. John P. Uobson, formerly of St. .Tohn, N.B., who received an appointment, in the above named cai)acitv, \vben this work WMs commenced in 1871, at which time h(^ romoveil h\» family to Kingston, Ontario, where they at present reside. During the past summer, Mr. liobson was stationed at Red Rock, Xepigon Bay, Lake Superior. I lelt him there when I returned to Ottawa lor a short time, on the 6th September; and upon going up there again iihout the 15th October, (1 can not speak exactly as to dates, my diarv having been destroyed in the lire) I found that he had been taken oil hoard the steamer "Cumberland," the day belore my arrival, in an insensi- hie state, and, I su]).s ([UtMitly learned, die«l on the p.i.ssage down, the day alter leavinij' Red Rock. The complaint of which he died wjis, I believe, neuraliiia in the head. Mr. Robson's duties during the pastsummi^r, were to receive all sup- plies brouuht to Red Rock by steamer, keepimif an exact account thereof; he then had to superintend personally the forwarding of thein, in such quantities as were re([uired l)y the Engineer in charge, to the j)rin(;ipal depotof each party, in the interior of the coiuitry. From which point, the onLrineer's commissariat officer saw to their being forwarded along the line of exploration The number of parties for which Mr. Robson had to provide wero tour, and the distance of their depots from Red Rock varit'd from 10 miles to 100 miles. lie had also to keep account of Government and llud.'^oirs Bay Co.'s stores supplied to the men, and the paying off of men who were dis- i f I ' II 282 char-jfod (lurinir th'' procuress of the work. Tht'se v;i lions dutios, some of vvhirh subjected him to ooiisid.iai)!,' hiirdship and exposure, he perlbrmed in a laithful and energetic uumiiipv. In consccjUtMKje ol" Mr. Kobson's sudden death, considerable diliuiiltv was experie'uM'd in dosing his accounts. But with Mr. Price's assistance, this was effected in as correct u nuui- ner as possil)le under (he circumstances. St» i'.ir as can be recollected, Mr. Robson's account showed a l);ilaiiij.' against him of about ^^IIT.OO; this can be accounted for by the fads ihat his funeral expenses, amounting to *100 00 have been placed to his drliit, and also a sum of .$4.'). 00, being a payment on power of attorney to one o! the men, which was not deducted from the man by Mr. Prict' wht'n settling with him subsequently, owing to the entry in Mr. Robson's hodk not being sufliciently explicit for a stranger to imderstand ; althouj^h, no doubt, it would have been clear to him had he lived to settle matters himself I would therefore respectfully recommend, owing to the peculiar circumstances of the case, that these two sums, amounting to $14o.00, b,. placed to his credit, leaving the balance in his favor $28.00. Since his death, the sum of $200.00 has been advanced to his iMinilv. in anticipation of the iisual grant being made to them by Governmciu. The second commissariat ofhcer, whose death I regret to h:ive in record, was Mr. Nathan L.Price, late of Grand Falls, New l?rnn-\\ii k, where his family still reside. He, also, has been employed in the saiu«> capacity, since the commencement of this work in 1871. His duties were, to receive the supplies for Division M, ot Piiiice Arthur's Landing, Thiinder Bay, Lake Superior, and superintfud ihi' forwarding ot them to the Main Depot of the Division, in the interior of the country, a distance of over 100 miles ; also, their distribution In \ arjous other depots along the route to be explored. Having performed tins diiii- cult service in a most satisfactory manner, he came to lied Uocls aii !asi illness of $20.00 and funeral expenses $53.00. Total $73.00 diai :od against him. i coiisiil,.ral»l.. ^ti<' iii:Mn:iM', l)l<' Clililf'lllly ed ii Icilaiii.. h{^ lai'is ihat to his (Irliit. H'V to ojio ()! rrict» ^\h,.u )b.soirs l»(j{ik iltliou!j:li, no ettlc matti'i-s the peculiar ' $l4r,.flo, h,, o his I'amilv. enirumi. to have hi Brunswick, in tho saiii.' I, af Princt. vintciKJ ihi- iiittMior of »ii (n \ aiiDiis I'd this diili- k and. atlfi' nl' atiairs at iinMi, upon iiio-t. of tlu' )ok stock >.:'.' xt season's 1 ill clo.siiiL! y and died ended him the woods [Hid at the ot' salary of wile siiii'i' 1. Ill- hi.> lasi N) eharij-cd ¥ 283 These two last items I would respectfully recommend, as I have also done iti the case of Mr. Robson, should be placed to his credit. I cannot ^1f)se this report without expressing my sincere sympathy with the families of these two officers in their sad bereavement. I take the same opportu- nity, to state that, from the day they joined the service until the date of 'heu respective deaths, they fulfilled the very arduous duties entrusted to ihem in a most trustworthy and satisfactory manneT, which duties were of such a peculiar character that it will difficult to find others to discharge ihem. I remain Dear Sir, Yours truly, JAMES H. ROWAN. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Office of the Engineer in Chief, Ottawa, February ~th, 1874. The Hon. Alex. Mackenzie, &c., &c., &c.. Minister of Public Works. .Sir, — It is my painful duty to bring under your notice some particulars res- pecting loss of life in connection with Canadian Pacific Railway Survey during the year 1873 The accompanying report of Mr. Rowan will be found to give the facjs, in each case, as far as known. I may be permitted to observe that the survey sustained similar losses during the years 1871 and 1872, for particulars see my rep irt of .January 28th, 1873, and the Government passed an order on the ^.Ist May of the same year, authorizing payment to the representatives of the deceased