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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filr. ,ed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre filmds d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^ -Tf ■ 42 $.; «v ll < 1.^ CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. SANDFORD FLEMING, CM.G., KNOT NKKR-IN. CHIEF. HtL liT REPORT "' .■'?'■' 'T*y ADDRESSED TO THE nONOURABLE TUB I OF PUBLIC WORKS ," ■■V^i_ CANADA. 18 7-9. OTTAWA: PRINTED BY MACLEAN, ROGER & CO., WELLINGTON STREET. 1879. /Ji"W' .'(""''"'^'''"■'•'"PfWllippiipii^ r r' S2. r. 4S Nova Scotia Historical Society. %>\kmgGfollcftion. I IP^ I T ■~\"v I / REPORT IN liKiiiiU.M i: 111 I in: CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY SANDFORl) FLKMliNG, C.M.G., ENGINEER-IN-CHIEP. 1879. f^i IS- ' OTIWWA: 'UlNTED BY MACLEAN^ IIOCJEK ct CO., WELLI.VGTON STRKET. 187;t. TABLE OF OONTENT><. GENKRAL RKPORT liy the Kngineer-in-Chief ■'' The Pacific TelcgiHiiIi Line ■ '' Tlie Georgian Bay Branch, etc •"' Railways West of Winnipeg " The necessity of a Comprehensive Railway Scheme '■' Thf Physical Character of the Prairie Region ^^ The Route through British Columbia '' The Line between Lake Superior and Manitoba ^^ THE ENGINEERING FEATURES > ^n The Estimate of Cost ^^ 23 The Contracts entered into APPENDICES. I.-PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE PRAIRIE REGION 2') Between Parallels of Latitude 59 and 60 26 do do 58 do 59 28 do do 57 do 58 31 do flo 56 do 57 34 do do 55 do 56 39 do ■^ do 54 52 do — Ties for Pomljina Hraticli 129 Contract No. 37 -Ot'orgian Hay Biaiuli 130 Contract No. 3.S, - Convcrtiiip Neebinp Hotel into Oflices 131 Contract No. 3li.— Traiisjiortation of Rails in lirliisli Columbia 132 Contract No -lo.— Kngiiii' House, Selkirk 132 Contract No. .11 — Muiti Line, Englisii River lo Kaglc River 132 Contract No. 42.— Main liine, Engl,' River to Keewatin 135 Li;*t of Conlriiets aiiij Ex|ieii(litiirt.' involveil 137 III.— ANNUAL RF'^PORT 1a Kngineer-in-Cliief 139 Surveys ill Woodland Region I39 Surveys in tlie .Mountain Region _ I39 Telegraph Line j^q Grading and Tracklayin<; j^q The Pembina Branch. 2^0 The Georgian IJay Branch 24j Engine House at Selkirk I4I Tenders for new sections I4I Tenders for the whole line 14j Expenditure for year ended 3utli June. 1S78 142 IV.-MAP OF THE PRAIRIE REGION t t REPORT CANADIAN PACIFIC lUIl.WAY i^ 5thf!lAPRIL, 1879. ^ 1- CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. REPORT BT THE ENGINEER IN CHIEF, ADDBB8SKD TO THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, Canadian Pacific Raii-way, Office of the ENaiNEEU-iN-CuiEP, Ottawa, Aj)!-!! 5th, 1879. The Honble. Charles Tuppeb, O.B., Minister of Public Works. Sir, — I had the honour on the 8th of January last to furnish a report setting,' fortii the progress made in surveying and oonstruction up to lho3l8t December, 1878. I now beg leave specially to submit for your consideration the following remarlcs on the undermentioned subjects, some of them to my mind so important iu their character as to claim earnest attention :— 1. The Pacific Telegraph lino, with suggestions for completing and operating it. 2. The Georgian Bay Branch and the navigation of French River. 3. The construction of railways west of Winnij)eg by private companies. 4. The expediency of laying down a comprehensive scheme of llailways. 5. The physical character of the country and necessity for further information. 6. The early establishment of (!olonization Railways in the Prairie Region. 7. The Western Terminus and the route through British Columbia. 8. The establishment of the trunk line between Lake Superior and Manitoba. y. The cost of the Railway from Fort William to Selkirk. 10. The Contracts entered into. 1 ■i l.-THK PACIFIC TELEGRAPH LINE, WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR COMPLETING AND OPERATING IT. As curly as 1874, il was considered of primary iraporlance to construct, as speedily as practicable, a li«o of telegraph through the interior of the country, to connect British Columbia with the Eastern P.ovinces. Contracts were accord- ingly entered into with the design of cttccting, before the end of 1876, com- pleie telegraphic communication from Fort W.Uiam, Lake Superior, westerly to the raeiticoolsl. The original design was that the lolegraph should follow the general route of the railway. From Fort William to Ottawa, however, tiie surveys were incomplete, and on this section it was not possible to construct the telegraph as prescribed by the statute, along the line of railway. Tenders were received but no further steps were taken in respect to this distance. The telegraph has been constructed complete for operation from Fort William to Edmonton, 1,200 miles. The line, however, has not been brought into u.e beyond Battleford. Its operation, generally, has been limited to the distance between Battleford and Fort William, 970 miles and a branch from Selkirk to Winnipeg. The connection with the seat of Government wa. obtained via the branch lino to Winnipeg, and the lines through the United States. The section between Edmonton and the British Columbia telegraph system remains incomplete. The contractor undertook to erect 550 miles of telegraph in two years. At the end of four and a-half years, about 80 miles only are completed. If the importance of a through telegraphic communication between Ottawa and British Columbia, claims the same recognition which, five years ago, it obtained, there should bo no further delay in completing the system entirely through Canadian territory. The section from Fort William to Edmonton, adistance ol'about 1,200 miles, being ready for use, there remains to be completed the eastern and western connections, viz. ;_about (JOO miles east of Fort William and 470 miles west of Edmonton. ^mmmm^^ The statute provides that the telegraph shall be consti-uctod along the lino of the Railway after the location is established. On the eastern section the route is not established. On the western section, although the line by the I^ivers Thompson and Fraser was adopted last year, that location has not given entire satisfaction, and the desire has been strongly expressed that further explorations bo made to determine if a route more generally satisfactory can be found. Bast of Port William, it would bo practicable to connect the Pacific Hallway telegraph with the telegraph system of Ontario, by submerged cables across Lakes Superior and Huron to Tobcrmoray, or some other suitable })oini northwesterly from Owen Sound. The cable would not be continuous, but would probably have intermediate land lines across the peninsula at Sault St. Mary and the ManitouUn IslandB. It has been suggested that the construutiou of the (Georgian Bay Branch Rail- way could be discontinued, and the money required for that work bo applied towards the cost of a Great Territorial Road on the line of railway from Lake Nipissing to the north side of Lake Superior. The amount aviiilablo by the non-prosocution of this branch will admit of a land line of telegraph being constructed, precisely in the position where it will be of permanent iulvantage. The line being located for the railway and cleared, the cost of the telegrii])h itself would be comparatively small, probably not more than $120,000, while the cable line might cost from $400,000 to $500,000. Moreover it may be said, that a cable connection would rather postpone than promote the establishment of the continuous railway from the section under construction north of Lake Superior to Lake i^^ipissing. Whatever be the iillimato locati(Mi of the railway west of Edmonton, if the speedy establishment of through telegraphic communication bo desirable, the tele- graph may, without further delay, be taken by the route traced to Yellow Head Pass, and thence to the most convenient point ut connection with the Eritish Columbi." telegraph system in operation, which is itself owned by the Dominion Governn The arrangements in force tor operating the 1,200 miles constructed, are not satisfactory, aud frequent complaints have been received with regard to thorn. 8 The lino is at present operated in three soctionB under the following arrange- ments : — (I.) Fort William to Eed Eiver, 410 miles. The line to be maintained until September, 1883, at the cost of contractors (MessrB. Oliver, Davidson k Co.) The contractors receive $10 per mile per annum ior operating. Government messages free. The operating arrangements to cease on six months' notice. (2.) Red River to Livingstone, 294 miles. To be maintained and operated until 1st August, 1881, by the contractors, (Messrs. Sitton, Glass & Co.) at the rate of $16 per mile, in all 84,770 per annum. The contractors receiving profits. (3.) Livingstone to Edmonton, 517 miles. The contractor (Mr. E. Puller) to receive $13,000 per annum for maintenance until 15th July, 1881. There is noarrangemont for operating ; the contractor receives all that the line earns. The taritf of charges is considered exorbitant. There are two modes by which the Pacitic telegraph line may be rendered useful to the public — First.— By completing the eastern and western sections in the manner indicated, and by operating the whole directly under a Department of the Government, as in Great Britain, at a uniform low scale of charges. Second.^By inviting proposals from existing telegraph companies, or com- panics that may possibly be formed, to purchase or lease the 1.200 miles constructed from Fort William to Edmonton. The company to complete the whole line from Ottawa to the Pacitic coast, and to operate it at tixed uniform charges, not higher than the present taritf in Ontario and Quebec. Should it not bo considered expedient to follow either of the courses submitted, I have respectfully to recommend that steps bo taken to regulate the charges on the line now in opei-ation from Fort William to Edmonton. That portion oast of Selkirk in particular will, in a short period, be in constant requisition. At present it is the only means of communication across the country it traverses, and all parties con- nected with the construction of the railway, will require to use it constantly. Indeed the whole of the lino from Fort William to Kdmonton will bo of undoubted service to the public if its operation bo placed on a satisfactory basis. 2.— THE (.EORGIAN BAY BRANCH AND THE NAVIOATION OF FRENCH RIVER. The Canada Central Railway is being constructed under a subsidy to a point near the south shore of Lake Nipissing. At that point the line known as the Geor. to have the best possible alignment, with no heavier gradients than the maximum reterred to. Hut the importance of securing the benotits of an unbroken steam co nmuuication at the ea -liest possible moment ar.i so great that I consider that it would bo advisable, in tho first instance, to cimstruct tho cheapest possible line. While adhering to the perman. nt location in the main, would, with a view of accomplishing the dosire.l object, recommend tho 20 construction of a cheap temporary line, avoiding for the present all costly permanent works that would retard its completion. In order to gain access to the country as speedily and cheaply as possible, it might indeed become necessary to overcome special difficulties by adopting temporarily, for short distances, deviations from the true location with heavy undulating gradients and sharp curvature. I have no reason, however, to think that this expedient would frequently be required. I am satisfied that for the greater part of the distance between Lake Superior and Manitoba, the permanent location may be substantially adhered to." The whole of the railway between Fort William and Selkirk, in length 410 miles, is now under contract. It is with no little satisfaction that I am enabled t« point to a table of the gradients which have been definitely established in this length. Under the contracts which have been entered into, these favorable gradients are to be carried into execution without having recourse to the temporary expedients which I thought necessary to suggest five years ago. Summary of Gradients, Fort William to Selkirk. Ascending Easterly. Feet per Mile. No. of Miles. Else -10 to -20 per cent. about 5 to 10 38-52 •'« -20 to -30 do 10 to 16 17-11 do -30 to -40 do i6to21 42-97 do -40 10-50 do 21 to 26-4 8011 178.71 ■^^"^^^ 10806 108.06 Ascending Westerly. Feet per Mile. No. of Miles. lliselOU) -20 per cent about 5 to 10 28-51 do -2010 -30 do io,,ol6 10-91 do -30 10 -40 do i,ao21 0-74 do .40 1.. -50 do 21 to 26 12-83 do -50 to -60 do 2Uto32 6-82 ''" '^Oto -70 do 32 to 37 10-65 ''" "^^'^ -SO do 37 to 42 12-76 ^^ -^^^i-^O do 42 to 52-8 31-01 123.23 Total miles 410.00 410.00 21 In determining the gradients the rule has been hiid down to equate them with the curvature, so that when sharp curves were called for by the physical features of the country, the inclinations of the line would in those cases be proportionately reduced. The practical effect of a sharp curve on a niaximuni gradient is to make the gradient heavier by reducing the elfective power of a locomotive making the ascent, thus preventing the passage of full loaded trains over the line. The olijcct has been, whatever the curvature, (o seouie a degree of inclination which in no case would exceed, on tangents, 26-4 feet per mile ascending easterly, or in the direction of heavy traffic. The contract profiles of the lino over the 410 miles from Fort William to Selkirk establishes that this olijeet has been substantially secured. Only at one point (eighteen miles out of Fort William) has the locating engineer neglected to enforce this rule. I greatly regret that such is the case as it will involve an expen- diture to remedy the defect greater than would have been called for in the first place, when the cost would have been comparatively trifling. With the exception I'eferred to corrected, the portion of the L'acilic llailway between Lake Superior and Manitoba is thus linally established with extremely favorable engineering featuies, and it may be claimed that when completed under existing contracts, it will be available U>v convoying the products of the soil from the Prairie liegion to Lake Superior, at the cheapest possible rates. As this portion of the Paciiic Uuihvay must, foe a long time to coino, form the great outlet of much of the I'rairio liogiun, the favorable character for rlioap trans- portation which has been secured lor it cannot bo over-rated. Indeed upon this important condition very largely depends the successful sottlenient ol' iho vast fertile plains and the permanent ailvantage of the futiii'o settlers. 'J. rUE COST of TUK UAll.W.Vi' L'Hm.M I'OlU' WILLIA.M Xo sELIvllUC. I beg leave to submit a closer approximate estimate of the cost of the portion of the lino from Fort William to Selkirk than hitherto has been j)i'acticablo. 2 22 Estimate. Grading, bridging, Iracklaying and ballasting, under existing con- tracts, .say , Rails anil faslonin<:3 Jiolling stock station and terminal accomtnodation, en<;ineerinir and contingencies. Total Estimated Cost $12,000,000 3,000,000 H,000,000 818,000,000 In t bis Hstimate I have made allowances for necessary Station and Terminal services, and also lor an ciuipment of Rolling Stock. The latter on the same scale as on the Intercolonial Railway. This biings the approximate cost, as lar as it can now be ascertained, in round figures to eighteen million dollars for the whole 410 miles, averaging close on $44,000 per mile. The estimate is .somewhat higher than was e.xpuctcd ; the increase is owing to the extremely rugged and locky character of the country traversed east and west ol Rui Portage. The avei'age cost reckoned by sections, ranges from $27,210 to $83,05:> ])er mile. But for the rocky district covered by contracts Nos. 42 and 15, the average per mile would liave been $31,390. The variable character of the country traver.^ed by the line and the difficulties met on each of the six contract sections nuiy be judged from the lullowing calculation of averages :— Estimated Averaj, Cod per Mile by Sectims. (Jniiiraci NO. 1;; -"^'"' -•"> i024 do -'^'"- ^1 118-03 do -'^'"- ^- (ili-fS do Xo. 15 d.. do do do ^"' ' * Ti;;;s do Lt'i'L"'-- Per Mile. VI t;o miles, — average $28,626 do 32,087 do 3 1,387 do 80,3b'4 do 83,059 do 27,210 :< uo Average for the whole 410'U0 mile; cs. ^13,902 Hi 23 •Ci 10. — THE CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO. The several contracts for the supply of maloriul or Ihc execution of work to the present date, number in all forty-two; of those, Nos. 1 to ;il, inclusive, wore referred to in my report of February, 1878; and described (p. 383) in an Appendi.x. Since that date the following- have been entered int .1) :- Contract No. 5rt For extension of Pembina iJranch from St. Boniface to Selkirk. do do :}2:t For the erection of >lation-lioiisos, Prince Arthur District. 33 For grading, bridgini,^ and track-laying, Pembina Bran-li, from St. Boniface to Kmersoii. 3-1 l^'or transportation of rails to Manitoba. 35 For furnishing spikes. 36 For sui)j»lying ties in Manitoba. 37 For the Georgian Bay Branch. 38 For converting JSTeebing Ilotol into otiicos. 39 For the transportation of raiU from Es-iuimalt and Nanaimo to Yule, B.C. 40 For the erection of Engino-houso, at Selkirk. 41 For grading, ballasting and track-laying, Kngli.sh Jiiver to Fagle River (Tender A). 4-' For grading, ballasting and (rack-laying, Kaglo liiver to Keewatin (Tender Ji). A description of the.so several conti'acts, with rate, and prico>, the amomus paid to 31.t December last, and an appro.ximatc ostimalo of the expenditure envolvod, will be found in the appendix. I have also attached my repoil oMMirvc-ying operations and construction for (he past year. 1 have the lioiKn' to bo. Sir, Your obedient servant, SANDFOilD FLK.MLXti, J^H(jmccr-in-C/vt'f, do do do do do do do do do 25 APPENDIX No I. THE PHYSICAL CHARAOTFilE OF THE PRAIRIE REGION OBTAINED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. Tho Prairie Region has been arbitrarily defined in previous reports as extending from tho eastern boundary of British Cohimbia to a line drawn northerly and southerly from Lake Winnipeg. This great central area of Canada is not all prairie, but a considerable portion of it, especially towards tho south, is of a })rairio character; in other parts much of the Territory consists of woodland. It is, how- ever, held convenient to retain for the whole extent the term of * Prairie Region.' The information in the following pages, compiled under instructions from the Engineer-in-Chief, by Mr. Thomas Ridout, C.B., is designed to embrace all impor- tant facts found on record, respecting tho physical characteristics of this Territory. It js not claimed that the accompanying map is absolutely correct ; an attempt has been made simply to show all tho routes followed by scientitic travellers, and to distinguish the general character of the soil, as described by them, and set forth in the following pages. The portions of the country left untinted on tho map, so far as known, have not been visited by FIxplorers, and no definite knowledge of them has yet been obtained. 28 EXPLANATORY NOTE. The whole Territory is divided into sections, each section one degree of Longitude in breadth by one degree of Latitude in length. 59 The numerals in the margin, in a fractional form, thus y— indicate the particular section in each case. The numerator referring to the Latitude and the denominator to the Longitude. Thus " 59 " means the space lying between the 59th and 60th parallels of Latitude, while "100" refers to the space between the looth and loist meridian. The numbers printed in red on the accompanying map indicate the several sections.- IHO.M THE lUOxil T.> THE 120t11 MEIUDIAN, AND JiETWEHN TllK ')'.h'\l AM) 60t11 PAKALLELS 01' LATITUDE 59. l*J<^ ;X()lliiiig relitiblo Unown. 59. 101 Nulhiiig reliablo known. _59 102 ^'oiliing reliablo known. 59. 103 Xdlhiny reliable known. il 59. 104 59 105 59. 106 59 107 59 108 59 109 59 no 59. I I I The Slave River flows to tho north throuu^li tlio contro of tin's section, draining tlio wiiters from Atliabasca Lake unci Peace River into tiie Great Slave Lalce, down the Mackenzie Itiver to the Arctic Ocean, Tiie followintf information is limited to the country bordering on the river which is the lino of travel generally followed : — Richardson Arctic Search Expedition, Vol I., p. 137 and 148. "Granite knolls show themselves at frequent intervalson the hanks of Slave river. In several places ledges of rock cross the river and form ra]>ids. Lime- stone clitl's also appear." No description is given of the interior of this <;ountry. " At Salt Itiver, a tributary of Slave River, about 100 miles nortii of Fort Chepewyan, seven or eight copious salt springs deposit, over a clayey plain, much pure common salt." Nothing reliable known Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. .5_9. 1 12 59 113 59 114 The Peace River touches the south-west corner of this section. See section fiA ns- Tho Peace River crosses the south-cast angle of this section. See section -j-"^. Nothing reliable known. H 28 59 "5 59 ii6 59 117 59 lis 59 119 Notliiii^' reliable known. Nothing loliablo known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliublc known. Nolhin'' reliablo known. IKOM TlIK 100X11 TO THE 120TH MERIDIAN, AND BETWEEN THE 58tII AND 59Tn PAEALLELS OF LATITUDE. 51 100 Nothing reliable known 10 1 Nothing reliable known. 58 102 Nothing reliablo known. 58 103 Nothing reliablo known. .58 104 Nothiiig reliablo known. 105 Nothing reliable known. Si 106 Nothing reliablo known. si 107 Nothing roliablo known. 58. 108 Nothin^^ reliable known. Nothing i-eliablo known. 58. 109 Ji 1 10 The Eiveb Athabasca flows into Athabasca Lako in this section, and is on the route travelled by Sir Alex. Mackenzie and others to the Arctic Ocean vid the Mackenzie River, and to the Pacific cid Peace liivor. Sir Alex. Mackenzie. In the journal of his celebrated travels in 1792, and following years, refer- ring to this i)laco, says that "'Athabasca' in the Knisteneaux language implies a flat, low, swampy country." Sir John Richardson, Arctic Search Exp., Vol. 1, p. 1.32-133 Lake Athabasca is estimated by Capt. Lefroy to be 600 feet above the sea. " Much of the country in the immediate vicinity ofCliopcwyan is composed of rounded knolls of granite nearly destitute of soil, and many of them smooth and polished. These rocks extend along the norrh shore, and rise in the interior to a height of 400 to 600 feet. Plumbago of excellent quality has been found on the shores of this lake. A delta, intersected by several channels, exists at the junction of Peace River with Athabasca Lake and its outlet. Macoun Geol Rep., 18Y5-76, p. 91. In writing of the country at the mouth of the River Athaliasca, states that for 25 miles south of lake the land is from 2 to (3 feet above the water, and is subjected to floods. , , • "All this immense delta, including Lakes Claire and Mamawa and tlieir bordering marshes, and all that part of the Peace River Valley below Peace Point may be called a delta, or the Delta of the Rivers Peace and Athabasca. , III ilacoun Geol. Rep., 1875-76, p. 168 and 165. The Arthabasca flows northerly through the eastern portion. Mr.Macoun,who travelled up the river in a canoe, states that above the Delta, the true bank ot the river, about 12 feet high, was composed of red sand, and clothed with a forest of Banksian pine and aspen, the former being most conspicuous. The width of river is from 250 to 300 yards. The river at certain periods of the year adds now material to the land along its margin, and thus biiihis up its banks. This seems to be of constant occurrence on Peace and Arthabasca River8.after entering the Delta. Willow, Balsam, Poplar and Spruce make uj) the forest in the above order according to the age of the land. At about oO miles from the Lake the banks rise to -40 feet above the river, and the lorest hero is of Banksian Pine and Aspen. The opinion is expressed that the eastern bank dO of tho rivor hoie is uhoIcss for a>,'ricultunil purpoHos, as tho BaiilcMiaii Pine ulwiiyH iiulicatcs a poor, naiidy Hoil. Tho IhIu'i.Is have rich Hoil and aro well HuitcU for hay and vegotablow. KoRT Chipkwyan. Tho vicinity shows i,'laci«tod, hiurontian roolp. 88-89, 161. At the Little Reil River " the country is not more than 50 feet above the river, and presents the appearance of a vast plain, extending to the north to the Cariboeuf Mountains, said to be 40 miles distant." Tho falls of the Peace River are a short distance above the mouth of Little Red River. "At piosent (15th August) the fall is 15 foot, but at high water can- not bo half as much." " 16th August, vegetation indicates even warmer climate than at Fort Vermilion." " Summer frosts never do any harm here, and soil is of first-clafjS qualitj''." " Between Little Rod River atid Rapid Bouille, country along bank seems to be low, alluvial plains with soil of surpassing richness." 58. 115 Macoun Geol. Rep., 1875-76, p. 160. Fort Vermilion to Little Red River. " The river is over 1,000 yards in width," becoming wider and filled with islands, and it is often difficult to tell its breadth. 81 ll6 Maeoun Geol. Hep., ia75-7«,;). 159. Fort Vermilion. llio very host (ies('ri|)tion, ovidoiitly alluviiiin, lnil ile|illi ii-t iiH'(ii:ili''liaiik of river, siib>oil is of day and fj,Tavi'l, i>fioii "i juaiilifiil fnloiir, Tiii'nii)s and oarly rose jiotatoos larj^o, witli indicaiioiis <>( loavy ci'ojjs. The wliolo eounti-y round tliis i»oit\t is a plain, olovalod fmin 51) .o loo fool abovo tho rivor. From frcfiuoiil oiii[iiii'ios as to oiiaractcf at di>tamo Vom rivor, it is holievod to bo exactly like lliat sooti at Fort Ver'niiion. Tlio Tho soil i.-^ I if detorniiiied ; on imi a reddi>li colour. About ^- niilo from tbo river tbe land rise-; about 50tc>'t witn incrca.-od luxurian<'e of vo)!,'otalioii. Aitbou.^b 2' nortb of St. .iobu, barley and veijjotablos wore nuudi further advanced. Barley sown on SI h May \v:ts cum:!!! Aun-n>l. having' l)oeii in the ground Just ninety days ; ^-raiii^ lar^e am' b " h to coiiiitry inl'ei'veninf,' betwooii this and tho Curibiouf Mountains, .soomod level or to sloiie gradually up towards mountain.s, and ;' far as oyo coidd soo was covorec with aspen forosl witii occasional groups of .-ipruco. "No frosts hail occurred at Vormilion since May ; often whole seasons pass without frost from early in May till late in October." Peace Jlivor is here over 3,000 feet wide. 58 117 Tho Peace River ti-avorses tho southorn and eastern portion of this seelioii . All travellers through this region appear to have followed tho rivor, and their observations are confined to the immediate banks. Sir Alex. Mackenzie. In this section the " Old Establishment," probably old Fort Vormilion, was situated. Heio Sir Alex. Mackenzie wintered in n:>2.3, and conso-iuently had a "ood opportunity of knowin.i,' the country in this quarter, lie descrihos the river banks in this locality as bein^ 30 feothiga. " On either side ot tbe river are extensive plains, and opposite our present situation are beautiful meadows a.id proves of poplar." Ho relates that "in 1788 a small spot was .dearcd, and sown with turnips, potatoes, carrots and parsnips; tho first grew large andtbe others thrived well." Nothintr reliable known. 58 118 58 IIQ Nothing'roliable known. 100 FROM IOOtH to I2OIH MERIDIAN, AND BETWEEN THE i7TH AND 58tK I'ARALTiELS OF LATITUDE. Nothinff reliable known. 51 lOI Nothing reliable known. 32 Nothing reliable known, 5L 104 57. 105 57. 106 5L 107 57. 108 Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable kiiown. Nothiuij reliable known. Nothinfi: reliable known. _5J_ no Nothing reliable known. I] I Tiio Athab.asea runs through the eastern half of this section. Macom Geo. Bep., 1875-7(5, pp. l(;9-170.ni, and 9:3. Tlie I'ivor Imnks about .50 foot high. Country lor 50 milos below the Forks on l)()tli sides of the river is ovidontly very good ; oontirmed by'botanioal dbsorvatioiis; dry limestone soil of excellent quality and well suited for agri- culturo. " Noted every species of plant. Out of 217 species, 186 were representa- tives of Ontario tloi-a, showing there was not a single species to indicate a northern latitude. Of the remaining ."{1 sjtecies, all except two belorig to the prairie and forest lands along the Saskatchewan. The familiar eastern species woi'o in their usual locations, and nothing but the everlasting spruce and aspen forest leminded the traveller that he was nearly 800 miles north of Ottawa." '■ Spruce forest means a damp soil with moss as principal uiulergrowth ; while aspen repi'osonts the «lry open forest, and whenever the spruce forest is destroyed the other takes its place.'" Seventeen miles below the Forks found bituminous shales and tar oozing from the bank of river. " Mr. Moberly states that tar beds extended up the Atha- basca to neai- mouth of Lac la Biche River." We also passed tar springs on Clear Water Kiver, ten miles above Forks, 33 57. 112 Nothing reliable known. 57 Ijlishniorit" in May, ITOH, and procoedodiup the Poaco River on his journey to tlio Piii'itic. Ife ■elates lliat at, 17 miles above Old i']stablishinent tlie banks of rivor are stoop and hilly. displ:iyiii,y a iiioo of several strata of reddish earth and brown stono, ItiUiinon ami ij;i'oyish earth, and below water a red stone, lie also saw several salt sprin^-s. The whole country was vorv beautiful witli exuberant ve^'etation and groves of poplar; on the east, a range of hills, several covered with while spruoe*and soft birch. At f>0 miles further, the forest consisted of spruce, birch and the largest pojdar ho liad over soon. Beyond this, iio .loscrilios voiy little ol' the character of Peace Kiver country, his Joui'iial Imn'j; tukon up more with tlio incidents of travel along the rivor and intoi'coiirs being on tho great tlioiougldare to the north, horses are generally kept on this portage loi' the transfer of goods, &c. Methy Laive Is 600 feet above the Clear "Water; the country wet and cold; many boulders on surface; laud generally untit for cultivation ; potatoes grown, but had been killed by frost tliis year," 1875, on '.tth September (in Manitoba, however, they had been killed 21st August). Barley had l)een grown the preceding year. •' In the country between Portage La Locbe and Buffalo Lake occur peat bogs of good quality, and extensive marshes." r. H. J. Moberly, of the Hudson's Bay Ojmpany, who has resided at kIcMurrav, Forks of Athabiisca and Clear Water, for many years, fur- Mr, Fort McMurray, _ . nished Mr. Marcus Smith with a skeUh map of the country between the 109th and 115th meridians, and from Lac la Biche north to the J^orks of the Athaba.sca and Cleai- Water Rivers, which tract he has traversed in several directions. Tho information conveyed by this map is rather general and difficult to locate with accuracy, but perhaps it may serve to give some idea of the character of this region. It will accordingly be referred to in some of the following notes. and avel. liver I'iver 'crti- the any rock >wen Moberly's Map Shows a largo swamp, without timber from Methy Lake westward about 20 miles in width. 