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32X

DOMINION OF CANADA,

I'KOVIXCK (IF ()NTAKI(».

INFORMATION FOR IXTFNDLNTx SFTTLr:RS.

TUB

Farming Lands

ALGOMA AND NORTH NIPiSSING.

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THOSE I'ARTS OF THE DISTRICTS
BEST ADAPTED TO A(;RICULTl RAL PI RPOSES.

I'rejMli'i'il II iiilvl' Iii!<ti'iiiiiiiii)i t'l'inil tin' Cniii nl laniuiuf' nf ('riiifn Lidiiln.

PRINTED BY WARWICK .'^ SONS, SO a.m. 28 FRONT STREET WEST,

1885.

PR]

"ja

DOMINION OF CANADA,

PROVrNCE OF ONTARIO.

INFORMATIOX FOR INTENDING SETTLERS.

THE!

Farming Lands

ALGOMA AND NORTH NiFISSING.

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THOSE PARTS OF THE DISTRICTS
BEST ADAPTED TO AORICULTURAL PURPOSES

Pr,p<,red under Tnxtrwtwns from the Commissioner of Crmvn Lands.

PRINTED BY WARWICK & SONS, 26 and 28 FRONT STREET WEST

1886.

<;1]

hi
so
ill

tl
R

THE COUNTRY NORTH OV THE MATTAWA RIVER AND

LAKE NIPISSING.

Lakes, River.s' and Agricultural CapahilitwH.

Oil the north bank of the Mattawa a range of hills, of no great elevation,
runs nearly the whole way from Trout Lake to the mouth, and between
their base and the margin of the water there are good mixed wood flats,
with elm, ash, maple, and a few oaks ; but the slopes produce soft woods
chiefly, the prevailing species being red pine.

To the north of Upper Trout Lake there is an extensive spread of flat
hardwood country running in an cast and west direction, pos8<;ssing a good
soil, consisting of loam in some places and clay in others, and the timber,
in a great measure, composed of black birch, maple and basswood.

Associited with this tract is another, at the distance of Ave miles on
the west side of Seven League Lake, on the Ottawa, between the ^lattawa
River and Lake Temiscaming, running in a south- westerly course to the
vicinity of the Mattawa, and icaehing as high as the Galere on Lake
Temiscaming, thougli it is not there much nearer -he lake than it
approaches the river lower down.

Lake Temiscaming, a magnificent stretch of na\igab]e water, the
largest and deepest on the wiiole course of the Ottawa, extends seventy-
five miles without any obstruction to vessels of the largest tonnage. It
consists of three lakes, the lower, middle and upper, connected by narrow
straits.

The Upper Lake extends from Fort Temiscaming to the " Head."
This beautiful sheet of water has all the characteristics of a true lake. It
is from six to eight miles wide, indented with deep bays, bold promontories,
steep cliffs and low banks, and is studdel with picturesque islands, two of
which are of considerable size.

The Montreal River, its largest tributary, as regards both extent and
volume, takes its source at the northern height of land, flows for about
sixty miles in an easterly direction, and sixty miles more south-easterly,
and disciiarges into Middle Lake by several mouths.

Tho River Blanche, which derives its name from the white or turbid
colour of its water, diHcharftos into Lake Ten.iHcaniing at its "Head," and
is navigable for twenty-five miles. The area of the clay land drained by
this river has been estimated to be between nOO and 600 square miles,
equivalent to twelve townships of fifty square miles, or 32,000 acres each!
This is the largest area of land lit for settlement, in one unbroken clay
block, in the unsettled portion of Ontario.

The limit southward of this tract of good level country is associated
with a change occurring in the .,uality of the rock formations of the dis-
trict in the vicinity of the mouth of the Montreal River on the right side
of the lake, and a few miles higher up on the left. The unbroken mono-
tony of the hard syenitic gneiss, constituting so much of the banks of the
lake and main river further down, here ceases : a more distinctly stratified
set of rocks, of a less crystalline and more easily disintegratmg character,
presents itself. The ranges of the hills b.-come more determinate, the
valleys wider, and many of them are occupied by clay lands. At its very
extrenrity both sides of the lake present a favourable aspect ; good strati-
lied limestone there makes its appearance, constituting the large islands
already mentioned, and the promontory separating the east and west bays.
Its escarpment does not exceed 100 feet, and it runs northward into the
interior with an even continuity of height, which can be followed by the
eye for miles.

The marshes, arising from the sediment deposited by the Blanche and
other rivers at their mouth.s, are extensive, and produce an abundant
supply of good meadow hay.

The general character of the country south and east of Lake Tama-
gamingue is undulating but not very broken. This lake is a fine sheet of
very clear water, abounding with bass, pickerel, pike, and salmon trout,
and filled with islands. The scenery is beautiful, resembling that of the
Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence. This lake has two outlets, one
flowing south into the Sturgeon River, which empties into Lake Nipissing,
and the other flowing north into the Montreal River, which discharges
into Lake Temiscaming. Numerous lakes, of various sizes, are dotted^at
intervals over this country. Otter Tail Creek is the principal stream
falling intu the Ottawa.

