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Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: l6 synibole — ♦- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those tco large to be entirely included in one expoiure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top tc bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Las cartes, planches, tableaux, ntc, peuvent gtre filmds d des taux do reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seuj clichd, il est filmd d partir de I'angle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 CAf I ADT)R ■ ■ * -'* iPROGRESS REPORt ON THE CANADiAi^i Pacific lUiLWAY \ii '■J EXPLORATORY SURVEY. ffli '' AI)I)REftSEI> TO THE HON. B. 1>. LANGEVIN. C. B., Ml>MsTEn OF PUBLIC WORKS. BY SANDFORD FLEMING, ENGINEER-IN CHIEF. OTTAWA, APRIL 10th, 1B72. ♦ 1 1-3777. \ ) CA] Hon. H. Sir, I ha Canadian year. Accc Dominioi to the Pa the exist] The being to able and The Survey, i conduct ed best, i Kailway It V action as before th J \ PROGRESS REPORT ■ ' ON TTIK CANADIAN PACIFIC RAIL^A^AY > ; EXPLORATORY SURVEY. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, Office of the Engineer in Chief. Ollawa, lOth Aprii, 1S12. Hon. H. L. Langeyin, C. B. Minister of Public Works, &c., &C., &CC Sir, I have the honor to submit the tbllowiug preliminary Report on the Canadian Paciiic Railway Exploratory Survey, commenced in June last year. • - .^rn.. ..,,, "^ ,:.v:-.;- According' to the terms upon which British Columbia entered the Dominion of Canada, it became necessary to construct a Railway through to the Paciiic coast, from some point which would form a jvmction with the existing Railway system in the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The first important step towards the construction of the Raihvay, being to ascertain by instrumental and other examination where a practic- able and eligible line could be found, a Survey became necessary. The Parliament, at the last Session made a grant of money towards the Survey, and the Government subsequently appointed the undersigned to conduct it and to carry into execution such steps as might be consider- ed best, in order to discover ihe most practical^le line for the proposed Railway and obtain information respecting its general Engineering features. It was deemed important to take such prompt and energetic action as would secure as much information on the subject as possible, before the next meeting of Parliament. i r i^ifi The object of this Report is to give a brief outline of the steps which have been taken to accomplish the desired objects and likewise to prese?it in a concise form, the p,eneral results of the Survey, up to th(» present time. . • A point near the River Ottawa, opposite Lake Nipissing was selected as the eastern end of the Survey, this point, named " Mattawa," is lommon to and easily connected with the Railways, built and projecited, in Ontario and Quebec. The Terminus on the Pacific coast is still an open question ; its selec- tion will prol)ably be ^-overned to a considerable extent, by the compara- tive i'acilities for Railway construction presented by various ])rojected routes through liritish Columbia. At iiie outset of the (»nquiry all such information reo-arding- the country c^xtendinq- from Mattawa to the Pacific Coast, as it was possible to obtain, was carefully considered, in order to discover where the surveys should be made with the li'reatest hope of success. It was found that the o-oneral direction of the Railway Line would be n-overned, by certain important physical features at various points throuo-h the country to be traversed. Prominently amonsj- these maybe mentioned; 1st. the very rugg-ed country along- fhe shores of, and for some distance back of Lakes Huron and Superior ; 2nd. Lake Nepigon : -h-d. Lake of the Woods ; 4th. Lake Manitoba ; 5th. The Rocky Mountains, and lastly the Gold, Selkirk and Cascade ranges of mountains in British Columbia. The leading features of the country naturally divide the survey into three great divisions. Firsl. — From Mattawa to Port Garry. Second. — From Fort Garry to the Rocky Mountains, Third. — From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast; It will be convenient to refer to the subject under these separate heads. MATTAWA TO FORT GARRY. Very little information co\dd be obtained respecting a great extent of tlie country between Mattawa and Fort Garry. It had scarcely been penetrated more than a few miles back of the River Ottawa and the Lakes Tfuron and Superior, except on the canoe routes which lead to the outlying- posts of the Hudson Bay Company. Along the chain of Lakes extending Ironi Fort "William to Manitoba, however, its character was better under- hilood. :fr "VYhat Avas really Isiiowii of this country, particularly that loui"' stretch between the Ottawa and the northern bend oi" Lake Superior, indicated that it was not lavoarable ['or Railway construction. Along- the coast of Lake Superior, the ground was reported most im])racticable and forbidding It was deemed advisable therefore in projeetinu' ii chain of surveys, to make the attempt of piercing- throug-h the interior at a considera])le distance back I'rom the Lnke, in the hope of finding' ground free from those serious obstacles which presented themselves on or near the coast. It was at the same time considered important to make the attempt of linding a practicable line which would touch the navig'able waters of Lake Superior, at the nearest point to Fort Garry, viz : — At Nepigon, or Thunder ^ay. /■, -.,,,, , :,, ■ :„„ , _ -., \r The whole distance from Mattawa to Fort Garry was sub-divided into eleven different surveys or divisions, each from To to 90 miles in length, Mith the view of securing a continuous chain of instrumental measurements, with as little delay as possible. The whole country along the line of projected surveys, embracing an extent of not far short of one thousand miles, being densely wooded and without a road or trail of any description, made the prosecution of the work unusually diflicult. ■ ": A branch survey was authorized from the Nipissing district to Sault Ste. Marie, to connect with lines projected south of Lake Superior, and with steam boat navigation to Nepigon, or Thander Bay. To obtain as much information as possible within the year, an expe- dition was also sent northerly to .Tames' Bay. The last named expedition ascended to the head waters of the river Ottawa, and North(M-ly by the river A])bitibbe to Moose Factory, return- ing by Moose River and Michipicoten b'iver to Lake Superior. FOET GARRY TO TH?] ROCKY MOUNTAINS. The country west of Fort Oarr^^ consisting, for the most part, of open prairies, and being characterized, even up to the base o* the Rocky Mountains, by physical and engineering features, remarkable for their simplicity; a continuous instrumental survey was not for the present deemed necessary. A careful examination of all the information obtainable, showed, how- ever, that, as a general rule, the rivers of the plains west of Fort Garry, flow in deeply eroded ])e(ls of great widtii, suggestive of Bridging on a gigantic scale. 6 It was found, chiefly IVom the lepoits of the Palliser expedition, that the great tvouj^hs or valleys through which the streams flow, rans^e over a wide extent of conntry, trom 150 to 300 feet and even 400 feet in depth nnder the level plateau on each side ; these great river troughs are at the snrae time reported, not uufr(^quently to ])e about a mile and a mile and three quarters in Avidth. v It appeared, therefore, of the utmost importance to examine further into this subject with the view of finding a route for the railway through the central plains as direct as possibh*, avoiding as far as practicable, the obstacles referred to, or overcoming them at the least difficult points. A doiible expedition was organized to proceed T)y different routes, between Fort Garry and the two most eligible passes through the Rocky Mountains, xix : The Howse Pass and the Yellow Head Pass. The instructions giA'-en this expedition were such as to elicit the desired information. THE EOCKY MOUNTAINS TO THE PACIFIC. It appeared from all the information that could be gathered from different sources that, of all the passes through the Rocky Mountains, those named the Howse and the Yellow Head Passes, would prove most eligible for the Railway. Within the If ovince of British Columbia other most serious obstacles to Railway construction in any desired direction presented themselves, and the selection not only of one of these Passes, but also of a Terminal point on the Pacific Coast, seemed to depend on the success which might attend any attempt to discover the most practicable line for a railway across the interior of the Province. The survey in British Columlna was divided into Districts, one between Howse Pass and Shuswap Lake, a second between 8huswap Lake and the Straits of Greorgia by the Lower Fraser River, a third between Yellow Head Pass and the Upper Fraser River through the Cariboo country. Engineers were appointed to conduct the surveys in each of these Districts, and six surveying parties Avere organized, with the A^iew of thoroughly exploring the country, and gaining information which Avould lead to the selection of the most eligible line for the Railway. GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF STAFF. • In a work of such magnitude, beset with difficulties of no ordinary kind and under circumstances Avhieh called for as much inibjmation as possible, with tht' least posHi]>lt' delaj', i< was important to organize the staff on a scale and in a manner calcnlated to secure satisfactory results. The uninhabited, trackless and seemingly impenetrabh; nature of a great deal of the country to be explored, rendered it the more important that every means should be taken to prevent failure in obtaining- the inlbr- mation sought for, or disaster to any of the parties engaged on the several branches of the survey. A Commissariat Department was organized to attend to all matters connected with the procuring and transportation of supplies. As far as it was possible or expedient, a uniform system was instituted for operations in the field and for recording information ol)tidned. . G^eneral and special instructions were drawn up for the guidance of every member of the stall'. To simplify correspondence and lesson the chances of mistakes in connection with the Commissariat Department and also for easy general reference, the several divisions of the Survey were designated by letters of the alphabet and as reference will frequently be made to them in the detail Reports which accompany this, the following explanation is here presented : Division K. Extending from Mattawa to the continence ol' the Mon- treal and Ottawa Rivers. Division C Extending from the Ottawa to a point near the head of the Montreal River. Division I>. From the Montreal River to a point about midway to the west branch of Moose River Division BO. From the last named point to Moose River. Division F. From Moose River to Small Black River, north of Lake Su- perior. Division €■. From Small IJlack River to Long Lake. Division II. From Loiii;- Lake to Red Jtock, at mouth ol' Nepigon River. Division 1. From Red Rock to Lac des lies. Division li. From Lac des lies to the canoe route to Lac Seul. Division I,. From Canoe Route to Lac Soul, to White Fish Bay, Lake of the Woods. Division W. From White Fish Bay to Red River, near Fort G-arry. Division ^. Expedition northerly by rivers Ottawa. Abbitibbe, Michipi- coten and Moose, to James' Bay. ^1. J^ Tk- • • 4% ) Expt'idition to oxiimijic the coimfry west ol' Fort Garry Division O. ( ^^ Kootimie Tlaiu. luuir tho llowse Pass, and .Tasptvr House, ■ ) near the Yellow Head I'uss. Division il. Between the North Thompson and Yellow Head i'ass. Division It. Betw^een Cariboo and Tele .laune Cache. Division N. Between the Columbia River and How se i'ass. Division T. The Eagle Pass })etween 8huswap J^ake and the River Columbia. Division U. Between Lyttoii, on Fraser River and Shuswap Lake. Di\dsion V. From Lytion Southerly toward Ikirrards Inlet. Division W. From t^ault 8te. Marie along- the North tShore ol" Lake Huron to French River. As rai)idly as the various parties were org'ani/ed and Commissariat arrangements made, they began to move forward each to their respective field of operations. ^i The total number of Engineers, Surveyors, Levellers and assistants employed, together with axemen, b(;:itmen, packers, &c., would not he far short of eight hundred. The hrst detachment lei't by the River Ottawa for the interior on the 10th of .Tune. Those for the region north of Lake Superior left Colling- wood on the -iOth June. In British Columbia, a jmrtion of the statT left Victoria for the Mountahis on the :20th of July. * PEOaiiKSS OF THE SURVEY. Some general observations respecting the progress made in the prose- cution of the survey, may now be submitted. Full detail iiilbrmation, may be had on reference to the reports and documents which accompany this. • It has been found impossible to maintain regular communication with many of the parties engaged on the survey during the winter, but judging from the Progress Ifeports last received, the undersigned feels confident in stating that the surveys i^rojectcd in June last between Mtittawa on the Ottawa and Nepigon Bay on Lake Superior are uow% with one ex- ception, completed and that only two breaks in the survey exist between Nepigon Bay and Fort ("rarry. No serious engineering dilliculty has been met w'ith in i)assing from the Valley of the Ottawa to the country north of Lake Superior : it is impossible, The day on hich British < Joiumbia eriteiecl the Dci.»inii>n. r howev(M-, to speak so tavotival^ly of th(> country covered by Divisions li and II of the survo\ , embracing over one hundred miles «'a,sterly from the River Nepigon. This section is excessively ron<'h and mountainous, and the survey made through it, did not result in finding- a practicable line for the Railway.:; ^ . , "West, from Nepigon River to Fort Garry, althouiih two Divisions of *^^he Survey are incomplete, enough is now known of the country to war- rant the belief that it will admit of a practicable line with lavourable grades for the greater part of the distance. Explorations are now being- made with the view of ascertaining- how far it may be practical)le to avoid the very serious difficulties referred to on Divisicus Cj} and H, by running the Railway Line further in the interior ; it has already been found that the rocky and broken country, which pre- sents itself on the shore of Lake Superior, changes very much at a distance of 50 or ()0 miles to the north, and from what has been learned it is thought that a perfectly practicable Line will be discovered by the north side of Lake Nepigon. Definite information on this point cannot be I'eceived be- fore )iavig-ation opens between Collingwood and Lake Superior, when the parties engaged on the exploration are expected to return, but the Line drawn on the map by the north side of Lake Nepigon shows the general direction in which, from the very latest information received, a practicable and favorable Line may be confidently expected. The survey and exploration made from Sault Ste. Marie easterly along the northern shore of the Georgian Bay towards Lake Nipissing, establish the fact that a good Line can be had with very favorable grades. The expedition to James Bay had no difficulty in passing from the River Ottawa northerly to tide water at the mouth of the Abbitibbe, and in returning to Lake Superior by Moose River. The Report, which accom- panies this, furnishes some interesting inijprmation. The Expeditions sent out to examine several projected routes across the Plains west of Fort Garry, and extending up to th. 'lowse Pass on the one hand, and the Yellow Head Pass on the other, ha\ . returned after accom- plishing the service satisfaciorily. The information thus derived shows that on some ol' the routes, the cost of carrying the Railway across the River Valleys would-be very great, but that a comparatively favourable route in this respect as well as in others, may be had by following the general direction shown on the accompanying Map. This route, which from all i)resent information, appears likely to prove the most favorable, is shown on the Map by a Line drawn from a crossing of the Red River, north of Fort Garry by Dauphin 2 10 Lake, Swan River, the elbow of the North Saskatchewan, Battle River, Beaver Lake, and thence via the .Tasper House 'o the Yellow Head Pass. On some other rontes it was found that the great Rivers flowed in troughs, enormously deep and wide ; but the line drawn on the Map appears from all vhe information o])taii;ed to involve the least amountofBrioint at the mouth of the Skeena Iiiver. It is somewhat premature, however, to discuss the merits of any of these points without further information res]iecting the means of reaching them from Tote Jaune Cache. In concluding- a summary of what has been accomplished since the survey was instituted in June last, it is greatly to be regreildd that more definite information has not yet been recMved respecting the explorations now in progress east and west of Lake Nepigon, in the rear of the rugged belt along^ Lake Superior. Assuming however, and enough it is believed is known to warrant the assumption, that all diiliculties in this quarter will be obviated, it may be claimed that the practicability and the general direction of the Railway Line from Ottawa to Fort Garry, thiMice across the great plains and the Ilocky Mountains to Tete Jaune Caclie has approximatt^y Ix-en determined, and that from tin' Inst named poirii at least one line to the waters ol' the Pacific Ocean hat* been Ibuud practicable. It will br interesting to compare some of the features of the line re- ft ferred to in tho last paragraph wiih the Union Pacific Railway in the TJrited States, for this purpose a diagram accompanies this, showing thereon profiles of both. From this diagram it will be seen that the Union Pacific Railway=*^ extending from Omaha to San Francisco, runs, for 1,300 miles or three- fourths of its entire length, at a higher level than the YelL^w Head Pass, and that this point, the great atimmii of the Canadian Pacific Railway line, is less than half the elevation attained at several points on the line now being operated across the Continent. A Table giving the distances between some of the principal points in the counti-y extending from the ( )ttawa Valley to the Pacific coast is appended hereto. It is not to be supposed that this Table has any great pretensions to accuracy, except in the case of Railways built or sur- veyed, in other cases the distances are simply ascertained by measure- ment on the maps of the country, and it is not at all certain that even the best maps are free from grave errors. Be this as it may, there are lio means of checking the distances, until the chain of surveys are connected from end to end and the results known. It is believed, however, that even rough approximate distances may be useful to tho Government in consi- dering the question of the Railway, and for this purpose they are i)resented. One or two points brought out by the Table of Comparative distances are worthy of note. Montreal and Toronto are the chief Commercial centres in the Provin- ces of Quebec and Ontario, and it is important to ascertain how they can best be reached from a point in the Interior — say Fort Grarry. According to the Table, the distance betv/een Montreal and Fort G-arry by the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, is 1,180 miles, while by Rail- way projected through Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth and Pembina, the distance is 1,440 miles, and by way of Chicago and Si Paul, the distance is 1,843 miles — showing that by the three (i/J-rai/ routes, made or projected between Fort Garry and Montreal, the Canadian Pacific line is 2G0 miles shorter than the line passing throiigh Satalt Ste. Marie, and 663 miles shorter than the route at present travelled via Chicago and St. Paul. Taking Toronto aa a starting point, and using the Northern or Nipis- sing Railways as far as HraiM^bridge, thence connecting them with the Canadian Pacific liailvvay at Mattawa, it appears from tho Table that the total distance to Vovl Garry is 1,110 miles, while by way ol' Bracebridge, Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth and Pembina, the distance is 1,290 miles, and by way of Chicago and St. Paid (lie distance is 1,507 miles, thus establishing •Embracing the Contial I'ai'lttc Hallway. 