1 10 Macomi Geoh Rep., 1875-7(j, p. 173. The Clear Wateu River. Running- across the northern portion of this poction " is V(M'y crooked, with gently sloping banks, which rise to at least 200 tcct. and ;irc clothed with aspen on both sides." Ascending the river the bals;iin tii' bcconios ipiite com- mon, and more spruce appears. All the land seen for some distame above the Forks was tit for agriculture; Grindstones are obtained here by tho II. B. Co. Moherly's Map. The Pembina'River is shown to run north-westerly through this section, and to empty into the Clear Water about 15 miles east of "the " Korks." P()])Iars and cypress occur to the west of the Pembina River, a large swamp, without timber, occupying the central portion of section, and on the western side a small lake, cypress, pine, and some small swamps. WM 36 51 m 3Iacoun Geo. Rep., 1S15-16, p. ni-172. Forks op the Athabasca and Clear Water Rivers. " Mr. Moberly, the offlfoi- in cluii-ge of Hudson's Bay Post, at tliis place.states that his wheat ami l>arley wore superb, and thiit the country round the Forks was \.oll suited for farming,' ])uri)()ses. About a mile above the Forks on the Clear Water, is a beautiful prairie on which gi-oat (pumtities of hay were out with a reaper. The Hudson's Day Company could raise enough wheat here to supply the demands of all their Posts in the^Xortb. The froat occurred on the 9th September. Mr. Moberly mentioned a spring 15 miles south of the Forks, on the Athabasca, with very strong brine, and also another the same distance below the Forks. The Hudson's Bay Company are now (1870) building a steamboat at the Porks to navigate Athabasca River and Lake and the Peace River as far as the Chute, and .Slave River to the portages. Another steamer below the portages on Slave River would give uninlerupted navigation to the Arctic Sea, while another on Peace River above the Chutes could run to Hudson's Hope, thus forming navigation of over 2,000 miles. 51 112 5^ II'' 56 114 115 66 116 Moberly's Map Shows swamp, without timber about 12 miles in diameter, south-east of the Forks, and, on trail running south from Hudson Bay Post at the Forks, 20 miles of poplar and cypi'ess, with a few swamps and creeks ; a large swamp without timber about five miles south of the Athabasca, and extending for 15 miles southerlj' to an extensive area of Rocky iiills, enclosing swamps, which occupies the southern portion of section. The sides of these hills »re thickly wooded with pine and poplar. Moberbfs Map. In the northern part of this section, a large swamp without wood is shown a few miles iioi'th ot the Athaliascu. Old Fort River passes through the southern jiarl. tlowiiig westerly into the Athabasca ; and, on the west side of the river, a belt ol dry land in the south-west angle of section. Moherh/s Map. In the north-east part of section, "Timber Mountain" is shown, and in the southern portion " High Ridges or the Butfalo Mountains." Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known. Nothing reliable known, it 56 117 Messrs. Hoietzky and Macoun entered this section at the south-east corner, and travelled north-westerly, striking the Peace lliver a few miles below the mouth of Smoky River. Horetzky Pac. By. Sep., 1874, p. 46. " Peace River was reached after traversing 75 miles (by account) of a very fine country, generally easy and level and of excellent soil, in great part timbered with poplar, spruce and some tamarac." Valley of Peace River at least two miles wide and some 750 feet deep. Marcoun—Pac. My. Rep., 18U, pp. 70, 82. Between Lesser Slave Lake and Peace River, at mouths of Heart and Smoky Rivers : — "Distance about 70 miles, throu-jch a level country gently rolling in parts, but without a hill. For last thirty miles most lovely country, being part prairie and part aspen forest." " Level country on tins jjortage is said to extend across Smoky River to Rocky Mountains, 180 miles." Vegetation similar to that round Edmonton. Selwyn. Geol. Rep., 1875-76, p. 56 to (iO. Hudson Bat Post, on left bank of river, two miles above mouth of Smoky River. "The bank of Peace River is here 40 feet high, of coarse rounded gravel and sand. From top of bank a well-grassed level plane extends for 250 yards, to base of rounded grassy hills, which rise steeply to 500 or 600 feet above river, and then stretch away in a vast rolling prairie dotted with groves of spruce and poplar." " Looking across Peace River to the south and south-east, general outline and elevation of the country does not differ from tbat on the north side, but in place of open, grassy hills and lightly wooded dells, an uniformly and apparently pretty thickly wooded country extends on all sides as far as the eye can reach." " Main channel of river at the Fork is 400 to 500 ynrds wide." "Sixteenth and seventeenth August were the liotto.st days ex])erionced ; thermometer reached 92° and }«4° in the shade."' Smokt River. At 25 miles up the river, he asceixled to the jilatcau 600 feet above the river ; ami saw "15 or 20 miles up the river valley ; general couiso S. 25° E., to where the valley appeared to biancli, and (Mi all sidrs ihero was a perfectly level horizon of forest country." " Smoky River is not as wide at low water as Pine Jiiver." " The valley from one plateau to the other is nearly two miles." Reported Trail prom Peace River to Jaspeh House. " On our way down the Peace River we met a party of Crees and Half- breeds from Edmonton and .Fasper House, who had come to hunt and pick berries. They informed me there was a good liorse-trail all the wixy to Jasper House, which can be reached in about ten diiys. Except at the crossings, tho coimtry is stated to be level throughout and lightly timbered." Returning to Dunvegan, by trail inlaiul, found the country mo.slly level and all line prairie land, the width from Peace River to foot of hills being from a quarter, to three (luarters of a mile. 88 56 ii8 Horetzky Pac. By Rep., 1814, p. 47. From opposite moulliH of Heart ami Smoky Eivors, by trail on north side of Pcaeo Rivei' to Dnnvegan. — 50 1() (JO niilch ovoi level country, generally jtrairie, which extends to the norlli for some dislaiice. but cut nj) l)v the deep beds of numerous streams, " On the south side from Smoky Hiver upwards to opposite Dunvegan the oouMlry has mucli the same appearance, but from this point it gradually becomes more tluckly timbered and rougher and maintains thiri character to the Eocky Mountains portage." Only a small portion of this section borderH on Peace Eiver, and little is positively kuown respecting the greater pait of it. 5i "9 Horetzky Pac. Ry Rep., 1874, p. 47. FOBT DUNVEGAN. " Is situated on the north side of Peace Eiver upon a level terrace 30 feet above mean river level. The height of country behind and round Dunvegan is aboil* 1i C tect over the river, which here has an altitude of about 900 feet abo u' -Oil." " From the Eocky Mountain portage down to Smoky Eiver (a dist:uioe of, -;-•. 250 miles) the Peace Eiver flows through a depression in the country nui. ■. in depth from 800 to (lOO feet. The underlying formation is limestone, and the whole of this region appears to be composed of an immen^ie layer uf '.'lay and alluvial soil, resting upon a horizontal bed of that material. Sandstoi • is n'so found in large quantities, and grindstones of excellent grit are to be found in ihe river '<:''' " •' The climate ot Uiis n^ion and of the Peace Eiver Valley generally, ia somewhat similar to that of Eed Eiver, but the «!Xtremes of heat and cold are not so great, and the climate is dry and salubrious and is temjiered by the westerly winds which here prevail and are mild ; snow rarely reaches and seldom exceeds two feet, and docs not pack." See als(j iloretzky's remarks in previous section -ff^. Nothing detinite is known respecting the northern half (jf this section. 120 Maamn Ucol. litji. 1875-7e, ascends lliis livei' ((I il> i;'reaL liend, wlienee it lends to the Sii^katcliewan pJMins, tliroii^h an iindiilatiiiij; coiintiy. liut witliout any marked arclivitx'. I <tonc, and a lino drawn from the nortli side oi' Lake Winni|ien' to the sonlli siile ot I^le a la ( 'i'o-.s(^ Lake, runs about north 58° west and louehes upon the northern edn'e ofiho liniestono in Heav(>r Jiake; that line may, therefore, I e (■on>idered as repi'e-eniing lhei;eneral direction of the junction of the limestone witli the ]»rimitivo rocks in this dis- trict of tlie countr3^" Macoun Geol Rep. 1875-1 ti, ;*/>. 17(i--177. Hnlered this section \>y Lac la Crosse, and passed south through the contra! part, ascending I ho Heaver River. . Isle la Crosse Lake. Deep River and Isio la Cro>se Lake are l)oth surrounded with aspen forests, (which in north alway> indicalo g(jod soil, but spruce ti;resl means damp soil' with moss as principal unilergrowlli ; where >pruce is destroyed, aspen takes its place.) The >*n\ at the JAtrt is poor, compared to llie Peace liivei'; ])riuci- pully a loam mixed with a good deal of white sand. I''iirther from lake the .soil inipi'oves, being mostly clay loam. A|(i»arenlly, mmdi greater rainfall than on Peace Jiiver, and jiossibly les,^ heat and crops may be later in coming to maturity. On 22nd Se[)tember. potatoes were still quite green ; all kinds of vegetables grow well, and are of largo size. Wheal, barley and oats succooil but i'oi'mer is not considered a sure crop. Fall wheat ought to gi'ow hero as snow lies on ground until melted by the hot suns of April. Beavei{ River. .Along the first \vw miles ; younii' poplar, a few Banksian jiinc. and groves of s[U'ueo, and after passing rapidsthe country is sandyand unfit Ibr cultivation 108 Macoun (real. .Ri-j>. l.S7">--7ii. y. 17cclion from the noi'ih^ pussing across the )iorth-ea-^t corner '"b}' Clcarvvatei' Lake and l)cep K'ivcr to F^ac la ('ro>sc. The country hci'c i hanger loi- the better, and the lni'f..( around ( 'Icai'water Ltike iiecomcs nearly all aspen, " The Chipcwyan Indians here rai-cd potaioc-. They arc the )nly Indians east of the Mountains who built hou>cs and have lixed abode-. It would not be difficult to iiuUute them to settle on land.' 55. 109 Moberly's Map. Shows a lake in the iiorlh-casl portion. The I'enibina K'iver llowing through the northern part, on the wot side of seel ion, with cypress and poplar to east of I'ixcr A large swamp i- shown on tlie south-east, and extending easterly. 42 55. Ill 51 no Moberh/s Map. Shows iin extensive swamp in northern part and iJocky Hills, extending into thonoi'lh-wesl ; between lliis swamp and the lliils,Mr. Moberly travelled ih rough 2(1 miles oi cypress and pines, intersjjersed witJi small swamps. The Pembina Eiver is shown to How easterly through the centre, having prairies with poplar and cypress trees on either side. The " Old Horse TracU," trom l-ac la Hicho to Portage la Lochc, crosbert the Pembina Jiere, passing tiirough 28 miles of praii'ie and poplar. In the south-eastern part Jack-tish Lake is shown, a trail passing to west of it through cypress and pine lor 20 miles. The Thickwood Mountains occupying the southern part of section. Moberly's Map. Eocky Hills are shown to stretch across the north-oast angle, and Marten Mountain to occupy the south-western half of section ; in the valley between these ranges of hills is situated the water-shed of the Old Fort and Pembina Pivers, the former flowing westerly, aiid the latter south-easterly. The top of Marten Mountain is mostly swamp. The sides of these hills are thickly covered with pine and poplar. 15 112 Moberly' s Map. Marten Mountain covers nearly the whole of the eastern iialt of this section, and large swamps without wood lie on its western base, extending to the Athabasca. The southern portion is also swamj^y. .55 113 Moberly's Map. A few miles to the west of the Athabasca, large swamps are shown to stretch for 30 or 40 miles north and south. And the Bnttalo .Mountains extend over the N.-W. portion of section, with swamps again to the south. 114 Messrs. Ilnretzy and Macoun passed across the south-west corner of this section to the Lesser Slave Lake. Horct:ky Pac. Ity. Rep. 1874, p. 46. Between Athabasca and Little Slave Lakes—" an entirely wooded, swampy and in places, very hilly country, utterly useless for agricultural purposes, and for a line of road excessively rough." On approaching the lake there is an im- provement in the soil. Macoun Fac. My. Hep. 1874, p. Gl». Between Deer Mountain and Lesser Slave Lake, " the descent to the north- west is very rapid, being over 1000 feet in tea miles, and thence to the lake the ground falls rapidly; mountains are seen to the south-west. The whole valley seems covered with a forest of pine and spruce. interspcrse0(l ami lliL'iX' is iiixiiiiaiil [)a^liira:j,v along llio .soutliern and wi'storn laai'gin for many milos, hut land is wol." •• Fr(»ni this post to Lac la liiidii.', hy norlii sido of Ia'^sct Slavi) Lake (dis- tance ill air lino, say IT") miles), the cuunlry is hy all accDiints thickly wooded and not hilly, although soiuo swamps exist." Macoun Pac. Hy. Rep. 1874,/|/?. 70, 8L " Lesser Slave Lake ahoul 75 miles long anil six miles wide. " Tho south shore is low and flat, and extensive m.-irshy meailows extend round the south-western end, eovered with most astonishing gi'owlh of grass, chietly blue-joint, higher than a man's head. "Many plants common to Western Canada, none indicat'-' an artic or sub- artic charactei". Soil alluvial. "The north shore is bolder, presenting tine apjioarance, a number of apparently bare hills rising trom margin of lake, as .seen from the I'ost, but wore found to be covered with prairie plants; this is accounted lor hy their southern aspect.' "Coal was found along tlie banks of Swan Uiver, a ti'ihutary of Little Slave Lake." 55 ii6 55_ 117 ii 118 119 Messrs. lioretzky and Macoun pas>,ed through this :^octioii north-westerly from the west end of tho aliovc lake t j north-west angle, .--tiikiiig the Heart Eivei'. See see. ff'j, lor Messrs. lloretzky and Mucouu remarks. See sec. f-^ for Mr. Selvvyn's de.scriptioii of Smoky Uiver, The Peace River pusses through the northern part of this section. None of the travellers reterred to have been south of the river in this part, but their remarks on the a< I joining sect i(;iis will, proliahly to some extent ap[)ly to this one. Mr. Horetzky passed through the northern portion of this section. Iforctzbj Pac. Rij. Rep. 1874, p. 4S. Macoun Pac. Rtj, Rfp. 1871, pp. 1-, 83, 8-1. " Bolween Diinvegan aiul St. .John, by trail on south side oi' river, about l:iO miles by land. Trail passes in some places 20 miles from river." Many miles of beautiful fainiing country, alternating with s[)riico, asjien and cypress. " The plants observed here grow around Ednionton, and whcre- ever wheat \Till come to perfection." Some of tho country along this route is very fine, partly limbered, and in some places dense. Soil excellent, and vegetation vigorous. In bank of stream, 16 miles from l)unvegaD, a thin layer of coal or bituminous shale was found. 44 14 55_. 120 'I'll" iiuilli.M'ii jiiii'l lra\.TM.l nn liail liniii I )iinvru;in li. Si. .Inliii. Si't' Messrs. .ll()ii'l/,k\ iiinl .Macmiii > iviii!iil<- in |iix',vicf. jy^jy. Huntn Pur. Tin. 'i' /'■ ^^"i^, !>■ «'■'■ Mr. IliiiiliT torniiiiJiUMi his cxididiiticii tVoiii wot in I S77 ji, this soction— (jiik-riiii;' it t'oi' a li'W iiiiU'.- ahniil hit. .'i.'t'' .'iit . Eastward Irniii Inilss ur i'iiir i;i\ci' up IIk' I'ast inancli, ami Ihonco uiisl- wukI— ("iUUM (il.al looi <.l piviiN iii-h rid-c; cami) 'J.iKM* led ahovi' sou, aiul distant rn-Iorlv Iihui icwrrtnikx,! I'iiic liivoi' :iO niiU'>. " Kmni tho limo wo lett the oast JM'ariHi we had fviilcntly Ixi'n inivellin- :ilniiir tho s.Mithorii lim-' ot tho i)latonn, Un- near al IkuhI nii our rl-iit I'nse liills and ridyvs TtM) to 1,(10(1 lool ahovf Ihc^ionoral lovol. while the enunlry 1" llie north looked comiiarat oven, in iho vicinity of liull'aio Civ.k the land is good and the pasturago rich." From this point Mr. Hunter retraeed his stops to Britisli (!olun\hia. 55_ 121 Sehnjn (I col. liqi. 1ST')-T»i. y/'. ')•_', .V!. ')\. Mr, Selwvn travelled uji the I'ine iJiver as far a> Tal.le Mountain, ahout tho centre of the >eetion. I'lNK RlVKK Vallev. between taliie land> i-n cither -ide H'oni 1 to U nnIo> wide pateiios ol' open pi'arie. hut ueneraliy hoth hank- are thieivly wooded. Forks o|. I'knk JiiVKii. " I'piier li'iraee -lOl' leel aho\<' river. No hii;li iiHunitains visible." " We caniiied on wot hrancli, '.\l miles aliove llic forks ; the rivei' here narrows. Uallu mile ah ive the camiriound lour seams oi' good hright coal of (], 8. 21 and li inrho iliiek ir-perMvely. I'.illowiu-- day aseendeil Tahio Mountain four to live mile^ di>lant. All. ol rani|i 1,.';>- leel; heigiit 228 foot above St. John.' T.\ni,r, .Mountain, ;■ pMI t'ei't above -ea ■■\iew fi'-m it wa> niagniliceiit. To the right the Peaks at the gorge ol' I'eaco iiivei' easily reeogiii/.ed. ' Sdioijn (ioA. Itleps to I'iatcau , an undulating couiitj}- ol s.-indy or "•ravelly ridges, eoveied with small pine. and swampy deprcs>ions, with wpruco an(f tamarac and well-gia>sed llat>, thickly womlcd with aspeu, alder and willow. Ascended hill at >,)Ulli-we-t cirnc; of 'akc. • _MMl(l|eet aiiove Hudson ,> Hope and only little loss elevated ihan 'I'aMc .Mounlain .m I'ino J.'ivcr." " Tho hills arouinl lake are ricjiiy gia>-ed, I'ca vine, Aslralagus and vuriou.'i, nutritious i;ias>cs standing aliovc iim'-. kiiec.> on hor-e-baid<. 45 "TlnM'i^ iiic lai'n'i' Mi'cii-^ (irMpcii ]ii;iii'i<' laii'l. ami more wliit-li arc wooilod witli willow, a>|pi'ii aii'l |in|ilai' r(i|)jHi'i>. ()ii ilic iiii;lK'r -"Ioimi^ piiu' pr'cxailr*, aixl in juw i^rdMiiils s|iiaici'. laiiiarac ami |in|)lar. ' '• Cliarlotti' (^Miiili-) Icll ■ 111.' thai the simw tall is licri- coiiiiiui'ativcly Ught, tliiil tlial lioiwi's ilo wi'll llir'iii:.;li iIm- winicr mi llicso liilN. " 1 cdiisidcrthis u iVi;iMii lin- niorc lit UmI li.r >i'itU'iiu'iil than inin'li of llio Sas- kulclu'vvaii ('((iiiitry. • We an- imw" in th.. nii'MK' nf Sc|ili'iiilier. ami tin' tlici'innim'tor lias only onct' i('aclic(| :',J, , aial |iniatiic tnp^ ;ii lliid'^dirs \\k\h' air >lill ui'i'tMi. ■■ A'^ a cnnlra^! in ilii> i. v^ill iu' -criijii my rcpdrt on Sa^katclu'waii country ill 1S7.'!. that in rcLjion aii.iii! r'Jm.ni!"n aihi V'ii'l iiia, -" lini Iut soul h, and uhoiit same clt'vaiiiin, lln' llni inoinciri' Icll nn |ih Sc|ilcml)cr to -S\ on Glli to 24', on I nil to lid , .-mmI aii'aiii on I'llrd lo L'tl^'," Mr, llniilci' cxploiTil !lll■llll^•|| I'cntic ol ilii> from wc-ii to cast, Soo sections Y'.;"',-,- to ,-';^.,. lie aUo a-cciii|.' nhtaiie'.l a-- tiHinv- • " S. i'oiiikI to S. ^0' iv niany low liilU ri-in-- tVniii the plateau 7\M) to 1,500 feet. S. SO' !•:. to N.dd' !•;. Iiill---i'adual!y llatteii. X. liU' Iv \'< N. 1.")' W,, a com- paratively level count ry, •' N',"?")^' W. very iii-li peal<<. .listant l(» to ")() miles (these arc no doutit the southoni peaks of the IiIl'Ii r.anue in tlie -real lieinl of the Peace i{iver). '• .N. 15- \V. to S. 711 W. a ilat cMuntiy lor 'ill ..i' in mile-, heyond which rise liii^'h, roii^li nioiinl.ain-^ sveli palclied with >«now. " S. Ii5 ' W. iij) the valle\- of ihe midille hfancli towards the source of tlie Mitsinchiiica, hinli snowy mountain-.. All the eoinitry to the -oiilh rough and ifieii;iilai'. •' Ileiidii ol' 'I'alile Mountain .'l.TiUil feet ahove sea.'' 55_ 122 //(//(/(T Par. Rij. n<: 1''7^. /-/'. 7^-71'. i'Aplored eastward ;.."nii- the I'ine River ahoiit the centre of this section "On lyth .\uiiusl, ali'iii! tw-. milr- \v^>^^\ eaiiip It, and 22 miles from the summit, an open alluvial ila; wa- reached mi tin* lett bank ol the Pine River, and a clianji;o in the rharacier ofihe \ailcy liccanic ,ip|iarenl. Up to this point, whicli is ]trolialilv the cxtienie we-tern liiiiit nl' i he " fci'tile holt " no Uiiid siiitahk' for settlemetil nr eiillivalimi wu> seen ea>t of the niount.ains," •' I'roin Camp II to ih • ( 'anyii'i, a di.-tancc o| f! niile.>. Pine K'iver Valley is from 1 to 2 niile^ wide. A \ .n \- i:i'-e piMpi.iiimi oi' the low land in this distance is (it for settlenienl. anc. " From the ('aii\-on' im ilic I, iwci- \-\ less extensive, but the ])asture is eiiiiallx' al.und.ant and ri' ii Tlie country abounds in large game sindi as liear, cariboo and niMn-,e. ••Hill slopes i 1 iiian\- place, distinctly maiked by the unbroken terraces, I'isini;; in sonic instances 1.0 M) feet .above level of rivi'r." 'The liocky .Mountains cios> the wolein |)ortion of ihi- section. 46 FUOM THK KKlTll Til TllH rjOllI MKHIDIN N, AM> T.KTWKKN THK 54X11 AND 55tH I'AKAl.l.KI.S Ul' LATITI liK. 54 IOC Sir J<'hn Rnharilsoi, 184S, Arcfir Sfirchhi:/ Exj)t\lit'"n y. '>7. •'Tlic trriiiutoand n-iioi.-^ I'ncks wliidi t'orni llif I'iisl vIk.iv nI'LiiUo Wiiinipou; striki' oil' ill it> iu>r(li-c';i>t conu-f, aiul |i:is^iiii:- to lIuMiortli ot\>r(iosi' liiiUo i;<» on to IVaviT l.alio, wlicrc iln' laiioi' roiilc auaiii louclu's tlu-m. At soiiu^ distance to tlu> wotward of tlii'Mi the Sa>larl ol tiii^ section. " Rntiiv l)oil oi rivorcon-ist^oriiinotoiic sojnctinio lyiiii;' in nearly liori/.ontal layofs, more (if losslissnred. In lower ]iai't olrivei' iliodanUs are -andy. a considerable dej)osit of dry liii'iit soil ovcriie-- the liim^lone. and vegetation is vigorous." 54 Sir John /iirliitn/son, 1S4S. Ar<-ti. S,;irrhiihi Exptdilinn. ji. 7".t-S2. I02 pi|,i> Ujaiid T,aioiil south- west iiy w-i'st, arid iioitli-east liy cast, or at light angles to the general direction of the gneiss and granite tormalion. whit h lies to the t'astward." ''At the outlet of Heaver Lake, (in eastern |iortion ol this section) and at several snceeedini;- ]ioints on hoth sides of the canoe route, the thin slaty lime- stone lorms elills ;>(» to KMect high; Imt aliout the middle of the lake there is SI small island ol gicciistone. Beyond this wc again touched upon the graidte rooks, whudi we had lel'i at thi' north-east cornei- of Lake Winnipeg, bearing from this placi' about cast SU ' south." The Missinipi or Churchill iJiver did not open this year (1848) until (Ith .lune, but it seldom continues frozen beyond the Isl ol .Iiine. At iiidgi' portage the rocdi is gneiss, resembling nuca slate. Ridge Kapid, hit. h\\\ •' is saiil to be the liiLchesi point to which sturgeon ascend in this rivei' ; and it is most probably the noi'lhern limit ol'the range of that lis!) on the east side of the Korky .Moimiaius. " A lenaciniis (davev soil is lormed by tjic action of the weather on tlio slate. And "the inei|Ua!itics ol the country here, as well as its vegetation, :ire verv siniihii' to that on the ivaministiquia, where the same formation exists." ' The woocjs cimsi'^i o| bnidi. nine, aspen, lareh and balsaiu-i»oplar." 51 103 Nothing reliable known. 51 104 Notliing reliable Icnown. 105 Nothing reliiiblo known. 51 106 NothiDf? reliable known. 47 54 107 Mi Grocn l-ako, and tlionco hy land towards Carlton. ,, • . ^ llo di-scribtvs ilic (.■oiinlry adjaicnt (o Boavor Ilivor horo as well suited tor sctlloniont. Tlu- i)anl i'lirther dcstriix's the hanks all alluvium 10 toot liiijjh, and tiie land on hoth sides very lirli. (iREKN Lakk.— This rei,'ion is tit for sottlomcnt throu.i;hout, thosoil being first class and (piito dry; found cxcclloiil potatoes, barley also succeeds well, but wheat is as vet doubtful. Krost on tin- Sth Seitlemher killed all the potatoes, siiowini^'it is colder than further north. There are myriads of whito- tish in river and lake. On the trail from Green Lake to Carlton, 140 miles; the tirst ilay, passed thi'ough tine trad of country, rather wot in places but having- good soil ; this part is evidently u water-shed. 51 io8 XothiiiL' roliable known. -51 109 Moberly's Map. Siiows a large swamp occui.ying the N.-K. portiim of this section and south of it two lakes known as tiooso and Cold Lakes, on the south side of the latter there is an Indian village, from which extends a cart track to Carlton, 1 10 Mr. Marcus Smith, Deputy Engineer In Hiief, C. P. 71. During his journey of 1S77, entered liiis section on its southern sido, cros- sing it nortii-westerly towards Lac la Biclic. The following is obtained from his iournal : — In neiii-hboiirhood of .Middle Civek C-'OJ miles, reckoned from Carlton,)— The country to the south, wol, and iiorlii is all forest of poplar, lilack pino and spruce. Soil p«'or, but ])lenty ol i)ea-vino among the brush, the surface lumpy and broken. .\i()ose Hill Creek, '2(t feet wi.le, in deep valley. \h mile beyond this, trail branches oil' to Lac La iJiche, on a splendid road over sandy country foi 8 miles. . The general trail, from Kort Pitt to i-Mmonton, enters tins section on tho south, at Middle Creek, traversing the southern portion a few miles to tho north of the Saskatchewan. Sdwyn Geo. Hep., 187:{-74, p. M. Observed in this part "Two species of i)ino and spruce trees at intervals along route, small poplar thi.kols everywhere, with numerous swampy crooks, ■■■it 48 >o(>ls iirid hiU'i's lit'lwocii rid^c- ainl liills oj'saml and n'ravol, occiLsioiially lurge jouldci^ mi the ^lU'f'acf, nearly all (ii\t(tu'i>s and i;'ranito. Moberly's Map, Tlic Tliickwood .Monnlaitis ci-oss tlio north-oasl pari of lliis section and tlio trail iias^-o here for 'Z') luilcs tliroiii;ii ]iinf>. cviircss and fallen liiniiiM- 54. Ill Siiiidfuril Flnniihj. <'.M.(! .Eii'iinn'r-iii-Ch'ivf, Camulian Pacifir Raikcay Kejiorf, ISTi. /,.;{S. Notes on llu' cliai'acU'r of liie country traverHcd acro>s liio continent in 1^72 by Ml'. Fleniihi;-. " A> we came williih KKI miles of KdiiKtnton, the country became more hilly, and llie bill >idcs swre covered witii lieavv wood. The Jloi'a continued tlie same as on the eastern juairies. but it was here somewhat moi'c luxuriant ; a good deal ol |o\v liircdi and -eiiib nine, /linns /i'liiksiiina. is met in this localitv." M(irru'< Smith, 1S7T. loitered this section on the ea>l, about latitude 54'^ 20', and continued not til -wi'.'^turly. Jle lirst |ia>-eii throiieh thick jiojilar bush tor seven miles, small lakes to ri-'hi and hills 20(1 t.i ;i()(l feel hi,ij;h to tiie north about six miles distant. Tliencc pa-M'd dry sloui;li.~. and at '22l-h miles a. -mall hike half a mile to the north ; then ( iilcri'd on a level plateau, clotlcd with a u.xnriant _i,M(-wth of grass and vetches, witli o(ia~i)' al clump- of poplar and spruce, but a scarcity of water. At 2;!4 mile- the grass and \-etthes readied the saddle girths of iiorses. A rich, grassy plain extended for tour miles further, and then, crossing a valley 20(1 teet wide by 2H feel deep, eiilered poplar biisli for two miles, and omergeil at fool of hill, ;i-ecndtiig which, reached it- -umniit at .'lUitiide 1080 feet, and passing some lakes, came upon a beautiful park-like country covered with richest gra^^, ](ea vine and vetciie-. with occasional clumps of poplar and .spruce ; at 247 mile- ;iiiotbei' -mall lake, and clumps of trees consisting of poplar, s])ruce,^ liank.-iian Pine, ainl Tamarac. litAVKH RiVKU. — Al J.')!; mile-, cro--ed below junction of the two streams, 00 tcei wide, and now two ted lieep, -ubjei t lo rapid rises. The iiank- were twel>^e feet high, and the meadow- along ihem produced tlni nio-i luxuriant gra.ss of various deseriplioii-, with veidies iluee to four feel high. The adjoining country rose to tiO feet above ii\t and -oiith-east no hill could bi' seen; to the we-t the coun I ry \v;is rollin^;• but no hill- : a lit lie to noil h of i;ast appeared range ot hill-, e-tinial. The waters fi'om ISreeth Clout Jiako (287 nnle-) flow to the norlh-east ; HuMice eonl inued iliiou^h beautiful nicildows to bell ol poplar- (201 A- mile-) country here tails rapidly. At 207 miles crossed Heaver- Cri'ck, .'JO fci't wide and r.ipid Thence nio-l ol'ihe way jiassed through thick- pojilar wood to 11. H. Post. I'Voin I.ae la l!i(dic .Mi. Sniilli tiavelled to the Saskatchewan at Victoria. The lirsi ;!! miles i.- ,,ver rather rough e,,unlry to Meaver iviver, hero 100 feet wide, and deep, coun ti'y continuing rough lo. Snake liills, and thence over^ood t9 foiul, cul tliroiigli tlio bush for 3!) milos to Kisli Lake; hero there were several houses; thoiico by excellent road tbroiiLfh woods i'or a miles to a beaiUitul rich valley, wliere Indians were making; hay. At (rood ['"ish Lake lives Mr. .Foseph Ilowse, who furnished ns with good milk and vegetables. Thence across wet marshy moatlow to a wooded hill, and, passing for two miles over elevated plateau, reacheion. Abundani'c of whitetish in this and neighbouring lakes. The timlier of tin countiv is S|ii'uce, Tamai-ac and l*(,plar, all ol good ,'^ize. The divide between Ficavcr TJiver and the Athaba>ca watershed is not inoio than 3 miles from Lac la Biche. Seliri/n Geol. Jfep. 1873-74 j>. 37. Victoria, II. B. Post dnd lVe.sl,'i/(itt Mission (>-\luii{i^i\ near southei'n l)ouinlary of this section) is SI;; miles from Fort dairy ami 1,!I()0 t'eet above sea. Soil at Victoria I'ather light, sandy black loam. Wheat and barley >own in May, antl very tine, the latter now being harvested; all garden vegetables grow luxuri- antly, but sharp frost had cut potatoe vines; wheat, however, did not sufl'cr. 50 VICTORIA TO VERMIMON, OR WHITE EARTH CREEK, 30 miles — Bo^gy, wator holes, sandy hills and thick woods. In low ground poplar and birch, on ridges spruco anil pine. Surveyor-General, Dominion Lands, Report, 1S7S — IF. /•'. King, D.L.S., p. 18. Victoria. — " There is merely a small settlement hero on a flat point on the north side of the Kiver Valley, and comparatively little land is cultivated. The soil is lighter than that of Edmonton, hut gives good crops." It is heavier further back from the river. A strip (jf good huul of many miles in width extends along the ti-ail north of the Saskatchewan. ii 113 The Hudson's Bay Company have constructed a waggon road from Edmonton passing to the north through this section, but we have no roliab'o information concerning the country through which it passes. 54 114 Messrs. lloretzky and Macoun travelled through this Section from south north. Horetzky Pac Ry. Rep. 1874, ;>. 