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Montreal : PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL k SON. 1881. ^ ' Vl^ 77 Entered according to Act of Parliament, in the year one thousand eight hnndred and eighty-one, by Albxander Bkgg, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Statistic^, at Ottawa. ^rdiratd TO THE EIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD, P.C, K.C.B., Prime Minister and Minister of Interior OF THB Dominion of Canada. Tti !Sii cul N( Co no l)c tie/' see tio for try vir de^ in Pa^ mil To The lilClIT lIuNulH.M'.LK Sllf .TOIIX A. MACDOXALD, I'.C, K.C.li., TkIMI; .MlMSTKH Ml' Till-: DuMINlnN u\- CANADA. 111 ilu' Hulile t'lt'uits |.ut forth by you and your colleagues to develop the vast resources ol' the Cauudian North West you are hut coiiijdetiiin; that j^i'and work of Confederation oi whkh you are the lua-ter-liuilder. It is now Lecoining plainer day hy day (a fuct wliieh ai)pear,s to have been foreseen by you Ioiil: agnj that tlie success of the Doniinittn as a whole depends in ilie future upon the development of the great fertile land which you are now seeking to connect more intimately with the Eastern jior- tions of Canada. It would be a poor investment indeed for the Dominion to jieople and develop that great coun- try if it were to be left unconnected with the older Pro- vinces, or to allow it to be dependent even in the slightest degree upon the good- will or at the mercy of our neighbours in the United States. There is no doubt the construction of the Canadian Pacific Eailway as at present projiosed is looked up(jn with much uneasiness by certain interested American capitalists who now control the avenues of trade from the West to i the seaboard, and ere lonji; it will he seen how they are at present endeavouring to thwart yonr efforts to huild our national lino. I have every reason to hcdieve, from a long residence in the North West and by an intimate acijuain- tance with the wants of our North-western country, as well as those of the more Western States of America, that many years will not elapse ere it will he found that the produce of the whole North-western country, American as w»;ll as (/anadian, will seek an independent avenue for transporta- tion to the seaboard through Canada. To make this, however, thoroughly a n< I wholly a national success, the line must be altogether through our own territory, and in no way subservient to the wi.l of American pools or American speculators. There is very little d(»ul)t that mtiaus will be found in the future by American trunk lines to tap our great North West. No human agency at the present tinie can foresee the future neces.-jities that may arise in connec- tion with the immense trade that will assuredly be developed in the North West, but you and your colleagues are in my humble ojnnion taking the only true course to secure the future interests of Canada, by insisting upon the immediate construction of a thoroughly national line wholly through Canadian territory, which, while thus being placed always under the suja-eme control and supervision of the Canadian Parliament, will be held responsible and checked if necessary in any attempt to betray the interests of our own (Mjuntry. Moreover, as you propose to liave the road built, it will l)e a thoroughly independent Canadian line. I feel a deep interest in the welfare of the Canadian North West, having for many years past made it my home, and being thus deeply interested I have carefully watched the i Actions of Canaflian .statesmen in so" fiir as they havo atfected my adupled cniintry. T must say I luivo (jfteu 1,'rieved to note the s<'t'miu*,' ignorance (lisjdayetl in rct^ard to our wants and position. I h.-ive been pained to sue how indifferent at times they have shown themselves to our wtdfare, and it hus often struck me that the great: impor- tance of tlie Xortli West to the Dominion at larf^'e has not been fully appreciated l»y them. To you, however, we are indebted for nearly all tlu! t,'ood nnasures enacted fir the benefit of our country, and althou<,'h this my present effo:t is but a poor attem[)t to show the progress made in the North West, I have taken the liberty of dodicatinn to you my work as an humble token of tlie great respect I feel towards you, our greatest statesman. < I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, ALEXANDER BEGCJ. Ik i CONTENTS. CHAlTKli I. PA'i» Tlie Prince Hiiiiorl ("luirler— Tlic Treaties relating to tlie Nortli Wewt — Freiicli iiini Caiiii'liiiii Fiir-lrii'Iei> — Nor-Wewt iiiid X. Y. Cotiipaiiiet', tlic IIii'iM>irs IJav Co., and tlie iicl Hol'tlie Ih'itisli (iuvernment relatill^' thereto — Disliirlianoes between the Fur Companies ami the union oi their interests — Canada's early attein[il8 to gain iwHsession of the North West- Confederation of the Jiritisli Nurtli American Province, — Provision made tor the admission oftiie Nortli West — The mission of tlie late Sir (Jeorj^e F. Cartier and Hon. W'ni. McDougall to Fn;j;Iand — The arrangement tiir the aci|uisition hy Canada of the North AVesi Territory ] ;; CHAriKR U. The Scotch Settlement lu\inded by Lord Selkirk — Privations of tlie early settlers — The conflict between the Fur Companies — Murder of Governor Senijiie — Putaliation by Lord Sekirk — Troops brouj.'ht in by Lord Selkirk — Canadian Commission of En(iuiry — The first Indian Treaty — Kiidonan- -Transfer of the Selkirk Settlement to the Hudson's Bay Co. — Grasshoppers — New settlers — The floods — Progress of aj^riculture — The Government of the country by the Hudson's Uay Co. — Wind-mills — The Half- Breeds — Monopoly— Buffalo-hunting — Troubles with the Indian.-^— First execution in Red River — Tlie estpblishment of Roman Catholic, Fijiiscopal, Presbyterian, and Methalist missions — Troops from England — Unpopularity of Hudson's Bay Co. Government 21 cHArTp:u 111. The original Indian tribes of tlie North West: a description of the several great bands — The Swanipy Settlement — The conduct of the Fur Companies towards the Indians — The good influence of the Hud.'-on'a Bay Co. over the red men ^i CONTENTS. C*» CHArTKR IV. PAOC Tlie fipHt t'Xiplurinp expeilitioim — History of the early mail Hervioe ill tlic Noitli Wcht— Tlio Niir-WcstiT — TliP Sioux inasMicri' — Ex|)initioii of lilt' IIiuI-oii'm Hiiy Co. licence- Frtc Trudi- — Pro- itrcnH (.){' Si'ttlciiu'iit— Indian Kiirtradin^ — Tlu- Courtu— Cur- rt-iicy of tlie II. B. C. — Freifrlit triiiiHpurtution jirior to 1H70 — Cliiinli (JranlH — Stfanicr Intcniationul — DiHuriU'iH in the ."(■tlUiiit'iit- .lail liriaking, CIIAJ'TKi: V. Early ofl't rs of capitali.-'ls to coloni/e the North-We.«t if aided \>y grant- of hind — N'cgotiation.H hctwcen the Canadian and Im- perial GoveruiiicntK — I)isa;:recinent hetween the sliandiolderrf ofthe Hiidson'H Hay Co. ami the odicf-rK uf the Fur truiU — Dis- covery of gcild in the Koide(|nent return uf Mr. M'd)uugali to Canada-- Delegates sent to Ottawa— Settlement ol' the North West dilliculties— The Manitcdia Act and the Red River Exjjeditiuii — Arrival of Governor Archibald ■i!'> I I CILM'TKK VI. The contemplated Canada Pacific Railway — Admis.sion of Briti.«h Columbia — The extinguisiiment of the Indian title— Indian Treaties Nus. 1, 2, .'!, 4, 5. tJ, with a description of each one. The Imlians ofthe North West in If^KO. — Indian Treaty-making — The wise and considerate treatment of Indians hy the Mac- donald and Mackenzie Admini.stration.« — The Mounted Police — Indian Farm Instructors — Sufierior tremment of Indians by the Canadian Government over thatof the United States — The Inspector of Indian Agencies 52 CHAPTER VII. .1) The Canadian Pacific Railway— The eti'orts of the MacdonaU Government to push forward the work — Opposition to the 10 CONTENTS. PAQI raising o-i a large scale— Monf'ter grain farms and tlieir desir- ability— The Garden of the Canadian North West— Tlie Battle river — The Arthahasca and Peace River di.-itrietH— The Coal deposit ot the North West — Our great national Highway...... ^1 CHArTPTc X. Manitoha the Bull's Eye of the Duiniiiion — Proposed enlargement of its buundaries— Formation of the Provincial Governnunt — The Clarke-Girard and Davis Administrations— Abolition of the Upper Honse—lietirement of Governor Morris, succeeded by Hon. Jos. Cauohon — Hon. John Norquay — Pmgressive character of the legislation enacted by his (n(vernment — The System <.fl)rainage— Character of the woik— Formation of the Province into Municipalities — Extension <day—Populatii)n— Public Buildings— Palace stores — Private residences — Tlie streets — Fire Department — Churches and Schools — Manufacture of Brick — Banking Tnsti- tutioi.s — The Hudson's Bay Comjiany — Dominion Govern- ment Building.* — Gas Company and Water AVork.» — Millingoper- ations— Steamboat interests— Railway busines.s — The streets on a Saturday night— The Pres.s- Club houses— Hotel acconimo dation — Board of Trade — Railway and TratHc Bridge over the Red River— The towns ol' iMuer.son- West Lynne— Selkirk- Portage la Prairie and other centres of trade westward 103 CHAPTER XI T. The advantages of the Canadian North West as an Agricultural Country— Stock raising— liaml Regulations— Land Guides--In.s- tructions to Land Guidi's— Protection toLumigrants— The Cana- dian North West attracting the attention y the Scotch set- tlers to assist in farming operations and othe r work about the settlement. In 1832 Rev. Mr. Cochrane, assisted by a Mr. Cooke, established what is now called the parish of St. Clements or Indian Settlement, in Manitoba, and suc- ceeded in locating a number of Swampies there with the view of christianizing them, and the effort was so far success- ful that in a short time a mill was built, houses erected, small farms commenced and a few domestic cattle owned by them. It took some time and a good deal of patience on the ])art of the promoters of this scheme ere their efforts were crowned with success. But unfortunately, when the Indian settlement had became fairly established, the Swam- pies, after tasting of the benefits of civilization, became rather demoralized, and took very much to strong drink. At the present day the Indian settlement still exists, but its progress has not kept pace with that of other portions of the province. The Sioux at one time laid claim to a part of the British North West, but having made themselves unpopular with the other tribes of Indians they were driven by them across the boundary line to American soil. It appears that the quarrel which resulted in the banishment of the Sioux was brought about in the first instance by the killing of a dog a Sioux having shot a canine belonging to another Indian. This brought on an altercation which resulted in the com- bining of the Saulteaux, Crees and Assiniboines to drive the Sioux out of the country. Probably the most powerful tribes in the North West are, and have always been, the Crees and Blackfeet Of the former, there are two disquiet bands, the wood Indians, and those who live by hunting on the plains. The Blackfeet are and always have been plain Indians, and the Assiniboines, although now greatly reduced in numbers, were once a most powerful tribe, something similar in habits to the Sioux. North Went. 33 The Saultesiux and Crees, however, had never been very friendly, and probably, with the exception of the single instance when they united to drive out the Sioux, there had been always bad blood between tiie two trilitis. The Crees were highly indignant that Lord Selkirk should have included the Saultcaux in his treaty, and for many years afterwards they threatened to M'ithdraw from it unless the Smdteaux were discarded in the transaction. Indeed, in this connection the Scotch settlers for years were in constant dread that the Crees Mould commit some depredations to resent what was deemed an insult put on them by Lord Sel- kirk, No depredation, however, of any consequence was conmiittcdon this account, in fact it is notable that the In- dians of the British North West have ever compared favour- ably with those of the United States in this respect, and we have no wholesale massacres or prolonged Indian wars to chronicle such as the Americans have experienced at the hands of their Savages. This is owing to the good treatment ever extended to the Indians by the Hudson Bay Com- pany, and to the faithful performance of treaties and con- siderate management of Indian affairs by the Canadian Government. During the time when the Hudson's Bay and North West Companies were opposing each other th'jre is no doubt diat an evil influence was exerted ovar the red men. Boil. I'.trties supplied them liberally with lit^uor, and we find in the records of the time instances of dreadful orgies, caused by drunkenness, taking place for days in the vicinity of the trading-posts. Worse even than this, the Indians were frequently employed to make war and take sides with one Company against the other, and the only wonder is that when a union of fur interests took place they were able to manage the savage tribes as well as they did. During the days of the Hudson's Bay Company the Indians lived a life of thorough freedom ; the wood Indians- hunted and U'apped, and were ever able to dispose of their c i 84 Qreat Canadian furs at the Company's posts at fair prices. Indeed it wa»i customary to give these Indians credit in advance of their- hunt, and, to the credit of the Savage be it said, that he invariably paid his debt with the first catch of fur he made. The Hudson's Bay Company, moreover, were not only just but kind and considerate in their treatment of the Indians, so much so that the red men finally looked' upon them as their protectors. It cannot be denied that the Canadian Government owe a great deal to the Hudson's: Bay Company for the peaceful and orderly attitude of the Indian tribes ; for, had the savages been educated to a war- like mode of life in the early days, they would not have been so ready to accept the treaties of Canada or to live up to the performance of them. The great secret of Canada's- success with her Indians u that they have been educated' in the past to receive with confidence the promises of the Great Mother across the sea, through her agents. The success of all future dealings with the Indians will rest entirely on the due fulfilment of all such promises. The plain Indians such as the Blackfeet, Assiniboines,. and plain Crees, differed entirely in their mode of life from those who frequented the woods. Their habits were more' of a roving character, the vast prairie was open to them» covered as it then was with immense herds of buffalo. As far as the eye could reach, day after day, as they travelled over the plains, they could see, as it were, one great field of luxuriant pasture, and as their horses trod beneath their feet the beautiful flowers of the prairie the air was scented with a delicious perfume. Here and there they wouldt come across clear running brooks or picturesque Iakes>. with beautiful groves of trees dotted over the landscape. Then came the exciting chase, and afterwards the grateful feeling that an abundance of meat and drink was theirs. What more could these savage children of nature wish for ? But sometimes disease and death would come amongst them, sometimes through their own improvidence, starva- North West, 35 tioii would ttalk through their midst, and it wa.s then that the kindly otiices of the HudHon's Bay Company's servants would be felt. Hungry mouths would be filled as far as the resources of the post would allow, medicines and clothes would be furnished, and the gi'ateful Indians would feel themselves bound to their white brothers by the great- est of all ties, that of gratitude. How different was it south of the boundary line : there broken promises and un- limited trickery by dishonest agents drove the Indians to desperation, until massacres followed, and long, bloody, Indian wars ensued as a consequence. We have no such disturbances with our Indians to chronicle. With the union of the fur compaaies the use of intoxi- cating drink was greatly curtailed, and the drunkenness amongst the tribes which we have already mentioned became a thing of the past. Still liquor was not altogether prohibited from being given to Indians, and a certain amount of debauchery was prevalent. It remained for the Canadian Government when they assumed coiktrol of the country to say that no intoxicating drink should be given to the red men, and for that wise and humane measure, that pledge of good behaviour on the part of tlhe savage tribes, we are indebted to the administration of Sir John A. Macdonald. While it io true that the Indian tribes frequently waged war on each other, it is nevertheless a fact that when the Hudson's Bay Company were prepared to hand over the North West to Canada they were at the same time in a position to say that they were at peace with the red men and that the Indians of the North West were so far friend- ly towards the whites that there would be no difficulty in treating favourably with them for the extinction of their title to the lands. This of itself formed a very important feature of the transfer of the country to Canada, aoad we will see hereafter how wisely the Canadian Government have followed up the good work commenced by the Hudson's Bay Company. • ii CHArTEII IV. If I Tlie fir.-t exploring expfilition*" — History of the early mail service in the North Wvt-i — Tlie Nor-VVe8ter— The Sioux macHUcrc— Expirution of the Hudson's Bay Co, liceiipe— Free Trade — Pro- greHs ut' Sfttieiiieiit — Iiidian Fur-trading — The Courts — Cur- rency of the II. JJ. C— Freiglit transjiorfation prior to 1H70 — Church Grants — Steamer International — Disorders in the settlement — Jail breaking, «&c. — Commencement of the City of Winnipeg — First atteni|)t to erect a telegraph line — Free- masons — The last Indian light in the settlement — St. Johns College — Republic of Manitoba at Portage la Prairie — Presid- ent SiHiice— A dcf'cription of the country prior to its transfer to Canada. Ix 1857 the Canadian Government fitted out an exploring expedition under the charge of S. J. Dawson and Henry Youlc Hind, M.A., tor the purpose ofpenetrating the North West Territory and obtaining some definite information in regard to it. This step was probably taken under the impression that some immediate f '♦i'm would be recom- mended by the ImpwiitJ Goveriauont to bring about a transfer of the Country to Canada. As we will have occa- sion to refer hereafter to this exploration we will now only say that Mr. Dawson completed his labours in 1859, and in 1860 Professor Hind published the result of his inquiries in book form. In 1858 the Canadian Government attempted to organize a mail service between Canada and Ked Kiver Settlement via Lake Superior, but in 18G0 it was abandoned, having proved a failure. The United States, however, succeeded better, for in 1857 they established postal communication with Pembina on the boundary line, and a carrier from the settlement Oreat Canadian NoHk Wed. 37 brought tilt' mail from that i»luce to Furt OiuTy. In 1853 a puhlic mail scrvici! was (organized by some settlers to connect once a month with Fort Ifijdcy in Minnesota, then theniost atlvanced of United States post oHices, but pre- vious to that time u mail was only receiv(!il twice a year at the Red Kiver Settlement, otie via York Factory in summer and the other overland from Canada in winter. In l.S(;2 the Americans ran a bi-weekly mail to l\nil>in;i, and the authorities in the settlement connected therewith once u week. On th(! 