of an allowance equivalent to eighteen months of their relative pay in each case. The names, position and pay of the poor men lost are as follows : — .John P. Robson, Commissariat Officer $100 per month. Nathaniel L. Price, do 100 " .T. Hughes, Axeman 80 " A. Torrie, do 30 " N. Patterson do 80 In all cases, I have ordered the payment of the expenses connected with the death and burial of the deceased. The families of the poor men, depending on their salary for support, have been left in straitened circumstances, and I have, in some cases, taken upon myself to make a small advanct3 on account of any compensatory allowance the Government may please to grant. From time to time, there have been accidents of various kinds, that fortunately have not resulted fatally, but it is proper that I should allude to one of rather a serious nature, as the man injured is lamed for life. The particulars of this case are alho given in the attached Report, the mans uame is William Playter, he appears to be a respectable, well educated 29 '- 1 4 I m- \ tyt 284 •I 1"' II young man, and an appointment to a position clerk in an ofTice, would pro- bably be a more satisfactory way of compensating him than a araiii of money. I respectfully submit these several cases for the generous cou^idoia- tion of the Government. I am, &c., , , Your obedient servant, , SANDFORD FLEMING. Department of Pubmo "Work.^, :y '■ r Ottawa, Februarij 261 h, lfsT4. Sir; 1 beg to herein enclose for your information, copy of an ovdt'r in council, dated the 1.3th February, 1874, granting an allowance oquivalont to eighteen mouths' pay to the representatives of the offi(;ors and iii'u who lost their lives in the Canadian Pacific Kailway Survey, during; the year 1873. I am. Sir, Your obedient servant, S. FlkmiX(J, Esq., F. BRAUN, Secretarv. Chief Endueer C.P.R., Ottawa. . , . . Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Coiuicil, approved by His Excellency the Governor General in Coun il, on the 13th February, 1874. The Committee have had in consideration the memorandum datc*-A«4^ 71, 1872 (AKKH. la. rth Tbompiion. remlscumin£:ue. :e Huron. ce. Flab Lake. Sheet N?l I/. ^W/uu/m oHIc^ ZON£ EY •4fw Ji*i'ifr. I fHAHO InL€T. rpf\ m s! 9" i » #1 I 1< ! ^ I i .si , ■^ r^rwtviimsiew'xs^imiax.jsn^ i!, \- A ■ ■y ',^ 9 /^ ////r/y//Y/ /iilf f /.oiifr /'}v/rfr ffii'.i .A r\ V >' lo^ ./ y .*' .»" ^t" C £!_.> »'*' -r-^ /' / I CASCADE, MOUNTAINS — 1 - - I I l<*;r, VfA-.f r>/j+ r>i7 511 iofl ^s»**^ yy y ..f \^' y ■•I' ...■<»' y' ^ / y 0^" .^*^ A^*^' f jv l^° yf^ \ 1 > UNTA J N S V•^^ ,/• / - / ■ /L,^y ; : ' / / I I \ • I 1 \ 'I \ I I \ Til iniiji)sini Ik i Iff v/ Hn /- f r>i7 511 iofl 2ttrj iic.o i!y>.-»-» IIW Ui.T.lttO )_ V<2. ^ \\ ^ V/^'A n itimisuiroij Miti. I V s< ,o> ,i>^' ,A' ^■•\s^V RO'^fcKY M A ^v" Vyy\ N(iHTII yVhXST TFHJUTOUY OUNTAINS / ,(? /v^^' ,/.... U^ Avtf \. \ 1^ ..;•' -.0" .M-i' vV ■^ y _ .f.S'..