46. EDMONTON TO VORT ASSINBBOINE. •'91 miles of very fail- country, of an easy character, and land partly of pi-airie and timber, latter abundant from Lac La Nonne to the Athabasca." This would seem to refer to the southernhalf of this section. The traveller then crossed via the Deer Mountains towards Lesser Slave Lake, and describes hia journey as through " an entirely wooded, swampy and, in many places, very hillyicountry, utterly useless for agricultural purposes." Macoun Pac. Ry. Rep. 1874, p. 69-80. FROM LAC LA NONNE TO PEMBINA RIVER. Country more broken and hills steeper, more heavily wooded and soil ))Oorer. From Pembina River land is comparatively level up to the ridges which border the Athabasca. The timber is principally spruce, balsam and aspen; also Banksian pine, birch and willow, with tamarac in few places. Timber generally large; on burnt land wild peas and vetches. Many plants common to Ontario and Quebec were lii-st seen here, since leaving the Lake of the Woods. •'The Athabasca is large, being wider and deeper than the Saskatchewan, and flows through a pretty wide vallev, generalelevationof country above river is .'JOO feet." PROM THE ATHABASCA To I>EER MOUNTAINS. For some distance after passing the Athabasca, the country is a series ot sand hills, ridges and swiimps ; then less broken, but half swamp; up to Deer Mountain.which is by aneroid about 3,500 feet above the sea, the country becomes more Arctic in aj)pearance, and near the mountain top vegetation showed high altitude. Coal like that of Edmonton was found in blocks in bed of Pembina River. 51 Palliser Exp., p. 123. Dr. Hector's winter journey, 1859, Edmonton to F''ort Assiniboino on tho Athabasca. — " Crossed the Pembina River, which is about 80 yards wide, has a largo valley and some lino patches of open landalonf,' its banks. Tho timber is much Hiior all over tho country we are passing through than any in the neighbourhood of Edmonton. The Pembina is the most southerly stream of the Prairies that Hows to the Arctic Ocean." "The Athabasca is a river iJOD yards wide, rather larger than tho Si'skat- chewan at Edmonton, with a much witlor and deeper valley." Tlie bunks rise to a height of ISO feet, and beyond the country seems to bo level, but very heavily timbered. Along this jtortion of the rivor there is, however, much fine and partially o))en land, reminding me of tho district around Fort Carlton, to tho south ot'tliis i)lacc ai'o many l)ir(di trees of good size, and sometimes on the rising grounds tyiio forest is wholly composed of this tree, which is the only hard woikI tho country produces, and therefore of great value. ri5 FaUiser's E.rp.,p2). 123-124. Dr. Hector's journey up tho Athabasca from Fort Assineboino ;— Passeil several high clitl's of sandstone to west of tho fort; higher up tho river found "coal in a sandstone cliff 1 10 feet high; it occurred as a wedge- shaped mass three to five foot thick, runningrfbr several hundred yards." Balsam, poplar, pine, birch and silver spruce grow along the baidcs- " Passing McLood's Rivor, a large tributary from the south-west 100 yards wide, the river banks are still densolv wooded and are now becoming high and rocky, formed of ledges of sands'lone witii a sprinkling of cypress pine;" banks appear to be 300 feet high. 51 ii6 Palliser, p. 124. Tho Athabasca strikes across this section to the south west angle. "Tho valley of the rivor has widened considerably, as if we had pa.s8ed through the sandstone countiy, and the timber is again very fine, some of the birch trees being of good size." "Passed Baptiste's rivor, a tributary of tho west, which is 00 yards wide " N»thing reliable known. 51 117 il llS E. W. Jarvis, Pac. Ry. Rep., 1877,;;. 14(5. Mr. Jarvis passed over the south-west corner of this section and describes it as a terribly broken country, crossing high parallel ridges and tho intervening valleys, in all of which the water runs north-east, or in a similar course to the Smoky River and the Atliabas(!a. Nothing reliable known of the eastern or western parts of this section. 1 19 Nothing reliable known. i)Z FUOM THE 100X11 TO THE 1U>TI1 MEKIDIAN, AND BETWEKN THE 53r«]) AND 54Tn I'ARALIiELS OF LATITUDE. 53_ 100 Ilind's A. a'- S. Exp., Vol. 1, pp. -l^'tlA'y^. Mr. John Fleming's joiirnoy down the Saskatchewan from Fort a hi Corne, I8lh August, 1858. — ■' From the Pus. the Saskatdu'waii flows thi'ough a low flat eouiUry, wooded witli scrub ))0|)hir, Italsam and s|)rut'(!; the cliaraeter of the country <;-radiially deteriorates, the banks becomiiiif h)wer and lower and the timber nmre scrubby and scantj'; tlie alluvial flats are in many places only one or two feet above the water, and they arc at some jKjints covered witli drift- wood, showing that they are flooded at certain seasons." " Opposite the Moo.se Lake branch, by ascending a tree, [ succeeded in getting a view of the surrounding counti-y; the banks are, here, three feet above the river, .supporting a thin strip of grey willows along the water's edge, and al)out half a chain back from the river there commences an extensivo mareh or swamp, with rank reeds and rushes, interspersed with ])onds of open water and dotted witii clumps or islands of balsam, .spruce and willow as far as the eye can reach." From Moose Lake Fork, for about sixteen miles further (iown, a slight improvement is observcil on the immediate banks, occasional groves of young ash, elm and ash-leaved sugar-maple are seen, but the flats beiiind are generally very low, and covered only with grey willows and sapling pojilar. Between Marshy Lake and Cedar Lake are seen all the charactci'istics of a great alluvial delta. Muddy Lake is a dilatation of the river. On an island in this Lake f found an exposure of light-colored limestone in hoi'i/ontal beds along the water's edge. Tiiis was the first outcrop of rock in situ met with on the Main Saskatchewan. Cedar Lake, thirtj' miles long by a breadth in widest part of twenty-five miles, is 60 feet higher than Lake Winnipeg, and is (;88 feet above the sea. The northern coast is deeply indented and very low, and the country con- tinues flat for a long vi' camp this evening its breadth was 980 feet, and mean depth of 20 ted." No material change in the character nf the rivi'r atnl adjaienl country. The tract of country back from the river is rather low and wet. The Pas oit C/'cmhehland .Missionary Station, i> situated at tlie cunfluenco of tile Saskalchewan and Bas(juia Hi vers, a tribiitory abuut -On lect wide at its mouth. The l{ool 'Uiver also falls in thrctxjuai'ters of a mile above. The 63 river bunks iit the Pas iiro 10 lo 12 t'Lct Ini^li, composcil of light-colored drift chiy, holdiiii;- pL-Milos and lioiddors of liiiioslone; the ^iurfticc soil is a dark, gnivelly mould, well adiiptod for c'ldlivalioii, but the .siirroutuliiig country i,s said to be low and .^waiiipy with marshy lakes. " Barley and other crops growing hero looked well anil wei'e just ripening." 53_ I02 mn(V& A. & S. Exp., Vol. 1, pp. 44b'44l». between I'ort h la Corne and (Uimberlaiid, by the winuings of the river, is upwards ot l.")0 miles." ClMBERLANl). 53_ 103 ■'The country round Cumberland is low ami flat; the soil in .some places is a stilVclay, but in general it consists of a gravelly loam a few feet in thick- ness, covering a horizontal bed of while limestone, and su))porting a light growlli of poplai' and birch ; occasionally, groves of sjiruce (the so-called pine ol iiupert's Land) are seen here and there. The land being so little raised above the lake and river, a great deal of it is >nbmerged during the spring Hoods, and >ome parts upon which the water remains becomes marshes and swam))s, but many ot' them could be drained and improved without much dilHculty." " There are 10 acres enclosed and under cultivation at Cumberland. I obaorved a field of barley and aiu)llior of potatoes, both looking well, and there is an excellent garden ; the soil appeared rich and t'ertilo, bearing an exuberant growth of rhuburb, cabbage, peas, carrots and other vegetables." Uimr< A. & S. Exp.. 1"/. 1. /'. 445. Mr. John Fleming > joui'ncy, llib Augu^t. — '• Parsed through an e.xcellent tract of (•ountr\- all ide.> ol' the river con>i>ting of a very I'icb alluvial dcpo>it, ten feet in thickness above the surface of the water, well wooiled with large jioplar. bal-am, spruce and birch, >omo mca>uring two and a-halt feet in diameter; and, as lar as a.sccrtaiii, the land continues gooil tor u great distance on cither side, but more especially on south side of river. In many places the river i>- studded with .f til > oi the poplai's was enabled to 51 104 lar'>-e alluvial island-, sujjporting a most lu.\uriant growth of j)oplar and willows. Travelled a tlistancc of about 47 miles to-day." ///n,/,- .1, .l- S. Exp.. Vol. \,pii. -J41-414. Krom Koi't ,1 la Corne, down the .Sa^kalihewan lo tlietiraml Kapids and Lake \Vinni])eg— by Mr. John Fleming, Dlh August. 1858: — ,SasI\Atciikwan (or "Jliver that rtms swift ")— at Fort a la Corne, is 0(55 li'i-t in breadth ; mean velocity of current three nulesanhour; its immediate baidv- are high ; the side.- ot the valley, which are higher, being at no great (ii-tance from the river; the breadth of river continues very uniform, but its baidvs ijecome gradually lower, the hillsides of the valley at the samo time 54 (livcrf,'iiif^. "Alioiit twenty miles Ijulow Fort a la Corno. the hanks of tlio river iiio low, and tho^oiionil clmractcrof the aiijacont country (.'onsidoialily changed. The lii^li C'litl's before seen at the great hends give place to rich alluvial flats, siip]>orting a i'oi'csi of fnir-sizcd balsam, spruce and poplar, and the valley becomes so broad that the high banks are nowhere observed." Made 1^3 miles the tirst day. August lOlh. — Passed during the day the " Big Birch Islands," and many others; they arc all alluvial depositsatid somo of them are overtlowed in spring. '■ Till! banks of the river are now quite low, and the country on either side is very flat, but it still continues well adapted for agricultural purposes and seltle- Mieiit, the soil being a rich alluvial loam of considerable depth, well watered and drained by many line creeks, and clothed with an abundance of timber for fuel, fencing juid building. Made 53 miles to-day." HiiuCs A.dkS. Exp., Vol. l,pp. 397, 399 to 406. KORT 1 LA CORNE. " The Saskatchewan, opposite Fort laCorne, is 320 yards broad, 20 feet deep in the channel, and current of three miles an hour; mean depth 14 feet, but it has been crossed on horseback tlui'ing a very dry season." " The main Saskatchewan drains an aieaof 240,000 square mi les,'an J mean discharge of water per second, .59,289 cubic ieet." " Tiio river usually opens tVom 9th to 20th April, and closes from 6th to 13th November." Nei'OVVEwin Mission. — '• The area of fertile land here is limited to the points of the river, and does not exceed 400 to 500 acres." Fort a la Oorne to Birch Hills, across the counlr}-. — The trail "passes through a thick forest of small as])en until neai' the summit, when a sandy soil begins, covered with Banksian ])ine and a tew small (jak. This sandy area occupies a narrow strij) on the banks of the river from a half to four miles broad. South of it the soil changes to a rich black mould distributed over an undulating country, where the pine gives place to aspen and willow in groves," " On theslojies the grass is long and luxuriant, atVording tine pasturage. The general aspect of this country is highly favorable for agriculture, the .soil deep and uniformly rich, rivaling the low prairies of Kcd Kiver and the Assiniboine." Our course lay along the banks of Long Creek, which is six feet wide, flowing through a broad shallow depression, where wild hay is very abundant; ponds and lakes are numerous, pointing to a more humid climate than that .south of the Qu'Appellc. "The valley of Long Creek ajipears to furnish a very large area of land of the best quality, and will probably yet become the seat of a thriving community." The .South Jiranch of the Saskatchewan runs northerly and joins the North Branch in this section. Jfind'^ A. .(■ S. Exp., Vol. 1. Pi'. 392-395. On voyage down the South Bi'ancli nttho S.'iskatcliewan ; — The "surrounding country gave evidence of a!) excellent sijjl ;i 55 On tho voyage of 250 miles down llio South SaskatcUowun, an extra- ordinary absence of animal life was nolicod. " Tbo vory small numljcr of tiibiitarics received by the rioutii Branch between tbo KIbow and the Grand Forks is a remarkable | roof of the ai'idity of the rcf^ion tliroii^b which it flows. For nearly 200 miles it receives but one allhient from tiie east, and on llie we>l >idc, wheri! tbo water-shed is of much f^roater breadth, but where we would expect to tind a more arid climate, it receives eight insignilicant brooks, {''rom Lumpy Hill to the (irand Forks, a distance of about (iO miles, lour stroinulets cut its eastern bank. The water- shed on tho cast side has not an avenige breadth exceeding twelve miles, and two of liie tributaries j)roceed from jjonds in valleys cutting the low dividing ridge, which, like those of the Qu'Appelle, are tributary to Long Lake or the main Saskatchewan." THE GRAND l:'0RK8 OF THE SASKATCHEWAN. The water ot the South Branch is yellowish brown in colour; while that of the North Branch is a shade lighter and clearer. Tho former more resembled tiie waters of the Mississippi; tiio latter, those of the St. Lawrence; temperature of South Branch, (iV ; of North, H2°. The South Branch is 180 yards broad, and the North oidy 140, and tho currents three and a half miles an hour. As- cended the North Branch seven miles ; current here being from six to seven miles an hour. Tho valley ay liir us seen reaembles the last ten milea of tho South Saskatchewan. 105 Himl's A. 3 miles above tho ' Forks." Is in a thriving condition possessing two tine general stores, a splendid steam saw and grist-mill, also a water-power grist-mill, blacksmith sliops, kc, Church of Kngland Bishopric, and Presbyterian Mission and schools. The land here is vory nearly equal in richness to tho famous liod Jiiver Valley, the proportion of clay being somewhat less and the land more undulating." "The crops are occasionally injured by early frosts, but last year a most abundant harvest was gathered." " Over 1,200 acres were under crop last year among the settlers on the river front, and many large Holds wore to be .seen on Rod Doer Jlill and various other parts of our work. I noticed wheat, oats, barley, turnips, cabbage, carrots, onions, Ac, &c., of equal excellence to those grown in Ontario." Abundance of water and a fair supply of wood in this ueighbourhootl, 5G Tho I'luul loading IVoin I'riiico Alboil to tlio Imliiiii scttli'iiiont, 14 inilo.s S.-K., pas^os throiiLcli a lino farmiiig country. I'rincc! Allioit lo tins Foi'k> of the Saskatrliowan IJiviT, ;}t! milos. — ■• lOxreptin'; where a belt of jtitch jiiiie, ahoiit throe miles in width, croHNos the load on a |)oor sandy soil, tho trail passes through u eoiintry well adapted to settleinont." 1 06 MacouH Geol. Jlci>., 1875-70,;). 1H:5. Star Mission to ('arlton, 50 miles. — Tho trail hero crosHOs tho south-west' part of section. "Nearly all the way, country is (|iiito level and tit for farming ])urposes. Most of it is prairie, with an ahiindance ofgcjod water. When within 20 miles of the .Sasliatdiewan, passed tlirco salt mai'shes, hut only one of an}' extent. The land is much better five miles from tho Saskatchewan than close to it; have found it bo in all cases. Near tho river land was brokou and contained much sand, but this was not noticed away fiom it." Computed ditcd many fine timber tracts, country generally suited for agriculture. Next day nochange except agradual one to drier climate.'' "Aspen woods began to give place to prairie. Where tiro had ilestroyed limber, prairie flowers were seen," "until the flora had lost its forest character any lakes. STAU JIISsIov, Mr. nines, a practical man, in charge of missu)n, '•early in spring (1875), had plowed land for the Indians. Wheat sown 10th May, was reai)cd 10th September, and bailey, sown five days later, was reaped six days earlier. Showing thiit it takes nearly a month longer to ripen grain in this region than it does on any jjart of Peace J{iver, hence a greater ilanger heiv(»fsninmer frosts. The prairie soil is sandy l(»am mixed with gravel ; the j»oplar lands inclined to clay, and the bottom lands black loam.'' Mr. llines stated that soil of wlude region was as good as that which he was cultivating. 69 53. I08 Palliser, pp. 68-69 (winter journey). Throu^'Ii soullieni and wohtcrii porlions ul' tliis M-ction. Jack Fish Lakk, 20 miles ion^ by 12 wide, its waters .sli^flitly sulino, banixs 100 fed hij^li of" sandy argillaeeoiis di-if't. The r()at lay over very invu;nlai' ^'loiind, biolieii by abrupt ridges; in Ibe bollows wei'e small swampy lakes. I'a>si'd some sand bills, wbicb rise from a level jtlain ol considerable extent; eros.-«ed Tnitle JJiver, 40 loot wide, a tiibutary of tbe Saskateliewan ; aii-ain crossed several sand bills, thence across Enj^lisb Creek and followed aloiif^ Ibe wot side of a wide sballow valley, tbrouj^b wbicb it flows from its source among low undiilalmg bills. Tbe Bed Deer Hill (at western side of section) is an abrupt terraced slope, tbe top of tbe bill is a level jtlain, jtresenting a different aspect to any 1 bavo yet seen, being covered with thick low brusli and a few ( lump^ of trees, and id traversed by deoj) steep gullies. Sandford Fleminy, Poe. Ry. Rep., 1874, p. 38. "The counti-y on tbe North .Saskatchewan is but little wooded, Imt it abounds in gi-as^cs and tbe soil appears to be good, in some places soniewbat ■sandy and arid. Tbe contour of the land is iri-egular, with bills of considerable elevation, at the base of which lakes are frequently to be met, generally not of extended area." Selwyn Geo}. Rep., 1873-74, p. 34. in I t Along the trail on the north of the Sabkatchewan, — "Tiio soil for many niles in neighbourhood of .Jack Fish Lake, is of finest ([uality a rich black Dam on a blueisb-grey clay." From this lake; westward, a line fertile country, lolciaiily level, with patches of aspen wood, and several saline and fresh water lakes. "At Hnglisb IJivor met with the tirsi spruce since leaving Korl lOilice." Tbe Red l)eer Hills rise from 200 to 300 feet above plain, of light sandy loam, stony and gravelly. 53. 109 Palli8('r,p. 70. *' Fort Pitt stands on the left bank of the Saskatchewan." The river here is 430 yards wide. Tbe south bank of the valley rises to .'iOO feet. " Shewing sections of upper and middle cretaceous strata, the country to the south of the river is billy, with good pasture, but no wood. There is a total absence of wood in tbe neigbborliood of the Fort, but an abundance of timber at a sboi'l distance to north-west. Tbeie is very tine pasturage and it is a favorite place for rearing horses. '• (Jrain is said not to "' "'■"" '■■•• I suspect they have chosen a bad spot for their tield ; turnips le place is famous for tbe (piantity and (pialiiy of potatoes." succeed well, but grew well, and tb Sandford Flcininy, Pac. Ry. Rrji., 1874, p. 38. "From Fort Pitt, continuing along the North Saskatchewan, the soil improves, and we met white spruce, tamarack and pojtlais, with thick and lu.xuriant grasses. Fires bad passed over much of the country." '^^HStmSSSSm 58 Sflwyn C'rol. Jirp., 1873-74,/). .'{5. I'^oiiT I'lTT.—Soil ill tlu) noif^'liliorhood of Fort, rich black mould tliroo foot ilccp, iih.lcrlaiil with conr.-. 70. From the Saskatchewan, at the mouth of the Vermilion westward across a wide stretch of prairie, passing many herds lay -tJoui'so thence \', iiiado 4'J bllllulo, cn)ssint: a raniic of hills for rive or si.x milesthrough a very broken coiinti a rapid descent ot MOO foot to an o.xtonsivo plain covered with bliilts o*' which seemed to stretch for 10 or I'i miles, until it is again 1m. tind' same range of hills. Other similar extensive plains, some "•' th.-f bounded by hills, were crossed in this section. The pastun u. Henry A. F. MacLeod. "The southern portion is good fertile soil, to the Four HIiickf' Hills, wliere the soil is gravel and clay, giving good pasture. The country is hilly, rolling, open prairie. The supply of surface fresh water is small." 50 Surveyor-General, Dominion Lands' Jirport, 1878 — W. F. Kiiuj, p. 15. Following,' tilt' ti'lo^nipli trail westerly, acroMS the f-oiitluu'ii part of tins Hoctioii, tlie lirst 20 miles |)a.->sos tliroii/^li u wide -treteh dl' iilaiii, covered willi biitl'alo h'rass, with seareity (»!' water, hut " near Giizzly Bear Creeli, ahout I((0 miios from Ballleford, we a^ain j^el into a traet of 40 miles or mure of good soil, rolling country with wooded hills and itinuineralile laUes." 53. 111 PaUiser,p. 71. (.'rossed thi" Hection westerly about l.'i miles south of Sasliatehowan. "Entered a district ot e.oiinlry exactly eorrespondirii^ to the NVhilo hakes between Fort I'itt and Carlton, tormin;jf what is known as the Chain of Lakes." From one of those lakes the Verrailiou Kiver rises, and tlowiiii; to the south- oast, till lui out in the plainw, it makes an abrupt turn to north north-east to join the Saskavchowan, "Wo left his chain of lakes, and crossed a very hilly country until wo came to an imnionse swamp, on the further side of which is the iiill known as ' La Euttc Noir ' " To the north, between this trail and the Saskatchewan, the country is desc -ibed as hilly, with clumps of wood and tine pasture. Henry A. F. MacLeod. " The southern portion is good fertile soil, imj)roving to rich alluvial to the west; there are numerous marshoa producing good liay. The country to the east is an even open ))rairie, the central part hilly and partially woixled, and the western part an undulating open prairie. The supply of fresh water is limited to the oast, and abundant to the west." Huvcyor-Creneral, Dominion Lands' Report, 1878 — W. F. Kinij,p. 15. Cy'ontinuing westerly along telegraph trail through southern jiortion of this section — the Hrst 20 miles or so of the soil is gooil, and the coiirilry rolling, with wooded hills and lakes, for the remainiug distance the country becomes poorer. 53_ 112 PaUiser,p. 71. The trail crossed this section westerly, about 15 miles from its northern boundary. — Leaving •• liii lliitte Xoir," crossed a plain with long grass and clumps of willows for 14 miles. " We then came to j)oplai' clumps, an(l at last fairly entered the woods. North and west of this there are no plains e.Kcopt of .--mall size, completely surromuied with wood." Crossed several creeks, "cDntiniied to the west and a little south, over a countiy that is evidently very swampy at certain seasons, until we I'ounded the Beaver Hills, when we camped in a clumj) ol jtiiie" — 20 miles from {"Idmonton. Henry A. F. MacLeod. "The southern ])ortion is rich alluvial soil, extending westerly to the Beaver Hills, where the soil is good and fertile. There are numerous mai'shes producing good hay. The surface is an undulating, rolling prairie, and hilly to the west, heavily wooded on the Beaver Hills and open to the east. The water supply is good." 5i gg ^g gw <;o Surrri/iir-dfHcrnl. />,>iiiinl"ii LiHii/s' liij',>rt, IS7S — \V. /•'. Kiioj. f. 1"). Cuiitihiiiii,',' wONti'fly iilim-;- llio ti-lruriii.li trail tlirnii','li sniitlu'iii jMM'Jioii of M'ctioii. •• aiK'ilu'f ;j,M()(l tract oci'iirs as wo apin'oacli tin- Hi-avcr llill>, 17.> miles iVimi l'.attli-tl>r,l. (Juiii!;- lliinii:,'li lliis fi'itili' >trctrli wo foacli Hay IjaUos, at a (li>laiKo ot aboiiL VX* iiiilos t'lom IJaUlduiil." 53 113 Saiulfonl riemiiij, rue. liy. A'./'/, lf^7 J, /'. ."i.^. - \t Kdiiioiiloii tlu« <|iK'.Mioii (.f c.al lirst, pirsi'iits ilselt ; some JVaj^meiitH NViMc .111..- out ol tl.c rivoi- l.aiiU. Alllmiinl. tlu-y l.unied in a blacksinitli « tor.H> .'ri.U.nllv tlu'V wi-iv ol an int.Ti..i- -iiialily ; I'ott.T samples worn ivi'.i'tol l«y tli."'()lli.-i.Vs..f Iho lliui-oi. Itay I'ort as having; U-on loim.l lii,i,'lier "'' '•Lnolvi'n- LacU ovor llu- IJMItl miU's of prairio cMinli-y travrllo.l sinco joavin-- llu' \vnn,|o(l (list rid cast of Manilolia, il is worthy of note, liiat abso- liitclv'^lcvcl plains tonm'.l no i,rivat jtroportioii o| ilu> vast area wliicli camo ,n,.l."r oiii- ol.~fivatioii. Wc Wi-iv av'ivoal.ly siirpriMMl toiindlhal l.y lar t lo |;,r,.vr propoiiioi. was lui.liilatinLcaii.i intliis iv^p.-cl not iinliUc niiicli ol the I'loviiicc ol Uiilario, wliii.- i-miiu'Mccs of ron-i.U'cal.lc elevation, nol ,i,'ivatly inferior to tiie M(.mitain a! -Montival. were oeeasioiially met with. In iiiany places >mall ij;roves and friiii^i-^ of trees ajlorne.l the prairu, ami j,'avo iho laml- s«ape an ayiei-al'lo, park-like appearance." Mwijii (if'l. lx'0 feet to -■cnciiil prairie level." " Jiaidis of river valley Ironi IMU t.. -Twl teet hi^'h, and at most places densely wooded. Seven to ten miles h.nk I rom valley, on either side, is a line of hi-^'h ^'round risini; from 20t» :o ;!(tO feet ahove a willow covered Diaiii. At St. AUierl 1{. ('. Mission, !» miles w.'st ot i'Mniouion. there is a lino farm and Lranlei;. with splendid crops ol' wheal, itarley. jioialoi's and tiirnip- ; harley iii>l nil, whi'at not .|iiile rijie, and some ears fro-le.l ; wlie;it IiiiIh'iIo imcerlam, ■"hill a more hanly kind, or fall -^owUux, miu'lil In-lned ai.d proliice heltor I'l'MlIt-. ' Mr. Sclwyii also traversed this seclioii, soiillieily Irom Kdinonton tui road In Kockv" Mountain ll..iise, and deserihes the c -unl ly a- havim; :i rieh, hlack >oil, >\vampy lakes, open, richly grassed pr.nru- and patches o| coi ■ wood, with >piuce anil |toplar trees. Scliri/H l. h'r/'., lS7:!-7-l, /'. "»(». •so eoAl.. •• 'riicic can he noipL'sl ion tlcil in thciv'rion weM of Ivlm-Mitoii, hmindedoii the north hv the Alhahasca Wiver ;ind on the south hy l{ed Deer iJiver, tlioro exists a vast coal field, covorim-' an area ol not less than 25,000 Hnutiro iuiIoh: (Jl and iK'noalli a lai^'o portion ot'lliis w.- may oxjumI to tiiid woiKald.' scams of roal at .U'ptlis s.'Mom cxccclini,' IIDt* tool, ami ot'ton, as in tin- caso oflii.' iliiclc soanis ai>ov»' iIom riluvl, vory I'avoraMy siliiatol for worUiii;;' liy lovols troni tlio siniiuo. ' Maroun l'~ ISTI, /'• ''-• '• Till" diinatc in (iir noi.i;iilMH'lioo(l ol ImuM Ivlnionton a'ld St. Ailicrl Mis- sion is tavlo lo (in' ,Li,ro\vtli of all kinds of t^^iain oxro|it mai/.o." " In lioth iocalilii'-, 1 saw wlu'iil, oats and liaili-y of oxcollonl ipialitN, and nmcli tailor tliaii it is soon in Ontario." Mossi->. lloiol/.Uy and Maoonn passod norlli-woslorly thr.-ii-li lids sootion from Ivlmoiiton towards l.aolaNonno. J/»rct:l.i/s /'<('•. A'//, h'lp.. l!*" I, y. KI, Dosoribos it as a vory fair country of an easy (diaractor. and land partly of prairie and timbor. Mitroun's r,t,'. %. /.^7^, 1S74, p. OS. IJotwooi) Kdmonton ami liao la Nonno. — I'or'v-nino milos by oart roa prodiioini,' i;-ood bay. AI)oiit, Koi-ts I'Mmontoii and Saskatidu'wan tboro is li, Ii alln\ial soil, witb inarsbos prodnoin^ ^ood bay. .\bont St. .Mbort's tbo si.ij js ^'..od and lortilo, witb marsbos prodnoiiii,' i;dod bay. 'I'bo siirlaco i- niidiilal in^, rolliiii; and hillv. 'TIk' vallov of tiio Saskalrbowan is doop and wido, .is woll as tbo valloy of Wbito .Mild. Tbo soiilborn piMtion is bi'avily tiniborod witii poplar and spriioo, witb ocoa>ional opon piaiiios Tbo iiorlborn p.irl i- partially woodod ; lliore is an abundant supply of uo.xl frosb wator; ooal i■^ found on tlu^ banks of tbo Snskatidii'waii, an^c' mu'tbward to KdnKUitoii." Tlu' Moavor Hill fortilo roi,'ion, bowovor, ap|ioar> In run a Iohl; way wo>l of Ilav Ijaki's, lU'obablv to ibo oili;o ot' tbo foro>t, and to Muilb-wost it runs to Hal'llo liivo'r. to jipintbo fortilo bolt, wdiiob run- aloii^' tb.- iippi-r part of ibaL rivor. Tlu" Hay Lakos lio in hat. ') ; - 11', and in Loni^itudo by (M'.U. .'iO' r>(i" oast ot l''orl I'ldniontoii, tbo distaiioo from llial plaoo boini^ aliout ;{,'! mib>s l»v trail. On tbis trail, si>von milos iVcun Hay liakos, wi- ontor lliiok busli, in wbiob siiriioo m:i\- ociasionally bo soon, as woll a- a low -piuoo and tamarac. Tuiiskof^s, a si^n ol ibo proxiinily of Ibo Hm'osI. Tbis biisb oxtonds nine or Ion milos aloii^ tbo hail; orossini^ tbo " Wbito Mud Ifivor, a small ori'ok It! milos troiu l''ort Ivlmontnu, wo ontor a boautitiil lortilo traol, a ^onlly rollinj^ counliA witb niiinoroiis i lumps of pnplar and lro(Mionl lakos, tbis «'xlonds to Ibo Siiskalobowan L'ivorat h'orl lldiniuitoii." Mr. Kiiiij, in tbo autumn of 1S77, ran sovoral moridiannnd towiisbip linos in tbo n«'i^biiourbood of Ivlmiuiton and St. .Mbort Soil bunont, oontiniiini; bis siirvoys as lar as tlio 11 lib moiiilian. 62 lie describes the country as of varying character, some more or less open, other thic'if jjoplar and spnico l)iish, and also swamp. " The 114lh meridian runs (hrougii a fhit ccuntry, drained by the Upper Sturgeon, ami by the Rose- bud River, whicii flows into the western end ot Big Lake. Between this latter river which is a few chains south of the 14th Base, and the Upper Sturgeon River which is crossed by Ihe meridian about 7^ miles north of tiie Base, the country is neaily all good piairie land, witii heavy clumps of poplar, ttc. North of the Sturgeon the country is open, and the soil is not so good. South of the Hase the line runs through muskogH for nearly three miles, when, emerging fro'ii the valley of the Kosebud River, tlie Stony Plain is reached, which is, notwithstanding its misleading name, a very fertile region many miles wide. It is bounded on the north by a strip of large spi'uces. " The 14th base, Lat. 53 => 35' 52", leaving the Rosebud River to the south, runs into the Rosebud Hills, in which also there are many localities exhibiting good soil." " The Edmonton Settlement extends along the Saskatchewan about 8 miles, principally on the north Rank, although a few settlers have taken up claims on the south side of the river. There are also several settlers along the trail from Edmonton to Big Lake. The soil throughout this Edmonton Settlement is excellent, and there is plenty of wood everywhere, while there is good i)asturagc a few miles away from the river." FORT SASKATCHEWAN. " The settlement here is chiefly on the north side of the river, opjiosito the Fort. The soil is very fertile, and settlers have large fields under cultiva- tion. They have a A\ater mill. Just built (June, 1878j on the Sturgeon River, about 8 miles north from the settlement, in the centre of a most fertile, though at pi-e.sent unoccupied tract of land. A few miles north of this there is a large extent of tine spruce bush in the vicinity of Pigg Lake, from which a large amount of building timber is procured." " The Fort Saskatchewan tract of good land extends southerly across the Saskatchewan to the Beaver llills, and easterly across the Sturgeon River, as far as Vermilion Creek, 14 miles " 53_ 114 Sarulford Flemiwj, Pac. By. Eep., 1874, j5. 39 " On leaviiig Edmonton we passed through a country intersj)erseil with hillocks, and we likewise occasionally met with swamps, many of which were covered with swamp hay. Gradually the country becomes more wooded, and the undulations assume a more marked character. More creeks were crossed, running in most cases through narrow valleys. The vegetation was particularly luxuriant, and the grass througli which we pas.sed was, in some places, from five to six feet high." Henry A. F, MacLeod. ''■ Following the line of the Camidian Pacific Railway the soil is good and fertile. To the east of Lake St. Anne and to the north of Lake of Isle- the soil is al.so good and fertile. To the north of White Lake the soil is fair; iht surface is hilly and undnlatin^c; the eastern poition is j)artially woodeil, unti the western Iieivily, with tine poplar and sj)ruce. There are numerous marshes producing good hay, and the water supply is abundant. Coal is found in largo quantities on the banks of the Pembina Hiver and the Saskatchewan, (iold is washed on the bars of the Saskatchewan." 