IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I _il 125 m lu libi 12.2 2.0 140 Ui& 1 1 ^ll^li^ , ^ 4" ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation S V «- ^. ^^^ <^ -'^V 39 WIST MAIN STRUT WIUTM.N.Y. I4SM (7l*)t7a-4S03 ^^<^ 6^ ^ .<^ii> i>iM'ri«io'r, # # GRAZfNGp T1M0EII, Hay. Kc^ftcl tlmo li. itvy ^^^ **«i*%l«*itolifc?x%'«ii»« /< "II -'■■II lut ; INTRODUCTION. This little paniplil(>t is dedicated to those in search of a home, with a view to circulating intorination which will be to their henetit. The matter contained hei'ein, aliout the Prince Albert distrit t, has all been written by outsiders, who have visited the country for thc! purpose of inspection. It has not been pre_ pared to any extent b\' parties interested in the district, and therefore may be fully accepted by the reader, as the unbiaSvSed •opiniort by Otto J. Klotz of his surveys near Piinco Albert con- tains the following i)aragraph. "Never before in my years of service in the Northwest did I see the vegetation more luxuriant than last summer, and generally speaking, the luxuriance incieased as we proceeded north- ward, natural grasses, roses, llowers, pea vines and vetches giving an ocular demonstration of the richness of the soil and showing the natural resources which still lie dormant, and which will eventually furnish beef and bread-stuffs to hungry nations. ur eoj-res- The Resources of the Prince Albert District. SOIL, AGRICULTURE, STOCK, CLIMATE, PHYSICAL FEATURES, FISH, FRUITS, BIRDS, ANIMALS, TIMKER. WATER, MINERALS, FUEL, ETC. Prom "Tho Commercial." February and, 1891. The residents of Prince Albert and district believe they have the very jjarden of Western Canada, A dissatisfied settlea is a rara av/s indeed. Not one such was found. during our visit. On the other hand, they all stenied thoroughly satisfied with their location. Notwithstanding the disadvantages of the past, from lack of railwaj' communication, they have, as a rule, done well, and they have never lost faith in the future of their district, believing that its great resourc(^s and natural advantages would in time bring them railways and settlers in abundance. On account of the distance from market, they have not been able in the past to farm as extensively as many of them desired to do. This difficulty is now removed. As for stock, they are all rich in this respect. Now that the country has been opened by railway communication, its future is assured. For thc»se who come prepared to take hold and work willingly, and inak(t the best of their opportunities, there is every assurance of suc- cess. They can here make comfortable homes for themselves, and in a short time lay the foundation for future prosperity. PHYSICAL FEATURES. The country is decidedly undulating in its nature. From Red Deer hill, south of Prince Albert, a beautiful view can bo had of the surroundings for many ipiles. The country is picturescjue and di- versified in appearance. It is a park country in the truest sense of the word. Strangers who have passed over the open plains to the south by rail sometimes go away with the impression that this is rather a monotonous country They fancy they have seen the whole country, and that it is all alike. If thej'^ would take a trip north they would iuive their eyes opened to the fallacy of this idea. Here is a country as pleasing to the eye as couM be wishe country, which only goes to show that the country is suitable for the raising of animals of various sorts. The natural conditions are certainly very favorable for all kinds of graz- ing animals, while winter fodder is .so easily and cheaply obtained, that there is nothing to fear regarding the expense of winter feed- ing. The season of winter feeding is shorter here than in Eastern Canada. CLIMATE. The climate may be described as similar to Manitoba. The I ..Li.. leop black ie country nal depth, of veijeta- thas been arealimit- :ion which ibercoun- 'O suppose fVoni ftn •o into the the river. has been le articles -h appear ps grown »y ^)e im- ' produce 1 ot 1890 lelonrates, ^'erj tine. )ound of placed at an acre. *t- as the Settlers md hogs > of win- 'e water ire very : }>roves hat the 8. The )f graz- Jtained, ir feed- Eastern . The greater distance nortliword does not seem to increase the average degree (^f cold to any noticeable e.\tent. The climate is clear, dry and healthful. There are no diseases peculiar to the country, afflict- ing either man or lieast. The summer day is long and bright. The winter, clear, calm and steady. The region is free from severe storms. The terrible blizzard of winter, which sweeps over the open plains of Dakota, is here unknown, and there is no fear of the death- dealing tornado or cyclone, for they have never visited the country. The district is safely out of the storm be t, which •ncre than coun- terbalances the more northern latitude, and renders the climate even more pleasant and enjoyable than regions a thousand miles to the south Ladies drive out in the winter for pleasure. Until the pres- ent winter the residents of Prince Albert bad to drive '^Q0 miles to reach the railway, but this did not deter them from going abroad in the winter, for pleasure or business. For instance, last winter a large party made the drive to the railway, in order to be present at a curiingtournamentin Winnipeg. If the winterclinuite were to bo dread- ed we would not find menstartingouton such a longdi'ive forpleasure. At the time of the writer's visit to Prince Albert, during November and the first halt* of December last, the weather was superb. There was no snow. Cattle were feeding out on the prairie. The days were biiglit and mild, and even a light overcoat was unnecessary much of the time, while furs were useless. FUEL AND TIMBER In a prairie country, fuel is an important matter. About thi» there need l)e no fear, so far as the Prince Alljert district is concerned. Right across the river from the town conunenees a vast forest,which extends hundieds of miles northward and eastward. This timber i» easily reached by tin; streams flowing into the Saskatchewan from the north. In the country south of the river there are also numerous patches of small timber all over the district. Instead of wood fuel being scarce here, a large business is likely to l)e done in ship- ping out cordwood southward by rail to less fortunate districts. Cordwood is worth about Sl.oO per load at Prince Albert. Coal also abounds along the Saskatchewan river further west. John Macoun, the well-known botanist and writer on physical geography states that there are 211 n)iles of coal exposure along thebanks of the Saskatchewan, coal could therefore be laid down by water at a mini- mum cost, at points anywhere along the great river. So far as the fuel (juestion is concenu'd, it can be sunnned upas follow^s : Abund- ance, at a verj' low cost. The principal variety of timber to the north is spruce. This is the kind mostly manufactured iiito lumber. Tamarac, poplar and birch are also sawn at the mills. (See articles on lumbering indus- try). There are many other varieties of trees and shrubs. The aspen poplar is most widely distributed over the prairie portion. White and black spruce, banksian pine, balsam, poplar, elm, ash-leaved ma- — «— pli\ willow, cherry, otc, aro ainon^ the other trees most common to the region. MINERALS. Knowledge on this ])oint is yet rather indetinite The vast country to the north is practically unexplored, and there are, no doubt, valuable mineral (h'posits existing about which nothing is known. What little investigation has been made, however, goes to show that in addition to its other n'sources, there is a great deal of mineral wealth in the territory surrounding and tributary to Prince All>ert. Gold can be obtained from the bars of the north Saskatche- wan river, within the corporation limits of Prince Albert, and at other places along the river. Tt is the Ixdief with many that this gold is washed down from streams Howing into the Saskatchewan from the north, as gold is also found m these streams. Dr. Porter, of Prince Albert, who made an exjdoration trip last sunnner, found gold from .surface washing along some of the streams flowing into the Saskatchewan, northwest of the town. One spot prospected gave quite rich returns from suiface washing. Silver and galena specimens have been procured 100 to 1 50 miles north. Specimens of galena were very rich. There is no doubt as to the existence of iron deposits in various sections. Copper has been found, pai'ticuiarly at Pas Mountain, near Cuiuberland. Salt has also been found, and it is also believed to exist in several sections, particularly south and eastward. Sulyihate of soda exists in a large deer family is well represented. The elk or red deer as it is called, is ft-erpiently met with. This is a noble animal of the di'or family. There is alfso the moose and cariboo, the latter the third in size of the deer species, and the jumping deer, farther north a smaller deer is found in large numbers. Rabbits are very num- erous in some seasons. Birds are numerous. Ducks, geese and other waterfowl swarm the conntry. There are two principal varieties of the goose family, one being known as the snow or wavy. There are two varieties of swan. Of the duck family there twenty to twenty-flve varieties. These birds come north in the summer to breed. There are several