Throughout the whole of tliis region there is good clay soil along the
flats of the rivers and creeks ; generally, however, a sandy loam prevails.

After travfAi'siiiji; tlio TowiiHliip of Widditicid, on tli" iiorth-i'ivat hIioiv of
Lake Nipissini,', the land desoondH ;,'niduully to the iiortli, sliowiiif^ a level
country of hardwood tinilicr, with here and tliere some rock, and generally
a good loamy Hoil.

Tinning east, between townships 17 and IH,* (hi the nineteenth mile
from tiie boundary of Springer, the country is flat in some place;;, Imt
generally undulating, with fair soil. From the twenty-tirst to the forty,
fourth mile on this line, there in a good tract of country with rolling land
and good soil, tit for farming purposes, the timber being chiefly nuiph! and
bluck birch, of large growth mid ifodd i|uality, with some good scattering
pine.

Tiie Township of Widdifleld (No, 17) is nearly all good hardwood
land, and is by far the best township in thisst^ction of the country. Finer
hardwood bush i.s rarely seen. There are a f(>w bass-wood trees, iron,
wood in some places, aad a grove of beech on the cast boundary, a few
miles north of Trout Lake.

Townships 22, 23, 27 and 28, contain a large percentage of good land,
with considerable pine.

Townships 1, 5, S), 13 and 18 also contain a fair percentage of good
land, with very little pine. The tind)er is chiefly balsam, spruce, birch,
with occasional patches of hardwood.

The Jocko lliver runs eastward through a tine tract of country to the
River Ottawa.

Sturgeon Eiver, emp >:.Lg into Lake Nipissing, is a fine deep stream,
having an average breadth of six chains to the first fall, about six miles
from its mouth.

The Veuve, or Widow River, empties into Lake Nipissing, about four
miles west of Sturgeon River.

Lake Nipissing lies inunediately above the 4Gth parallel of latitudf;,
and across the 80th of longitude. In form it is very irregular, Init has an
extreme length, east and west, of about forty miles, and a maxnnum
breadth, north and south, of about twenty miles. Its area in round num-
bers is about 300 square miles.

•These numbers have reference to an exploration made by the Department of Crown
Lands in 1882, and are applied to towiiships lyiiiir east nf the Township of Springer and
the Indian Reserve, which, with the exception of NVidditield, have been outlined, but not
surveyed or named.

rh.,. northerly shores of the lake an, low, generally of Hat ru.-k and
sand, an.I tho water shoal upon a Handy hotton>. Its waters pass out intr>
French Kiver by thiuo distinct outI.,t.s through myriads of islands

The French River, though sonu.(in.es n.er«ing into one vast lake Ih
throughout tho greater part of its length, divided i,>to two „,ain chann.'u
Fron. Its entrance on Georgian Jiay to its outlet on Lak. Nipissiu,, the dis"
ta..ce 13 ahout forty n.iles, and the navigation is ol.structed l.y 'falls a,,,!
rap.ds. The scenery of the Thousand Isles of tho St. Lawrence is tan.e
and uninteresting as compared with the endless variety of ishin.l and Lay
granite elili; and deep sombre delilo, which mark tho character of the
beautiful, solitary French River.

HEIGHTS ABOVE TH J SEA.

The height of the surface of Lake Temiscaming at its head above the
waters of the St. Lawrence at Three Rivers, which is about the highest
point affected by the action of the tides, is 612 feet. The level of the
Mattawa, at its junction with the Ottawa, is 519 feet 5 inches.

The height of tho surface of Upper Trout Lake, the source of the
Mattawa, is 690 feet, and of the height of land between it and the Vase
Rivei- on the canoe portage, is 7 1 4 feet 5 inches.

The fall from the height of land to the River Vas., at the end of the
portage ,s 22 feet 11 inches, and from this point to Lake xXipissin. the fall
18 26 feet 6 inches, which makes the height of Lake Nipissing above the
waters of the St. Lawrence at Three Rivers, 665 feet.

The ascertained height of the surface of Lake Huron above the sea.
according to the Michigan surveyors, is 578 feet.

NORTH SHORE OF LAKE HriiOX.

Rivers, AiiricuUural CojmhilUies, Timber, He.

Six principal rivers, besides several of inferior note, flow through this
country. The principal are the Thessalon, the Mississaga, the Serpent the
Spanish, the White Fish, and the Wahnapitae, of which the mouths' are
from fifteen to tiiirty miles apart, The Mississaga and the Spanish are the
largest two. the reported length of the former being 120 and of the latter
200 miles.

sea.

In the valleys of all the principal streatiiH there are exteiiHive Hats of
rich and deep soil, producing maple, oak, elm, birch and basswood, besides
occasional groves of both red and white pine of large size.

From Sault Ste. Mario to Root River, the suifaco is generally hivel,
with a slight iiieliiiation to the (vxstwanl, or towards (iarden Rivca' ; the soil
is here a fine sandy loam, and the subsoil a reddish l>liie clay.