^.A I 1 '/ff.s/wr \V////'i/ J'i'fi.srr liii i-r]^ / /r~^ / \, I "x 'J//H»h/^,sr// Jt^rrr M w Jl M 7i f.l .■>/! - ic /^ .'»1 Z7 Ufa (10 o iin rffTtlTOItV i^ vV >^ V \^'' (^ -/^ I . ' ^7 s i5 in CO 8 /b r/now/jf///// Ur/mi oj' //w / it 7r> (ir> iin J 2 1. 1 t!) IC2 ////■ /:'/M///r/'r/// ^7//?/. /W///u/u/// /W////r /i'///^^>ww/m/ /Wr/pf /i'//////y/// //^//r^/ -/// to' <»' n S 1 1 ( ' \v i 1 1 < rfi£ f?oc^ fl/ (/ ft!/ A//C01A i ((t ft jjninf jnaj- fo/fr £l HOF Ver iiiis 'TlUV's irol'iiYlLLO^ HEAD FA^^ 7'> <• .» -» BuftK/ifio Inlet . fl'ffri fie O/'c/tiiif iffo Inlet, fl'ffrifu- O/'c/aij) Slieol N» I /////'//// ///'//r// ^/r////u//// //// /', BIAGRAM SIirNVillii (pfMKM'r'll riMlCilP ACROSS rfi£ f^GCKr MOi/A/T/l/N ZON£ _ — ••♦'• — - — - Route No. I />// A//COLA Lake fWf/ Coqu/halla I//illey Horizontal 25 Miles I Inch. Vertical 1000 Feet = „ ___-_. — ^.^.^ — _ — _-_... n rj. V \i>i'. fMlSfSTTm!^ mmmgmm Sheet N? 2. ///. /////////; i< -Vif //J'-. M/if'.s/,o,n YFltOW HP. li '(■ CASCADE MOU NT A I r \V .^^' <.^' ^nO .^^^ \^^ ^' J V^^ t'l-a.sf r /«' / I'l }■ /iiirmiil l/lli' 502. Mile*. 420 *(^5 f'lO \ \ \ v*'- }E MOU NT A I N S i' Tliunni'-ii'i ^>'> rs r. .««" n* '^ y>>' .v.O^' .vf y^ .1^' \ / ./^"^ ..'V .V aV s>" .»■ >' ^' fbO t)0 2?2 ^s-- 2'^:^ v;i 1^;) /// f^Xffif.s *»f- K \ 'W mil 1 1 Ml i oil Mill \ xoinii \vi:sT iTimiroin \y R p C K Y \v^ tv V^' ,.A>^^ ■■0^" 1-^^^ ^ I,* > ^"^ 4^ .v^ ./;^^^ /'i rite I h irr ' (FOUNTAINS .r N^^V ,\V\'^ .-^'-'f ! /..^^ ■/ilSllf. I' I ftt/( If ■ H/ififiasai A'irrr A' r N^' I honiKxtn: f\h\ r I i 1 I CO M to *^ i^ ^ ■* ^ f-! r- "f N*. <\ T ■+ ^ Kl 82 '( 61 is !.'! 7 G ia 40 4-9 'i^ 64 75 8'S /' iTimiToin r /'o //v //////////// U/'//o// oj' //w //////////yy// ^7/frj', /////////x .-\»" /^' .•^" .*^' .y <^^ / / r '1--.,, >- N (0 o 64 75 8 IS 101 12 + 149 162 ZH^ i/i/r.sfiam IFLiOW nr\ Sheet JNT? 2- //;/. ^W///'////?/// /W////( /t^^/////W// /////'// V^/////////^ A riolih* ACROSS /7/i^ ffOCKr AfOi/A/T/l/A/ ZON£ • ^ • Route No. 2 Horizontal 25 Miles I Inch VtfincAL 1000 Feet ^ „ liifr.i/nim YFllOW HEAD PASS Rii/'M .-^ -i "• h^Lu I'lirifir Ovvaii } '///^ )ss (l>fl 'sm^mm •intfMJf-f- 7-»-'«:r*!|P'rf •'•'Pr. "^'^^H TB'iJ'T'JSS? SheetN?». v/A/////rA )ss (l>fH ijn 'I, f k \ \\ \. ,A A, / n A /v l\ s i I ■ .//oil/' ,\fHlllf/ if //'/f nri':/i.\ ^\ CAS CAD E MO UNTAINS 1 ,'V\ \ v l' ' J.« \' .-• v^' -;>• K jm >. ^I />/' *"; .<♦'-: — /. Mi' ' I 11 I I y c.-» I ' I i I I I \ /! I \ ( — /' ! I n< ( I • I I I I / ! ^ \ / : \ i/ \ ' i \' !" r^ ~i xV ..A \ Jiv / / \ / I r' ^ I ■ '^7 O ip ip tfi — o J) 'O 0) "9 t % I ! I ' Tfi.l 1 464- Mi/es 446 436 tJO 423 408 404 390 376 368»/d 35 ly? 34e ~ S23 312 ?.99'/i 293'/;! ////// >^ A I*. M ' ,:*' ^ ,....,.. '/holit/ix'ili Jilii'r "V.