varieties of the grouse family, including the prairie-chicken, .spruce partridge, white: partridge, etc., plover and snipe of numerous varie- ties. Hawks and owls of many kinds, cranes and herons, pelicans, gulls, loon or diver, grebes of several kinds. About all of the long list of Canadian summer birds of the snialler species.also visit the dis- trict. A number of birds remain all winter in the country, such as owls, hawks, crows, l>lue-jay, whiskey jack, butcher bird, wood peck- ers, snow birds, etc. Fish abound in the rivers and streams, and particularly in the numerous lakes to the north. Among the varieties of the finny tribes are many excellent food lishes. The whiteflsh is found in large numbers in many of the lakes, and also an excellent species of trout. Among the other well known species are : — Goldeyes, pick- erel or dore, jackfish or pike, sturgeon, tulibcs, nmllet, sucker, sheep I head, perch, catfish. In tlie sprino- of the year, the waters of the Saskatchewan swarm witli fish ascending from Lake Winnipeg. A party who witnessed the snt-ne stated, that at Grand Rapids, on the Saskatchewan, he saw the fish ascending in such numbers that they could he raked out of tlie river in any quantity. The supply of fisii in the lakes to the north is practically unlimited and a large indus- try is sure to grow up in taking thesf hsh for shipment to all parts of the country. Trout of fine (luality, weighing from 10 to 25 pounds, arc found in thi'se lakes. Tlu'se n()rtl."rn whitefish are also^ of a very fine quality, and tliey attain large size, st>me being caught which weigh from ten to thirteen pounds each. Prince Albert Wheat. Prince Albert has al»ly sustiiined the reputation of the fertile belt of Western Canada in the claim that it prodnce.s the best whcit in the world. A great many countries j;row wheat, bur, the area wherein the famous hard wheat can V»e grown is limited very largely to the prairie region of Western Canada. Wheat attains its greatest perfection in the northern prairie re- gions of '^anada, but just how far north this wheat belt extends has not yet been determined. At any rate it has been pi'oved that it e.xtends to and beyond Prince Albert, and in this district is a VHSt region capable of pro- ducing wheat of finest qualify. Prince All)ert may yet become tlie grea' hard •• heat maiket of the world. This district is nearer the great wheat markets of Europe than other wheat exporting portions of the continent. A rail- way haul of about 500 miles would take this wheat 1o a port on Hudson's .iiiV, where is could be shipper' i>y wi.ter diirrf to Liverpool or of her import grain centi-es. At Hudson's h'uy if would not be mucii faifher from Liver- pool than C^uebec, and the diU'ercnec in the cost of cariiage by wafer for a hundred mdes or so farther would lie trifling. In time this northern route will assuredly be opened, and then the famous wlu'af of this region will be poured info lirifish murk«fH in its pui-ify, for there wou'd l)e no infei-ior wheat fril'utary to (his route which could be used for mixing. The milling trade of (Jreaf lirita'n is deeply intcrestt-d in procuring a supply of this choice northern hard wheat in order to conqtete with inqtortationsof foreign Hour. It is therefortMU the interest of tiie hrifish milling trade that if should assist in securing the o])ening of the Hudson's Hay l^oute. A good deal will be said in other articles as to the adiq>tabilify of the Prince Albert district for growing wiieat. What wi I be said in this article will be of a s|)ecilic nature. A represe'itativ (* of TiiK CoMMKUci.M,, when in Prince Alltert recently, came across a sanqile of wheat wljich waK a sur- prise to him. He had seen nothing like it among hundreds of Kanqdes ex- amined this season in othvr parts of the country, A bag of this wheat was procured by the publinher ( f Thk (/OMMKKciai,. and samples of the grain were forwarded to grain exchanges, milling puldications, and leading wheat and flour dealers and experts in Canada, the United Sfntes and (treat Britain. The wheat we refer to was grown by William Plaxton, whose farm is six miles from Prince Albert. The ^anqiles sent out were not hand picked, as is usually the cose with such, but -9- just as it came out of the farm granary. The wheat was grow^n in 1890, which is generally regardetl as the most unfavorable year experienced for almost a decade so far as producini; a fine quality is con- cerned. The wheat is of the "Ladoga" variety, which was imported fron» Russia by the Dominion Government a few years ago. for testing in Canada. This wheat, it is claimed, ripens considerably earlier than red fyfe, which is an important factor in the northern region. Ijy cultivatioti in the hard wheat region of Canada this wheat becomes harder and is generally improved in quality. This was shown by comparing the wheat grown each year in suc- cession from the original seed. The sample sent out was a pure hard wheat, bright and clean, weighing 06.^ pounds to the Imperial bushel and yielded about 35 bushels per acre. We requested a statement from Mr. Plaxton a» to his experience in growi'ig the wheat, and following we give it in his own words : — " In 18S8 I got 3 lbs., and sowed it on the 7th May, and harvested it on the 30th of Aua;iist ; thrashed 9G lbs. of good clean grain. In 1889 I sowed 96 lbs. on the ICth of April, covering al»out an acre of land, sowed broadcast. Harvested it on the 6th August and threshed 14 bushels 68 lbs. of first class wheat. The crop this year was light on account of the drought. In 1890 I sowed five acres on the lJ2nd of April, sowed broad- cast about two bufbels pei- acre and harvested it on the 15th of August and thi-eahed 172 biishels of which you have a sample. This year (1890) I had lied Fyfe wheat, White Russian and Ladoga, sown side by side on the same kind of soil. The Ladoga ripened and was cut five days earlier than W^hite Russian and ten days earlier than Red Fyfe. Youis truly, Wm. Plaxton." Following are some of the repli(!S received to the samples sent out : — From the North vifHtorn Mifff.r, of Minneapolis, the leading milling journal of the United States: "Truly a remurkal)le saniple." From Daihf Iiiminfi>ts, the grain trade paper of the Chicago board of trade : "The Dnihf IhiHinma iuis received from the Winnipeg Commkrci.'VL a sample of Ladoga wh(nit, raised in thi' Prince AlU^'t district, territory of Saskatchewan, 350 miles north of tlie interniXional brnndary line. It is a bf'autiful wheat, weighs about 65 pounds to the measured bushel, and is said to be ecjual, for flouring purposen, to any wheat grown. It was raised on the farm of \\'iiliain Plaxton, and is the third en^p raised from the im- portj'd seed. It was sown about April 'J'ind. and liarvefcted Auyust 15th. It has many of the ([ualities of KmI Fyfe, but ripens ten to fifteen days earlier. With each year of ciltivation the grain iniprove.s, growing thinner in hull and harder." K. Serk(0 k Co., grain commission nierc^hants, Chicago, write : "You'' favor received, and also sainpl.^ of wheat, for which accept our tiianks. Weex- hiliitf'd Ranie on '(change and it attrnct<'(l (juite a good deal of attention. We must Kny (hut it is the finest sample of spring wheat we have laid our eyes on. One of our millers Itere would like to know the value of this wheat in your mark<'t, and the rate of freight to Chicago, if you can kindly give us the same." A. 0. Huell k Co., a leading Chicago grain firm write : '' I ve your letter, accompanied by a sample of splendid wheat. A country tliat can ' ) I. ; I i —10— Taise such whea<: as that sample will be sought after before many years, as xhe product of Minnesota and Dakota is fast deteriorating." Kirkpatrick tfe Oookson, grain commission merchants, of Montreal, stify their wish to receive them." In another column Tim Miller says, under the heading of "Wheat in Saskatchewan :" — "A few years ago the Dominion (lovernment acting under (he advice of experts, imported a certain amount of Hussian seed wheat, with a view -11- y years, as ntreal, siy: of Ladoga greatly ad- uld a car or ble to use a With refer- , ray people erience, and ^. I desire he opinions 1 a remark- I write you ^'KRELL. isplayed by !itly, was a undred and ites and the 'oni the fact interest to le blue box r appended sp the sight commercial it was in- )n 'Change. r .seen, and 8 80 eflectu- section and far North. ablished its rliuul, upon H'Rt which is a :na(l on «'oinp«n<>nt s valued (' shall be s who will "Wheat in (he advico lith a view of testing these hardy varieties in Manitoba and the Territories. It is reported that the experiment has proved a success, and in the corres- pondence of this issue will be found a letter from the publisher of Tub Commercial which gives some remarkable details respecting the culti- vation of Ladoga wheat in the teri'itory of Saskatchewan, 350 miles north of the boundary of Manitoba and Dakota. The samples to which he refers have been examined on the Mark Lane market, and were there held to be as fine specimens of hard spring wheat as could be well desired. When tested by our chondrometer, this wheat did indeed weigh 66| pounds to the bushel, and in all respects it looked a "miller's wheat." It will be noticed that Mr, Steen refers to the projected Hudson's Bay Railway as likely, if ever carried out, to largely