Root River, flowing south-easterly, is a small stream, emptying into the
Ht. Mary River on the westerly side of Little Lake George ; it is shallow,
with clear water, rapid current, and gravel bottom. The soil on both sides
of the riv(M' is good. Northward of the river for six miles, the surface is
gently undulating, broken hero and there by the rock ridges prev' .ujly
described, the soil and timber being the sa'iio as on the south side.

In rear of this, a valley of seven or eight miles in width extends east-
ward to the high land surrounding Echo Lake, and westward to the Gros
Gap Range at the Foot of Lake Superior, its regularity br oken here and
there by similar ranges of rock.

Garden River, flowing southerly and south-westerly, empties into the
St. Mary River a short distance eastward of Little Lake George. It is a
fine stream, having a general width of abo it th-eo chains. Hero, wheat'
oats, maize, potatops, and grass, grow luxuriantly. The soil on the V)anks
of this iiver, and for a considerable distance inland on either side is of the
best quality, being a fine rich sandy loam, and the timber is large and
thrifty.

The valley, entered northward from Root River, is again seen presenting
the same appearance, and stretching eastward to the high land surrounding
Echo Luke. Through each of these valleys there usually flows a pretty
brook of clear water, taking its rise from one or other of the picturesque
little lakes which lie on each side of the watershed.

To the east of Echo Lake, and northward of the limestone point on the
east side, there is a tract of fine land, heavily timbered with maple, elm
and bircV, interspersed at intervals with groves of hemlock and a few pines,
with cedars in the hollows and swa'ups.

The Thcssalon R-.ver, with its chain of lakes and mill-sites, flowing from
the north-west, empties into Lake Huron about twelve miles eastward of
the Bruce Mines.

The land on the margin of the river is of good (|uality and heavily

pme Ks also scattered througi. this section ' ^' ''"'^' ''""^

.^.o.r;:r:::^ ::::----- ^^ '- ^- ^^^- 1,. co..^.

of the chain T ^ ^"'^ ''''' ^'■°'" ^^^^rt Lake, the second

, being deep and nd, and the timber principally hardwood
Aorth and east from Lake Deception, the third of the series H
extensu-e tracts of excellent land, timbered chieily vthhr.^od '■'':, '"
tracts extend eastward to thp at;. • , Jiardwood ; these

™.« 0, the co^eofUk: 2" "'''"■ '"" =°"""™'-" *" "■'""" '-
aid oi Pomt il,es»l„„ „, „t ^s entrance into the lake a |m,„ 1 ,

nawgafo,, s, however, ,„,,e,|e.| („„,. „,;,,, f„„, '"'

™..ge, crossing the river, f„„„a a fc.ll of five feet.

At the mouth of the river the land is low «„,! s,va„,„v but fl, ,
n»e, gradually, a„d at the distance „£ one and a hJ Zf ' , r'i

«.« ;.anl..s on Wth sides are high, and the sl^.d " 'it Z ! u^ t

black .„.Mvhu: ash, a'd :::,;* '"""'• "''"■ "°'"- ^p--. '»'»■«.

Between the northerly li,„it of the Indian Reserve and Little White
K.ver, a south-west «„wi„g tributary of the Mississa,., there i 1 tic

WW.?,, ir*""'" '"''"' "' '"' ''"'-"»'• North :r„Lt

Wh te l>,ver there ,s a flne block of land extending nearlv to the G, md
Portage, .„d stretching to the eastward for a considerable 'dis'a,"e

ente?L.1'fH,f r"; '°™"'^ "■" '"*" ""'" »' "■« '"J.an Reserve,
Lake Hn.on about tour miles east of the Mis,,issaga. '

Serpent llivor enpties into a deep bay or inlet of Lake Huron about
twenty-five miles east of the Mississaga. The bay into which it empties
is uni;urpassed as a harbour. At the mouth of the river, on the west-
erly side, the land is of good quality, but low and level. Ascending the
river the scene in lugged and rough, the rock ranges running close to the
margin of the stream and parallel to it. In rear, however, on both sides
some valleys of good hardwood land are meet with, more particularly on
the west, being a continuation of the -.alleys from the east bank of the
Mississaga.

Spanish River, which is navigable for thirty miles to craft not drawing
over five feet, falls into an e.xt- sive and beautiful bay, land-locked by
islands and projecting points fiu . the main land, the communication to
the eastward being through a narrow but deep channel, called the Petit
Detroit, between the southern extremity of the peninsula and the eastern
end of Aird Island. From the Petit Detroit to La Olochc the outline of
the coast is irregular, being indented by deep bays and coves, which in
-some parts are perfectly land-locked by groups of long, low and narrow
islands running parallel with tlie main shore, and affording excellent places
of shelter for all classes of vessels under almost any circumstances.

The hills bordering on Spanish River seldom attain a heidit over 300
feet, but the banks of the river itself are frequently bold, precipitous and
rocky. At the great fall a picturesque and imposing ruggedness prevails.
A ridge of smoothly polished bare rock rises in rounded knolls, so steep in
places, as to ])e inaccessible, obstructing the south-eastern flow of the river
and splitting it into two parts, of which one turns a little to the northward
of east, while the other is deflectod to a precisely opposite course. Tlie
latter, after running above a quarter of a mile, is thrown in a beautiful
cascade over a precipice thirty feet high, and then turning abruptly to the
eastward rushes violently for thirty chains in that direction, falling in a
vertical sheet over three successive steps of five f..et each, wlnm it is again
united to the other division of the stream in a wide pool of nearly still
water.

