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All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couvertu -V*'SidRSlLSw^»^'..;it.%.^^^^-T^ ^V*..- ». m-aafuiitv.-m!Kiii:%.;,'-x^ ,'- ' oa .ol'MBER LIH^jJS AND T0,^_;< PL JO\NJi PLOT FOR SALE COLORED RED. f^|0/V jv,^mmV^u»%»»«tf*./»*-.»* ."• '=*-"^//' ^Ji-V*^ 8^7^ \^u >. T< ^. f^/ ^K 1 "^ S ,u • '» I N -l^ "^9. ^st 3^ Kd5Ka.*^*''-^A- ® /' J" ^///vrTVOA' /ft'' ^ .^' ^^o^o3jt.o IZrrM'S/T'M- //ff >93rmpliiyi'd in surveyin^^ Timber Limits ami ouiliiiosof Townships hy tlie Crown L.iiuls IVpartnienl of the rrovimo of Ont.irio, ami on aiiount o{ his i|iiali(ioations was spiviaily employed to select :iml survey Limit No. qi and Report on Mill Site i>n Red Deer Ri\cr, lelerri-il to herein. DIRKCT TRANSPORT KACILITIES WITH THE AFORESAH) DESCRIBED PROPERTIES, BOTH BY RAIL AND WATER, ARE NOW WELL ASSURED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AS FOLLOWS : Raihvays projected as marked oh Map herewith in Red Color. I. St. The proposed route of The Winnipeg ^: Hudson Bay Railway to the North Saskatchewan River (of which 40 miles "s now built from Winnipeg) will intersect the heretofore described 640 acres of land and water powers at the mouth of Red Deer River, as per diagram on map, and a contract for the construction of the balance of this line as far as the Saskatchewan, some 300 miles, is stated to be made by the Railway Company with Messrs. Ross, Mann iV Holt, contractors. This portion of their proposed line through to Hudson Hay has not only a Dominion land grant of 6,400 acres per mile, but an Act was passed granting a further cash subsidy to said (Company of $So.ooo per year for 2oyeais, payable so soon as their line is com[iletcd as far as the Saskatchewan. Included in said Railway Company's Charter is their proposed branch from their main line (at or near the 640 acres land) to Prince Albert, 180 miles(for which they have the same Dominion land grant of 6,400 acres per mile), the route thereof is shown on map herewith. 2nd. Also the proposed Lake Manitoba Railway (\: Canal Com- pany's chartered line between Portage la Prairie or (lladsione on The Manitoba iV' North-Western Railway Line, and the foot of Lake Winnipegosis, 125 miles, as shown on map, having a Dominion land grant of 6 400 acres per mile, and a further subsidy from the Manitoba Ciovern- ment, by way of a guarantee of their bonds of 5 per cent, to the extent of $9,000 per mile, for the entire distance, 'i'his Charter has recently been taken over by a syndicate of capitalists who undertake to enter upon its vigorous construction at an early date. From the proposed terminus of this line on Lake Winnipegosis, there is now uninterrupted deep lake navigation, 120 miles, direct to the aforesaid town site of 640 acres of land and water powers, at mouth of Red Deer River. 3rd. Al.so the chartered route of the proposed Wood Mountain & Qu'Appelle Railway, as shown on map herewith, from the American boundary, north to their proposed junction with the Winnipeg & Hudson ^ 8 Bay Railway at or adjacent to aforesaid 640 acres land and water powers, having a Dominion land subsidy of 6,400 acres per mile. This road, when built, as may be noted, will also intersect or run immediately adjacent to the aforesaid two Timber Berths and the aforesaid land and water powers. - 4th. A proposed extension of the Manitoba cS: North-Western Rail- way from Russell to the intersection of the Winnipeg ^: Hudson Bay Rail- way Line, at or near the town site, as shown on map herewith, provid- ing an outlet to a well settled district. PRESENT NAVIGATION FACILITIES ARE GOOD, VIZ. : Direct from aforesaid 640 acres land, water-powers, etc., at mouth of Red Deer River, to the Westbourne Station, on the Manitoba & North- Western Railway, via Lake Winnipegosis, Water Hen River, Lake Mani- toba.and about 6 miles up White Mud River, distance 250 miles to a railway siding from above-mentioned station, where lumber, etc., from Lake Manitoba is now being transhipped direct from steamers and barges to railway cars. The above stretch of navigation is now good for vessels drawing from 5 to 6 feet, except a portion of about 12 miles of the Water Hen River, connecting the lakes, which is partially obstructed by occasi- onal boulders which would require to be moved towards either shore so as to obtain a straight channel throughout said 12 miles of 150 feet wide and 6 feet deep, as per report of C. E. Guerin, made to the Dominion Public Works Department, he having been detailed to make special engineering examination in this regard on the ground. Note.— The Government have contemplated building a canal across a neck of land i-ji miles, at Meadow Portage, marked on map herewith, lying between above named lakes, which shortens the present distance between their extremities by 50 miles, this being the length of Water Hen River, and in 1885 an engineer of Department of Public Works made examination on the ground and reported the estimated cost of such canal with two wooden locks giving 6 feet water at $120,000. RE NORTHWEST LUM15ER QUOTATIONS. ExTKACis FROM R McArthur's Lktter of WestbourneJ,.n,to.>a of 26th SKPTEMBER. 1891, AND OF 2STH AUCIUST, 1892, Re RulING • Prices OF Sawed J.umher. /, (Copy) Spruce at Portage La Prairie, $19 per r.ooo feet, Board Measure « Brandon 20 '■ " Winnipeg 20 .. The product of the Calgary and Rocky Mountain Mills can come east only as far as Regin.i on account of cost of railway haulage. And not always there, except cedar and cedar shingles. And does not affect our trade here. (Sgd.), P. McArthuk. Westisourne, 25th Aug., 1892. I am still getting out railway ties and lumber, the price of the latter has gone MP a little since I last wrote you, and the trade is now more hope- ful for the future.' ' (Sgd.), P. McArthur. NOTES. 