stimulate the culture of this magni- ficent grain, because in such a case a rail transit of oOO miles would take the wheat to Port Churchill, whence a sea voyage of .'5,000 miles would lay it down in Liverpool or London. The project in (juestion was dis- cussed in The Miller for Feb. \\ of last year (see vol. xv., p. 518). The great advantage of such a route would be the liklihood that wheat bo conveyed would reach our shores in pure condition, inasmuch as the cost of bringing inferior gj-ain from the east and south would almost prohibit any tiimpering with the genuine "hard grade." As will be observed by the ti-st (juoted extract from Tlie Miller^ the Prince Alhei't wheat is likely to be distributed directly to the millers of Crcat Britain (the very people whom ic is most desirable it should reach), as a result of the sample .sent to the gi-eat British milling journal. What the People Say. There is no knowledge like that which comes from Ion ; experience. A country niay look pleasing to the eye, when vi>ited at a ciTtain season of the year, but practical experience might show tiiis fair exterior to be very de- ceptive. The oountiy around Prince Albert certainly presents a most iuvit- ing appearance. It may be truly said that no faircT land lies out doors. But as appearances are sometimes most deceptive, the readers of TllK Oommer- ci.AL will not be asked to rely upon these alone. Happily thedibtrict has been settled by a few pioneers long enough to allow of a thorough test of its ca- pabilities. Without further comment we will give the statements of some of these settlers. Captain Craig, an intelligent Scotchman, who has been a resident of Prince Albert for several years, shvk that farming will prove successful if settlers will tiike the right way altout it, and come prepired to work. Ho has faniH^d si^veii yeiirs in f-ui'tessioii, and istlierefoie ((»mpet<'iit to \^\\•^\ aa opinion. Me further sayn : "Those farmers who to the neceHsuiy skill have added indnstiy, the resuU, has been in a high degree satisfactory and n)aiiy have uttaineil prospeiily and inde|M'iulence from extremely > lender beginningK. Spring wheat is grown, winter varieties not suiting the climate. Since 1885 red Kyfe has been chielly grovvn /is well as whit*^ Russian and other variet ies, and latterly Ladoga has Ix en introduced by samples sent out by the Dominion Uovernment. All these varieties have done well. Kxoept iu 18^7, which was an unusually lute season, there has been I, •! If ; I I i I —12— little or no damawp by frost to thfi wheat crop here in recent years ; and the belief is confidently held, that with the more general settlement of the country, progressive agricultural methods, and close attention and research as to variety of seed, injury and loss from this cause, if not entirely obviated, ■will at least be greatly lessened. With regard to the cultivation of oats and barhy it has only to be said that these grains are i-aised here just as easily and with as go")d results as anywhere else. PotAtoes, turnips, carrots, mangold and beets are a sure crop. Th«^y ali yield well ; are in q' Aity second to none and particularly fi-ee from disease or damage from insects. Garden vegetables do well, anu are more or less grown by farmers. Beef animals are raised wirh little trouble or ex})ense ; they are usually rolling fat on the natui-al summer pastures and natural hay, and the straw piles in winter bring them through in good condition. Hundreds of excellent animals are annually bought up in the district for outside markets as well as for local consumption. It is not claimed for this district that it is safe or economit-al to winter out cattle or neiter class horses in ordinary seasons, although native ponies do wonderfully well pawing forth* ii living. Sheep are not very generally kept, altliougli it has been found they do remarkably well and there are already a few flocks attaining considerable dimensions. Pigs are reared by almost everybody, but not in such nunii)prsas they might be. This will no d(»ubt be one of the great industries of the future." William .Miller came from Huron, Out , in 1870, and located in Rock- wood, near Winnipeg, Man., where he rtmained for two years. Moved to the t^askatchewan in 187.'» and took up land quite close to where Prince Albert now stands. Likes the Saskatchewan country better than Ontario or ManitoV>a. Has farnied seventeen seasons, and states that his wheat will average about 40 l)ushels per acre eight years out of the seventeen. The remaining nine yetrs he estimates that his wheat crop would average one year with anoiher !'•'> bushels per acre. The poorest wheat crop he has had was in 1889, owing to the drouu;ht, when the yield was 18 to -JO bushels per acie. This was the first year he had sulfered from diouuht to any ex- tent The crops of 1890 weie later with him than he ever had before, and he had about eight acres of wh"nt dnmoged by frost. The balance of his crop escaped serious injury. Mr. Miller has kept a dinry since became to the count? y, so that his statements are not made from memory. He states that his out erop has varied from 10 to 80 bushels per acre in different yearn, except 1889, when it was about L'O bushels p'-r acre. IJarley he re- gards as a very sure crop, and the smallest yield lie 1ms had was 'JO l)ushela per acre in 1S8!>. Horses, cattle, sheep and hogs have all done well with him As the oldest Canadian settler in the district, and one who has farmed continuously sin-e he arrived, Mr. Millei's testimony is of special interest. Charles Mair, for sixteen years a resident, has fanned for ten yenrs on quite a large scale. His property is within the present corporation limits of the town of Princ(> Albert. He has never had what -ould be called a failure in wheat. In 18S9 the crop wns light from drouaht, l)ut could not be called a failure. Late wheat had been alleeted with frost in some years, but this was usually owing to carelesH farming. There has alwnys been an abundance of hay, even during the dryest years, and vast (juantities of the natuml prairie hay goes t<» waste annually. .lames McArthur, banker. Prince Albert, is interested in a large sheep ranche. He says it costs less to keep sheep over the winter than during —13- years ; and sraent of the ind research ^ly obviated, tion of oats here just as tiips, carrots, re in o/" ility from insects, lers. are usually id the straw 3 of excellent rkets as well lat it is safe laiy seasons, ■in<,>;. 8heep ) remarkably dimensions. ,s they might uture." ited in Rock- i. Moved to where Prince than Ontario It his wheat e seventeen, ould average t crop he has (I '20 bushels \t to any ex- 1 before, and lal.ince of his •(' lie came to He states > in different JiirU'y ]w re- •JO bushels ne well with bus tanned ciiil iiitt it'st. (»Mi years on nition limits be called a »ut could not 1 some years, vays been an itities of the I large sheep than during the summer. The region is a great hay country, and hay can be put up for the winter at a cost of about ^1 per ton. Sheep can be kept through the winter at a cost of about 25 cents per head, when handled on a large scale. They are free from disease. Hay has never been scarce. The growth of natural prairie grass is luxuriant. Water is readily obtained everywhere. Where there is not good surface or running water, it can be obtained in wells at a depth of 10 to 14 feet. Mr. McArthur also believes the country is remarkably well adapted to raising horses, and grain and root crops are phenomenally successful. J. M. Campbell moved to the North Saskatchewan country in 1874. He has a ranch at Stony Creek, 60 miles southeast of Prince Albert. He has farmed about lOOacres and has never had a crop failure. His wheat, one year with another, has averaged 25 bushels per acre or over, while oats have yielded about 50 to 60 bushels per acre on an average for a number of years back. Mr. Campbell, like many others, has given more attention to stock, as the isolated nature of the settlement previous to the advent of the rail- way, rendered the market for grain rather small. He thinks the country a remarkably favorable one for raising horses. His horses winter out and "rustle" their own living. His horses are of the native breed, crossed with Canadian stallion. They average about 1200 pounds weight. He has taken first prize with horses that were out all winter and were never fed a straw. Cattle require feeding in the winter, though young stock will do without stabling, if fed. Sheep he says do with an open shed for shelter, covered overhead. They require feeding for about two months. •Cattle need feeding about three months during the winter, on an average. Hogs have paid him well. In his district, Mr. Campbell says, the settlers are all doing well, despite their distance from a railway. Most of them started poor. They are loaded with stock row, which they sell for Indian and mounted police i-equirements, and a market for their other products is found in the same way to some extent. J, Knowles, banker. Prince Albert, is also interested in a large stock and farming enterprise, which has been carried on for four years. On the rancho are 100 horses and fifty lusad of cattle. About 100 acres of land were cropped in 1S90. Wheat yielded 26^ bushels per acre, and is of tine quality, though o portion which was late was injured by frost