14 the fact, that of tho three all-rail routes made or projected between Fort Grarry and Toronto, the Canadian Pacilic is 170 miles bhorter than the route via Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth, and close on 400 miles less than the Railway route via Chicago and St. Paul. It will be farther seen that, during the season of open navigation, the distance between Toronto and Fort Grarry via Nepigon, is 1,074 against 1274 miles via Duluth and that part of the Northern racific Railway east of Pembina — giving a saving of 200 miles in favour of the Canadian Pacific, and branch to Nepigon, of which saving 40 miles is rail and 160 miles water. Viewing the Canadian Pacific Railway as a '■ through" route between Ports on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the comi)aratiA^e Profile referred to in a previous paragraph, and which accompanies this, illustrates the remarkable engineering advantages which it possesses over the Union Pacific Railway. The lower altitudes to be reached, and the more favorable gradients, -ire not, however, the only advantages. , . u ,ix ivo. 1. 1^ TABLE OF APPROXIMATE DISTANCES. Canadian Pacific Railway, as projected on Plan. {See explanation, pag'e 10 of Report.) NAMKS OK PLACEH. Malta wii to Junction of NlpiKou hranoh Jiuictiou of Nipigon braucli fo Fort Gany Malta wa to Fort Garry . Nipigon brp.nch Fort Garry to Ja.sp<3r House. Jawppr House to Yollow Head Pass Yellow Head Paws to T6te Jaune Cache Ja«per House to T6te Jaune Cache Mattiiwa to T6to J aune Cacho Tete Jaune Cache to N(>w Westminister (Burrard Inlet) via Kamloops and line under Survey Mattawa to New Wesimiiiiste)- Intennedinte distances. Total Dis- tances. Miles. 580 320 Mattawa to Tfite Jaune Caclie (as alMwe) T6te Jaune Cache to Bute Inlet, via North Thomp.son and Lac la Hache. Mattawa to Bute Inlet. Mattawa to T6te Jauno Cache fas above) T6te Jaune Cache to Bute Inlet, via North Fraser River and Foits George and Chllcotln Mattawa to Bute Inlet . Mattawa to Bute Inlet (as above) Bute Inlet to Alberni Canal ( Barclay Hoiuid) . Mattawa to Alberni Canal. Mattawa to Bute Inlet, (a.s alxive) Bute Inlet to Victoria, (Esquimault Harbor). Mattawa to Victoria Mattawa to TOtc .laime Cacho (as alxjve) T6te Jaune Cache to Port Esslngtou, via North Eraser River. Mattawa to Fort Eisingtoiv. 120 ■10 60 iV'Ics. I Miles. »00 1000 100 2000 1.;>0 2,000 150 2,000 4.50 2, m 2,4,tO 2,450 2,150 l,fi()0 !,4oO 2.50 2,000 ,V() 2,700 2,.5l)0 11 18 COMPARATIVE DISTANCES. Names of places between Montrtal, TunJiiioiind Fort Clarry. Montreal lo Mattjiwa Mattawa t(> Fort (:»arry (CanaiUan I'acKic). Montreal to Fori Oarry (via Mj^ttawa). . . Montreal tc Mattawa Mattawa to Sault Wtc iMaric Sault Stfi. Marie to Ni^iitrf)n Nlpigon to l-'ort Garry (CauaiUan 2 Montreal to Fort Oarry (viaAlATTAWA, SAUi/r, andNiPioo;.). Paclrlc). Rjiil or Water. Rail, do do do Water. Rail. Montreal to Jlattjiwa ^Mattawa to Sault Ste. M;n'ie. Sault Ste. Marie to nuliitli. . . Dulutli to M0 140 1,10 2«0 IIHI •2.17 .512 1!»1 217 2S7 ni frlO no 700 2i;i 2;^7 480 440 Miles. 1,180 1,2(J0 1,440 1,843 1,407 1,110 1,110 1,290 l.iW? 1,074 1,271 Fort N Q 1 1: .— Wlu-re rvM' Fo;l Garry is mentioned in the above distances, the lower Fort Garry or Stone , ig the place meant; this being found the most eligible point for crossing Red River. 19 COMPAUATIVE DISTANOEtS. Description oi Hotito botvvoeii Atliuitlf and rtii-ifio < >ci'iin Ports. Snn Kranoisco to Now York.— irnloii IVifilif, Mlelilwiit fonlral and Now York Central. Now VVostininsKT til Motitronl.— Canadian I'aoinc, and f.inc to Montreal via (»tt«wa.... DiUoiviioe In iMVonrol't'anniliaii Itont.' 8an Krauclsco to Now York.— Tnion I'acilir, ■\lk-lnsan Conlri' a:'.! N'W- ^ ork ( ontral New Wos'tminstor loNow York.— ('anadlaii I'aoilic, St. IjUWI'iikv tV:i)itawa, (iffdci^^lmr'^di iV Koine, and Now York C'ontral DiHi'rcrico In IViVourorCai\adian Itoiilo Han Fmnclscn to Montroal.— Hnlon I'noitio, Mioliiw York Central, to Troy, Troy to New" WostniiVistor ' ui ' ■Bf)st!on,-Canaiiian' ' i'lu'ulUs 'ottaw;i. to j'lontreal, Montreal ui Roslou ■ DUlerenoo in favour of Can idian Itonte Han Francisco tfl Portland.- Ui-'on I^ioilic, Micliiiian Cent ra H ; i a nd 'I'niMk Uaihvav "vosiininstor lo p-)r1lan.d.-0anadlan I'poiflo, Oltawa A Meniival. (irand Trunk Hallway Piiloronoe in favour of Can idlan Route Miles. 2,7;{0 638 3,;!fla ..,058 305 .S,251 2,730 521 ••1,422 .•ijOHT 335 3,548 3,027 521 Note — T1>o dlstanc.o from Japan, China or the A-^iidie C oasi ixenorally, to Livorpool is from 1,000 to 1 200 miles less by tlie Canadian I'aeilie tlian by llie Cmoa i'.: -i ie llailway. In reference to tills iioint Pro- fessor Maury IT. S., writes :-"Tliotras risk aiv I e.v.,,M.ce." Tt must, however, bo clearly midei-stoi)cl that this advantage equivalent lo the distanoe heiween \ noouv.T Island an.l Ban Francisco, Viz. about 800 miles, Is indei»>ndont of and in aildition to llu- ^avin^■ of direct .lisfmce, by the f^anaiUau Route, given above. i i 1 Nil LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES. ' „ S Lat,. 10^— 42'— 12" N. NRW^oitK Lo'l. 71-00—00 VV. MONTRK -' lb; l.jd. t.r— ;;()— 17 N. ,on. 7,3 — oS —30 \V. I, r.at. 37—10-12 N. SAN 1' HANCI.sco ■, L^)„_ 122 -30 —12 W. New WErtTMiNHTEn I \2\^_ 122 Zrii Z30 vv .* 20 ^^1?»I*E1^J3IX TVo. S. Victoria, British Columbia, 2l8t March, 1872. SANDFOiv. Fleming, Esq., Engiiieer-in-Chief» C.P.R., Ottawa. Sir, — I have the honor to forward you a report of my proceedhigs smce the 29th of last July, on which day I received your letter of June 24th, appointing me to the direction of the surveys to be made in connec- tion with a railway through Canada to the Pacific coast, in the district lying between the mouth of Eagle liiver, emptying into the G-reat Shuswap Lake and the Lower Eraser River, Unfortunately, at the time of my return from the Great Bend of the Eraser, Mr. Watt, the gentleman appointed to act as Commissariat officer and Paymaster, and whom you directed me to confer with respecting all ne- cessary outfit and expenses, was absent from Victoria with Mr. McLennan's parties, and did not return vintil the 19th of August, Having had no oppor- Junity of consulting with him, or with Mr. Moberly and Mr. McLennan, whom I met for a few minutes only on their way up country, I was unable to move so actively in organizing parties to commence work as I could have wished. The time, however, was not altogether lost, as it enabled me to collect the necessary material with which to form my two parties — a work of very considerable difficulty, as nearly all the professional genilemen available in the colony were already engaged on the survey. r\!nowina- how small a portion of the autumn there was remaining suitable for ineld operations, and how desirable it was to obtain as much information as possible before the close of the year, I judged it advisable to commence work at the nearest point ; more particularly as it would embrace the canons of the Eraser and Thompson Rivers, which present the most serious obstacles to the construction of a railway. Having completed my preparations, I left Victoria on Tuesday the 5th September, and reached Yale (the head of the steamljoat navigation on. the Lower Eraser, and distant from New Westminster by the river about ninety-five miles) on the following Thursday, the 7th September. From this point I detached Mr. Hurd (whom I had placed in charge of the U party) to Lytton, at the contiuence of the Eraser and Thompson lUvers, and distant fifty-seven miles by the waggou-road from Yale; with iuoLructions to form a camp near that place, and survey up the left bank of the Thompson towards Eagle Pass, di I moved tho V party out to camp on Saturday, the 9th September, and Mr. Homt'ray, who had been left l)ohind ^hen we started from Victoria, having arrived at Yale on Sunday, I placed the party in his charge with directions to survey up the river to Lytton. On Monday I went over a portion of the line with him, and selected the toll gate neaT Yale as the initial point from which to commence the survey, directing him to keep as near as practicable on a suitable grade for the railway. The following morning, after seeing them commence work, I drove to Lytton, and found Mr. llurd had arrived with his party the day before, and had formed a camp about two miles above Lytton. The next day, Wednesday, 13th September, I spout going over th(^ line with Mr. Hurd, determined on the Court House at Lytton for the starting point, and the following day the party commenced work. I remained with them two days, advising Mr. Hurd as to the course of the line, until Mr. Watt arrived, when I accompanied him toKamloops, where ho purchased a train of twenty-six animals for the use of the II party in moving their camp, etc. I reached Kamloops on Wedresday, having taken th(^ opportunity to come up the lake in a canoe, so as to be better able to .judge of the nature of its shores. The horse trail by which I had always previously travelled takes back from the lake soon after leaving Savana's Ferry, and follows over very high ground in order to aA'oid the great Bluff above Cherry Creek, which rises nearly ptvrpeiidicularly from the waters edge to a height of about eleven hundred and thirty (1,130) feet above the lake. This bluff is about one and three quarter (1|) mile in length, and presents a very seri- ous obstacle to the construction of a railway. After purchasing and despatching the pack train to Lytton, T started the next day, Saturday, September 23rd, to make an exploration of the contry between the head of tli(^ Little Shuswap Lake and the mouth of the Eagle Pass, the result of which was entirely satisfactory, as I found that the line could be taken by either of two valleys to the south west or Salmon river arm of the Grreat Shuswap Lake, thus avoiding a long detour of many miles along the shore of the lake, which will at once be seen on referring to the map. The first line leaves thii little Shuswap Lake, at its head, and follows a valley through which an Lidian horse-trail runs to the Okanagan, with a general course to the south-east. By the second line the south-shore of the Q-reat Shuswap Lake would be followed for about four or five miles from its outlet, when the line would leave it, and running a little east of south, would gain the Salmon river arm at the same point as the first. The distance by the first line is shorter, but the height to ])e surmounted would b(^ somewhat greater than that by the second line. \ could not place much reliance, however, on the barometer, as the weather was very stormy and changeable. On resuming work I intend to run a level from, the Little Lake to the summit of the first Pass; and should I find the ascent too heavy, I shall continue od to the Q-reat J) 22 Lake, aiid run the line through the second valley to the Salmon river arm. From the mouth of Salmon Iliver I continued along the shore of the lake, which is much easier than I had anticipated, to the Shickamouse Narrows near the mouth oi" Eagle Iliver, where Mr. Moberley's district commences. The Narrows is a shallow channel coimecting the two lakes, and about I -ree hundred (800) ieet in width. The bottom is composed of sand and gravel, and the Indians have a fish-weir across it. The depth at the time [ was there could not have been more than four or live feet After spending some days in examining the country in that neighborhood, I returned by way of Salmon Tliver and Nicola Lake to Spence's Bridge (by which the Cariboo waggon road crosses the Thompson liiver twenty-three miles above Lytton), arriving there on the evening of Sunday the 15th October. f cannot help thinking that a bettor and certainly a much shorter line for a railway can be obtained by way of Nicola Lake to Hope, than the one surveyed last Autumn by the Thompson and Eraser Valleys ; and I will here quote what I wrote to you in my letter of the 4th November last, in reference to this subject: — "This route from Eagle Pass, by way of Salmon Iliver and Nicola Lake, otters great facilities for the construction of a railway. The gradients would bo very easy, and there are no heavy blufts to be encountered. A saving of from forty to fifty miles in distance would also be elfected, should any pass through the Cascade range be found by which to connect Nicola Lake directly with Hope, and all the difficulties of the catwm of the Thompson and Eraser Rivers would be avoided. Unfortunately the lat(>ness of the season precluded the possi- bility of my attempting any exploration of these mountains during the present year, but I consider it highly desirable that they should be examined next summer. The chief difficulty would be in descending to Hope, as Nicola Lake is nearly two thousand (2,000) feet above the sea." On my arriving at Spence's Bridge, I found that the U party had passed some days before, and were then camped about twelve miles above, on the left bank of the river. The next day I rode out to their ^Ttp, and iinding that they were getting on satisfactorily with the line, I ' em the following day, and travelled to Lytton, where I learned that 4 party had already returned to Yale, after completing the survey to place. 1 therefore proceeded on and reached Yale on the 19th October, .len I found that the party had arrived, and were preparing to survey from Yale towards Burrj:.rd Inlet. After seeing them commence work 1 started for Victoria for the purpose of obtaining several articles of which the party was in need, and arrived here, on Wednesday, October 25th. Remaining over one steamer, I left again on the following Tuesday, and joined Mr, Homfray's party on Friday, November 3rd, at the "Sisters Rocks," some ten miles below Yale, where I found them encamped, the line having previously been brought down to that point. 28 The weather, which hud hitherto been fine, now became very wet and stormy, and j>reatly retarded the progress of the survey. Deeming; it of the utmost importance, however, that as much information as possible should be obtaiuiHi befoie closing* operations for the season, I determined to continue the party at work for some time lons^'er, althouo'h at consider- able disadvantaj^e, giving- Mr. Homfray directions to break up the camp and return with his party to Victoria, when he foun it useless to cojitinue longer in the lield. Leaving Yale on Monday, Novem])er r)th, I reached Mr. Hurd's camp on Kamloops Lake, near the mouth of Cherry Creek, on Friday, the 0th, and found that the party had just completed the survey to that point. I spent that afternoon in company with Mr. llurd in e^xaminiug the Ureat Blull"; and the next day wo started to run the line over the crest of it, as we found it would be quite impossible to kec^p near the water's edge, the l)luir in some places being precipitous. The following day, (Sunday,) it was bitterly cold, with dri 'ing snow ; Monday was the same, so that the jiarty was unable to move out of camp. The winter had now set in, and consider- ably earlier than usual ; ])ut, in ignorance of this fact and in hopes that the weather would moderate every day, the j'ai'ty conthiued at work, and eventually succeeded in reaching the foot of the G-reat Shuswap Lake on December 4th. thus fuliilling the instr'ictio\is I had given them, and accomi)lishing the object I had in view. viz. : — to obtain a section from Lytton to the Crreat Shuswap Lake. After accompanying the party twenty miles beyond Kamloops, I left them and returned to that place on November 27th, when I made arrangements to winter the pack-train, and store the balance of the supplies, camp equipage, &c., uii the return of the party. I left Kamloops on the 1st December, (at which time the Indians were, crossing horses over the Thompson on the ice,) and reached Cornwall's, on the waggon-road the next day, when I engaged wath him to s(^nd his waggon to Havana's Ferry, and bring the party down to Lytton. On the morning oi the 3rd Decem- ber, the thermometer at this place (Ashcroft) stood at 20'^ below zero. I reached Lytton on the 4th Decembcn-, and Yale on the 7th, the travelling being very bad from the quantity of snow and ice on the road. On my arrival at Yale, I found that Mr. Homfray had not yet returned to Victoria, having gone into winter quarters at Hope, some three weeks previously, with all its purty. The Ibllowing morning I started early in a canoe, and, calling at Hope, gave Mr. Homfray strict injunctions to store all his provisions, &c., and bring his party down without further lost^ of time to Victoria. The same night I reached New "Westminster, where I was detained three days waiting for the steamer, and finally reached Victoria on December 12th. Mr. Homfray arrived with the \ party on the 16th, when the men were immediately paid oii"; and Mr. Hurd with the II party, on the ibllowing Saturday, December "iOth, when his party, was also paid ofi" and discharged. f '■'EM I' 24 ,/ * r Ir Having thus given you an account of the operations for the season, of the two pa'-ties in the field, I may here stnte that the result of their work may be considered satisfactory, since it has established the fact that an easy grade can be obtained from the Pacific Ocean to the mouth of Eagle Pass ; and the surveys made by Mr. Moberly's parties by th valley of Eagle River, across the gold range to the Big Eddy of the Columbia, and from the mouth of Blaeberry River, through Howse Pass to the Kootani Plain, on the east side of the ocky Mountains, prove that these two formidable mountain ranges can be crossed vrith much less difficulty than had hitherto been believed possible. Although the V party was unable, in consequence of the earliness and severity of the winter, to reach tide-w^ate:, as I had one time hoped they would be able to do, the section is not in any way materially affected as the survey has been brought through the Cascade Range to the wide open valley of the Lower Fraser, and the fall irom the closing part of their work, estimated by barometrical observations, is only 232A feet, distributed over a distcce of sixty-nine (69) miles. There is still, however, a good deal of A'ork to be done to reach the sea from Hope, as the line will have to be carefully explored in order to avoid numerous sloughs, and ground overflowed during tho summer freshet; and as most of the country is covered with very heavy timber and a dense undergrowth, the progress of this portion of the survey must necessarily be slow. J^ong bridges will be required to cross Harrison and Pitt Rivers, which can be constructed of timber as no ice or drift logs run down them and they have very little current, the waters being backed up, in the summer, by the Fraser. i In addition to the plans and sections on the large scale directed, I have had a smaller section made, which will show at a glance the relative heights from tho sea to the G-reat Shuswap Lake, and also a plan, on the same scale of two miles to the inch, of the whole district from Eagle Pass to Burrard Inlet. On it I have marked, by a firm red line, the course run last autumn from Hope to the Grreat Shuswap Lake, by the valleys of the Fraser and Thomjjson Rivers ; and by a red dotted line, the portion at either end yet remaining to be surveyed in order to connect Eagle Pass with the Pacific Ocean. I have also laid down on the map my exploration by Salmon River and Nicoia Lake, so that you may thus be better able to Judge of the ad- vantages a line by that route would possess, should 1 be successful this summer in discovering some pass throv.gh the Cascade Mountains by which to descend to Hope. Although thf section by the Fraser and Thompson Valleys shews a very easy grade, and a large po'-tioji of the country is favoui'able for a rail- way, particularly from Spencer's Bridge to the Shuswap Lake, excepting only the dreat BluH" near Cherry Creek ; there are serious difficulties to be encountered in the Frase^- Canon and between Lytton and Spence's Bridge. The first twenty-one miles from Yale, until China Bluff ia /U a passed, being one continuons snccession of precipitous rocky points and side hills, broken only in a few places by gravel benches. From China Bar Blu.T to Lytton, with the exception ol" Jackass Mountain and the bluff six miles below Lytton, the country is much more favorable, as a number of gravel benches can be followed. Above Lytion there are several rocky points to be passed before reaching the Nicaomin, and one about three miles beyond that stream. The rest of the line to Spence's Bridge would run along the face, and at the foot of steep gravelly hill sides. There is one point, and only one, on the whole line where wet and springy ground is met with, at the Mud Mountain so named, between pegs 901 and 919 from Lytton. The soil at this place is composed of a reddish yellow mci:l intermixed with fragments of rock and alkali, anr". appears to be con- stantly but slowly being pushed down to the river by the superincurabe.it mass . The slope is not steep, the angle being about 25 degrees, but it extends a very considerable distance up into a gorge of the mountain. It evidently rests on sloping rock, which, indeed presents itself at the bank of the river, where it has a precipitous face of about lifty feet in height. In the spring this ground is very rotten and treacherous, and it is with difficulty that the drains can be kept opened ; later on in the summer it becomes hard and compact, forming an admirable road. At Spence's Bridge, formerly Cook's Ferry, the open bunch grass country fairly commences and continues without interruption to the foot of the Little Shuswap Lake, beyond which point the country is thickly timbered with fir, pine and some cedar. The formation of this section of the country is very peculiar, being composed, like all the \"alleys east of tiie Cascade Range, of a number of benches rising in succession one above the other, of greater or less height, and broken at intervals by rocky points. Many of these flats or benches are composed of very rich soil, and raise large crops ot grain and vegetables, where water can be obtained for irrigation ; others again are somewhat stony and gravelly, but they are all covered, as well as the high bald hills behind them, with a luxuriant growth of bunch grass, on which cattle and horses become fat very speedily, and keep in condition through- out the winter. On the Bonaparte and Thompson Rivers, and in the neighborhood of Kamloops, there are many tine farms, upon which a large amount of grain is raised, but not nearly to the extent that is possible, the market at present being very limited. Most of the settlers devote their attention to the raising of cattle, which are easily driven to the mining districts, and find there a ready sale. Six miles from Yale on the waggon-road, limestone is found, from which !ime of excellent quality has been obtained for building purposes. The lime for the masonry of the Alexandra Suspension Bridge was burnt here. Limestone also appears on both banks of the Thompson, about eight miles above SpeucVs Bridge, and at ISickola Lake and other points. ./! . J?