'St. As population increases prices will necessarily advance as the local supply of the timber for above sections, and along the C. P. R (^est of Rat Portage and Keewatin) to the north and south throughout the ent.re North-West Territories, as well as across the American boundary in Montana and North Dakota, ,s exceedingly sparse, and considering the mevitable mcreased demand of the nei.r future. 2nd. Sawed lumber can be produced from the two timber limits in ciuest.on and manufactured at proposed mills at mouth of Red Deer River at from $8 to $9 (outside cost) made ready for shipment ; then as an' ample estmmte per cost of dam, mill and machinery or rather say ,0 per cent peryearonco.st of same,, u)d license fees and stumpage, add even $1 per ,,000 feet, manufacturec (be the ,,uantity more or less per ye.-^ makn,g the total cost at mill say $9.50 per ..000 teet ; then add as 10 probable railway frdght to principal points for wliolesale distribution say $3-5° per 1,000 feet, making total cost at such points $13 per 1,000 feet, which at even present quotationr; as above, would then give from $6 to $7 as margin of profit. While on dressed lumber and for local demand which would soon arise for sale at mill, the margin would be greater. 3rd. 7'hen as a safe estimate evf.n reducing above margin to an average of $5 per 1,000 feet, the product of said two limits should eventu- ally give, from timber alone a profit of at least one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The markets of Chicago, Minneapolis, etc., etc., which are referred to, (see Appendix), afford demand for Aspen, Poplar lumber, duty only $1 per 1,000, which will yield a much larger margin of profit. Cost of transportation included, of this the limits will yield many million feet. See A. Niven's certificate in regard to foregoing in Ajjpendix * SUGGESTION. Rk thp: Handlini; of thk Two N. W. Timber Limits and 640 Acres Water Powers, etc , at Red Deeu River, after their acquisition liv aSvxdicate or Company. As a start towards development of th . properties the necessary outlay may be confined to a very moderate amount, viz. : I St. A portable steam saw mill of sufficient capacity can, with the present transport facilities by water during spring months be purchased and transported from Westbourne station of the M. & N. Western Railway, via White Mud River, the Lakes and Water Hen River and set up on the ground ready for work, for sawing lumber, shingles, railway ties, etc. At the cost of about $4,000 Estimated cost of logs from the Limits delivered at mill etiual to production of say two million feet of lumber for I St season at $2.50 per thousand feet (outside figure) 5,000 A building, etc., for operatives, say 1,000 Approximate estimate $10,000 11 2nd. Such steam mill will be requisite, for getting out building mater ial for erection of dam and water power saw mill, so soon as advisable, after the erection of which said steam mill can be utilized to advantage in many ways, viz. : planing lumber, shingle making, etc., thereby mater- ialb' reducing cost of insurance in water mill and supplying steam for kiln drying lumber. 3rd. The enterprise started on above basis will soon 'Ontribute a yearly revenue towards further development of the properties, and the Limits alone will within a short time readily command a trade value of at least three dollf.is per thousand feet in the tree. 4th. The extra water powers that will be available on the 640 acres of land, with salt springs thereon, and controlling an important manufactur- ngtown site (to which the local traffic from the fertile valleys of the North Saskatchewan, Carrot and Swan Rivers, will become especially tributary), will all command important values in the near future, for aside of an allow- ance of say 140 acres for hydraulic lots, and purposes connected there- with, there will still be at least 2,000 building lots, 66 x 132 feet, each to place in market, which at the low average of $75 each, would eventually yield $150,00000. • . LIST OK MANUFACTURES, FOR WHICH THE AFORESAID LAND AND WATER POWERS AFFORD SPECIAL ADVANTAC.ES ist. Saw mills, planing, shingle and lath mills for utilizing product of the Timber Limits, heretofore described, composed of White Spruce, Aspei. and Balsam, Poplar, Tamarac, Ash, Elm, etc., etc., producing therefrom sawed lumber, timber and all description of wood manufactures, such as the following :— Agricultural Implements, and for wood pulp, paper box board, indurated fibre ware, etc., etc., slabs from Spruce and Poplar logs from saw mills will supply the best material known, cost of which will be all but nil. 2nd. Flourlind grist mills. 3rd. Salt, from natural flowing springs immediately adjacent to the aforesaid mill sites. See Professor Macoun's statements in Appendix. Fuel for evaporation of the brine will be supplied from saw mill refuse and cost nil. 18 = r. APPENDICES. [Copy.] •r Haliburton, May loth, 1884. To THK Hon. the Ministkr ok the Interior, ; ; j, >, Ottawa. ; .