2Sth Dccniber, 1850, the first newspaper was established in the settlement. It was called the "Nor' AVcster," and was started by Messrs. Buckingham and Coldwell. In 18(K) Mr. Buckingham sold out to a ^Mr. James Koss, who in turn resold in 1804 to Dr. Schultz, and that gentleman becanui in 18G5 the sole pro])rietor, owing to the retirement of Mr. Coldwell. As Dr. Schultz was u bitter opponent of the Hudson Bay C(jmi)any, the news- japer in question was made the medium, during his pro- prietorship, of sowing a good deal of discontent amongst the settlers and of raising considerable opposition and ill-feel- ing towards the Company. Previous to 18G2 settlements south of the boundary line were progressing rapidly in the direction of lied River, and aline of stage-coaches had even been established as far as Georgetown, but in that year the Americans received a (h'eadful check in their efforts to extend the benefits of civilization. Through the trickery and dishonest actions ol" agents, the Sioux Indians in Dakotah and ^linnesota, becom- ing dissatisfied with their treatment, suddenly rose against the whites, and a general massacre took i)lace. This seriously interfered with the developemeut of the States for several vears. The stage line between Fort Abercrombie and Georgetown was abandoned, and the settlers driven back for several hundred miles. In 1859 the license expired which gave to the Hudson's if ! \ 38 Great Canadian H 1 >' i'fi.l '; /I Bay Company " exclusive rights " in trade. Several trader?, however, in the meantime had offered determined resis- tance to the Company, and had even defied them to prevent their trading operations, so that during the last few years of the license it was in reality a dead letter so far as adding any additional power to the Company's position. Settlements along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers now increased year by year, and English as well as French Half Breeds soon began to rival the Scotch settlers in the art of agriculture, and the nucleus of a village was formed in the neighbourhood of Fort Garry. The Hudson's Bay Com- pany also began to change their tactics towards the people, and endeavoured as far as possible to encourage the peace and prosperity of the settlement. At the same time they did all in their power to discourage the traders, but instead of using force, as they had been accustomed to do, they brought the power of capital to their aid to crush out com- petition. No expense was spared to follow the free traders to the very end in order to kill their trade with the Indians, and the latter knowing that, as a rule, they could get better prices from the Company, soon learned to hold on to their peltries for big figures. It was no uncommon thing for the savage hunters on the approach of a trader to hide their furs until it could be found out whether other buyers were close at hand. Cunning, however, as the Indians were in this respect, the traders generally managed to outwit them, and either by coaxing or by the use of ardent spirits they seldom failed in obtaining possession of the furs at their own figures. On the plains it was more difficult for the Company to contend against the traders, most of them being buffalo hunters as well, and therefore it v/as found neces- sary to buy the robes second-hand when the brigades returned Spring and Fall from the hunt. This state of affairs soon induced some of the settlers to open stores in opposition to the Company, and ere long 1$ 'IN North West. 39 men from the United States and Canada found their way into the Eed River country to compete for a share of the fur trade. The Hudson's Bay Company, however, had a great advantage over all others, inasmuch as they controlled the circulation of money in the settlement, and held in their hands the power of government and the administra- tion of justice. The currency of the country at that time consisted chiefly of bills for five shillings and one pound sterling issued by the Company. This in itself, whilst it ifacilitate.d the operations of the Hudson's Bay Company, at the same time was a matter of great accommodation to the people. Those notes were redeemable at Fort Garry by a bill of exchange on London, England, and the traders •wishing to make a payment abroad could do so without bank charges or inconvenience. Still the Company held the power of curtailing or otherwise regulating the cur- rency, or of destroying it altogether if they wished. In the government of the country their influence decreased year by year, as the settlers began to realize that there was no real power to enforce the laws. The breaking of the jail on several occasions, and the defiance of law and order "by men who were bitterly opposed to the Company, and Avho afterwards were allowed to go almost unpunished, served to weaken the moral character of the settlers as regarded obedience to the laws of the laud. In the administration of justice it was generally regarded by the people as a means of arbitration between disputants. So far as this went the courts did good service in healing many difficulties and paving the way for good understand- dng between neighbours, but, as a Court of Justice, ii was ridiculed, and moreover looked upon as too much under the influence of the Hudson's Bay Company to be oher- wise than one-sided. Still the Company endeav»."red in •every way to exert a fostering care over the settlement, and the settlors of all creeds and nationalities had much to be thankful for to them. The settlers themselves were of a i 1 )i :\H 40 Great Canadiun m \\: pe-iceful and law-abiding nature and easily managed, and although they frequently grumbled against their rulers, and on several occasions petitioned the Home authorities against them, they never of their oAvn free will committed any acts of violence in support of their demands. The power of the press is gi'eat everywhere, and the small newspaper to which we have already referred having taken sides against the Company, it became a means of sowing discontent amongst the settlers. A few fire-brands in a community can generally create a great deal of con- fusion, and it was so in this case, for the unceasing efforts of the newspaper and its friends had the effect of finally disturbing the whole peace of the settlement. The means used were not always fair, but the result was to cause many to turn their backs on the Company who otherwise might have lived contented for years under their sway. Towards the close of the Co. i^)any's rule there was a great degree of free*- jn\ in the settlement; traders imported their own goods, as they liked, only paying a duty of 4 per cent, on the same to the Council of Assiniboia; furs were freely exchanged ; tliere were no heavy taxes, no restraints, the only drawl.iack being the absence of a proper market for agricultural produce, the Company and traders being able to take only a limited (]uantity. At that time the traders had to cart their goods some six hundred miles or uiore over the prairie from St. Paul's, and although the lUulson's Bay Company had a steamer ]ilying on the Ked Kiver between Georgetown and Fort Ciarry they never would carry other freight than that belonging to themselves. In matters of trade the Company endeavoured to be monopolists to the last. In matters where the welfare of the settlement was concerned they were frequently generous to a high degTee. For the support of the Episcopal, Presbyterian and lloman Catholic Churches they donated large sums each year, and when the Metho- dists settled near Fort Garry the Company made them a North West. 41 gift of a large plot of ground on which to build a church. If the people were ever in distress the Company generally were the first to come to their assistance, yet, notwith- standing this, about the year 1867, there was a very gen- eral feeling of uneasiness and discontent amongst a large number of the settlers, and the Hudson's Bay Company, having become discouraged and disgusted with the task of governing the country, were ripe for negotiations to hand over theii charge to Canada. We will now quote a few incidents between the years 1862 and 1868 to show the gradual progress of the settle- ment: On the 26th May, 1862, the Steamer "Interna- tional " arrived on her first trip at Fort Garry. Slie was about 150 feet long, 30 broad, and her registered tonnage 1083- tons, but she only drew 42 inches in the water. About this time a party of Canadians arrived in the settle- ment, from which they made an overland trip to Cariboo in British Columbia for the purpose of gold mining. Lord Milton and Doctor Cheadle also arrived in lied Eiver about the same time, and made their famous journey through the North West. The Minnesota massacre of 1862 interfered for a time with the transport of goods and mails from St. Paul to the settlement, but in October of the same year it was partially restored. In 1863 considerable excitement was raised in the colony by the arrest of Kev. G. 0. Corbett on a charge of attempted abortion on a young girl whom he had seduced. Mr. Cor- bett had many friends in the settlement, and, as he was an opponent ui the Hudson's Bay Company, it was thought by them that he was simply j)ersecuted by the authorities. The result of the trial, however, was the condemnation of Mr. Corbett by a jury, and a sentence of six months' impri- sonment. On the 20tli April the jail was broken into and Corbett released by his friends. Then James Stewa.t, a schoolmaster, was arrested as one of the ringleaders, and Ill i^l 1 f. 42 Great Canadian ii .','■■)! placed in jail, but in a few days he, too, was liberated. These acts tended greatly to destroy the influence of the Company in the administration of affairs, as they demon- strated the weakness of their government. In 1862 the present City of Winnipeg was commenced by McKenny & Co. erecting a store in the vicinity of Fort Garry, and in 1863 other buildings were added by people attracted to the spot through McKenny 's enterprise. In 1864 Dr. Rae passed through the settlement on a tour of exploration across the continent for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of establishing a line of tele- graphic communication through the British territory. The enterprise was never carried out to completion, although the Hudson's Bay Company imported tons of wire which they stored away at their posts and afterwards sold to the tele- graph lines established after the transfer of the country to Canada. The year 1864 was memorable for the establishment of the first lodge of Freemasons, which was called the "Northern Light Lodge," and also for the visit of a large body of Sioux Indians, composed of 350 lodges, and numbering in all about three thousands souls, who, however, on obtain- ing some provisions and presents from the Company, return- ed to the United States. In 1866 a small body of the Sioux refugees from the States, a part of the band which had participated in the massacre of 1862, visited Fort Garry, and as they were returning to Portage la Prairie, ■where their camp was, they were attacked by a number of lied Lake Indians about a mile from the fort. There were several of the Sioux killed and the rest fled. This was the last Indian fight in the neighbourhood of Red River settle- ment. In the year 1866 St. John's College was established, an institution which at the present time is in a very flourish- ing condition. In 1867 Mr. Thomas Spence, now clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, undertook, with Forth West. 43 the assistance of a few others, to establish a Republic in the vicinity of Portage la Prairie in opposition to the Hudson's Bay Company. Mr. Spence was elected President, with a Mr. Finlay Wray as Secretary, and a Council to carry on the government. In the Spring of 1868, the President of this new Eepublic, Mr. Spence, footed it down to Fort Oarry in order to pay an official visit to Governor McTavish •of the Hudson's Bay Company. The latter, however, did not show that respect for his visitor which the high position of President ought to have entitled him to, whereupon Mr. 'Spence addressed a letter on the subject to the Secretary of State for foreign affairs, to which in course of time he Teceived a reply, informing him that he was acting illegally and incurring grave responsibilities. This was sufficient for Mr. Spence, he abdicated and the Republic went out "with a puff. Having now enumerated a few of the more important incidents in the history of the Red River Settlement, we oome to the time immediately preceding the transfer of the North West to Canada, but before narrating the circum- stances attending that event, we will take a cursory view of the Red River Country as it was during the last days of the Hudson's Bay Company's sway. In the vicinity of Fort Oarry the town of Winnipeg had grown to some dimen- sions, containing as it did^then over thirty buildings. Of these, eight were stores, two saloons, two hotels, one a mill •and another a church, and the rest were chiefly residences. The town could boast of an engine house, post office, and a small theatre, and at times, especially when the fur traders arrived from the plains, the vicinity of Winnipeg presented a very lively appearance indeed. Along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers settlements had spread, and everywhere could be seen signs of comfort and prosperity. The cultivated portions of the farms along the rivers were small, but immediately back of them could be seen great herds of domestic cattle feeding on the i1 \ mi iH t| I y 1 44 Great Canadmn North West. i S:'-' jilains unherded and left to roam at will, feeding freely on the rich j^rass of the prairie. Just before the harvest it was customary for the set- tlers to go " hay cutting," wliicli they did by travelling over the prairie until they came to some desirable spot. They would then cut in a circle, and all the grass thus enclosed belonged to the party hay making. No one, by the ac- knowledged law of the land, could disturb him within that charmed circle. Then a busy scene comme'iced, the mow- ers (for the settlers had learned already to make use of agricultural macliinery) were kept busy, and men, women and children might be seen actively engaged in the work of stacking the hay. During hay time the people lived in tents on the hay ground, and only returned to their houses wlien the work was tinishcd. Almost innuediately after haying, harvesting commenced, and any one to have looked at the sjdoudid fields of wheat, barley and oats which lined the roads along the settlement would surely have been im})ressed with the idea that it was a laud of plenty. At that time there was no settler away from the river. The line of settlement skirted the lied and Assinil)oine with tlie tidy farm houses, comfort- able bums, well fenced fields of waving golden grain like a beautiful fringe to the immense plains of fertile soil, cover- ed with verdant pasture, lying away to the West as far as the liocky Mountains, and only awaiting the coming of the husbandman to turn it into a very paradise of beauty and a source of almost unlimited wealth. Such was the state of the Settlement in 1868, previous to the entry of the North West into Confederation. ■ ' ' W'. M 1 |ii' ■ ''! i" 1 M ■ CHAPTER V. Early offers of cajiitalists to colonize the North-West if aided \>v grants of land — Negotiations between the Canadian and Im- perial Governments — Disagreement between the shareholders of the Hudson's Bay Co. and the officers of the Fur trade — Dis- covery of gold in the Rocky Mountains — Tiie Dawson route Appointment of Hon. Win. McDougall as Lieut.-Governor — Causes of dissatisfaction amongst the people — Hon. Mr. McDougall stopped at the boundary line — The rebellion and subsequent return of Mr. McDougall to Canada — Delegates sent to Ottawa— Settlement of the North West difficulties— The Manitoba Act and the Red River Expedition — Arrival of Governor Archibald. Negoiiations for the opening up of the North West Terri- tory to settlement had been going on between the Canadian and Imperial authorities for some time previous to the visit of 8rr Geo. E. Cartier and Hon. Wm. McUouffall to Eno-- land. On the 16th August, 1865, Lord Monk forwarded copies of papers on the subject to Right Hon. E. Card well. Secretary of State ; but while Canada was stirring herself in the matter others were not asleep as to the importance and value of the great North West. In 1858 a plan was submitted to Lord Stanley, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the purpose of opening communication with the Red River, in which it was proposed that a company should do the work with the aid of a land grant of f(.irty niiUion of acres in the neighliorhood of the Saskatchewan River. It would seem from this that there were capitalists in those days who liad soma faith in the future of tlie ¥orth West. Then, again, in 186('>, an application was made to Sir Edmund Head by one Alex. McEwen to know whether the Hudson's Bay Company were willing to dis" !l 'I 'V ill 46 Great Canadiaii 'if. V')' pose of its cultivable territory to a party of Anglo-Ameri- can capitalists, who would settle and colonize the same, etc., etc. A favourable reply was given by the Hudson's Bay Company to Mr. McEwen, but us the Canadian Government and the Imperial authorities had held a conference in 1865' on the subject of transferring the North West nothing; could be done with Mr. McEwen's proposition, pending; further negotiations with Canada. This was the view taken by the Home authorities, but as' Canada had taken no very decided action in the matter the- Hudson's Bay Company protested against their handa being : tied in this manner, and urged that the Canadian Govern* • ment should come to some speedy decision. About th'af time there was a disagreement in the ranks of the Hudson's; Bay Company, the shareholders being desirous of selling^ their charter, government and trade, to the highest bidder, whether British, Canadian, American or Eussian, while the chief factors and the fui trade interest generally held that they had a right to be consulted in the matter. This dis- agreement resulted in a lengthy correspondence between the chief factors and the shareholders, but in the meantime the Canadian Government stepped in and, by a minute of Council dated 22dJune, 1866, in which they foreshadowed a speedy union of the British North American Provinces, they p.sked the Imperial Government that, as one of the first duties of the Confederate Government would be to open negotiations with the Hudson's Bay Company, no portion of the territory be sold pending such negotiations. The Im- perial authorities recognized the impossibility of Canada dealing with the question of the Ncith West until such time as the Union of the Provinces had taken place and^ therefore, in September, 1866, Lord Carnarvon decided the matter in the following words : " that no new arrangements relative to the Hudson's Bay Company are possible, pending the discussions on the proposed Confederation of the British North American Provinces." About this time private ad- North West. 47 vices from officers of the Hudsons Bay Company reported the finding of gold on the Saskatchewan, and as an instance it was stated that one miner had shown $250 worth, the result of a day or two's working. The want of provisions and means of communication with the district prevented the' mining operations from being proceeded with to any extent at that time, but there is no doubt from recent explorations tliat great finds of gold will be discovered at an early day beyond Edmonton in the vicinity of Eocky Mountain House; and now that the Canadian Pacific Kail- way is to be pushed forward to the neighbourhood of that point there will be every facility for opening up the min- eral resources of that part of the North West. In 1867 Hon. Alexander Campbell, Canadian Commis- sioner of Crown Lands, gave