« At Nickola Lake there has also been discovered a cieam of coal of superior quality, and six feet in thiclcness. Small quantities have, from time to time, been packed down on horses to Cook's Ferry and Lytton during the last two or three years, and it is highly esteemed for black- smithing purposes. For a more detailed description of the country and the line run, I would refer you to the plans and sections, and to reports and diaries of the two engineers in charge, Mr. Hurd and Mr. Homfray, which I forward with this. I also send a short report from Mr. McClure, explf natory of his section from Yale to Lytton. In luture I have directed that the level be run on the surveyed line, unless where prevented by some insuperable obstacle. The dotted line ^ ' the jilans will sho\\r where deviations, froni the traverse line run, are suggested. I also enclose with the plans the originals of all the field notes, copies of which I have had made, and shall retain for reference here. I have also kept copies of the plans and sections. Annexed is a statement of the total expenditure on account of vhe two parties up to the 31st December last, amounting in all to $24,211.76 ; deducting from the sum the value of stores on hand, pack-tram, &c,, it will be seen that the actual cost of the work done under my charge is $16,716.10. I am glad to be able to state that I heard from Kamloops last week that all the animals of my pack-train which I left there in charge of Captain Lay ton, had survived the winter, and were improving in condition. Immediately after despatchinrr the plans and reports, I shall send out the two parties to resume the surveys at the points where they discontinued work last winter. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedieiit servant, JOHN TRUTCH, District Engineer. / it ^iL.t»JpjA:i> oix :vo. 3. {Progress Report from Walter Moberly, Esq., in charge of the District between Great Shuswap Lake and Kootanie Plain.) Victoria, February 24th, 1872. Sandford FLEMiNa, Esq., Engiiieer-in-Chief, Canadian Pacific Kailway, Ottawa, Sir, — I have the honor to for vvard you a repoi t of the progress made in carrying out the Exploratory Survey, of the "Howse Pass District" of the Canadian Pacific Railway, of which 1 have charge. I am glad to be able to inform you that my explorations last season, in connection with those made in former years by me,^ of that portion of British Columbia, situated between the 40 and 52 parallels of North Lati- tude and extending from the gulf of G-eorgia to the ensterb'' boundary of the Province, and thence easterly along the valley of the North Saskatche- wan river to the north eastoly end of the "Kootii lie Plain" have resulted in the discovery of a tolerably direct and practicable line for a railway from the "Pacific Ocean" to the "Kootanie Plain'' ; and, considering the nature of the country west of the water shed of the llocky Mountains, a much more favorable line than was, previous to those explorations, expected. (See Capt. Palliser's Greneral lieport. Dated April 4th, 1862. Page 16. "Objection to a line of railwav across North America to the Pacific") As a detailed report of the District extending from the westerly boundary of my District to the Pacific coast will be furnished you by Mr, John Trutch, the Engineer in charge, I shall in this report confine myself to the limits of my own District, which includes the most formidable mountains in the Dominion, viz. ; The Rocky, the Selkirk and Gold ranges. I arrived at Victoria from San Francisco on the 18th July last. Mr. R. McLennan who has charge of the explorations tna the 'Yellowhead Pass:' Mr. G-eorge Watt, Paymaster and Commissariat OIHcer of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the rest of the stafi" ap]^ minted in Ottawa also came by the same boat, We used oar utmost exertions to get the ditterent parties, together with their supplies and instruments, en roiUe for tl?e interior, but experienced some delay as many articles had to be made before leaving Victoria, and the ma-jority of the men needed to fill the parties, engaged. We were also unable at first to get pack animals or other mod(^s of conveyance for the transportation of our supplies, &c., to the remote por- tions of the country to which we had to repair. We, however, managed to land the advance party on the mainland of British Columbia, on the 20th of Julj'^ — the day upon which it became a portion of the Dominion of Canada— and on the 25 th of the same month the rest of our parties destined for the Yellowhead and Howse Passes sailed for the Fraser river. •Exploration."? have also been made, by others, of th^ country below Kamloopi. * Mr. Arthur Sehvyn, Director of the Provincial Geological ''urvey, and his party also left by the same boat. I landed at Hope wilh p;'rty W, which I decided to send that way to Wild Horse Creek in the Rocky Mountains and thence to the "Kootanie Plain" or the westerly end of the "Howse Pass" as circumstances mij^ht shew to be most advisable. Mr. McLennan, Mr. "Watt and Mr. Selwyn with their parties and also my party T went on to Yale and thence to Kamloops, where I arranged to join them as soon as I had seen my party S fairly off. Fortunately on my arrival at Hope I found that the mule train I had arranged to purchase before I left Victoria from the Hudson's Bay Company, would be in town the following day. The morning after my arrival I formed the camp and on the arrival of the animals I took possession of thera, but was again disappointed in getting off, as the packers in charge of the train would not enter our service owing to the distance we were going away from their homes ; I was therefore obliged to telegraph to New Westminster for others, and as soon as they reached Hope I put the train and cargo into order, and on the 31st July got it and the whole of party S oft, having arranged with the Engineer in charge of ihe party that T would overtake the party before it reached "Wild Horse Creek. The purchase of the above pack animals turned out to be a most for- tunate investment, not only on account of the low rate at which I got them and the increase in the value of animals within a week after their purchase, owing to the demand for animals to convey freight into the Peace river mines but more especially as there were not any other trains on this routv^, and without them I should have been compelled to take the party via Yale, Kamloops and Osoyons Lake, and thence by the same trail ina Fort Shepherd, which they bllowed to "Wild Horse Creek, which would have involved a heavy extra expenditure, an increased distance of over 200 miles travel and above all such a loss of time that it would have prevented the party reaching the source of the Columbia river before winter set in, • The same day party ^i left Hope, I went by canoe to Yale and on reaching that town found Mr. Watt had been obliged to go on to Quesnel mouth, to see that party R were provided with supplies and means of con- veyance to get from that point to "Tete .Taune Cache," owing to the above he had not been able to arrange for various supplies, &c., which were to have been purchased at Yale and forwarded to Kamloops; I. therefore re- mained over a day at Yale and purchased and arranged for the forwarding to Kamloops, of a quantity of supplies for both Mr. McLennan's and my own party IT. The following morning I went on as fast as possible on my way to Kamloops, but as a letter from Mr. McLennan reached me on the road stating that he could not get the necessary pack animals for his ser- vice at Kamloops and requesting me to arrange for some beef cattle, I saw one of the cattle owners on the Thompson river and purchased 22 head to be delivered at Kamloops in four days from the date of i^urchase. I after- Wards found that I might have i>urcljased cattle somewhat cheaper on the 1^ Thompson river but placed as I was, and not wishincf our parties to bo delayed I could not run the risk of not having; beef cattle on hand. I then proceeded to the mouth of the Bonaparte river to try and purchase a mule train I heard of in that vicinity. I. could not see the animals that day as they were in th(^ mountains, but arranged to meet the man in charg-e of them some 1.5 miles further on the following- day. When having seen the animals I purchased them under agreement to be delivered to me together with aparahoes and rigging at Savona's Ferry the next day. 1 reached Savona's Ferry the same evening, where I found my T party, a portion of Mr. McLennan's and Mr. Selwyn's party. I had the hnfeau then at Savona's Ferry loaded with supplies for T party and gave orders lor the whole of that party to go on to Kamloops the following day. I then hired a canoe and in company with Mi. Selwyn started for Kamloops which we reached the following morning, where we found Mr. McLennan very busy preparing for his trip up the north Thompson river. The next day, August 7, I started the whole of party T with supplies, &c., by water for the west- erly end of the Eagle Pass with instructions to pusli the survey through that Pass to the "Big Eddy" on the Columbia river, and thence along the right bank of that river in the direction of the " Boat Encampment,'" with the utmost vigor. The result of their work you will find in detail on the plans and profiles and in the field books, diaries and reports of party T furnished me by Mr. Mohun, Engineer in charge, which I now forward to you. I sent Mi . A. S. Hall, Assistant Commissariat Olficer, over by Sey- mour and Grold Creek with instructions to examine the country from French Creek to the mouth of the Blaeberry river, in order to ascertain if I could get animals over from La Porte, the head of steamboat navigation above Colville, to the Howse Pass as it would greatly facilitate and cheapen the conveyance of my supplies into that Pass. Mr. Hall was then to proceed to Wild Horse Creek and meet party H and myself. I remained at Kamloops until the 15th day of August assisting Mr. McLennan to get his trains and parties ofi', and then started with a lew horses for Wild Horse Creek via Colville. I was surprised to see the quantity of fine agvicultural and pasture land along the Shuswap and Salmon rivers and in the vicinity of G-reat Okawagan Lake, many settlers have occupied land in this section of the countrv since I was there in 1866, and o-ood wheat and ()ther cereals of a very superior quality, and vegetables that cannot be surpassed are now grown there ; they also raise cattle and hogs, and with a market, of which they stand much in need, this portion of the Province would sustain a large and prosperous agricultural population. At Oscyons Lake I was detained two days making a contract with a packer to carry goods I intended to purchase at Colville, from thjit place to Wild Horse Creek, and also to got two horses for my own use. I reached Colville on the 27th August and arranged with Capt. A. T. Pugston, owner of the steamer " 40," to make a trip up to the " Eddy" with a load of supplies'for party T ; next day I went on about lt> miles to the American garrison and town of Cohille where I purchased al)Out 40,000 lbs. ot supplies, one half for the ;•> and the other hall for tlu; ";' party. On the 30th August I left Colville and proceeded by the long and tedious trail 1 via Spokane, Pend'Oreille Lake, and a portion of the Fort Shepherd trail to Wild Horse Creek, which I reached on the 13th September, having overtaken the J* party and train on the 11th. I found my party had to open the trail for a distance of from 200 to 250 miles, as the old trail, which had not been in use for three years, was blocked np with fallen timber and the fires that had swept over the country had burned up all the bridges and corduroys. Mr. Hall reached T'ild Horse Creek thc^ day before I got in. I here found the supplies you telegraphed to have forwarded to " Fislier- ville" before I left Ottawa, ready for me, and a most fortunate thing it was that they were sent on in advance, as it enabled me to set my train at work with hardly axiy delay in conveying them to the " Boat Landing," which is situated on the right bank of the McGillivary branch of the Columbia about 48 miles from its source. I remained at Wild Horse Creek until the 20th, and during my stay there purchased some beef cattle, a small boat and canoe (the only ones I could get) and various other supplies that would be needed to winter my party on the Columbia river. The boat and canoe I sent up the Kootanie river loaded with vegetables, and had them hauled over the Kootanie river and the Columbia Lake, I subsequently had the boat and canoe employed with the other craft I picked up on the Columbia river in freighting my supplies from the " Boat Landing" to the mouth of " Howse Pass. Party N, with the iirst train load of supplies, reached the " Boat Landing' on the 27th September, and I at once sent the train back for other supplies to Wild Horse Creek ; at this work the train was kept busy until winter set in. On my arrival at the " Landing" I was in a difficulty to get canoes and boats, but fortunately managed to get two old canoes from the Indians, and we picked up two boats that had been abandoned 7 or 8 years ago. These boats I saw in 1 866 when exploring the Columbia Kiver, for the Government of British Columbia. The boats and canoes although small, and in a very unsound state, were of the greatest service to us, as without them we should have been detained until we built some, as there is not any trail from the " Boat Landing," down the Columbia Piver. Time now was most valuable to me, as everything indicated the rapid approach of winter, and I was most anxious !o get over to the easterly end of my District on the North Saskatchewan Piver, l)elbre the snow fell. I got my party and a portion of the supplies, down to the mouth of Blaeberry river on the evening of the 2nd of Octolx^r, but to my great disappointment found there was not any feed for animals to be had. I had sent about 25 head of horses down through the swamps and brush, that form a border to the Columbia river, from the " Boat Landing," to the mouth ot the Blaeberry river ; these horses were to pack our supplies from the Columbia river, to the different depots I had decided to build in the Howse Pass, and a few of them I intended to take with me across the Rocky Mountains to the North Saskatchewan River. The following morning I moved about five miles up the Columbia River, wiiere I found good feed, and met our horses on their wiiy down. LTi rt T formed our main depot, on the right bank of the Columbia, wliich is known in all our notes &c., as the "Columbia # ill River Depot." The next raoriiing I set the whole party at work, to see if we could get a trail opened to the mouth of the " Kicking Horse River," in order to render it unnecessary for our boats and canoes to run the rapid water between the mouth of that river and our depot ; we opened the trail that day, for a distance of 2h miles, but Ibvmd we would have to give up the idea of a trail for the present, owing to the nature of the ground as more labor would be required to mak" it passable than we could spare. The trail however, opened a large tract of land covered with good feed for animals, which was very valual)le, as it always enabled us to drive the horses on it, when they came down to the depot. At the same time the party were at work on the above trail, I examined and biased a line for a trail from the depot to thv Blaeberry liver, (shown on our map of the Howse Pass) over a low s;jur of the mountains lying to the south of the " Howse Pass." I now set the party at work opening this trail, building the various " Depots," forwarding and storing the supplies in them, and running a Traverse and levels, along th(» Blaeberry river to the height of land between the head waters of the above riv'er and those of the North Saskatchewan river, and taking three Indians and eight horses I pushed on ahead to mark the line for the trail and make my way over to the "Kootanie Plain." As the fresh snow was all the time accumulating on the mountain tops, and gradually getting lower and lov.'