^ SiR;— I have the honor to submit the following report on Survey of Timber Limit 92, in the Provisional District of Saskatchewan, surveyed under instructions from your Department, dated 3rd August, 1883. Leaving Toronto on the 17th January last and reaching the limit on the 1 6th February, I proceeded to the junction of the Little Swan with the Etoimamie River, and after measuring up the said Little Swan River, a distance of six miles on the general bearing thereof, ran out the Limit in accordance with the plan heretofore submitted, completing the survey on the 26th March. The Little Swan River is a stream falling into the Etoimamie and thence into the Red Deer River and Lake ^^■innipegosis, having an aver- age width of about 40 feet, with a depth of from two to eight feet, with a medium current, accelerated occasionally by rapids ; the banks are not high, and the country for miles on either side is comparatively level. The soil is a clay loam, and the timber. Spruce, Poplar and Balm of Gilead, with a few Balsam and Tamarac. The chief timber is White Spruce of large growth and good (juality, trees three feet in diameter being cjuite common. The timber along the river is nearly all Spruce, but is more or less mixed with Poplar as you leave the river. The ^lan indicates as nearly as possible the timber as it is on the ground, the Spruce area being tinted pink. According to my estimate the Limit will produce 120 million feet of Spruce and 30 million feet of Poplar. I may say the Little Swan River 18 could be easily driven to the Etoimamie, and as both the Etoimnmie and the Red Deer are rapid streams, between high banks, the driving of logs to Lake Wninipegosis would be attended with no difficulty whatever I enclose herewith plan and field notes of Limit, with description etc .n accordance with instructions, a.l of which is respectfully submitted. " 1 have the honor to be, sir, \(jur obedient servant, (Signed) A. NIVEN, ?).L.S. 'Coi'v.] DESCRIPTION OF TLMHER LLMIT. CommencMng at a Poplar post, marked T. L. 92, planted on ,he east bankof L.ttle Swan R.ver, distant six miles on a course south .2 degrees 53 mmutes east astronomically from a Halm of Clilead tree at the junction ofthesa.d L.ttle Swan River with Etoimamie ; thence north 50 degrees eas^t astronomically five miles ; thence east one mile and 76 chains and 65 hnks ; thence south 40 degrees east three miles 67 chains and .6 links thence south 48 degrees 28 minirtes west six miles and 4. chains • thence south 75 degrees west three miles 24 chains and 80 links ; thence north 40 degrees we^t five miles and 40 chains ; thence north 75 degrees east three m.les 24 chains and 80 links to the place of beginning, conlaining by admeasurement 50 scjuare miles. u ,r (Signed) A. NIVEN Hai.jmurton, May loth, .884. " ^ . A / c ■' > -^ IJ. I., Surveyor. " ■■ ' ' '■'■ [Coi'V.] ■ 1.--,' ■:•: ■/,• Ontario : 1 . Provisional Couniv of Haliburton,'- " ..-,... To IVit: I r ) '"^^r^ru ^"'"' "^ '•'' ^''"''^^^' ""^ Haliburton, in the Provisional County of Hahburton, and Province of Ontario, I)omn,ion Land Surveyor make oath and say that the foregoing field notes and plan of survey of' I.mber Berth are correct in all their particulars, to the best of my know- ledge and belief. ^ Sworn before me at HaliburtoH in the\ (^^wA\ Provisional County of Haliburton \ ^' ^ ' A mtx-itv this loth day of May, A.D. 1SS4 - A. M\ EN. (Signed) Jas. Drove '^R, J. P. j • 14 ' / iCoi'v.] , . • Haliburton, Ont , May loth, 1884. Dkar Sir,— According to your re{]uest, and instructions from the Department of the Interior, I have surveyed and examined your Timl)er Limit 92, on the Little Swan River, in the Saskatchewan District, N.\V T., and have to report as follows : I arrived at the Limit on the ir)th February last, and completed the survey and exploration on the 26th March. I have prepared a plan of the Limit and a copy of the field notes, with description for lease, and report for the Department, and have also made copy of the plan for you which I enclose. The plan indicates the Spruce area and description of timber as nearly as possible, the Spruce being tinted pink. The uncolored portions on west and north boundaries are Poplar ; there is also a large amount of Poplar mixed with the Spruce, notably in the north-east part of the Limit. * After much careful consideration my estimate is, that the limit will produce one hundred and twenty million (120,000,000) feet of Spruce, and 30 million feet of Poplar. On one acre alone an actual measurement of Spruce trees produced 25,000 feet of lumber, and this was not by any means the best acre I saw either. Assuming that only 50 per cent, of the area of the Limit is Spruce, and that there would be only 7,500 feet to an acre, or less than one-third of the quantity on the acre measured, the product would be 120,000,000 feet. Thu.s, 50 per cent, of Limit— 16,000 acres— 16,000 x 7,500 = 120,- 000,000 feet. I may say that there will be no difficulty whatever in driving the Timber to Lake Winnipegosis via the Little Swan, Etoimamie and Red Deer Rivers, as these streams are confined by good banks and the current is all that can be desired. Yours very truly, ;■':'" ■■:••.• (Signed) A. NIVEN, ' D, L. Surveyor. ESTIMATK OK TIMBKR ON LITTLE SWAN RIVKR. In North-Wkst 'I'f.rritorv, siirwinc ouantity ok Spruce and Asi>kn poim.ar which thk i.imii wii.i. in am, l'roi!ahii.n v mi.i.l.. The Limit commences at a post six miles from the mouth of said river, and extends up said stream a distance of five and a half miles, and on the west side three miles back, and six miles hack on the east side. This estimate made by me is based on information obtained while working on its survey during the 35 days I spent thereon, working on line, ai?d from various explorations, measurements and notes taken on the ground. Whitk Si'RUck.— Found .some trees 48 in. in diameter, and (juite a number of 42 inches, whereas those of 30 inches are in great numbers. On the west side the average run of trees will be from 30 to 24 in. diameter, and on the east side from 19 to 22 in. diameter, all straight and tall : and where they grow thick (which is the character of Spruce bush), free from limbs, except at tops. On a measured acre, taken without selection, of which fully one-fifth was lost by a marshy, blind creek, by count and measurement, we found no trees, none under 10 in. diameter, containing 338 logs of 12 ft. each = 24,i58 feet, calculated by Scribners rule. If all sawed into one- inch boards, one square mile of such acreage would yield fifteen million four hundred and sixty-one thousand one hundred and twenty ft., whereas the trees of this acre were much smaller average size than in other parts of the Limit. The Spruce is white, close-grained and sound, of superior kind to the average Ontario Spruce. Aspen Poplar.