instructions for the commence- ment of what was afterwards known as the famous Dawson Koute, which was intended to form a line of communica- tion between Lake Superior and Red River, but which has never beeen used to any great extent either for transport or travel, and at the present time is abandoned altogether. We have already referred to the union of the British North American Provinces, the subsequent visit of the Canadian delegates to England on North West matters, the success of their mission, and the temporary Act passed for the government of the country. The next step was the appointment, on the 29th September, 1869, of Hon. Wm. McDougall, as Lieutenant Governor in and over the North West Territories. The appointment of Mr. McDougall to the Governor- ship of the Territories before their actual transfer to Canada had taken place was in itself quite justifiable, but, unfor- tunately for that gentleman and for the peace of the coun- ry, there were influences at work in the settlement which threatened at one time to prevent a peaceful surrender of the country to Canada. One of the principal causes of complaint against the Hudson's Bay Company which 1 48 Great Canadian i;u the Nor' Wester and its friends agitated so strongly was the absence of pro[)er pupuhir representation at their Conncil board in the settlement. The temporary Act for the govern- ment of the country passed by Canada did not provide for popular representation, but left the Council to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council of Canada. Inasmuch as the Act was only of a temjiorary nature, it was a perfectly proper one, but the action of unauthorized parties from Canada in the settlement previous to that time, gave rise to an idea amongst many that fair play would not be giveii to the natives of the country, and that Canadians would take the place more of rulers than friends. Another, and to them a very important matter, occupied the minds of a large section of the people, viz : their rights to the lands which had not been apparently respected, especially as it was held by them that they ought to receive some consid- eration, as well as the Company, in the transfer of the coun- try to Canada. Meetings were held amongst the French Half-Breeds, previous to the coming of Hon. Wm. McDougall, and on that gentleman's arrival he found him- self stoi)ped at the boundary line and denied admittance to the territory. We have not space to enumerate all the unfortunate events of that time, but will refer in as cottcise a form ag possible to the principal features of what is termed the Eed Eiver Eebellion. The transfer of the North West was fixed to take place on or about the 1st December, 1870, but the Hon. Wm. McDougall, owing to the difficulty of travelling over the prairie at that season of the year, and wishing probably to gain some knowledge of the country before he took the reins of office, started ahead of time with the understanding that on the transfer of the country to Canada a " Queen's Proclamation " would be issued which would empower him to assume the governorship of the North West on and after a date to be named therein. As it happened, the North West. 49 trouMes wliich arose in the settlement justified the Can- ftiliiui Government in postponing the comi)letion of the bargain with tlie Hudson's Bay Company, a fact, however, wliich Mr. McDongall did not ascertain until too late. This naturally jdaced the latter gentleman in a very awkward position, when on 1st Decemljer ho issued a j>ro- clauiation announcing himself as Lieutenant Governor of the country, when in point of fact it was still under the sway of the Hudson's Bay Company. Either Mr. McDougall misunderstood his instructions from Ottawa, or he was \indor a false impression in regtird to the feelhigs of a large portion of the people in IJed Kiver, when he issued his proclamation. Had matters even stopped at that jioint, no great harm would have been done, but, unfortunately, other manifestoes were issued which had the effect of still more complicating matters, until finally the settle- ment was thrown into a state of utter confusion. On the 18th Decemlier, Mr. McDougall left Pembina, on his return to Canada, having abandoned the attempt to take possession of the country, and now we will give a rdsunU of the difficulties which stood in the way of a peaceful surrender of the territory to Canada. The temporary act of government was a proper mea- sure, and had there not been unwise influences at work in lied Kiver it would have been accepted in its temporary character by the people with confidence that the Canadian Government would act fairly afterwards in the premises. The acts of certain unauthorized parties in tho settle- ment destroyed the confidence of a lar;.-e portion of the peo])le in the good intentions of Canada. When this state of affairs was discovered, it was only right for the Cana- dian Government to postpone the completion of the bargain with the Company pending a peaceful solution of the affair. Had Hon. Mr. McDougall acted in conformity with his instructions, and remained inactive until such time as he became properly empowered to proceed, there would D 50 Great Canadian have been probiibly none oftlie trouljlcs wliicb. aftfjrwartU nioso, and a pcacelul lunl satisfiictory .sohition could have bfi'Ti arrived at in time. As it was, the jieojilu in the si'ttU'Uient became divided auu)ii<^st themselves, anarchy and confusion rci<,'neil, bitter animosities were engendered wiiich took years to heal, valuable lives were sacrificed to the passions of the people, and altogether a dei)lorable state of affairs existed for many long weary nidntha. Thank Clod, these animosities and bitter preju- dices engendered at that time have long since died out, and now the settlers of all classes, creeds and nationalities live in perfect harmony and good will towards each other. The settlement continued in a state of chaos until al'out the 2ord March, when two delegates, Kev, Mr. Jiit- chot and Alfred II, Scott, left for Ottawa, wiih instructions to come to an imderstanding if possilde with the Canadian Government. They were furnished with a "bill of rights " to present to the Ottawa authorities, and on their de])ar- ture a feeling of hope took place amongst the settlers that an end to the difficulties was close' at hand. A provisional Government, with Louis lliel as President, had in the mean- time been formed, a code of laws framed, and for a time matters assumed once more, at least outwardly, a peaceful a]ipearance in lied Iiiver. While the delegates were in Ottawa, the Manitoba Act passed and was assented to on the 12th May, 1870, and on the return of Fatlier liitchot to Red Iiiver the terms laid dcnvn by Canada were accepted by the provisional Government. The Act defined the boundaries of the new province, and provided for the reser- vation of 1,400,000 acres of land within said boundaries for the benefit of the families of Half-Breed residents. It gave popular representation to the settlers, and, while pro- viding for a regular form of government in the province, gave the people the right to el(,'ct four members for the Com- mons of Canada, and entitled them to two representatives in the Senate. I I Xorth West. 51 Tlu! wisdom of having' niiulc! tho Itoiindiirios of Mniii- tobii so liiiiili'd hiis 1)c;l'P fr-'ciui-iitly (iiU'stioiifd, Iml wIkmj tho ('ircuni,stiiti('(!,s of tlu; ctiso iiru considered, tlic foiesij^ht of Sir .loliii A. ]\Iiicd(»iiald and Ids c;olle!i<,'ues will be seen. A detnaiid was made for an a])i)ortionmeiit of certain l.iiids for till' Itenelit of the Ilalf-Hreeds, and wlnlt; Sir .lohii A. Maedonald expressed his williii,u;nes9 to accede to it, he at the same time saw the advisabihty of curtailing' tlie p-!iiits thus made into as small a comjuiss as jjossibh;, so as not to interfere with the fiitui'e settlement of tho North West. Now that the llalf-lireed <,'rants have been satis- tied, however, the time has eonii! for the extc^nsion of the boundaries of the i)rovince, a measure which is about to Ihj carri(!d out, and tu which we will have occasion to refer hereafter. It was deemed advisable, on account of tho disturbances wliieh had taken ])lace, that troops should be sent to estab- lish the «,'()vernmont of Canada on a firm footinj^ in the Noith West, and accordingly Col. G. J. Wolseley was ,f(iveii eonnuand of au exj)editiou composed of a iletach- nu'ut of the GOth Rifles and two regiments of Canadian voluntiiors, which force arrived in Eed Eiver on the 24th August, 1870. Colonel Wolseley had previously issued a circulai' jn'oclaiming the good intentions of the trooj)s, so that when they arrived they were welcomed by all classes of the peoi)lc. Kiel and a few of the principal leaders in the liebellion fled, and while it took some time for the excitement which had been engendered in the country by him and his immediate followers, still a gradual feeling of jjoace and security took place amongst the people. The North "West Territory was duly transferred to Canaxla, and the Hon. Adams G. Archibald, having been appointed Lientenant Governor of Manitoba and the North West Territories, arrived at Fort Garry soon after (Jol. Wolseley, and on his assuming the reins of government North Western Canada took its first decided step in the march of progress. 1»- CHAPTER VI. Tke contemplated Canada Pacific Railway — Admission of liritish Columbia — The extinjruishnient of the Indian title — Indian Treaties Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, with ii description of each one. Ti>e Indians of the Nortii West in 1880. — Indian Treaty-inalving — The wise and considerate treatment of Indians by tlie Mac- donald and Mackenzie Administrations — The Mounted Police — Indian Farm Instructors — Superior Jreatment of Indians by the Canadian Government over thatof the United States— Tlie Inspector of Indian Agencies. The North West Territory having become a part of the gi'oat Confederation of Canada, our Dominion, l)y its acquisition, "was assuredly paving the way for a magnificent future. The great statesman, Sir John A, Macdonald, and liis colleagues who had hiid tlie foundation of Union in IJritish America were beginning to see their fabric assume the gigantic proportions which they so much desired. Con- federation was, however, still far from com[)lete, and the promoters of the grand scheme realized that, having got as far as the Eocky Mountains, they could not halt until they reached the Pacific Coast. Once there, however, they foresaw that some bond of union must exist between the provinces on tlie Atlantic side and British Columbia on the Pacific. The scheme of a railway across the C(jntinent, although only brought forward at the time of the entraiice of British Columbia into the Union, was doubtless one of the important features considered from the inception of Confederation. On the 28th March, 1871, when Sir George E. Cartier moved the British Colimibia resolutions in the House of Commons, th>y i .mbodietl the construction of a railway Great Canadian North West. 53 from the Atlantic to the Tacific. The Canadian Goverment, however, v^ere aware that, before they coukl proceed to buikl that line of railway, or hope to successfully develop the great country they had ])econie possessed of, it would be necessary to extinguish the Indian title to the land in order to gain the friendship of the savage tribes along the route. They foresaw that, unless treaties were made with the Indians and a proper management of Indian att'airs inaugurated, the settlement and development of the country would be jeopardized. Under these circumstances no time was lost by the Government. In 1871, therefore, Mr. Weniyss McKenzie Simpson was appointed Indian Commis- sioner, and at once proceeded to Manitobi. in the discharge of his duties. Acting in conjunction with Lieut.-Governor Archibald Mr. Simpson issued proclamations calling a meet- ing of the Indians of the Province to assemble at the Stone Fort on 24th July, 1871, but a postponement took place till the 27th, owing to the non-arrival of some Indians who were on their way to participate in the negotiations On the 3rd of August, after considerable discussion, a treaty was concluded which provided for the reservation of lands sufficient to give each family of five persons 160 acres. The maintenance of schools, and the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors were also clauses in the treaty, and, finally, the payment of an annuity of three dollars per head was agreed to. On the 21st August, Mr. Simpson pnd Governor Archibald, accompanied by a few gentlemen acquainted with the Indian character, met the Indians at Mauitoba Post, and a second treaty, similar in its provisions to the first, was concluded. By these two treaties Canada acquired the extinguish- ment of the Indian title in Manitoba and in a tract of country fully equal in resources beyond it. Previous to the treaties just mentioned, Mr. Simpson, acting on a joint conmiission with S. J, Dawson and W. J. Pether, met the Ojibbeway Indians on the 11th July, at Fort Francis, i I I k ,\\ V i| i 54 Great Canadian i'l ; but nothing definite resulted from that meeting. The Commissioners, however, explained fidly the proposals of the Government, and asked the Indians to meet them the succeeding summer, in order to come to an arrangement ; but in 1872 the Ojibbewaj's were not prepared to enter into a treaty, and it was no*- till September, 1873, that they agreed to come to terms with the Canadian Government. The Hon. Adams Archibald had in the meantime resigned his position as Lieut.-Governor of Manitoba, and been succeeded by Hon. Alex, Morris. Tiie latter gentle- man, therefore, assisted by Lieut.-Col. Provencher and Mr. Dawson, concluded the treaty with the Oji]jl)eways, in 1873. This treaty, which took place at the North West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, was one of great importance, inasmuch as it shaped the terms of all the treaties since made with the Indians in the North West Territories. The territory covered by this treaty embraced 55,000 square miles, and the number of Indians participating in its jirovisions was estimated at 1-4,000 souls. In 1874 the fourth Indian treaty was concluded with a j)ortion of the Cree and Saulteaux tribes, and under its operations about 75,000 square miles of Territory were surrendered. Lieut.-Governor Morris, in conjunction with Hon. David Laird, then ^linister of Interior, and now Lieut.-Governor of tlie North West Territories, and Hon. W. J. Christie, a retired factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, were the gentlemen who had charge of the negotiations, and great credit is due them for the skill and patience with which they managed the Indians on that occasion. Over five hundred lodges were congregated at this treaty, and a good deal of trouljle was experienced by the commissioners in bringing the several bands to accept the terms laid down. On the loth September, however, both the Saulteaux and the Crees agreed to accept the same terms as those at the North West Angle the preceding year. The conference ■:lt iir North West. 55 31' between the commissioners and the Indians lasted altogether six days, and at one time, owing to a difference of opinion between the two tribes, it seemed as if no satisfactory arrange.ment could be effected, but the tirmness of Lieut.- Governor Morris and the gentlemen acting with him finally carried the day. We now come to a point where the fairness and justice of the Canadian Government in their dealings with the Indians w411 be shewn. It will be remembered tbat treaties No. 1 and 2 provided for the payment of an annuity of three dollars to each Indian now, the subse([uent treaties stipulated for five dollars, and, therefore, in order to put all the tribes on an equal footing, the Government undertook to raise N"os. 1 and 2 to the same cash terms as the others. Besides this there were some verbal promises given at the two first meetings with the Indians which were not included in the written text of the treaties and on their being discovered satisfactory arrangements were at once made with regard to them. From the very first, therefore, the Canadian authorities endeavoured to win the confidence of the red men by keeping faith with them. The fifll. treaty made with the Indians in the North West covered an area of about 100,000 square miles, which was inhabited by the Chippewas and Swampy Crees. It is known as the Winnipeg Treaty, as it included in its provisions the Indians living on the borders of the Lake bearing that name. Lieut.-Governor Morris was again intrusted witli the work, and in this ease he was assisted by the late Hon. James McKay, a Scotch Half-Breed, whose thorough know- ledge of the Indian character and great influence over i}\e tribes made his services invaluable. The Winmjjeg Treaty, although negotiations were com- menced with the Indians in September, 1875, was not completed until the following year. A number of meet- ings were held, owing to the numerous bands to be visited, and although Lieut.-Governor Morris commenced the >' ■■■ : !• : ! i.J 56 Great Canadian negotiations, the work of completion had to be left in the hands of subordinates, owing to his presence being resigned at Treaty No. 6. The terms of Treaty No. 5 were identical with those of Nos. 3 and 4, except that a smaller quantity of land was granted to each family, being one hundred and sixty or,in some cases, one hundred acres to each family of five, while under Treaties Nos. 3 and 4 the quantity of land allowed was six hundred and forty acres to each such family. As will be seen, these treaties followed each other in quick succession, showing a desire on the part of the Cana- dian Government not only to secure the pioneer settlers from disturbance, but also to satisfy the Indians that the wliite man came amongst them as a friend and not as a foe. It was readily understood by the authorities at Ottawa that the news of the treaties then completed would be certain to reach the ears of the other Indians living in the country, and that therefore it was desirable to bring all the tribes of the North-West as quickly as possible under treaty obligations. In 1876 Treaty No. 6 was concluded, embracing an area of 120,000 square miles, inhabited by the great Cree Nation. On the 23d of August the Plain and Wood Crees were satisfactorily treated with, and the 28th of the same month, the Willow Crees accepted the terms proposed by the Commissioners. To show how necessary the treaties were at that time, we may state that, previous to the making of No. 6, there was a feeling of discontent and uneasiness amongst the Indians of the Saskatchewan, owing to the appearance of parties amongst them sent there to make the surveys of a line fur the Pacific Eailway and also a geological survey. But the completion of the treaties dispelled all such feel- ings amongst the savages, nor have they offered any objec- tion since then to the presence of whites amongst them. Treaty No. 6 was the last one effected by Lieutenant- North West 57 Governor ]\Ion'is, and in it he was assisted by Hon. Messrs. McKay and Christie, both men of influence amongst the tribes, and thoroughly familiar with the Indian character. The only Indians now remaining to be treated, with the exception of a fe\\' scattered bands in the extreme northern districts, were the Blackfeet, who occupied an area of coun- try amounting to 35,000 square miles, and numbered about 5000 souls. In 1876 Father Scollen addressed a letter from Fort I'itt to the Lieutenant-Governor of Manito- ba, setting forth reasons why the Blackfeet should be treated with as soon as possible. He detailed how the tribe had once been a numerous and powerful one, but that, through the evil influence of liquor supplied by the American traders from across the boundary line, the Indians had become poor and miserable. He paid a high tribute to the good effect produced by the Mounted Police having put an end to the whiskey traffic, and stated that under their supervision, the Blackfeet were not only becoming more prosperous but that they were expecting to have a mutual understanding with the Canadian Government. In 1877, therefore, Lieut.