^er down their sides, it was a most anxious time for me, as I decided not to return until I had a look at the v/hole of my district. I did not take any of my party, with the exception of the above Indians, as I did not want to endanger them, should the snow fall before I got back ; and in all my mountain explorations I have found that I can move much more rapidly when not encumbered with white men. The Indian, also, when properly handled and made to feel that conlideiice and trust is reposed in him, will work in all kinds of weather, and should supplies run short, on little or no food, without a murmur ; not so the generality of white men, particularly when working for a Grov- ernment, although in justice I am bound to say that the white men, in both my W and T parties, could not have worked better or more faithfully than they did, in all kinds of weather. By chopping and hacking our way through the underbrush, and jumping our horses over fallen timber, and incessantly wading up and across the Blaeberry river, we reached the "Summit Camp," which is about one mile from the true height of land, on the evening of the 17th of October, Here our troubles censed, as we found excellent feed for our nearly famished horses, and got clear of all the underbrush and fallen timber. The Indians now wished to return, as they thought the snow might begin to fall at any moment, and cause us to lose our horses (three of the horses belonging to them) but as I calculated that I could reach the " Kootanie Plain" in about three days, I told them that I vvould only travel three or four days more, and that if their horses we'^e lost or left behind I would replace them when I got back to the Columbia River, so they went on \a illingly. I concluded that if the snow fell before I got back, to push on to the Rocky Mountain House and winter my horses there, and then make the journey back to the Columbia River on snow-shoes. '12 I took severf.1 observations with Aneroid, Boilii_,' Point and Ther- mometer, at the " Summit Camp," and Found my Aneroid had suffered a considerable derangement the day I reached the above cam; This I attribute to a lull I had with my horse of about twenty feet ; as I was riding along a steep bank the soil gave way and we both rolled down into the " Blaeberry River," and as 1 fell against a tree the sudden jerk evi- dently knocked the delicate hand of the Barometer out of place. The proper note of this is made in my Table of Observations, so that the readings from the " Summit Camp" can be calculated sep^Tately from those made previous to the above accident. I iiojff travelled on through the "Blaeberry Nick" for about half a mile, when we came to a number of springs which lorm the source of the "Blae- berry river" ; another half a mile brought me on to one of the streams that form the head waters of the "North Saskatchewan river. " There is but little difference in the level of the ground between the summit camp and the waters of the North Saskatchewan where I first struck them. On reaching the last mentioned stream we follow 'd down the shingle flats through which it flows, and after passing a short cano/i where the cliffs on each side do not rise to any great height we emerged on the extensive shinij-le flats that sweep around the base of Mount Forbes, on its southerly and westerly sides. A larger lork of the North Saskatchewan river forms a junction with the one we followed from the " Height of Land" in the the "Blaeberry Nick" at a distance of about live miles from the "summit camp," the valley then takes a bend to the right and after passing through a narrow opening with rocky banks we again came on a very extensive shingle Hat which continues down to the stream that flows from "Griacier Loke." As the reports on the Eagle and Howse Passes, together with the accompanying Field Books, Journals, Plans and Profiles, &c., &c„ will give full details, I shall not enter into them in this report. We camped among some low sand hills nearly opposite to the opening through which the stream flows from "Griacier Lake." We saw many tracks of the Elk, the Cariboo, the Mountain Sheep, and Groat, the Orizzly and Black Bear and the Panther. The night being clear and calm I walked out on the shingle flats for a mile or two to enjoy the grand and magnificent scenery with which I was surrounded, but the unpleasant cry of a panther close to me w^as a hint that I had better get back to camp. The next morning we followed the right bank of the river and at once struck upon a good and well beaten horse trail, seeing the remains of innumerable camps some of which had evidently been occupied two or three days before our arrival. We forded the "Little North Fork" of the Saskatchewan at a dis- tance of about three miles from our last camp and when we had followed the trail for about 10 or 11 miles we forded the main river to the left bank as the ground on the right bank becomes broken and rugged and the trail is bad and but little used — probably only travelled during high water when animals cannot ford. Immediately on reaching the left bank of the river we came on a capital, well beaten and nearly level horse trail which we followed all the way to the "Kootanie Plain." I camped at a point I thought was about 2 or 3 miles above the "Kootanie Plain" and the following day, October •8 19th, I travelled to the north easterly end of the Plain, then forded to the opposite bank and hunted in all directions in order to ascertain if any signs of the party in charge of my brother Frank could bp found. As I was satisfied they could not as yet have been to this point from the east (we arranged to meet here before I left Ottawa) and as the winter was too close at hand for me to wait or go on to the "Eocky Mountain House" I recrossed the river to the left bank and when I got on the main trail picked out a conspicuous grove of firs on the trail in the middle of a prairie which we • biased and marked and then having deposited a letter for him I commenced my return journey and reached my last night's camp where I staid. The two following days were occupied in returning to the "Summit camp" which I reached on Sunday the 22nd October at 2 p. m. The thermometer stood at 60 ® in the shade ; the extraordinary warmth of the weather during my trip through the valley of the Saskatchewan has quite astonished me and I at this time concluded we must have had a very late and fine season. I took a bath in the head waters of the Blaeberry river and found the water quite pleasant. After my return to the Columbia and Thompson rivers 1 found from the miners and settlers that the winter had set in much earlier and with a greater degree of severity than any other of which they had any record. I was very much disappointed to find that my party had not as yet reached the " summit Camp" so th.o following day 1 started down to meet them; at a distance of two miles I met Messrs. Gillette and iiheaume, who were running the levels, and they informed me the party were camped about four miles farther down on " Three Creek Flat," so I went on there and camped. In the morning I had the party out cutting a trail from Three Creek Flat up in the direction of Summit camp, and at the same time I moved the camp up 2J miles, and instructed the party to continue next day at work opening the trail to the summit for our pack animals as Mr. Gillette informed me he would have the trial levels to the height of land completed by that time, and Mr. G-reen said the same with regard to the Traverse, both of which were fortunately accomplished. The snow to-day, October 25th, fell on the river bottom, and everything looked very wintry and miserable ; however, 1 thought I might yet manage to get the regular line of survey down from the summit, so I sent word for the whole party to meet me at the summit with their instru- ments &c., & 1., ready to commen(je work in the morning. I found it had snowed a good deal during the night, but I started up at daylight and overtook my party just as they reach 3d the Summit camp. There was now eight inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing heavily, })ut there was not any frost in the ground. We tried to commence the line but our instruments got full of water and it was impossible to walk along the steep side hills with the new wet snow. I therefore gave orders for the party to return to camp, which we reached some time after dark. Seeing now that it would be useless to endeavor to survey the line from the " summit" as both my party and horses would be endangered and the horses certainly lost as they had no feed, I decided to move down to our Depot No. 2 and try and survey the line from this point down to the Columbia river. I there- 84 / fl fore got all the party and horses down to that station on the 30th October, but when we got up the next morning we found the snow was following us, and between daylight and 9 a. m., nine inches of snow fell. I now felt convinced the winter had fairly set in, so I reluctantly gave orders for the whole party to make for the " Columbia River Depot" as fast as possible. I got in with some of the horses on the 3rd Novovember, and the rest of the party and horses all got down by the 6th. " I now set all hands at work building houses to winter in, and my staff getting the plans and profiles ready to take down with me. I also sent for Mr. Hall to come to the " Depot" at as early a date as he could, and get the remainder of our sup- plies down from " The Boat Landing" before the river got frozen up. In this I was not successful as the first severe frost came on the 18th Novem- ber, and stopped all further boating on the river. I now sent up the horses to join the mule train which I gave orders should go into winter quarters near the " Boat Landing ;" and at the same time sent instructions for Mr. Hall to come down with all the accounts, so that I could take them with me to Victoria. Mr. Hall arrived on the 27th day of November, and having got everything in shape on the evening of the 3rd December, I gave my final instructions to the party (a copy of which I have already forwarded to you) and on the 4th December commenced my journey down to Victoria with the intention of visiting party 'A' on my way, and also ex- ploring the Pass reported to exist throvigh Selkirk Range between the head waters of the Bushay and Grold rivers. After a long and most difficult journey on snowshoes in the worst period of the year for travel- ling, as the snow was newly fallen, and the ice not safe, reached the " Eddy" on the 22nd day of December, where I found party T safe in their winter quarters. I found there was not any practicable pass through the Selkirk range, as the summit was upwards of 6,000 feet above the sea level — 4,000 feet of which altitude is gained in about five miles — and for several miles along the lowest portion of the Summit Valley which lies between two ranges of mountains that rise from four to six thousand feet higher than the above valley, and from these mountains, even at the early part of the winter, when I ci ossed them, enormous ava- lanches had slid down with such force that in several instances the snow and ice of which they were composed was formed up the opposite side of the valley to a height of from 1,000 to 2,000 feet. I was detained at the "Eddy" six days waiting for the plans, profiles, accounts, &c,, &c., of party T, but on the 29th day of December I again started on my downward journey through the Eagle Pass and urn the great Shuswap lake and the river of the same name for Kamloops which I reached on the 9th day of January. The journey through the Eagle Pass was very difficult, as there was not snow enough to cover the dense under- brush and fallen timber which made it almost impossible in many places to use our snowshoes, and the snow was so soft that walking without them V7as extremely tedious and tiresome. The greatest dejjth of snow in this pass did not exceed two feet when I passed over it. On my way to Kam- loops I explored a pass from the north westerly end of the Salmon river arm of the great Shuswap lake to a point opposite the Island, near the west 1 86 end of the main arm of the same lake, this pass may be made available for the line of railway should the route ma Salmon river, explored by Mr. John Trutch last autumn, not be adopted. The Eagle Pass derived its name from the follow^ing circumstances : — Tn the summer of 1865, I was exploring the Grold Range of mountains for the Gk)vernment of British Columbia, to see if tht » was any Pass through them. I arrived at the Eagle River, and on the top of a tree near its mouth, I saw a large nest fall of eaglets, and tht; two old birds on a limb of the same tree. I had nothing but a small revolver in the shape of firearms ; this I discharged 8 or 10 times at the nest, but could not knock it down. The two old birds after circling around the nest, flew up the valley of the river ; it struck me then, that if I followed them, I might find the much wished for Pass. J explored the valley 2 or 3 weeks after- wards, and having been successfui in finding a good Pass, I thought the most appropriate name I could give it, was the " Eagle Pass." I remained at Kamloops two days, settling a«counts with the Shuswap Indians I brought over with me, and getting horses ready for my journey to Yale, and on the 21st day of January I reached New Westminster ; by the first Steamer I went over to Victoria, where I have since been prepar- ing my accounts, plans, reports &c., and making preparations to have everything in shape for an early start in the Spring. The " Howse Pass District " extending from the westerly end of the " Eagle Pass," to the " Eddy" on the Columbia River, thence by the valley of that river, to the mouth of Blaeberry river, thence up Blaeberry river to the " Height of Land " in the Rocky Mountains, is covered with a dense growth of various kinds of timber, generally of a large size, and in most places, with a very thick vmdergrowth of different descriptions of shrubs and bushes — fallen timber also abounds, and from the above causes and the difficulty of getting our supplies along without roads or trails, the progress of the survey along this portion of the line, will necessarily be slow. From the Height of Land to within four miles oi the Kootanie Plain, along the line the Railway will most probably run, is also generally covered with a thick growth of Fir and Spruce, but not of large size. From the Height of Land eastward, along the valley of the North Saskat- chewan, plenty of good feed for animals exists. From the same point westward along the valley of the Blaeberry River, with the exception of a few rushes, there is not any feed ; but at our " Columbia River Depot " and thence up to the " Boat Landing," there is plenty of feed consisting princi- pally of swamp grasses. At the latter point the bunch grass country is reached, which extends without a break as far south in the United States Territory as I have been, viz., in Utah and Nevada and most probably much farther. The general results of my seasonis work have been : 1st. To run a traverse and levels through the G-old Range of moun- 16 tains via tho Eai^lo Pass, from Q-roat Shuswap Lake to the Eddy, a distance of forty-four mil«\s, which has satisfactorily shown that a vt'vy favorable line for a Railway can be obtained through this pass. The liiajhest point to be passed over, is 747 feet above Great Shuswap Lake, and a regular and easy s?rade can be got to it, as the summit is ;J8 miles from that Lake. 2nd. To run a trial line with traverse and levels along the Blaeberry river, which flows through Howse Pass, from the Columbia River to the head waters of the North Saskatchewan river, which shows conclusively that a line for a railway can be got through the Rocky Mountains. The height of land above the Columbia river at our depot, is 2470 feet. 8rd. To explore the coantrv from the height of land in the Rocky Mountains, to the Kootanie Plain, by which I have ascertained that an easy line for a railway can be obtained all the way, with a light descend- ing grade. The distance I estimate at about forty miles, and the difference of level, by means of observations made with Aneroid and Boiling point Thermometer, at 355 feet. 4th. To build depots at various places in Howse Pass, and at the Eddy Columbia River, and store them with supplies, to enable my parties to continue the explorations during the winter, and to resume the instru- mental survey early in the Spring. 5th, To open about 300 miles of trail for pack animals, some of which was on the old government trail between Fort Hope and Kootanie, and the rest through the Howse Pass. All this work I was obliged to have done in order to get my party to the Rocky Mountains. 6th. To explore through the Selkirk range of mountains, from one of the forks of B'. shay river, to the waters ol G-old river, where a pass was reported to exist, but which I consider quite impracticable for a railway, although a pass migtit yet be ibund from another branch of the Bushay river, fo the head waters of G-old river, but I think the existence of a good pass there is very doubtful. 7th. To explore and find a pass connecting the westerly end of the Salmon river arm of the Great Shuswap Lake, with the westerly end of the main arm of the same Lake, and which might be adopted as I before observed, for the line of railway, sh' aid the valley of the Salmon river not be chosen. It may, perhaps, be premature fo me to point out some of the com- mercial advantages this line will have, but it is my belief that some of the principal ones (not taking a through traffic from China, Japan, &c., &c. into consideration) are : 1st. That the land suitable for agricultural settlement extends further westward along the valley of the north Saskatchewan river than by any othor route yet known, and there is an enormous tract of rich pasture land adjoining it. Coal, in large quanlities, is also reported to exist as far up the river as the Rocky Mountain House. 57 1 2nd. That within a short distance from the point where agrioultural land, east of the Rocky Mountains, ceases, the roud would open a con- siderable tract of land suitable for settlement aloni? the valley of the Columbia, south of our depot and extending down the Kootanie river ; it would also open up a country on this portioii of the line, whore much valuable timber could be obtaineu that will be needed by settlers in the Saskatchewan valley. 3rd. It would enable capitalists to develope the rich mineral resources of the Selkirk and Gold ranges of mountains, as both Placer mines, and gold bearing quartz of a very rich (quality, are known to exist ; the placer mines are now, to a small extent, worked at Wild Horse, Perry and French creeks ; and silver bearing rock of a superior description has been disco- vered in the Selkirk and O-old rangt^t;. Ore from the Cherry Creek Silver mine, situated on the westerly slope of the G-old range, in the vicinitv of G-reat Shusvvap Lake, sold in San Francisco, when reduced to pulp, for $445— gold— per ton of 2,000 lbs. 4th. Proceeding still farther westward as soon as the mineral ranges, above referred to, are passed, the lire would emerge into the agricultural and pasture region adjoining the Thompson, the Shuswap, the Spille- mee-che' e and Salmon Rivers, and in the neigh])orhood of the G-reat Okanagan and Nicola lakes. Near ihe latter lake, I understand, coal of a good quality was discovered last summer ; again, in ps'ssing through the Cascade range, it would run by the mineral region of the neighborhood of Fort Hope, where large bodies ol silver ore exist. The valley of the Fraser, from the vicinity of Fort Hope to the Pacific coast, contains an extensive tract of rich agricultural land which is generally covered with a heavy growth of large and valuable timber. You will thus observe that throughout nearly the whole length of this line, either agricultural or i.iiueral resources will always serve to create a large and profitable way traffic. I do not think that a shorter practicable line can be found, particu- larly if a good line could be obtained in a more direct course from the Rocky Mountain House to Fort Ellice and thence to F'ort Garry than by following the valley of the north Saskatchewan bv Forts Edmonton and Pitt. The late date at which I was able to get away from Victoria, the great distance I had to take my parties and supplies into the interior, over a rough and comparatively unopened country, and the early date at which the winter set in, have all tended to prevent as much progress being made in the Exploratory Surveys in my District, as I should have wished ; but the general result is, that now there is a certainty of having a line for a railway, from the Pacific Coast to the Valley of the North Saskatche\/an ; and it is my impression that the same difficulty, will not be experienced on this line with regard to snow blockades as has just occurred on the Union Pacific Railroad. m ^18 ■I Hi I applied to the Grovi^rnment of British Columbia for raservations of the ground around the " Columbia River " and " Eddy " depots, and they have in each case made a reservation of 640 acres for the use of the Railway. The tables of meteorological observations, that I took during my trip, I forward to you, as they may be interesting to those taking an interest iu the portions of country traversed by me ; and I would suggest that the Grovernment of the Dominion, furnish me with proper ini-truments to obtain a complete set of observations at three or four of my principal depots, as I have a very good opportunity of having them taken, during the progress of the surveys. These instrumentr should be forwarded without delay to Victoria, so that I could take them up with me. I may here mention, that the description given by Dr. Hector, of the portions of the couniry traversed by me, and that were formerly explored by him, when connected with Captain Palliser's Expedition, T found l;o be very clear and accurate, and as I had his journal and reports always with me, I found them invaluable, The accompanying accounts will shew you the gross expenditure in my district, up to Januarylst 1872, and the value of the supplies now in the different depots for the use of the parties during the current year, and such other details as will enable you to fully understand the financial position of the district. I remain, Sir, .,, :,..;-; Your Obedient Servant, WALTER MOBERLY. (P ^^r»i:^ii:rvi>ix ivo. ^. {Progress Report of Explmaiion from Yellow llead Pass westerly by the Cari- boo District and by the North Thompson River, by R. McLennan, Esq., in charge.) CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Sandford Fleming Esq., Ottawa, 23rd. March 1872. Engineer in Chief, ji I respectfully submit the following report of my proceedings, and of the progress made on that portion of the Surrey in British Columbia, placed under my charge in June last. In accordance with instructions, I proceeded to Toronto on the 20th of June, and remained there a couple of days, u.rranging for the purchase of instruments and other requisites. On the 22nd. accompanied by Mr. Walter Moberly C. E., Mr. G-eorge Watt, Com- missariat