— This Poplar is that known as Aspen, trees grow- k '"g ^ery tall and straight, free from limbs, except at top. The wood is firm, close-grained and white, superior to the best basswood of Ontario. These trees «tand very thick and from 9 ^o 14 inches diameter, average. tn MODE OV ESTIMATIXC; AHOVEMENTIONEI) TIMHKK I.IMIT OF 50 SQUARE MILES. The portion on west side of stream contains - , 6 Square miles. east Say for bed of river 33 it r, , . , , 5° Stjuare miles. IP'esistde, i6 stjuare miles, less 30% for marsh, etc., gives - . a ■< r , ., '^ ■ '2 Square miles Timber. ^as/ nde, i^i square miles, less 40% for marsh, etc., eives - e ' ' ^ ^^ - 20 Square miles limber, U'est Sidk. Of this r2 square miles Timber I deduct -th for Poplar, gives .0 miles Spruce and 2 miles Poplar. Then 6 miles of the Spruce I estimate (. 12 million ft. per mile = 72 milli< "2 " Poplar " 3 u . ^\^''' ion. 12 QOrr. million Ea.st Sjdk. fggj Of this 20 s(iuare miles of Timber I deduct 30 ' for Poplar .ives ^x square miles Spruce and 6 square miles Poplar '8^14 Then 8 sq. miles Spruce I estimate (a 10 million ft. per mile = 80 million ft. "6 " Poplar " ^ (1 11 -17 = 30 20 On West Side " East " RECAPrrUEATIOM. * ^4ro million feet. 4t 127 million ft. Poplar. 6 million feet. 30 181 ,^ million feet and 36 million feet. Ok Total, - 217,800,000 feet, board m^^Iil^ Say two hundred and seventeen million eight hundred thousand feet. W.NNM.,.:,;, April, ,884. ^^'^"^"^^ ^^- L- 1>ICKINS0N. I I I i7 [C'oi'vj NORTH VVKSI" TRKES. IIIKIR \ARlKlli;s AND WMI.RF. IIIKV ARE TO HI. 1 OUND. Thk Norihern I.i.miis or ihe Sprick, I'ink and Oihkr 'rRl.Ki lNi-it.»;iN'ous TO I UK NoRiH-WEsr, Canada. (From Manitoba " Free Press,'' 6th December, iS86.) A correspondent of "Tlic Mississi|>{)i Valley Lumberman and Manu- facturer," of Minneapolis, travelling in the British I'erritories, sends an elaborate account of the species of timber found there and the relative latitude where found. From this salient facts are given that will be of general interest. The most northerly tree is spruce, while and black. The northern limit is about latitude 59 degrees, on the shores of Hudson Bay, a little to the north of Fort Churchill ; from liiat point the limit extends north-westerly in an undulating line, crossing the Copj)er Mine River a few miles south of its mouth, and striking the Arctic Ocean at the mouth of the McKenzie River. Next come the American larch ; its north- ern limit is on Hudson liiy ; its north-west limit is nearly co-incident with the spruce. Canoe birch is very nearly co-incident with the larch, but a little to the south of it. The aspen ((/uakins asp) is much more irregular, attaining a northern limit on McKenzie River almost the same as the spruce, crossing ( ireat Bear Lake south of its central line, not touching the shore of Hudson Bay at all until it strikes James' Bay, a little to the south of 55 degrees of latitude. The Banksian pine ha;, its northern limit just south of Hudson Bay, on the east, but rapidly reaches a more northern latitude west, at (Ireat Bear Lake, crossing the aspen line and reaching the northern limit after passing the McKenzie PJver, about 67 degrees of latitude. 'I'he north- eastern limit of the l)alsam poplar is at Fort Churchill, on Hudson Bay, and to the north-west, crossing the McKenzie River about 66 degrees north. Balsam fir is found at James' Bay. latitude 54 degrees. This tree clings well to the south of Hudson Bay, crossing Nelson River about latitude 55 m degrees ; thence north-west to the north-east of Reindeer and Wollaston Lakes, crossing Clreat Slave Lake not far from north eastern end, and ceases at the McKenzie River in about 65 degrees latitude. These embrace pretty much all the timber in the country bounded by Hudson Bay on the east and the Rockies west. In the southern portion of Canada there are other species, including deciduous trees found near the line of the United States. The next tree, in relation to its northern limit, is the American Im ; then comes the ash-leaved maple ; next in order is the green ash and then the burr oak. The basswood (American linden) has its northern limits east at Thunder Bay on Lake Superior ; thence it passes to the north of Rainy Lake, crossing the Lake of the Woods near its centre ; thence north-west, crossing the Red River at Selkirk, passing westward a little to the north of the south end of Lake Winnipeg, crossing the Assini- boine at Fort Elice ; then tending south-east, passing rhe boundary line at the crossing of Mouse River. As to Manitoba and the North-West Territories, it is related that not a single tree of white, red or Norway pine or hemlock grows west of the Lake of the Woods, until you reach the eastern flank of the Rocky Mount- ains. Black pine grows in all the Nelson River territory and Territory of Keewatin, and over the Territories in patches, generally over the whole North-West. There is a limited quantity of white and red pine in Keewatin, to the north of the boundary of Ontario. There is also an extension of the line of growth of white cedar, west of the Lake of the Woods, probably 6b or 80 miles, with one or two lonely patches near Lake Winnipeg. The Red River Oak, a species nearly allied to or identical with the White Oak of the east, is of but very limited distribution, being confined principally to the valleys of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers and fretjuently attain a good size. The distribution of the species named is very variable in the whole extent of the Prairie Provinces ; from the Arctic Regions to the boundary, there is nothing that can be called a continuous forest. Scattered patches there are, but ali of limited extent. Decidedly the most valuable, indi- genous to this country, is the Spruce. In summing up the whole matter the writer says : — I^^ast of Lake Winnipeg is continuous forest, and the western shore and islands are well wooded generally, also the northern shores of Lake Manitoba and all of Lake Winnipogosis. The valleys of the Swan River and Red Deer River contain a goodly number of very valuable tracts. 