Much of the country for some distance back from the north side of the
river is flat or rolling land, and is almost everywhere covered with a lux-
uriant growth of red and white pine.

The extent and value of the pine forest in this region, the facility
otTered by the river for navigation, the water-power to be found on the

^ s'^o't small and sometimes rapid streams

of fla ;::,"iit;::";"'f"r *-- «-''™ -^ -^e,.* t.ao.
...d z;; ''°""' """ =™* ^»^*" °f *« fl"3 «™ >"w, -t

VenL iorn:. "hch, flowmg gene,.,,^ south-^esterly, »„,.tic» into

Of the vZI^r' ""'" °"' °' ^""'-''* I""'- T1.0 '-„ks

coil and ,°b H , """"" " ™'^ '""""« Warance both ..regards

InlanJ tT , ""■ P"""'!'""" 5f« ""d thriftv ^ardw„„d

prevail,, „l„,e „alt, elm, and white ash being abundant

spok*! " ™""'-"' " ""''*" '"™ "^ "■- »- '«'"' above

waters edge ,vthb,rch, poplar, nmple and oa':, „„.l take, its name from
the pecnlmrly bo„„tif„| „,„„ „t ,j,„ fo,i„^, ;„ „,^ ^^^^__^^^

Orain, root crops and 'ndian oorn tlonrish hero to perfection
On the south side of the height of land, and coming down in son,.
marKed, hk„ ,h„t fo, „ ,„„ j^,,_^y^ ,,.^^^^^_^^

Those are not generally very deep, one, esnlt of which is that the water
heated by the sun's rays become., n.noh warn.er throughout than the 1
of I^kes Huron and Sur,»rior. The climate of a wi.'e belt „£ lerritor,^

1 aZ°:;t ',":"""' "^ "" ™ '- """- °' ^■"= ■■— - a'° - -^

ot the cultivation of many of the most valuable kinds of Iruit.

Kast of the Bruce Mines, in the valley, of the Thessalon and Mississaga

iil for raising-
ity that -t is

ile or less of
stances from
reams.

arable tracts
3d and large
re low, wet

water and
tupties into
sasu hiancli

The banks
1 as regards
I subsoil of

1 ardwood.
appearance

ce most of
lake above

red to the
name from

11 in some
before re-
of lakes,
the water
the water
rritory is
ir. a'l and
' to admit

lississaga

Rivers, all kinds of crops flourish well. Spring wheat grows from lour to
five feet high and thir-k on the ground, yielding from twenty-five to thirty
bushels to the acre. The oat crop ic remarkably good, and y-.Ms fron)
fifty to seventy bushels per acre. In this section of the country there
is a good opening for stock raising, and stock farms with large clearances
can be had at reasonable rates.

LAKE SUPERIOR REGION.

Jiivers, Soil, Timber, Agriclutural Capabilities.
Between Salter's Lake Huron base line and the Goulais River, a distance
of ten miles, there is a large proportion of good rolling land, occasionally
broken by hills of trap rock, heavily timbered with maple, birch, balsam,
spruce and some pine. The soil is a sandy loam, changing to rich clay
loam in the valleys.

The Goulais River flows in a south-westerly direction through a valley
varying from one and a-half to three miles in width, and empties itself into
the bay of the same name. It is navigable for small boats for abouL twenty
miles. For the first twelve or fifteen miles from its mouth the banks vary
from five to twelve feet in height, and are in general of clay or gravel. The
soil in the valley of the river is of excellent quality, giving growth to large
maple, birch, elm, ash, and softwood trees.

Leaving the Goulais River and proceeding north, the country for some
miles resembles that just described. Hills are seen in some places from 300
to 600 feet in height, with greenstone, trap and gneiss appearing on their
summits in ragged cliffs ; while their flanks and the intervening valleys
shew good loamy well timbered soil.

On approaching Lake Superior, the country, generally, is mountainous
and barren.

Between Point Corbeau, on the north shore of Batchawaung Bay and
Mamainse, there is a fine tract of richly- wooded land of some miles in width,
and of a rich productive loam, giving growth to large maple, birch, oak, etc.

Batchawaung Bay affords a constant supply of the finest trout and white
fish.