^V . \ 0^ . r ?.99'/i z^y/z 266 256 :4U'A 234- ?.Zb'/,. i'15 196 1^9 iftO /■,:.' /I >s ;\ •'\ f '. > Itli'lTlsii ro/ J Mil 1. 1 \(urni u'&sr TFintmniy .. N / \ . ^'' RO^fcKY MOUNTAINS \> '' ,»' r.<' .y .>>^' 0^' r cV sX' \^* - - 1 1 (isrr /,'ii <'!■ ~< I .*^- \ V • A.'w./v t'.,//,'/ i I I I •>, } »\' *^'' ~ t^;>' i I 71 I'. I T/l ii a; III'. (. \\ in :" 1 1 - ! 1^ . .1 . 1 . t'O 1') ."i.'i I'.i- 7.-, nc, Mil 12 t 1 I'l A '/aom/JWif Ur//ni/ a/ ////■ /:'//f mv/// ^ '///>'/ ■ r,/mM'u/'M/jyr/,'w> <\ \ !»,/ f M' ..»*^ ..v ..0' .v^" wA •• ^ s • M It r i T ' T Tri 1 ni i' J' iiil ■ V/V/'.v //.//// YELLOiV N€/)D F^SS n \7,-V7 HoweSouAio f/''/ri)ii '/. '/^//////r//^/////y/// rA///v/ -/////////// A/ / D INGRAM I'loCilo ACROSS rH£ /foc/cr Moi/fi/r/i/N Zo, Route No. 3 f/onr So////// on f/u- /^/r///r /'or/.s/, < h \. ."i •^ \ A k I, CASCADE MOUNTAINS '^'' ./ ^' y. y X^ .^- .mV^' ,. '^'\ ^ - ^^' ^^^ y i^' 0^ v^' V*^ -^^ e.'^\^' \'3 \^^^ .-i'^; V*' ./ I' A* A" '«" ..t' c^* I I I I y j \',/f,f>-- />,hiiitt • ■."7 . I///' V //////• Jli/r/ a .T f>., I ! -. '^ M 1' .'»r*3 32!) .ill. 1^)7 t'.H) wwi ;': !.(;.■> UJ. I. 'if I N^^^ vv^^ .^^ .>^^^ .ts .^^ \^"a ^'' ^^ .vV^ .^^ ^^^' ^^' .A .V^^ 0^^ ■^>- a Hi. l'it\ \ .vs I* >' ,vV^/- -i-^" ..-•'• .< 'O V <^^ / }1 w ;tM» ."■!»( 1 3. 1^ ,->7l. .V.ii .*<^ .vi^ v>' r ' ■ I I ! I ) ' i ; ! I I I I /" I A A y / V, : /; / T 1 I p -* CC CC 51.7 r.".8 .T2H .Vil ,->lf..-|, N I^t.'S ,/ 't-x / 3^1 M i^ / ,/^> \; *_'71 •-'<■.! ,» 5 i 2,-; •i.iii ioH Mil Ts s^"" ,/ .^:^- .<-' \ <«' ..V r^ 0^ ,t ^0 O' / \ v^ ! ■'I .V '< '\ ■VVVy'\ /\ man SI/ CO/A xz/t/j {V,,'i .i>' ■v"* .v^V / R 0<)b K Y M N^ UN / // ^ (I !) i; V ■\y\)\ MliU i V)f\A. 7o r/rfo////j^////j /iVpoj/ oj' //w //////////yy// ^7//rj\ .iV .0> 6k Y M XO/tT/I WE^ST TEinilTOIiy UNT AIN S -/^ V-x f fry >' ..i' Nl^^ .;*j.^^ .^'^^' T"'"""i I I '> vtl* IJ ..V virc^ .\>" .0' ^ •^ „v'" ..i»" /\^^^ h/.\ii,'/- I //'//',' t ' JUi fihft.sc// A'^'frr I I t I I I I _ 11 Id' i> (I ,- ,5 !• -B i; 1* 1 If j 1 1 j ir \!\ |.n If) .■».") (11- 7 "> 1 , (Wi Mil 12 \- M I J't ic: SheetNV4. '/.■/'/y/x r///rf. /W/m/uw/'m//->'" ^JT/^ ""'''■■"'>'■ "■'■■■" ■ ^.Jf^ W*''*f9^'*^"*' ^ ShrrI NV5 ^r////. //////////////[ \\v i'^' 7. 0A/£ / v'//y/-. 2 268 • // 80 6 > i i ! ,?■ wmmimmmim ^'U A Jilt If Jiiiff /V /^' ^' .•<^ y >/V .v^' l- CASCADE MOUNTAINS •/' .,v .^^ ^'y^> ^^^V •f' .^ \V ^^ >fi' i^^^ .X- I yr i r I >^^, .vV^ • I ! I -^ •///<"/•/•'' ^^ .0/ i I f I ! * 5 - ! Sl« Miles 469 4-74 4P* A-SV 431 425 s (\J o 23 I . I 404. 395 388 % 363 A*^' *^ ..'<* f •/' f'' ,\ . x_ A^ y .v A^' ,.v' / .^^' '"<-. '/ I ! • : 1 ! — 4- «'///<•/•/•'' I'' ..^ / / \': 'T I I A --^.^ /A OJ o 33 I. 095 388 363 o 33< ■0 ^ § 5 S !€ '- :20 307 296 289 I ' I OD CO 269 OO CM 24-5 s 212 o CM ^5 o = j .M 1 o 199 10,9 i/9i '69 '-5^ '*■ ■t A I, V. <<'^i u > /V "( V f ./ /t/{/77S// (O/J.V/i/.l, ' \ y / l^v^O C K Y ,vM O U N T A l\N S\ , f J/ «< 0^ f 0." f^^' 0' AV" ,/^^' 0^ X' ,»' 77lOlll/i-\lill li'll ri- /''r/t-\tu' li'ii t'r It /i ft /j f/.s/f/ Uii'/^r I I •V"/i o/ //w J/^f/f/ of f/ir \ -^foi/ir/z/tro (f/ihf/i -:_j...4.