63 53. 1 15 Saiulford Flcminmi.l tliiciv outeroppini,' beds of coal. It proved iniicli better Ihaii the Ivlmoiitoii specimen, and we heard from oni- --iiides tliat almndance ot tliis fuel was present at otiier localities, some of it of still i.etler quality. Occasionally the country becomes more open with irroves of spruce, aspen and poplar, incrcasini.- in size. Nevertheless, much of it is densely wooded, while in other places the timber is thin and of inferior (piality. ' Henry A. F. MacLeod. "To the cast of Dirt Lake and to the south the soil is ^'ood and fertile, withmarsliespioducinf,^ ^'ood hay. Soutli ol the Lob.>tick River the soil is fair, with marshes producing K<">^1 hay. T.) the west the soil is lair with muskoairs. The surface is hilly and rolling, and heavily tinibered with tino spruce and poplar. The supply of j;.)od water is abundant. ( oal is louiul in largo quantities in the banks of the Pembina River." 53 1 16 Henry A. F. MacLeod. The central portion is poor, sandy clay and gravelly soil, with muskegs, except some of the flats of the McLod River, and the vallev ol Me.licme Lodge Creek, where the soil is lair. The surface is hilly and ro Img and heav^i y timbered with Hue spruce and i.oplar. Water sup|)ly abundant, (oal plenti- ful in the bank • of the McLeod.'' 53. 117 Henry A. F. MacLeod. "The central portion to the east of Lac a Brule is poor, sandy clay and ffravelly soil, with muskeags, ex<-ept some extensive Hats „„ the Athahasca River and I'rairieliiver, where the soil is fair. It is ivported that hands ot horses have been wintered on these Hat>. The Rocky M;H'>'t;f".s rise imme (liutoly to the west of Lac .1 Urule. and on ea.di side ot l-iddle River, li.e mountains are rock with a light coating of soil and m..ss in places. I he surlace is hilly to the eant, mountainous to the wesi and south. IIh' country is heavily timbered with fine spruce an.l poplar, except the flats above ment.oned, wl.ieh arc open prairie. Water supply abundant. Coal is found m the banks of . oat Creek." Palli8er,p. 124. Dr. Hector crossed this section from north-east to south-west, ascending the Athabasca. — After leaving Baptisle Creek, "seemed to be passing thrcugh a range of hillH, but although I ascended tfio bank for '>:>0 feel, I could see '">t»'"f' •« t'';' sun minding country, on account of the dense woods. After pasMiig ( Id .Man s Creek, " the banks rof the Athabasca) became low and covered with spiu.-e, with large .swampy flats at a little distance from the river." ■■K^ 64 Coiitiniiiii^ to ascend the river, tlio vullcy is very wide witii lar;^o alluvial flats, and till' laml rises into hills on cither han|)orlini^ a growth of cypress and pine. Reacdied the point (on the western side of this section) where the River Atliai)asca enieri^es ('r(»ni Lac a Hnih', lyintfat the haso of the lloclcy Mountains, wiiich risu from its western shore at least ."{.OOO feet ; " its eastern shore is formed of immense sand hills.' _53 Il8 Falliser pp. 124, 125. Above Lac a Hrule entered a wide valley in the mountains, and roaohe^ the liase of Myetto's rock. Jasper House (on the eastern side of this section) "is heaiitifull}- situated in an open plain, about six miles in extent, within the first raiii'e of cho moun- tains." Henry A, F. MacLeod. " To the soutii-east the valley of the Athabasca is entirely in the Rocky Moun tains. The bottom of the valley is generally a flat from one to two miles wide The soil is lii,'lit, sandy, clay and i^ravelly, with muskeai^s in |)laces. The sides o the valley are steep and irenerally rocky, in some places covered with a few f'eeto lii,'htsoil, att'ordinir.jjjood past are during the summer months. The big horn sheep is plentiful here. The valley is heavily timbered with spruce and poplar, except a few small prairies about Jasper Lake aiul to the north of Henry House. Water supply is abundant. Ooal is reported in largo quantities to the north ol Jasper House." FROM THE IOOtII TO 119x11 MEUIDIAN AND BETWEEN THE 52nD AND 53hD PARALLELS OF LATITUDE. lOO Luke Winnipegosis occupies the eivstern |)ortion of this section. Ilimls. A. it- S., Exp., Vol. 1, />. 4Xi. Mr. Dawson, in the spring of" ISSS, ascended Swan River in a canoe. '■ About Swan Lake the country is highly interesting." "T<» the north an ap|)arenliy Icvfl and well wooded couiilry extends to the base of the Porcupine Range." " A.sccnding from Swan Lake for two miles the banks of Swan liiver ore low, they then gra-lually become higher usitil they attain a height of 100 feet above the river. The current is here reniarkably swift." "Landslips occur in many jdaces where the banks are hiyh, exposing an alluvial soil of great de[)th, resting on drift claj' or shale of a slighty bituminous appearance." "About thirty milen above Swan Lake the prairie region fairly com- mences." Jlcnn/ A. F. MacLeocl. " In the .south-west of this, being the northerly end of the Duck Mountain.s, the iM.untry is billy, the soil fair, and is heavily wooded with large spruce and poj)lar, aixl some marshes proilucing hay. Fresh water plontilul." 65 G. C. Cunnmjham, Pac. Bij. Rep., 1877, ]>• 18^ Mr. Cuiiiiiiiffham liiicl cliai'<,f(' of thin part of Pacitic Hallway Survey. — On the line of tlio railway botwoon tlio 40 and .'»() iiiiic-* from Mossy C'reok, observetl some spnico trees 8 ft. t! in. in diamolor. On DiieU Mountain tliero is a mafxniticent <;rowlIi of wliito spi'uce ; tlic (juality of tlie liinln'r is almost equal to that of first ([iiality pine, atid is remarkably sound. Up to 7<» miles the line skirts tlio i)aso of Duck Mountain, wliieh is heavily tindiered. After crossing Rolling? Jiiver, at the 70 miles, entensd a more jtiaiiie like district, and tho timlior, us a f^onei'al rule, is very light, with inlerveidng stretches of pruirio ; but in the river valleys and gullies, timber bluffs, atfording white spruce and tninarac, occur. Swan Kiveu Vai.i.ey. — '• The valuable part of tiiis \ailey,or rather basin, begins at the castei-n slope of Thunder llili, and extends in a north-oasterly direction to the Swan Jjake. Jt is bounded on the I'orth and north-west by the Swan I.akeand Porcupine Mountain, on the west by Thunder Hill, on the soutli b}' Duck Mountain, and on the east by an elevated ridge lying between it and Lake Winnipcgosis. Its extent, is jiboiit tiO miles in length by 20 miles in width; the soil is remarkably rich and productive. Throughout it consists of hirgc plains clothed with tall succulent grass, alternating with strips and clumps of timber well grown and admirably adapted for building purposes. Near Swan Lake may be seen spruce, tamarac, oak, elm, maple, birch and pojilar, each species being represented by trees of very considerable growth." 101 The Porcupine range of hills occupies tlie central part of this section. Swan liiver crosses the southeast corner of this section. Bind, A. & S. Expn,, Vol. 1., p. 434. Mr. Dawson's description. — " There the river winds about in a tine valley, the banksof which rise to the height of SO or 100 feet. JJeyond these an appar- ently unbroken level extends on one side for a distance of about If) or 20 miles to the Porcupine Hills, and foi- an equal distance on the other, to a high table land called tho Duck .Mountain. Kiom this, south-westward to Thunder Moun- tain, the country is the finest I have ever .seen in a state of nature." Henry A. F. MacLeod. "The valley of Swan Hiver contains good fertile soil part i idly wooded ; with marshes prcMluciiig good hay. The south-east corner is fail' soil, hilly and heavily wixnled with iiuod spruci- and poplar. Watei- is abundant.' See also Section -^^^^ lor .Mr. (Junningham's description of Swan Uiver Valley. 51 102 Henry A. F. MacLeod "'The southe;ist corner i> fair soil, thickly wooded with poplar and small spruce. .Surface hilly with marshe- pr U! and 17, West.— This Meridian line enters the so\ilh side of the section aliove l}ig (iuill Lake and runs fnnn 'A miles south of tlie ('. \\ K. line, thi-ough lisiiig ground densely wooded with large poplar, and numerous ponds, uj) to the lOth i»ase line, a distance of about V.\ miles. The U)th base line r'lns westeily from the aliove-niuntioiied ileridian. " The wooded and pond country continues for about '27 miles, when the coun- try becomes more open and inviting." 51 105 The South branch of the Saskatchewan runs through this seclion from south- west to north-east. Mr. llind travelled ilown the river, and tiie following are extracts from his description relative to this section. Jlind, A. & S. Ex})., Vol. 1, pp. .S88-391. At eighty miles above the Grand Forks the River is 200 yards broad, but deej* and swift; the volume of water much less than at the Kl bow. No • •oubt evaporation during its course through arid planes is competent to (vcasion a larL'o diminution. Recent water marks shew a rise of live and eight feet. "On both sides a treeless jirairie is alone visible;" prairie level, SO leot .ibove river; about 10 miles lower down, river j mile broad; prairie, as hefore, treeless. A few miles further down, the liill banks begin to increase in altitude to about 100 feet. At 50 miles above the (rrand Forks, "the woods," as they are termed, begin ; they consist of a few aspen (dumps on the hill and banks of the deep valley ; the face (dlhe country is changing fast and is becoming more undula- ting, |)at(dies of aspen shewing themselves on the ])rairie ; occasionally the re- mains ol heavier growth are visible, (lusters and lilackened trunks 10 and 14 inches in diametei-. The balsani-spruic begins to appear in groves. The river winini;- on its course ihroujrh mimei'ous lakes, falls into the main Saskut(diewan at the Part. Lumpy Hill is aiiout KH> feet aliovethe ii;eneral level ; from its summit an undulatintij open countiy, doited with lakes and (lanki'd liy the Hii'ch Hills is visilile towanis the east"; south and south-west is a lake rej,non, also rorth and nortii-east. Tiiese lakes arc numerous antl large, oiten three miles loni; ari(i two broad. 'I'he view extends to the borders of the wooded land ; boyoml is a treeless prairie. Much of tiie soil on the south and east of the TiUmpy Hill is sandy ami poor. We had now reached the limit of the good land, and were about to enter upon a comjjaratively sterile country. Low hills and long ridge> diversify the general level of the prairies, as seen from Lumpy Hill. "This eminence consists of drift sand and clay." Prom Lumpy Hill to Jiig Hill. — The trail taking an easterly direction, passed over a series of hills and intervening valleys, constituting a height of kml. Thence the vegetation still continues luxuriant; lakes are numerous; aspen groves and llowers abundant. As we approach the great prairie, the country becomes more undulating, and the soil light colored and pooi'. The Jispens are still large, although many ot them have been destroyed by tire. After travel-sing a very undulating country, in which are low ranges of hills and conical mounds with limestone boulders on their summits, arrived at Big Hill, on the top of which large granite or gnessoid and limestone boulders are .strewn. "The limit of the so-called wooded country is about 70 miles from the North Branch, and 'dO miles from the South Branch." Leaving ihis hill, the trail winds through a dreary labyrinth of dome- shaped hills, many of them covered with boulders; small a>i)eM> almie are found on low i-idges or near ponds. A better country is then entered, but still undulating, containing many lakelets fringed with aspens; the soil is light and the herbage scanty. Sandfoni Flcmiii'/, Far. Iti/. Hep., 1S71. ^>. ;]T. " Before reaching the .South Branch of the Saskatchewan, the country is an agreeable mixture ol woodland an 1 |)rairie with >evcral lake- ol moilerate dimensions, and with u rolling succession of knolls. The l.mdscape was un- usually pleasing, the soil excellent, and we saw abundant wild flowers Very many of the lakes are brackish, yet they often adjoin fresh-walei' lakes ; the latter we found invariably at a higher level. At the foot of a ridge they are more frequently .saline ; on mounting the slope they jirove Lo be fresh. At one place, we witnessed a fresh-water s|)riiig at the edge of a lake, the latter .so saline that the horses would not drink the water," Mr. Selwyn crossed the south-west pt)rtion of this section along the road from Touchwood Hills to (/'arlton. Sehryn QaA. Ji., l8T.i-i, j>. ao. Ho de.scribes the country to Big Hill, or Mount Carmel, as more undu- lating, and for the most part open prairie ; wood and water very scarce. 68 W\^ TTill, or .Nridiiit rarnu-l, " is MO to K50 A-t-t alxtvo load al l)a.-«o, and is Cfiinposod (d (liift. As I'ar us eve can roarli, sirailar hills aMkat('lH'waii o|)|)o>ilo Cai'lton. — Low drift liills ititors]ioi'sod with many lalii's and pools, rluinps and patches ofi'Opsc'Wood, with iiitervonin^' ijrassy plains. Jlenri/ A. F. MarLco,/, '• The soiitlu'iii part is lii,'ht f^ravtilly soil, iinprovin<^ to the soiitli-east whore it is ;,'oi)d and loitilo. To tho i'a>t ol (Jolland tho soil i> liicht. itn|ii'oviiig to tiie wost, whoro it is i^ood and tbrlilo. Ahout tlio conti'o tho soil is good, giving cxcollont pastiiragtv, and in the noighhoihood of Duck Lake tho soil is gooil and tcftilc. To th(^ soiithcuHt and noi'tli the country is partially wood, and to tho soiilli-wcst prairiv- land ; tho surface is hilly and uiulnlating. I''rcsh water in limited supply to the soutli, hut abundant to the north.' Surveijor Gi-neral, Duminion Lands, Rep. 1877. A. L. Russell, pp. 12. 15, 16. The KMh liaso line (latitmle 50'^ H"), continues westorly tiirough tl)e southern part of this Nection ; for the first 10 miles the country is " open and inviting," " wlien we graiiually descend into an almost barren, rolling, alkaline, sandy plain, where a tew stray butlalo wore occasionally seen." Surveyor General, Dominion Lands, Rep. 1H78, Mr. A. L. Russell, p. 13. Describes the northern portion of this section us admirably adapted to agricultural and pastoral purposes, well watered with sti'eums and ponds, and fair share of rather small sized joplar. "The laud to the south-east, of Prince Albert Settlomont, across tho South branch of the .Saskatchewan, is sujierioi' in many respects to tliat lying between the two branches, wbicdi is i-alher rolling, light in i)laces, and broken by ponds ; whereas tliat to the east and south has gentle slopes and a uniformly excellent soil of about 8 to 10 inches of dark rich loam unilerluid by a not too stiff clay." " During the six years I ha^'c- spent in surveys in various parts of Manitoba and the North-West, I have never seen greater luxuriance of growth than that here, noi- do I considir the soil of that Province, which is fre(iuently a stiff clay, as inviting to the farmi^r :>s the more friable soil of this section.'' " Kxcept along the main strei;ms, where sjiruce, tamarac and jack pine arc met with, vi^vy little timber suilaile for building pnr|>i>scs is to bo found, although a sulKciency for fencing exists almost everywhere, " A large ipiaiitity of the best witod along the main Saskatchewan River ia annually culled out for tho Hudson's |{ay ('om|mn3''s steamboats. Already Settlers are taking up land at the ' Forks," and east and south thereof, in view of the jjossibilify of future railway facilities in addition to the means of com- munication afforded by the Saskatchewan. Prince Albert to Canada Pacific Railway Line, !)() miles.— " Tho first 20 miles (a part of whicfi is in sec. f^,^) pass through an excellent farming country, which continues good as far as the lower ((iarriepjiy's) crossing (f)f the Sas- katchewan, about Lat. 52'' 50', Long. 10(J°) where on the east bank are several Hotllors, who speak favourably of their claims." Thenco south-west for the next 10 miles to tho Big Flill, " Minitchinasse," tho road passes through tho bolt of timber skirting the river. From the iJig Hill to tho Canadian Pacific Railway Lino, tho road runs through a hilly country with occasional gntves of wood and lakelets, but for tho most part the huid is too sandy and broken for agricultural purposes. 69 52 Tlio Soiilli IJrunih of tlie SuHkiitcliowuii truvorfsos the Houth-oustorn purtioa ol' lh[t-< .section. Hindi A. <&. S. Exp., Vol. 1, p. 38?. Mr. llind triivellod down the rivor. Beyond the .Moo>e Woods the banks of tlu- livt-r ai'o (50 fool hif,di ; hroudth of stroani, -50 j'anis, with current of tliree miles an hour. " On the east hunk the prairie is oi(a>ioiially wooded with clumps of aspen, on tho west side it is ti-eelc'ss and siiows many sand hills." Palliaer, pp. 57, 58. Tlie I'alliser expedition travelled from tho Hlhow ol' the South Saskatehowan on the west of thai river to Oarlton House, aiid passed diagonally through thin section from tho .soulh-west to (Jarlton. — From point opposite .Moose Woods to Stone Indian Creek, level plains, very poor soil, profusion of boulders, ridges of poplars lying nor'.h-wesl or north and south, between swampy hollows. Thence to Fort C'ailton, five miles through rich gra8.sy land of first-rate quality, lightly wooded with clumps of willow and poplar. Fatliser, pp. fi3, (U, and notes on map. Saskatchewan netir Carlton. — River is -140 yards wide at high water, al low water it is 12 feet deep; tho channel is clear, valley 105 feet deej); the alluvium bottom is often three times the width of the stream, atfording much rich land. Tho country along both sides, where back from the river bank, forms exceedingly rich pasturage abounding in vetches, interspersed with small lakes and dumps of aspon and poplar. Distribution of the wood is most beautiful, but the limber is of no value exce|)t for firewood. Hound the swampy maigins of some of the lakes there gi-ows an abundance of goose grass, on which hofses fatten almost as well as on grain. Poplar is tho jtrincipal wo')d near thcfc)i'i; down towai'd< the Forks of the .Saskatchewan, large forests of pine and spruce occur, and up the river about 30 miles there i.s u guilv from which birch is obtained for cai t axles, itc, for which hard wood is re(iuired. Their best timber i-t, however, brought from Shell Creek, (]0 miles to tho north. TiiicKwoiU) JitM.s, ■_'."> mib's north-west I'rorn Cariton. — .Vfler ascending the left bank of Sa-katchewan, which is 2(IU feet liigb. we passoil lowest through rolling country covered with pojjliir cluiii|)s ami small lakes. Thence nnrth- wesl rt^ached a lake al l<)ol ot a conical kimll, its valcrs proved to be saturated with s:dt. and on the shores crystals ot' sulphate of soda were lying heaped up, many ot them of large size. Ascending the onical lii'l, which is called i»y the Crees •• Manitoo's Rest," it is (|uitc covered with grass to the to|(, and is probably composed of a patch of cretiiceous strata, such ;is was seen al tho Fibow of the .South Saskatchewan. In- deed the whole eastern slope of the Thiekwood Hills, with its broken country strewn with boulders and worn into conical knolls and deep ])0t holes, forcibly reminded me of the country where that river intersects tho Coteau dos Prairie. Tiience following carl Iraek, rea known as a mhihUo^. favoiili' hal)itHt \'n- craiilicnios A^ >wanipv lalios ol this (Uv>crii)ti(in lorni ihti masrt (■n|)i jV ol what should lio diy land in llio disli'irl holwoon LaUc WinnipL'^ and liudsun Bay, ihcy ^ivo tiio nanu; to Iho Indians uflliat ir^ioii, a siihlrilju of tliu (Voos, lwn as .Muslvci^'oos or .Swampy Indians." " Jicsido tin- • Abies Alha,' which is iho lar^osl and host tirabcr of this country, I observed a few laichos, culled lierc jiiiuper, but they always die belbrc reaching any size." Thti country between Muskeg- Lake and the mountain is very broken. Ascendin<; the ThickwocKl Hills, " I'ussed through douse thickets of poplar. On guininjf I he highest level, 1 l()und tliat tho hilln were really a lofty table laiwl, which has an irregular sui-faco covered with HWiimpy lakes and thioketH, and it is oidy the ruggtvl escarptnenl to the east that given thorn the appearaiico of a range of distant hills." Capt. Pallisor, in his journey from Carlton to tho Korks of the .Medicine and lied Deer Kivors, travelled through this section on the south of tho Sas- katchewan. Palliser, p. 83. ('ai'lton to the KIbow of the North Saskatchewan. — Passed over tine rich country and level plain 210 toot above the rivor to Birch Gully. The valley of the North Saskatchewan at the HI bow is not luxuriant, a8|>en and poplar being tho only trees. From Birch (rully to Cross Woods, an irregular country, the large timber was all burnt off. Only stunted willows remained. Sandfonl Fleviiny Pac. Ry. Rep., 1874, p. 38. " The crossing of the South Saskatchewan is about 250 yards wide; tho banks are about 170 feet high; tho eastern baid<, howi'ver, has the greater elevation ; asjiens, balsams, poplars and small white Itiirh are found on its banks; the valley ot the river, however, extends over a mile in width. Tho Noi'th Saskatchewan is IS miie^ distant, and it is here that Fort Carlton is establi>hed. Ik'twciTi the two ri\ ers the country assumes the app(^aranco ot a level plateau elevated about 300 lei-t above the stream. The .soil, although light, is of good character, the North Jiivcr at this spot is somewhat broader than the South Hrancli. The streams unite near the lO^th ilogrei^ of longitude ami discharge into Lake Winnipeg. Oidy one rapid of any groat importance is mot in this distaiico." Mr. Selwyn enleretl this section on the oast side by trail leading through Carlton, and thence westerly towards Edmonton. Sclwi/n'6 (I'tol. Riji., 1S73-T4, p/i. 32-33. Crossing ot .South Sa>katchewan. — The river is bore 20(1 yards wide, with >trong cui'i'cnt, and the extreme width of the valley is two miles; descent to liver by >teps or terraces, and also at other places abrupt wtih clitl's l,''0 feet of bi-own earthy clay or loam, with occasionnlly ind)eilded boulders; ironstone nodules, some of largo size, arc abundant among boulders. No unmoved rocks in this vicinity. Caki.ton Hot sk is situated on North Saskatchewan, lOi miles from crossing of South Ihanch. The I'oi't stamls ()n a terraced flat of limited extent, about 2(tO leet below the level of the plain. Between it and the river a second narrower terrace or I 71 ulluviiil flat lionloi'H the rivor ; a short, distuncc nliove tho Fort, on tlio loft ItjMik, tlif tonaci's tt-rininatt', and u niii^lo slofp hlo|u> rir-e> Irniii liio margin (if thi) I'ivtT to tlio j)iain; wliiU* on tiio uppositf >iili' tlio tcrracfil (liaractor of tlio valley appears to have heeii niodiliod by Hiicressivc land slides, priMliicing u; wide broken Hurfarc «if inrgular hillH and hctjldws, which are foi- the inoht part Ihiekly WfXMlod. The liver at (Jarlton Ih 4)0 going thence. " Shortly aflei' cros>lng this stream, we entered on a tract of great fertility and crossetl the holdings ot some I'liiglisiispeaking farmers, who praised the country and are entering heartily into the tillage of the soil and stock-raising." t • Tliis may be considcrcil tlie corrected Meridian : it is iihoiit ten miles east of the Meridian line, 106" W. Loncituiie, shown on the acconipiiiiying map. The descrepi.Mcy arises Irom the fact that the true Longitudes of localities had not been determined when the ori(;inal copy of this luap was prepared. The correct position of the Meridian has only recently been establisned, Surveyor-Oeneral of Dominion Laiuls' Be^'ort, IHIS—J, S. Demiis, jun., D.L.S^ p. 21. Toritli Imsc lino (■(Hilinuopi wostorly throii^'li this Sontiori in LulifU'lori^" 11". " Tlu' SdiHIi liriiiu'lMtrthoSaskaU'liowanwus (ro.ss(!(l cmlliis lint' at 2r>niiloH from tho lOtitli inoridian. Tlu) river liorc i« si»ino l-' rliaiii- in wiiltli, wilii a very Mtro.i^ furront; the batiks are low anil ed^'etl l>y a nuid depo.-iil of llio river, not of any wiiltli that wxiilii lie of line for ciiitivalion." The soil ajonj^ iliis Hase linetliroii^'li tliisSection 'is of a very |K)or nature, bein;^ li^'lil and .sandy and in most east's ulkuline." f Survi:i/"r-Giiierul of l>oianwjH /.iimln' Report, 1878— JT. F. Kimj, P.fj.S.,p. 19. Twelfth Base Line, Lat. 52= S.T 2i)", westward from lOGtli meridian to Carlton. "I be^an the \2\\\ base from the lOfltli meridian, on llie eastern sido ot the South Saskatchewan, and ran it down to the water. Next d.-iy we crossod the river, whi«h is liero VH) yards wide, and produeed tho line throiii^h a thick belt of lamaraes that extends aloiii^ its western bank, Aseendioi,' the hill to the west the line ran into thick poplar bush. The eountry hero for some distance is a network ol lakes, the shores o( which are C()Vored with thick j,'r<»wths of willows, kv. The soil is sandy. This sort of country e.Ktendn foi- s(tme two ran;,'es, with only about three miles iiitin-venin_t( of ordinary |»rairio. After this, in the third ranj^e, the country becomes ()j)en, but tho soil is somowlmt li;,'ht for cultivation. In the fourth ran;^e west of this principal meridian, tho line strikes the North Saskatchewan at tho end of tho twentieth .Section f'rom the meridian, iind at about tliroe milos north-oast of Fort Oar 1 ton." SurveijorGciicral of JJoinimon Ldwls' liijiort, 1878 — M. Aifous, D.L.S., y/. 24. " St. Laiirk.nt. — This settlement extends aloni,' both sides of th>i South Saskiitchewan lliver, from its iiiti^rscction with the Hrd principal .Meridian south tit ' (iabri( r> ('I'Mssin;,',' a ilisiance of over twenty miles." " \\ hcncamped near' Matnidic's Crossini,',' cnuvenicnl opportunity nctiurrod (if takiiii,' a <'ross section of the South Saskiitchewan River, which it will be in- torcstiniTti' compare with one taken of the North Saskatchewan at about tho same lime hist seasijn. The results were as follows : — "Velocity (mean) 1'873 miles per hour. Wiillh (from water to water) til.'J foot. (ircalest dcptii " " Mean depth l'"»8 " Secliomil area -.811 sipiare feet. I)ischarm' about S.IKIO cubic tcL't per ,->econd. •'IJe.siilis ot Cross-.seclioM ol North SaHkatchewaii liivei', taken .Sopleujbor, 1877 :— •Velocity - MM2.'i per hour. Width (trom (vater to water).,.. — !>t>7 feel (ircalesl an(l Ikii's. Tim water tliis M-asuti was, I oslimuti), oii^litoiMi inclius iowor tliaii at liie same liato last reason. Talviii^' tiiis into ('onsi(h>i'aliiiM, tlio nioasuieineiits wonlil ^o to hIiow that tiiu amount of water flowing tliroiiirh the SoiiiJi {{ranch is aitoiit seventy iiereent. ol'tliat (low- in;^ I iiron^h t lie Xorlii Uraneli. Nolwitlislamlini; tlii- ilillert'iiee of volume, it is my opinion that iiavi:,'ation on the South lirain h can more easily ho olVoctcd than on the North Mratich. " The entire population ol'Sl. liaurenl eon>i-ts ol' French Ilall-broods, who, Willi lew exceptions, live by bull'alo hunliiiir. Thcv simply liirm sulliciont laiul to provide ihumnclvos with ,gruin anil ve;,'etables tor their winter use; tliey, neverlholoss, fully understand theadvantai,'e of sueiiriiiL; land, being well aware that, ill a vi'ry tew years, the bull'alo will lie exterminated, and that llieii tlioy will be compclleil to liirii llieii' allentioii to agriciilliii'al j)iii>uils. '' Tiiere are iiiimeroii.^ large hay nieailow> in the rear nt [\w settlemonl, from one to two miles from the river. This hay i- cut and staiUed in iheaulumii season, and I'ui'iiishus abundance of fodder l()r their h.rge bands of horses during the winter months. " The land on the east side of the river is gi-nerally ol' an excellent (quality and .such as can be fanned to advantage, while on the west siilo, except in small tracts, it is very liglit and sandy, and until for cultivation." Hurveyor-Uciurai uj Dominion Lands' Report, 1S77 — ..1. L. liun&dl, D. L. S., pp. l'H5. Duck Lake — " Tliis sottiemcnt lies about nine miles west of St. Luuroiit, and twelve miles south east of Cai'leton House. Apart from an extensive trading t'stablishnu'nt and a few Indians located he/e, there are not, probably, ovei- fifty settlers, principally French llalfdjreeds.'' The good land hereabouts is rather limited. Cakleton lloi sk — •• i/isi ill order of population, but lir>t as reganls im]iortaiice Ibroiigiioiil this ci.unlry, is Carletoii lloii>e; the head'piarters of tlie IIikNoii'.-- Hay < 'oni)iaiiy, in llii> mo>t im|ioriaiil l>islriet.'' "(.'arleton lIou^e is situated on the east bank nf the Xort h Sa>louth-we>l of I'lince Albert, in Latitude r)2*' ."iiJJi' N. There is no settleiiu'iil in :hi- vicinity; the land, except on tliiM-ery limited interval, being inlerioi' in (pi;tlity. The llud-oii'> Hay Company's steamer ' N'oi'lhcole ' made live tripN to this point and one to Ivlmonloii during the past .-lUinmer." 51 107 t'a])iaiii l'alli.>er entered thi- .-eclioii about latitiule r»J^ 15", and travelled westerly. PitUi.',er, pp. 8.;, 84. (."rossed Ivi^lc Hill Ci'ceU, valley i;{l> feet deep, but little Wood, >mall birch and pi |ilars, and bcrr_\ -beariiii; luisiics ; thence IT) mile- over undulating ju'airie, with numerous salt lake-, to llie ba.>c of Fagle Hill, tiuo tcel high; elevation above sea, 'J,;Jl'S feet; ea-tern a.-ceiiL steej) and dilliciilt; de.-eeiil of their western thinks M-arei-ly peiceptiMe. Fagle Hills to Ivir Hill-. — Plain, with little wooil orv.ater; .soil iinpreg- natod with sulphali-s of so.la and lime; very poor gras- ; small prairie llaitj between ridges of lOar Hills, but barren, notiiing but small bu.-hes on hills. Captain I'alliser also crossed S. I'], angle of this section. See section j'^^g- 6 74 Mr. Si'Uvyii jiassod lhroUt;li iioitLorn purt of this westerly, toward.s Jacktiwii Lake. ,S'. Iwyti (iiol. Itip., 187:i-7l, p. -i'^. Fn>rii '• Hoar Pa of >:iiul ami ;i,'ravol. Soil ■^'Liicrally li.i;lit and poor; M'Vei-al ^'ra.-'sy-nlj,'ud iaUc'> and |tool>, many ot llioni ,>ait, and liouldcih ui1ik'C. Ifeurij A. /•'. Mild. coil. "Till- SMiitlicrn poilinn, aad i-xiriMJin:,' In llio I'la;,'!!- Ilill>, is lair soil, iinpiovin-;' \> iLe noillii-a>l I..;,oh»1 ,w,'I ; on tin- Eaglo nill> il is iiclit M;i-avi'lly soil, alloi'diiii,' good pasliiii'. To iIk- ih of llu- SasUatclmwan. llir -nil i> i^ood and Ci'i-tiio; the siii'taci- is evi-n and undulating t(» ilio i-asl and nnitli, and hilly to till' -oiith-wt-l ; fiosh wator supply good. The valley <»r the Sa^Ual<,■llC\vall is wide .and deep. Survnjur- G'ai< nil Domnuon LaifU Rei'url. ISTS — /. .s'. D.imi.-. jun.. D.L.S.^p. 21. The null base line continues westerly ihi'ough this .Section in liat .'>'J' H'. "The soil on Ihe part surveyeil o;' this Hase, with the exception of some h'W miles in (he l-'.agle IlilN, isi.t a very p<».i' nature, heing light and -audy, and in most (Uses alkaline, ■ unlit I«m agiieultmal piiipo^es, and almost destitute ol wool! unit water. 