The surface of the countiy between Batchawaung Bay and Montreal
River, though a good deal broken, contains in some places low hills and

valleys of yood soil I'l ♦ • i

»— ■So,,es.„clo,,„,„,,,i„„,^ J;"'™' •" 1-isl.l, flort,„ a„^jh
l*«l. «nd balsam. '"• *" f '*™''"'S <i">b"- Leing spruL,

^--ts;:;;:!!,^:::;-:-:;;™-;. <» -pee.., ..„, „„,„

" I'tll. wc« of «„M, i,„„ Lake .Sune „ , "■"" °°'' '" " ""™''»"
Mo..„,a, River. The „„aUer *ea If I "' '""" '° ""' """'■ »'

well a. i„ e,e-y „«.»,. „art „« U e lI s ,„ n ""' ""■ "«"=• -

well .atered by , J„„ a,„, aL, .t I"" - "'' '■'" """'""^ "
excellent fish. *"'"='' •"""»■" "'"".v varieties of

The second river in noint nf ..-

'■' «- "ichipiece,,. itisiia r:,;::' : "r"' ""--' -' ^^'^ ^-p--.

in the interior. It ]„, been f„'r „ "^ '■'"°''' ''"•' '"''"" ■" "« ''«
Hudso„Wiay,o„,p.„,wZs , a?..'"" "" "^ """" "^ "«'
-. the princiH Z.^, ^^^2^7^:^ '""" '"*°"'' "^'^

The Hudson\s Bay Co.nnn ' • < "'"Pany is at its mouth.

R.vers, and passes through a fine "^.i °' "" ''"""P'""'™ "d Agawa

»ap.e, birch, balsam and s^aee, a n !l LdT"' "'" '""''"" "'"
lakes. *^ ' """WM by numerous streams and

.enii:: j;:rz:^:v::irr ^ '"^^^^^^ ^°^ --y ™^'- -^^ a

banks, which ...e .eneraUv of , 1^"' '"^ ''"^ "''^^ ''^ ^^dth. Th.

generally of day, and low, rise in son,e places to 70 or

"*-»f»imf.!»iJs^,.',lj|

, uiaple, an
;ed over this

^11 lakes, and
ittle south of
3ion of wild
ing through

'!• tlie most
itii. Afaple
3ing spruce,

rout, flows
ix direction
e north of
I' wJiicli it
">" feet in

•-•liange in

Jlere, as

ountry is

fieties of

Superior,

i rise far

by the

)n's Bay,

■ mouth.
B. Marie

' Agawa
5d witli
ms and

with a

■ The
70 or

80 feet. There are nmny points on this river of rich clay soil givin.
gn>wth to en. hirch, poplar, and black ash of large si.e. lu ^!:2

of bricks or hne pottery, may l,e got in abundance.

The Neepigon Biver, the largest on the north shore of Lake Superior
takes Its nsein Lake Neepigon, flows through several smaller lakes, and
empties Itself through a wide deep channel into Neepigon Bay A the
eastern side of its entrance, bold precipitous greenstone cliffs, severa
hundred feet in height, overlie a red soft rock of a soapy structu e, ThTh
>s used in the manufacture of pipes. In the valleys between the e cl fl'
and on he west side of the rive, there is excellent soil heavily timbe d
Ihe water of this river is beautifully clear, and swarms wiLpeckled
trout, weighing fron. one to twelve pounds. About 30 miles up, Lake

b-e ir ;: '^T-- T' '^'° ' ''' -^^^^^ -length and eOm^les in
and contain m abundance flsh of every variety taken in Lake Superior

on tl" ''\f ^^'^°" '^°""*''^ '"^^ '-g-* tract of good land appears to be
on the south-western side of the lake. From the .Xonwaten River north
wardtothePagitchigama, a distance of flfty miles, the country is ot
paratively level, and the soil generally fertile. This tract is rep'r eZd
as continuing nearly to the Eiver Winnipeg, and becoming more gene^
level in receding from Lake Neepigon. The rivers entering in th s part of
Lake Neepigon, as far as examined, were found to flow with tortuou
courses between muddy banks of clay, overspread with fine sand.

There is a considerable area of good land around the bottom of South
and Memtyre's Bays, and on the peninsulas east of the latter Day,
Gull Bay. ^rom the mouth to the first rapid on the Poshkokagan the
loamy banks of the river are from twenty to thirty feet high. The iiv
Ka^n tot, a . ,0 crooked that by following its windings from the mouth
to he portage leading to Chief's Bays, the distance is estimated to be
u ly thirty miles, although it is only nine miles in a straight course. Oi
both sides the country is level, and the soil sandy, supporting a growth

T^:Ta:d f r ''' ""'" ''''-' ''-'' '-^' «« 'v reputed fires
Ihe land is free from stones, and very little labour would be necessary to
make it ready for the plough. ^

The Kaministiquia, the only river on the Canadian side of Lake
Superior navigable for large vessels for any distance from its mouth, flows

1 +

into Thunder JJaj- at i'ort Willi,.,,,. p„,. ,,„. ., ,,,

course, it wind, tl,ro„gh a rich v«ll,.v of ,1 , ""'"' °' '"

Township, of Nccbint and Pa ,„ '° ' '" "" """'' "' *«

'o for., L in ....u,;z:,irh"cr '.::"" ;7r r «-

and pine, with a thick nndorbrush of lowering shrubs'' ' """"

to .e«. one to doubt the feasibiiit, c^S; iTtlrel';:" '" "^ "°~

J::rr:oro;\r^,i:; rjrriir r-''-^'"^ '-

the Pic River and LakP V«. • ^'"^ '^"P«''ior, between

xMver and Lake Neepirron, is comparatively level ^vUh
.S0.1, generally dry, hut in places interrupted bv .Zl '^""^^

rocky ridges. The sand is underlaid 1 ,^li!u I ^'^T' "^"' ^°"
occasionally con.es to the surface. ' ' "^°""' ^'^^^ ^^^'-''