-Governor Laird was commissioned to treat with the Blackfeet, and that gentleman, assisted by Col. McLeod, succeeded, on the 28th September, in concluding arrangements with these Indians. Thus, in little more than six years, the Canadian Gov- ernment had, in a most satisfactory manner, obtained from the Indians of the North West a relinquishment in all the great region from Lake Superior to the foot of the liocky Mountains of all their right and title to the lands, saving some reservations for their own use. There are several notable features in all the treaties. They provide for the exclusion of the sale of spirits or firewater on the reserves they provide for the establishment of schools for the instruction of the Indian children ; and, finally, they arrange for the giving of implements, oxen and cattle, and seed grain to the tribes, so as to induce them to follow agricul- tural pursuits, or undertake the rearing of stock. II 58 Great Canadian P'' According to the latest reports the Indians included in the seven treaties will number 29,027 souls, and the Indiana from the Atlantic to the liocky Mountains in all over 68,000. The Indians in British Colum1)ia are estimated at over 35,000, so that Canada has under her charge at least 103,000 of an Indian population during the present time. It is most interesting to follow all the details of treaty- making with Indians, to note the terse but expressive say- ings of the Chiefs, the eloquent manner in which some- times they plead the cause of their tribes, and the puzzling difficulties raised by the cunning of the savages which the Commissioners are frequently called upon to overcome. It is no easy matter to conclude a satisfactory treaty, and requires great skill, good judgment, and a large amount of patience on the part of those entrusted with the work. The gentlemen selected by the Canadian Government to act as Indian Commissioners were eminently fitted for the duties assigned to them, and, as a proof of this, the treaties which they concluded are as satisfactory to the Indians at the present time as they were when first effected. The making of treaties is a very important matter as we have endeavoured to show, but of still more importance is the keeping of them inviolate. The American Government has made many treaties with their Indians, only to break faith with them after- wards, and, as a consequence, even to-day there is not that security to settlers living in an Indian country within the boundaries of the United States as there is in every part of the Dominion of Canada. Canada has had no Indian wars to desolate whole sec- tions of country such as the Americans have had, and are still liable to have. Canada never will have an Indian war so long as she continues the course she is now doing towards the red man. While the administration of Sir John A. Macdonald ':i: ^i^'^iii North West. 59 inaugurated a system for dealing with the Indian tribes, and by wise measures led the way for a proper under- standing with them, the siicceeding Government of Hon. Alex. ^Mackenzie showed e(j[ual wisdom in following out the good work commenced by their predecessors. Sir John A. Macdonald paved the way in the making of treaties — he provided for the exclusion of the liquor traffic in the North West Territories, and he organized the Mounted Police Force, to serve not only as a mediatory power between the white man and the Indians, but also as a protection to the latter against the inroads and evil influence of the li([Uor dealers from the United States. The McKenzie Government followed up the work of com- pleting treaties, and endeavoured in every way to keep faith with the tribes. The present Indian Department has taken a step further by endeavouring to educate the red men to a civilized mode of life ; farm instructors have been sent amongst them to teach them how to till the soil ; implements and cattle have been given them ; and when, through the absence of buffalo and other causes, starvation threatened the tribes, the Canadian Government, with commendable forethought and care, stepped in and fed them. It matters not, therefore, which political party is in power in Canada, the Indians of the North West will ever be well treated. Settlers may locate anywhere in perfect security within our Dominion, and capitalists need have no fear that their investments will be molested or destroyed in Canada through Indian raids. This of itself is one feature to commend the Canadian North West to the attention of emigrants, and to the good opinion of moneyed men abroad. We cannot close this chapter without referring to a part of the system at present adopted by the Indian Department of Canada. An Inspector is appointed who acts independently of the agents, and whose duties are to visit the different tribes and ascertain how they are pro- il.| 'M Iri I 60 Great Canadian North West. gressing. Ho makes periodical trips, during which he inspects the provisions, agricultural implements, cattk', and other sup{)lies furnished the Indians ; he examines into the state of their schools, and ascertains whether they have re- ceived proper treatment at the hands of the agente. This Inspector watches over the Indians in the district with a fatherly care ; he hears their complaints if they have any to make ; he reasons them out of extravagant demands or expectations, and endeavour's to point out to them the provisions ol the ireaties in their true light. If the Indians shew just reason to complain of any part of their treatment it is the duty of the Inspector to report the same to the Department. No agent under this system can practice trickery, no ill-usage of Indians can continue. The Inspector is the mediat(»i between the white man and the red, the protector of the Indian, and at the same time the custodian of the honourable intentions of Canada towards her Indians. It is of course a matter of great ir.ipoitance in this system that the Inspector should be a thoroughly trustworthy man, a man of judgment, fair and upright in his dealings, and an impartial judge. The Canadian Government have boen, however, fortunate, with very few exceptions, in having selected the best men for posts of trust in the Indian country. This of itself is of great importance, as the history of Indian affairs in the United States has shown that the unworthiness of the agents and other officers has been the means of causing a great amount of trouble, resulting frequently in the shedding of blood and destruction of property by the di .contented Indians. The extinguishment of the Indian title to the lands in the North West which we have endeavoured to describe v/as the second great step taken by the Dominion of Canada in the march of progi-ess as affecting the Canadian North West. il CHAPTER VII. The Canadian Pacific Railway— Tlie efforts of the Macdonald Government to push forward the work— Opposition to the scheme— Unpatriotic action of the Obstructionists — Tiie Allan Ciiarter— Exploratory Surveys— Refusal of British Capitalists to aid the work owmj; lo the representations of Canadiiin states- men decryii,^: ''^^ scheme— Struggle of the Macdonald (Jovern- ment with the opponents of the railway scheme. — The ahandon- nK-.'.t of the Charter by the Allan Co., and resignatiun of Sir John A. Macdonald — The Mackenzie Government — Canada sutlers a period of retrogression— A new railway policy— The water stretches— St. Francis Locks— Pembina J'.ranch — Trouble with British Columbia— Steel rails— Telegraph line — Piece-meal policy of construction— Injury to the character of our national line— liankuiptcy of the country— The re.sult of seven years work on the Pacific Railway— Sir John A. Macdonald once more in power — A more active railway policy — Land renervation (or railway purposes— Opening up of the Prairie section— A new era of prosperity commenced— Announcement of tlie Syndicate. We lunv return to the time wlieu the construction of the Cantidian Pacific Kailway fir,st began to attract the attention of the public mind in Canada. In 1871, British Cuhimbia having expreised a desire to enter Confederation, Sir (leorge E. Cartier moved a set of resolutions in the Canadian Iiouse of Commons which provided for the adnii.s.sion of the Province on the Pacific Coast, and, amongst other things, stipulated for the building of a railway across the Continent of Pritish America. The chief objection raised in Par- liament at that time against the proposed undertaking was the great burden it might lay upon the i)eoi)le to meet the cost of construction. The time specified for (he com- pletion of the railway (ten years) was considered t' >o short, and likely to press too heavily on the resources of the 62 Great Canadian Doininion. Sir John A. Macdonald and his colloafrues, howovur, wore fully alivu to tho diflictdtie.s that were before them. They knew very well that to make the work a Croveriimont undertaking,', would be to arouse the; o))])o.sition of the older provinees for fear that they would have to bear the brunt of taxation to raise the necessary funds to go on with it. They were fully alive to the fact that, uidess it could bo taken out of their hands, it would prove a source of endless ainioyance and trouljle to their administration of public affairs. They therefore laid it down as part of tlieir ])rogranune that the railway would be built by u company of capitalists whom the Government wouhl aid by a money subsidy and certain grants of lauds. The estimated cost of the whole line was, in the first instance, about one hundred million (hjllars, and when it is considered tiiat there are three hundred million acres of valuable land in the North West on which to raise the necessary funds to aid the construction of the road, it must be apparent that Sir John xV. Macdonald was not attempting an impos- sibility when he projected the Canatlian Pacific Itailway. Had his hands been left free to work out liis grand scheme, Canada, it is true, would not have had so much land to sell to-day, but she would have been possessed of a great national railway, a largely increased population adding to the revenue and wealth of the country, and a much heavier demand for the manufactures of the eastern provinces, than she has at present. Unfortunately, however, there were men in Parliament who apparently did not appreciate the resources of the North West at their proper value, who did not seem to understand that the lands were more than sufficient to build the railway, but who, while admitting tlie advisability of building the road, chose to put obstacles in the way of its construction through a desire which was only too apparent of making it a political question on which tliey hoped to gain power by appealing to the natural feeling of a people, " a dread of taxation." From a party stand- North Wed. C3 point this appeal was well devised, tlie North West with its vast resources was not so well known as it is to-day, and it was hard to convince the public that a hnnch'ed million road could be built without a drain on the j)ublic purse ; but when we regard the ojiposition of these men in rarlianient from a patriotic i)oint of view, we can but think that either they were willing to sacrifice the future welfare of their country for their own i)ersonal advantage, or else they were not possessed of that foresight in public af lairs which true statesmen should have who pretend to wield the destinies of a country. Sir John A, Macdonald, as we have already stated, knew that one of the great ol)stacles to tlie carrying out of his scheme would be the dread of the people that it might increase taxation. He probably expected his o])ponents to bring np this argument against him, for we find that just before the prorogation of I'arliament in 1871, Sir George E. Cartier moved that the Canada l*acific should be built and worked by private enterprise and not by Government, and that such grants of land and suth subsidy of monej or other .%id should be given to aid th*^; e» terprise, as would not unduly press on the resources of the Dominion. This to a certain degree check-mated the opposition, but there was still a vague fear in the public mind that the undertaking would prove to be a drag on the Dominion because it was not then so generally known as it is now, that the lands of the North West would be more than sufficient to recoup the exchequer for the money aid rendered to the railway. In 1872, charters were granted to two companies for the purpose of building and running the road, but an atten)pt to amalgamate these organizations having proved unsuccess- ful, it was deemed desirable to form a company under a royal charter, in which would be represented the several provinces of the Dominion. This, then, was the state of affairs previous to the general election of 1872, and as the Government of Sir John A. Macdonald was then sustained, ii ' • \i 64 Oreat Canadian it was evident tlie arraii<,'otnents of tlie ()]»|uisition iiieiiil»er3 n, l)ut also from Fort Garry to the liocky Mountains, and from tlie Ottawa Kiver, al(tnrn, which they which, including the steel rails and telegi'aph line already mentioned, caused an outlay of fourteen millions, or one fifth of the estimated cost of nearly two thousand miles of road. This was easing the burdens of the people with a vengeance, and was certainly giving the public very little in return for their money. The worst feature, however, in this incompetency of the Government was tliat it was bringing our great national work into disvei)Ute abroad as well as at home. The arguments used against the road in the first pboe by the members of the Mackenzie Government before they took ottice, in order to weaken the hands of Sir John A. MacDonald, told with two-fold force when their own inabil- ity to cope with the work became so apparent. Although due simply to the incompetency of the Government, the tardy prosecution of the railway was credited more to the difficulty of construction supjwsed to exist along the route than to the real cause. Added to the evident inability of the Mackenzie Administration to cope with the Pacific Rail- way question, there came an almost utter stagnation of business throughout the Dominion. This was caused chieiiy by the absence of protection to our industries against the unfair encroachment of American manufacturers, an immense surplus of American goods being thrown year after year into our country until our manuiactories were obliged to close one by one. Lack of employment and over-burdened markets soon had the effect of bringing about a state of bankruptcy, and the Ji " \ ! I. 1 \ 68 Great Canadian 1" 1 , •'■'■ R 1 i Government would not make a single move to ease this state of att'a'irs, but actually in the face of it chose to squander fourteen millions of money. They predicted "a burcyn for the people " when opposing the Macdouald Govern- ment ; they, however, created not only " a burden for the people " but also one for themselves, while they were in power, and they tumbled down under the load. The General Elections of 1878 placed the Eight Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald once more at the head of affairs, and a more energetic policy, in regard to the Pacific Rail- way, was at once inaugurated. Just previous to the elections which resulted in their defeat, the Mackenzie Administration tacitly acknowledged to the country the wisdom of Sir John A. Macdonald's Railway Policy, by advertising at home and abroad for tender for the con- struction and running of the Canadian Pacific. After having attempted for more than five years to build the road as a government work, the opponents t)f Sir John A. ^lacdonald were forced to admit that they were not equal to the work. It was discovered, however, afterwards that the Government at that time did not receive a single tender from capitalists, nor is this to be wondered at when the very men composing that Government had done so much to traduce and injure the Canada Pacific from its com- mencement. With the accession of Sir John A. Macdonald to power, a new era seemed to dawn on the Dominion of Canada. Under a protective tariff, home industries began to flourish, and the attention of the Goveinuient was given earnestly to the development and settlement of the North West. The coimecting Hide of the Canada l*acific between English River and Rat Portage was at once put under contract, and the Pemliina Branch completed and put in nnming order, giving the Province of Manitoba for the first time railway communication with the East. On the Pacific end of the liiie contracts were let for the construction of the road from Yale to Kandoops, a distance of 127 miles. Xoiih Wed. 09 While, liowever, new energy Mas being put into the work by the Government, they did not loose sight of the original plan of Sir John A. Macdonald to transfer the building of the road, and also the running of it, to a private company. Belts of land extending one hundred and ten miles on each side of the Pacific liailway, west of Ked River, were set apart for railway purposes, and Sir John A. Macd(mald and Sir Charles Tupper proceeded to England to negotiate with capitalists for the construction of the line. But> unfortunately, the sad accounts which had been circulated so freely in connection with the Pacific Eailway were not to be easily overcome, and the two Ministers were obliged to return to Canada without having been able to effect any arrangements. The Governrient, however, continued to push forward the construction of the railway as quickly as possible. The route laid down by Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, which passed to the north of Lake Manitoba, and which would have left a large area of the most fertile land in the North West without railway facilities, was changed to a more southern direction. This alteration in the proposed route indicated that it was the policy of the Government to use the rail- way for the purpose of settling the country as fast as possible. While so much time had been frittered away in surveys and in building unconnecting links of the road, the vast prairie region remained untouched, and the only wonder is that it has settled up as quickly as it has done. The Government saw the necessity of opening up railway com- munication with the Fertile Belt, and ere long had 2U0 miles west of lied Eiver under contract, and at the present time there is about GO miles of the road completed. The policy f f the Government seemed to be to open up the vast prairie region as fast as it could be done, and the soundness of their views in this respect will be seen later on. ^l %, 70 Great Canadioin North West. Matters stood in this shape when the public were srratified to hear that the contract had been entered into between the Government and a company of capitalists for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Eailway. The part lying between Eed River and the Rocky Mountains to be finished in three years, the whole line to be completed in ten. With this announcement it seemed as if the great Canadian North West was about to free itself from swad- dling clothes, and take one most important stride towards the glorious future which assuredly awaits it. CHAPTER YIII. Pr.)c.