Officer and others, left Toronto by rail, for San Francisco, and arrived there on the 29th. At this place we had to await the sailing of the Steamer for Victoria. This time was utilized in procuring instruments &c., which were not to be got in Toronto. On July 3rd we left by the Steamer Princp. Alfred for Victoria and arrived there on the 9th ; the journey from Toronlo to Victoria occupied eighteen days. Immediately after arri\ al at Victoria, commenced to organize parties, engage axemen and pack men, purchase supplies, and get all possible information about the character of the country to be explored, and the best means of reaching it. On the 20th Julj^ this work was so well advant^.ed, that party K under the charge of Mr. James A. Mahood, vvas able to leave for its destination. The duty assigned to this partj- was the exploration of the country to the east of Tete Jaune Cache, on the most direct route to Quesnel Mouth, It was first intended, that party il should proceed by the following route, viz : — by Steamer to Yale, a distance of one hundred and eighty- five miles, thence by Stage to Quesnel Mouth, three hundred miles, thence up the Fraser River to Tete Jaune Cache ; the difficulty of getting boats at Quesnel Mouth, and the time that would elapse before they could be got, together with fuller information subsequently received, regarding the country lying easterly from Cariboo, to Tete Jaune Cache, induced a change in the latter part of this route. This change was adopted, because the people of Cariboo averred, that by passing eastward from that place to Tete Jaune Cache, the journey could be made in twenty or twenty-five days, and the exploration could be completed much more rapidly and economically. — After party il left I began the organization of party irchase his train, and pay him and his men wages; under ' the new arrangement he agreed to remain as long and go as far as any 01 the other trains. At this place a new difficulty arose, the Indian guide brought by Mr. Selwyn from Kamloops maintained that at this advanced ■ season it would be impossible to cut the way througli along the river, he proforsed a thorough knowledge of the country, and said that between this "' place and Blue river there were many canons which would render trail -■ making very difficult and tedious, he also added that fof forty miles of the • distance, there was little or no grass, which wouid necessarily very much ■ reduce the pack trains if it did not prove destructive to them all. It was ' after consultatiou decided to return about six miles and ascend the mouj^taiu to t': 6 ;rot ^ni'?;at8 of two or three tons or small steamers. ST. JOSEPH TO CLEAR WATEB, 23 MILES. - ■ ture Valley about two miles wide, mucJi of which is suitable for Agricul- ; the Assinniboine Bluff (slate rock) is in this section ; woods of fir ; river navigable for boats or small steamtrs. CLEAR WATER TO MAD RIVER, 26 MILKS. Valley about | mile wide for about 2 miles; then widens out gradually for four miles to Raft River where it is about 1| miles wide, it again nar- rows to I mile at Mad River, which is the limit of Bunch grass. Ti.is ^'alley is formed of high gravelly benches, timbered with fir, poplar and cotton-wood ; stream rapid, and not well adapted for boating or canoeing. ' MAD RIVER TO SALMON RIVER, 25 MILKS. J. -_ For about six m!iles the valley attains a width of half-a-mile, and at nine miles, is only a quarter mile wide, and continues about this width for a^out six miles, it then expands abruptly to two miles wide, and main- tains this width for ten miles, or to Salmon river, near which are large meadows of wild hay, the valley is composed of benches from one hundred ; ;> two hundred feet high in the narrow portion, and flattened out it in the wide part. The stream in this section, is a succession of rapids and smooth water, the former predominating for about fifteen miles, thence to Salmon Eiver is smooth water, and the river in places 300 yards wide. SA.^MON RIVER TO BLUE RIVER, 25 MILES. For about 9 miles the river is a continuous rapid, with three canons with falls of 6, 12 and 8 feet, after which the stream is swift water for about six miles (the north arm of the Murchison rapids) thence for ten miles a few slight rapids, and the rest smooth water ; timbei-, chiefly large cedars and hemlocks ; the valley about 300 yards wide is formed of benches, 100 to 200 feet high, the canons are hemmed in by slate rock about 100 feet high, and nearly perpendicular, averaging from 50 to 75 feet wide, and in the aggregate, about one mile long ; the greater portion along these rapids being rock ; from the head of the rapids to Blue river, or about 10 miles the valley widens out to from 3 to 4 miles, with alluvial banks four to five feet above high water, BLUE RIVER TO NORTH FORK (RIVER CROSSING) 30 MILBS. In about five miles the valley closes into J mile in width, and from here to the North Fork continues about the same ; the banks are chiefly gravelly benches with a few slides of talcose slate; timber mostly enormous cedar, spruce and fir, with dense undergrowth, this section is well adapted for canoeing, and is interrupted only by one portage of about half a mile in length. NORTH FORK TO ALBREDA LAKE, 12 MILES. This valley is about half-a-mi^e in width and formed of gravelly benches about fifty feet high, interspersed with flats or wild meadows, heavily timbered with cedars and spruce. ALBREDA LAKE TO FORKS OF CAN©E RIVER, 10 MILKS. Valley from | to f of a mile wide, open country, chiefly buint land, composed of benches of small boulders with a few rocky points of granite and sandstone. CANOE RIVER TO TETE JAUNE CACHE, 13 MILES. A line open valley 5 miles wide, with sand benches on the sides, thinly timb'".red with small firs and willows, and directly in tho range of an extensive valley, l^eginning at the Boat encampment, and extending in nearly a direct line for thirty miles down the Fraser River valley, or a total distance of from 75 to 80 miles; a fine farming country, pea vines, vetches and grass abounding. 46 TftTE TAUNE CACHE TO MOOSE LAKE, 24 MILES. This Valley is about J mile wide for 10 miles to the G-rand Forks of the Fraser, it then increases in width, and is full of limestone pebbles, the valley has high gravelly benches, with a few points of calcareous slate rock; from this point it narrows for about two miles, and slides of shale come in some places close to the water's edge, with a slope of IJ horizontal to 1 perpendicular, thence it expands to about a mile in width at the west end of Moose Lake, and is timbered with fir, spruce and cedar. MOOSE LAKE TOWARDS COW DUNG LAKE, 14 MILES. The valley for 6 miles along the north side of the lake, is flat, about 200 yards in width. Thence to the east end of the lake, or for two miles some slate rock points approach near to the lake ; beyond these are large meadows of wild hay ; thence for six or seven miles the valley diminishes in width, from IJ to 1 mile, is quite flat and boggy, and interspersed with a number of small meadows ; is wooded with firs and spruce. The stream is sluggish, and from the west end of the lake, is very favorable for boating. ?n I shall now proceed to give an epitome of the progress of party K under the charge of James A. Mahood. This party was assigned the duty of exploring the country, between Quesnel Mouth and Tete Jauue Cache by the Fraser River route. The difiiculty of getting boats, and the loss of time, that must in con- sequence have occurred at Quesnel Mouth, together with the favourable report of Messrs. Black and Fenton, and other information gathered at Cariboo, regarding the country between Richfield and T6te Jauue Cache, caused the abandonment of the route by the Fraser River and the adop- tion of the exploration via Richfield and Tete Jaune Cache. The party — twenty-two men, staflT included^ — left Barkerville on the 23rd August, taking along to carry supplies, a pack train of thirty-two animals ; in addition to which Messrs. Barns & Black were engaged for the same purpose, these parties possessing the only pack train in that section of the country. From Barkerville to Bear Lake, twenty-two miles — an old trail had to be partially opened — this route was selected instead of the one by Antler Creek, because it was thought to aflord better facilities for the passage of trains. From B«ar Lak« tk» party proceeded to Indian Point Lak«, thence 47 around the north and east side of Big Lake to its outlet, thence up Swamp Riv^r through " Dominion Pass" to its head, thence by the Castle River towards Fraser River. In the report of Messrs. Black and Fenton refer- ence is made to Dominion Pass. From Bear Lak«^ to Dominion Pass the difficulties of trail making were very great ; the greater part of the distance was through a dense forest, in some places the trail had to be corduroyed, in other places a passage for the animals had to be made by pick and shovel on the rocky hill sides ; mountain torrents and ravines had to be spanned by bridges. Pushing along, despite the innumerable difficulties that beset the way, the party reached the hoped-for pass, which high and glacier-capped, towered up in front of them, as if to crush out hope and defy further progress. For the animals a passage over it had to be cut with picks and axes, and on the 29th of September the party emerged from Dominion Pass. At this point the packers became afraid of being cut off by snows, and threathened to desert the stores and retr.rn to Cariboo. Fortunately they were persuaded to remain, otherwise the effort to reach the valley of the Fraser River must have been abandoned. The progress of the party was now much impeded by snow storms which w^ere almost continuous from the oth to the 10th of October. The Fraser River was eventually reached on the 20th of November, and the party encamped for the winter. After making the best possible disposition of the supplies, Mr. Mahood started for Barkerville on the 4th of December, which was distant one hundred miles, and arrived there in twelve days; from* thence he continued his journey to Victoria, where he arrived on the 12th of January 1872. This route presents two almost insurmountable obstacles to the con- struction of a railway. The country from Fraser river at Quesnel, Mouth to the Dominion Pass, could be traversed at easy grades — that portion lying between Big Lake and Swamp river, would be exposed to snow slides or avalanches that in their courses irresistibly sweep rocks and trees before them, and make as it were a series of avenues through the forest, on the mountain slopes. In going from the forks of Swamp river over the Pass into the head waters of Castle river, a rise and fall of two thousand three hundred feet has to be overcome in a distance of twelve miles. The glacier previously referred to is at the highest point — is half a mile in extent and about two hundred feet thick. To grade up to, or over this glacier would be an impossibility, its passage would therefore involve the making of a tunnel of such length, as to render this route unworthy of further consideration. Mr. Mahood and party before leaving their winter quarters will make further explorations to ascertain if a practicable pass can be found through the Selkirk range. They will also explore the country between Quesnel Lake and the Cariboo fork of the North Thompson River. The route from the Yellow Head Pass, crossing Canoe river by Albreda Lake, thence along the valley of the north Thompson River, is singuUrly favorable for the conBticuction of a line of railway, of easy Hi Lfi .■^ gradients, and moderate curves, and in addition comparativly liffht work (see table of grades, of the different sections of those streains.) On this line no grades will exceed fifty feet per mile, and for great distances will range from fifteen to twenty hve feet per mile, which will allow for some undulations in rising or falling, to follow the benches or terraces in the different valleys. In many places stone for second class masonry is plentiful, and I have no doubt but further examinations will lead to the discovery of stone of a better quality, and the finest and largest timber in the interior of British Columbia, aboimds along these valleys. The parallels inclosed in the foregoing report, embrace a very large portion of the farming and grazing lands of British Columbia, pasb near to, or through parts of the richest gold regions,- as well as the best timbered portions of the interior, in the latter of which the Thompson River undoubtedly excels. From the best information I could obtain, the present winter set in earlier and with greater rigor than it did for more than ten years before. I have lately been informed that Indian hunters say they never saw or heard of such a winter ; this, though an impediment to our operations and fatal to many of our pack animals, must still be accepted, as in some degree, a fortunate circumstance, it enabled us, in the outset, to acquire a knowledge of the most severe weather likely to be experienced. The parties are instructed to note particularly the maximum and minimum temperature, the depth of snow at the water sheds, and all necessary in- formation bearing on the subject. : '-;J •.'■., r,. Accompanying this report please find tables of the inclinations of the different sections of the streams on the route of my explorations. These will indicate, approximately, the gradients ; an actual line may, however, shew a lighter grade from the G-rand Forks of the Fraser River to Moose Lake ; on the whole, this line throughout, will be one of easy grades. I have herein endeavored briefly to give you the salient points of the explorations, and I outertain the belief that a more detailed examination now being carried on, will corroborate what has been said. Referring to a previous statement where it was said the severity of the winter had been fatal to the animals of the pack trains, I may, in con- nection therewith, say, that the total loss was 86 animals — 24 of these belonged to party lfi, and the remainder to party €(. Many died on the outward journey from cold, hunger, or overwork in travelling over a country which the incessant rains had made almost impassable, the majority, however, were either abandoned or perished in the snow storms, which were almost continuous on the home journey. In prosecuting the work another season, the trains will, in a great measure, be exempt from losses, that this summer were unavoidable. A good trail is now opened, and the grazing grounds are better known, so that the movement of trains will be greatly facilitated, and the work finished earlier in the seaoon. I may add that supplies, nearly sufficient for two parties for ten months, are stored on the route, depots being established at Clear Water, 70 miles above Kamloops, at North Forks, 176 miles from the latter place, and at .■»..Ut..,..if 49 Mr, Grreen's camp, Canoe River. It is intended to make the North Thorap- scn the principal base of supplies ibr the summer operations, as I'rom Tdte Jaune Cache, supplies an be distributed toward Quesnel Lake — if a pass is found there — down the Fraser River or along the Thompson. Tt irives me pleasure to be able to state that good feeling generally prevailed among the staff and men of both parties. The inclemency of the weather, the density of the forests to be penetrated, and the character of the country travelled over, entailed hardships not usually endured on railway surveys. Nothwithstanding these and the other difficulties of the service, the " esprit de corps" of the parties, except in one or two instances was excellent throughout. I have the honour to be ;>|- '. Your obedient Servant, R. Mclennan. (V > ., i I, . ; .. .,• Mm . • ■ - T ■. 1 ' r,/. > . .'i :\ri}: !'t -"■.'; ; '•;!'' ■ . . 1 ■: ' ;':'. ■')? BUii' River Mine Ri vor lo Nortl ^'''orlc Nortli Fork to Albref the Franer (I'rnnd Forks to Moose liuko. Moobe Ijiilie MooHC liUke to Water Shed.. 70 25l 18 in 14 s ao 267l! 5.7H u.;i4 10. (M) 8.01) 3.3.0 37.;J0 Levi'l. 28.75 5.3S 13.00 64.28 Level. 8.50 a o 2f)o •ZV) 300 100 486 Approx. Altittade In feet. 1100 1.505 iSOO •3>50 2-J60 'i'loO i«35 •846 70 I 130 900 170 •2490 2o(j0 26! 10 ;«)o ;d Fiwtfi. ■K. R.— Tliese altUr.des wore obtained "iDia aTUi-nii of a immbor of readings taken with a Compensated Ani'rold Barometer. From Albreda Lake to Oanus Ulver it ha*! been a.soertaluea by a line of levelN tlrnt tlie sii'.iilof; will not exceed 20 feet ixr mile, und from TOte Jaime Cucho lo Moose Lake a grade ol fifty feet per luUe can be had. ^4- i . •'.; i^iv'- I'-.'-i ■'" ^ .■,•<■> ■ .;,;■— '^ :*;>;•.:.!• » A.F»I»13]>rr>TX T^o. s. (Report on the examinations made between Fort Oarry and the Rocky Moun- tains —Frank Moberly, Esq., in charge of the Expedition.) Sandford Fleming, Esq., Engiueer-in-Chief, C. P. R. Ottawa, April, 1872. Sir, — In accordance with instructions received from you in June last, 1 proceeded as rapidly as possible to Fort G-arry, where I completed my outfit and commenced the exploration on the 4th August, following as near as possible the red line indicated on the map accompanying your instructions, along the AssinilK)ine to Fort Pelly then past north side of Quil Lake across south Saskatchewan in latitude N. 62*^ 22' 12," thence west to the north Sas- a katchewan which we followed to a point about sixty miles above Battle river. |i A westerly course was then taken to the Hay lakes, we then left the line and proceeded northerly to Edmonton, where we arrived on the 16th Oct. The 4 following notes are extracts from the diary kept on this portion of the line : " From Fort Garry to third crossing of White Mud river (Palestine) a dis- tance of 96 miles, the country is a perfectly even prairie with no large streams or gullies, soil rich, clay and clay loam ; there is some line oak. elm, maple and poplar. From third crossing of White Mud to the Little Saskatchewan, a ice of 4^ miles, the rise to second Prairie Steppe (or Riding Mountains) is made ; the country is very much broken by sand and gravel ridges and is thickly wooded with small poplar. The Little Saskatchewan valley is the first obstacle of any importance, it is 5,000 feet wide, 184 feet deep and has no lateral valleys of any lengtu. From Little Saskatchewan to Bird Tail creek, a distance of 58 miles, country is rather rolling with small alkaline ponds in hollows, soil gravelly. The valley of Bird Tail creek is 3400 feet wide, and 140 feet deep, it also has lateral gullies. From Bird Tail creek to Shell river, a distance of 38 miles, the country is rolling, getting rougher as you go back from Assiniboine; there are also great numbers of small lakes and ponds, plenty of small poplar, soil clay and gravel. The valley of Shell river is 3700 feet wide, and is 284 feet in depth and would be very difficult to cross. From Shell river to Fort Pelly, a distance of 73 miles, the country is rolling and there are two small creek valleys and a couple of swamps to cross, the soil is generally light and in the neighbourhood of Pell7, very sandy. Some sm^ spruce and tamarac. 