The drift, which has come from the nmfl, „ *. i . .
and boulders of the paleozoic l^^l^r:^;: r v'^ ^T
direction. These are washed out and .xpo ed in b r , f '" *''"*
along rivers and brooks, especially at rapTdslnd U ^''"' "'^'

burning into lime. Th fossils wh h Tb " P'°" ^'''"'^'''^ ^°'-

and indicate tlH. Niagara formL:''^' ^' ''""'''^ '"' "^^^*^^ «"^^^«^^
In going from Lake Superior, through this country to tb„ n .
the Albany Rive, no difference is observed in the charac'ter of tr '
tation, which may be accounted fn. ^ ., ''"'^'^^'^ter of the vege-

«outhern p„t, tojther ^^ T' o* \ :rri„rr°v' *•

»erts upon ,t. Oats and barle, are sucLsfui ^ I, t .t ""Tr

.o.etijofhar.esti„r:::ir;d:r;;ir;:sr:r^^^^^^^^

ifAINY EIVER, AND RAINY LAKE, LAKE OF THE WOODS

AND RAT PORTAGE.
This luost iu,porta„t section of the Province lies between the height of
l.nd west of La.e Superior and the Winnipeg River. In its ^
aspect ,t ,s a hilly and broken country, intersected by rapid ^.0^^
w.de.pre.d lakes. The hills, however, do not rise to ay geat eZil

liles of its
itre of the
? from five
■ch, spruce

' scarcely
the flora

which lias

, Ijtweeii

■1 a sandy

and low

ty which

I pebbles
in that
kos, and
;able for
silicified

'alley of
le vetife-

of the
superior
ig Lake

thrive
rost up

)ODS,

ight of
eneral
rs and
ation,

1.)

and there are several tine alluvial valleys, the ...ost extensive of wl,i,.l, is
that of Rainy River.

The lakes and rivers present long reaches of navij^able water, the prin-
cipal of which, extending from Fort Frances to the western extren.ity of
Lac Plat, is 158 miles in length. Dense forests cover the whole of this
region, and the most valuable kinds of wood are seen in various places and
m considerable quantities. Elm is found on Rainy River, and white'pine
is abundant on the waters which flow towards Rainy Lake On the
Sageinaga River, and on the Seine and Maligne, there are extensive forests
of red and white pine. Occasional white pine appears in the beautiful
valley of Rainy River, and on the islands in the Lake of tI,o Woods.

The approach to Fort Frances is very beautiful. As we near the outlet
of Rainy Lake, and enter Rainy River, the right bank appears very much
like a park, the trees standing far apart, and having the rounded tops of
those seen in open grounds. Blue oak and balsam poplar, witli a few
aspen, are the principal forest trees. These line the bank, and for two
miles after leaving the lake, we glide down between walls of living -a-een
until we reach the Fort, which is beautifully situated on the right blnk of
Rainy River, immediately below the Falls. All sorts of grlin can be
raised here, as well as all kinds of garden vegetables. Barley, th- ^e feet
high, and oats over that, show there is nothing in the climatl or soil to
prevent a luxuriant growth. The length of the river is about eighty miles
The right, or Canadian bank, for the whole distance, is covered with a
heavy growth of forest trees, shrubs, climbing vines, and beautiful flov/ers
The forest trees consist of oak, elm, ash, birch, busswood, balsam, spruce,
aspcn, balsam poplar, and white and red pine r.ear the Lake of the Woods'
The whole flora of this region indicates a climate very like that of the old
settled parts of Ontario, and the luxuriance of the vegetation shews that
the soil is of the very best quality.

The name of Alberton has been given to the settlement at Fort Frances.

Of the lakes in this section, the Lake of the Woods is the most extensive
From Lac Plat, which may be regarded as its western extremity, to White
Fish Lake, which is a somewhat .similar extension in uu opposite direction
the distance is not far short of 100 miles, and from the mouth of Rainy

Rive,-, at the entran,. „f the lake, to it. outlet at Hat Ponaje, i„ l„t 4r
. north, a„d lo„s. 04- ,r »est, the distance i. a,,,,,. „, J, '^ „„ , '^
.ha a, „,ethe.. H oceupie, an a-ea of a„„„t ,i»tee„ h„„<,„,., ...L, L

.s,nte.pe„ed with i,l.„*, „„ ,o.. „, „hieh the ,„. ,„ ,' It '

ZIhT '""'.■"•"="'°™'' -^ I-- -- known it fail, H wo ,,1 he
oftl„.slake. rsland„»e ,„ continuou. clusters, and in every variety of

shut ■„ soon ag.,„ ,t opens out, and through Ion,- vista, a glance il
obta,ned of an ocean-like expanse, where the water. n,.et the horil,.