The horses are mostly wintered out, without any stabling About 77 head will be wintered out this winter. They do better in this way than when kept up and stabUni, and come out fat and healthy in the spring. Mr. Knowles thinks cattle nHjuire some kind of stabling. For young stock, straw thrown up over a shed will be sufficient shelter. Cattle have been known to live out all winter on what they (;oul(l pick up, l)ut this is not the proper way of ke-^ping them. Stock of all kinds are very health_y, and Mr. Knowles has never lost a hoof by disi^ase. .1. A. Macl)(>nal(l,a native of Manitoba, scuttled on the North Saskatche- wan in 18('»H^ and his j)roperty is now within the corporation limits of Prince Albert. He was the first settler to take up land and remain on it. He tells the same story of successful operations in farmin:^, and never had what could be called a failure of his crop. His wheat aveiuged 24 to .'10 Itushels per acrt>. Sinctf 1884 he has don** little in the line of growing ^rain, having gone principally into stock. Hay is secured in abundance for winter feeding, and can be put up at a cost of about $i per ton. This is the natural I i I ( I* ! If} I L •if* - 14— prsirie hay which grows without any cultivation, and is always a heavy crop. Cattle are very healthy, they will do on straw, but with good care will make good beef in the spring on hay alone. Mr. MacDonald estimates that it costs from S 10 to $15 to raise a three years old steer, which is then worth from $30 to $40. There are no losses in stock to provide against. Hogs^ and sheep pay well. R, J. Pritchard, an old resident, who came in 1873, has devoted his time mainly to stock. It is his opinion that cattle can be raised to better advantage in the Saskatchewan country than on the plains to the south, where cattle ranching is followed on a large scale, and where no provision is made for the winter. In the Prince Albert country hay is put up for the winter, but the cost of this is light, as there has always been an abundance of it. There are no losses to provide against among stock in the winter, such as cattle men in the ranching district to the south meet with occasionally, and this more than compensates for the cost of winter feeding, as against the districts where no winter feeding is done. Mr. Pritchard has known cattle to live out all winter and pick their own living, and come out well in the spring, but this is not given as a safe plan to be followed. In one case some freighters left an ox which had become tired out, and this animal was found the following spring in much better condition than when it had been abandoned as useless. Mr. Pritchard had 250 head of cattle to winter this year. He has moved these over to the wood country on the north side of the river, where he has stables and hay put up. The young cattle will not be stabled, but will be fed. Horses not being worked will do very well running out all winter without any feeding except what they pick for themselves, and will come out fat in the spring. Cattle have not the ability to "rustle" their living during the winter like horses. Isaiah McCall, for ten years a resident, has farmed six miles from Prince Albert and raised stock, giving his attention mainly to the latter. He has found the seasons favorable and has always had a good crop of coarse gram. having given little attention to wheat. The season of 1890 he had a good volunteer crop of oats and barley. He had intended summer fallowing the land and did not plow it in the fall, but a crop came up in the spring from seed that had fallen from the previous crop. This looked so well that ic was allowed to grow, and produced a crop of 25 to 30 bushels per acre. -Mr. McCall has some imported Durham cattle and they have done well with him. S. J. Donaldson, who can\e into the country in 1870, and served in the Mounted Police force, has farmed for six years. He has grovsrn feed grains principally for his livery business in Prince Albert. He grew some flax one year as an experiment, and it produ"ed an immense rp of seed, He threshed 2,000 bushels of oats off 30 acres in 188d, 1890 had the same qua'.itity from an acre or two less of land. The crop was estimated by counting the number of sacks. In 18G9, the dry year, ho only had 400 bushels oQ the sam» acreage. The evidence of actnal settlers is about the most valuable matter that can be published concerning a country, heme v e have giveti considerable •pace to this class of matter. The paper cou'.d be tilled up with similar gtatoments from other settlers but it would be a repetition of what has already been reported. Suflice it to say that; the residents are satisfied with their location. They one and all believe they have secured a home in the very garden of Canada, and have unbounded faith in the future. ,1 — li i a heavy crop, ^ood care will estimates that is then worth grainst. The Territory of Saskatchewan. Hogs^ ,s devoted his ,ised to better 3 to the south, e no provision T is put up for an abundance in the winter, ih occasionally, ino, as against ird has knowu come out well owed. In one ind this animal in when it had :attle to winter ■y on the north le young cattle ed will do very lat they pick for not the ability IX miles from ly to the latter, a good crop of Iseason of 1890 ended summer "Op came up in This looked 1.) to 30 bushels I and they have served in the >wn feed grains rrew some flax of seed. He [890 had the was estimated only had 400 )le matter that In considerable ]» with similar of what has satisiied with la home in the lure. Saskatchewan is the largest and most central of the four provisional districts, which for representative and other purposes were carved out of the territories by the Dominion Parliament in 1882. Its area is 106,700 square miles. In shape it is an oblong paraleliogram which extends from Nelson River, Lake Winnipeg and Manitoba, on the east to the 112th de- gree of west longitude on the west, and lies between, or, rather, slightly over- laps the 52nd and Soth parallels of north latitude. It thus includes a larger p«'oportion of the so-called fertile belt than any of the other territorial dis- tricts, and is almost centrally divided by the main Saskatchewan River, which is altogether within the district, and by its principal branch, the North Saskatchewan, most of whose navigable length lies within its boun- daries. It includes in the south but a small proportion of the Great Plains, and in its general superficial features may be described as a mixed prairie and wooded region, abounding in water and natural hay, and well suited by climate and soil for the raising of wheat, horned cattle and sheep. It may in fact be described as the Ontario of the Northwest, its prairies corres- ponding to the cleared portions of that province, whilst its timber areas to- the north give it a like value in the industrial future It is the wheat growing district too which lies nearest to the Hudson's Bay, and like Ontario- its boundaries may be so extended north-west as to make it a maritime pro- vince, and a vast entrepot for interior trade. Its climate may be briefly de- scribed as corresponding to that of Manitoba. Owing to the deflection of the Canadian Pacific Railway this great re- gion has remained comparatively dormant and unknown since 1882. But down to that period the presumption was that the great national highway would pass through the fertile belt, and hence a number of settlements were formed on both branches of the Saskatchewan which in spite of remote- ness from railway transport constantly throve, and increased solely upon internal sources until overgrowth made a railway outlf't and connection with the eastern markets a necessity. To meet the pressing wants of these communities the government in 1889 came to the assistance of one of the chartered railways whose projected line extended from Regina to Prince Albert, a distance of 2r)0 miles, and by the first of October of last year the rails were laid, and the road is now completed and in full working order be- tween these two towns. Next year railway communication will be extend- ed to Battleford, thus supplying all the existing connnunitiea on the Sas- katchewan with an outlet. Other great regions with unbounded fertility lie to the south and south-east of Saskatchewan, however, regions which would long ago have been opened up for setthiment had the Manitoba and Northwestern Railway fallen at the first into the hands of an energetic company. This road starts from Portas;e la Prairie and penetrates in a northwesterly direction, bisecting a magnificent country all the way to Prince Albert, which is its future terminus. Unfortunately, however, only 22r) miles of this important line have been constructed, though it is one of the oldest charters in the Northwest and though a large settlement was formed ul t-arrot River many years ago in the faith of its extension. Public interest now being aroused, there can bo little doubt that the "Air- Line" connection, which the compietior of this road will give between Win- —16— nipeg and the Saskatchewan, will soon be an accomplished fact, and that a large tide of immigration will follow to fill up and fructify th-j great coun- try which lies between the Prince Albert settlement and Manitoba. An- other «reat railway projection, which to the territories, is the most import- ant