^ ! I i 1 ^3 ;^J O ?1 o o !^ r^ O !0 t (0 169 159 147 117 eZ 71 61 58 31 27 (8'/« 6 18 4-0 49 55 64 70 61 7'o r/rrow/^r////^ U/y/oji oj //w /:'/u/wrr//// f)//?/', /W/uu/u/// n%s7' TKURrrom r A i\]n sy .f' A. x^- cV .(' •JV* 4^' / :V' ,0' <«' 'V / >/^^ff/ v.svv/ /i*//'^r * I' ( •T I I o <0 (0 o Q ?5 % 4-0 49 55 64 73 81 66 101 124 140 162 258 - l/,\ 806 x/J/w /;/////////////fe^;//^ ///////'^^^ '/^^^'''^ '/r//AW//y/ /rj^ ■'K/ tO^ t»' B I A G R A SU«'\vinni„f ji>„r FOf^T EdMONTO/V on t/i<^ • K Horizontal 25 Miles Vertical 1000 Feet 208 - l/./r.v /r.*«/ YELLOW HE/iD PfiS^ g06 «• - BUTE INLET I'nr.i,. Ur,u III STieei:N9 5 w/y/rj/A DIAGRAM pproximalc U(MHMaI Vrolile ACROSS -r Mo^ .^ I ( I I I , o «o ♦'' jV 4+8 44-2 +=.0 o Si .1... 410 A'* V'^^' v\- .>r.„f r ^o" .(V^ ^' / W^' >^^ a'"' i« ^^«;^ \v^^' p\^*' .V A^^' .<>' a'^.^ '■f^*' tV' / cl^ \^^^ ~N' ^<* ,V „o^ "- - -r— V = o o ■V o in e o i 44-2 4-^0 410 400 i95 ■,^7 545 iOO 270 'i*d , A' ^■\. , \ /\ ''V \ A \ \ ■■/\ V '\ • r rr.r c r I r f r lA- J' X. /'V A A I Va^'A''^^ V- ^ >*r ffh rr v5^ CO LIMB/ A I . \ 'ORT/f Wh ROCKY M O U N T A / .►' /•/ A' '1/ >m ^-_.y X ----^ i O 01 S *• >" in,r/yn ^/iivrf \ ■ _-f^' 1*1 rO 9 18 »" »fl to lO \ 11^ i^ „^ H^^^^ ♦0 +9 55 64- 75 86 tV 101 .cV^ G^" 124- 149 1fi2 Slipol N9fi /W/uu//>/// /W////r /tW////'//// ,//'//r^/ ^/r/////ojy/M^A lAGRAM ^ Showing Approxiinalo (icMicral Pnifilc ACROSS \^' ^V//f ffocifr AfoHf poitt/ /n'f/t fORT £DMOf/rO/V on ///.^ ' \\ Mfu/ioff hnty/// /i^irfT. Horizontal 25 MilesI Inch, Vertical 1000 Feet -- n ^.f. S 288 . ifllfs ftyiir, YciLOW IflAO PaSS 874 .. „ sure /NL£T Pdiijir Orran i^n^ii i\v / ^///////y/// //f/// 1 — s 1^0 .\\ aV^>' ./ S^' 'filrnfrom llfntith'k . \,iip)Wi|WWi—M | lW i ,\. n \ \ A^ ..A' '■ .1 \ J \ CASCADE MOUNTAINS A y \ r .i .X' A^'\J' fj/\__^^jC f ,.v^' t^ ./ ^' /hi la Cfwlti Rit er e Htn/inrl< t/zr/fi . ///// P.fnt'J( Or/;./.r 950 . ////'('.V 900 M& / iro ..A \ r ss-j \/ 810 f^' < V ./ ^0 A. <^ \/ ^' s'^' f ^0- 9^:' c*^ ^ ViP «.♦■ V i 4^ I .v>' / A^ js-j 810 7»S 780 755 725 6T0 «4-0 600 .>v' I' ,> B I A C R A M ShowinoApproxiiiuUe (ieiuMal Profile ACROSS TN£ ffOCKY- MOi/NT/l/N ZON£ • •♦•• Route No. 7. /(, a /loinl nor//i of FoRT FdMO^TON I^eiiC€ Jlivcr. Horizontal 25 Miles i Inch Vertical 1000 Feet /iocffr MTf M > • aC^N ^ '/ v» ^■ ace JRiver — I. r- o o « o 250 209 1'^0 rtll^ei JNV / IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V^ v.. 1.0 I.I 1.25 ^|M 12.5 2.2 1^1 It -,„ 2.0 1.8 ^U^ ->\- '/i 'W . # ^ ^,. v: u w^^i '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAiN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ !v# ^ ,v <^ 4^ ^q,^ Ci^ V A^^ f/. ^ \ I If I ^3 ii I'H ■ SiKM't N"9 ^animrv ISJ^i.) i IPISSING aN N : xirissixG : NiriSSlNCi N tii'ii^K' I vvr« V, ■•" MLiMUiiwaiii "J *- ' ' ■ ■ ^ g.BJJ' '^, Kle\alions j above S»-;, Level fa [ Miles too. ^N*^ •>^ aljOM- SeH l.rvfl I Miles <» B a s 1 II ^'' y^' T' «5 v^^ V / v"^ .