CLIMATE, AGRIOULTURAL RESOUWJKS .STOCK
RAISING, Etc.

efth''''w"t°!,"'V"'°"°' "•"''"" '""" '^'" Nipissing to the Lake

, 7r ! T "" "' """' '' *™'"-''"^ '- »■■ •" -rls.. than i
a the Cty „f Ottawa. Only i„ one locality between these two pi
the snow found generally so deep as at this city, nau,ely i„ the h,,!. d ,
neighhourheod of Lake SapeHor, where the L apper to aT „ ^

:!r:;:„!::r"' " *= ""-^- -'■ '■■ — » -

The clhaate of the territory north of the height of land is one of
xtrena ,. The wrnters are cold-thc tcnperature tailing s„,uo.i„„, l'
low a, forty degrees hslow .ere of Fahronheifs ther„,o„,eter, and oecas io^
aU r.s,ug .n s„„„„er to ninety degrees in the shade on the coast of James'
Bay. The n,ean temperature of the summer at Moose Factory is ahont
Sixty degrees. "^ """"k

In going northward, from the height of land to James' Hay, the climate
does not appear to get worse, but rather hotter. This „,ay he due to the
constant d,mmut,en in the elevation mere than eounterhalaneing for the
tncreased lat.tude, since in these northern regions a change in altitude
affec s the c .mate much more than the same amount of ^ang. tu d
affect ,t m place, further south. The water of Jan,..- Hav may also ,, ,
a favourable i„«„enee, the hulk of it being made up i„ the !„: Z

of warm river wator, wliioh uccumulates in tho head of the bay, and pushes
the cold .sea water further north. I'lie i,'i cater proportion of day to night
during th(( summer months may he another cause ot' the comparative
warmtli of this region.

The rainfall at Moose Factory forms no criterion as to what it is on
the southern hi^'hiands, whei'e, without lieing too wet, there is sufficient
rain ami dew to support the must luxuriant vegetation. The snow fall at
Moose Factory is n(jt nearly as heavy as it is south of Lake Nipissing and
French Kiver.

The following tal)ies of tcniperatnre anil rainfall at Port Arthur
and Moose Factory are taken from the report of the Meteorological service
of Canada, for the year ending .'Jlst Deeemher, 1881.

PORT AKTHTI!.

issi

Mkhu ti'iiijierature nf tlii' i

several iiioiitiis. I

Highest tenipeiiituri' In uucli j

month. I

Lowest teinpi'ratiiiH in imuIi

iMDnth.
Haiiifall in inclics in lacii

month.

►^

. 'r^ 1

■fid

si 1 1

^ !^

t I ^

IMull \

O'.'i 10-7 2r)-,s;iiL'.")0- 1 ."ifi.">](>7-l (;4'4 53-7 40 (i 22il'21'3

i i I i I ! 1 ^ i

2!)S38-4 45Tj71-8|70«;80-7

3«G|2r)'4

,S8-(i

85 '0

12'0| 3-ll20-2|2<)oi43-2

72-3

6'J-8-K)-.S42'K

0-00

Nninber of days on whicl
rain fell in each month

;h ) !

• r °

0-00i000l0'7(>3'23'l.74

3| 101 8

38'0l330

15 -31 13 '3

2.71

! I

2'97 7:iSi2-0«il-00

li)-4

000

<i| 15 5! 21

I I I i

MdOSK KACIORV

IM.S1,

Mi'ilii t.'iii|)ciatiiie of fhu

sevunil iiioiitliH. j

Hijfh.'Mt tHiiipcratuif ill ciich

lllDIltll. j

Li)Wt'.st teiM|i('i-iit,iiri. ill each 'i I —

y'2o \\m-rA4'>

inoiith. j i

47'4«4-0(10-8

' I I
r,(J-H7!C0 83'0|!H)r):>W5l7(j«

sinaao

14-3

irit

ri-2r,20;;«7 1

Rainfall ni iiK'lii'^ in f.wU ) ', '

montli. J-{0-^:Oa0 010 0.1.!|0-.Vi;v5.S

Nlllul).-]' (,f ,l,iy. ,,11 Wllicli \ 1 '

rain fell i„ ,.hi;Ii nionth. }■ " 1 :i ."), H 14

14 oyfiHj4ir) ;wa,Mr>o 12 r. aici 222

I i

I'i' i:«| iri

ow'ooo

Agricultrual operations have l.een ve.y Ii,„ited north of the height of
and. rt ,,s only at the fu,-trading posts of the Hudson's Hay Oo.^.any
that any attempt has been nK Je to cultivate the soil. '

Farming and gardening h.ve I.eon successfully carried on hy the ofH.-ers
of the Company at their posts on Lakes Mattaga.ni and Missinil.i. At the
latter, sprmg wheat has l.een found to ripen well. At Moose Factory
although the soil is a cold, wet clay, with a level, undrained surface, farm
and garden produce, in considerable variety, are raised every yePr Oats
harley, beans, peas, turnips, beets, carrot, cabbage, onions, tomatoes etc '
are grown w.thout any more c.re th,.n is re,p.i....d in other parts o^
1 jinada. '

Wheat may be successfully grown where the soil is suitable in ail that
p.trt of th:s temtory lying to the south of the Hftieth parallel of latitude
Then.ean ten.peratureof the sununer south of that parallel is sufficient
to npen tins ce.-eal. Indeed wheat has been grown at Abbitibbe House
Plyng Post, and New Brunswick, on or ab3ut the forty-niuth para!i,.| and'
at Lac .>,eul. between the tiftieth and fifty-tirst parallel. Indian cora .

s a

morn d-licHt. plant th.u. whoal, l.as con.o (o .naturity ..t O.sMal.ursli Houho,
oil l^ik(^.St. .Joseph, north of the Ht'ty-lirHt |.anill..|.

iJaWey, oats, rye, peas and l.euns sucrood woll. Th.. invariahlo ex.-H-
lenceof the oropB of th,. Windsor h,.au and th. kidn.,v-l,..an .t Moo.s«
Factory is surpri.sinj(.