<8iun.s eiialiles i)nigre.i>t ami civilization to he advanced in different and far distant portionn of the Dcmiiniiiii. " I congnvtuiute the inhahitunts ul Miinituha on the event, and join heartily in your tiianksgiving. (Signed,) LISGAH." Since that tiino telegviiith lines have been exteiulcd over the country, until now \v<^ eiin send a nie.ssaf,'e from Wiiniipeg to iiattlcHtnl in the Norlh-West Territories, and to Prince Arthur's Landing on Lalce Superior, We have also telegraph lines from Winnipeg to Portage La Prairie in one direction, and Selkirk in another, and several others are projected in different t[uarters. On the loth Mareh, 1871, the first meeting of the Local Parliament took ])lace, and from that day representa- tive Government commenced in Manitoba, and the Legis- lature at once ])roceedeil to enact such laws as were found necessary for the proper conduct of local affairs. Agricul- tural and Educational matters, amongst other things, were considered, and from time to time new measures have been brought down by the Provincial Government for the improvement of the country^and people, until to-day there is universal contentment and thorough protection to life and pro})erty. When Manitoba first became a province. Educational matters wei'c not in a very fl(nnishing condition, but since then the greatest attention has been paid to them. It was found necessary to adopt a separate school system, which is still carri hI on. There is a Board of Education composed of both Protestant and Catholic members, but there are separate superintendents for each section, and the grants of school money are divided amongst Catholic and Protestant schools in proportion to the number of scholars in each as shown by a census taken annually. The number of schools at present in operation within the Province is as follows : — •I J Korth. Wed. i I Proti;staxt. CATiior.in. 102 fcliools, 40 sdiools. 5,100 chiMrcn. 2,4:W cliildmi. And lil»tM-al f,'vants of money aro made oaoli year for their support. Tn aiMition to the common schools tlicrc are three colleges, one belonging to the (Jhurch of Ivnglaud, another to the Presbyterian Church, and the other is the Eoman Catholic College at St, Boniface. We have also a University and two fine Ladies' schools connected with the St, John's College and St. IMary's Church, so that we can safely say the educational interests of Manitoba are not being neglected. In agricultural matters, there are jit ])resent a provincial and five county agricultural socie- ties, besides others of a local character which are l)eing formed all over the country. While Kiel and his Provisional Government held sway, a newspaper called the Nevj Nation was pul)lished, the Nor' Wester office having been destroyed during the rebellion. The Xe^r Nation was afterwards converted into the Manitoba, which continued to be published once a week, when, in 1877, it once more changed its name to the Standard, and tlius contitiued until it finally became part and parcel of the Free Press. The latter paper was started as a weekly in 1872, and in 1874 it published the first daily edition of a newspaper in Manitoba, The French po])ulation were represented as far back as 1871 by tlie Le Mcti'^, published at St. Boni- face, There have been several v^ntiu'cs made in the news- paper line, some of which have failed, but at the present time the Province of Manito])a can boast of having two large and well edited daily papers, TIte Times and Free Press, published in Winnipeg, and as many as ten weekly papers throughout the country. A very creditable paper is also printed at Battlerbrd, in the North West Territories, We have already given a description of the commence- 78 (fredt Canaillan : St! I ment of r('li<,'i()tis institutions in the North Wost. Several' (lenoiiiinatidnsliave, liowevor, of late years he^Minto liiboui in thi.s ^Tcat field, and t 1876 .'{,0H 1,685 1877 8,007,824 To-day Winnipeg can boast of having over 1,500 dwelling houses and a street extension of nearly one hun- dred miles, Avhile in 1870 there were only thirty building.? in the place, and not over one mile laid out in streets. 1871 1872 . ... jViO .... l.dfiO 1S7S 1874 .... ].5i)0 2.0(10 1H75 3,11(10 1878 .3,216,080 l.s7'J 8,4 1.') ,06.5 1880 4,011,000 Nortfi West. 79 The ))f>puliition of Manitoba has incroaseil during tlie last ten years in a womitTful manner. In 1H70 it was calcuhitt'd that the number of inliabi- tauts within the jtresent limits of the Province was 12,000 souls, and since then, according to the hnmigratiou returns, the increase has been as follows : lft72 1,400 187'J 11,000 IH7:< l,2r)t; 1880 there willU-. ir^.OOO IH74 2,9f)(! IH";') ti,0;;-l 5.1,001) I87t; 4,!)12 FVimliition in lH70 12,000 1877 (1,511 1878 4,000 Total.... (m,0C9 The above estimate, liowever, is below the mark, for this reason, it is taken from the returns of the Immigra- tion Agents resident here, and does not include a large number of peojile who did not come into the country as inimignints. The Agents can only repoJt (>n those who actually come under the head of iniinigrants, and can have no knowledge of a very great number who have settled in ^Manitoba and the North West. As an instance f»f this, in 1878, from the census taken of voteiis living in the Province, it was clearly shown that iiuluding the ^lennonites, there were 53,540 souls within its boundaries, whereas the immigration returns only show 39,U(i9. The nundier of |teoi)lo, however, who have settled beyond the limits of the Province cannot be estimated, but lor many miles immediately outside the Province large and nourishing settlements have sprung up, and the sites of several promising towns been laid out, and building operations on an e cnsive scale commenced. We must not, however, anticip.ite a description which we propose giving of Manitoba and theNorth-West, as it is at the pre- sent time, ere we close these ])ages. It will suffice for us to say that whereas in 1870 there were no settlers of any importance located on the prairie back of the lots fronting on the Ived and Assiniboine liivers, to-day the whole face I' ! I n n f I 80 Great Canadian North Went. ¥mv of th(! country is studded with comfortable farm lious'js substantial outiniildings, and well-fenced cultivat id fields . Good roads run in every direction, wliere only a fiw year.s ago it was nothing but the wild prairie striped here and there by the cart trails of old. Splendid herds of cattle cm be seen grazing in great numbers in the vicinity of the farms; here and there are small villages with their coun- try stores, grist mills, &c. Chnrches and school Jiouses dot the land, and wherever you go you meet contented, happy ])eoi)le, who will tell you that they would not change their lot for any other country under the sun. 'Jliis is what has been done in Manitob.a during the last len years without the aid of railway, ond surely there can be no better evi- dence of its being a land worthy of the consideration of those who in older countries are looking for fresh fields, where they can m.-ike for themselves comfortable homes, and for their cbJ; ii.n a plentiful provision for their future. Ill houses ,t)d fi'ilds . f !W yoavs I Ik'J'o aii'l [ oattlc can lity of tliG their couu- )lliou.sesdot nted, happy change then- is what ha.s ?ars without better evi- sideratiou of fresh fields, tahle homes, their future. CHAPTER IX. The injury to M iiiitoba by delaying the construction of tlie railway west of Red River— Difficulties which the Immigration Depart- ment lias had to contend against in the North West— Unpatrio- tic conduct of Canadian statesmen and newspapers— The Cana- dian North West now entering upon a new era of prosperity— The future ofthe Canadian Pacific Railway— A glimpse at the Prairie Region— The climate— Qu'Appelle and Souris districts— North- ward and We,-od, <3specially to the southward. Although this latter part of the country has been des- cribed generally as barren and consisting of arid wastes, there are some large exceptions as, for instance, the Cypress Hills, which are described by Palliser as covered in fine tim- ber, abounding in excellent grasses, and well watered. The south branch of the Saskatchewan is navigable for steamers from the mouth of the Red Deer River to the Forks, a dis- tance of about 350 miles. While following the south l)ranch we may continu(>. our description along the base of the Rocky IVfountains to wliere the Arthabaska takes it rise. The principal characteristics of that part of the Xorth West are large tracts of country, partially wooded with pop- lar and willow clumps, and bearing a most luxuriant growth of vetches and nutritious grasses, fine prairie bottoms and others partially covered with scrub and willow, fine streams I M il 88 Great Canadian m running through beautiful valleys covered with the very best pasture in the world. In some parts there is an abun- dance of woods, of spruce, poplar, aspen, and pine, and in others it is less wooded, but sutiicient to afford shelter for cattle in winter, and shade during the hot summer months. In winter the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains .are less encumbered by snow than much of the prairie country. The grasses are of a finer and also more nutritious nature than those found on the plains, and the clumps and ridges of wood, with the numerous valleys and clear running streams, make tliis part of the Canadian North West peculiarly fitted for the raising of cattle. It is gratifying therefore to know that Sir John A. Mac- donald has paved the way for the establishment of im- mense stock farms on the slopes of the Ho \y Mountains by inducing men of large capital to interest themselves in the business. The cry has been raised that the selling of such large tracts of land to private individuals as that lately sold to- Brassey & Co. may interfere with the future development of the country. The selling of land on a large scale for the purpose of speculating merely, is not advisable, even in a country where land is so plentiful ; but in cases where stock farms on a grand scale are to be eatablished, it must be remembered that a very extensive area of country is required by those who intend to keep immense herds of cattle. We are also in favour of encouraging great fsirms for the pro- duction of grain in large quantities, something on the plan pursued by Dalrymple and Barnes in Minnesota. These monster farms, from 25,000 to 50,000 acres each or more, are conducted on business principles, and while giving employment to a great many men, they at the same time become the means of raising and exporting large quantities of grain. They do not interfere but rather stimulate the smaller N'orth West. 89 nt. I'armers to ^M'eater exerticns, and are good schools for young men who wish to learn how to conduct farming oiierutions on a paying and businesslike footing. The day is not far distant when wm; will see many of these monster farms established along the line of the C'anadian Pacific Railway, between Red River and the Rocky Mountains. To resume our descriiiticm of the Fertile H(^lt, we now come to the land drained by Ihe north branch of the Saskatchewan. The north braneii for five hundred and twenty miles up from the Forks and the Buttle River, which enters the Saskatchewan about a hundred and seventy miles abdve the junction of the north and south branches, for about four hundred and fifty miles traverse a fertile country of juairie, more or less interspersed with woods. This immense area of country is the garden of the North West, and at one part has a breadth of one hundred and fifty miles, at another one hundred, and in other parts from sixty of seventy miles. It commences at the Forks of the Sas- katchewan and follows the north branch until within about two hundred and eighty miles from the Rocky Mountains, when it ceases and the thick wood country commences. It follows the Battle River, which drains a large part of the c^ountry between the north and south branches, and then •«akes th«* course of the Red Deer River to the south, until uiefged in the fertile region of the vicinity of the south braneh. The climiate of the s«juthern and western portions of this great fertiile country is decidedly milder than that of \ie<\ River, and the clniracter of the country is more uniform than any other ^>ortion of the North West. It is the great wheat field of the Dominion, only waiting to be cultivated in order to pour forth its millions of bushels of gi-ain. It is difficult to estimate the area of fertile land tit for settlement in a country so extensive as the Canadian North West, but, when all the districts are included, we do not think our 90 Great Canadian % I I! caloulation of throe hundred million acres will ho found too groat. Loavin;4 the more southern jiart of the territory, we now ascend to that in the nei^'libourhood of the Arthal)aska Kiver. For over one hunment, and with the millions of industrious people who will settle along its line in a few years, can there be a doubt as to the success of oui national undertaking? While the road is assisting the development of the ])rairie region, work will be proceeded with on the more ditlicult part of the line, so that, by the time the Fertile Belt is able to pour forth its treasures, the whole road will be built as a highway across the continent, and will have, at the same time, an immense local tratiic to keep it fully employed. :,; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^ 128 1 2.5 |5o "^" irhb i ■- Ilia !!: in IIIIIIO 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 -^ 6" - ► m <^ /2 A '/ M Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ V " expense. In November, 1877, his term having expired, the Hon. Alex. Morris ceased to be the Lieut.-Governor of the Province, and Hon. Joseph Cauchon was sworn in. And in the following year Hon. Mr. Davis having determined to retire from public life, Hon. John Norquay was called on to form a Government. While the policy of rigid economy pursued by Mr. Davis was found necessary in order to alleviate the feeling of non-confidence in the public mind caused by the reck- less expenditure practiced under the regime of Mr. Clark, the Hon. Mr. Norquay, felt that the time had come for- more progressive action. One of the first measures in- augurated by him was a system of draining the lowlands of the Province. At first the value of such a measure was hardly understood by the people, as it was looked on as more theoretical than practical in its nature, and was regarded as too great an undertaking for the Provincial Ctovernment, with its small revenue, to entertain. It was, however, accepted as an evidence of progi'essive policy on the part of the new Government, and the Hon. Mr. Nor- quay since that time has shown that his intentions were sincere when he first proposed the measure. It took some time to bring the Local Legislature to adopt his scheme, and tlie ditticulty of providing money for the work had also to be considered and overcome. To-day, however, Hon. Mr. Norquay has the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been croM'ned with success. The Province of Manitoba lies much lower than the more western portions of the Territory, and there are extensive swamps within the limits which at times overflow and cause large tracts of land to become wet and difficult to cultivate. The system inaugurated and carried out so successfully by Mr. Norquay has drawn attention to the fact that the portions of the North West lands hitherto : ,i North West. 95 considered almost worthless for agricultural purposes can be redeemed, and this of itself, is a most important matter in connection with the future settlenient of the country. A very prominent objection raised against the North West has been the bad roads, but it has never been clearly stated that these exist only in portions of Manitoba, on the line of immigrant travel, and for short distances. The system of drainage adopted by the Local Govern- ment will in the future remedy to a great extent these bad spots on the main highway of travel, and also bring almost every portion of the Province under cultivation. While dealing with this subject it may be as well to give a short description of the drainage work carried on this season, 1880, by the Provincial Government: Hon. C. P. Brown, the present Minister of Public Works in Manitoba, has given it the greatest attention, and, by his care and personal supervision, has attained a degree of success which has surpassed tlie expectations of even the most ardent supporters of the scheme. There have been in all fourteen drains excavated this season, as follows : — In the north-western portion of the Province a drain, in length about four miles, has been dug to carry off the water of what is known as tlie Big Grass Marsh, and which taps the White Mud lliver. South of the Big Grass Marsh several small drains have been cut to assist in intercepting flows of water, and take tliem by their most direct course to their natural channels ; and the West- bourne Marsh, lying north west from Portage La Prairie, has been relieved by several drains three or four miles in length. The next drain is fourteen miles west of Winnipeg, at Sturgeon Creek, and is about twenty miles in length, running in a north-westerly direction, and relieving a fine agi'icultural country in the neighborhood of Woodlands from the surplus water.s of wet seasons ; and still another 11 111 \i\\ \ ii^ I 96 Great Canadian \{)\i drain, which is under construction, will relieve a large tract of land around Grassemere. Immediately west of Winnipeg, Colony Creek has been utilized, and a drain two miles in length has been con- structed in connection with it, jointly by the Dominion and Local Governments, to carry off the marsh waters on the outskirts, and lying back of the city. We now turn down the river in the direction of Lake Winnipeg, and first come to the St John's drain, also worked jointly by the Dominion and Local Governments ; then about ten miles from the city, a ditch one and-a-half miles in length has been dug, which will drain a number of shallow marshes in that vicinity. Almost west from the Town of Selkirk there is what is known as the St. Andrew's drain, which collects respectively the waters of Jackfish Creek and Long Lake, at a point where they are lost in a large extent of marshy country, and brings them by a direct course to their natural outlet, altogtjtlier a distance of about twelve miles of drainage. We now cross to the eastern side of Red River, and about twelve miles north-east from Winnipeg some six or seven miles of drainage has been cut to relieve the marshes in the neighbourhood of Springfield ; and at Point du Cb^ne and St. Boniface considerable work has been done which, when fully completed, will redeem a very extensive tract of country in the eastern portion of the Province, containing some of the finest and richest land in the whole North West. In the south-eastern portion of the Province drains are in process of construction to relieve the low districts in the neighbourhood of Rat, Marais and Kojseaux Rivers. The northern part of the Boyne Marsh has a drain two and a half miles completed, while at the southern part twenty-two miles of drainage has been cut, and it is proposed extending the northern drain until it intersects the Boyne River, which will lay open an immense tract of land for agricultural purposes. North West. 97 We have thus briefly sketched the work done by the Local Government, this season, to show what can be accom- plished in a short time towards the redemption of large districts, and the preservation of other parts from damage by the overflow of the marshes. The drainage work of 1880 in Manitoba has, moreover, demonstrated the fact that no wet lands in the great north- western prairies need be allowed to go to waste when a system of drainage can so easily redeem them. The next important measure inaugurated by Hon. John Norquay was the formation of the Province into municipal- ities. This, at first, gave promise of creating a good deal of opposition in some quarters from a dread of taxation. It must be remembered that the native population of Manitoba had been accustomed to almost perfect immunity from taxes, and it therefore required considerable tact and strength of will to educate them to accept institutions which they regarded as likely to increase their cost of living. But the advantages of municipal organization were clearly .shown to them, and finally, after a good deal of trouble an.d discussion, Mr. Norquay succeeded in carrying his measure, and at the present day the Province of Manitoba is formed into the following municipalities : — No. 1 — Westbourne. " 2— Norfolk. « .S— Lome. " 4 — Louise. " 5— Dufferin South. " 6— DuflFerin North. " 7 — Portage. «< 8— Woodlands. " 9— Belcourt. " 10— St. Francois Xavier. " 11— Morris. •' 12— Rineland. " 13— Emerson. No. 14 — Youville. " 15— St. Anne. " 16— Tache. ♦' 17— St. Norbert. " 18— Cartier. ♦' 19— Assinitoine. " 20— St. Boniface. " 21— Springfield. " 22— Kildoiian. " 23— St. Paul.