51 The country Irom White Mud river to Fort Pelly is not Favorable for setltement, the soil being generally lis^hl, a good deal ofthe wator alkaline, summer frosts frequent. From Fort Pelly to south Saskatchewan, a distance of 226 miles, the country is rather rolling until we approach tho river, where for 25 or 30 miles, a succession of ridges rise to about 80 or 100 feet, but these have easy slopes and num1)ers of openings ; on this part of the line we passed several large lakes, the largest being Quill lake, which is from 30 to 35 miles in length ; and the water is so alkaline as to be unfit for use. Soil is principally clay and sandy loam with great numbers of boulders ; the water in all the running streams is invariably fresh and good ; very little timber. A comparatively easy crossing of the south Saskotchewan was found at Lat. 52*^ 22' 12" at this point the approach to the river is easy and from 50 to 60 feet above the level of the water which at mid-stream was about ten feet deep. The bridges will probably require to be 1400 feet long ; banks and bottom are sand mixed with large gravel and boulders. After crossing the south Saskatchewan we continued on a westerly course to the elbow of the north Saskatchewan, passing it on the southerly bank. From south Branch to Eagle creek, a distance of 47 miles, the country is perfectly level, wit'> no timber, soil sandy loam : Eagle creek can be crossed easily near its mouth. , ,.. ,. ,, j . _^ From Eagle creek to Battle river, a distance of 60 miles, the line runs along north end of Eagle hills, there is, however, a plateau which follows the river and affords a good chance for location, except for about six miles which will have to be on steep side hill. At the mouth of Battle river there is a flat which is about 5 miles lonjg and about 1 mile in width, and is 12 or 15 feel above the river giving a capital chance to cross it. The river was only 75 feet wide when we cross- ed and did not show^ signs of being subject to heavy floods. Soil sandy loam with gravel in places and a good many sand hills near the mouth. There is plenty of birch and poplar on the Eagle hills. From Battle river, for a distance of 64 miles, no difficulties will be met with. Soil principally sandy loam, with some sand knolls. No timber. From the above point for a distance of 84 miles the country is cut up, in every direction by ranges of hills and buttes, the highest points being, probably 300 or 400 feet above general level, there are plenty of low divides in all the higher ranges, aAd I think it would not be necessiry to use any grade exceeding 50 or 60 I'eet per mile on this portion of the Inie J although it will necessarily be rather crooked. Soil /"ay and sandy loaiott with grav6l ridges and a great many: boulders ; not much wood and agre'at want of water. :: ■ ..: • ...:^>^ ■f- 4% For a distance of 63 miles to foot of Beaver hill, nearly a le\/el plain, no obstruction ; soil exceedingly fine, sandy loam, plenty of good water and small timber. From foot of the Beaver hills to Hay lakes, a distance of 20 iriles, the country is cut up by low ridges with a great numbi^r of B8av<'r ponds and marshes in hollows. It is also thickly coyered with small bxi.shy poplar. The rise to the top of the hills is long and very gentle." On reaching Edmonton, as the season was so far advanced, I con- cluded to send Mr. Nichol back in charge of the main party, hoping that horses would reach Fort G-arry before winter, at the same lime giving him instructions to proceed along north bank of Saskatchewan to Carleton and to examine the country in that direction, then to follow the cart road to Quill lake : at the latter point he was to divide his party sending one por- tion in charge of Mr. Ermatinger to Fort Oarry by the south l)ank of Assi- niboine, and taking charge of the other portion himself, to cross by a de- pression in the Duck Mountains and examine the country lying to the north of Back and Ilidiu.^- Mountains as far as mouth of White Mud river. The fire having run through the prairie late in the fall this party lost a number of their horses, it being impossible to get any food for them. Immediately after Mr. Nichol left I started for the Howse Pass, having to take the route by tlie Rocky Mountain House and then follow the Sas- katchewan into the Mountains I reached the Kootanie Plains on the 11th November. After searching without success for traces of the party from the west of the Mountains I explored the country lying between the Kootanie Plain and the branches of Brazeau river leading between the Brazaau and Big Horn ranges of mountains where 1 found there would be little difficulty in locating a line, the fall of the streams being very gentle, however after reaching the main stream of the Brazeau river considerable difficulty would I think be met, as the valley is very crooked with high pre- cipitous banks and besid(;s which a very broken and rugged country covered in many places by large and deep muskegs would have to be crossed and great difficulty would also bo experienced in either getting rouiid or through the Brazeau mountains: I gained a good deal of informa- tion respecting the country from miners who had been along the river prospecting and my own observations confirmed what I then learnt. On reachi) '^; ihe -iiain branch I found it would be impossible to i'oUow it without cutting a trnil on account of an almost continuous windfall, by this time the snow was nearly a foot dtep and as our horses were begin- nn?g to show signs of giving cnit I was compelled to return to tlie Rocky Mountain House, whence after procuring a train of dogs I set oil Jbr Buck lake intending to examine the country between it and the mouth of Bra- zeau river. "We were however misled by our guid«^ and finally had to push on to Edmop.ton for supplies nrriving there on the 11th December, liaving been six days on very short'^ratious. . > i > On the 20th December after diviclinff the party and sendinjj part in charj^e of Mr. Horetzki, to mak(j tlie necessary examinations to .lasper House, I ajsain started lor the mouth ol' lirazeau river examining- country from the Beave. hills by way of Pig-eon and Bull lakes, reaching- that point on the 29th Di^cember. This ])art of the country I found pretty level except two or three small rang^es of hills in the neig-hbourhood of the lakes. In the portion lying- to south-west and west of Pig-eon lake there is a very considerable quantity of good spruce. On reaching- the junction of Brazeau and Saskatchewan rivers, I found that it would be an exceeding-ly difficult matter to g:et a line across the Saskatchewan and up the Brazeau river as they both run through wide valleys with precipitous banks of sandstone from 150 to 200 feet in height with Hats alternately on each side and opposite these the banks g'enerally rise tc their full height from the waters edge. : ■ • ' • •■ I then returned to fidmonton l>y way of Lake St. Ann, and found that between those points an excellent lino can be obtained by following the valley of Sturgeon River. Of the country between Lake St. Auu and Jasper House, I copy the following from Mr. Horetzski's report : — ,, , " From Lake St. Ann to Pembina River, the country is level but knolly in places, especially at west end of Lac des Isles, here the land rises, but not abruptly, to the summit of the divide between the Saskat- chewa'i and McKenzie Rivers , this divide is 250 feet above the level of Edmonton' House. The descent irom this point to th(^ river is pretty sudden. The Pembina River valley is rather de-'p and wide at the crossing of the Horse trail, but higher up ihoro. ave many places where it can be easily bridged. At the crossing the river is 225 fetit wide, fordable, with good bottom; (extensive coal seams crop out sometiun^s near llie water's edge and again hia'her up on tin; banks ; these seams are on lire in several places, and llames can be seen at night, the odour ol" burning coal is dis- tinctly perceived. ._ From Pembina River to McLeod River h is generally level, and in places swampy ; at the divide between 'he two rivers, the country be- comes hilly and rough, especially near Moose Camp. ■ ' A couple of miles west of koose River the trail erosses the Root River, a small tributary of th»^ McLepd. From tiiis point a good horse trail exists to Jasper House. My puide tells me it is almost a dii-ect line for the south end of Lac Brule, passes oven* a sandy <;ountry, crosses only two small swam])s and the Mcl^'od River twice, and is altogether an excelient road. No hills are to be met with and the des(!ent to the river is gradual and easy. n •... I : jiTu .vijiWii, ... v,,j' ;^.„ _>_;-.:; The Company's trail follows uj> the River for 38 railed, then croHses a 54 «|i if Portage of 12 miles in length, follows the McLeod ag-aiu for 14 miles, and finally takes the Portage to the Athabasca, which is about 13 miles in length. ' V The McLeod is a pretty large stream from 240 to 270 feet wide in places, and flows between Sandstone banks ; these banks are often 80 to 100 feet in height. This River is fordable in places, and contains Grold. No coal was seen. " From the McLeod to the Athabasca, the portage is pretty thickly wooded and rough ; the descent to the Athabasca river is steep : I should say the descent of the valley to be 250 feet deep, Avhere we struck the river. Fr.-m the Portage (5 miles below the Grand Bas fonds,) the river was followed for 2o miles to the entrance of Lac Brule' ; the river is wide and rapid, being from 160 to 420ft. in width. Several rapids are met with, especially a few miles below the Lake , the banks are high, and the approach to the river difficult, excepting just below the Uivierede Prairie, where the banks descend very gradually. This Lake is about 8 miles in length, and 1 mile wade ; it is shallow with sandy bottom, the banks on the eastern side are low^ 30 to 40 ft., and of sand ; at the South East end, these banks descend very easily to the water's edge, and it is at this point that the roe.d alluded to before, touches the Athabasca. The Lake terminates herP; and this may be called the entrance of the Mountains, the Athabasca here turns to the South "West, and by following it up ten miles further, Jasper House is reached. At the base of the mountains there is a fine wide level flat of light sandy soil, where the road can easily be carried to a point or spur of the Roche a Miette, here the river would have to be crossed as the rock is washed by the river ; the true channel is not wide at this point (about 210 feet) but the river bed cannot be less than 750 wide, all dry at this time of the year with the exception of the channel, and has a good hard gravelly bottom ; after crossing to the other side, a fine level prairie is reached, being that upon which Jasper House is situated. During the suirraer months the river rises 5 or 6 feet higher than at this season, but never overflows the i)rairie on \vhich the house stands, or the Bas fonds which lies along base of mountains. I should advise that an explorer be sent next summer to go over the country lying between the Pembina and Root River ; that another should commence his investigations Irom Loot River to Lac Brule ; the person going in at the Pembina should begin, say 8 to 10 miles, above the usual crossing place and follow up the lidgo which runs from the Pembina to the height of land between that river and the McLeod. 1 believe these ridges offer a good route for a railway ; south of it, I am told the country is a vast swamp. j Y'S- «- ^ w^^:;;,^- I As regards that part of the proposed route between Root River and Lac Brule, I am convinced that it presents extraordinary facilities for a road.' ,3 All the necessary explorations to the west of Edmonton, except that entrusted to Mr. Horetzki, having been completed, I started on my return trip to Fort G-arry, on the 16th January, by way of Lac la Biche, a point about 100 miles north of the north Saskatchewan ; then to Fort Pitt, Carlton, Fort a la Come and Fort Felly. In order to gain as much knowledge as possible of the country along the valley of the Swan river and extending east of the J)uck and Riding mountains, I started from Fort Pelly for Swan Lake and then proceeded along the side of Lake "Winnepegosis to Manitoba House, and arrived at Fort Grarry ou the 10th March. Mr. Nichol having had the most favorable opportunity of examining the line between Edmonton and Carlton north of the river, I will give the followin«x extracts from his notes : — " The country lying north of the North Saskatchewan and east from Edmonton to the Vermilion River, a distance of 37 miles, is almost level, it is thickly timbered in places, with spruce, poplar, and birch of a good quality ; the soil is a black sandy loam, it is drained by the Sturgeon and Vermilion rivers, emptying into the Saskatchewan ; these streams are about 50 feet wide, clear and rapid, with gravel bottoms ; the valleys are from 60 to 75 feet under the general level and are about 500 feet wide. " The country from Vermilion River to English River, a distance of 182 miles, is all broken by hills risin- I'rom 100 to 200 feet on an average, and in the neighbood of Fort PiM fh^ Red Deer Hills are from 400 to 500 feet high; there are numerous ill lakes, the largest of whi(^h are Sad- dle and Egg lakes ; in the imm. . il«j \iciniiv of the lakes •; ■ ountry is flat, ey^?ndiug back for a few miles; rli<> y^W on the hills i.*; ight sand and gra -"4, ind in the valleys sandy loam , iiiere are great numbers of lime- stone and granite boulders near the Englisl l\i\'er; (iiere are groves of small poplar on this part of the line, and on the banks oi" streams some spruce is found ; this part of the country is drained by flo\ mu' tre^* '>;*'s>»,u sic The only timber of much value is spruce which is found in groves along- the flats of theNorthSaskatchewan west of longitude 112® and about the Pigern and Buck lakes, and from Carlton House downwards, but the quantity is greatly lessened each year by the prairie fires spreading into the thickwoods. I send herewith samples of grain, &c., raised at different points onilie Sask:^ ^chewan each labelled with the name of the settlement at which it was i-rocured, and also specimens of coal and gold from Edmonton. Coal is seen on the banks of the Saskatchewan from Edmonton to Rocky Moun- tain House, the seams vary in thickness from two to nine feet. When the location surveys ai'e commenced it will be necessary to open a trail or cart road along the north side of Duck and Riding mountains and as far down as Quill lake, and also to improve the trail from lake St. Ann's to Jasper House. One of the principal features of the lakes along the Saskatchewan are the immense numbers of white fish in them, which although of a smaller size than those caught in lakes Huron and Superior, are equally good in flavor ; at lake St. Ann's 200,000 have been taken in a season, and at Pigeon Lake 100,000 have been taken in the same period, these are two of the principal fisheries. The country lying westward from the Forks of the Saskatchewan to Edmonton and from the Battle River, north to the Pelican Lake, and Lac la Biche ; and also the country lying adjacent to the Red Deer River, it; nearly all admirably adapted for agricultural purposes ; and although the portions now under cultivation, are invariably the low and sour flats along the rivers and lakes, I have seen some very fine crops of Wheat, Barley and Potatoes, and am convinced that if the Uplands were used the results would be still more favorable. The total distance travelled in the country west of Fort Garry, was 5,900 miles, and it was my special object, to avoid travelling over the same road twice, in order to gaiu as much iiiformation as possible respect- ing the Country, , d-viiH* I am pretty thoroughly convinced, that Surveying Parties carrying on their woik in the ordinary way, would meet with no opposition from the Indians along the route. I must also mention that we would have suffered very great incon- venience, but for the kindness experienced at the hands of the Officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, who did everything in their power to assist us. In conclusion, I must thank Mr. Nichol, Mr. Horetzki, and Mr. Er- matinger for their able assistance in carrying out your instructions, and for the willing and cheerful manner in which they endured the mauy^- hardships we had to encounter. . ;-; I have the honor to be, f Sir, ' Your most Obdt. Servt., ^"■ FRANK MOBERLY, .^. 8 Engnr. in Charge Expd O. ^r P* 58 JLi^jPKi^roix iSo. e. {Report of James H. Rowan, Esq., on the progress in the Surveys between the, f,„^.j vallejf of the River Ottawa and Fort Garry.) ^^m^^^'^UWf^- ■.i - Sandfokd Fleming, Esq., 4vc^.«gi; Enginjeer in Chief, C. P. I^, m\Qp- Sir, — I have the honor to submit the following report, in reierence to that portion of the Canadian Pacific Railway Survey, extending from Mattawa to Red River, a distance of about 900 miles, which you were pleased to entrust to mo. Three parties (B. V. and 8K) under Messrs. Lloyd, O'HaiUy and Austin, who were charged with the duty of exploring northward and westward i fiom Mattawa, tor a distance of about 250 miles, left Ottawa and ascended the Ottawa river to the point named, on the 10th of June last. T started on the evening of the loth with a portion of the staff of the other eight; ■ parties (*i. to "fl. inclusive) for Toronto, where the remainder were ins-(. tructed to meet me, and arriving there on the afternoon of the 16th w?ip^j joined by the rest of the staft. j,. C.:t;aThe remainder oi that day was spent in organization, arranging oomi missariat matteis and pi'ocuring some men. On the morning of the 17th I sent off a pordon of the stall' and men to Collingwood, the remainder in the afternoon, while T remained in Toronto until Monday, the 19th, (ar- ranging various details with Mr. Wallace, the head of the Commissariat)-' then started for the same place and arriving there that evening found the^f^ Engineers, in obedience to my instructions, had been hireing Axe and Packr'^ men for their respective parties. It was fomid, however, impossible to obtain either the large number or class of men required, and many of thosaii we were obliged to take, subsequent events proved, were unequal to the.^ very arduous labor they had to undergo, caufcfiaig.,.y^ry,, cpn8i4ftrable delay and difficulty in pushing on the work. . .,< t ^ * ' - Tuesday, the 20th of June, the steamer Afgoma arrived from Thunder Bay, and the afternoon was spent in. getting the supplies onboard of her and the Rescue, one of the Grovernment gan boats which had been obtained;!? from the Militia Department, for the purpose of landing some of the partiesr, at points where it was thought the if mail steamer would not pall,, Asit-Ue timedvew near for the boat to leave, it was found that the carrying capacity cl the Gun boat was much less than had been anticipated, the consequence vas that most of the men had to be taken on board the Algnma ; the larger portion of the stores for Michipi- coton, Pic and Nepigbn being platieu ox board tke former. •- ^^ ^iUVii6« 69 Owing to the great addition thus madu to the usual number of travellers on the Mail steamer, great 'crowding and inconvenience was experienced. to; The Algoma started from Collingwood at 9:30 p.m., on the 2nth of June, the Rescue following shortly afterwards, and arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie, on the 22nd of June, at 11 a. m. Fearing that it would be difficult if not impossible to obtain canoes of ihe requisite size and in sufficient numbers, at the points whete they would be te'quit'ed. I endeavoured to procure some at Collingwood and every pbint where the steamer stopped, and by this means obtained seven before reaching Michipicoton on Lake Superior. It was fortunate that 1 had taken this precaution, for none were to be had at the H. B. Posts, where we after- wards made our depots, as they never keep a stock on hand ; to obtain them it would be necessary to give the order a year before, in order that the Indians might have time to procure bark from the interior of the country. Leaving the Sault in the afternoon ol the same day, we arrived off V[i" chipicoton, on Lake Superior, at 8 o'clock, 012 the morning of the 23 fd, we had utilized the time occupied in coming here, in getting the supplies for each party collected together, this, owing to the hurried manner in which they had been put on board and the crowded state of the boat, as already explained, was a work of great difficulty. There are no landing places for large cfart at any point on the north shore of Lake Superior, consequently the two parties, (K. and F.) in charge of Messrs. Gamsby and McConnell, together with their stores, had to be landed in the steamer's boats and a bateau kindly lent for that purpose by Mr. Bell, the H. B. Co.'s officer at Michipicoton, the Rescue coming up shortly afterwards, commenced to land supplies in the same manner. I went ashore with the parties and had a short interview with Mr. Bell, who kindly promised every assistance in his power to forward the undertaking, which promise he fullilled. Owing to the exposed position o'i the place and anxiety on the part of the Captain to continue his trip, the leni-th of my stay was shorter than I could have wished. > o canoes of the size required were here to be obtained, as it seemed extremely doubtful if any could be procured. I left four, being all I could spare, of those I brought with nie. A larger number was, however, requisite for the expedition's transport of the (.applies. - ,v,,^ Leavnig Michipicoton we steamed for Pic, which point we reached at 2:30 a. m., on the 24th June, and proceeded to land party -'r^, in charge of Mr. Armstrong, in thi^ same manner as the others had been landed at Mi- chipicoton ; but the difficulties ho be contended with here were even greater than at the former place, as the position is much exposed to seas from the lake, and at that early hour (2:80 a. m.) it was quite dark. The Rescue cai in sight just as daV began to break and we were l^avihg. There were no canoes to be obtained so I gave the party the three remaining on board the Steamer. ' 'J .