19 The Porcupine Hills are fairly well wooded, as is the Riding Mountain. I have seen Spruce cut on Riding Mountain thirty-eight inches in diameter, and on Dickinson's Limit (No. 92) on Little Swan River, Spruce four feet in diameter is not unconnmcn. In general the timber is smaller in all the timbered portions of the southern portion of the country. And whenever there is timber to be had — owing to the general scarcity— a sparsely timbered limit is looked upon as a bonanza. Near the head waters of the Assiniboine and Shell Rivers, there is a small supply of Spruce and Aspen. Turtle and Wood Mountains, Cypress Hills, and some other scattered tracts in the south will yield a considerable supply of timber, but it is all small in size and generally indifferent in quality. On the Peace River, in the north, the timber is of a much more vigorous growth P.alsam Poplar frecjuently attain a diameter of over six feet ; but there, as elsewhere, the Fir supply is too far limited to meet the demand in the near future. [Copv]. RE LIMIT NO. y-i. . Ottawa, April 13th, 1883. Regarding the timber supply upon Little Swan River, N. W. T., com- mencing four miles from its mouth and extending u}) a distance of eight miles or thereal)outs, as contained in my Official Report, I may state : ist. That in my opinion the best part of the timber will be found within a mile of the river on fnch side. Of this I am not certain, but it is my belief, judging from observations taken from tree tops, I believe I am correct. 2nd. Thcchief varieties of timl)er are Spruce, Balsam, l»opIar(Hahii of Oilead) and Aspen. They e\ist in the order as placed above. The Spruce is all large and more than half of the whole quantity. 3rd. As regards the cpiantity per acre and size of the trees, the follow- ing extracts from my journal written on the ground will give my estimate made without bias : August 24th— We entered a magnificent Spruce forest shortly after starting, and this forest continued on both sides of us all day. The trees were very tall and of great size. We measured numerous specimens, and 20 they ran in many instances as high as three feet in diameter. The trees stand very thick on the ground and are frequently mixed with Aspen and Balsam Poplar ; even the Aspen at our camp is over 20 inches in diameter, and the Balsam Poplar much larger. •. ■. ■ ^, , - • .•: August 25th — Passed for the greater part of the day through a magni- ficent Spruce forest, where the trees are very tall and large, and standing quite close together : measured numerous specimens with a tape-line, and found them to run up to three feet in diameter. Fifty trees two feet in diameter could be obtained on an acre. 3rd. The above is taken word for word from my journals written on the ground. My estimate of trees always refers to Spruce. The other trees — Aspen and Balsam Poplar — would make saw-logs. The trees would average from four to live twelve-feet logs to a tree, perhaps more ; limbs only at the top of the trees, scarcely any on the trunk. 4th. Regarding ihe amount of timber on the 50 square miles, I could scarcely give an estimate. The above extracts would assist a practical man to arrive at an approximate conclusion. 5lh. The nvers might be described as follows : ti. Little Swan River, narrow and crooked, but evidently a sufficiency of water to float logs. /'. The Etoimamie, a very respectable river, with plenty of water in spring at any rate. 'Fhere are a few boulder rapids which had little • water on them when we ascended after the middle of August. The largest is one near the mouth. River rather crooked in places. ■ '''^'-'""^'^ ^'°™ "« ^'«- .Heeo.ec.„es.crc„n:i::io"::,trdtr:t:r""'""''''™-^ [Copy.] RE POPLAR LUMBER. "The Mis.srssiP|., VA..Liiv Lu.«„ekman." 900, 901 and 902 Lumlier Eschan!>e, MiNNEAPOus, Minn., April 5th, '^889. .housand reerard'zriitr:' :■:;:; r^^' -; ^™- *^° - *3. a all comes from Kentucky and ,;r„esee ' " "°'''- " "''"' sucl, 1::'"'' ""'^^ ^''"' ''°^'- ■" "- -*«. bu. it i, „„. k„„„.n a» . ' Yours truly, (Signed) J. NEWTON, ' ' : - ; Alanager. E.,r.c:sMn -ne Missisufpi L„„.^,.,„a„s Jc.,r,.air of Min^eafom July 12nd, 1SS7. Ill page. ' in .hrveJylndr'fU,'';'^,'"; '7'-<'""'"^'">' "'"^-S favor in this market ^-.pi.::t::ir:;;b:r-z;,:-:s::;;: able for portico pillars, and the sash, door and blind factories let no oppor- tunity pass to introduce it into the construction of mantels and all classes of veneered work. It does not check as pine does, is fully as cheap, con- tains less of waste material, is for the most part clear lumber, and does not warp, vfrtues which are fully appreciated. Even freer use is predicted in this locality despite the abundance of Pine." Note. — The Poplar timber on within described Limits, about 60 million feet B.M., has all the characteristics described in the foregoing extract, and is now cjuoted in same journal as selling at $45 to $50 i)er M. feet in the Minneapolis market. [Coi'v.] RE LAKE WINNIPEGOSIS AxND RED DEER RIVER. Extracts fiom ''The Annual Repot t. Department of the Interior, ' of