of'^all, is that of the line from Prince Albert to Churchill on Hudson's Lay. The whole eastern and western world is now becoming conscious not only by the pressing necessity, but by the vast importance of this road from a trade and military point of view. To Great Britain it is a matter of im- perial interest, foi, while the Suez canal and the Canadian Pacific Railway might be easily closed by an enemy, the Hudson's Bay route would give her an impregnable military highway over only 1,700 milei of railway from B*y to Coast all of which would be situated far beyond the American boundary, and in a defensible country lying north of two immense rivers. But we must pass from railways built or projected to other matters of interest. The principal "towns' of the district as'de from Prince Albert are Battle- ford, Stobart or Duck Lake, Saskatoon and Kinistino. Duck Lake is about 40 miles west of Prince Albert, and lies between the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan, here about 18 miles apart This young town is surrounded by a magnificent wheat growing country, the prairies particularly to the west of it being of great extent, very level, fertile and easily worked. It is situated directly on the line of railway here which promises to become an important grain centre in the near future. Mr. Hillyard Mitchell, INI. L. A., of the firm of Stoi)art it Mitchell, has his ranch near this town where are to be seen a noble herd of Polled Angus cattle and the only band of Kyloes in Saskatchewan. Battleford the former capital of the Territoiies, is beautifully situated on the North Saskatchewan, \')0 miles west of Prince Albert and is a sta- tion of the Northwest Mounted Police, and a place of increasing import- ance. Grain is grown in abundance on its surrounding jtrairies, timber is plentiful to the north and west, and grist and saw mills find profitable em- ployment in sup]»lyirig the needs of a growing settlement. The oldest news- paper in the Teiritories, the Battleford Herald, a well edited sheet was started, and still issued hen', and some of the largest it.'iporting houses of the interior have their headquarters in this enterprising town. Saskatoon, a creation of the Temperance Colonization Company, has not thriven like the towns already mentioned. The plains in this region partake somewhat of the character of the "Great Plains" to the south of them and are poorly watered, except immediately along the South Saskat- chewan I'iver. Their vegetation 's not so luxuriant and timber is scarce. The railway station has l)eHn placed upon the opposite, or north, bank of the rivei' and it is likely that a more enterprising town will spring Uji there which will draw its trade from the richer prairie country to the north. It must be said, however, that even on the plains south of Saskatoon there are some large stock ranches which are said to be proritable. But even so, there can V)e little doubt that the principal value of these plains in the future will be as a grazing country for sheep, which us ,/inter approaches, can be easily driven north for shelter and winter food. Kinistino is in its infancy and must only be Kpoken of, as yet, in connection with the unrival- led country around it. It lies about 40 miles southeast of Prince Albert and from the crossing of the south branch eastward, and indeed in all ■directions from Fuctralin to Fort a la Oorne, from the Birch Hills, Oar rot —17- River and the Water-hen Lake to the Hoodoo country and beyond is one vast expanse of rich soil, luxuriant grass and conv lient timber. The ex- tension of the Manitoba and Northwestern Railway will convert this great region into a garden, and then Kinistino will speedily rise into importance and take its place with the Portage la Prairies and Brandons of Manitoba. Prince Albert's Railway. A now era was inaugurated in the histoiy of Pri '.e Albert and district in October- last, wlion the last spike was driven in the railway wliicli was to give tlu! plai-o connection with the outside world. The ])('oplo had been so long isolated froni the rest of the Dominion, that the oicasioii was made one of general rejoicing. Here a conununity of several thoursand people had existed for yeai's, .'?00 miles distant from the nearest railway, and it may be imagined that thi' advent of the iron horse was weiccjined in a most enthusiastic mauiioi". The long cherished hopes of the s(^ttlcrs were now being realized. The distiince from Winnipeg to Prince Albert by rail is 004 miles. The I'oute is from Winnipeg . > Hegina on the main line of the Canadian Pacific. Cars are changed at IJegiiia to the Prince Albert branch of the (-anadian Pacific, the length of the latter road from IJegina to Prince Albert being '2\7 miles. Construction on the Prince Albert branch was commenced ui 1885, when about 20 miles were completed from Regina northward. The road was then known as the Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Prince Albert railway. Nothing further was done on the road for .some years, and the portion con- st rnct(Kl was not t)peratcd. During the meeting of the Dominion Parliament in the winter of 1S8S-S1), additional assistance was granted to this railway, with the object of securing its speedy completion. The Prince A^'iort people, through their representative in Pailianumt and in other \\.'^.3 had pushed the nuittei- very earn(>stly, and it was agreed that a special effort should be made to oi)en the district by railway communication. Arrangements were made by which the Canadian Pacifii* Company would control and operate tin; railway after completion, and construction was pushed vigor- ously during the suimner of 1880, rails being laid that season as far as the crossing of the south Saskatchewan river at Saskatoon. During the wintei' of 188!)-'.)0 material was |irepared for a bridge across the river, and the following sunnuer the I'oad was t-ompleted and opened to Prince Albert in October last. Since then it has been regularly operated as a brani'h of the Canadian Pacific system. I'rince Albert has now its first railway, but it will not stop at this. The iAlanitoba and Noithwesten, which is now completed 279 miles in a northwesterly direction from Winnipeg. (The Northwestern reaches Winnipeg overthe main lineof theCanadian Pacific from Portage la Prairie), has its o!)jective point at Prince .Vlbert. This road runs through a very rich countiy for its entire distance, both completed and projected. Prince Albert jieople look forward with contidence to the time when the North- western will give them a second outlet. '\ ''» — l.s- liut wliivt is most (mc;hfiutinf? to tlio Prince AHiert people is the prospoct of n road to Hu(ls<.n's Bay. Tlio ^ooqraphical position of the town marks it as a likely starting i)oint for a railway to the great inland sea. The Prince All)ort branch of the Canadian Pacific is looked upon as likely to become a link in a railway to Hudsons J'>ay. Prince Albert is now the nearest jioint to the l)ay reached by rail by .several hundred miles. This is a forcible argument to start with, in additiim to the fact that it is on a line witli any railway which may be constructed in the future from any point in the tci-ritorics south of tlic Saskatchewan to Hudson's Bay. Tn the event of the AV'innipeg and Hudsons Bay Railway being built (which is now a certainty, in a short time) Prince Albert could be connected with the latter road by a diriH-t line running easterly through the rich Carrot rivei- country. A load fiom Prince Albert running in an easterly direction to connect with the Winnipeg and Hudson's i)ay Bailway would run through a country which is rcgared l)y some explorers and others as without exception the very richest and finest agricultural aiul stock region in Canada, Profcssoi- Macoun, l)otanist, etc., speaks very highly of the wonderful fertilitv of the soil through this region. Key of Map. The outline map of the town of Prince Albeit ia intended to show the location of principal public buildings, etc. The heavy line extending around the plan represents the corporation limits. Figures 1 and 2, outside of the corporation limit ac the west end, show the location of Emanuel College and St. Mary's Church respectively. Figure S shows the Mounted Police Barracks ; 4, Sanderson's Saw Mill ; .'), R. C. Convent ; 0, R. C. Chapel ; 7, Railway Station, Round House, Coal Sheds, etc. 8, Central School ; 9, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church ; 10, St. .Albans Church ; 11, Court House and Jail ; 12, Hudson's Bay Co's Head Store and Offices ; 13, Hudson's Bay Flour Mill ; U, Kast End Public School; 16, Steamboat Landing; 17, (iood- fellow's Sash and Door Factory. Figure 15 shows Mooie & Macdowell's Saw Mill located outside the corporation at the west end. The stars (*) show the central business portion of the town. The heavy line shows the location of the Railway into the town, and the lighter lines are proposed railway switches or extensions of the line. Some work has been done toward extending the railway eastward, and next summer it is expected it will be completed as far as Moore & Macdowell's mill, with a switch to the Hudson's Bay Cos mill. A proposed switch to the river, through lot 73, is shown. The principal business portion consists of a single row of Stores, Front- ing on the river. The country along the