<' Leaving Pic ftt day light we arrived at Nepigon at 8 p. m, the sanie 60 ■ ^1 il -t >*;;• t .1 (lay and landed party H in charjwe of Mr. Johnston ; most of their supplies being on board the Rescuf., and the Ahj^oma being able to come along side the wharf, our detention here was short. There were no large canoes to be obtained, but the distance from the landing place to the point where the party were to commence work being comparatively short, they suc- ceeded, with some trouble and delay, in getting their supplies up. The Rescue was not in sight when we left for Thunder Bay, at which point we arrived on the morning of the 25th of June and immediately commenced to land the men and supplies ; this together with getting the latter into store and finding accommodation for the parties, (tents being on board the Rescue) occupied the entire day. As it was of the first importance to ascertain at once, what canoes could be procured to convey to their destinations the men, and supplies of the four parties, who were to explore the country between Nepigon and Jled River, I crossed the bay from Prince Arthur's landing to the H, B. Post, (Fort William) early the following morning, and saw Mr. Mclntyre, the officer in charge, wh > kindly promised me every assistance in procuring canoes and Indians to man them ; to his kind assistance I was much indebted for success in these matters. 'J^ -Finding that it would take some days to get canoes ready, I returned to the Landing to make arrangements for forwarding the men and supplies over a portion of the "Dawson Route" to Red River. During my absence at the Fort, the steamer Rescue arrived at the Landing, and the supplies, tents, &c., were being landedl"-^ ■' At this time I was met by a difficulty which retarded very' materially the progress of the work. M/. Dawson, the Engineer in charge, under the Department of Public Works, of the route to Red River, was absent with Mr. Simpson, arranging a treaty with the Indians, at Fort Francis. Owing to this, and the fact that all the available force on the route was engaged, in forwarding supplies for the use of the troops, about to return from Red River, and for immigrants proceeding to that point ; we were unable to obtain waggons and horses to forward our supplies, except in detached umbers and at different intervals of time, consequently it was the 5th July ' fore the first of our parties and the 15th before the last had left the uanding. by muji. I I ,iigit>vv i-:.i>.a.i ' ,.rij> Parties I and K being now fairly under weigh, I returned to the Landing to start the two remaining, (I., and ]?■) in charge respectively of Messrs. James and Jarvis, to Shebundowan Lake. This being effected, I as- cended the Kaministiquia River to the head of the Great Dog Portageit,; where I found the rear of the supplies for parties I and K and the Com?fcJ missariat officer, the Engineers hav'ing gone forward with the balancQivig Having given final instructions to the Commissariat officeers, I returned to , the Bridge, and from thence I took the '• Dawson Road" to Shebandowan » Lake, arriving at noon on the 18th ; h^re I found parties 1^ aad IH encamped, - they having come through on foo; from the Landing in two days, the ^. distance being 47 miles. After se,tjiin8' everything prepared ibr a start. ■ from that point, so soon as boats could be supplied by Mr. Dawson, I left. «a m ghebandbwah that ev^nin^ and arrived at the Landing the following morning, in time to take the steamer Ckicora lor Collingwood. On the trip down the Lake we called at Nepij^on (21st July] wHere I learned that party H was making- t'avonrablo prof^ress; we reached Col- lingwood at 6 a.m., 24th Jnly, and 1 arrived in Ottawa the evening of the 26th. Here I reported myself to you, and having received instructions to keep four parties at w.)rkduringthe winter, returned to Toronto, met the Commissariat Officer, Mr. Wallace, and arranged tiiat warm clothing, snow- shoes, additional blankets &c., should be j)rocured, and forwarded for the use of these parties. From this gentleman I learned that during my absence at Thunder Bay, one of the parties (Ci) north of Lake Superior, had lost most of their supplies by fire in the woods; steps were, consequently, taken to repair this loss. I again sailed from Collingwood on the lOth August, and reached Thunder Bay on the evening of the 14th; the Res('ue\i2id arrived the day previous having delivered a second supply of necessaries at the depots on the north shcre of Lake Superior. By her 1 received the distressing intel- igence of the loss of some men, by lire in the woods, belonging to party H; this made me extremely anxious to visit (hat party and all the others along the north shore. Finding that this could be eftected more satisfac- torily by taking the Rescue than by waiting for the regular line of steam- ers, (whose visits to the posts on the north shore, at this advanced season of the year were very irregular) I altered the arrangement, made at Ottawa, of sending her home after this trip to Thunder Bay ; and arranged she should take me to Nepigon, Pic, and Michipicoten, and after landing me at the latter place should then proceed to Collingwood and be paid ofl'. " Befo'fe leaving Thunder Bay I learned, that owing to the great dif- fffeMt^- of getting in supplies^ for two parties, by the route they had to follow, party I had removed to Nepigon at the other end of their division ; I also learned that party li had advanced .some miles along their route, and fotirid the couYitry generally favourable for Railway construction. I for- wAtded the instructions to ifi and "it, in relV'rence to their remaining out all winter; when last heard from, they liad not arrived at their starting point. v' ' • , ,:>,tB:yiu w stop's ■'■' Leaving Thunder Bay, in the Resr.iie, on the evening of the 16th August, I reached Nepigon the following morning and proceeded along the explored line to the cathp of party*, a distance of 10 miles. The country passed over thus far being coinparatively level and of rather a swflfmpy character, (except in the imn:ediate neighborhood of Nepigon) thickly, but not heavily, wooded with Balsam, Spruce and Cedar. ai-'if^arioi, .tM '^iJir.j'^i.t Jiix. i^i hi T i 1 retnrned to the ile.sf ?/e the following day at noon, and proceeded db*#n Nepigon Bay to Jack Fish river where we arrived at 6 p. m. At this point party H had established a depot, thereby saving a portage of 14 miles along the line from Nepigon ; here the efFucts of the fire in the voods ' w«*e fiir«t *fe!i by us, tht^ timber and soil b^iiig completely burned up.' Taking a man frouo. th^ depot and two lodians I had biought with me from the Sault, I started along the line to visit the party; after proceeding about 12 miles we met Mr. Johnson and. three men returning to institute a further search for the missing men. ; , ,.' .i .i^r^,' . , ; - It seemb desirable that at thi.s point I shoulid give- an account of tken circumstances connected with this event, in order to shew that no blame can attach to any one in this matter, except the unfortunate men. tkemn selves : — A j)arty of seven men, two whites and five Indians, were detailed from party II to biingforwiird supplies from one depot to another, (and for this purpose had cut a trail by a shorter route than thai followed by the surveyed i line) while the main party were proceeding with the exploration-: not-. withstanding their having been repeatedly urged by Mr. Johnston to push ahead and keep up Avith the rest of the party, they lagged behind.* Their non-appearance, after some days, excited anxiety on the part of Mr..! Johnston, who thought the y had deserted and returned to Nep^gon ; he>-. therefore proceeded there himself in search of them, but found they; had not returned ; then having fears tor their safety, as the whole party had on several occasions, very narrow escapes from the iiree, he immediately returned to the main party and sent his second in command with a numn ber of men to search for the others. Alter an abseuce of five daysi they /returned, having made an extensive search and found one, Indian in, a portion of the woods which had been burned over. He was lying on his face with his shirt, which he had taken off, between it and the ground> placed in that position to exclude the smoke from his lungs; he. was not burned, but had evidently died of suffocation caused by the smoke. In a swamp near by were found six holes which had been exca- vated by the others, in order that by getting into them ihfy might escape' the fire, but the smoke becoming too dense had driven them away and no further , trace of them could be found. Themostextraordinary point in. the whole sad event, being that all the supplies, together -with their blankets and- clothes, were found at the depot untouched by the fire. , ^ j,i. ^ ..•,;..:.„: The first party sent in search having made these discoveries, returned : to, Mr. Johnston, who,upon receipt of their report, had, when 1 met him.j as. aleady stated, started to make a final ofiontior , finding some iurthec^ traces of them. We, therefore, with the men, returned and slept for the night at one' of the now deserted depots to which the supplies were being; brougJ^ita when the catastrophe occurred. When the whole party were first en- camped at this point they had a very narrow escape, the fire having burned to within one quarter of ai.miie of the camp, and then , leaping;. over burned on again beyond, leaving it intact. Leaving Mr. Johnston*^ the following morning, to prosecute the search (wJiich, I subsequently learned proved useless,) I returned to the Resme and proceeded da \^n, the*; lake.tQ,lX where we aj:j:i>re4,|it,8i^i^^ ,;.. ,„ .,^ ,,-,,, . £, The progxefis.of this pa,(ty, h«4;b^H ;V«if aatJBfactoiry, although ^the 04 country passed over proved, for the most part, extremely rugged and broken, in fact entirely impracticable for Railway construction, the distance run at the time of my visit being about 30 miles. Landing at Pic with my canoe on*the morning of the 2l8t August, I procured some Indians at the Hudson Bay Post and proceeded up the Pic river, reaching the starting point of party €» (a distance of 50 miles above the mouth of the river) late in the afternoon of the following day. This was the point where the supplies were destroyed by fire referred to in an earlier part of this report. The manner in which it occurred was as follows : — The depot was built on a narrow terrace of the river bank, 20 feet above the water, which is succeeded by another terrace of about the same height, immediately in rear of the depot. In this building all the stores of the party were placed, with the exception of a small supply for immediate use in the camp abovit 10 miles distant. There was a man in charge who slept in the building ; about daylight one morning he was awakened by a loud roaring noise, hastily putting on his clothes, he ran out to see the cause and found the whole of the woods on the Upper Plateau, in rear of tho building, in flames. The fire was caused by some Indians who had camped there, who, on leaving at daylight, had neglected to extinguish the fire by which they had cooked their breakfast. The storekeeper had only time to roll some few barrels of flour and pork down the bank into the river and betake himself to a canoe, when the whole place was in flames. The consequence of this was thut, for some time the party was reduced to living on fish, which they caught, and some flour kindly lent to them by the H. B. officer at the Pic. As soon as possible, but not until after ^ome time had elapsed, intelligence of the disaster was forwarded to Toronto, and the loss made good with as little delay as possible. ' :: Iff ■ ■ Starting from the Depot early on the 28rd August, with two Indians and one white man, to carry supplies and blankets, we reached the party in the forenoon of the 25th, after a most fatiguing walk of 40 miles, I found the work progressing- very favourably although the party had many hard- ships to contend with, being sometimes reduced to very straightened cir- cumstances as regards food, in consequence of the loss of their supplies by fire, and the great diffiouiiy of transporting them over the rugged country they had traversed. At the time I visited the party they were supposed to be within 6 or 8 miles of Long lake, at which point Mr. Armstrong, the Engineer in charge, had directed a depot to be made. It subsequently turned out that they had 14 miles of a most difficult country to pass through, which took so long to get over that for some days before reaching the depot they had nothing to «at but a little flour and berries gath^x^^ on th@ hills. The greater part of the coontry explored was of the most barren and ■'.rr.t^.V} \- •*«l rugged description, traversed by high ranges of hills of primitive rock from which every vestige of vegetation had been removed by fire, and quite impracticable for a Railway. Leaving the party (W) on the morning of the 26th I reached Pic on the 29th, where we were detained on board the Rexcue in consequence of a storm, the r^teamer having to take shelter in the lea of an island at some distance from the mouth of the river. a him On the morning of the 3 Ist, the weather having moderated to some extent we sailed lor Michipicoton, and arrived there in the evening, but, the storm rising again, we were obliged to take shelter under Gros Cap, a point two miles distant from the mouth of the river. By the 3rd Septem- ber the sea had gone down, and launching my canoe I paddled myself to Michipicoteu, the steamer proceeding on her voyage to oiling wood. Mr. Bell, the H, B. officer at this point, procured me with some difficulty, owing to most ofthem having gone to their hunting grounds, six Indians, with whom I started on the morning of the 4th, by Michipicoton and Moose rivers for the depot of parties JK and F on the latter river, and distant from Michipicoton about 150 miles.. We arrived at the above named point on the morning of the 8th, where I found that owing to the great distance over which supplies had to be conveyed, the difficulties of the route and scarcity of men, the party (IK) were run very short of provi- sions : stopping therefore only long enough to write a line to Mr. G-amsby, Engineer in charge, I proceeded down Moose river with the intention of visiting New Brunswick House (H. B. Post) and trying to hire some Indians. iii({ OXii y.UtJ •MU\ja U;l ^MjUj 'h» ^ ■ l.v i ff ■> : ■; n •r- As I camped at a portage on the night of the 8th September, I was joined by party Ifi, under Mr. McKenzie, on their way homewards after having ascended the Ottawa river, descended the Abbitibbie to James' Bay and ascended the Moose river to this point. From this gentleman I learned that my visit to New Brunswick House would be useless, as when he left it that morning, the H. B. Oo. could hardly procure Indians to man their canoe, about to start for Michipicoton for winter supplies. I there- fore, in company with party M, the next morning, retraced my way to the Depot, and arriving there in the afternoon immediately despatched one of my Indians with a note to Mr. Q-amsby, requesting him to come and meet me at his 15 mile Depot. My object in doing this was to save time, it being very important that I should get back as quickly as possible to Mi- chipicoton, and endeavour by some means to forward more su;> Uies. Mr. Gamsby joined me at tfie IS mile Dejibt oh the' erenin_ >ftE« 11th, from him I learned that on two occasions they had been without meat for some days : having received his report on the progress of the work and given him his instructions as to remaining out all winter, I started on my return journey the following morning, to try and lind the Commissa- riat Officer, Mr. Price, who was charged with forwarding supplies for parties K and J(*\ and at this time engaged in taking in supplies to the latter 9 , ■ , ■■ :■ ■ - ^ ■ % i' i! party, by another route wiuch saved, considerable land carriage. At raid- day on the 14th I reached the point on Michipicoton river where this route blanched off, and following it met the Commissariat Officer in the evening, on hie return from taking in supplies to party F. 3131 jw Ha,yiug infjup ^ ' him of the state of affairs on division jK, and learned that party F, unuor Mr. McConnell were getting on> s»ti*iactorily, I determined to give up the idea of visiting that gentleman and returned to Michipicoton with the Oomniissariat Officer. On the way down he explained to me the gre«i.l difficulties he had 10 contend wiih, owing to the scarcity, of men, the isolated position in which he was placed, and the coiv sequent difficulty and delay in communicating with the head of his depajt- I I. >>« #« r Wei arrived at tlichipicoton at noon on the 16th September, and" to my great disappointment, I 'earned a steamer had left there in the morning, and th^t^om^.daySi would elapse before another would call. During this time I succeeded in persuading the Indians, who had taken me up tne river, to assiat, Mr. Price and his men in taking in more supplies, most of them promising io remain with him 36 long a« required. The great difficulty in employing Indians is, to get them to continue for any length of time at a particular class of work At this juncture our difficulties were materi- iaUy inco-eaaed, Mr. Bell, (the H. B. Officer,) having left for Sault Ste. Marie in consequence of ill health, and we conseque^itly lost his valuable assistiince. The steamer Chiccra anived on the night of the 20th September bring- ing, what wa#.HO joau^h needed, a number of men. I consequently felt satisfied that, .\y.iih such an energetic officer as we bad at this point, the difficult.es of gettiw^^m suppHes, groat :is they were, would be overcome: I therefore embarked for CoUingwood intending to proceed from there to Thunder Bay. Before leaving, 1 wrot? to Mr. McConnell, instructing him to stop work and. bring out his ^arty on the 10th October, as it was not contemplated to keep them at work all winter, and the risk at- tending remaijiing later, unless provided with winter supplies, would be very great. ,^- .,„....,.■ ,,.,_, The country v/hida Hail been explored (up to the time cf my visit) by parties li^and F", was on the nolh side of the height of land, and is favorable for the construeticku of a railway. The. explorations also prove that by moving the line still further north a, b-itter section may be obtained. The ClUcirc arriv^ at Oollingwood 0% the 23rd September, and in obe- dience to a telegram from you, I c: ni© on to Ottawa and having reported on the progress of the work, vvat auLhoriztd by you, to keep Mr. Armstrong and a smaU paity out all winter for the pirppse of endeavouring to lind a more practicable lijie further north of Lake Superior than thtt explored by himself and Mr. JohustoUv and also for co«j>pletin^ tjjat portion of division F which Mr. McCouuell would not have time to hiiish. I at the name time .y ■^1 !# / .-/ received instructions to keep parties I and K at work during the winter, it being probable that their dirisions would not be completed before that time and the expense of keeping them out would be much less than that of bringing them home in the Fall and sending them out again in Spring. The winter is also a much better time for passing through the country to be explored, owing to the fact that the lakes, with which it is covered, are frozen ever and more easily crossed, thus rendering the moving of supplies &c. much more practicable. H a Having arranged with Mr. Wallace for the forwarding of warm plothing, snowshoes, &c., for these additional winter parties, I again started for Thunder Bay and Lake of the Woods. The Chicora called at Michipi- coton, Pic, and Nepigon on her way up the lake, thus enabling me to com- municate with all our parties. By this means I learned, at Michipicoton, that parties E and F, were progressing favourably ; at Pic I found Mr. Armstrong and party, having completed his division, waiting for a steamer to take them home. When, however, I communicated to them the in- structions to remain out all winter, those that were to stay cheerfully undertook to endure the hardshipr of a winter expedition. .... Arriving at Nepigon I found Mr. Johnson and party (having completed tlieir work), and took them on board, in order that they might return to Ottawa. I at the same time sent instructions to Mr. John Fleming, to remain out all winter with his party, and informed him that the necessary winter outfit would arrive by the next steamer. When we reached Thunder Bay I sent Mr. Carre (K) instructions to the same effect, and having arranged with the Commissariat Officer at this point that the winter supplies should be sent in as quickly as possible, I started for Lake of the Woods. Before arriving at this point, however, winter set in unusually early and with such great severity, that I was frozen in on that Lake for three days, and did not reach the " North West Angle" until the 2nd November, after a walk of ten miles on ice hardly strong enough to support my weight, although quite sufficient to gtop a boat or canoe. Here I learned that the Commissariat Officer, Mr. Robson, who had been sending in supplies for parties 8.1 and iH, had that morning started for Ottawa via Red River, having completed hig Work. Finding there was no prospect of my getting to the Depot of li aiid M, at. White Fish Bay, until either milder weather returned or the Lake Was frozen over, I started for Fort Oarry. 