iSSi, by PtofJ. Macoim.M.A.E.L.S. ''The northern end of Lake Winnipegosis is filled with lovely islands, which are margined with fine drooping elms of large si/e. The sail across Dawson Bay on a lovely day of July reveals more natural beauties than I ever before beheld in our inland waters, green islands with white sand or gravel beaches, covered with drooping elms or other trees. The mainland rising gradually up from the water covered with an unbroken forest of Poplars intermixed with Spruce, deep bays backed by the distani forest, and high over all the deef) escarpment of Porcupine Hills form a picture, as seen from the lake, which has few ecjuals in any part of the world. Point W'ilkins, a bold promontory i)ushing out into the lake and rising almost perpendicular to the height of 70 feet, is a promi- nent and beautiful oljject. Crossing a bay to the north of this and round- ing a low point we enter the mouth of Red Deer River, and after ascend- ing it a mile or more camp at a salt spring where the swift water com- mences (site of proposed dam). For over four miles above this the river is one continuous rapid : the banks in this part were often 30 feet high. For the next two miles the river was wide and deep with little current, the banks were lower and no rocky points were encountered. After passing an island the river bent more to the north and Pelican Rapids came in view ; down this incline the water rushed with great velocity. Above the rapids, the water still flowed with a steady current and was so swollen it came'' ■ 24 within three feet of the top of the bank. Less than four miles above the rapids we reached Red Deer Lake. ^ The river i)eing a lake discharge, had a fixed channel and high steep banks. The general breadth of the river is from 250 to 300 feet, and distance from Red Deer Lake to Lake W'in- nipegosis about 10 miles in a straight line from an average of the bearings of the various reaches of the river. I found it ran slightly from the west to north, very few of the bearings were over one-quarter of a mile and the angle seldom very great. We had the ill luck to ascend both this and Shoal River when they were at their highest and hence are able to state the large volume of water pouring into this lake, and thence by Water Hen River, into Lake Manitoba. I append the following list of rivers : "Mossy River," discharging Lake Dauphin, 125 feet wide, depth five to seven feet in summer of 1874. "Pine River," and two rivers discharging into Duck Bay. "Shoal River," discharging Swan Lake, 200 feet wide, and at least 10 feet deep last July. "Salt River," emptying into Dawson Bay, and over 200 feet wide, and draining the eastern part of Porcupine Mountains. "Red Deer River," at least 300 feet wide and 12 feet dee]) in July last. "Another River." to the north, draining the Pascjuia Hills, at least 100 feet wide. "Two Other Rivers," on the east side, which drain a large area. All the rivers above enumerated flow into Lake Winnipej.,-,sis and its surplus waters are carried into Lake ISLmitoba by the "Water Hen River," which is 500 feet wide." NoTK.— From the foregoing descriptions of Lake Winnipegosis and the surroundings of the mouth of Red Deer River and of the mill site thereon, it is quite clear that a first-class reliable and extensive water power is included in the Government grant of 640 acres, and from the nature of its surroundings must naturally at no distant day become an im- portant manufacturing and commercial centre, having convenient transport facilities, both by water and rail, connecting with the general railway sys- tem of the entire country. From reliable sources it is ascertained that among the various tributaries, above detailed, of lake Winnipegosis, none of the streams except the Red Deer afford eligible water powers access- ible by navigation, also that adjacent to the mouth of Red Deer in all directions are vast areas of the best agricultural lands, in fact, to the north several township^ have been taken up by agriculturists, who are raising crops eijual to any part of Manitoba or the North-West. 25 COMMENTS OF A PRACTICAL LUMBERMAN RE NORTH-WEST LUMBER TRADE. THE To Whom it may Concern : — "Since 1883 (when I personally prospected over the ground to a considerable extent throughout the section of country referred to in accompanying documents, and prior to the actual survey of the Timber Limit grant, herein referred to as No. 92) I have given close attention to the (]uestion of local timber supply throughout Manitoba and the North- West, and the near prospective increase of demand therefor which must necessarily arise iii view of its continuous increase of population and rapid extension of railvay developments, and the following are my conclusions relative thereto. " I St. — That, the local supply, say between the Eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg and the Rocky Mountains (throughout which vast area, according to evidence of Prof. NLacoun and other experts, not a stick of White Pine is to be found) is, as a whole, exceedingly sparse. " 2nd. — That, the cost of transport from sources of supply. East and West of aforesaid points, will effectually prevent undue competition with the timber products from sections or limits situated as those referred to in accompanying Report as Nos. 92 and 356, which will yield up into hun- dreds of m llions of feet of sawed Iumi)er of a quality unexcelled by any throughout the entire country. " 3rd. — That, it is well known, large fortunes were invariably realized by those who were far seeing enough to acquire extensive timber tracts in advance of the subsequent active general demand, throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and other \Vestern States, at a time when [wsition of said States, respecting poi)ulation, etc., were identical with the present position of our own North-West, which even by best American authorities, admittedly posseses all natural requisites to induce rapid settlement and general development in many respects in excess ok the aioresaiu States, great as they proved to be. "4th. -That, it is obvious, an active encjuiry and demand must necessarily arise, in the near future, for all eligible timber tracts through- out the vast area of the North-West, as the quantity therein of local timber is but fractional compared with the future wants of the country. I 2() " 5th. — 'I'hat, the records of the Department of the Interior, in respect to returns of sworn surveys and estimates of all the respective Timber I-imits yet made throughout Manitoba and the entire North-West shew that, in point of quantity and quality of Timber, the Limit herein described as No. ()2 is far in excess of any other of same area." ^ [Coi'v.j RE SALT. Extract from Prof. Macouti's Official Report to Department of Interior. See Report of that Department of 1881, page 74. "On Red Deer River, belo\v the Lake, I found numerous springs and small creeks of brine in two localities, gathered up the pure crysta lized salt, where the water had evaporated and left it. The first exposure is over a mile from mouth of the river (proposed dam), and the springs cover over an acre (left bank). The next is nearly a mile further up on the same side. Here the line of springs extended across a point and dis- charged the brine both ways into the river. These springs were flanked with the usual white limestone containing fossils. And what was equally strange Flantago Maritima, an exclusively sea-side plant, was found in large quantities at the springs. A few miles higher up the river I di.s- covered another salt bed, which covered 20 acres, and in the centre of which was a large brine spring, clear as crystal. The water from this spring formed a creek two feet wide and six inches deep, which after flow- ing half a mile discharged into the river. There I obtained fine and pure salt from some pools which had dried up. Many other exposures, vary- ing from 10 to 40 acres, were examined, and in every case the water of the spring was clear and very .salt. Numerous fossils were picked up from amongst the decomposed limestone found around the springs. The salt beds, so far as seen, have all the same character. Springs of clear water issue from the highest point and flow down a gentle slope. These springs are all salt and the soil in the vicinity is saturated with it, as under a hot sun salt encrusts every pebble, but in the morning this is all gone. Boulders of limestone and other rocks are scattered about ; around the springs are clay and pebbles, and often the ground seems heaved up by the pressure from beneath ; in every case the ground was altogether with- out vegetation of any kind for many yards away from the springs, and in some instances over 10 acres were seen without a blade of anything." 2f , . ■ [Copy,] Estimated Cost of Dam at Mouth of lied Deer Rivtr. Specification. The foundation is to be built of timber 12 inches square, with cross ties 10 x 12 inches, filled with stone, and covered with timber 8x12, 230 feet long, 40 feet wide (down stream), and 4 feet high. The piers to be 12 feet high and of dimensions on Flan, width of timber 12 inches scjuare with cross ties 10 x 12 inches, filled with stones and surrounded by a plat- form provided with stop logs, chains and windlasses. Abutments to be i)uilt same as piers. Estimate. 2,500 feet Timber, lineal (" 25c $6,250 00 5,000 feet two-inch 'Mank C" 25c 100 00 425 cords Stone (r/ $3.50 1,48750 Yox Gravelling and Excavation 500 00 For Stoplog chains ^^ ^^ $8,387 50 . (Signed) A. NIVEN, D.I..S. Hamp.urton, Ont, December ist, 1884. [Copy.] In accordance with your re(iuest I ascended Red l)e^' River, and noted that there is a mill privilege on each side thereof, about i} miles from Lake ^Vinnipegosis, at foot of the rapids. The river at this point is about three chains in width, and by the erection of a dam a head of 12 to 15 feet can be obtained. Yours truly, ': (Signed) A. NIVEN, D.L.S. m [Copy. KE TIMBP:R limit No. 92, LITTLE SWAN RIVER, N.W.T. ' ... .,; ^ Haliburton, Oct. 14th, 1884. lo Whom it may Concern : ^ I hereby certify that in my opinion the assumed estimate as to cost of producing sawn lumber from said Limit and delivery at Westbourne is a very fair one, viz. : $1 1 per M. feet. Certainly it could not, with proper management, exceed $12 per M, feet. (Signed) A. NIVEN, D.L.S. {Ottaiva Cithcn, 20th Nov., T887.) Mr. Jackson, of (,)u'AppeIle, says the Qu'Appeile Valley .V Wood Mountain Raihvay is now on a good financial basis, and the work of grad- ing is being carried on vigorously. The land grant has been settled and all the capital required for the early completion of the work has been sub- scribed. Some slight amendments to the charter will be applied for at tiie ne.xt session of Parliament. 'I'he road when completed will be about 475 miles in length, and will run from (^u'Appelle in a North-easterly direction, opening up a rich tract of country. {Otiaica Citizen, 2ji/i Nov., i88j.) The Regina Leader says : "We congratulate Mr. T. W, [ackson on his success in floating the bonds of his road, the Wood Moun.ain .V (^u'Appelle Railway. He told a reporter that "the contract for the build- ing of the road has been given to Cornelius V. Sidell, of New York. A representative of Mr. Sidell will start for here on Thursday to see whether any grading can be done this fall. During the winter all the ties will be got out and the rails laid down in ^fontreal. As soon as the weather will allow work will l)e resumed." Note —The Wood Mountain .V- Qu'Appelle Railway referred to in these newspaper extracts, as registered in Department of Railways and Canals, will pass immediately adjacent to* or through aforesaid Timber Limits 92 and 356, and also the mill site herein referred to. 2!