-i. " 24— St. Andrews. « 25— Rock wood. " 26 — Hespeler. vli ; j^l The effect produced by municipal organization is a decided improvement in the state of the roads, each munici- pality having charge of its own part of the highways. F 98 Great Canadian ■1 f* ii. i 1 n There are also many other advantages which wo have not space to enumerate, but there is one feature which we cannot overlook. The division of the Province inta municipalities renders it possible for the people to en- courage the construction of railways and other pul)lic works, by granting aid through the sale of municipal d^lxiutures, whereas, without the necessary organization there would be no means at their disposal to assist those undertakings which are so important in the rapid development of a country. With the enlargement of the boundaries of the Province, it is to be expected that the creation of new municipalities will follow, and thus form a very important factor in the extension of our railway system. One of the planks in the platform laid down in Hon. Mr. Norquay's policy, from the first, was the extension of the boundaries of the Province. So well has this been advocated, that the Dominion Government have consented to enlarge Manitoba, and it is expected the necessary legislation for that purpose will shortly be submitted to the Canadian Parliament. The actual limits of the Province, when enlarged, are not yet fully known, but it is reasonable to expect that they will reach the immediate vicinity of Fort EUice, westward on the Assiniboine. The Hon. Mr, Norquay has also .succeeded during his term in jbtaining an increase of the subsidy granted by the Dominion to the Province, and has secured the immediate erection of hand- some public buildings, so that it can be truly said his administration of atfturs has been practically progressive. Mr. Norquay, during the first year or so of his adminis- tration, was ably assisted by Hon. Joseph Eoyal, who now represents the county of Provencher in the Dominion House of Commons, and latterly by his colleagues in the Cabinet, Hon. Messrs. Walker, Brown, Girard and Goulet. Hon. John Norquay has thus been the means of laying the foundations of the most important measures for the advance- ment of his native Province, and his name will ever be North West. 99 ive not lich we ae into to en- c works, Kiiitures, vould be ir,s which country, (vince, it cipalities )V in the in Hon. jnsion of ,hi3 been jonsented necessary x'd to the I'rovince, easonable ioiuity of Hon. Mr. obtainiug on to the of hand- said his oojressive. adminis- who now ion House Cabinet, it. Hon. aying the 5 advance- 1 ever be regarded with respect by the people of the Canadian North West. When it is remembered that in 1870, just ten years ago, Manitoba had only a population of about 12,000 in- habitants, the present advanced condition of the Province must excite the surprise of every one, especially when the disadvantages under w}\ich it has laboured are considered. In 1870 the only settlement was scattered along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers; now we have twenty-six municipalities covering the whole present area of the Province, containing well cultivated farms, comfortable farm houses, rising villages, numerous mills and stores, and roads running like a net work all over the country, and whioh are improving year by year in their condition. In 1870 there were few popular institutions of any kind in the country, now let us take a glance at a few of those established since then, and which will give some idea of the extent to which civilization has progressed in the North West. The Cabinet consists of Provincial Treasurer and Pre- mier, Hon. J. Norquay ; Attorney General, Hon. D. M. Walker ; Minister of Public Works, Hon. C. P. Brown ; Provincial Secretary, Hon. Mr. A. Girard; Minister of Agiiculture, Hon. Mr. Goulet. There is a Court of Queen's Bench sitting in Winnipeg, and eight County Courts, as follows : — Selkirk. Marquette West Lisgar. Morris. Provencher. Emerson. Marquette East. Westbourne. There are also Police Magistrates, numerous Justices of the Peace, and an efficient staff of constables throughout the country, besides a Provincial Police Court presided over by the Judges in their capacity of Stipendary Magis- trates—so much for law and order. 100 Great Canadian 'n There are six Registry Ottices established, and the Dominion (rovermnent have opened land offices where homesteads and pre-emptions can be entered and infor- mation obtained in regard to townships and sections open for purchase. The following are the Dominion Land Othciea at present open in Manitoba and North West Territory :— . "Winnipeg. P.ird Tail Creek. Emerson. Prince Albert. Little Saskatchewan. Nelsonville. Turtle Mountain. Gladstone. We have already shown the number of churches, schools, and post oftices established, and now we will proceed to enumerate other institutions. There are two hospitals, one in Winnipeg and the other in St. Bomface, both well conducted ; while the Dominion Government has erected a large building for the use of immigrants, and, in addition to these, there is an Orphan Asylum, conducted by the Sisters of Charity. Manitoba has not been backward in the formation of societies. The Masons have, including the Grand Lodge, seventeen lodges throughout the Province, while the Orangemen have eighteen, including the Grand and County Lodges. There is also the Independent Order of Forresters, at Winnipeg, and the Independent Order of Oddfellows, I. 0. 0. ¥., have two Lodges at Winnipeg, and one each at Portage la Prairie and Emerson. The St. George's, St. Andrew's, and St. Patrick's Societies are also represented by well-organized associations. There are four Infantry Companies, one Artillery, and one cavalry in the Province, besides a Rifle Association. We have also two Cricket Clubs, Lacrosse, Baseball, and a Curling Club, affiliated with the Royal Caledonia of Scotland. There are several other institutions which we have not the space to enumerate, but we have mentioned sufficient to North Weat. 101 show that we have already many of the advantages possessed by the older Provinces. A fresh impetus has been given to the progress of tliis country by the activity shown by the Dominion Governnu'nt in pushing forward the construction of the Canadian Pacific. Branch lines are being projected in every direction, and railway charter sought for by men who foresee the rapid advancement which will undoubtedly take place here with- in the next few years, and who wish to be prepared for it in time. Already the South Western Railway, which is destined to run from Winnipeg to the southern part of the Province, and thence in a westerly direction towards tlie Rocky Mountains, is under contract for the construction of a large portion of the Road. A number of capitalists i)io- pose connecting Winnipeg by rail and water with Hudson Bay ; another company proposes to run a line of railway from Cedar Lake to the Forks of the Saskatchewan, and thence to the Rocky Mountains by way of Peace River, which will open up one of the finest districts in the North West for settlement. The Westbourne and North Western Railway Co. are asking for a charter to build a road from Portage la Prairie, in Manitoba, thence in a north-westerly direction to a point at or near the Forks of the Saskatchewan, and thence to Peace River ; so here we have two great competing lines for the trade of that fine district in the neighbourhood of the Peace River, which we have already referred to. Then there is the Saskatchewan and Peace River Railway Company of Canada, who propose building a railway from Edmonton to Dunvegan on the Peace River, with a branch to Lake Arthabasca, and to own and run steamers and other vessels on the lakes and rivers in that locality. The Peace River Railway Co. also ask for a cbn,rter to run a road from Milk or Belly River to Peace River, so that it is evident the glowing accounts received from that rich and fertile portion of the North West have already attracted the attention of capitalists, and it may 102 Oreat Canadmn North West. not be many yeara until we are in close communication with it. While the com]»aniea wo have just mentioned are not regularly incorporated, with the exception of the South Western, yet the fact of these charters being asked for is certain proof that the country will not remain long without communication when the proper time comes, and also tliat its wonderful resources must be acknowledged by capitalists ere men could be found interesting themselves to procure the charters we have described. Coming nearer home, we find the Emerson and North-western Railway Co. applying for a charter to run a road from the Town of Knuirson, in Manitoba, in a north-westerly direction to Mountain City, thence north-westerly via llii\nd City to the main line of the Canadian Pacific. But the railway is not the only means of transportation proposed to be carried on in the North West, for we see the rivers Assiniboine and Saskatchewan are to be utilized. The North-west Navigation Co., composed of men of un- doubted financial standing, are applying for a charter by letters patent to build, purchase, lease and own steamboats and other vessels, warehouses and wharves for the purpose of carrying on a forwarding business on these rivers, and there is no doubt, if they succeed in perfecting their scheme, they will do a great deal towards opening \ip the country and establishing a large trade along the route. Besides the North-west Navigation Co., there is the Winnipeg and Western, who are in actual existence and own several large steamers already, and who from latest accounts are prepar- ing to increase their fleet in order to keep pace with the rapid development and requirements of the country. In the meantime the great National Line, the Canadian Pacific, is to be pushed forward with energy to the western prairie fields, and with so many signs of progress in the immediate future who can foretell the extent to which the development of the Canadian North West will reach during the ten years. mication oned are lie South :ed for is [ without also that apitalistfl procure loine, we applying lerson, in tain City, in line of sportation ve see the 3 utilized. in of un- iharter by iteanil)oat3 purpose of and there ir scheme, e country besides the nipeg and veral large ire prepar- e with the try. ! Canadian le western iss in the which the ach during CIIAriER XI. Winnipoj? hh it \h toilay— Population— Public B»il(lin;?8-Pala(;e fltort'H— Private residences— The .xtreetw- Fire Department— ClmrclieH and ScIiooIh— Manutacture of Hrick— Hanking Insti- tutioiiH— Tlie Iludrton's Hay Company— Dominion Clovern- menl Huildin>?s—OaH Company and Water Workn— Millingoper- ationH— Steamboat interentH- Kailway bucinePH— The Htreetnon a Saturday nij,'ht— Tlie PresH— Club houses— Hotel accoirimo- dation— Board of Trade— Railway ai.d Tratlic Bridge over the Red River— The towns of Emerson— West Lynne— Selkirk- Portage la Prairie and other centres of trade westward. TiiEiiP: is no greater evidence of the prosperity of a country than the rapid growth of its cities and towns. If Manitoba is to be judged in this way, her j)rogress has been marvelous indeed. We have in a previous chapter shown the increase of population in Winnipeg since 1870, and the rapid rise in the value of its proj)erty; but it may be well to give a short description of its progress in otlier respects. Winnipeg was incorporated in November, 1873, and, according to the voters' list published at that time, there were exactly 308 voters then in the city, while now it can boast of nearly 2000. »Since its incorporation, seven years ago, a splendid city hall and market has been erected, at a cost of over $50,000 ; a complete system of sewerage has also been car- ried out, and the streets lined with board sidewalks. For the protection of property there is an efficient Fire De- partment with two steam fire engines and hook and ladder apparatus, ready for use at a moment's warning, in a handsome fire hall centrally located. For the preserva- tion of law and order there is a fiiic police force of well- drilled and active men, who perform their duty most satisfactorily. There were only three small wooden churches in the city at the time of its incorporation, while now it has several handsome edifices for public worship, one of which, Knox Church, cost in the neighbourhood of $30,000. f! i» 104 Great Canadian m. Seveidi extensive brickyards are in operation in the outskirts of the city, and, in consequence, brick is taking the place of lumber in building operations. Main street, the principal thoroughfare, can boast of its palace stores with plate-glass windows and all the latest improvements in furnishings. There are three banks in operation at present, the Merchants', Bank of Montreal, and Ontario Bank, all of which own and occupy handsome buildings. Several of the private residences lately erected would grace any city, some of them costing from $20,000 to $30,000, and to take a walk through the streets of Winni- peg one is impressed by the general taste displayed in the architec*:ure of the dwelling-houses. The Hudson's Bay Company have lately erected some very handsome buildings, three stories high, with mansard roofs, and several blocks of splendid stores have been built on Main street. The Dominion Government have large brick buildings in the city for the transaction of public business, such as the custom house, post office and Lands office, and next summer the splendid Local Government buildings to which we referred in the previous chapter will be erected. The streets of Winnipeg are wide and well laid out, and next summer it is proposed paving several of them, which wiU add greatly to the beauty of their appearance, as well as their usefulness. Next summer the city will be supplied with gas, and a system of water works adopted which will do away with the present mode of water supplied by means of carts. There are four large saw and planing mills in operation, foundry and machine shops, and two large grist mills, be- sides other manufactories on a smaller scale. Numerous steamers ply to and from the levee ; railway trains are con- stantly arriving and departing. On the streets the large hotel omnibuses, handsome hacks, and splendid private equipages, all tend to give the city an air of bustle and activity, which is heightened by the cries of the bootblack^ North West. 105 ion in the ;aking the in street, ace stores rovements jration at i Ontario lildings. ;ted would 20,000 to of Winni- ed in the cted some 1 mansard been built ; buildings s, such as and next 3 to which ted. The , and next vhich will as well as gas, and a iway with of carts^ operation, mills, be- Numerous ls are con- the large d private >ustle and bootblack,. the newsboy, and the auctioneer shouting his wares for sale. On a Saturday evening, when the citizens are out en masse, making their purchases for Sunday, Main street, the principal thoroughfare, is generally densely crowded with people, and reminds one more of a scene in the City of Now York than in a place only ten years old, and situated in a country which, not so very long ago, was regarded as almost in the wilderness. There are two daily papers — morning and evening — club houses, as select in their membership as if in the City Of London, and several handsome furnished houses for the accommodation of the public, while next year we are to have a palace hotel one hundred feet square, and having a frontage on three streets. The trade of Winnipeg is also very large for its age and size, several of the large mercantile establishments doing each a business of over half a million dollars annually, while matters of commerce are regulated, as in older cities, by a Board of Trade. Next year it is expected that a number of large manu- factories will be established in Winnipeg, and, in view of the active prosecution of work on the Canada Pacific and South Western Eailways, it is expected that the trade of the city will be greatly increased. A fine railway and traffic bridge, to cost some S200,000, is at present in process of construction by the city over the Red River, which will, when finished, connect Winnipeg with the railway running eastward and southward, and thus make it a railway centre. No one can foretell the extent to which Winnipeg will grow in the future, but, if judged by the past ten years, it will be wonderful indeed, assisted, as it will be, by railway communication. On the American boundary line there is the thriving town of Emerson, which, only a few years ago, was nothing but forest, and not a house within several miles of the present site. Now it has its well laid out streets, hand- some buildings, many of them built of brick, and several fine churches and other public buildings. i I I 106 Oreat Canadian On the opposite side of the river is West Lynne, a small but thriving place, which is destined to rival Emerson in point of size, wealth and importance. Midway on the Red River between West Lynne and Winnipeg is the town of Morris, which, although some- what scattered at present in appearance, has all the elements within it to make it a large and important town, sur- rounded, as it is, by a splendid agricultural country. North of Winnipeg, on the Red River, the town of Selkirk, beau- tifully situated and well laid out, will undoubtedly grow to some considerable importance, when the main line of the Canadian Pacific is completed at that point. Selkirk was the spot where the Mackenzie Government proposed bridg- ing Red River for the C. P. R., and it is just possible that it may be found advisable still to cross the main line there. A round house and work shops have already been established there, and the railway is constructed to a point on the eastern side of the river opposite Selkirk, so that there is every chance of its becoming a railway town, if not a railway centre. About sixty miles from Winnipeg up the Assiniboine, there is Portage la Prairie, with its handsome County Court buildings, fine stores and dwellings, commodious hotels, and several saw and grist mills. It is situated near the banks of the river, and will also have the main line of the Canadian Pacific running close to it. It is surrounded by a splendid farming country, and with the river and rail connection there is no doubt it will become a very large and important place