The vetch grows wild .vorywher... l.ut nowh.Mv is it so ul.undaat as on
the coast of Junius' Hay.

Th.,v is prol.al.ly n., food plant that is likMy t,. I.,- of n.ore in.portance
to the inlml.itMnts of this territory than th.- potato. There is none the
<mlt,vation of which has been so sucoesHful in every part. Tin- titnes,
».oth ot soil and oli.nate for its growth has l.-en estal.lishe.l beyond dispute
\V hether viewed in reference to si.o, r.uantity or quality, the crops at Moose
Factory an.l Matawagannn.u. (L'.iO n.iles further south), will con.pare
favourably with those in the best potato-^rowin,, distri..ts in Ontario
Peaty soil ,s particularly well suited to the .rowth of potatoes. Then- are
«ulhons of acres of peat n.osses in this territory, very extensive areas of
wh.ch can be easily reclaimed, an.l when the country is settled and means
of transport provided, hundreds of thousands of tons of potatoes n.ay be
grown an.l sent away to supply the wants of other countries,

The titness of the .soil and clinuUe for the growth of root .rops will
«mke the breeding of cattle an.l .lairy husbandry in.portant resources of
this territory. An.ong these crops the turnip is entitled to a place in tl...
front rank. The carrot, beet, and parsnip can also be grown.

Cabbages, spinach, lettuce, mustard, cre,ss, and radishes, are grown with-
out any ch hculty. Rhubarb also grows well. The cauliHowe: appears to

be one of the surest crops at Moose Factory, and is s etimes ready for t

table as early as the fi.st of August.

Whatever doubts exist as to the agricultural value of the country north
of the he,ght of land in respect to its grain-growing ..apabiliti., there ca
be none ,n regard to its fitness to produce the more important roots and
gr sses. ^om the height of land northward to the coa' t of James' By
nothing on te north shor- . of Lake Huron or .Snp.Hor can exceed tlu-
luxunance of the native grasse.s. Cows and oxen are kept at all the pH^
cpal i,osts, and they are invariably found to be healthy and in fine 'on-

lUh

tii

a good ovideiue .,t tl... s.Un.i.iity of tlw. dimafc, and

i«p««rtur.'. At Moos., Factory, where soiuo sixty lu-.u!

t'xcfillont'd of
arc foiistautly

kept, a certain nmnl.-r an- siau-htrnvd .,v»,ry full, ,i,ul an, .luito fat,
altliou«Ii then taken "ttraiglit fnmi tin, yrans.

Th- only fruits il.u appear t.. 1„. ,.ultiv,it.'d ii. tin, ward.... ur.. th.. red
and hlack current and ranpL.Try. Tl... r.-il .urr.nt ih renmrkably prolific.
The struwlK.rry iin.l -...,M.|„.,ry ini-ht I- rai.s...l with little trouhl.., for they

are found «rowint: wil.l in many placs, and nouher on- ( .tifuily or

of fintM- quality than ..n tl,.. coast. The Imeklel-rry, or l.lu.h-rry is found
in great profuwion fn.ni tlw Ion- portages to the heiirht ..f la,,.], (n.leed
it may he said to al.oun.l from the c-oast of Ihulson's May to the shor.-s of
Lakes IFuron and Superior. it is nowher.- in gr..at..r profu...ioM or ..f fnwr
quality than on tin, height of lanti it.self.

Then- is another uiM tiruit which may he notie...!. This is a hush or
tr.'e not uidike the wild ..herry in appearance.* North of the height of
land, it attains a height in some plue-s of t.'n or twelve f..et, hut is .ren-
eruily .ihout six feet. The fruit grows singly, not in l.un.d.es or' clusters on
the tree. It is an ..l.long or pear shape, larger than the hlueherrv, hut
smaller than th.- grap... Wlmn ripe it is of a purple or hiue color. " 'ft is
sw.M-t.,r and has more llavor than the huckleberry, an.l is preferred by the
nativ.'s to it. It is to be found all the way from Jame.s' l^ay to Lake
Huron, l..ut nowhere in greater perfection than on the Mattagami River.
The fruit is not only pleasant and wholesome, but the juice would niake aii
e>"eUent wine, and the tree is worthy of cultivation and a place in our
orchards and gardens.

•This is |„„l,al,|y .\.H,.I;inchier.SHngiiin.,,., ., variety „f~th,. Ciuiudian Mi',\h