Saskatchewan river in the Prince Albert district is divided on the parish lot principle— tliat is long, narrow farms, of irregular width, extending back from the river. Tlic plan shows the parish lots \\ithin tlie corporation. The lots are numbereil from east to west. The town was started on lot 78, known as the mission property, and the principle portion of the town is still on this property, but it has grown out over adjoining property. There is also a con- niderable collection of buildings about the Hudson Bay Co's quarters ; also scattered residences throughout other portions of the town, particularly along the river front toward the west end. Parties investing in real estate will find this plan useful, as town lots will be known as subdivisions of the various parish lots s'lown on this plan. The corporation limits from east to west is about two and a half miles, and extends south from the river oao mile at the west (!nil and about half a mile in the centre. Across the river, opposite the town is a large park reserve. It is unbroken forest on the north side of the river, and the land is all held by the Dominion Gov- ernment from sale or settlement, except the park, vvhicli has been granted to the town. le is the the town and sea. as likely now the .s. This t is on a rt)ni any lay. Til (which is )niieete(l the rich easterly ay would others as ck re scattered river front useful, as m on this miles, and nile in the 1 unbroken uion Uov- ited to the Prince Albert. A TOWN THAT EXI'ECTS TO KE A CITY l\ I'HE NEAR EL^TUIlfc:- BEAUTIFUL SITE AND A FERTILE OOUNTKV SURlJOUNDIXfJ IT. From the "Free PresSi" Dec. 20th, I890. Ill the tjiles of travellers, and little of tL j reality is known by the out- side world, the north Saskatchewan country has Ijeon described in ^'lowing language — it has been [dctured as the lichest and most beautiful part, of the vast tei'ritory lying between the lied River and llie Rocky Moun- tains. The terms "this is the best })art of the country" and "that is the best part of the country" have been much used and abused, until now the expression evokes a laugh ; the settler with local patriotism invariably ap- {)lies it to the particular locality in which he lives, tlu; strangers apply it to the particular districts which they may happen to visit without a thought of what lies beyond the scope of their knowledge. One, however, who has been in all sections of Manitoba and through tin; territoiies on e! her side of the C. P. 11. main line, and noted the chanicteristics of the Cv-untry, must frankly admit that there is a large degree of justitication in giving the g»'eat Saskatchewan valley ])recedenee, in point of beauty and fertility among the best agricultural tracts of and in the Canadian prairie region. In the heart of this valley stands the town of Prince Albert, straggl- ing for three miles along the south bfink of the North Saskatchewan ri\ (jr, a noble stream, navigable foi- five hundred miles to the west and live hun- dred miles to the east of this settlement. Prince Albert is surely a remark- able town, considering the circumstances under which it has sprung uj). It is a place of greater size than is genei-ally thought ; it has immerous stores, and other [daces of business, including two banks, two ilou!- mills, three sawmills, one with a capacity of 50,000 feet }>er(lay. It has two churches, several fine schools, teaching the higher as well as the elementary brandies, a neat brick court house, a brick registry oflice, hotels, (>tc., and not a few residences both brick and frame, which would be a credit to old settlements in the east, and in these homes one finds the; comforts, nay lux- uries, with which peo})le of means and culture are wont to surround them- selves, and which one does not expect to see outside old connnunities. There is a strong detachment of the Mounted Police stationed here, occu- pying the barracks, the finest with one excei)tion in the Northwest ; these are situated in a commanding position on the jiill overlooking the town. The policemen here are a fine lot of mon, intelligent, soldierly and gentle manly. The judge of the judicial district of Saskatchewan, the sherill", Dominion land agent, Ci'own timber agent, homestead inspector and othei- government officials reside in the town. Unlike many Northwest "towns ft has assumed a definite shape, is established firmly and it has beyond, poradveuture —21 I bv the out- A GOOD FUTUUK. Us history diites back to 1S6() when the lute llev. James Nesbilt and llev. .las. McKay, now living at Mistowasi's reserve, founded an Indian mis- sion station on the present site of the town in connection with the Pifisbyterian church. Ptior to the arrival of these missionaries the Hud- son's Bay Co. had a sinall jtost in the vicinity and also farms, but when settleis from Red River colony and from j)oints along the Saskatchewan began gathering about the mission the comi)any recognized the importance (jf the location and removed their district head(iuarters there from Fort Carlton. Fourteem years subse(|uent to the fouiUling of the mission a few settlers fiom Ontario began to tind their way into the district and from 1.S80 to 1884 there was a rush of settlers who took up hind in anticipation of the early advent of a railway from Winnipeg, and thus a small commun- ity of natives and inmiigrants was formed, tliough when the route of the projected railway was deflected southward a considerable number of the set- tlers abandoned their buildings and left for other parts. Merchants went into the district with the farmers and established themselves at Prince Albert and in a few months the barricaded mission which had hitherto been the most conspicuous object'in the landscape was surrounded by trad- ing stoi-es. These merchants piospered, some of them having made consid- erable money, and the town grew apace. lieing isolated, having connec- tion with the railway only l)y a cart trail 250 miles long, and only a few of the small ban(| of farmers being left in the district, one is led to enquire into the why and wherefore of its prospei'ity. Several causes have contri- buted to its i)rogress — the money spent by the Indian department, the market offered by the Hudson's Bay Company for all wheat grown at good piices, but the priucii)al reason is that the district is possess- ed of (iUEAT \ATURAL UKSOUKCKS and the settlers were enabled to secure right on the spot at a nominal cost what settlers in other parts of the country either had to secure at great cost, or perhaps were unable to get at all. Corise(|uently money taken into the district was not sent east, but spent and kept in the community. If without railway counnunication, with but few farmers and depending main- ly on the Indian and half-breed trade Prince Albert was able to make such progress, what umst its future be now that a i-ailway affords an outlet for agricultural produce which will give a stimulus to settlement and be an en- couragement to the 2)resent settlers to till their farms to their fullest ex- tent ? What must Prince Albert be when a line of railway connects it with the Hudson's Bay, and another draws to it the trade of the country to the northwest as yet entirely unsettled, and it is brought a hundred miles or more nearer the great lakes by a luilway running directly north- west from Winnipeg ; and when thousands of settlers are tilling the wonderfully rich land of the great valley of the North Saskat- chewan ? As a commercial point, as a point of economic importance in the de- \'elopment of the Northwest, Prince Albert stands pre-emiiient. It is the true hvb of the fertile belt ; it is the key to the whole Saskatchewan coun- try. With a railway to Hudson's Bay, another southeast to Winnipeg, an- other to the northwest, together with the present line to the north and 9«7 suutli, the '"•GO luilos of rivor iiavij^atioii to ilie wisl ami ."iOO miles to (he west, it coinniamls the situation. What it needs Jiow is settlers and the railways referred to will materialize as the necessities of the country de- mand ihem : and the settlers will come too when once the attractions of the country b(!come known. Speaking of the Hudson's Bay 1? ail way it Is intei-estiiijjj to know that Princ(! Albert is as near Liverpool as Ontario and New S'oik State, and is nearcM- Hudson's Hay than Winnipe,;,', and is one thousand miles ntvirei- San Francisco than Chicago, and an air line to the (iolden (late, through I'rince Alhei-t to Hudson's Bay would finish a route to the old country for trans oceanic trade to and fri»m (Jicat Britain that would be shorter HY IIUNDKKDS OF MILES than present routes. When one stands in the Saskatchewan valhsy and realizes the geographical position, one iiistinctiively feels that the Hudson's Bay Hallway is the toad uj)on which the true development of the Northwest nmst dejHMid. The i)eople of Princt> Albert have [tinned theii- hope and faith on the route. The gi'cat basins of the Athiil)asca, Peace and Mac- kenzie rivers can also Ix? UKtst conveniently and directly reached l)y railway fi'om Prince Albert. A local writi'r who has made a study of the Hudson's Hay route puts the case thus : — "Prince Albert will bi^ the point of de])arture from the great wheat belt for tide wati-r ; for, though fi\e hundred miles northwest of Winnipeg it is yet nearer Cliuichill than that city, and