in the near future. We have not space to enumerate all the towns that have sprung into existence during the last few years, but, amongst others, we may mention Gladstone, Rapid City, Odannah, and Minnidosa, as having progressed rapidly. There are many other places, however, which we have not noticed that are bound to become thriving country towns, all of which have so far succeeded without the aid of rail- way communication. North West. 107 If, therefore, cities, towns and villages have multiplied in the North West so rapidly without the aid of railroads, what will be the result when the Canadian Pacific is built to the base of the Rocky Mountains ? Is it not reasonable to expect that, with a country so rich and fertile lining it on each side, the Canadian Pacific Rail- way will, in a few years form one great chain of populous and thriving towns and villages, for hundreds of miles over the prairies of the Canadian North West ? ■ 1 ! CHAPTER XII. Ill The advantages of the Canadian North West as an Agricultural Country— Stock raising— Land Regulations— Land Guides— Ins- tructions to Land Guides— Protection to Immigrants— The Cana- dian North West attracting the attention of capitalists— Deve- lopment of the Country by the Canada Pacific Railway— Proud position of the Dominion in the near future — The North-West- ern States as feeders to the Canadian Pacific Railway— Toronto and Montreal as transhipping ports. Let us now take a glance at the advantages possessed by the Canadian North West, as an agricultural country. In the lirst place, throughout the Fertile Belt the seasons are peculiarly fii vourable to the raising of gi'ain and root crops. Spring commences in April, and, until about the end of May, the weather is most suitable for seeding purposes, being gen- erally dry and pleasant; then succeeds a season of wet weather, which extends through the month of June, but in July it usually becomes clear and fine, with occasional thunder-storms and slight showers until the end of October. During the Summer the days are wann and the nights generally cool, and crops ripen very quickly ; harvest begins in August, and is carried on into September, and in October the root crops are pulled ere the frost sets in. Winter commences about the middle, and sometimes toward the end, of November, and continues till March, the weather being generally very cold and dry, and it is a remarkable fact that, although the thermometer reaches down to the forties, the severity of the cold is not so much felt as in some parts of Canada, where 12 degi'ees below zero is considered something unusual. This is accounted for by the dryness of the atmosi)here and the evenness of the temperature in the North West, while in the more eastern portions of the Dominion and in the United States there is more moisture prevalent and a greater degree of unre- liability in the weather. Great Canadian North West. 109 Agricultural 1 Guides— lus- ts— The Cana- talists — Deve- ilway — Proud i North -West- way — Toronto )ossessed by )untry. In seasons are i root crops. end of May, 3, being gen- ison of wet une, but in L occasional of October. the nights rvest begins in October a. Winter toward the he weather remarkable )wn to the felt as in )w zero is ited for by less of the ore eastern ates there e of unre- The rich soil attains a depth of from one to four feet throughout the fertile portions of Manitoba and the North West, and can be worked for several years without the necessity of manure. This richness of soil produces im- mense crops, from twenty-five to forty busliols to the acre being the common average yield, and good crops have even been obtained from the first turning of the sod. The mixture of wood and prairie throughout the greater portion of the territory makes it a valuable country for agricultural purposes, and in this respect the North West excels the more southern prairie of the United States. It has now been definitely ascertained that good water can be found almost anywhere on the north-western prairie by digging from ten to twenty feet deep, besides which there are numerous fine streams, lakes and lakelets, throughout the whole country. This, of itself, is a very important feature in the matter of stock-raising, and when considered in connection with the great variety of nutritious wild grasses that abound everywhere over the prairie and in the marshes, makes the country almost invaluable for farming and feeding of stock. Farmers who have settled for several years in Manitoba pronounce the winters as particularly favourable for the raising of stock, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, and no difficulty has been found by them in bringing out their cattle fat in the Spring. The land regulations in the North West are as liberal and in some particulars even more so than in the United States. At present one can homestead 160 acres free, and pre-empt or purchase another 160 on easy terms, and it is probable, ere long, now that the task of developing and settling the country has been undertaken with renewed energy by the Dominion Government in connection with the Canadian Pacific, that terms even more liberal will l)e offered to immigrants. I i. 110 Great Canadian i i' i^ i i;- ■ The present Government of Canada, moreover, has lately adopted a plan for the proper treatment of immigi-ants that must commend itself to every one looking out for new homes in a new country. A corps of land guides organized' during the past summer has been of the greatest service to- immigrants who have settledin the North West, and ia order to give some idea of the usefulness of these guides^ and the wisdom of having established the system, we will enumerate a few of the duties they are expected to fulfil towards immigrants placed under their charge. Land guides are instructed : 1st. To make themselves thoroughly conversant with everything relative to the country which may prove of service to the new comer, such as the system of surveys, laws relating to lands, Orders in Council affecting the same requirements of the settler, the different and best trails or roads throughout the country, etc., etc., etc. 2nd. To aid the new comer, on his arrival, by all means in their power, such as in the selection and purchase of necessary articles, advice as to suitable lands, etc., etc., etc. 3rd. To accompany the new comer to that section of the country in which he desires to locate, aiding and advising, en route there, to be taken in charge by a land guide especially retained in that district, who will show him suitable lands, and not leave him until a selection is made and the boundary stakes pointed out to him. 4th. No land guide is to leave a new comer while under any difficulty, but is to remain until such is overcome, or good provision made. 5th. Land guides are exhorted to be kind and attentive to the wants of the new comers, and to bear in mind that most colonists are unaccustomed to the peculiar means of transport in vogue throughout the country. 6th. Guides are to protect the new comer all in their power from useless expenditure and imposition by unscru- pulous persons. NoHh West. Ill 3r, has lately ligi'ants that )ut for new les organized st service to> Vest, and in hese guides^ iem, we will ;ted to fulfil "^ersant with ly prove of of surveys, ng the same 3st trails or 3y all means purchase of :c., etc., etc. ctioii of the id advising, land guide show him on is made vvhile under vercome, or d attentive I mind that r means of all in their by unscru- 7th. As time is of importance to the new comer, all haste consistent with circumstances is to be made in aiding a party to its destination. Thus the immigrant from a strange country finds him- self on his arrival in the North West placed in the care of a responsible and trustworthy man, who not only accom- panies him to a desirable locality for settlement, but who also advises and protects him from being made a victim of by unscrupulous men, of whom there are always a plentiful supply in a new country. As the country opens up to the westward these guides will be invaluable to immigrants, and, ere long, it will be realized, if it is not now, that strangers coming to this fine country to settle may do so in perfect security, under the protecting care of a Govern- ment who has shown already so much consideration in caring for the welfare of new comers. We have now, as far as our space will allow, traced the development of the North West up to the present moment in all its features and shown the disadvantages under which it has, at times, laboured. The future of this great country will, without doubt, be a glorious one. Suddenly the great importance of the Canadian North West, as a field for enterprise, has attracted the attention of capitalists to some purpose. The vast resources of the country appear to be realized in their proper light by men who have evidenced their ability and willingness to develop them. The Canadian Pacific Kailway will, in a few years, be an accomplished fact, its line of route will, ere long, be studded by elevators receiving and delivering the golden grain of the great fertile fields lying between the Red River and the Rocky Mountains. Cities and towns, prosperous centres of trade, will dot the line of railway at short intervals. The whole plain now lying idle will be teaming with life and activity ; numerous cities, from which branch lines 112 Great Canadian North West. ¥' U'-' m fill i 11 m will tap the country on every side, will rival each other for the trade of the North West. The Peace and Arthabasca districts will pour forth their treasures to add to the general prosperity, and while this great agricultural country will be pouring forth its riches, the manufactories of the eastern portions of the Dominion will be taxed to their fullest extent to keep pace with the times and supply the demands of the Canadian North West until it will have found time and opportunity to develop its own manufactures. Then will the Dominion of Canada begin to realize its great wealth and importance, and will rejoice in its proud position among the nations of the earth. All the provinces of Confederation from the Atlantic to the Pacific will then be truly united in a common bond of sjTnpathy and union, the one assisting the other when bound together by that iron band which in this generation is so much needed to cement the interests of a great country like Canada. The fact of the railway grades in the North Western States adjoining the International Boundary Line being on an incline towards the Canadian North West, and the grades on the Canadian Pacific Eailw^ay being of an easy character eastward along the line from Red Eiver, while the length of the route to the seaboard is even shorter tlian via Chicago to New York, will eventually throw a great pro- portion of the American export trade from the North West via Canada to the seaboard. The fact also of the great routes via Chicago and the Eastern States being at present over-burdened with traffic, and at the same time in the hands of powerful companies, who pool rates and thus control all the avenues of shipment — a state of affairs which is likely to increase in the future — will oblige the more Western States, such as Minnesota and Dakota, to find some independent outlet for the shipment of their grain. No better route will present itself than the Cana- North West. 113 other for Di'th their vhile this ts riches, Dominion with the irth West ) develop realize its its proud itlantic to n bond of len bound tion is so mtry like em States ng on an he grades character ihe length tlian via great pro- he North iso of the > being at same time rates and state of ivill oblige 1 Dakota, t of their the Cana- •»1ian Pacific Railway, connected as it will be by branch lines with these States, and thus instead of our National Line becoming a feeder to American Lines, it will, when com- jdeted, become a forn-'lable rival with American Kailways for the whole trallic of the North West. Cities like Toronto and Montreal will become large transliip]iing ports, and tlie Canadian Pacific will not only develop and handle the vast trade of the Canadian North West, but it will also draw the trade of the North W stern Slates via Canada to the seaboard. The Dominion Govermnent and the Syndicate of capitalists who have taken hold of the work, by pushiniT forward the Canada I'acitic, are making one of the grandest railway nuives of ibis century. IMiimesola and Dakota are even to-day suffering from having insullicient means of transport for grain to the East ; what will they sufl'er when they become more densely populated and better developed ? They will have to seek new routes, the best and cheapest of which will be the Canadian Pacific Kailway. It seems as if Canada was on the verge of rivalling the Eastern or seaboard States for the tradeof the North West, let Cana- dians, therefore, put their shoulders to the wheel while they have the opportunity, and help to carve out the glorious future before us. G I;, CHAPTER XIII. The Syndicate Contract— Opposition— Eftbrtfl to rouse tlie people- against the scheme— The people do not respond as exj)ected— Dissolution of Parliament urged by the Opposition— The Government defend their policy— Obstruction in Parliament- Variety of opinions on the Contract— Value of North West lands— Opinions on the construction of the road east of Lake Superior— Threatened violation of the country's honour— A new Syndicate— Vanderbilt's interest in delaying the construction of the Lake Superior section— Disastrous effect on the North West if the Syndicate bargain should be broken— The necesnity for the immediate construction ef th« Lake Superior stotion Bhown — Evident desire of the new Syndicate to build only the Prairie section— A third Syndicate— The country beginning to understand the true value of the scheme— Our national high- way an avenue to the seaboard for the produce of the Western States— The Canadian Pacific Railway at last acknowledged to be a desirable enterprise for capitalists— The glorious prospects of the North West in the future. Sir John A. Macdonald in December, 1880,*' presented to the Dominion House of Commons the contract entered into by the Government for the construction and working of the Canadian Pacific Eailway. After ten years of delay caused by the obstruction of men who seemed determined that every obstacle should be put in the way of our national undertaking, the Government of Canada were in a position to say that they had found a body of men capable and willing to build the Canadian }'acific Eailway, Although no offers had been received by the Mackenzie Government to take the road off their hands and build it ; yet, in a little over two years time. Sir John Macdonald managed to induce capitalists to take hold of the work. It was no easy matter to accomplish this end, owing to the discredit into which the enterprise had fallen through the misrepresentations and calumny heaped upon it by the men who had so singularly failed in coping with the work during the five years they were in power, and who, while out of office, endeavored to show that it was Oreat Canadian North West. 115 beyond the .scope of others to do that which they, them- selves, had been unable to accomplish. It cannot be denied that the construction of a line of railway some two thousand miles in length through a new country is a serious undertaking for any one to assume ; but it becomes still more difficult when false aspersions have been cast upon the character and fertility of the country through which the line is to pass, because such false statements are more than likely to create distrust in the minds of capitalists, and cause them to hesitate, or refrain from purchasing the bonds of a company building a line through a country represented as worthless, or at least of doubtful value. Had the Canadian North West received, as it ought to have done, that justice which it deserved, and which it ought to have received from Canadian statesmen, instead of being decried as inferior to lands in the United States — had the real, the great value of the country been shown in its true colors from the first, there would, instead of one offer, have been a dozen to build the road. After the failure of Hon. Mr. Mackenzie to get a response to his call for tenders, the Government of Sir John A. Macdouald were fortunate enough to make a contract, which, as soon as it became known, seemed to arouse the ire of their pre- decessors who had not been so successful. Immediately after the reply to the Speech from the Throne had passed, Sir Charles Tupper, Minister of Kail- ways and Canals, presented the following contract to Par- liament for their approval. TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERN- MENT AND THE SYNDICATE. Ottawa, December 1#. This contract and agreement, made between Her Majesty the Queen, acting in respect of the Dominion of Canada, and herein re- presented and acting by the Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, K.C.M.G., Minister of Railways and Canals, and George Stephen and Duncan Mclntyre, of Montreal, in Canada; John S. Kenaedv, of New York, in the State of New York ; Richard B. Angus and Jamos J. Hill, of St. Paul, in the State of Minnesota ; Morton, Rose Sc Co., of London, England; and Cohen, Reinach &, Co., of Paris, France, witnesses— 116 Oreat Canadian !i m Tliiit tlio parlies hereto Imvecoiitracti'dand ajureed with oiicli oilier ae followH, iiiinu'ly ; — 1. Kiir thi- iK'tler intcrprotntion orthecoiitriict it is herehy dcolart'tl tliat the portion of railway hereinaCter caiit'il (lie Kiistcrii Strlioti nhail OdiiipriHf that part of the Canailian I'acitic Railway to he eon- Ptnieted exteiidiiig Iroiii the western terniinnn of the ('anada Ceiilral Railway near the eajeii as the " Company,"' and the (iovernment of Canada is iiereinafter called tlie " Ciovernment." 2. Tlie contractors imnu'diately after the orjzanization of the said Company shall deposit with the (iovernment $1,0(1(1,000 in casli or approved securities as a secMirity lor the construction ol the railway lierchy contracted tor. The (Jovernnient sliall pay to the Company interest on the casli depiwited at the rate of four per cent, per annum halt-yearly, and shall pay over to the ('ompany the interest receivetl upon tin' securities deposited until default in the performance of the con(htions hereof, or until the repayment of the deposit, and shall return the liepusit to the Company on the completion of the railway, according to tlie terms liereof, with any interest accrued thereon. 3. The Compariy shall lay out, construct, and equip tlio said Eastern Section and the said Centrai Section of a uniform gauge of 4 lieet H.J inciies, and in order to estiU'lish an ajiproximate standard wherehy the tpiality and the (diaracter of tiie railway and of the material used in tlie construction thereof, and of the ('(piipmeiit thereof, may he regulated, the I'liion Pacific Railway of the United States, as the same was when first constructed, is hereby selected and fixed as such standard. And iftht Government and the Company filiould lie unaide to agree as to wliether or not any W(jrk done or materials furnished under this contract are in fair conformity with such standard, or as to any otlier qucstnjn of fact, excluding (juestions of law, the subject of this agreement shall lie frtjm time to time referred to the determination of three referees, one of whom shall be cho.sen by the (iovernment, one by tlie Cuinj/any, and one by the referees so chosen ; and such referees shall dfcide as to the party by whom the expense of such reference shall be defrayed ; and if sucli two referees should he unable to ajjree upon a tliird referee, he shall be appointed at the instance of either party hereto, after notice to tlie other, by the Chief Justice of the Su|>reme Court of Canada; and the decision of such referees, or of the majority of them, sliall be final. 