> Extract f row Letter received from P. Mc Arthur, Es,,., of \Vinmf>e-, under date 2nd August, 1S84, and Manager of ''The North- Wes^ Jranspottation Liue." . "I think by next year lumber will be in «ood demand if the harvest is good, but the i)rice should be lower. Common boards arc $28 per M it Portage la Prairie now. If sold for $22 or $20 the farmers would use far more ; and though our profits would be less, the extra (|uantity sold would make up foe it. The Manitoba .V North-West Railwav Company is to put a siding down to where you saw my steamer. . Up to now the> had no rails ; now they have money, and are to grade 50 miles of road at once." . From .same party, in October, 1886, as follows :-"'rhis Railway now _ built to 180 miles west of Westbourne, and siding is now completed." The above-named Trans|,()rtation Company is establishing a steamboat line from Westbourne-to the head of Lake Winnipegosis and the mill site at moutb of Red Deer River herein referred to, and have one steamer now built and in commission. . - {Frotn same party on 3jlh July, 1SS6.) "I am sawing lumber on Lake iManitoba and fmd good demand in this locality, and selling as follows : -Spruce, 1st class, $,7, and lower grade class $14 per M. feet at Portage la Prairie : .8 miles east of this the same cla.ss .sells $18, and as you go west on C.P.R. it gets higher." {From same, under date Sih November, 1887.) "The lumber trade has improved very much. I am selling Spruce lumber here (Westbourne) for $,8 per ^L, and the demand i.s steadily increasing." Extract from ''The Mississippi Valley Luml>erma„r from their lVinnipe>r Cortespondent,ofjrdFel>.,iS8S,pagey,asfolhra's: • WiN.NiPFj;, 30th January, 1888. "The advance in price of lumber announced as likely to follow the formation of the Lumbermen's Association has gone into effect The advance averages about $2 per M. feet, and it is agreed the new .schedule will be adhered to until May, when other arrangements may be made " ^ m A Great Combination of the Lumbering: interests of Rat Portase, Lake of the Woods and Rainy River District has been formed, thereby larfoiy enhancing the value of Timber Limits Numbers 92 and 356 now offered for sale. (See extract below from " Winnipeg Free Press,'" dated October gth, rSgj.) 'I'HK LUMBER SYNDICATE. Lettkrs Patent Grantinc Dominion Incorporation to thi; Ontario and Western Lumber Company. , ' Public notice is given in the Canadian Gazette that letters patent have been issued under the great seal of Canada, bearing date the 26th day of September, 1893, incorporating Dennis Ryan, of St. Paul, Minne- sota, miller ; William Travers Creighton, of Rat Portage, miller ; \\'illiam Robert Dick, of Winnipeg, miller ; Mary Banning,, of the same place, miller ; John Alexander McRae, of Niagara Falls; James Malcolm Savage,' of Rat Portage, miller ; Douglas C. Cameron, of Norman, miller ; Walter Ross, of Rat Portage, miller; Richard Hall, miller ; and Matthew Brown, miller, for the following purposes, viz. : a. 'Hie purchasing, holding, selling and leasing Timber Limits, and the manufacture of timber into logs, spars, ties, square timber, cordwood, shingles, lath and lumber of every description. />. In order to u(ili/e the refuse material of the principal material above set forth, but only to the extent necessary for that purpose, to manu- facture pulp, paper, and articles to be made from paper or pulp, and to erect and operate such paper mills and pulp mills as may be deemed expedient for such manufacture. " * ■ c. Vox the purpose and to the extent necessary for the transport of the timber, lumber and other articles manufactured by the company, to purchase or otherwise acquire and operate steamboats, tugs, barges or 81 (jtlier vessels aivl where there are no regularly estal.^lished lines of steam- boats to carry tiiereon merchandise or passengers, and for that purpose to purchase, construct and lease all necessary wharves, docks and warehouses. d. To purchase, build and operate such tramways, roads, flumes, watercourses, dams or booms as may be necessary for the purpose of the company. <'. To acijUire stock in other similar companies as the consideration for goods, wares or merchandise sold to such similar companies in the ordinary course of business, the operation of the said company to be carried on throughout the Dominion of Canada by the name of the Ontario and Western Lumber Company (Limited), with a total capital stock of $1,000,000, divided into ten thousand shares of$too. SEE BELOW HOW MONEV LWqcSTED L\ TLMHER LIMLi'S i'AVs. '■-^■t'-a-t rron," D.\//.y A/AlL," Octo/ur j_^,uf, ,Xii3. Some facts have recently been compiled which shows in a striking way the wealth that has been made by speculations in Ontario timber limits, tor mstance, an investment of $.300 by William MacKay, of Ottawa thirty-one years ago, secured him a property for which he refused recently $750,000. Mossom Boyd, a Michigan lumberman, bought timber land near Lake Nipissing in 1886 for $86,000 ^vhich has yielded him $450,000. The sum of $72,000 was paid by Mr I'eter White for a limit from which tmiber worth $250,000 has been taken, and the property has been resold for that amount. Similarly, Mr. John R. Booth, of Ottawa, bought seven years ago, at $62,000, a timber limit now held at $400,000. Men who have got wealthy in this way have had to run great risks, control large capital, and exercise unerring judgment. i / \ ST'Pf 5^?S^'*'«ff^f^\! -•' ^' •^ W's^'v MAIL JOB PRINTING O^panv TOUONTO, ONT