Churchill is the ti'uc; harbor of Hudson's Hay. The largest ocean vessels can sail directly into the Churchill river, which, by a narrow entrance, encloses as c(»mmodious and safe a harbor as St. .lolins. No lightering is rtMiuired, and this significant fact will when imitending dcvelopnuMits have taken place, very speedily e.xtin guish ^^trk JNictory, port Nelson aixd all other rivals on the western main land as points of shipment for the grain of the Saskatchewan. ( >ne or \\u>\v, comparatively short lines of i-ail will yet carry the largest proportion of the wheat of the fertile licit of Prince All)ert to (.'hurchill, where the cars will be unloaded directly into the ocean steamers, '{'he remainder may go by way of the great lakes, for presumably, Churchill is a summer pt)rt (»idy, though this is by no means certain. Bill whe;i the reader considei's that Prince Albert is as near Liverpool as the city of Toronto, that it is tlu; middle distance of oiu^ of the largest rivers in Anu'rica : that it is situated just where the jirairie ends, and the true forests begin, he will readily un- derstand that conditions so grouped must be of enormous importance in the future, that the trimnjih of economic law will bt* a mere (puistion of linm, and that the; t-ereals of this i-ountry will, and must, find their way to Eng- land by (h(^ shiM'lest, and, therefore, l)y the cheapest route. " In e(lucati(tnal matters Prince Albert takes the leadiu'' itlace amonj.' Morthwest s(^ttlements. in iSHaahigh school was e.stablished in coniux'- tion with the Presl)yterian Mission and carried on undei* the direction of tha'^ church until the close of 18!^!). This high school assumed a new form in the early months of I SSS, when it was incopoiated by the iJominion Parliament as the Nisbet Academy, and during the summer a line build- ing was ertH'ted i»y moneys rni.sed thiougli the energies of Uev, Dv ilardine. Educati(»nal work vvas carried on under his guidance until Decombei', l^^SO when the academy W'tS destroyed by fire. The corporation, however, ^till exists ; the in'iuran( e monoy will bo invested , a cousidcrablo quantity of —23 — .s t(i I he, and the mtry (le- ctions ((f Iwjiy it is , Oiitfuio jf, and is r line to 1 tinisli a it Britain all(^y and Hudson's S'oithwest hope and and Mac •y railway Hudson's •cat wheat Winniiu^/j; \ harbor of \ Churchill md safe a ticant fact "(lily cxtin 'stern main )nc I dominion tine luiild- )r •lardinc. nd)er, 1^89 \v(3ver, still quantity of land was given, as the nucleus of an end(»wiuent, from the mission proiterty: and we expect to see the academy at some future time, rising from its ashes and fulfilling its destiny still nioi-e ett'ectually than in the past. In addi- tion to these institutions the public school acconnnodation has lately been increased by the addition of a high school branch, thus making Prince Al- bert one of the most important educational centres within the territories. Apart from these puldio institutions the llev. iMothers of St. Ann's Con- vent carry on an educational woik of much importance and Roman Catho- lic separate schools have been estal)lishe(l in both the east and west ends of the town. The \{i'\. Mothers have a xcry tine con\-ci\t, it being one of the best buildings in the town. Cnder the ))olicy of the territorial gov- ermnent an etlicient public school system lias been inaugurated. The two school house.'-' of Prince Albert, the centre and east end respectively, are a ci-edit to the town, and the teaching conducted in each of them is of the highest oi'dei". IJoth schools ar.' full to ovcrllowing, and soon additional acconnnodation will rcipiire to be provided. These two schools built of lirick, weie erected at a cost, in the aggicgate, of S 1 0,000. A ward school has "Iready been found m, necc.>;sitv, and (hiring the pr(>sent season another brick building svas erected for tlie uccommodation of the children of the w(!st end of the town. Kducational work of a highei- class has not b(M'ii neglected, In 1879 thelat(> liOvd JJisliop of Saskatchewan founded Kmanuel College foi' tlui (education of mis.sionaiies and teacliers f.ir the missionary work of this dio- c(^se. It has been carried on liy an ctru-icnt stall" of prof(^ssors since that I ime and has done a wonderful work among the Indian and half-breed jiopulations. It is, no doubt, tlie micleus of an important institution in conneclioii with the future I'liisersity of Saskatcluiwan. Social life in Prince All)ert is anything but dull. In the winter months life is made pleasant by a round of publii' dances, concci'ts, entertainments and sports ; atul in the sunnner months, cricketing, lioating, lishing, shoot- ing and driving furni.-h recreation and amusement. 'I'here are als(» national and fraternal societies fultilling their jnirposcs, .so that in this far northern town, so long shut out from the rest of the world, there are the chief ele- ments of civili/ed life. The towiisite of Prince .Mbert is regarded as t Ik^ prettiest of all town- sites in the Northwest, It is located on a plateau extending from a slop- inir hill to the river bank on tin south side. .\long this plateau or flat tli(> town is built, but at present is scaMered over a distance of t hree mihts, iheie being the centre, and east and west ends. The centic is the n itst populous |art, and extends l>a<'kwards from the rixcr over the hill. There is some doubt atiout where the town will linally l)e estalilished, owing t(» conllicting interests, i»ut the pr.ihabilit ic> are that it will s|tread from the tlu' eenti'e. Kusiiu'.ss houses and industrial estabi shments will idtimat(>ly occupy the phiteau, while the hill will lie given up to private residences, churches, etc. The business street is now located on therixcr front, and is \(>ry h»ng, and owing to tlu! wiNi>iN(. or 'nii; iiiv i;u only short .sections of itcan lie seen from any part. A photogi'aphic view of the town does not do it justice, as it is dillicult to get a e(»mprelienKi\e view of the )»lace excepting at a consideraple distance. TIh^ site in extreme- -24— ly picturcscjuo, commanding a ploasing view of tho broad rivei- and tlio pire covered country to the noi'tli. During the summer the landscape is beautiful. Being elevated considerably above the river the site in respect to sanitation is perfect. The river furnishes excellent water, noticeably free from alkali, for all domestic purposes. Ciood spring water can be ob- tained anywhere by sinking eight or ten feet. There is nothing lacking in the site to be desired, and twenty yeais hence a large city will undoubted- ly be occupying the ground. Near Prince Albert there is a stone deposit which will supply material foi- building jturposes , there is limestone in abundance and also a deposit of slate stone which can be used for door lin- tels, window sills and general decorations. There is an opening for a, (|uarry and limekiln to-dny. The town and district can also support a creamery, a meat curing f;ictory, and other similar industries. The l)usi ness men of Prince Albert ai'e entei'prising and j)ul)lii' spirited, and escr ready to give their means and time to advance the welfare of tlu; town and district The Dominion representative for Saskatchewan, Mr. I). H. McDowall, resides in Prince Albert and conducts a large sawmill business. Me intends to compete with the Hat Portage mills for trade on the C P. H. main line. Mr. McDowall is very popular among his constituents. The mayor of the town, Mr. Knowles, is the leading banker of the place. Me is always glad to give information concerning the counti-y, The (^)u<>en's Motel \a the leading host lery of th(! town. It is a loniuiodioushiiildingand mine ho.st, Oram, is well liked by travellers. It is a fact woith mentioning that, dry goods and provisions can he bought in Prince Albert as cheaply as in Winnipeg, iKstwithstanding the high freight I'ates charged by the old cart, trail. This is owing to the merchants being under but comparatively little expen.se for rent, salaiies, etc IMUXCR AMIKRT DISTRICT. Tn speakingof the agricultural disti'iit wliicii surrounds Prince Albei't it is .safe to gi\»' the fullest freedom to oner's (expressions in singing its jiraises The limits of the agricultural section of which Prince Albert is the centi'e extend to P'ort a la ( Vtrne on the east, and Muck Lake on the sotilh. Fori Tarlton on the w. st and the lake district twenty li\e miles to th(! north. The area compreliendel by those limits comprises many thous- and acres of the choicest agricultural and mixed lands, which stand in tluMi" virgin state, inviting the faruK'r and stock raisei' lo come in and occupy them. The physical features of the count ry contain all I lie re(|iii sites for mixed farming. Side by side nat\ire has furnished with laml of unsinpassed rich- ness, water, wood and hay, in s'lch (|uantiti«!s and in such a way Ihal e\(iry farmt !