4. The work of construction shall be commenced at the eastern extremity of the Eastern Section not later than tiie first day of July next; tlie work upon the Central Secition shall be commenced by the Company at such point towards the eastern end thereof on the portion of the line now under construction as shall be found convenient, anil as shall be approved by the Government, at a date not later than the tiret of May next ; and the work upon the Eastern and Central Sec- eftcli other ly (loolared ■II .Section to 1)0 con- (lii ('(Mitral I ('ali'iidiir I ('aniiiliiin Iron I liiikc latter |)or- lii' portion iidin^j; iVoin 3tioii ; tlial exti'ridin'^ III' \V('stort\ iway " arc n Vi<;toria, U'scrilii-Ml afl ultor called 3f' the said in caHh or ;he railway e Company per anniiiii est receivetl ance of the , and Bhall he railway, hereon, p the said in gauge of ito standanl uiid of the ciiuipment tlie United selected and le Company irk done or ormity with iig querttioiis ;ime referred 1 be chosen e referees so y by whom "if such two ee, he shall notice to the anaihi; and hall be final, t the eastern day of July enced by the 1 the portion veaient, and Iter than the Central Sec- North West. 117 i; tion« shall be vigoroii«ly and continiiouHly carried on at «nch rate of annual progress on each scclinn as shall enable the Company to complete and cipiip the same ami put each of them in running onler on or before the llrst day of May, iM'.U, by which date the Company hereby agrees lo complfi.- and etpiin the said sections in cotilormity with this contract, iinli ss prevented by the act of God, the t^ueen'* enemies, intestine disturbances, epidemics. Moods, or other causes beyond the control of the ('ompany ; and in ca-e of the iiiterruptiuu or obstruction of the work of <'.nnMtruction from uiiv of thi' said causes, the lime ti.xed fur the completion of the railway sliall Ik.- extended for a corresponding period. 6. The Company shall pay to the (iovernment the cost, according to the contract, of the portion of railway- 100 miles in length- extending from the City of Winnipeg westward up to the time at which the work was taken out of the hamlN of llie cotitraj.'tors, and the ex- K'use since incurred by the (iovernment on the work of construction, Mil shall have the right to assume the said work at any lime, and complete the same, payitig the cost of construction, as ailiresaid, so far as the same shall tiien have been incurred by the (iovernment. 6. Unless prevented liy the act of God, the (.Queen's enemies, intestine disturbances, epidemics, lliods, or other causes beyond the control of the Government, the (iovernment shall cause to be com- jjleted thesaid jjake .Superior .'Section by the dales lixed by the exist- ing coiitraits fur the construction ilieivof, and slmll also cau-e to be completed the portion of tln' said Wesiem Section n.ivv unden^untract, namely, from Kamloops to Yale, within the period lixed by the con- tracts thereof, namelv by the .'Kith day of June, iH^s^i; (md shall also cause to be comiileted on or beliire the lirst of .May, iMlil, the rem lin- ing portion of the said Western Section lying between Yale and I'ort Moody, which shall be constructed of e(|ualiy good (|u ility in every respect with the standard hereliy cre.-ited for the portion hereby con- tracted for, and the said Lake Superior Section, and the iiortionsol the said Western Section now under contract, shall be completed as nearly as practicable according to the specilicalions anil conditions of the contracts therefor, except in .so far as the same luive been modified by the (iovernment prior to this contract. 7. The railway constructed under the terms hereof shall be the property of the Company, and pending the completion of the I'^aetern and Central Sections the Government shall transfer to the Company the possession and ri^^ht to work and run the several portions of the Canadian Pacific Railway already ..ionstructeil, or as the same shall be completed ; and upon the completion of the Ea.stern and Central Sections the (jovernment shall convey to the Company with a suitable number of station buildings, and with water service (not without e(juipment), those portions of the Canadian Facilic Railway con- structed or to be constructed by the Government, which shall then be completed; and upon the completion of the remainder of the jiortiou of the railway to be constructed by the (iovernment, that portion shall also be conveyed to the Company, and the Caiuulian Pacific Railway shall become and be thereafter the absolute property of the Company, and the Coinpany shall thereafter and forever efliciently maintain, work, and run the Canadian Pacific Railway. 8. Upon the reception from the (iovernment of the possession of each of the respective portions of the Canutlian Pacific Railway, the Company shall equip the same in conformity with the standanl herein established for the equipment of the stations hereby contracted for, and shall thereafter maintain and efficiently operate the same. 118 Great Canadian 9. In consideration cf the premises, the Government agree to grant to the Company a enbsidv in money of $25,000,000 and in land of 25,000,000 acres, for which subsidies the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway shall he completed, and the same shall be equipped, maintaineil, and operated, the said subsidies respectively to be paid and granted as the work of construction shall proceed in manner and upon the conditions following, that is to say : — A. The said subsidy in money is hereby divided and appropriated as follows, namely: — Central Section, assumed at 1,350 miles— (1). 905 miles at $10,000 per mile, $9,000,000. (2). 450 miles at $13,333 per mile, $6,000,000. Total, $15,000,000. Eastern Section, assumed at 650 miles — subsidy equal to $15,384.- 61 per mile— $10,000,000. Total, $25,000,000. And the said subsidy of land is hereby divided and appropriated as follows, subject to the reserve hereafter provided for. Central Section— (1). 900 miles, at 12,000 acres per mile, 11,250,- 000 acres. (2). 450 miles, nt 16,666,66 acres per mile, 7,500,000 acres. Total, 18,750,000. Eastern Section, assumed at 650 miles — subsidy equal to 9,615,35 acres per mile, 5,250,000. Total, 25,000,000.' B. — Upon the construction of any portion of the railway hereby contracted for, not less than 20 miles in length, and the completion thereof, so as to admit ol' the running of regular trains thereon, together with such equipment thereof as slian be required for the traffic thereon, the Government shall pay and grant to the Company the money and land subsidies applicable thereto, according to the division and appropriation thereof made as hereinbefore provided, the Company having the option of receiving in lieu of cash terminable bonds of the Government Ibearing such date of interest for such period and amount as may be arranged, and which may be equivalent, according to actuarial calculation, to the corresponding cash payment, the Govern- ment allowing four percent, interest on moneys deposited with them. C. — If at any time the Company shall cause to be delivered on or near tlie line of the said railway, at a place satisfactory to the Gov- ernment, steel rails and fastenings to be used in the construction of the railway, but in advance of such construction, the Government on demand of the Company shall, upon such terms and conditions as shall be determineii by the Government, advance thereon three- fourths of the value thereof at the place of delivery, and a propo.'tion of the amount so advanced shall be deducted according to such terms and conditions from the subsidy to be thereafter paid upon the settle- ment for each section of twenty miles of railway, which proportion shall correspond with the proportion of such rails and fastenings which have been used in the construction of such sections. D. — Until the first day of January, 1882, the Company shall have the option, instead of issuing land grant bonds, as hereinafter pro- vided, of substituting the payment by the Government of the interest (or partof the interest) on bonds of the Conipany mortgaging the rail- way and the lands to be granted by the Government running over Buch term of years as may be approved by the Government in Council in lieu of the casii subsidy hereby agreed to be granted to the Com- pany, or any part thereof, such payments of interest to be equivalent North West. 119 e to grant n land of Canadian equipp)ed, 10 be paid anner and propriated ) $15,384- propriated e, 11,250,- ires. to 9,615,35 'ay hereby completion n, together ic thereon, he money i vision and Company ondsof the nd amount cording to lieGovern- with them, ered on or the Gov- itrnction of rnment on iditions aa eon tliree- propu'tion uich terms the settle- proportion mgs which shall have lafter pro- be interest g the rail- ining over in Council the Corn- equivalent according to actuarial calculation to the corresponding cash payment, the Government allowing 4 per cent, int'^rest on moneys depositeil with them, and the coupons representing the interest on such bonds sliall be guaranteed by the Government to the extent of such equiva- lent, and the proceeds of the sale of such bonds to the extent of not more than $25,000,000 shall be deposited with the Government, and the balance of such proceeds shall be placed elsewhere bv the Com- pany io the satisfaction and under the exclusive control of the Govern- ment, failing which last condition the bonds in excess fo those sold shall remain in the hands of the Governnunt, and from time to time as the work proceeds the Government shall pay over to the Company, firstly out of the amounts so to be placed by the Company, and after the expenditure of that amount out of the amount deposited with the Oovernment, sums of money bearing the same proportion to the mile- age cash subsidy hereby agreed upon which the net proceeds of such sale, if the whole of such bonds are sold upon the issue thereof, cr if such bonds be not all then sold the net proceeds of the issue, calculated at the rate at which the sale of part of them shall have been made shall bear to the sum of $25,000,000 : but if only a portion of the land issue be sold, the amount earned by the Company according to the I)roportion aforesaid, shall be paid to the Company partly out of the )onds in the hands of the Government, and partly out of the cash deposited with the Government, in similar proportions to the amount of such bonds sold and remaining unsold respectively, and the Company shall receive the bonds so paid as cash at the rate at which the said partial sale thereof shall have been made, and the Govern- ment will receive and hold such sum of money towards the creation of a sinking fund for the redemption of such bonds, and upon such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon between the Government and the Company. E. — If tlie Company avail themselves of the option granted by clause " D," the sum of $2,000 per mile for the first 800 miles of the Central Section shall be deducted pro rafa from the amount payable to the Company in respect of the .said 800 miles, and shall be appro- priated to increase the mileage cash subsidy appropriated to the re- mainder of the said Central Section. 10. — In further consideration of the premises the Government shall also grant to the Company the lands required tor the road-bed of the railway and for its station grounds, workshops, dock ground, and water frontage at the termini on navigable waters, buildings, yards and other appurtunances required for the convenient and etlectual con- struction ana working of the railwav in so far as such land shall be vested in the Government, and the Government shall also permit the admission free of duty of all steel rails, lish-plates, and other fastenings, spikes, bolts, and nuts, wire, timber and all material for bridges tolje used in the original construction of the railway and of a telegraph line in connection therewith, and all telegraphic apparatus required for the first equipment of such telegraph line, and will convey to the 'Company at cost price with interest all rails and fastenings bought in or smce" the year 1879 and other materials for construction in the possession of or purchased by the Government at a valuation, such rail.s fastenings, and materials not being required by it for the con- struction of the said Lake Superior and Western sections. 11.— The grant of land hereby agreed to be made to the Company shall be made in alternate sections of G40 acres each, extending back .24 miles deep on each side of the railway from Winnipeg to Jasper Bouse, in so far as such lands shall be vested in the Oovernment, the v\> i sr. 120 Great Canadian -i: Company receiving the sectiona bearing uneven numbers, but should any oi'sucli sections contiist in a material degree of land not fairly fit for settlement the Company shall not be obliged to receive thetii ae part of sucii grant, and thedcticiency thereby caused, and any further deficiency which may arise from the insufficient quantity of land along- the said portion of railway to complete the said 25,000,000 acres, or from the prevalence of lakes and water stretches in the sections granted (which lakes and water stretches shall nut be comprised ia the acreage of such sections) shall lie made up from other portions to be selected by the Company in the tract known as the fertile belt, that is to say the land Iving between parallels 4i) and 57 degrees of north latitude, or elsewhere at the option of the Company, by the grant therein of similar alternate sections extending back twenty-four miles deep on each side of any branch line or lines of railway to be located by the Company, and to be shown on a map or plan thereof deposited with the Minister of railways, or of any common front line or lines, agreed upon by the Government atid the Company, the con- ditions therein before stated as to lands not fairly fit for settlement to be applicable to such additional grants; and the Company may, with the consent of the Government, select in the Northwest Territories' any tract, or tracts, of land not taken up as a means of supplying or jtartially sujiplying such deficiency ; but such grant shall be made only from lands remaining vested in the Government. 12. — The Government shall extinguish the Indian title affecting the lands lierein appropriated and to be hereinafter granted iu aid of the said railway. l.T. — The Company shall have the right, subject to the approval oi the Governor in Council, to lay out and locate the lineof tlie railway hereby contracted for as they may see fit, preserving the following ter- minal points, namely from the Calandar Station to the point of junc- tion with the Lake Superior section, and from Selkirk to the junction with the western section at Kamloops by way of Yeilowhead Pass. 14. — The Company shall have the right from time to time to lay out, construct, ecjuip, maintain ami work branch lines of railway from any point or points within the territory of the Dominion — provided always that before commencing any branch they shall first deposit a map and plan of such branch in the Department of Railways, and the Government shall grant to the C'ompany the land required lor the roiid-bed of such branches, and for the stations, station grounds, build- ings, workshops, yards, and other appurtenances requisite for the efficient construction and working of such branches in so far as such lands are vested in the Government. 15. For twenty years from the date hereof no line of railway shall be authorized by the Dominion Parliament to be constructed south of the Canadian Pacific Railway from any point at or near the Cana- dian Pacific Railway, excej)t such a line as shall run south-we.'^t, or to the west of .south-west, nor to within fifteen miles of latitude 49; and in the establishment of any new province in the Northwest Territories provision shall be made tor continuing such prohibitioD after such establishment until the expiration of the said period. 10. The Canadian Pacific Railway and all stations and station grounds, workshops, buildings, yards and other property, railing stock, and appurtenances recjuired and used lor the construction thereof, and the capital stock of tiie Company, shall be forever fres from taxation by the Dominion, or by any province to be hereafter establislied, or by any municipal cornoration therein, and the lands of the Company in the Northwest lerritories, until they are either )Ut sIioul(t ot fairly fit tlioin as iiy further Hiid along- ) ucrep, or e sections nprised in Portions to rtile belt, le^rees of ly, by the Aonty-four way to be iin thereof front line , the con- tlemeiit to inay, with Territories supplying 11 be made afiecting cl in aid of ipproval ot he railway lowing ter- it of j unc- le junction (1 PUS8. time to lay ilway from —provided t deposit a )'s, and the ed lor the nds, build- ite for the ir as such iway shall ;ted south the Cana- tli-west, or titude 49; Northwest iruhibition riod. id station y, rolling iistruction rever frcn hereafter the land® are either North W&it. 121 sold or occupied, shall also be free from such taxation for twenty-five years after the grant thereof from the Crown. 17. The Company shall be authorizal by their act of incorpora- tion to issue bonds, secured upon the land granted and to be granted to the Company, containing provisions for such bonds in the acquisi- tion of lands, and such other conditions as the Companv shall see fit, such issue to be for $25,000,000 ; and should the Company make such issue of land grant bonds, then they shall deposit them in the hands of the Government, and the Government shall retain and hold one- riflh of such bonds as security for the due performance of the present contract in respect of the maintenance and continuous workinjj of the railway by tiie Company, as lierein agree:i tn exempt from customvS duties on all their sup})lie.s, while the Government would have been so — for the railway company are only freed from duty on certain articles, such as steel rails, &c., as are required for the actual construc- tion of the road, but will have to pay the customs duties for all the balance of their supplies, which will amount to a ^Tcat deal of money. The exemption from taxation on their stations, &c., cannot be looked on as very seriuus, since already the Syndicate have received offers from several lo- calities proposing to grant them immunity from taxation of that kind to induce them to locate the stations, &c., in those places. It is, moreover, quite customary for cities and towns to grant enterprises freedom from taxation, with sometimes a bonu? thrown in, to secure the business of the enterprise tlius scMight to be encouraged — Now of all enter- prises the Canada ^racific is more likely to benefit munici- palities, cities, towns and villages through which it will pass than any other. Exception was taken to the Syndicate having the right to choose prairie lands for payment of the construction of the Lake Superior and other barren portions of the road, but a glance will show how unreasonable it would be to expect men to take land where no land is. WHvile the building of tha road north of Lake Superior is necessary to the success of the whole line yet it would be unfair to compel the Syndi- cate to take their land grarit in a country wheru it is chiefly rock and forest. If they were so compelled they would simply turn round and ask a larger cash subsidy. As it is,, the w^iole grant of 25,000,000 to the Com- pany is