110 miles distant. Here I met Mr. Robson, who gave me a detailed account of the difficulties encountered by Messrs. James and Jarvis, parties (fii and M,) in getting to their starting point, which they only reached on the 21st August, over two months frog^,, the ditto of their leaving Ottawa. ' V *'' ^'i'> ■' 'ri. ■" p If-' It being the 5th November when I reached Fort'^ Gtarty, I ^f ( I! ^ 1 li! I a! f It !ii i! ."I 1 ! i! Mr. Robson to endeavor 'to go to Nepigon, by way of Duluth, for the pur- pose of assisting Division I in getting their supplies forward during the winter. Returning to the "North West Ai> ;ie" with the view of again endeavoring to reach White Fish Bay, I found the ice was not yet strong enough, nor could I succeed in obtaining an Indian guide. Alter waiting there some days with the above result, I was about to gi\re up the attempt and return to Ottawa, when Mr. James and all the party It arrived from White Fish Bay, having travelled on the ice. From him I learned that the men had refused to continue out any longer, and after an unsuccessful attempt on my part to induce them to continue on the work, I took steps to forward them home, returned to Fort G-arry to procure others, leaving Mr. James and his Staff at the •' Angle" until I sent them out. While I was thus employed at Fort Garry all the men, who had been engaged in Canada, belonging to party M, came in and insisted on returning home, I had therefore, at the same time, to find others to replace them. This was a work of considerable difficulty but by the 16th Decem- ber I had procured the requisite number, and arranged with Mr. Jones (sent up by you to attend to Commissariat and other matters at Fort G-arry) to forward them to the respective parties. t ... 1 Leaving Fort Garry on the 17th December, I reached Toronto on the 26th ; during my stay at the former place the weather had been extremely cold, the thermometei;?, o;% one occasion, registering — 3fi® inthu month of November. ? ' . ^ On the 26th February of this year I left Ottawa and ascended the Ottawa River to the mouth of the Montreal, a distance of about 250 miles, taking Mr. Austin a, id staff with me, to complete the survey of Division C, which had been u bandoned by the first party sent out, in consequence of some difficulty occuring between the staff and men. - ;' k''.' ' li m Having seen Mr. Austin's party started, and paid a visit to Mr. Lloyd (B), who expected to complete iis Division by the middle of April, I returned to Ottawa to superintendthe preparatipii 9f the Plans, &c., of the work already completed. A cause of considerable difficulty in carrying out this undertaking, has boon the'obstacles which pr^Vente^Bitherfrequent or regular commu- nication b6tWe6n the head ofnc^, thyiS^'f, and the parties on the work; when, however, an opportunity offered, a statement of the progress made with ajough plan and section of the line, has, been forwarded to me by tho iovoral Eagin««r». • ^e^^'^^ :'-- :*w'i» i,4 b^^^oiicr ■ ■4' ■ 09 From the latest information thus received, the following summary of the progress of the work, at the beginning of this month, has been pre- pared : — 4 .ur .4^^_.A,l^am miuui : &: DIVISION B. On the 31st March, about 16 miles of the survey were unfinished, which the Engineer in charge hoped to finish by the 16th April, if the weather proved favourable. The first 30 miles of the Division are represented as being quite practicable, but some unfavourable points occur on the remainder. The information obtained, however, warrants the belief that a favourable loca- tion can be found by making some deviations from the trial Survey Line. DIVISION €. The first party sent out having failed to carry out their instructions, steps have been taken to complete the exploration which, it is expected, will be finished by the month of July. Division ». The exploration of this division was completed about the end of January, and the neld notes forwarded to this office. The plan and sec- tion will be completed in a short time. A practicable line for a railway has been found, theve are, however, a few points where further exploration will be advisable in order to improve the section and render the bridging of two branches of the Moose river, which prove heavy on the first explored line, more favorable. miles The length of this division, on the line proposed for the railway is 81 DITISION E. ^O 73 IC- . lit ■ j'A i. The exploration of this division was completed in February. The Engineer in charge returned to Ottawa within the last few days, having made the journey from M.ichipicot6u on snowshoes where he left the staff at work on the plan and section ; they will return to Ottawa by the first boat upon the opening of navigatioa. He reports the country favorable for the location of a railway ; there will be three rivers, (including the Moose at the starting point) requiring bridges of considerable size, to be cfossbd,.^^ mim: aq », . The section can be improved by taking the ime a short distance further ;! 70 north, which ir 17 have to be done for the purpose of avoiding the rough country, found on divisions G . and H. further to the west. * .* DIVISION F. i I 1 !M n 1 t 4: \ When the party left off work, 10th October, in order to reach the last stea;mer before the close of navigation, 55 miles had been explored, equalling 44J on' the line proposed for the railway. >.'-j /»-.v'Ui Letters received (dated in March) from the Engineer in charge ofdivi- sioa ^ lead to the .conclusion that the whole is completed by this time. The plan and section of the first portion has been plotted and shews a favorable location, which, as in the preceding division, can be improved by moving the line farther north. DIVISION «. *;■!' The exploration of this division was completed earl^lti the winter, and the greater portion of the country traversed found impracticable for a rail- way. .i^^ .M^ During the winter the party has been engaged in making a '• Flying Exploration" of the country some distance north of last summer's work, the result of this proves that a i)racticable line can be obtained north of the "height of land." DIVISION ir The exploration of this division was completed in October last, at which time the party retiirQed to Ottawa, where the plan and section were plotted. ^v— »■- ''t- The country traversed proved entirely impracticable for a railway. Explorations have been carried on farther north, during the winter, which by the latest accounts received are of a favorable character. af^^' <'■; DIVISIOJN" I. Forty miles of this division had been completed when last heard froni at the commencement of the winter, and it is expected that the whole will be completed shortly after the openiug.of navigation. A portion of the country first explored, between the mouth of the rivers Nepigon and Black Sturgeon, proved very rugged but more recent examinations go to shew that in all probability this can be avoided. DIVISION K. The exploration of this division was completed in February. Letters received from the Engineer represent the country as genet-ally level, full of small lakes, but favorable lor the construction of a railway in; the required direction. He is at present at Thunder Bay engaged in preparing the plum and section, which wil be forwarded to Ottawa upon the opening of navigation. DIVISION l.v ■.'in u."- At the date of the latest letters from the Engineer, 36 miles had been explored. A practicable line found in thtj general direction indicated by his instructions, although the countiy is rough and filled with lakes, some of which are of a very considerable size. He has made explor: tions on both sides of the line and found that a more favorable country exists north of the present location. .t^, ^^^ ... .. .v*i,v. ^. ■ DIVISION M. ; !;;;,>' This division has been completed and the Engineer is engaged in pre- paring the plan and section at,!Port Garry. He reports favorably of the country traversed, but the first 30 or 40 miles admit of improvement which he thinks can be effected by taking the line farther north. In order to obtain more information respecting the country lying to the north of the line already explored, a party was sent out about the beginning of this year to make a 'Flying Exploration" from jFort Oarry to the north end of lake Nepigon. 'J •< i> •, .ti-h-Uu: ^■i'.AU Nil-: .0'\ ■ fiv 78 cloth- ier be a over :er has red to) itiring ears, nnng N. •Vt' ^^T»p»ii:ivi:>ix jso. If, {Report of Alexander McKemie, Esq., — in charge of the Expedition to James Bay. Kingston, 27th Oct., 1871. Sandford Fleming, Esq., 0. E., Engineer-in-Chief, C, P. R., Ottawa. Sir, — The accompanying informal copy of the Itinerary of the Expedi- tion to .Tames' Bay, under my charge, will, when supplemented by the topographical map now in hand, illustrate to you the details of the sea- son's work. You will thereby also learn the nature of the country passed through, as regards its soil, climate, timber, minerals, topographical features, and general geological structure. On all these points 1 have been as explicit as possible ; and my object here is, to epitomize the whole, with the view of lending, if not additional, at least more immediate value to the season's work, by placing it within abstract compass. According examming to received instructions, I was charged with carefully the country lying between the valley of the Ottawa, Lake Superior, and the waters of Hudson's Bay, with reference to the points above enumerated, commencing at the Montreal River, a tributary of the Ottawa, following the course oi the Abbitibbie river, through to .Tames' Bay, and returning by the Moose and Michipicoton river to Lake Superior. It may hardly be necessary here to state that, in approaching a country so lensely wooded, the topographical engineer is liable to some difhculty in obtaining a key, capable ol placing within his professional control so vast an area, covering as it does about 30,000 square miles. Aware of this, I first endeavored to direct attention to some leading physical feature, which happily presented itself in the great mountain cli.dn, which, at a depth and altitude more or less irregular, traverses the whole country from Labrador to the lar "West, and ol. which as a base the subsidiary triangle enclosed by the Abbitibbie and Jloose rivers with the intermediate chain of lakes rests. In ascending the Ottawa river, this well delined chain of mountains follows its noith-east hank to the mouth oi the JNIattawa river the valley of which ext Posts, north of the jTr(>at Watershed. At Moose Factory the extremes of temperature are — 40^ in winter and-r-89® in summer, the average duriir^' the coldest inonih boin£^ so far as 1 could learn, about-|-n°, or a little colder than at Abbitibbie, where I procured my figures from the register kept for the fSiaithsonian Institution. The climate of the country is very healthy, and even in the heat of summer, the air highly invigorating, but early frosts frequently prevent grain from ripening properly, especially at Moose Factory, where the soil is rich alluvial, and the crops over luxuriant for an early harvest. At New Brunswick House, however, situated about 49* 8' N. latitude, I procured a very fair specimen of ripe barley. ., _. „ ^ On ! loose Island, in Lat. SI** 14' 43" N., the magnetic variation is 13« "W. and I observed from the Hudson's Bay Company's chart of 1821, that fol- lowinir the meridian o: 80^ W. Long, at Lat. 52«' 10' N. it is 7° W. at 52° 40' N. it is 8>^ W., while at Lat. 54^ 18" N. and Long. 80° 30' W. it is 10° W. [ had no means at my command this season, of ascertaining whether obser- vations taken this year would corresp< ' with those of fifty years ago. In the soundings, so far as I was able to e.. nine during a short trip of three dnys in James Bay, there seems in general little difference between those taken then and in 1821 ; that little however indicates a sliting up, but the bottom is free from rocks, except a few drift boulders, and the anchorage excellent. Along our route of exploration we met with some very beautiful and interesting scenery, especially on the Abl)itibbie river, of which I made some pencil sketches. On reaching Moose Factory, however, I found from Mr. J. L. Cotter, Accountant, Southern Department that, during his summer travels in Hiidson Bay, he had, as an amateur, photogi aphed many of the principal scenes we had passed; at th:? same time presentiiig me with what copies he had, including a complete view of Moose Island and Factory. ' ' In my contact with the Indians, I have been far more successful than I anticipated in securing their good opinion, three of thom having, as bows- raan, steersman, and cook, followed us faithfully throughout the entire expedition. The Cree-speaking Indisftis had become very suspicious of The future in consequence of the transition state of the Company. In ansvvm- to many inquiries, which I aad neithof power nor aulhority to answer, I constantly assured them thet the object and wish of the Cana- dian Gcvernment was to deal tairly by them ; also taking care never to leave a post or encampment, before iseertaining to what extent our. pre», eciico and conduct had met tJieir appjovaJ. ♦,>* f 77 It would be unjust to close this report without expressinj? my satisfac- tion with my assistants. To their exertions and intellij^enco, the rapidity of our movements, and the success of the expedition owes much. From the Hudson's Bay officers, in addition to much information and help, we met with much personal kindness. - I have in hand a statement of the accounts of the expedition which will be submitted at the earliest opportunity. , ' ' All of which is respectfully submitted by ' ' -*: ' Sir, your most obedient servant, - ;V . r "■■ .rrf'Lw. ■ , ■„--..■. :;, / A. Mckenzie, "^ ' ' Engineer in charge of Division X ' ? •' -"■ -i'i ^^t*i^KrvT>xx: :vo. j*. Eotplanationt by the Engineer in Chitf respecting the commencement of the • , Survey at Mattawa, iA-mr^'K Canadian Pacific Railway, '.n'j^'j • . .. ,u i 4/ Office of the Engineer in Chief, Ottawa, May 6, 1872. The Hon. H. L. Lanqevin, 0. B., ,, „ Minister of Public Works, &c., &c. ri:: t Sir,— Objections have been offered, since my Report on the Pacific Railway Exploration was made public, to the point selected for beginning the easterly end of the survey. It is thi'refore proper that I should submit a few words of explanation, which if you deem expedient, may be iicluded in the appendices to the original report and printed with them ^ In the selection of a point for beginning the siirvey, three main objects had to be kept in view : — -■ 1st. A connection with the Kaihvavs of the Proviuc of Ontario. ii'i • ? 2nd. A connection with the liailways of the Province of Quebec. 3rd. The discovery of a practicable line for a Railway through the wilderness country extending uprthejly %ftd westerly by Lake Superior to ^ n fi- The Q-overnment considered that a point between the Georgian Bay and the river Ottawa in the latitude of Luke Nipisaing, would generally meet the first two objects, viz. : — the connection with the exiMtinsr Railway System of the country. The third object appeared, at the time the survey began, the one of chief importance, as grave doubts were entertained by many as to the possibility of piercing the long <>xtent of rugged country, believed to exist, with a practicable line for the Railway. The Q-overnment was extrtuncly anxious that a practicable line should be discovered, with as little delay as possible, and in order the more effec- tually to accomplish this object, the Engineer appointed to conduct the surveys was left untrammelled as to the course to be pursued. The Grovernment simply decided that the survey should begin in the latitude of Lake Nipissing somewhere between the < leorgian Bay and the river Ottawa; the duty and responsibility of finding a practicable line thence westerly devolved upon me. "^ The distance between the Georgian Bay and the river Ottawa, in the latitude referred to, is in round figures about 100 miles. Lake Nipissing is sitaated about midway and with its different bays, praci-ically occupies about 60 miles; or about half the whole distance It was clear that a line for the Pacific Railway, to connect with the Railways of Canada to the south, must pass either to the east or to the west of Lake Nipissing. Every known source of information respecting the country lying be- tween Lake Nipissing and the northern bend of Lake Superior was fully and carefully consulted by me and all accounts agreed as to the exceeding roughness and impracticability of the country for Railway construction on a line drawn from any point between the Georgian Bay and the west end of Lake Nipissing. The country on aline drawn up the valley of the Ottawa from a point east of Lake Nipissing, seemed on the otlier hand much more promising. I satisfied myself that to attempt the discovery of a favorable line on a moderately direct course from the westerly end of Lake Nipissing to the north side of Lake Superior could only be made at a great expenditure of time and money, and without much hope of success. My duty and object-was not to court failure but to aim at success by the most direct course, I thereibre decided to look for a satisfactory solu- tion to the problem of practicability, by l)eginning the survey at a point east of Lake Nipissing. The importance of bringing the Pacific Railway as near as prwticable r9 to the system of Railways convergiiiii: at Toronto, without fromg too much out ot the direct course to the 8ea])oard is fully recognised In relation to this point, I wish to draw attention to certain lacts which will pro- bably set some misapprehensions at rest. Lake Nipissinjjf is situated directly north of Toronto. The Northern Railway, the Nipissing Railway, the Whitby, Bowman ville, Port Hope and Cobourg Railways with their extensions, as now projected, lead to a point in the Muskoka District named Bracebridge. Bracebridge is due South of and actually nearer the East end of Lake Nipissing than the West end. It seems clear therefore that if a point to the East of t^afe N'ipissmg be found not moie distant I'rom Fort Grarry than a poirt on the West side of this Lake, the most direct connection between Fort Garry and the Railways of Ontario would be by the East side of Lake Nipissing. I am perfectly satisfied from all the information acquired respecting the geographical position of the different points referred to and the phy- sical features of the intervening country that the probability of finding a more favorable and shorter line, by the West side than by the East side of Lake Nipissing is very small. Be this as it may, I trust the explanations given with regard to the commencement of the sTirvey are satisfactory. Of course in beginning instrumental examinations, it was necessary to fix on some definite point. I selected Mattawa as this point for similar reasons to those which governed me in making the survey East instead of West of Lake Nipissing. I do not, however, wish it to be understood that I consider it imprac- ticable to build the Railway nearer the East end of Lake Nipissing than Mattawa and thence to such point south ol it as the G-overnment may select. I :i 4 -, tHehMdr tbb«, Sir, Your obedient servt , ' SANFDORD FLE.MING, Engineer-in-chief. .*■;■ 8C tl &,' OOnSTTHllsrTS. «•) 111 I ^i t !■ PAaE. G-en*»rai Report. .-- . APPENIICES. 1 No. 1. — Table of distances 17 No. 2. — Report on Survey between Now Westrainster and G^reat Shuswap Lake 20 No 3.- No. 4.- No. 5.- No. 6.- No. 7.- juxploratioii from Grveat Shuswap Lake to Howse Pass.. 27 Exploration from Kainloops and Cariboo to Yellow Head Pass 39 i Examination between the Rocky Mountains and Fort Grarry 50 Survey between Fort Crarry-aud and Lake Nipissiug... 58 The Expedition to James' Bay 73 No. 8. — Explanations respecting the commeiiceraent of the survey near Lake Nipissing- 77 Map of part ol Canada between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans show- ing the projected Railway route. Diagram, comparative Proliles oi'^tho Canadian Pacific Railway and the Union Pacific Railway, U. 8. r I I i .; ) PAOI. 2 17 G^reai 20 56 Pass.. 27 Yellow 39 i I id Fort 50 ssing"... 58 73 I I ey near 77 s show ay and