• may have on his homestead a gro\e of timber, a lakelet and liay in abundance The country is totally diU'ei'ent fi'oin the prairies of Manitoba and the plains of A">sinil)oia and A Iberia. i'lesides Iteing rich it possesses tiio charm of pictures(nieness. It rolls back from the river in hillocks, ])lateaus, and lidges ; at short intervals there is a grove of limber and then a lakelet, here and there a dell, now a creek, now a, long inclined olain, etc., re<'urring successiv(age in Ontario, are unknown at Prince Albert Of all the locaUties tributary to Prince Albert perhaps the most inviting is that known as the Shell River country which lies northwest of the Saskatchewan, a region which is to be surveyed and opened up for settlement at once, and which is within easy reach of the town by a good trail. It is drained by a beautiful gravelled stream of cl^ar water bordered by the most luxuriant hay meadows in the country. The whole region is interspersed with clumps of spruce of good growth, furnishing a supply of the building timber of the best quality. Clear lakes, generally abounding in fish are numerous ; game abundant, and the quality of the soil itself is all that could be desired. Indeed it would be difficult to exaggerate the interesting features of this beautiful re- gion which is of great extent, and is entirely unoccupied as yet by settlers, and untouched by the speculator, or the landed corporation. The reserves of the Hudson's Bay Company end with the north branch of the Saskatche- wan ; colonization companies have no footing here ; no railway reserves have been established, and therefore the immigrant will find in this region a fair field with no interested speculator to stand betwixt him and his patent. Prince Albert as It is. Summarisecl from "Th« Commsrelal," Feb. 2nd, CSOI. Parties who have visited this town since the railway reached it a few months ago invariably express suiprise upon finding such a thriving place. They expecttd to find a little frontier hamlet of rudely constructed build- ings, and with little sign of civilization. This was the belief of the lepresentative of TliK Co.MMKHCIAL who visited Piince Albert a short time ago. But this idea is soon dissipated. Instead of this a well-built town of about 100(1 p«)pulation, with fine brick schools and churches and tp'endid private residences is ffurd. "Why is it, they usk, that Prince Albert has grown to be Huch an important place, situated »w it was nearly .^00 miles from a railway I 'I'wo main reasons ca;n Vie given in explana- tion. First, there is the great wealth and wonderful natural advantages rf the country sunounding, and secondly, the g««ographical position. In the latter respect, the pbice occupies a natural, geographical position for an important city. It marks the boundary between the great fertile prairie which extends westward from the Ked Hiver, and the great and valuable northern forest, which extends away through to Hudson's Day. It is a natural railway terminal point. It is situated on a great system of nitoba. Tt i^ zzards." The leather being ate is simply ight is longer lock at night 3 to the ripen - tistance from nigrant from and an occa- province of ;h damage in tributary to Shell River lich is to be within easy 'ul gravelled dows in the Jce of good est quality. ' abundant, Indeed it beautiful re- by settlers, he reserves Saskatche- ly reserves this region his patent. h1 it a few ving place, i'ted build- «'f of the sshort time milt town "(lies and at Prince 'as nearly explana- [|vantag«'8 position. position at fertile [real and Mj's J]ay. system of -27— navigable water. Besides its geographical position, the natural advantages of the surrounding district were such, that parties who visited the district decided to remain, being convinced that in time these natural advantages would assert themselves, and that Prince Albert would become an import- ant city. These far-seeing pioneers have made the place what ic is to-day. When we consider that Prince Albert has attained to a place of such importance without the advantages of railway communication, we are bound to believe that the future has great things in sto»*e for the metro- polis of Saskatchewan. Prince Albert is an incorporated town. Among the local institutions is a board of trade. Here is also located the court house and jail for the territory. 'Ihe other district offices are also located here, including the following : Sheriff's office, crown timber office, land office, office fishery inspector, forest ranger, inspector weights and measures, etc. A consider- able force of Dominion Government Mounted Police is also stationed here, and a large barracks has been erected for this force. An electric light company has recently been established. A hospital is among the proba- bilities for this year. The religious life of the cotumunlty is shown by the following denominations having churches : Presljytnrian, English, Catholic and Methodist. The social societies are Masons, Royal Templars, St. Andrew's ; also several athletic clubs. Those who fancy that by going to this district they will be deprived of educational advantages for their children will see that they are laboring under a great mistake. There are few towns in Canada of the size of Prince Albert which enjoy as good educational facilities Not only can the common school education be given, but there are also good facilities for higher education. There are three common public schools within the corporation, and one public high school, eniployin^ half a dozen teachers in all. Two of the school buildings — the central and the eapt end public schools, are fine two storey brick structures. An enlargement of the central school is contemplated this year. There are also two Catholic public schools, employing one teacher each. Besides the public schools there is Emanuel College situated near the western limits of the corpor- ation. This college is conductad by the English church, and employs three teachers. Then there is the convent of the Catholic church, for young ladies, employing a large stall' of teachers. An academy under the auspices of the Presbyterian denomination was also established some years ago. This was destroyed by tin^ last year, but will be rebuilt next sum- mer. This shows that every care has been taken to provide for the education of the rising generation, not only in the rudimentary brHiiches, but also in higher education, such as is usually only obtainable in larger towns and ulties. Lumbering is the principal local industry. There are tv>o saw mills, one curried on by the firm of Moore it MacDowell, and the other by Jas. Sanderson. There are also one or two small portalde mills ia the district. Handerbon's mill is located at the west end of the town on the river bank. The capacity of the mill is 10,000 feet of lumber per day, besides lath and shingles, planing machine, etc. Moore it MacDowell's mill is locatcul at the east (m(\, a short distance b(>yond the corporation Iin)it8. It has a capacity of r)0,000 feet of lumber, 35,000 shingles and 'J0,000 lath, per day of ten hours, also planing —28— machines, etc. Besides the mills there is a sash and door factory. Mer- cantile institutions in all lines of trade are well represented, and there are two important financial institutions, one being a branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada and the other Jas. MacArthur's private bank. Homestead Regrulations. All even numbered Sections excepting 8 and 26 are open for Home- stead entry (160 acres) by any person sole head of u family, or any male over age of 18 years. Entry Entry may be made personally at the local land office in which the land to be taken is situate, or if the homesteader desires he may, on appli- cation to the Minister of the Interior, Ottawa, or the Commissioner of Dominion Lands, Winnipeg, receive authority for some one near the local office to make the entry tor him, A fee of ^10 is charged. Duties Under the present law homestead duties may be performed in three ways, to be decided on making entry : 1. Three years' cultivation and residence, during which period the settler may nob be absent for more than six months in any one year with- out forfeiting tha entry. 2. Residence for three years within two miles of the homestead and afterwards actual residence for 3 months in a habitable house erected upon it prior to application for the patent. Ten acres n)ust be broken the first year after entry, IT) acres additional in the second and 15 in the third year ; 10 acres to be in crop the second year and 25 acres the third year. .'3. A settler may reside anywhere for the first two years, in the first year breaking 5, in the second year cropping said 5 and breaking addition- al 10, also building a habitable house. The entry is forfeited if residence is not connnenced at the expiration of 2 years, froui date of entry. There- after the sett'er must reside upon and cultivate his homestead for at least six months in each year for three years. Free Homesteads Can be had within easy reach of Railway and in the Rich Districts of Carrot Kiver, Stoney Creek, Birch Hills, Shell River, Carlton, etc. J. McTAQQART, DoMiMutN Lands AtiKM kok Prt.nce Albert District, Prince Alukut. Ql C T] F( ( Mer- tre are perial three LAND DEPARTMENT. QU'APPELLE, LONG LAKE AND SASKATCHEWAN RAILROAD & STEAMBOAT 00. CHEAP FARMING LANDS i^OI^ ^.^IvE^. TERMS— One-tenth Gash, Balance in nine equal annual Instalments. Interest 6 per cent. For Local Iiifornmtion concernlufif these Lands, call on H. W. NBWLANDS at Prince Albert. HILLYARD MITCHELL at Duck Lake. FOR FULL INFORMATION APPLY TO OSLER, HAMMOND & NANTON 381 Main Street, Winnipeg. THE y \DVA^TA(5ES (# ^EitL WE HAVE TO OFFER : T 'i^ T" T" T- 'T GLIMITE - - (leap, Equitable, Healtliful. A ootinti-y XJlXeClXialled KOJ« JMi3^i5i> i'x\.i