^^• :^^\> R * y .^4 # ><,/ ^y r 9 I Basin of VV^i ii n i p U i V «• I' 3 "1 '^•^<.. ►|^ B a s i J wo . ..A^' 3(10 ^ 4-00 c/ It as i n of W i u n i pj*' ji R i v e i* 2 ] . r -n ut H ,>J^' .4 ,-.v^^' lV v>' 200 .4 i* IJOO 4-0 '^,.^>!l 'fco' .n, Basin o P VViijni|><'g Rivei- i 200 300 J*-l 4-UO •V^ ■-4-. i^t :^'' ' Ifliliir/i !)• /'nil,, ' .0^" o<^ .v*^ X^^^ i<>'> "I*. "/•., ■""., B; :l s 1 It of '•"o \V +00 .-^ Lake Sup ! e J ei> cir ?S9 .ilil .*-^>" LEVEL OF LAKE SUPERIOR Basin of A 1 b a ii ; Daluii) Sea [^< Vim (>00 0^^ v^' vO>^ *\>' ^v .\>^ > / ^<>V' _. i^L_. 4-0 4-4<0 > \^ 481 +91^500 600 ^v^'^ ...i^" ^>.^ .4 .N3 47t 500 .145 600 .» U P E B I O R n of iV 1 b a II y H J v « r I Daliiin Sea Level I «00 TOO P E R I O R (3ySF*) J Bii s i n G Datum Sea Level 5 "1 600 700 y ^^ ,k>" L^^ ^<^- r ■ ;.*'■ .»f H » s i n of I Moose H IN or. I • r-. .V 000 ,*' ,^' vvV .^\^^ ¥ ^^"^ >:,< / r Moos« Rivof s «00 >' %^^ P E R I C R 600 B A H i 11 U.MliiiM.Seii Level 700 ^--^ ./ .*' :>vf !'■ i- Moose V?iv<"i- 800 \v' ,.v^' y .>J- 0' V .N*^ lev > ■I'. oV^^ v'^-~ .v^ \ -*T^ ;»>' .V^^^ .0^' cN^ ^^^' ,.^^^^ ^^^^'^ It :i si II ol' Ollau.l R I V e I' , ^T ■^ J N« 1 *M)0 1000 104-7 Miles. ♦■ .0 \V^ .y av,.a" v.t^ •> ^^ \^ 4^ P .♦ ^ Basin ^*r '^ B n s i II , u f* Lake NTpi s s i II ^ . J uJ 2 « r^ I- l.fvcl of Lukv HuTitii i J N?2 "JdO 1000 1038 JMilPfi. .C^ *- d^^ ^m". 0*^ <" *■ y pasin of Ottawa R:^ n a> Basiii^ of Lake a ■s N ipii •)00 1000 cv'* >• vS* 1 _J 104-7 MileM. NV 1 »t .♦ '^'^^ .^ l.rrcl of Lfikv hunm 57-^ ^'^ J N?2 1038 MilcM. ^^• .^*' ^v*' / .-^' A**:' „<► Ovo%<^^ 4" r r« »» ^<^ ^ I 1 j N?3 nO'i Mile». /'/r> accompany lUporl on proijiess '//♦**'// PROFILES OF GENERAL GRADI liliTWKKN LAKli; ALVNITOBA^^"' >"*^«^^ « l-VI Scales. Horizontal 25 Miles| VerHcal 1000 Feel i LAKK MANITOBA lo MATTAWA N" 1 \ ( via Norlh Shore oP Lake Nepig'on. 1047 M i l.AKK MANITOBA to S.K. Shore NV 2 k ( v^ia Nepigon Bay. Lake Siip€M*uM* lOJl i LAKK MANITOBA lo S.hJ. Shore of. N? 3 4 « 1 ( via Thiiiidef Bay, Lake SupeiMOi*. 1102 M sikm'I \"n CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILIA^AY PROFILES Ol" GENERAL GRADIENTS lllJTWKKN \.\KV. MAX iron A AND POINTS NhAM I.VKi: MI'ISSING Sea \ Horizontal 25 Miles 1 IncK ^^* ) VerUcal 1000 Feet - 1 IncK vs-^- • *9 N'/ 1 N j«> *> N? 3 \ \ I.AKi: MA.NITOBA to MATTAWA via Norlh Shore or Lako NeiMjio" 1^>*" ^"^''^^'^ KAKi: MANITOBA to S.K. Shore of \.\^V NIIMSSING via Nopig"" R\V. lake SnpcMMO,. 10:U5 Miles. LAKi: MAMTOIIA /. S,E. Shore ./ I.AKi: NIlMSSIMi vin Thinulei.Uny, Lake Supe.MO... n02 Miles. ^u^L^H^< n'K'C^ vii'' "■•' l.-s