51 I08 Capt.on I'alli-er ■ i .'d ilii- -eilion alioul latitude .'»2'' 15' and passed ihi'ough to the north m Ivir Hill-, and aciMss the valiey to the Wigwali i. Sec see. /'„'. lof de-riiplion to i'iaf Hills. J\illiser, ptt'rly diroction alioiit tour milt'>, to ilu' liottoni of a rid;,'o, wiiicli runs in an oaHtorly and wt'>liMly direction, ami ri>cs altoiil 2(1(1 to I'M) led ; the soil pretty fair, ciayt'V loam, and t^ravelly lidi^c^ ; <^rass j^ood. Alon^; tlie slope ol' the ridgo menlioncd arc many ravines in wliicdi wood and spriim water are found : ^''O wood small poplar. Thence in a^icneiail}' soutlierly direction, ahout 10 miles over ;^ravelly loam, i^ra-^s |)relty i^oo i ; here ai'e some ponds, mostly alltalino; one aliout two miles lonj^ and at)out mie loiirth ot a mile wide, runs iu)rlh and south. Thence we-katchewaii and iJattIc Uivcr-^. The ( iovernment lloii.-.e, .Sli|iendiary .Maici-'trale and l{e.,'i -ti'ar'> OlVices stand on the hei^'hl on the xoutli >ide ot iJaltle lliver, about 2(Mt tiet above the water. The I'o^t and Tideiirjiph ulHces. Trjidcrs' c>tabli>hment> and other Settlors' house-, are built Itetweeii this hcinlit and the river. .\inl the I'olicc MariaeUs on a plat«'au aiiixil 1(»0 foet in heii,dit belweori the rivers. The population is pnibably nearly 100. The baidcs of Battle liiver and the south baidi .ullieiently l'>w to atVord c.'Inv a|)|»i-oa(di to the navii,Mble water; wliere;c<, the baidv on the north side of the .Sa>kat(diewan is much too hii,'ii ami >lccp for that purpo>e. When the water is at a good height, tlie Sa^k.-itcliewan >lcamer> can enter the mouth of Mattle i{iver, and ascend to the F<»rd opposite IJovernmont House, but this cannot be done at low water. the ■elly Olid d 1)11 11 >du. r>oun X.vvtd.VTioN OK SvsiCATcilKWVV. — The iiavig'ition of the Si-katc'ewan, in tho vicinity ot Mattleford, i> of the sami- character as theurealcr p;n' .; ilu> rivci- Irctm point a slmrt distanre Ih'Ihw I'rince Alliert to Fori I'iti ibat is to say, rendcied soini-what dillicult liy shifting >and bars. Fioin Fort I'd i'> Ivlmontnii, the river is belter suited for navigation, the water being deeper, an! llie rhanncl-* permanent. l''rom t he point, referred to, iieai' I'rince Albert down to the " i irand IJapids " of theSaskatclu'wan near Lake Winnipeg, the 'dHtruetions to navigathm consist priiieip.'illy of shallow rapid--, having luit little lull over lieds i>f boiillers. Tlie llulsdii Hay ('inipaciy liave two steainciv- on this rivef. nii.niiig iu'lweeii the ( JiMud }{ ipid- an I Klinonlon, one ol" I lie>e is (Mh>tiiirled uf >tt'el and (he other ot Wood , the lormer of about 70 tons and the latter >tt' aboi, I l.'iO tolls but then, both drawing from 1] to 2\ I'eet of water. Surr>y>ifii)iir,ill>'iii'n!'n t..iii/^ ll'iint !>""< — /.•>' Pnnisj'in. I). /j.S. jii).2\,22, T!ie loth l?;is(> (Miitiuiies weslw.ir I t'lr 'J.'> miles to the Meridian, range IS and 111. The snil i^ofa very p > >r iialiir', being liijbt and sandy, and in most cases alkaline , none of it is ol' any ii-e for agricultural purposes. " 1 e.\-pi'rienei>d great ditlleiiliy in making pro^n'ss on the lOtli Base owing to the want ol wood and water, the country along that line being almost destitute olb'ith. On one section of" it water bail to bo carrio«l f'or the party, and wood for posts and fuel, in our (arts for a dislanco of a2 iiiilos." 76 "The idiiiitiy along llio Mt-iidiaii (Soi' iinti' jiagc 71) I'loiii the 10th JJasc l7 inili>). is of a Ih'IIci' nalufo than thai iiri llio lOth base llii' although the soil is ligiit it is well wateivij, and tho ]ia-tiiiage is cxiellont, it is howcvef, ijcstitute ol ni'od." '•'rin' lltli ('Krii'ctiniial liiR' runs (in aliciil l,ai ."ii"' J.;' tioin the Meridian, ranges 18 and I'.l to Hattlet()i(l,abunt 1(1 miles) tnrongii I In hills on llie soiuli sidool" Battle Jiiver A'allev, and is in Imsh nearly all the way. The soil is geucruHy oxcoeilingly jioor, and although ini|pi'i)ving a little in the iiniiiediale vicinity ol' JJattK'loi-d, i.> even llu'ie very light and sandy.'' Along tho Hill i>ase line, Latfj^"^ IVl' !.'.", iVotn the .Meridian hclwoon ranges IS and r.i, aiiiiut IT miles in tiiis seetion, Mr. |)enni^ deserilios the country na ilecidodly more attractive, with good water, Ijul a scarcity of wood. 51 109 t ajil. ralliser crossed thi.s .section about its centr , travelling westerly. Fatliscr, p. h5-8U. From Wigwatinon ^'allcy to Nose CreeU. — A lew miles west, ciune to u valley ahoiil in sc|uare miles in extent, with soil ol' e.vcelK'iil (|iiality, of rich black vegetable muiihl two and a-hall' i'eet deep, on tine yellow sand ; tlienco ]ias>ed over sand hills and a succession ol' ]i(i|ilai'-covei'eil ri- sistsot one toot (]| black ve^■elallle mould, excellent iiulrilions gr;:»cs. and mai v jdants seldom I'ound but in forests. The :j,realer |iait of the couniry with these lealures is lit foi' immediate (settlement. Tiie sjuing hero is eaily and tlio suiniuor Jiot too dry. Jhnry A. F. MacLeod. "The iiortli-easleri' seutral Jiill>. Continuing description Ironi section -j",^^^. " 'J'lieiice snuth-wc^lerly over the same kind of soil ahoiit Id miles lo u creek, which appears lo mo lo bo i'laglo ('reck 01 a brancii of il ; good IroMli water in it, but no current. Thence siMitherl}' over tho valley of a dry creek, in which is some very good native hay; on. over gravelly ridges and good clayey black lo;ini lor about l.'i miles; cro>-i(| a deep, wide ravine, with strongly alkaline p(Uids and boulder-covered >idi'-, soim- shrubs and a k'W stn.'ill poplars and good gra-s. Thi'iiee >oui li-wiv-lerly, oNcrdaik' gia\elly loam and good grass, no waier; a large ravine to ri^hi or north-ui-t for about five miloH, containing' some huge alkaline jioiids and a few poplar trees ; ravine turn- away to right, then on, over gravelly r'dges iiid good large loamy clay llats, with excel- lent grass, and many ponds of fresh water in them, no wood. At afoiit Ili miles it changes to more gravel but without wuter, and coutinues su lor about lli 11 miles, lo sdMU' larijc ytiiiids >trn>ii;'ly :ilk;iliiu', wliidi I wii- iiifoi'iru"! wciv fi'csh cniiiii^li to 111! ii.xcd in yi'.'ir- ul'oriliiiMrv rainfall, 'i'lii'iui' wt'^lcrly. '.vi'i- L;iay»|lly ridifiv^aiiiUio-lil llal-^l^lu'ii -ra-^ lor aii'Hii -is; mil''- !'• a plac' kiinwn a> 'Siiirit W.MMJ.-.' ' Surrci/or-drncra/ I)omiiV"n f.mrh, It' p. 1S7S — / N lhniii<, i'ln., /■. "-'-. Al.m-tlu- llih UascliiH-, ( hat il::lr:)2 '.!•-" I,!".) •' Kr.-m ih.' M-'iidlan raii,-;o 18 and I'.MmIIu- IKI'di Mci idiaii, tlic c.anlry i■^ decidedly more aliraiMive. For llio tir-t (Idrlv miles there is a >ear<'ily o| wool, lnil ;o)..d water alioiiiid-." '• l-'rom the (•xeeedii!^ ricliiiess ol its i,'i'a-M's and the Npreial iitne>> m|' tho Ivinds |ii'odneed, I am led to helieve thai it ex. -ells a. a .^I'l/in^' eoiiulry any tiling I have >ocM> in Manilolnioi liie Nurlli-We.-l Tei'riUn'ie-.' I lO Captain Pallisof crossed this scelioii ahoiil Lat, r>'2 .'l.'i'. l)!l-sin^• we-lward. Pitlliscr, pp. 85, 80. For description of country hetween Nose Creek and lialtle Rivef, sco section ,y,p . , , Hattle Miver, at lirsl erossiiii;-, is a stream 1^ yards wide, hy two |o live feci deeji, with a very lortiMus eiiaiinei, throiiuh a wide valles' with sleep baidvs, loll feid hii;h, with u 1 alluvial llat-^, and, except l.i\v,ii'd-> l\lhow. ihit ])!aiii on either hand is also ri(di. The country aioiin,! i- rich and very MiilaMc for a-ficiilliire ; line ^-rowlh ot'wo.ids. ehielly poplar, with lew -.prnce and tirs. From Ida- Hill, an eminence pMI to l.').! leet ah.ve plain, I'Xlensive view of iiiidiiluline; coiiiiiiy, with patches of |ioplar and .--mall lal. Ilmri/ A. /'". Mail.oid. Tlie northern portion is n.,„„l fe.iilo soil, with mardi' prodmdii:-' hay; iho surface is hilly, re "' on tin; western side, aii'l llience |.i'ocecded -oiith. Sl'litiT \Vnuiis._- Where is pletity of --.lod >i)rini,' v.-atci', poplar wo,.d, and an aiinnd.'ince of wild idioke cln'nies. ■■ 'i'hi^ i- Ihe most remarkalile place I have -cell in the Icriilorie-, as it apiiear- to the ev." to he llic lop ..f an exicii-ive rid.;e of pure -and, and yet, in places, one ha- only to enl ihroiiLjh the sod of the ^cra-s whii h --row- <)n it to liru! an ahiindance .if ,i;'ood fresh water. '•Thence s.miiier'lv ah.iut 12 miles. ..ver >an.l ami -'rav.d, p.ior n;rass to Soun.linjj; Lake, aroun.'l whi(di there i- a iX...)d deal .d' poplar w 1 ; the soil on the cast'^si.ie u{ the lake is {Generally saii.ly ; on th.- -..iilh si le there is s..me e;(»od soil in tiie vallev of a cre.di which runs inlo 1, wh.-re ihe -ra- is -•.).).!, anil s.)mc hay could IJo s;ot ; l).ir.lerin- this creek are some very hii,'h i,'i'av.dly knoll.s. , . . 1 I- " From S.>uiime fro>h -prime's. " North an.l west of the •' No.se," the soil for iM,i,dii or ten mi!e> seems to he lUir bhici -ravelly loam ; ,^ood i;rass and good fresh water ponds, with frefiuoiU patolios of pophir." ri»] 78 III r.-ilitnin Palliscr cronscd westerly lliroiigli tlic centre of this section. ratliser, p. S7. Socon.l CiossinjLC of Battle Rivor. (Lat. 52^ 28' 25", an 1 Lon. IIT 29 '45".) " Many cuiidiis sections of soft sandstuiio and clay strata were liero exposed. In the hed of slrcain we found pieces i>f coal, and it \va« also observed in bed further up the stream," " The ni)rthern exposure of the river valley, as usual, was the wooded sido, containih}^ jioplar, spruce, Hr, ash-loaved maple, and birch," while the other side was almu>l entirely bare of wood. From IJatllc IJivci' westward llu- country is cuiially favorable for ai^ricul- ture a-" that in >ectioii ^^^^Q, but perhaps u little more irregular; the pasturage Wius excellent. Captain J^illiser also crossed the south-west corner of tliis section, on his expedition from Kdmonton to the Forks of tiie Hed Deer Rivei atid the South SusUatdiewau. Palliser, p. 134-135, and map. Travelling south-easterly, crossed Ragle Creek, the pasturage continuing good. A few miles south the edge or line ol tin. " woods" was reaehol , hero they were obliged to iiit small loads ol wood for u.^e on the prairie cour.so to the south. Having reached the clge f.f the woods, ('apt. relliser defines, at page SI> of his journal, a line otMemarkalioii between the Ancient Forest Lands and the True I'rairie District, as lollows: " Let Us imagine a line drawn from tlO miles >outh of Fort Carlton, which is on the verge of the Ureal Prairies, to the Wigwatinon, and thence produced to the site of the 'Old How Fort.' Tlii> line mat Us the bouixlary ol two natural divisions of the countrv, viz.: The Ancient Fore>t Lands and the True I'rairio Distriti. To the north of line generally there is timber, a good soil for ugri- cultiiral pui'posex up lo 54^ north latitude, ank!itcliewaii could be found that oiler greater faeiiities to setllei-s." No fine timlier, it having all Ih'oii dcslroyeil by lire. There were -.everal swamps and >mall lakes with biaekish water; the water of Sullivan'- Lake; was, lio\v<'ver, clear, and not in the lea.-t >aline. In the valley of Tail Creek poplar was the principal wood. 19 52 113 Col. MacLeod Ti-avorscd tlio wosUtii sido of tliis socUoii, an 1 1 |KHtiire. That to tho north, a tnio fortilo soil aii'l -jcii >i'Iy tiinlii-ivl with poplar, in some phicos of ''ooil si/A-; liaii soon foal at Tail (,'ivol< on I'od Door River. Cap'ain Pallisor crosHod tiiis south wostcrly, towards tiio forks of Medi- cine nnd I'll Doei' Rivers. ralliser, pp. 88, 89. Deai> M.\n'^ (yiiEEK. — .S])riiC'o in fair ahiiiKhmce, aiid luxuriant vogotution in low vailoy of crooU. Found roal-bods in this orook, which wore on tiro, and tai aloni^ " tho hanks of Rod J)ooi' IJiver, whore coal appoarod, the spontaneous tire was in aotivity." I'as-inif lliroii!,'h oij^ht niilo> of ii'ro;,nilMi' and woodod country, desoondod into Rod Door N'ailoy. 20i> loot dooii. Ri vor llto yards wido "On i)oth l)anks tho ooal strata arc soon, in many pl:ioos I'l toot thick, l»iit tho (pialiiy of tho ooal !■> not sujiorior to that H)und ai Ivlmonton ; it burns without flamo, Imt koi'ps i^^ni'od for coiisidoraiile limo and ,l^lve^ out good hoat, leaving a>hos Mniilar to thai nl w I." Tin- noighhorhood isgoiiorally do-oriliod a- a lirolvon oounlry ; i'i(d) soil and pasluro; partially woudod. faii'growlh of wm... in vailoy, whicdi inoi'oascs towards the xmroo. Rod Door Rivor is ropnrlod niivigal)lo from this point down to junction wiih tho South hrancdi of iSaskatchowan, whii h is also free from obbtiudos thence to Nortli hraiich of Saskatchewan. Dr. Hector, of tho Pallisor ex|todition, travollod during winter from Bear's Hill, situated in the nortii-oa>t corner of this section, south-westerly to forks o( Meilicino and Roil Door Rivers. Palliser, p. 110. Real' Hill is a low-wooded omineiico. To the south of it crossed u plain for about nine miles, then through jxiplar and willow tliickols, hilly and swampy, aioni; t!io cart trail. Crossing Rattle Rivor, jtassed thi'ough a range oi'low hills, and I'ound wvy little timber in this part of the country. "This i', not a true plain country, as il is oovorod with a small growth of willows and alder. Kvon at this :>eason much of this district look> inviting," In ihe southwestern part of this section the country is described as a rich plain. .Mr. Selwyn crcssod the north western pari of ihi- section during his Journey I'rom Kdmontoii to Rockv .Mountain llou-o. Srhnjn Grol. Itvp., lHT;{-74, ;- ;i!>. From I'oar's Hill lo Haillo River, no (diango in character of country, whicdi ho previously de.-ci'ibos a» of • lidi Mack soil, swanipy lakes, o|)on, I'ichly- grassed jirairies, patches o| c ip-c wood, with -pruce ;iiid poplar," a drift covered surface being the prevailing feature. <'ol. Mkoag> and parti.ally wooded with (du?np- ol' small trees. 80 51 114 ("apluiii PallistM- cio-^.-ed the soiith-oastorn j»ait ollliis Hoclioii. r,iUiscr, pi>. SS, S!). (^i'(wsiii<^ (if I{('(1 Dcor IJivcr In facln'' FTill, near forlcn of Mi'clicinc and Rod IK'«'i' liiviTs, very line land, rich plain, i^ivat vai-icly nf |ihintx, Iml linilu-r di'stiDyi'd hy lirt'. I'rom .\i(l< Hill is seen a low, flat piairu'. oxti'ndin<,' far away to noi-th and west; tin' woii.ii- 1 li inh'r ot' IJc I hi'cr IJivcr is the only liiii> of vi'i^ciat inn to I'l'Iiovo its liarroii Mirl'acc. At the jiiiH'linii of Mcdirinc mid lic(| !>,.(. i Uivurs there is |»!eiily of fine tinjher, whieh eoiil i W rafted down the IJeij l>eer liiver. Tlio iiorth-wesiern port inn of this section is (le^erihed on Paliisor-^ map as u " lliic'U wood and swanipy coinilry," and the n >rlh east as '• siicc,'s«,ive indices running,' iiorlli\ve-t, having- their wi'^t ^I'lpi's clolhe I with popl;ir, and their oiisl with pine." .Mr. Seiwyn cro.ssod this soction soiitli-weslerly, on tho trull from lOdinonton to I{i iravelled over since IcaviiiLT l'""rl 'larry, enters a (hit ami thiekly-limheicd eniintiy, and Inrieii miles skirts and erossos swanipy Tneadows, inii-keays and hells of thi( k spruce forest. It then rises hy i^fcntie ascents, passim; ihidiiLlh thick poplar and ilwai'l hircdi woods to Huiiiinit of ries the ( 'Icarwaler nno i|ii;irlei- mile aliove jimclinn, and pa>-in:,' o\ er the alluvial t1:il- in the anisic lietwi'cii the two riveis, >iriki!s the Saskatchewan o|ipnsite llu' l'\)rt. Tliiih the joiii'iiey o| l,(l.'»r» miles was completed. Mr. Seiwyn rctiiitied East by water d wn the Saskati hewan. The ;;rner!d character ot" country snrroiindirh'- iloidvy .Mnnntaiii Hoiho is of rolling, irrcj^iilar snrlace, wilii dark j^roen pine Inrest. 51 115 Dr. Hector, ot tl.e I'alliser expedition, crossed this seetinii from the Rocky Mountains ahmif the Vnrth Sa.skatchewan to Rocky Mountain Houm". Pallhtr,pp. li:i, 114, |)oscrilies it as a hroken. wooded eountry, pines on tlie ridges, with large spnue and larch, and swamps in the low f.;ioimds. Romvv MoiTNTAiv llnii.sK is on tin" Eastern side of tlvs ,se<'tion, an 1 stands !MOr» feet above tie -ea. rnxm^ 81 Si ii6 Dr. Ih'clor ttavfllcl ii]> till' .Vorth Im';uicIi nf tlu^ S;i-lc;ili'li;i\v;iii I lirf)ii;,'li this h»'cti<>n. Pitlllsnr,]). li;i. *' The river, iiltcr loaviiiir till' miiin't!iiii>, 'iii'mh;i iroo'l iIciiI in tlii> iinrth, ilihl ijiiilc siiililiMily tlic iMiiiil ry lircniiic- i-.iiii|);ii';il ivi-ly li'vd hi I'illn'i' Ikiii I ; still, imwi'Vi'i-, ;i" :i liltli' .ii-l;iiiiT Imrk. f.iriiriiL' liill- "^'Mt Im l.ii('i) f,.,'l mIm.v" (In- river, tin- niilcr ur I'.r.'i/.i'au- iviiii,'!' I'.iiinc I ;i liin- nl' jiiwi-r iiioiiiil;iiii-i !.'» ur L' ) miles tn the en-t, ainl the -.iiaci' jh-twi'i'ii I'mi'im^ a wi'lc \.illi'\-, llic irrei^'iilarilies ol' whirh are nearly nlililci''ite'l \>y I lie iir.iu-iiilii-ii'iil i|i'V.>lu|i,'iiieiit nf ilir ^liin-'le lerraee>." "Tin- eniiiitry ' ill ihi- Lrrial v.alley " is very lieaui il'iil : the liiiilier i-, a j^ODil dciil rlcMiTil .away \>\ lire, Imt >lill lai;^o' Mull-, iiiiiiiiii. while in tin- ojieii- iii:,'s (III iIh' liii,'li ;^roiiii(ls there is lirh |ia->liire .ainl |( i|il;ir ami willi>vv hreaks." Thi-< is a lamoiis place |nr ilie inuiinlaiii •'lieep. 51 117 52 118 This siH'tidti is ill tiio liiicUy Moiiutaiiis. irenn/ A. F. .yfarfjeod. "The valley of l!i.' .'..'ulii,Mii' K'iver is eiitii'ely in the iimU-y Mimntaiits. If is narmw ami ileep, with steep -^iiles. preiipitMii-, in phires. The ruck is crivcrcil in iiiaeits with >;iml, ;,'ravel, elay ainl niu«s. 'i'jicre i- a fair trrowth ot" >priiie ami poplar ill the lower parts of the v.'illey, which ili-appear near the soiine of till! river. The herba;;!' is very seaiily. ' Water >iipply almmlaiit." Jfrnri/ A. /•'. MacLfn,!. "The valley of 1 lie .Myetle. in tli(> iiorlli-ea-t <'.i-ner, i< eiilirrlv in the I'oeky .Miiiinlain-. There i- ;,o'iierally a flat in the hoiliun n{' the \all,'\-, varyiii!,' I'loin hall :i mile to .-i mile wi'ie; the soil i> li:,'lii ami >aiiil\ , with iiuiskeaiis ill plari'>; the ^ides III ihe valli'V are >li'ip ;ii|il rorU\ ; il i> iieavil\- titiihere-l with sprm-e ami poplar, exn'pi ;i -.niall op, n pi;iiiie alioiil three niih's oast of the siiiniiiit." The hoiiml.iry of British (/'oliiinliia pii^-e^ through this -retloii, 82 khdm the IOOtii to the IIOth mekidian, and between the HIst ani» 52nd i'auam.ei.s ok i.atitide. 100 Xlio iiortli-oastoni |)art of tliis Section borders on LnUo Winiie|K'^osi.s. The Diu'k Mountain o('(U|tios a larj,'o portion of its wostorn half, and JJidinj^f Mountain ontors it from tlio soutli. Seo stvtion ^'^^^ for Mr. Hind's di.'scription of i)urk and Hiding Mountains. Uenry A. F. Mao f. rod "Tho nortlioastcrn portion, aloni,' the linoof tli«>f'.P.I{y.. consists fjonoi-ally of ^oiimI riTiilc >()i|. lu'avily wiindi'd, with (Mc:isionally yood spruce, and intci'- sccled with margin's produiini; irond hay. Tlic .-^urlat'o of thr ground is flat, and tiio supply of fri'>ii watoi' is ahundanl.'' Ciimhi'jJuim, C. P. Pjj. Re. .. 1S77, i>}>. ISC-lS?. Dcstriin's the X V„ portion of tliis section as a line fertile .-ioil, evidenced hy " the lu.Niiriant and varied underi,'rowth of the foi'esls. ioii:elher witii the various liinds ofgrasscs produci-d. " •• A plentiful i,'rowtli of tine tirnher, sprnee, laniaiae, poplar and liiicli." among whiih weie " many white spruce 2 feet (i inelies in diameter, and of (Iioiouyhly sound quality." Fninh Mohcrli^, Ewjinccr inchargrnf E.i'iieilitiiin,Pa<'i/i<' Raihcoi/ Report, 1872, /^.Tifi. From tlie level of Kort Polly there is no difficult}- in doscending by the valley of Swan l{iver, to the low ground east of the Duck Mountains ; fiom Swan J{iver, the country lying north of J)uck and J{iding M(»untains, was found on e.ximina- lion to be nearly level, thickly wooded with spriiee, jxmlar, and some maple, a few -"mall lakes anutli. Tliturs A. (t S. Exp.. Vol. 1, pp. i:},') 436. Mr. Dawson travelled from Fort Pelly southerly along the flank of Duck Mountain, "through a country adtr.irably adapted for tanning purposes. With the exception of narrow ridges, it possesses a rich black fertile mould, supj)orting very luxuriant herbage, and on the mountain an amjile supply of timber, consisting idiietly of aspen of large dimensions. '' The . Riding and I>uck Mountains consist of a succession of slopes ami terraces on their .southwestern side, the ascent being almost imperceptible to the thick impenetrable forest which covers the highest plateau." 83 Col. MacLeod, Travollod tlimii!j;h this Section on tho west of tlio As.sini'lioiiio to Fort Polly. Tlio soiitliorii |»or(ion lio dt'sfrihos i\n a ])oor noil partiully wooded; proceodiiig north it hucomos a fair soil with clumps of trees. Benry A. F. MacLeod. " The Houtli-wostorn portion i.s poor, ligiit soil, partially wooded ; the cen- tral and western iMtrtioii fair and partially wooded ; above Livingstone the soil is poor and covered with houlders, lightly wooded. In the valley of Swan Itiver there is some good fertile soil partially wooded, witli open marshes producing gooil hay. The valley of the A-isinehoine is wide and deep at the south, hoioining smaller as it aj>i)roa('hes Fort I'ellv; the Hurfaoo is hilly and undulating. Frank Moberly, Pac. Ry. Rep., 1872. See his description in Section {'^q. I02 llimrs A. and S F.rp., Vol. 1, />. 431 and maps. PiNK'ceding from south-west towards Fort Pelly, describes Houth west j"Mtion as an undulating open prairie, iiumerou> marshes and ponds, and" good hilnl in the valley. To the north of Little White Sand Kiver a gravelly loam, with groves ot' poplar and underwood of cherries, roses, &c. Col. Mac Li Oil. Crossed the northern p:irt from Fort Pelly towanls Touchwood ITills, and desci'ibes it as a fair soil, partially wooded, with some -wanip^; producing good hay; and on the west side, on tiio trail, a line rich soil, heavily wooded, with pools or swamps producing good hay. Ifcnry A. F. MacLeod. "The north-eastern part is fair soil, impi-oving t(j llu- west to good fertile land, heavily wooded to the north-east with spi'uce and ])o|il;ir, diminishing in size and «iuanlity to the xuith. Near While Sand Jiiver, where there is no spruce the surface is hillv and iindulalin'r, with intervening marshes i)roducin'r irood lay. 1 ho valleys are small and narrow and the sujjply of fresh water abundant." Surveyor- General Dom. Lands' Rep., 1876— vf. L. Russell, D. L. S.,pp. 18, 19. The 2no Piuncipal Meuii>[AN, Ion. 102". From lat. 51° for about 32 miles the country is better than that immediately south, and the next .5 miles to the end of the survey " is excellent sandy lo.am well wooded and watered." " Here the production oi'he n'eridian ceased. A rapiii Iri]) to l''oi't Felly (about 1(1 mile-; north), however, enables me to state that all the way to that place the soil is good, and wo )d and water comparatively well supplied, lu the vicinity of Port Pelly and northward the land is ligliler; water is, however, plentiful, and poplar of a large size, as well as spruce are here first mot with. The approach to Swan Jtiver Barracks near Livingstone (11 84 niilt'.- iiniili ni |''c)ii I'rilyi | nc-riil •- a \'i'i v ti ulnrii ii|i|n'aranc(', lu'iiiLC lliickly cdvcii''! '.villi -rai ill- ImmiMcin uT \ai'iiHi> .-i/o." " Ai l''in'1 I'clly llic Miil i- almn-l |iiin' >aiiil, iiDlainc^, coni and -ouic otiior f'crcais i:r<)\v to a ^imhI >v/.v, uiirti iIhv > -cain- ili'>lni(tiuii \>y Lrras>lio|H)fi'rt and siiimiii'r riii>t>. " I'tiiiiTii I'.AsK Link \Vi>T\v.\nh. Tliis Ilii'i' line ill latiliiilc ."il 'J^'.!! ' wa- |M'niliiii'il 111 mile.- wot wanl I'rom Iniiiiii ii(l,' lOJ , •• W'l' liml iliat tlii'iMi-lmiii ilicwlioU' n|' iM-, (li-taiic(' poplar liii-li, IV m ■_' III 1_' inrlic- ill iliaiiii'li r. aii'l willMW- pit ilMiiiinatc. 'I'lic IuikI is ^■iiiiil aiilu'^ alli'>t. 'I'lu-sc cliarai'ldi'islics ate ilniilillc*- line III till' rclciition dl' I he Mirlact' Water iiy ''layi'V •'iiiiM)ils. A iiii!i(i'alp|c (art in roniicclinii uitii I hi> idimlry !•< Miat ItDtli in iimnin;,' wuUtm, ami ill -iiitln'i' pnini- Jiaviii^' no appaifiit nutlet, the water i^ iiivaiialily Inird." At llu' lUt mill' a yraiiiial ascent wl' the Ik'avof Hills is coninicnfcil. 103 Seluu/u (Ic'.i. /.•-/.,, lS7:!-74, /y. 'Jfi. 27. Mr. .Si'lwvii tiavcllcil noilh\V(". I'liea-aiil Hills to leli appeaic'l I0 lie thickly woodeil. No marked cliaiiue in the country. Imt lake> and lake hasiiis more abun- dant, and water in many of llu^m sliuhly lira'ki>li. The lakes are ,i,M"idiiiilly iir\ iiiL;' up. Soilli^'ht. se-etahle moiilil oil whitish colored silt, passiii;^ down into wi'll loiiiidc 1 gravel, and the general inxiirianci' of -•ras> indicates a I'ertilo soil. Approaching- Toiuhw I HilU, the country in parts is very pi<'tnrcs(iiio, iindulaliiiu- and -oinelimc^ liill\-, jiali lie> ol' woi.dlanil, with lakes and pools. Poplar, larii'er than -cen ^ince i'orl llllice, with nndermc lake- (piile -all, nihei> only >li:,'htly liiacki>h , hat i]iiite drinkahle. Hind A. ani S., h'xj'., V"l. !, /'/'. I'Jl, ri-'. Mr. lliii'l cri.->ed the •M)iitliern ptrtion of this -ection, travelling,' easterly from I.Dii:': III- |,;c.| Mountiiin I^ake. ( In appioacjiiiii; file Hill, •■ a more liiimid tiju't lK'i,dns, dotted with niardhos .•ind piimU." ■• Tin- suil improves in idiarai'ter and the I'oiintry boe.oinen very pictiire-i|iie and attractive." "The view Iroin the -iimmit of a mmind revealed a roHinL(. treeless jtrairic, stroteliini;- on al' ides and hniiiided only \>y tiie horizon. The wooded ran^^o of I'liea-ant .Mountain appeared low in the soul h-wes|." " Xiimoroiis lakes, ponds and mar>he<, covered with wild fnwl, are visible in (>very direction. Tho soil in low situations is i^nm], supportini,' lorn; ;,'rass, whiidi att'orded line pastiir- au'c for our cattle. The rid^/es and mounils ar«! j;i'avelly, and a few boulders of the iinfussiliferous I'ocks are si-en here .-ind there." 4 I fJenry A. F. MacLeod: '• The so,,th-ea~t portion consists of an opon undulating plain, fair soil, and e-ood |)astur;m'c. In the neiifhhoiirhooil ot the Tou(diWood Hills the soil isjrood and fertile, with marshes producing' L;ood hay, and partially wooded. On the Tomdiwood Hills, which are not hi.i^li, the soil is liijiht and f^ravelly, partially wooded, and allbrdiiii,' i^ood pasturage. 1 86 To tla- iinftlica-'l llif M'll i,^ ,:;m().1 aii>l Ioim IId, ;iii.| \n<ti)iiy. 'I"i> tilt; hurl li wot ^nocl ifi'tilf suil. Tlic iiorllii'i'ii |ii)rli..ii i,-, lliickly wuo>lci|, .Im. iva>iii^- in ■(iiaiiiiiy aifl -i/.c U> till' west, wlicrc tlio coiiiilrv ir> (i|k)Ii. 'I'lio >ii;>|'ly iillVo-li walor iii llir ■^'Miili \s liiuitoil, bill to till! iiniMli tiicrr i> a lai^or i|iiaiilily." Siirrt ij"r-(n III ral l>oiniit"'n /.iinls h'ri"'it, lM'i--.l.-A liiiiH' I', j'. 1"^. Till' '^lli lia-i- line, ~i t' M'l'iinii lY') i^ f"nliinu'(l intn llii- -I't'iinii loi' altoiil H inili'.s '• Kroiii llu- H-l lo llic I'-Uli liiilf llic line :,Ta.liially aMvu.U llu- imrth- uasi >I(»|K' 111' tin- Hi-aviM- IlilU, wln-ro '.lie iMnniifl.'i' iinlicalrd ;iii a|(|pn)\iiii:ili) altilii'lt- n| l,silll Icct alH.vc llic .-ca." Tlii^ HaM triiiiiiialril al tlir I'.Mli mile Irom l()ii|;iliiili' 1(»J , aiiil t'niiii ihal poiiiL u liii*.' was >urv«'yi'il iiurili In- a ilislaiiro of iibuiil lil milo- lo till- !Mli Ua-^. '■ Oil liiiriiiii;- to iiortli at llii- 4'.»tli liiiK;, llio liiir »liMi||y c'liU'r.,'i's fi'diii llio tliickl\-W(MMlcil liill>iili' to a inoi'i' oju'ri toiiiiliy. Li'iailually 'liv^crinliiiLC all tlm wav til the Wliito Sand iiivcr, wlicif a >lrciiii ■■taliiio>t o|i.ii jiraiiic ol' about i;{ III lie- is (•io>-(i|, coil tail! in:; Vi-'vy little i imin-i- o| H-. Inl -i/.c. "'riif >oil. altboimli saijiiy, i> >lill ol' -oii.l .|iial!ly. aiil |Mi>ili|y of iuoi-o valiio tliaii lifli moi>i lamls, wliirli aif iiioic >uIimv ic I iu -ihhmum' Irost, Tlio tifst I'lo'^l not i( I'd by ii> was on I In' itl^t ot' Aiiirii>i. al llio " < 'io pkc'l Lake-," wliero a lilin of iic ol ibc lliifkiies> of |iaiici- loi nicl loiiinl ibc niar-liv >liorc." Tbc iiinib liaM.' liiii'. latitiulo ap -4'.'' IT", (•oiiiim'iiciii-- --ix iiiilo west ol' loiigiSiidii HKJ and niiinin:;- wotwaid to lli^' (^iiill l.aki . •• From aboiil lixc niiU's soulli of ili:^ Ha-f, and Wi'slwanI alohi,' tins sanic for 11 miles, llie liiii' run tbroii-b al' rnaie i.|ieniiii,'> and |>o|ilar biisli, crossing; several iakelels and eomiii^- to an end al the ea■^lern ^lioie ul' the Kisli- im^ l -iTiiin i> u'oo.l >andy loam, anu niue/i >| ibe. timber ol ii.-elnl dimeiisiiiii-,, i in ihc lenili nnle we, eiir-.^ed a well delineil cart trail leadiiiii' iiorlb-westwaid to t^'iiill Lake." Siirvci/''r-(itn('riU l>n)iiiiu"n Ldicl^' Jtij/'trt, l"Tt — .1. /-. /I'.s-c//, /'. 1-. The ninlli l!a-e (cnliniied westward from !-'i-hitu;- Laki-. •■ The line liei'e passed thioiii^li a -eeii'Mi ol idiinlrv will -upiilie.! with both wom.I and water, bavin-- a -'il of >andy loam "f faii' ijuaiily, lyin-- between the \'aill Lake.-, and Toueliwood llil!-. The -lream> rnnnin.; into il,,. i^liiill Lake- aiv all fn-sli water, whereas the lake- t hem-el ve- , are -t ron-ly al kahiie. .Shalh w (le|ire-f,ioiis, with no visible outlet iioljced by u-. Hi-- and Litllo \iiidl Lak.'- are appar- eiilK on the same levid, beii'i;;' eoniieeled with one anoLJior by a narrow eliannel." _5L 104 Saiulfor^l l-'kiinifj P>i . I!;i. /m/ „ 1ST I./-, -n. .. \|„,,il I 10 mile- lo ihe iii'iihweM (.r I'oi ! i'.il cv the 'I'oMi iiWood Hill- alas met. Tiie-e are mere iindiilat iim' einineiiee^ partly WoodeW, with remarkalily ■ aiod s.ed. and a|ppareinly w.dl adapt.' I l'..r -ell leniein ; ihey gradually de-.'i'iid on ihe we-!ern side. Some ilillieiiliy wa- loiind in ihri nem-hbonneMid in obtainiiii;- waler, llial \i-|iieh we euiild liii'l ua- ollen liraek.sh and seareely drinkable, and >eeme'l to be only the remaiiiiiiLr ih-po-ii i.f la-l winter's -iiow. SeareeU' aii\' rivers ai'e niel ; it i- ob.-ervable. however, thai -e\eial run nil in" stream- aro found farther iiorlh IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / O 4. z & ^ 1.0 I.I 2.2 IM 1.8 1.25 1.4 ||l.6 ■• 6" - ► m 4 86 " The roulo on whicli wc were travelling explains this feature of physical geography, for wc were on the water-shed between the Assiniboine and the South Saslcatchewan. Wo found that this part of the route is generally with- out timber, but it contains spots where siit^ht wooded knolls are met. Appa- rently level, in reality there is a considerable ascent as the country is travelled westward." Mr. Sclwyn passed through north-westerly, crossing the Touchwood Hills. Selwyn Gcol. Hep., 18T3-1-1, pp. 27, 28, 29. TOUCHWOOD HILLS, Reached the base of Touchwood Hills, and diverged to left to Little Touch- wood Hill mission, 15 miles south-west. Passed through hilly country covered with thick copse wood, and numerous lakes. Fort surrounded with extensive woods, large white bii-ch and poplui-, 2 feet in diameter, suitable for joists, flooring, boards, &c. Soil, rich light brown loam, would doubtless produce good crops. The plateau of Touchwood Hills is an undulating country, with u series of drift hills, intei'ccpted with lakes and aspen groves, soil of best quality and herbage luxuriant. Breadth of this beautiful plateau is 4 miles, and about 500 feet above the salt prairie to the west. Heart Hill is 700 feet above plain. No timber visible west of Range, except small aspen and burnt willow. GREAT SALT PLAIN. The great salt plain stretches away to the westward, utterly void of timber; at 12J miles from the old Hudson Bay Post, came to tirst drinkable water on plain. Innumerable circular and oval pits occur amongst hills and on plains, some contain water, but most were dried up at this season, (August), and others larger contain s;dine aiiJ brackish water lakes. "This plateau forms the watershed between the Qu'Appelle, toS-W., and Saskatchewan and Assinoboine to N.B." The small proportion of surface drainage, rapid evaporation and considerable percolation through sandy drifts, is sutHciont to ace )unt for saline character of lakes. Many of them are three, four and five miles long, by one and two miles broad, occurring frequently in chains, in which case the highest contains quite fresh or only slightly brackish water, while the lowest is intensely salt and bitter. " From 12^ miles from Touchwood Hill Post, made 27 miles to-day passing all day over great salt plains and ti-eelcss prairie." In depressions of last six miles dwarfed poplar and willow bush five feet high, soil blackish loam, rather sandy on sub-soil of white-looking gravel. Limestone and gneiss blocks thickly scattered over surface. Made 36 miles ; wood and water scarce and far apart ; country more undu- lating, most part open prairie. Mr. Robert Bell, of the Geological Survey, Travelled from the Qu'Appelle Mission in section -^j to the Tuucliwood Hills. i 87 - Bell Geol Rep., 1873 74, pp.81, 82. Fort Qu'Appello to Touchwood Hills, 48 miles tliio north to mission at Little Touchwood Hills. From the bank on the north side of the viilloy at Fort Qu'Appello the sur- face is very uneven up to the mission. The surface soil consists almost every where of rich black loam, with gravelly clay sub soil ; clumps of trees and bushes scattered everywhere. In approaching Little Touchwood Hills rmmerous lakes of fresh water were seen. Clayey soil ])revails on the Little Touchwood Hills, which are covered by a growth of poplar woods, trec'j in some parts being large and valuable for building. The main road between Fort EUice and Carlton is 12 miles north-east from miss.,'n, and track leading to it lies mostly in woods and passes several small lakes. Henry A. F. MacLeod. "In the neighborhood of Touchwood Hills the soil is good and fertile, with marshes producing good hay, and partially wooded. On the Touchwood Hills, which do not rise very iiigh above the plains, the soil is light and gravelly, giving good pasturage and partially wooded. To the north-west there is an open saline plain with poor, light soil and fail' pasturage, extending some five miles to the north of the trail. Thei'c is a fair supply of water about the Touchwood Hills, but on the plains lo the north west fresh water is scarce. Suroeyor-General Dominion Lands' Report, 1877 — ^1. L, Russell, pp. 12, 13, 15. The ninth Base line runs for about 11 miles in this Section as far as Big Quill Lake. See Section ^^^. Meridian between Eanges IG and 17 W., commencing at the ninth Base, and running north. — " The tirst six miles are on the sandy alkaline strips between Big and Little Quill Lakes. .Some fair sized timber is found iiere, but the s')il is poor, and continues so through a more open country until within three miles of the 0. r. R. line." On travelled road from Touchwood H. B. Post, at about longitude lO-t'' north-westerly towards Carlton, — '' The new stores now building for the H. B. Co. on the main road at Touchwood Hills, will be more convenient for the travelling public than those now occupied, which stand about a mile from the road. The Touchwood Hills terminate about 28 miles west ot this Post, and for 24 miles of this distance the road passes through a very hilly country heavily timbered and dotted with small ponds. The summit of tiie Big Touchwood Hills is about 15 miles from the H. B. Co.'s store. The soil near the road is generally sandy and gravelly. I passed herejn company with several Manitoba farmers, who were of opinion that but little land tit for farming could be seen from tlie trail ; much good land I am in- formed nevertheless exists in various places tiiroughout these hills. After leaving the Touchwood Hills the road enters on a long, desolate alkaline plain, with no wood, and only a couple of pouda where water can bo obtained." d8 5L 105 Mr. Hind crossed the iioilli-eusL purl of this Section, truvelling towards the Touchwood Hills. Hind A. and S. Exp., Vol 1, p. 412. lloierriing to this piirt of the country, — "In the prairio v.dleys, and often when surrounded by conical hills, tho ponds arc fi'inged with boulders, while water marks show tliat in the spi'iny a iar^e area is flooded. This is particu- iai'ly the case at the toot of the Touchwood Hills." "The lakes and murshos all contain salt or brackish water." IJenrij A. F, MacLeod. " At the noi'th-east corner the soil is lij,dit and gravelly, with marshes pro- ducing good hay. The country undulating and rolling, partially wooded ; fresh water in small t|uantitie8." Long or Last Mountain Lake extends into the southern portion of this Section, and the country there probably is similar to the northern part of the Section -j^. IStti extract from Hind, Vol. 1, p. 421, in section 3^. 51 IOC The South Saskatchewan crosses the north-west corner of the Section, where is situated the " Moose Woods." Hind A. and S. Exp., Vol. 1 , p. 387. The I'cgion called the Moose Woods '' is a dilatation of the Saskatchewan, flowing through an extensive flat six miles in breadth, cut into numerous islands. This flat is bounded by sand-hills, someof which are nothing more than shifting dunes. The woods are in patches, ami in the low land consist of balsam, poj)lar, white wood and aspen ; small aspen clum|ts cover the hills; but no timber of importance has yet been seen." The river flows through a broad alluvial flat for 25 miles; its water very turbid like that of the Mississippi. Mr. Hind also touclied on the Soutbcni ]iart of this section during his oxplo- ratiou (Viim the (^a'Apiielle Lake to the Klbnw of the South Saskatciiewan — (see section j'',j",.-). but dues not ai)))ear to have penetrated the interior, which is marked on bis map, " Barron Treeless Prairie.' 3± 107 'I'he South Sasktitchcw'Ui i'un> noi'therly through this section, ti'avelled down this river from the J']lbow\ Mind A. & ,S'. E.cp., Vol. 1, pp. 3(Jt;, 380 and 389. Mr. Hind South Saskatchewiin from Klbow to junction with North Saskatchewan, or '•(Iran.l Korks."— The river from the Elbow, lully (JOO miles from the point where the main river discmliogucs into Lake W^innipeg, is half a mile broad, and with a swift current of 2 t') 2:1 miles an boni', not more than 350 miles from the Kocky Mountain-, where it takes its ri>e. The iianks are (iO feel above the water, composed of cretaceous sand- stone covered with 7 i'ccl of drift ; for many miles this upper cretaceous rock continues to foiin the river bank. "The Itanks of the river slope gently from the prairio ou the south-west side to an altitude of about 250 foot above it. They then assume the form of steep declivities," 89 "On tho north-west si(]e the Hundstono cliff rises abi'uptly from the river to Ji height varying from 30 to GO fool, wiien il moots tlie foot of an undiihiting slope which extends to the pi'airie level. " Trees, consisting chiefly of aspon and mesaskatomina, are found in patches on both sides. "Tho river continues foi many miles about TOO yar Is broad, with numerous sand-bars, and low alluvial islands. The dritt above tho sandslono is gravelly, and many small sand-duiios occur on the hill bank sloping into the prairie, into which they have progressed to a considorablo distance. "A treeless prairie, boundless and green, except whore the patches of drifting sand occur, is visible on eitlier hand from the to|) of tiie bank. "At about forty-five miles from the Qu'Ai)])olle valley or tho I'jlbow, the river banks and the whole country are much htwor, the bunks being not more than 100 feet high, becoming lower as we pi'oceed north; they are treeless areas, and so is the ])rairie on either side, with a few dotaclicd oxeojttions. The river is lialf a mile broad, depth 9 U) 10 fool, with current 2\ miles an hour. "About (50 miles from the Klbow small forests of aspLMi begin to show themselves on tho banks, al'ter passing through a low coiuitry, which is an expansion of the river valley." The ash-leaved niaple also begins to appear, but the "woods" are not continuous, and the prairie on either side remains bare. " Approaching Moose Woods we pussed for several hours between a series of low alluvial islands from 10 to 12 feet above the water. They sustain some fine elm, balsam, poplar, ash, ash-leaved mpple, and a vast profusion of the mesas- katomina. The river valley is bounded by low hills leading to the prairie plateau -1 to 8 miles back. " The country here furnishes an excellent district for the establishment of a settlement. The spot where we encamped is an extensive open undulating meadow, with long rich grass," 10 feet above the water, but does not appear to be flooded in the spring. Captain'Pallisor travelled by land from south to north through this Section, west of the South Saskatchewan. Patliser, pp. 56, 57, 58. Elbow to Red Deer Lakes. — On the north side of the river occur hills of drift, plentifully strewn with boulders instead of the loose sand which ])re- vailed on the south bank; some fair clumps of wood, with good grass, varying from one-half to two miles m extent; several deep gullies present rich and grassy slopes. All on the u])per ]>Iaiii is, however, as bare and arid as that on the other side (jf the Saskatchewan. •' Wo then passed through some swamps with long grass, but little timbei- of any >izo.'' The continuation of I ho "Coteau dos Prairies," constantly in sight, extend- ing in a northerly direction since leaving the river. The IkED 1>EER Lakes are six to eight in number, from one-half to two and a-half miles wide, in valley thickly strewed with bouKlois. Northern side, as usual, without wood, while southern slopes support thick growth of poplar and willow. This valley ci-ossos tho Saskatchewan 12 miles below Elbow, and is said to join the Qu'Appelle by the Last Mountain lake, with scarcely any obstruction. A canal between Assiniboine and Saskatchewan might be feasible at sorao future day. 90 From I'ed Deer Lakes to point opposite Moose Woods. — Asocndiiii,' to tho praii'io, ])asse(l many salt lakes, fringed round llie ed^yeswitii thick incrustation oi' salt, siiowin.if tho rapid evapoi-ation in these arid regions. The country is ofirreguhir sandy ground, covered with low cop])ice, and here and there rising into iiills clad with poplar. SSce section -j^^ for Col. MacLeod's and Capt. Clark's description. 51 109 5L no Col. Macleod, Has made three journeys over the CJi'eat riain> from "Cypress Hills crosa- ing the South Saskatchewan, where it receives the waters of the Eed Deer, to 13attleford," and states:— " The whole countiy is a high rolling pi'airie with gravelly ridges running in every direction. Grass of varying quality is to be tound everywhere, and water vaiying with the season. " There is not a tree 01' shrub to be seen except in the liver 'bottoms,' where gi")ves ol good sized cotlonwood are to be found, f know a person named Fitzpalrick who took a drove of cattle trom Fort McLeod, where they had wintered, straight across the country to Battleford; he told me ho ex])ericnced no difficulty, either from want of grass or water, and his animals arrived in good condition. " Messrs. Baker & Co., iiave twice driven cattle from Fort Shaw, Montana, to Battleford and neighbourhood, crossing at the mouth of Eed Deer Eiver, and travelling north-westerly to Neutral Hills, thence north-easterly to Battle- ford; and J was informed by their agent tJiat they experienced nojlifficulty north of the Saskatchewan. Jt is through this tract of country that'the large lierds of butfalo range in the summer, very good evidence that there must bo (|Uantitics of grass." Capt. C. Dalnjmple Clark, vf the Mounted Po'ice, also states : — "1 have crossed the Great Plains marching from Battleford to Cypress Hills, ci'Ossing the Saskatchewan at the n\outh of the Jied Deer (IJiver. It was during the month of October, and the grass everywhere was good. We had with us about one hundred horses and twenty head of cattle, and no difficulty was experienced with regard to eithci' grass or water. Water was found at convenient distances, and only once was a dry camp made, and then it was discovered next morning that water was at hand. I should call tho Great riains a fine grazing country ; in many places the traveller comes across tho buHalo or bunch grass. This grass is most nutritious, and always preferred to oilier grass by both hoi'ses and cattle. " Ividges of gravel aie come across, ;ind irom about 15 miles south of JJattleford not a tree or shrub is to be seen lill the river is reached, whore cotton wood of hiir size is abundant. " The a]ipn)aches 'o llic I'ivor aiv dillicult to olten ini])assalilo lor waggons. ind, and when found, very ley ai'c formed by immense coulees which run out into the plain sometimes tor miles." See section {'^^\- lor Col. MacLeod's and Capt. Clark's description. Mr. Oijllcic. Mr. Ogiivie travelled south from '• the ^'oso,■' through tho western portion of this section, to lied Deer Iviver. 91 "Prom the "Noso"tliio .soutli for ulioiif 20 inilos, t,'ooil ;,n'ass, iVoiiiicnt ]»()n(ls ot i,'0()(l wuUm-, soino hay meadows; ihoii ^'i-avtlly i'i(li;-cs and lii^hi Mais, with sonio allvaiiiie and fr(«sli ponds; some V(!iy hiicli kiioil- loi'ahoiil ;;<» miles, when we come to low hind near a ereelc; some pools ot .-li-^^lilly alkaline water, hut no current; the Hats sti-onjfly inll)re^•nat^!d with alkali, in some places it lies on the Lcround an inch or more deep, and is whirled ahoul hy the wind like snow; thence o\'er gravelly ridijjos and .ijenerally li-ht soil, hut yootl ^•rass, to lied Deer liivor. in all this distance there is no wood." Fitzpatrick, referred to in Col. Macleod's description, section AJj, crossed the north-wost portion of this section, 51 III Captain Palliser entered this section on the nortli and travelled southerly to the soutlieast corner. Palliser, pp. 135-136. Crossing the Sipiirrel Hills, travelled over a wide arid flat plain, intcr- j)ersed with mud swamps and salt lakes and scanty growth of gi'ass, and came iu sight of very marked range of hills with an ahrupt escarpment to the west, near which found large stream flowing nortli-oast. Hand Hills are a plateau with rugged and steep side to the north-wosl and south ; to the east it slopes gradually. The Eocky Mountains can he seen from these hills. The plain all round the haso of these hills is hare and arid, l)ut the high level of the hills bear a very fair and almost rich pasture, being (180 feet higher than the plain, and 3,400 feet above sea; also contains lakes of pure fresh water, and gullies v.'ith small growth of po|)lar. Red Deer Eiver sweeps round the base of the>e hills through a level plain, at a distance of from seven to ten miles ; its immediate valley is a dejiression, varying from 240 to 300 feet indejith; plains extend in all tlireetions where there is no grass and wo I'rcsli water; even in the river valley there is no grass and very little wood. Dr. Hector describes the Red Deer River in this neighboi'hood as 130 feet wide, and flowing through a valley averaging 1,200 yards across. Coal and ironstone, silicilied wood and lignite, with gypsum and fresh water sliells found in strata; in the valley only a few bluti's of' poplar, the vege- tation being principally sage and cactus, the latter in llower; (;n the plain to west of hills, and between river, the pasture is scanty. At Bull I'oiul (7reek there was good grass and line water, with a few wil- lows. Sections of sandstone here seen. Kerry Creek is the largest river valley of the tributaries to Jied Deer River which we have seen, but ils waters are now but a chain of disconnecled jiools, thence towards Red Deer River, wretched soil every where, horses miser- ably oil for grass. Plain to the north of liver very lircken, came to valley from north 5 or miles in witlth, and full of biilValo. There wore many acres of grassy plain affording tine pasture in the valley. Fitzpatrick, referred to in Col. MacLeod's description ^''\^,^-, passed through this section with drove of cattle from Fort MacLood to Battleford ; found grass and water everywhere. n mm 92 5L 112 Col. MacLeod. ToiK-hed llio iiDrth \vos,l corner ultliis .section on his journey "from Foil MucLood lo liod Deer Jliver at ii point where Tail ('reek eini»ties into it;" ho describes the country as a prairie of liiir soil, with pasture. Capt. Crozier of the Mounted Police. Travelled along southern boundary. See sec. -j^^- 113 j.Capt. Palliser travelled southerly from Caelie Camp tin ough the western portion of this section, passing Slaughter Camp lo Lake O&car. PaUiserpp. 90, 91. The country passed ovei' alter leaving Caelie Camp is i)Oor jiasturage, the soil sandy, with a proportion of white earth, " then a few small lakes and stony soil and small supply of wood. At about midway of the section a rolling prairie broken by low ridges and outcrops ol sandstone, pretty good pasturage;" and nearing Slaughtei" Camp passed over a rolling prairie with small swampy lakes ;^thonce south over an arid plain, ])assing a lake called Oscar on the map about' hit. 51°, two miles long, and more than a quartev wide; found its waors, salt, and camped a few miles south without cither wood or water. Col, MacLeod. Traversed this section through 'its eastern portion^ and describes it as prairie of fair soil, with pasture. _5i 114 Dr. Hector, of the Palliscr Expedition, crossed through this section in about lilt. 51° 20', from Slaughter Camp to old Bow Fort. Palliser, p. '-^S. Leavino- Slaughter Camp, "the prairie's surface rises into undulations, which increase in decision and altitude till at length they form a low broken range of hills." On the plateau are groups of large granite boulders; then poplar and willow begin, being the tirst wood seen since leaving Cache Creek Camp. Continued over a broken rolling country. "There is a very marked increase in the variety and luxuriance of the tlowering plants, and the pasture is abundant and well mixed." "We then crossed a magniticent plateau traversed by rocky gullies, and glowing with a rich profusion of brightly colored tlowering jilants." * Then crossed Deadman's Creek, and travelled along the valley of the Bow liiver, until the site of Old Bow Fort was I'eached. Dr. Hector also explored, in the winter ot iy.">S, from the "Forks" up the Eed Deer lii\er, thence southerly to Deadman's Kiver and returned north to Cache Jlill. Palliser, pp. 120-122 and 146. He describes the country to the west as becoming mountainous, densely wooded with good limber, comprising tine pine, also much good pasture iu the valleys. 93 5L "5 Dr. Hector also pnssoil ovor tlio S. W. aiiiflo of this soctioii. truvellini; nortli-wostorly " ruacli Tout, Creok, wliicli Hows lo tlic! iiortli. tlu- liuiiks of wliic'li wore I'ompoNuil of llio same ilark shaU's with ir(iii>tom' imiliili's, that woro soon on tiio Xoi'lli Saskatcliowaii. Tiic onimlry now hofaino vovy hrokon, aiiil wo hail to ci'oss sovei'al lotty riil;;-os ; al'tor lii niilos wo I'oachoil Whilo Karth Lake, hilitudo 51°, 8~ ; wo tiion struck to the north and makin-i; a I'upid ilosccnt for ahoiit, 8(l(» foot, slrnok liio Bow Jiivor, after cros-^inuwhit'li, by following up tiie lot'L hank for sevei-al miles, we roaohcd the old Bow Forv." Col. MacLeod. J)escrihcs the country in the southern )>ortion of this section as a lino fertile soil, heavily wooded with good timber. Old Bow Fort is situated in the soutii-eastern CMrnerof this section on tho Bow Rivor. Palliser, pp. 98-93. Dr. llectoi', on his Journey in 1858, ex))lored thenco. tlironi,'h tho mountains via Castle Mountain and Mount Murchison to the North Saskatche- wan, and thenco to Rocky Mountain House. The Old Bow l\ t " is aituated in latitude nP !)'. loni^iludo (by moans of two sots ot lunar observations) 115^ l\ 22", and its elevation above the level of the sea (by boilinii; point thermemoter) 3.9();} feet." "The scenery around is mild and lieautiful. Its site is at the base of the Jlocky Mountains which tower above it to tho height ot 3.0t)l) or 4,000 foot, the white summits of whicli, from a sprinkling of snciw that had I'ecently fallen, formed a pretiy contrast with the dense sombre forests at their feet. The iiow liivei- flows by in all the wild- ness of mountain character, foaming at intervals over ledges of rock in its valley, and then rushing onwards between high banks, clad with luxuriant vegetation." 5^ lOO PROM THE IOOtII TO TIIE 1 I^TII MERIDIAX, AND BETWEEN TIIE TjOtII AND JilST PARALLELS OF LATITUDE. Riding Mountain occupies the north-eastern portion of this section; the Little Saskatchewan crosses its south-eastern angle, and Bird Tail Creek flows through the western part. Selwyn's Geol. Rep., 1873-74, pp. 24-25. Mr. Solwyn travelled westerly through the southern portion of this section. Ho describes the country between tho Little Saskatcliowan and Shoal Lake as a light soil, but black, and well suited for cultivation. Blocks and boulders of "gneiss and limestone are very abundant on the surface of tho plain. ., . , , Shoal Lake " is a fine sheet of fresh water, several mdes in length and about half a mile wide." " Around the lake tho soil is light, sandy and gravelly, but improves again at a short distance." Tiience to Bird's Tail Creek, " the soil is certainly poor, the grass coarse and wiry looking, and especially on the ridges where beneath a rather thin black mould is a poor white gravelly sub-stratum, it presents a brown and witliored aspect." 94 5^ lOI UimCs A. & S. Exp., Vol. 1, pp. 4354.".()ill(•!mll Qii'Ai)|)i'lli', is built on u tliic'kly woodoil hank, at llio fnot of wliirli IIdws licavoi- Hivci', 'JtKMbot l)Ol()\V. At Jiiiicti(»n of (^u'.\|i]>clio anil A>>inilioiiu' llic valleys of (lie two rivoi's aro woil woodcij, luil tinilmi' o|' Ijitlc value; soil in nt'iL;hl)oin'liooil is well tlttoil for ^Towtli of wheat, harloy, pola^oos, clc; ^ool ])astiii'aij;o. Xo lives of tho pinu lainily occur in this iicii;'lil)oiirhoo(l. From Fort Fllieo srmtii-wc^terly towards tho lioiimlary luio — Crossini; Bcivver Itivei', where it eniei'^'es IVom larj^e swamp, came to suceessioii of well marked ridii;es, tiortli-west and south-east, their summits (dollie(l with poplar, with crec^ks and swani]is IxMween them. J'ipestone, or Snake ( 'reek, is of consideraMe -i/.e, with hanks 1(1 feet hi;L^h. CroH.sed several hills of sandy dritt, mixed witii houlders, j)rin('ipally limestone. Tho I'allisor exjiedition also oxphn'ed westerly from Fort Fllice, south of IhoQu'Appelle. See section -{'^ly. Mr. Hind also travorsod this section from tho south to Fort Ellico, and thonco wostorly along tho Qu'AppoUe. Hind's A. S S. Exp., Vol. 1, pp. .308-314. " We arrived at tho Assiniimine ahont ten miles south-east of tho Two Crooks." The approach to tliis river is made by desceiulin:;- a steeji slope, which forms tho boundary of the ]>rairie. two or tiiree miles from its present exca- vatod valley. "Tho plateau thus formed is covered with erratics of n'ranito, gneiss and limestone. "The l>road suboniinato excavation in which the river flows is about ono mile across, and f'roni liOO to 250 feet deep. " The narrow ])lateau, covered with boulders. ]K)ints to a f )rmor condition, when a much larger river flowed in a widei' and shallow valley, -00 teet above its present level. Thence passed through good grazing country on the liigh prairie levol, on which there was a scarcity of water." At tho second of tho two crooks cretaceous rocks were again rocognixed ; a soft yellowish greeu substance resembling soapstone was observed in exposure of shales. Country in the neighl)ourhood of Beaver Creek is undulating and attractive, but .soil .sandy, only supporting short stunted herbage. Westward from Fort Ellice — In this section the coimtry is rolling, soil a sandy loam, witli much vegetable matter in valleys, numerous aspen groves and small lakes. Sandford Fleming, Pac. By. Rep., 1874, p. 37. " For a limited distance to the westward of Fort Ellico the land is light and .sandy, but it again shortly becomes richer and loss light, and the country is more rolling and broken. For some distance it may be clescribed as being a series of shallow basins enclosed in a larger periphery." Mr. Selwyn entered this from the e.ast, travelling north-westerly towards Carlton. Selwyn Geol. Rep., 1873-74, fp. 25, 26. Camp at Birdtail Creek, to Fort Ellice. Approaching Assiniboino Eiver, pass over five miles of stony plain with light .sandy soil underlaid with gravel. Descent from plain towards river by two distinct plateaux. Edge of second overlooks Assiniboine valley 240 feet, above river, at 100 feet below level 96 (ir))lain, nmiuMons spfin^rsof^ood water. Leaving fort, ])afc'h; ruiicliL'd tln^ valley ol'ilio (^a'Apiirlli' ll'"or, wliicli \vi! crossed two inilos aliovo ilH jmicliiiii will) llie A^-'iiiilMiiiio. Tlio tiirA|t|pi'llo Jiivor is only about 15 yards wide and L'^ I'ta't (U'cp, with a liard i^'ravoll}' hottom. On north sido of it sand is the prevailing' fcaturo hotli along valiey and on hills, and inliTinixod with it aiv iiiinu'roii> largo lilocks and houklers of gnoiss. A similar sandy and arid-looking coiintiy ap))t;ars to extend for a long distance in a westerly direction up the (^u'Appelie Valley. "Alter crossing ahoul !'» miles of mostly open plain, rather thitdy grassod, with occasidual willow and })opIar clum])s, the trail ci-osses a large swampy ilat, covered with long green grass to the right, and several roumled hills and I'idges of drift consisting of sm;dl rounded pehhles mixed with sand." From one of these, '"Spy Hill," though not more than tifty or sixty feel above the plain, an extensive view is atlbrded of the surrounding country. Low drift hills ami ridges, with intervening swampy flats, and a few lagoons, lakelets and scattereil clumps of small poplar and brushwood are seen on all sides as far as tha eye can roach. "Camped at 'Big Cut-Arm Crook,' Laving tiavellcd 2892 miles, the whole distance through a countiy similar to tiiat above described. The soil generally light, sandy ami gravelly'." The valley of " Big Cut-Arm Creek " is about 800 yai'ds wide, and from 90 to 100 feet below the j)rairio level ; the streams about 25 feet wide and 2 feet deep, with strong current. To west of the ci-cek the soil is I'ght and sandy, wit 11 subsoil of white gravelly sand ; first ])art is rather thickly wooded with stunted poplars in patches; no other trees whatever; grass poor and brownish, except in depressions; the iattor part, an open plain devoid of timber. Had to carry wood for night's camp. Henry A, F. MacLeod. The central and eastern portion is jwor, stony soil, with groves if small poplar. In the neighbourhood of Fort Ellice the soil is poor and sandy, partially wooded. To the north there is some good, fertile soil, partially wooded, and to the north-east, fair soil and good pasturage. The valleys of the Assiniboine and (^Ju'Appelle are wide and deep, and the surface generally is flat and undulating. Surveyor-General Dominion Lands Report, 1876 — A, Ij. Russell, pp. 17, 18. Meridian and Base lines have been run in this section up to the XXXth Range about 14 miles west of Fort Ellice. The Second Pbincipal Meridian, longitude 102. — The country to south of Qu 'A])pelle River on this line, "the land is good sandy loam, slightly undulating. Tliere is plenty of wood, water and a fair supply of timber, that in the vallej-s of the streams being abundant and of fair size, whereas what grows on pi-airie level is almost invariably inferior in that respect and inter- spersed with clum))s of willows ; a few oaks, birches and some large poplars were seen at Scissors Creek. The banks of the ravines and streams running into the Qu' Appelle River exhibit exposures of shale and thin layers of ironstone. These were the only outcroppings of geological interest mot with during the season. " At about two miles north of the river (Qu' Appelle) the land becomes of ftecond-class quality, being moi'o rolling and sandy for about 11 milos, when it again improves." 97 102 Ml'. SoUvyii truvcllod iiDrlli-we^torly llii'(>iii;'li tin' norlliorn pari of tliis uuctiuii. Sehcyii (icol. Re//., ISt:{-74, p. M. " O|)oii iiiidiilatiii^- |)ljiiii far as ((vt! cuii roacli ; soil somcnvliat bettor; a hole (lii;^ two loet deop showed one tool Idaidi inoidd, iiiidoiiaid witli tine hrowii Hilt with a few pebhles. " From open prairie, aliove Piieasaiil Hill Ci'oelv, ('(iiiM bo soon to iiortli- oast and .suiith an undiilatint;-, ol'ton hilly, treeless ])i'airie ; the rit and south-wo-t, and may ho from liftoon to twenty miles loiiij;. Like its western companion, File Hill, it is wooilod with aspen and full of jKindsaiid lai still a mile broad and 200 feet deep." " Alter passing these Forks the country is nioi'o umliilating, small hills begin to show themselves, the general ciiaracter of tlio soil is light and poor, the herbage consists of short tufted butialo grass, and plants common in dry arid plains.' Praii'ie lires arc one great causc'of the ai'idity of this region, and the reclamation of immense areas is^iot beyond human power. " If willows and aspens were ))ermittcd to grow over the prairies, thoy would soon he converted into humid tracts, in which vegetable matter would accumulate and a soil adapted to forest trees be formed." Beyimilar |iioc'fs of liij;nito in South SiiHkatC'hewan. neai-the junction of Hod J)oor liivor. " Liyiiitc ro|)i^)rtod to occur ill largo quaniitios in situ in bank ot Swill Curront CrooU," u trihiitary ol' the Soutli Sasiiutchewaii, flowing t'roiu t ho Cy|)ross Hills, and joiniii<,Mho river about halt way I'rom tho nioutli of Kod Deor Kivor to the Klbow. Ml'. Isaac Cowic reported having soon lignite on liill, oiio inilo and a-half from Jludboii'ts Bay Houses at Cypress Hills. Rkd OciiRE Hills, 32 miles up ihe river from Elbow.— Banks 200 feet, and top of Ked Oohre Hills 'jOO leet above tho river. '• Tiiis elevated ground stretches for considerable distance to south and south-east, and presonis an extremely hilly appearance." Soil gravell}- earth in this region; tlioro are numerous ponds and small lakes in the lioUows among the iiills, most of them boin-' more or less brackish or nauseous to taste from the presence of tho siilphalos lil' mag- nesia and soda and other salts. During tho dry season of autumn, the water evaporates completely from many of these poniis, leaving their hetls covered by tho dry white salts, which look like snow, and are blown about in the wind. Around all tho ponds, except those which become completely dry, there is a rank growth of roods, sedges and grasses, the deep green colour of which tonus a strong contrast to the liuU grey appearance of the stunted and scanty grasses of the hills, which, indeed, in many places, are almost bare. "From a point on the south-east bank of the Saskatchewan, alioiit 40 miles above the Elbow, we tbllowed a south-easterly courso to tho northern extremity of the most uortheru of the "Old VVite Lakes," which wo reached at 24t mile.s from tho river bank, according to our odometer moasuroiuenls. These lakes are three in number, and appear to lie in a chain running north north-west and south south east. They are said to be connected to each other by narrow straits, and to have a total length of 30 to -iO miles." The middle lake receives a stream called the " Old Wife's Creek," which flows from the direction of Cypress Hills; but none of the lakes have any out- let. The water is very clear and extremely nauseous to the taste. There is a considerable quantity of white salt around the shores in the dry .season. The country around the northern extremity of the Old Wife's Lukes is not so hilly as that between this point and the Saskatchewan. lOo Nothing reliable known. 50 109 The Rod Door and tho South Saskatchewan Jiivors enter this Section from the west, and unite at the '- Forks," about long, h)'.)^ oil', near its northern boundary. Palliser, p. 139. Capl. Pallisor travorsotl this section oaslorly along the south si lo of Red JDeor River, passing over an arid, sandy plain with boukiors to the " Forks." Arrived (at the Forks^ "ami contemplated tho view with some satisfac- tion, having now penetrated to that region from tho west, in .fiily, 1850, which we had reached from the east in September, 1857, before we turned oft' to the North to winter quarters at Carloton. Viewing the two river valleys from tho high lands at the junction, they presented a considerable ditierence in ap- pearance. Red Door River was a serpentine stream, with broad alluvial pro- mmm 106 montorios containing willows und longh Imrk poplars; while Bow Rivor (South JSaskatchwan), as far as I oouhl soo down .stream, was Ijotwen high ])rocipitoiis bankn, and where the tojis of a few willows wci-e seen a))pearing out of lieaps of sand." Found good grass for horses in Valley of lied Dacv Jtiver. He then travel led south-westerly to crossing of South Saskatehwan ; and ])assed ovei- sandy waste, a succession of sandy hills with great scarcity- of water, and halted at a salt lake, which was the oidy water that 'ould he found. Very heavy travel- ling through the burning sand. " In the evening, left the high broken countiy and doacended into valley running noith and south." Col MacLeod and Capt. Clark. Traversed tliis section north-easterly from the Cypress Hills to the Porks. See see. -^X. Col. MacLeod describes the counti-y he i)assed through in this section as u prairie of poor sandy soil and pasture, scarcity of water, which was principally brackish. IIO Palliser, pp. 139, UJ, 141. Capt. Palliser traversed this section easterly, through its northern part, along the banks of Red Deer Rivei', and passed over a broken country with Bandy soil and boulders ; also, large swamps, now nearly all dry. Travelling "several miles along river, found favorable place to ford 250 yards, wide with firm bottom and water up to axletrees." On south side, passed some fine wooded bluffs with large poplars, and ascended with diffl- culty out of the valley on to a high plain coveied with boulders, but were obliged to again descend to river for water. Capt. Palliser also travelled south-westerly, on the north of the Saskatche- wan, and crossed the river at about lat. 50° 28', and proceetled south towai'ds Cypress Hills. The following extracts relate to this portion :— ."Continuing journey found the ground very much broken and travelling very severe on horses ; soil worthless ; camped on swamp and killed several rattlesnakes. " Arrived at the South Saskatchewan and camped at the only bluff of woods to be seen in the valley, which is here far more expanded than below the Forks of Eed Deer; the banks also are very loft}*; bieudtli of river 250 yards, and from five to eight feet deep. Started several gri/zly bears ; this seems to be a favourite haunt for them.' ' CROSSING OF SOUTH .SASKATCHEWAN To CYl'RESS IIILI.S. On the south side of the Saskatchewan the ground i-ises to 240 feel above the I'iver; found liesh water and better grass. At si.\ miles south-east of the river came in sight of tho Cypress Mountains; water only in detache . " Tho approaches to tho Kod Deer River are. liHinUt.tiio banics on either side being hig.i and steep ; pine and Cottonwood are found on tho river boiiotus but by no means plentiful. As a general thing tiio soil on the river bottom is vorv light and sandy. The bed of tho river is HUed with quicksands, and the c-oss- ing, unless the tord is well known, is very dangerous work. 1 think 1 am safo in saying that tiie above remarks will ap))ly to tl»o South Sask-atchewan at aiiy rate, that part between the mouth of Bow and its junction with tho lied Deer." .Mr. Ogilvie, Travelling from tho north, struck tho Red Doer River in tho ncji-th-wost angle of this section. Red Deer River.— From the "Nose" to iIh^ Rod J)oor River, a distance of 95 miles, there is no wood, but in tho valley of tho river there are some poplar, choke cherries and a species of birch closely ro.semblin--- tho silvor- leaved birch. '^ " On the river tho soil is generally light and gravelly, witii many granite boulders on its banks; tho bod of the river is composed of red ,sand, and it is literally covered with coal dust, which has been brought down the river Ironi seams near the Mountains. "On the river are many exposures of cretaceous sandstone, hut so soft as to bo of no economic value. Some of tho exposures i)rcsent a very i>ic- turest^ue appearance." ' 5Q 111 Mr. Ogiloie. Crossed this .section south-westerly from Red Doer River to How River.' '• For about 20 miles tho soil is generally gravelly, with some patches of fair soil, and .some ponds of water, generally fresh. N^oar Bow River the soil begins to iinj.rovo, and close to it an 111 Pnlliser, pp. 144 and 145, Di". Iloc'loi', of tlio PiillistM' Ex|iO(lilii)n, cnissoil tlio soiith-wost angle of this soi'lion, truvolliiii,' iiorlli-woHtoi'lcy, nui piiNsoil ovor liills marki'il on tlio mnp iis "arid iiilis." •• Minlo ill) ascent of (500 foot iiml tlio liills soenio'l to rise about 200 foot more. Tlioy sot'inoii to l)c formed of Imndod (days, as tlioir ciialivy surlaeo and white, iniidily Hats are exactly tiie same as those to the iiortii of the Hand Hills. " Had u tine viow from the top of one of tiie hills; at their hase lay a flat valley, four miles wide, with lari^e swamps, and the channel of a stream wiiul- ini;- throUi;ii it. To tlie west this valley was Imunded hy a ranije of hills similar lo those wo were now u|)Oii, and over them appeared the tops of the Rocky Mountains, still looking very distant. '"' A descent of (iOO feet brought us to the hotlom of a valley whore thoro was some good grass, and in the swamps ducks and geese ; thoro was no timber however, excepting a few low willows." 5 113 Palliser,p. 91. Captain Pallisor travelled southerly from Lake Oscar thi-ough the wostorn j)Oi'tion of this Section. Tho distance from Lake Oscar to the South Saskatchewan (Row River) is two miles. Hero " the river hanks were about 120 feet high and tho river valley about one mile in breadth, bearing a fair growth of willow, poplar and boi-ry-bearing bushes. One rough-bark poplar measured nine feet seven inches in circumforenco, also saw a tine hummock of spruce tirs about two miles up the stream. Wo ti)und the river about 200 yards wide and its channel deep." Lat. 50° 55". •' On resuming our course to the southward, we found ourselves once more within the Fertile'bell ; tho land was goo I and rolling in character, though frequentiv covered with boulders. "The feeilors to South Branch ( IJow Eiver) contained considerable growth of timi)er of fair size. The valley and tho country adjoining, which was undulating, contained fertile land, with willow and poplar bush on its northern oxpo.sures " We crossed Pino and Sheep Ei\-ers. The latter was a stream about 90 yards wide and thi'oo feet deep, its valley about a mile wide and well wooded." Pi'oceoding south, -'tho coulees wore not so abrupt as yesterday; tho timber was boUer generally, altiiough none of it could l)o called valuable. " Measured a balsam "poplar nine and one-halt foot in girth at height of my shoulder. Saw plentv of spruce lir in two insignificant tributaries." Lat, SO'-'O'; were now riding along the western Hank of the Porcupine Hills. " Crossed a tributary of considerable size, name unknown ; proposed to tho men to call it Arrow River, as it belonged to Bow River; tho pro]»osition was highly approved of, and the stream is nt)w Riviore do la Fleche. Arrived at Poi'cupine Hills and camped at considerable elevation. Saw some very old stunted cedars ; was disappointed at the timber. The whole place was more or less destroyed by tires." PalUser, pp. 145, 14G. Dr. Hector entered this section from the east at about lat. 50=" 18', and travelled north-westerly to the northwest angle to tho point where Moose Creek enters Bow River, and thence westerly. Continuing tlescription given in .section f^^, thenco entered " the Western ranire of hills at a small lake, with lodges of sandstone cropping out along ita '- . .... .... ■ ■ r..o ii'X -jn" " margin. The latitude hero was 50° 23' 39"." 110 "Wo frnsHcd tlio Iiills and (IohccikIoiI to t ho west to (ixt(!iiHivo plains, sooiiii; Hitw llivor in the (lintunce. Tho |»asturo in now much tinor limn uoforo, Iml Htiil no wood. " At nif^iit I'oachod a considcrablo stroara flowini^ to north tljrouglj a ploo- >ant iooliin^ valloy, witli ^ood graws Imt no wood." At'ter II miles to noitli-wo.st wo again »trucl\ Bow Rivor. Tho pasture, thoiigli still jHjor, is much improved on the plain, but tho change in most marked in the valley of tho rivor, which is now rocky, with iiigh ditlk of sand- stdiie, like tin? upper part of the North Saskatchewan, and with a good growth of i)ines ami large poplars. " The valley is wide, with large wooded flats, hut tho river itself is narrow and i-apid, ami channel occupied with shingle islands. Tho water is boautifully clear, of a light green tint, which shows that we are now to west of all cretaceous clays, which render tho river so turbid in lower parts of its course." Along the bank there is a gieat profusion of wild fruits, and "in this part of the country' there is great abundance of large game. Thence kept along tho toj) of the bank, which is nearly ;,0(> feet high, and composed throughout of samlstono, with beds of clay and carbonaceous streaks, like tho strata at Rocky Mountain House, and on tho upper part of all tho rivor, indeed, as tho moun- tains are approached." " Encamped in a most beautiful spot by the river, among large trees," dense thickets of l)ei'ry bushes." " A i'iiw miles brought us to tho ' Stony Indian ' camp, (lat. 50" 43') situated in one of the pi'ottiest spots 1 have soon in tho country, at the mouth of ' Ispasijuehow ' or High Wood Rivor," " which is a dear stream 40 yds. wide, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and flowing N. N. E. to tho point where it Joins the How River. Like Bow River it has a valley depressed 200 feet below prairie level ; a little above the mouth" of this sti-oam " Bow Rivor can tie fordeil in low water, the depth at this time (August) being nearly two and a-half feet." Then ascending through picturesque scenery to level of plain, and continuing along right bank ; " tho pasture is now very fine everywhere, and timber ))lenliful in many places, as we have now entered the beltof tine country that skirts tho base of the Mountains." " Crossed Ca])t. Palliser's trail on his trip to tho boundray line in the pre- vious summer, 1859." Col McLeod, Referring to Morleyville, which is situated on the Bow River in this section, states: " The Rev. Mr. Macdougall and others speak in the highest terms of tho beauty and fertility of the country' about Morleyvillo near the head of Bow Jiiver." See also Col. McLeod's remarks in sec. ■^^. Capt. Clark, Who has travelled frequently through this country states : "The country north of Fort McLeod, as far as the crossing of the Bow Rivei', is a fine grass one with plenty of water, and the land on the Bow River is of very superior quality. Cotton wood also grows on this river very thickly. At Kort Calgarry, some ninety miles north-west of " The crossing," and on the same river, a very line country is found ; at this place there is a small settlement of half-breetls, and there are several white settlers engaged in farming and stock raising, and all speak in high terms of the cajjability of the country. Forty miles south of Calgarry another small settlement has started up, this is known as Morleyville, and the farming operations have at this place also boon !i success. It is a beautiful counti-y around Morleyville with the grand Ill sroiiory of llio Mounliiiiis loworinsx al)ovo tlio littlo sottlomont. This is the homo of till) Stony riKlisins, aCliristiiiiiizivl bund. Al Fort Mu-looil ami all over tlio Bow Ilivoi* district hoi-soi find cuttlo i^nwo out diirinn' tlio wintoi', and iw a fair proot that the ^nisn has not lost all its nourishmont diirinj^ this soason of the yoar, I may state that tho Police horses, when out on herd, only receive tluve pounds of oats per diem, iind do well on tliat small amount. At Cypress Hills, although cattle and horses graz-e out during the winter, they do not do as well as tho-e in Iho Macleod and Bow River country; this is owing to the severe storm> that sweep through these hills (Cypress.) Coal is to he found in the (.'ypress IFills, and on a stream a few miles west of thom. It is also tound in (piantitie- on the St. MarN-'s Riv(!r some 2-t njilos east of Fort Mndcod; and I Icnow of a large vein noai Rivor. in crossing of the Row Cnpt. Crozier, Has also travelled Llii- soeli m from C.ilgarry, which is situated near itrt uortIi-\veec. -^fr- Dr. Ifector onieivl iliis section a >hort disiance souih of llic Bow Hivor, and travelled north-westerly. "Up the valley oi'Swil'i Water ( 'reck in full sigiiL .-t tlio MoimLams, which wore covorivl with "snow tVoin r.'ccnt smnus. Tlio country liorc is exceedingly heautitul, having a rich Mack ^oil supporting good pasture, with a largo pro- portion of vetches; the low hill- ai'c covered with clumps ot wood, iuwing almost the appearance of artilidal iihuitation-. ; thence pa-,>od over a liigli plateau covorod with long gras> and willows. "inth August.— The flight veiy coM, .-md in morning water was trozon ovei'." PallUer, p. 02. Capt. Palliser enlered thi.. -.M'tioi, near it- >oiuh-(sasteni angle, and travel- led north-westerh'. , ^^ .,. , ,, ,, PasM-d •■• iloii'.- a narrow ledge oflaud elevated ,>ome 20 or .]0 Icettrom the lands on our we^f.'and more than 20n feet higher than the prairie, which dipped suddenly into a great hasin. The plateau we were riding along was nevermore than 200 yanis wide, and in some places not more than half that number of feet across; this sin-ular strip of tableland evct ended for four miles due north and south, and in the bottom of the basin were throe long lakes divided the one from the other by narrow rushy swam]. s." ,, . „ , , ,-,-^„ Thence passed "through spruce, tir and small pines," and great (piantitios of fallen timber, and continued travelling " through woods in a •>oi;therly direo- tion, crossed two or three little creeks and grassy patches of high land. The Foot Hili-s 01- the Rocky Mountain— Begin in this section, and the Fisher .nnd Livingstone ranges of mountains rise in the western part. grand IV. FROM THE IOOtII to TlIK lloTll .MKKIDIAN AM) IIKTWHEN TIIK 4!'TII AM) "jOxir I'AUAI.LEI.S OF LATFrUDE. 49 lOO P,illit.er, L'.ijjii., ///>. 44 to 4(1. Turtle Mountain is 250 to 30(i feci above goiioral level, eoii.sistH of drift, actumulation of coarso sand, and shinglo with boulder.-. • •" angular liineetone, granite, gneiss and other ir/.ok: rocks. The foiests which cover the mountain are not of much value, being of poplar and stunted crooked oak. Country in nciglibourhood is verj- beautiful, and similar to that of East Pembina Eiver. From its summit an extensive view is obtained not only to the north, but also away to south and west over American tcri'itory. Nothing but bare and barren prairies visible. Turtle Mountain to Sourjs Eiver. — A long expanse of bare plain, then crossing a ridge of broken ground lunning westerly. The woods wliich skirt the youris commence four miles from the river. The countiy immediately adjacent to north side consists of numerous conical sand hills. The river cuts through a rich alluvial bottom, eight to ten feet deep, and is subject to gicai floods, ii'er is ;')(> yards wide and four feet deep in shal- lowest places. Fiagments of coal were found in bed of river at crossing, derived fi'om bed of rounded shingle which underlies sand hills, or in some eases may have been cai'ried down stream from outcrop of lignite which occurs higher up. SOCRIS iilVER To SnAKK CkEEK. Loose sunds- soil with swani))s. five feet deep. Snake Ckeek to Forked Creek. Swanip3'. then bluffs of wood belonging to five or six miles from ihat river. The laiul in tlii.- neighbourhood is rich with some good wood. Thence level country, with occasional y-roups of sandy hills, bluffs of wootis and small lakes. Snaki' Creek of inconsiderable breadth, \'allcy of the Assiniboine but Jiiiid A. uddenly ujion the borders of a bonii(lU's> level ))rairieon the opposite side of I'iver, l.'")0 feet below us, of a rich daiic green colotu', with- out a tree or shiiib to vary its uniform level, ami with one conical hill in its centre." Proceeding tiom Blue Uills lo south bend of Soitris River, exjjosure of shale with bands of ferruginous concretions occurred at every bend ; the first specimen of lignite was seen at the ukjuIIi of IMuin Creek. No trees or shrubs between lilue ilills and Plum Creek. 'On low points of Souris V.-U ley some fine oak, elm, balsam, ami a.^pen are found lor thelir.-t twenty miles." "A little beyond Plum Creek we found uiiinerous pebblr.s aiul boiildcrrt of lignitu " " from the size of a hen's egg to one foot in diameter,'' iuid three miles further on occurs last outcroj) of crelaceoii> shales. " The low bills about Plum Creek aj'e sand dune.-." Prairie on>\ and west of Soui'is i> tieele->. The Sand Hills. — ■' Near Hudson Bay Company'^ house fouiul extensive deposits of bog iron ore, capped by .-hell marl," covered with drifted sand. Bank of river 2.") feet high, with narrow fi'inge of line timber. " The countiy becomes very low al'tor passing the last sand hill, and over a large extent of prairie to the M)uth drift timber i- distributed.'' The valley of Souris here varies from ii;5 ono-quurtor to one inilo in broadtli, tlio river twenty-live feet broad and very Bhallow, flowing througli a rieli open meadow twenty to tiiiity-rive feet bolow general level of jirairie, "which on either side is inululating, ti'eeless, covered with short stunted grass, and showing an abundance of last year's " bois de vache." "Before reaching 'he 19th parallel the Suuris meanders foi' many miles through a treless ])rairie." " Turtle Mountain on east rises nobly from great plain.'' 'Country west of Souris is a treeless desert, in dry season destitute of water." "The breadth of this arid anil woodless tract i> at least si.\ty milrs north of Eed Deer's Head River on 49th paiallel." " A vast number of gneissoid and limestone boulders are strewed ovei- the hill banks of Souris" near the boundary line. Surveyor-General Do)ni)iion IauuL^, \S11. l-J.rtnt'-/ from Surccijoi's /i'cjinrt, pp' One tier of townships has been laid out on the northern part of this S^'ctiun, intersected by the Assiniboine and Little SasUatcliewan Rivers. The country near these rivers is billy and broken. The soil in the bottoms is of rich quality; a good deal of the ui)lands, however, is stony and gravelly, but there is also some tine fertile prairie land comprised in the townships, lOl Eiru/. A. <{■ S., A'xp. I'ol., 1, pp. 'Sm-WG. From boundary north to Pipe Stone Creek passed over a perfectly level vast treeless desert with little valleys containing ])onds ; was intiu'ined by Hall Breeds that this great prairie west of the Souris cunlinue^ treeles!. and arid for (iO miles, then crossed by a river, pr()l)ably the Moose Mountain Creek, and beyond this it continues for 8U miles fui'ther without live or shrub; further they conkl give no infornuition. "Pipe Stone Creek at oui' crossing is "JO feet broad li to H feet deep, with swilt current. The valley is narrow but rieli. and beautiful in comparison with the desolate prairie lying to the south. Ash leaved nuiple is tlie most abundant amongst the trees fringing il> bank-. ' 'J'he hop and frost grape also f1 either undulating and .vindy, or varied with low hilN ot di'ift. on wiiicli i.ionldcrs urr scattered." In dry season this I'egion i- di'>titulr of water. JJdWSOH— (I'co/oi/i) (di'l /i'e.in- shajied hollows, which are tilled with walei' in -spring and produce a tall growth of swamp grass and contrasts -trikingly with >hort cri-p gra— of surrounding prairie. S< il, perliaji-, I'alhei' thin and gravelly. Iml dci'jici' .and liclier in viciinty of North and Soiilli Antler Creido. Along valley ol the South Antler there i-a good bell oltree- lor many miles. Surface coviu'ed with strong sod of short gra--. '■ The \egelaIion o| this pari of Second Prairie Stej)pe ap])ears slightly in advance of l\od Uivcr valley," which " may arise as much from warm and diy character of -oil a- from any ubsolnle dilVerence ol temperature.' The above describe- Ilie eastern and >oullK'rn p(ulion- of ihi- -ection, and the remaiinler is probably of the same poo, character'. 114 49. I02 PaWser, p. 40, Moose Mounluin, 340 foot high, similar in appearance to Turtle Mountain, (lislribution of wood on this hill and its environs exact coinitor|Kirt of Turtle Mountain. (See section ^^.) To south and west a plain of boundless extent, unbroken by even a single tree. Approaching Souris Rivei-, the ground is covered with boulders of gneis-s. Valley very ext(>Msive, and from level of plain to alluvial bottom balow is 139 feet. Channel ol' river 80 foot doop ; stream 20 yards wide but very little water. Found thin seams of lignite oi- coal of an iiiferiorte on PalIio as far as •' Wood end " (262 mile pi.int), or SO miles by course of stream. Between 2nd crossing ol' the Souris and the Missouri Coteau (from 215 to -".•0 mile points), llie i)rairio still shows gently undulating surface, with short thick gi'owtli of gi'ass. Soil, in passing westward, becomes more sandy and stony, and some large tracts are so profusely covered with boulders as to be rendered pertnaneiilly unfit for agrictilture. No sudden change of soil marks passage from Cretaceous to Tertiary in this region, surfaces of l)Oth formations l>iing marki'd by thick deposit nl marly diit't. " About the middle of Soptera- licr, IST-J, on the jirairie between Turtle Mountain ami the Coteau, grass was dead nearly to roots, but hist year (1874), ir. this I'egion the grass was fresh and gi>(>l " ''The short piairie grass even when dry proves nourishing food." Dr. Hector passed diagonally tlirough this section from north-east to La IJdiJie I'ci'cce, and MV. Driwson alonjji; it> soutliei'o boundary. 49 103 Dawion (I. awl R. "t V-^th ,HtraUcl, 1S75, p. 291. The description of the -onlhern portion ali>ng the boundary line is similar to the previous section; uht corner is covered by the Cretaceous formation as described in section //,., which extisnds along lIic Boundary line lor about 1() miles. " J3evond this point an (Millying porliou of Tertiary plateau sti-etches for 30 miles, it is much cut up by ravines and soiuetiinrs very stony, but is covered in general by a close sod, with few swamps producing gooi grass." Col. MacLeod Passed diagonally from north-west tn s((Ulh-ca.->t llin>ULi;li this >oction, and describes it as piairie of poor .soil, but producing some pasture. Mr. Oyilvie Travelled across northern portion, lii.s description given in section j^f^^j applies to this also. 49_ 109 Dawson, G. & R. of VJth Parallel, 1875, p. 295. From the outlying plateau of the Tertiary described in section rV«' '"* ""*^ plain stretches westward for 50 miles, or nearly to Milk River. ^i 118 " It alsoextondn far north-wostward towards tho CypreHH Hills and appears to coalesce alon^ thoij- western front witli a similar desert region, which, according to Palliser, oxtoiuls to the nortli. It appears to be irremediably sterile and useless, being based on Cretaceous No. 4, and in great part composed of the ilebris of those rocks. In early spiing it is evidently in many places wel, but in sunimoi' dry, hard and tissured and scarcely supporting a sod. It is traversed by the valleys of the Jvist and West forks of Milk Eivor, which rise in the vicinity of Cypress Hills, i)ut both the main streams and their tributary coulees become nearly dry before the end of the sumuier." The Cyi)res8 Hills extend into tho northern portion of this section. Soo section ■^^. Col. MacLeod Passed over the nortbei-n half and describes that portion among the Cypress Hills as of fine, fertile and fair soil, while the eastern side is a prairie ot poor soil with light pasture. Mr. Ogilvie Also crossed from the Cypress Hills north-easterly. " For about 20 miles from East End Post the country is rough, the hills gravelly with many granite boulders, and the flats generally tine soil, with many hay meadows. The pasture everywhere good and the water generally fresh." In approaching Old Wife's Creek the country becomes rolling prairie. See Mr. Ogilvie's description, section •^^. "The valley of the White Mud Rivei-, running south-easterly out of the Cypress Hills, is about two miles wide and contains some tine lands, but very little timber on the 2)ait seen. 1 saw some exjiosures of Cretaceous sandstone on it, and about 12 miles east of ' East End Post' is exposed a seam of lignite coal about five feet thick, which I traced for several thousand feet." 1 10 Dawson G. cfc U. of ^Wi parallel, 1875, pp. 295 <& 296. For 20 miles along boundary and stretching north to base of Cypress Hills, an arid plain. See section -j^. "The western limit of this plain is formed by a strip of more elevated land l3'ing between it and ihe Milk River, and about five miles wide. This is again based on the Lignite Tertiary formation and shows an uniform short sod, with some lakes and swamps, surrounded with fine hay grass, along its eastern border." Westward from Milk lliver, the infertile Cretaceous clays do not recur tho couniry l)eing based on the Lignite Tertiary. To the base of the Kast Butte the surface, though not of the same desert cliaraclei- as ihat east of Milk River, is covered by a short thin sod only, and is in mail}' ])laces stony also. The unfavourable appearance of all this region does not arise so much from any dellciencj' in the soil itself as from the absence of sufficient moisture, which is derived only from melting snow and spring rains. Palliscr, l-Jxh. i>p. 141 ct,' 142. j/j-.c'.ibes the country' to north of the Cypress Hills in this section as a / t-' lesi ate looking country, without either grass or water. On approaching '10 ".i ~, r')me rocky gullies were crossed in one of which was found a gootl deal -f m:i.. •!, at the commencement of the ascent a small lake was passed, where ui« i; -vi.'s excellent grass, but no wood. no See See Cypress Hills. — "These hills aro a perfect oasis in the deseit wo have travelled, tliey connect with the hij^'h hills near tiic Klhow of South Branch of the SasUatchewan, but at this point they terminate to the west and arc separated from the Rooky Mountains by a wide ti'act of arid country." They are 3,800 feet above the sea, and are covered with timber (such as ])ine, spruce, maple, &c., occurring in the valley), much of which is valuable for lluilding pur- poses. The soil is rich and pasture fine in the hollows, and the supply of water abundant. There is also a great abundance of game anal of pine is also found in them. To the south the country becomes barren and the further south the more barren. This is known as the Milk River District." Mr. Oyitvie Describes the countiy to the west of Cypress Hills, as generally gravelly, and in some places rather sandy, very little water and that mostly alkaline, also vory little wood. Coal is revealed in some of the ravines which run into the Saskaudiewan. The Cypress Hills riso abruj)tly to a height of 700 or 800 foot above the plains ; on these hills are many large patches of a kind of pine, here called Cypress which posse.-ses little value except for fuel, ali-o some tamarac, but too small I'Xcej)! for fencing purposes. The soil on the top of the hills is generally of a gravelly loiiin, supporting good grass. He was informed that tlicre was here a large- Settlement of Half-breed.s, pos- sessing herds of cattle, who thought the hills excellent pasture. 49. Ill The Three JJuttes, although in American territory, the boundary lino touching the base of the western one, form a most in-ominent feature of this j)art of the country. They rise according to— Dawson, G. dfc E., oj WHh parallel. 1875, pp. 2m rt/u/2'J7. 3,000 feet above the plain. "Their height and mass being sufficient to cause the formation and arrest of clouds in their immediate vicinity, whore rainfall is consetiuently much more copious." 120 '• From Swcot Grass Hills, toward tlio Rocky Mountains, the country im- proves in appearance and shows ovidonco of ^i-eatoi- rainfall. The cactus, groase-wiHid and Arloinisiu cuaso to appear. To the second branch of Milk Kiver, a distance of 55 miles, the country is f^enerally much broken." " There is usually a close thick growth of grass ; the swamps and sloughs, which are numerous, generally hold grasses and Caricos to the exclusion of rushes, form- erly most abundant. "The watershed region from second branch of Milk River to the St. Mary Eiver is of a similar character." Paltiser Ex}^., p. 143 (J)r. Sector's Journey). Cypress Hills to forks of South Saskatchewan and Belly Rivers. — Across the northern jiortionjof this section water only occurs as pools in the beds of the creeks, and is of a very bad quality. C'rossed range of hills that run to north-east and deep ravine in which was no water, and then over high rolling prairies, obtaining a tine view of Les Trois Buttes. " Although the gi'ass in these high plains is a little better than that in the chalky soil we had parsed over, we could see no trace of water except in a little swampy pool with good grass round the edge." Struck the South Saskatchewan 20 miles below the fork of the Bow and Belly Rivers. The banks are 210 feet high and very steep ; could only see one clump of poplar on the margin ; alonir the river are large flats. The banks ai-e composed of bands of clays, covered with drift and boulders. Ascending the banks, crossed some sand hills and at nof)n reached the point where the Belly River joins the South Saskatchewan. " Wo crossed Belly River two miles above its mouth, fording it with ease, whereas Capt. Raliiser, with the rest of the party, in crossing 40 miles higher up stream, were obliged to swim their horses anil make rafts. Stream at our crossing OOyds wide and water only up to the horses jj^irths, but very rapid," The banks are high and steep, with large bluffs of poplars on right bank. Palliser Expedition, p. 157. From Cypress Hills toward the Belly River, across central and southern portions of this section. " Leaving C^'jjress Hills we travelled along a sandy plain interspersed with a tew insigniticant swamps and pools, most of which wore salt. " Los Trois Buttes were 40 miles to the south, and from level nature of ihlervoning country and detached structures of those hills, they appear like the tups of three distinct rocks soon over a sea horizon. " Piusuing ou- course along the boundary line, came upon a large perfectly dry river bod, about 500 or 600 yards across. The waters from this singular river once tlowod into the Missouri." Height of batdcs from 180 to 240 feet. " In bottom found small springs of excellent water. Lat. 49° 25' north." Cot. MacLeod Crossed this section between the Cypress Hills and forks of the Belly and South Saskatchewan, and desci'ibes it as a poor soil, but affording sufiicient grass for horses and cattle passing through, with water varying with the season. Gapi. Clark Describes the country to the west of Cypress Hills through this section as a rolling prairie, with good grass, but, at certain dry seasons, very little water. i, Mary I I 121 Mr. Offilvie. Passed acro.ss contro of this Hoction and found "the soil gonomlly gruvelly, and in some places sandy; very little water, which is mostly ullcalino, unci wood scarce. Ool, MacLeod. " What is called the ' barren lands' of the United StaLos oxtond into the North-West Territories lormin^^ a triatiiflo of whicii, spoiilvins^ roui^'lily, the Boundary line, coininencin/^ ahoiit forty miles from the Moiititaiiis, uiid cxteniliii^- to the (ii'aiid Coteaii of the Soiii'is, forms the JKist-, a line draw,! from Lliei'o to the 'Elbow' of the Saskatchewan, a little south of the Btlth pai^allel and Jiorth-west of Fort Walsh, a side, and a line drawn from tlm last-mentioneil point to the place of beginning the other side; this last line will not include however, some otthe poor land which exists to the west of it. Throughout the whole of this triangle sutlioient grass is to be found for horscN and cattle passing through, with water var3-ing with the season." The above extract i-efers to '.sections -^^\, j%, ■^, -^%, tW, iV^. tW. i-*ra. ■j^ and a portion of -j^. 112 For Mr. Dawson's description of southern part, see section ^^^. Palliser Expedition, p. 144, Passsed across north-east corner of section. — " At Belly River, section showed sandstone clays, with lignite, resting on dark-brown sandy clays." The country since leaving Belly River was very arid ; the rain falling on the hard-baked clay .soil at once evaporated. Palliser Expedition^ p. 157, Passed across central portion. — " We had now traversed the level and plain through which the 4'Jlli l)arallel runs, and had suffered a good deal from the scarcity of good water and grass. The few small swamps and marshes were all more or less impregnated with sulphates, and the grass in their neighboui hood scarcely sufficed to feed our horses." In the evening of 9th August, arrived at tributary of Belly River. Lat. at noon 49° 44". Col. MacLeod. The Eastern portion is similar to section ^j-, but an improvement begins towards the west. Oapt. Glark and Mr. Ogilole, agree in this. 49 113 Datvmi's G. d- Ji. of 49^/i parallel, 1875, pp. 297, 298. The water-shed region from second branch of Milk River to St. Mary's River is similar to that previously described. See section y^j-. " The portion of fertile belt fringing eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, in the neighbourhood of 49th parallel, is about 25 miles in width. On crossing St. Mary's River a very marked and rather sudden change for the better is observed ; the surface at the same time becomes more undulating and broken, 9 122 nnd is quito hilly before the actual Imse of the Mountains is roaciiod ; it is now covered with a thick vegetal)lo soil suj)porting a luxuriant j^rowlh of f^rasw, and, wherever the fire has spared thorn, trees arc to lie found in all stages of growth. Many i)lants last seen in the neighbourhood of IVml)ina Mountains and the Ited River Valley, and wliich across the more ari" 36' north." Palliser Exp., p. 91. Ill journey of 1858 passed in a southerly course through the westei'U por- tion of this section. Traversing along the wostoni flank of the Porcupine Hills, crossed Old Man or Arrow River. Ttie land to north of Ijittle Belly River (latitude 49° 32') was poor, flinty and sandy, but to the south greatly improved, and was in some places rich and pasturage good. " Observation Hill — a little to the north-east of Chief Mountain — Ascended a road through the forest to a considerable height, w hen the hill became grassy and steep. " From the top we could trace feeders of the South Saskatchewan by their fringes of poplar and willow, or by their banks along the sandy waste." "All waters, after running a few miles to eastward, bore away to the northwai-d. As far as the eye could i-each to the north and east was an apparently boundless sandy plain." 123 Col. MacLeod, Whoso lioii(l(^ii!iftor,s hiivo boon for some time ;it Fort McLood, tlnirt doHcribos tliis and neii^libourini^ Hootionn: — " ('ominoiiciiii; ut tlio boiindiiry lino und nmniny north to tho liotul of Bow Uivor. thoro is a iruct ot coiintiy vaiy- ini^ in dopth from thirty to titty niilos froni tho liooky Mountains, wiiioh pro- duces voiy good grass, and surpasses, I havo boon told, any ol tho stoi-k-raising parts of Montana. " Tiirough this tract there IS a largo number of lino streams wliieh, rise in tho Rocky Mountains and, joining togotiioi' at vai'ions points, form the South Saskatchewan, Tho bottoms of these streams and some of tlie valleys wliich lead from them are of consi(lerai)le extont, being in some cases several miles wide. Tho soil is generally very good, and, as you near tho moinitains, excel- lent; good samples of wheat, oats, barley, peas and com havo lioen already produced. Tho yield ami size of potatoes are very satisfactory, and other vegetables havo been produced in abundance. " The climate is very mild, and tho snow-fall small, except close to the Mountains; cattle graze out all tho winter. " Good pine is found on tho slopes of tho Mountains and for some distance from their base, while cotton wood trees of good size grow all along the river ' bottoms.' " " When tho prairie is not burnt oft", the country i am speaking of isatiivourite haunt of buffalo. During tho winter tho Indians camp in tho river b'>lloms, which afford them shelter and fuel, and sally forth now and then to [)rocure their supplies of meat which, under the circumstances mentioned, is not hard to obtain." Capt. Clark, States that "tho nearer one approaches to tho Mountains the tuior the soil becomes, the grass more luxuriant, and tho climate moi'O genial. " The country about Maclood and right up to the Foot Uills of the Mountains ma}' safely he termed an agricultural one, and indeed the sucess which has attended the few farmers and the police farm and gardens there, proves it to bo such. The ])oli('0 garden at Macleod would bo hard to beat in Ontario."' "The river bottoms are, as a rule, very largo and well stocked with cotton wood. Pine grows in large quantities in the Foot Hills." Mr. Ogilvie, Entoi'od this section from tho north towards Fort Macleod, and tlicnce travelled eastward; and describes tho country to tho north of Fort Maclood as a fine fertile land. " Near Fort Macleod there is another high gravel ridge. "On Old Mtm's River there are some patches of poplar, but too sparse to ho of an}- use to settlors. " From Fort Macleod to Belly River, about 8 miles, tho soil is generally of fair quality. '■ At Belli/ River I got a sample of wheat which was sown on tho 2')th of May last, and being lato did not got filling proi)erly ; but still it is as fine a .specimen of wheat as one would wish to see. I also saw at tho same place a collar of potatoes which were certainly as good as any lot of tho same quantity f havo seen in tho Ottawa District. There is little poplar on tho river, and as it runs out of tho Rocky Mountains I suppose timber for building purposes could bo brought down from there. Coal for fuel is abundant along tho river. " From Belly River to St. Mary's, a distance of about 18 miles, the soil is generally fair, grass good ; no water or timber. 9i 124 " III St. Miiry'rt River vnlloj' ui-o some coiil oxpoauros, but little or no timber. " From St. Mary's Jiivor oustwiird to CypreHs Hills tho roiul passos over altorrmto putchcs ofgruvolly soil and ^ooii black loamy clay for about 20 miles, when it ^'ets generally light and gravelly; water alkaline." 49 114 Palliser, p. 158. Capt. Palliser traversed this section westerly through the Kootanie Pase, and the following extracts from his journal describe this part of his explora- tions : — "Fell on the Kootanie track on the loft bank of a small stream, a tributary to Mooconian liiver. On each side were sleep, thickly wooded mountains, the undergrowth vcvy dense. In the afternoon wo crossed the flaidcing or Curtain range of the llocky Mountains, about 2,000 feet above the levolof the plains, and descended to a swampy well-wooded valley, and camped on one of the little tributaries of the Bow River. " August lO'th. — For first three and a-half hours through wood and swamps. Slopped lo breakfast at base of the last and most lofty ascent,that which Iconceivo to be the water-shed of the continent. Our path was zigzag through woods which became stunted as wo obtained an increased altitude, and a little before sunset we reached the height of land, whence we saw the waters which descend to the Pacific. Here the view of the mountains, especially to the northward, was magnificent; we wore now on a mass of mountain ovor(!,000 foot above tho level of the sea, contemplating snow-clad masses in the north-west horizon ol' moie than double that altitude." The description of this, tho British Kootanie Pass, is contained in journal of 18r)8, Capt Palliser having re-crossed the Rocky Mountains in the beginning of Sej)tember, 1858, by that Pass, on returning to Kdmonton from his explora- tion of the Kananaskis Pass. Capt. Clark. Stales that " several Montana miners have and are prospecting the Foot Hills of the Mountains. In the winter of 1878 one of those prospectors (term used ill tho west) showed a piece of motal which he claimed to have found when pros- pcc'ling. I saw this piece of metal assayed in Helena, Montana, and it proved to be no loss than pure tin. Time and patience can alone prove how vast are the mineral resources of that great country, and in tho mean time there is no reason why it should not bo 01 of tho finest stock-raising countries in the world." See also Col. MacLeod's and Capt. Clarks descriptions in ^^ and ■^^. 125 APPENDIX No. 2. A description of the several contracts entered into— with the lutos and prices— fov the t«upply of matoriiils and execution of work on the Canadian rucitic Railway, since January, 1877, to the present time. A description of the contracts previously entered into, will be found in the Ilei)ort of February, 1877, pages :]8i{ to 300. 126 Pkmhina Brancii. Contract No. 5a. -Extension from 8t. Boniface to Selkirk. Embracing all the works iieci'ssary in connection witli tlic Concrete made with hydraulic cement Clay puddle i Oarried forward | Acres do do L. feet O.yds do do L. feet Spans do do do do Span do do do do L. feet O.yds do do do do do do do do do do 800 15 50 50,000 185 000 3,000 1,100,000 3,000 10,000 2 11 1 1,200 8,000 9,000 Per acre do do Per L. ft Per C. yds do do do Per L. ft Per span do do do do do do do do do Per L. ft Per 0. yd. do do do do do do do do do do $ cts. 40 00 60 00 1 50 06 1 30 60 22 25 20 9,000 00 5,000 00 3,700 00 2,580 00 1,400 00 4,990 00 2,376 00 1,720 00 1,320 00 880 00 4 00 3 00 2 00 13 00 12 00 9 00 7 50 6 50 11 00 10 00 7 00 1 60 Amount. $ cts. 32,000 00 900 00 7,500 00 3,000 00 240,500 00 1,800 00 242,000 00 760 00 2,000 00 3,376 00 14,520 00 880 00 2,400 00 104,000 00 67,600 00 1,750 00 375 00 742,251 00 to 131 Schedule op Quantities and Prices. — Concluded. Description of Work, Approximate Quantities. Rate. Bronght forward.. Square Timber in Trestle-work, Culverts, Bridget, ^e. 16 X 12 in., white pine. or tamarac. do do do do do do do do % cte. 15 X 12 do 16 X 9 do 12 X 12 do 12 X 9 do 12 X 6 do 12 X 4 do 9X9 do 9X8 do 9X6 do 9X4 do 6X4 do 4X2 oak scantling Flatted timber, 10 inches do 8 do Piles, tamarac or oak, of size to square 12 inches at large end Pine plank b. m Hardwood plank b. m Wrought iron, including bolts, spikes, ■traps, &c Cast iron Ties- Track-laying Ballasting, Points and crossings. Approximate amount of contract. L. feet do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do S. feet do Lbs do No. Miles C.yds... Sets 1,600 500 200 20,000 1,000 2,000 200 125,000 52 156,000 30 Per L. ft do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do PerM do Per lb. do Per tie Per mile Per G. yd, Per set .1. 30 30 25 20 18 15 10 12 12 10 10 08 15 10 06 40 15 00 40 00 10 06 15 250 00 22 ) 10 00 I Amount. $ cts. 742,261 00 450 00 150 00 40 00 300 00 40 00 200 00 12 00 18,750 00 13,000 00 34,320 00 300 00 809,813 00 Amount paid on ticcount of work executed. .81,400. Contract No. 38. For converting the Neebing Hotel at Port William into offices for the Engineer- ing staff. Prince Arthur District, including all labour and materials, according to plans and Hpecitication. Name of Contractor Edmond Ingalls. Date of Contract July 2tith, 1878. Date for completion 26th September, 1878. Estimated amount of contract, $3,261.00. This contract has been completed. Amount paid, $3,456.85. 132 Contract No. 39. For lr;ms]){)i't;i(ion of rails from Es(juimalt and Nanaimo to Yalo, British Colum- bia, includirii;- all labour and fharg-os. Name of Contractor John Irvinj^. Date o<' coMtraot July ISth/lSYH. l)ato for completion Nf)vcmbor 1st, IS7S. Estimate(l amount of contract: — 5,2()(; Imperial tons, or 5,808 tons of 2,000 lbs., at 86.44 $37,983 12 On expiry of the term of contract, the work was suspended by order of the Dopaitmoiil, at which date 3,484 tons liad been removed from Esquimalt, and 100 ions from Nanaimo. About 2,000 tons have been delivered and piled at Yale, and the balance remain ;it Langley and New Westminster. Amount paid on account $9,660. Contract No* 40, For l"]nnfine-house at Sellcirk, embracinijj all kinds of labour, materials and plant necessary for the due execu*" i and completion of a ten-stall engine-house, according to plans and specitication Name of Contractors ,. Gouin, Murphy & Upper. Date of contract August 5th, 1878. D:;te for completion September 1st, 1879. Conti'act amount, lui'iv sum $^0,500 Should it prove necessary to irry lii'' fo'indations to a greater depth than is specitied and shown on the drawings, or to oxteau the drain beyond 100 feet from the building, (lie following rates to bo paid for the additional work: — Excavation in foundations, earth — per cubic yard $0 25 do do rock do 1 50 Masoni-y in foundations do 5 00 Extension of drain, including excavation, building and rctilling, per lineal yaid 5 00 Operations liad not commenced at end of 1878. Contract No. 41. Main Line. — Extending from Rnglish River to Eagle Eivcr. The contract onihraccs all the works necessary in connection with the excavation, grading, bridg- ing, tracklaying and ballasting, according to General specification. Length 118 miles. Name of contractors Purcell & Co. Date of contract March 7th, 1879. Date for com])letion July let, 1883, It is, however, jiiovidetl in the contract, that should the works be so far completed as to be ready for the passage of through trains on the Ist day of July 1881, and the whole of (he works be fully completed by the 1st day of July, 1882, the contractors are to be paid at the rates in (he secatid column. The amount accruing from the incieascd prices to be paid in one sum on the woi-k being satisfactorily completed within the short period. ' 133 Colum- of the md 100 ,1c, and 1 plant iording than is t fi'om lontract , bridg- rth 118 Tipleted ind the ti-actora rom tho mpleted Tho api)i"oximatc quantitio« funushod to conti'actors,raonoyed out at contract rates arc as follows: — SCEKDULE OF QUANTITIES AND PRICES. Description ol' Work. iBt Column. '2ad Ooluma. Approximate Quantities. To be completed by' To be completed by Ist July, 188S, and Ist July, 1882, imd ruadv for piissagu of ready fur jiassage ot throiigb traius by Isi iLruugb trains by Ist July, 1882. 'July, 1S81. Rales. Amount, i Kates, Amount. Acres do do Clearing Close cutting Grubbing Platform of logs across mus- kegs, average 16 in. deep, covered vritb brush j do Fencing L. feet Solid rock excavation 10. yds Loose rock excavation j do Earth excavation, including bor- 470 Per acre 110 do 80 do 30 >i cts. 21 00 ■Xi 00 tis 00 ; ^ I 0,870 ■.ifiM) j 5,440 I do 41,000 Per L. ft 245,000 97,000 PerC.yd do rowing •■• Earth borrowing, with haul of 1 to If miles. (See 20th Clause of memo) J" Otf-take ditches, outside rail-, way limits , do Under-drains ' Li, I'eet Bridge masonry C yds Culvert masonry | do Pavinif I '|o do ' 4,830,000 do 175 00 5,250 (U 110 1 00 i 3(i7,."jOo 90 87,300 25 1,207,500 f Cts.j 22 00 :::> ou 70 00 ' 180 r.) 01 1 .^5 «5 10,340 3,850 .5,600 5,400 410 379,750 02,150 210,000 3,000 2,400 1,100 600 60 do do Per L. ft PerC.yd do do .1 do and do do Concrete Crib-work in abutment, piers of bridges Rip-rap — Cast-iron pipes, 3 ft. diameleri inside, 1 in. thick, laid in con- crete Bridge superstructure, timber, 100 ft , in clear Bridge superstructure, timber, soft., in clear | do Bridge superstructure, timber,! 40 ft., in clear.. ... ■ do Piles driven, 12 in. X l-i" ! L. feet L.feet Spans 300 do ! 22, Sucl, Iron and Coal Co... .Mersey St el and Iron Co- ■■•■ VVi'3t Ciiniljcrlaml Iron and Stci-l Co. iw> 3t Cuiiiljcrland Iron and Steed Co. 11 iNaylor, IJcnzon & (/o 12 illoii. A. 1!. Koslor I Sif'ton <^- Ward Piircidl k !!yan Sifton k Ward '• Joseidi Wlntchcud (Coniidetinf; Contract No. U.) 15 Sutton, Thoniiisoii & Wliitrhead 16 Canada Central Railway Co 17 lAndiTson, Anderson ^t Co... 13 "{ 18 19 20 Red (liver Transportation to .Moses Clievrette Mercliants' Lake and River Steamship Co. 21 Patrick Kenny i 22 Holcond) k Stewart... 23 'Sifion k Ward 2i Olivtr, Davidson & Co.. Cari-ied forward ... .Amount paid. I'roUiilile Amount involved. ■jiK-<, 1(1:! (JO 14l,.'')iifi 00 ■j>'4'J 'J'.i :i(ij,r)S; ^h 2i;."i,o:-,'J :•,(! 41,IIOO IM) :n:^'.'oo si w,::-^ (U (i:i:!,4"o on l,o,')2,70'i no loJ.Ol ! 'II Dl.i'iJ M ■ ■.'i:^,'.t-'S '^4 i,r,oo 00 I i;i,vi>; 28 I i 8.7-<2 11 I 5,H.-)0 00 I 1 I.OIH u .•,,'<1'> 10 $ CIS. $ etS. n'.'.iir. 61 146,020 00 ll'.', ut7,;ir);? oo ::s,Too 00 413,217 00 •J! l,H2,'-> 8J 268,(iS0 00 203, lo:! 00 148,000 00 280,,'"i5S 76 204,177 08 1,00.^812 2'J :i0j,.-.81 88 26S,(i.52 36 41,i"'0 00 I! 1 :!,■-"" 87 1>',778 64 75,0110 00 1^)10,000 00 .M.4ii2 96 2.8,,^,"iO 00 l.ilio 00 67,126 28 8,7' lo , I 5,r.28,4:7 oy 10 188 SrMMAKV of Payments made oti account of Work ilono up to 31st Docombor, 1878, &c. — Canada I'acirto Kailway. — Continueil. C9 Nnmes of Contractors. Brought forward 26 Purcell & Ryan 26 Junit'S I.-bester. 27 Merchants' Lake and River Steamship Co.. 28 Red River Transportation Co 29 Cooper, Fairnian & (,'o 30 jRobb&Co 31 Patent Lolt and .Viit Co 32 Cooper, Fairman k Co 32a |LeMay& Blair 33 iKavana^li, Murpliy k Ujiper 34 North-West Transportation Co., 35 iCooper, Fairnian & Co I 36 |\Villiain Rubiiison 37 [lleney, Cliarlebois & Flood 38 EdiuonJ InifiiUs 39 John Iividj; I 40 ('lO'.iii, Murphy & Upper . 41 Fiirtell k Co 42 Fniser, .Manning & Co Amount paid. $ cts. 5,528,427 09 1,247,800 00 35,431 00 80,0(50 00 8,!)32 90 10,100 00 0,800 09 13,737 50 17,730 4r) 54,100 00 41,100 00 23,880 00 3"),(il() (i8 , 1,400 00 : 3,4.')C 85 j 0,600 nn Probable Amount involved. % eta. 1,400,000 00 35,431 00 89,060 00 KXPB.NDITUUE NOT UNDER GOMTBAGT. E.tploratidii.-, engineering surveys and supervision of con- I St met ion Miscellaneous payments, not under contract. 7,132,292 50 3,800,997 36 515,586 63 8,532 90 16,160 00 0,800 69 13,737 .50 17,7.30 45 187,652 50 108,000 00 23,880 00 69,494 92 800,813 00 3,456 ,'•6 31), 500 00 2,300,196 00 Total $i 11,538,866 55 189 APPENDIX No. 3. $ eta. EEPORT OF THE ENOINKKIMX CIIIKF OX srUVKYINTJ Ol'EHATIONS AXD CONSTKUCTIUN FOR THE YKAli 187H. CANADIAN PACIFIC JIAILWAV. OvnCK Ctl' THE I"]N(ilNKKRIN-CniEF, Uttawa. Stii Juiiiiiuy, 1871). SiH, — I liiivo tlio honor to pi'OHont my :uiiiu/il lopDi-t on tin' pi-oyivss made in 8U>"vcyiiig o|)onitii>iis and constniction to the ."iLst J)e('t'inl.ier, 18TH. SUIJVEVS. SURVEYS IN THE EASTERN OR WooDI.AM) RKHln.V. A revision of i)oitii)ns of tlio iocatidii iidwoon i-]n,uli>li Wwvr ami Kocwutin wa.s made dui'iii^- tlio past snnimor willi u vii'w to a roiliic.lioM of worlc, some ])art.s of the distance, owinjj; to the nature ol the cDunti'j, ijeinij nniisiialiy heavy. The ohjoet ot the Survey has iieen in part, aeei)ni|iiished, hiil it has heeii llHinij impossiiilo to avoid all the ohstacles met, and in eonseciiience vciy heavy works ol excavation will hav(t to bo undertaken on the section exlendinj^ easterly from Keewalin to Kagle Jliver, 67 miles. SURVEYS IN THE WKSTEIIN OR MolNTAIN UE(J10N. The opei'ations in Ih'itish Coliiniliia diirinn' the past season were ciMitine 1 to a revision ot the location he! ween l']niory'> l);ii', live miles Ijelow Yak', and llu' head of Kamloops Lake, hy two parlie>. The work on the portion tVoin Kinoiy's lliir to Sponce s Dridi,^' iia> resulted in an improvement in aliuiinicnt anil i;'rad!enls, . 1 I a consiilcraMe -"uvini;' in cost etVeeted more especially in the lar!;e amount of proienioti and reiainin^ wali^ shewn in the eHtimate of last yeai'. The surveys of the jjast year have esiahlished that the liiver f'ra^er can lie.it bo crossed about six miles below Lytton; this cros^inij is a mile and a-ball' above the point crosseil by the previous survey, and coii>idei'in^- the man'iiitudeol the river and tlie extremely- turbulent character ot the current ft>. a lon,i;'ilisl;inee, the crossing found is favorable, 'fhe bridge will c)nsi-.l of one main span of iJiMI feel with two Bide spans of lOU feel each. .VII the pier> will be foutiddl on the rock}' banks of the chasm. From Spence's Bridge to Kamloops Lake a material improvement has been made. The line, as previously locateil, involved a large amount of protection work. This has been avoided by throwing the line baidc from the river. The grades and alignment have also been improved and the distance reduced threo-i[uarters of a mile. A h)Cation survey has been made along the north side of Kamloops Lake, with a view to a compaii.son with the former location on the south suie. This has resulted in shortening the lino on this section three and Jidialf miles, in reducing tlie curva- turo 800 degrees, and in materially lessening the cost of the work. The deflection from the oriifinal line occurs at a point rive miles below Savona's ferry and oro.ssei* the Thomp.son liiver with two spans of 200 feet. 140 WORKS OF CONSTRUCTIOX. TKLKORAI'II M.\E. The tclcfci'iiph between Fort William and Selkii-k, Rod River, 410 miles, has been ^• ailmit of it lieiny; used durinif a portion of the past year. There is now acontimious line l)etwei,'n Lake Sii|»erior and a point in the 'ongi- tude of Kdmonton, a dista'ice of 1,11>7 miles. At |»re>ont, liowever, it is only being operated as far as Battleloid, !)(!7 miles. Tlier*. is also .i braneh teiegra|)h in operii- tion between Selkirk and Winnipeg, a distance of 2- miles. In J}iitisl) Columbia alioiit SO miles of the tek\ici'aph is reported completed, ready for operating fi'om Cache Cici'k, eastwards. The partiiil eiiopping and elearing of the lino extends 25 miles further, being to a point ;')5 miles north of Krtraloops. (IIJ.VI)IN(I, TUACKt.AYINU, ETC, Fort WlUiina tv EnijUsh Jilver, 1 1.'5 miles. The gr.'iding and bridging is siiHieietitly <'omploted between the above-named points to admit .if ti'acklayiiig. Tiie rails havo been laid to the lOlJnd mile. The ballasting is reported com)>leled to the (! )th mile, and is partially done for some dis- tance beyond. Kiiicaiiii to Cros-< Lake, iitJ //li'te. Tiie work on this section is being prosecuteil with considerable energy. Fully one-half of the rock excavation and a huge (luanlity of earthwork has been done. The coiitraclors have a large amount ot' plant and supplies on iho ground, and there is eveiy indication that the work- will coniinue to be jirosecuted vigorously. Cru&A Lake to Selkirk, 7cctiou, with ihe exception of a short distance at tbc ea^tei'ii end, embracing heavy emlianUmenls. Steam shovels, aided b^- locomotives and ears, are engaued u|)on this work, and it will lie completed in the course of a few weeks. The r.iils have been laid for 75 miles east of Selkirk, and ballasting h;i> heiMi done in detached sections, e(iual in the aggivgatc to about 14 miles of comj)leled line. Pi'mhinu Braivli, 85 miks. The -eciion lu'tween Sclkiik and St. lionil;i"e, '11 miles, has been completed, in- cluding lracklayin^■ and lialla>lini:'. From St. B iniface to Fmerson the grading has been com|»lete(l and the I'ails laid, li.,t temporary structures have been used lor tiio river eros>ini;>. 'J'he.-e >trucliM'es will be ri' placed by others of .a more permanent character idlimatclv. The line will be ballasted durimr next summer. »S'«/'6'"/'-i >ing road, the point named in the Order in Council, is estiniiited to he about ISO miles; ;J7 miles of this, commencing at Pem- broke, have lu'cn located tor construction ; a location survey of the remainder has yet to fe made. Ot these thirty-seven miles, iwenty-tivo miles are under construc- tion, and a considerable portion of work done 141 Georijian Bay Brunch, 50 miles. A ooniract was oiitoieil into on tlie 2ii(i of August last for tl\o <;railin>,', liridgiiiii:, tracU-layiiiy; ami hallastiiii,' riMiuiri'tl in const riidiny; tlio line proposed to extend trom a point "^on tlie western side of Soiitii liiver, near Nipissinfi;an Post Otliee, to a point on Kreneli River about five miles east of Cantin's Bay, tlie distance liein^' about fifty miles. The contractors have made some progress in ereclin<.j stores, and in forwardirii,' supplies to jioinls aloni;- the line, but construction so far has lieen con- tined to clearin;,' portions of tin- lino. v Kmjiin' House lit Silliir/;, A contract has been entered into foi' the erection of a ten-stalled eiiifinehnuse on the station ^rounds at Sulkirk, but the biiildinu,' lias not yet been commenced. OONTllArTs. A sciie(iule of contracts upon which expenditui'e has been made diiriiii; the tiscal your ended 3i»th June. IS 48, is appended. Tenders f'>r J\' w Sections. The sections between Rni,'lisli i{iver and Kecwatin (185 miles) and between Yale and Lake Ramloops (125 niiles) have liir some time been advertised for coii- wtiuction. The necessary ]iapers tor the lormer section are now bciiijj; issued to intendini,^ conti'aclors, and it is ])ropo>cd to receive tenders before the end^ ot January. This link of 185 miles placed nndei' contiaci, the whole distance fn.ni Fort William, Lake Sujierior, to Selkirk in Manitoba. 4 lO miles, will be under construction. The terms of the prv)posed contract will, it is lidicved, .secure a vi-orous prosecution of the woik, and the completi.ui at the earliest day j)raclicable ot this imjiortant link in the J'acitic liailwav. The recejition ot tenders for the work between Yale and Lake Kamloops, in British (Vdurnbia, has been postponed. Tenders foe the Whole Line. Durinj^ the past summer adveriisements wer<' widely published in EuL'-land and this country, invitiuif proposals iVom (a|)italists and contractors foi' con>tructin<;- and ODoratiiiii' tlie whole line Ironi the Province of Ontario to the Pacific C'oa'.t, the dis- tance behii,' about l.',()(K) miles. All ird'ormation was furnished on application, and tenders we're to have been sent in by the rirsi of this month. No oilers within the required conditions have, however, been received. 1 have till' honour to be, Sir, ^'(iiir cdiedienl servant. K. Brau.n, Hscj., Secretary Public Work- Ottawu. SANDFORD FLFMIXt;, Kn was oiicnt'il on 3iMli January, 1H79 wlien tlie lenders for the SL'ciion.s. bitwetn Knt^lisli UiviTaml KeeWiiiii', were opened, S. F. u i*"^^ "rs »|iii!|}4.«.«>J..il«!i«^,!i'' 142 lioei tiid( opo: tion for tho U tau oiu Tl. is ( ai! CO 00 t^ C "3 i_ _ X tfTx'i cT ■* co" 5" 2'^" 0) Pi ; «3 ; ■D - '^ ; __ I 03 ' O • i j i» iZ S2 ; o : -3 u ; « u OS * • a> (^ u : 1-1^ 1 : ^ 1 fco i i o : la .^ O ; a o a si S5 6 •It c •a c3 ; ^W «« o 'rs c 08 T? a. s l-' '^ -J 1-^ : « 33 la u OS a o 33 jj ..^ !>. 2 OS « £5 3 ( ;5 i- C i OS Q c a* > 5 •s '/; O '^ s o •4J 3 a. a o H a" 3 3 as 1 ^i t- a a a. 4j -fl , ; . , ; ; C^ S A) ki OS a t ; • 2 00 0=5 00 00 _ 00 . 00 ^- 00 o 50 t- : 00 : ^ Q ° 4> 3 - ^ a. a 3 _'-5 " S ^ : KH 5 iT O^ •S5 b < • • • c : ^: c- , ; C : i • 1— 1 >< :1S L. ^ : ; ; Q O Ic e 73 c 31 i. 3 be '« „ _ = - »- S K bc2 S p _^ a _] ^a. o^iS ^ O CO 00 a "i iiif ^73 -a o •a a o s -as *-• o *^ c 2 a 01 " U! aa .5 •^ « i o — 'ji a 3 0! c 15 IS 3 73 5 = 73 ■V,ZS e X 'J 72 C O S o • ■- 73 t. 1/ :_ai ■0\i l.)«J)tIOf) — c^ n 'I- ■o a in to t-i O CO C Of o — ©■ C X n '■D CO t- 00 — .-I J3 =1S a. B o J3 3 as be a 'si's 'C-rS X> = □ be 03 Q .5-2 £ u tCoT u u a. -TiJ SI- <£. 1^ = 3 •-9 --S be bC7 U— ^^ -? oj be bt.S c >> ^-2 02 .— "be □ K be* S O^ 5 it r 2 ■— Tj ,~ 2 bi D -*.? c 2 = :■"—■?• ■^ ^ ~ ■^ ^ 2 c S tx 2 IIS !().<) \07 1/ ^'.-^.t ""■ '"-/ lO I- H».~ In this Map an attempt has been made to distinguish the general physical character of the country on the routes followed by difFtrent Explorers and Scientific Travellers. The rod lines indicate the routes of such Explorers and Tra- vellers, fif which any record has been made. The tinted portions indicate generally the nature of the land as described, viz : - Soil of rich qu-ality mid /Kisturr hi nil fni>re or lens fert.ile. Hastiire land o/' ifiiestiona/i/f ruliic, not sfrrile, [T. J_^~ Mnrnhy land, much of if iiroiiiicin^ f'«. W**»«», «1lVVJ**1»*V>» 6V*V«\VH ?vt,\>\t »v\\.>hv> 115 lc».-» lOI- 10 5 I02 lOl too THE BURIANO OlSBARATS LirH CO MnNTRLAl i^i^ftM feBtfMHMHimii