The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-12 00:00:00

TkLE STOMIBRIDGE OBSERVER.

This will be enough to show that all three members of
the party were active, skilful men, and that the misforiune
was caused entirely by their choosing to descend a glacier
in the dark, so as not to be forced to nit on the ice until
daylight, It will of course be asked, Why did they run
this risk, I can only say that if in similar circumstances
to-morrow I should do exactly the Fame. It is hard to per-
suade three active men that they would du well to sit still
all night on a piece of ice when within a quarter or an
eight of a mile were plenty of convenient stones warmed by
a full southern exposure to the sun. The glacier to be
traversed rim hardly more difficult than is crossed daily by
tourists going from the lioutanvert to the Chapeau
. .

- -
I hope I have succeeded in making it clear that these
deaths were not owing to the rashness, incapability, or
Ignorance which have caused so many accidents in the Alps
of late years, but to an unfortunate combination of circum-
stances which caused a pure accident. Mr Marshall climbed
Alps not for vainglory, hut for the pleasure of overcoming
difficulties, for self-discipline, the excitement of a new world,
and for the enjoyment of the scenery ; and an admirable
pursuit it is for those who can afford the time and expense
which it requires—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Leeds, September 7. T. N. KENNEDY.

MANITOBA AND THE GREAT
NORTH-WEST.
Mr. W. G. Finney has sent another letter to The Times,
for publication, and his experiencee in the district about
which he writes will he valuable to emigrants to the Great
North-West Territory
Sir,—Since the insertion in The Times of my letters
regarding the Great North-West Territory., I have
been inundated with correspondence seeking for further
information on the subject.
This time the object I have in view is to convey to
your readers some idea of the ordinary life andoccupa.
Cons of the settler.
I will presume that he has arrived in Winnipeg,
selected a homestead, or purchased his farm, as he may
decide, and having provided himself with teams, agri-
cultural implements, axes, and tools, laid in a stock of
provisions as well as a good tent or two, he starts for
his newly-acquired home.
The first thing be will do is to select a site for his
house; that is taking for granted that he has chosen a
homestead, and should this be a prairie section, he
would naturally select a spot near to a bluff of timlser ;
if a wooded section, near a lake or river. He would
be guided by the aspect, distance from water, &c.
or my part I prefer a wooded section, for the
reason that the wood tit for fuel will more than pay
for the cost of clearing- The laud is decidedly richer,
and you can secure a natural shelter during the winter
season; while on the prairie he would have some dis-
tance to draw his logs for building and fuel, and poles
for fencing purposes, which would cost money, while
in woodland he would have them all to band.
The site selected, he proceeds to clear a space for the
foundation, fells his trees for logs, which, of course,
should be as straight as he can get them, placing the
largest logs at the bottom, and gradually decreasing in
seize towards the eaves. Having raised the four walls,
'which two stout men can do, cut the ends smoothly,
and made the corners true and square, the next job
will be to hew the insides of the logs, making a smooth
wall. Some hew the outside, but I think they look
better in their natural state. Four days should com-
plete this work, and then a couple of days to prepare
the rafters for the roof, which being raised, the erec-
tion of the chimney or chimneys, as the case may be,
is commenced. The
.best are made of stone, of which

_
there is plenty on the lake shore. The half-breeds
make theirs as follows :—A framework, in the shape
of four ladders fastened together, is constructed ac-
cording to the size of the chimney required to be
erected; this is raised on its end and placed inside the
walls of the house. The native then mixes some clay,
and, having procured some grass or hay of good
length, he smears the clay over a small handful at a
time, and hangs it over a bar of the framework,
smoothing it with a trowel as he goes on, until the
whole is covered. The object of the hay is to enable
him to suspend it on the framework. A fire is then
lighted on the earth, the clay becomes baked, and is
thus rendered as hard as bricks. The inside of the
fire-place is of semi-circular form, and the wood is
generally placed on the fire in an upright position, as
the native considers it draws better and gives out more
heat than when thrown on in the ordinary way. It
would be cheaper for the settler to hire a native to
erect the chimney than to attempt to do it himself. A
stone one would cost about 10 dols., the clay ones
about 5 dole, each.
The thatching, or shingling, the roof, as his taste
and means dictate, next occupies the attention of the
settler, and the sawing of the lumber for partitions
and flooring follows, unless he prefer to purchase it at
the rate of 30 dole. per I,oooft. The chinks formed
between the logs are filled in with chips, and the
crevices are plastered with mud, which excludes all
cold, and presents an even service. The walls are also
whitewashed. The lime can be made by the settler,
as there is plenty of limestone on the lake shore. The
door made, and windows bought and fitted, the house
. . .

_
may be said to be fit fcr occupancy.
A. log house, when well finished and the logs care-
fully selected, presents a most substantial and com-
fortable appearance.
The erection of stables and piggeries next take up
the time of the settler, and the size and locale of these
are, of course a question of taste, and depend upon the
quantity of stock to be housed.
Although the settler may wirh to assist, I should
recommend him to contract with some half-breed for
the erection of the buildings, as they are skilled at it
and are good axemen, and it would decidedly be the
most economical plan. A house 16 by 20 should not
cost more than from 120 dole. to 150 dole., including a
lean-to for a kitchen.
By this time the settler will have become familiar
with the use of the axe, and be can commence clearing
his land. The usual plan is to fell the trees, cutting up
the top branches and brushing and piling them ready
to burn, leaving the stumps to rot out. 'This I consider
a slovenly way, and should deem myself more than
compensated for the extra labour of grubbing and
clearing thoroughly as I went on. The sound timber
could be converted into cordwood, while the stumps
and roots would be burnt.
Of Lourse the first season the settler would not ex-
pect to put anything into the ground but barley,
potatoes, and turnips.
By the time these were in be would have his hay to
make, and when that was carted and stacked he would
be able to prepare a house for preserving his root crops
through the winter, and to erect a storehouse in which
to keep his stock of meat, game, and fiats.
Having stored his root crops, he could, during the
beautiful Indian summer, devote himself to fishing
and shooting, as at that time there is nothing much to
be done on a farm for the first year beyond clearing,
and the winter is, par excellence, the season for working
in timber.
The white fish are usually taken in gill nets, which
require frequent overhauling, and taking up and
scalding every third day. Fishing lasts about a fort-
I night. When caught, the fish are suspended by the
tail from a scaffold, erected where the wind has free
access. They are thus cured and are then termed hung
fish, though I prefer them regularly salted ; but at the
present time salt is rather too expensive to make it a
paying speculation to barrel theism.
The ducks shot early in the fall for winter use
zequire to be drawn, but those shot later in the season
are better left as they are and allowed to freeze up,
when I would recommend their being packed in straw.
I tried both ways, and the latter I found to be the
best plan for perserving them.
The settler in his spare time, if he desired to
luxuriate in the summer season, could erect his ice
house, and also a winter house for his fowls. •
The winter months are, with the exception of felling
timber and drawing hay, as I remarked in my pre-
vious letter, those of rest and enjoyment to the settler.
As the wild fruits ripen they are gathered and pre-
served, and it is owing in a great measure to their
being so plentiful and of such excellent flavour that
the cultivation of fruits has not been hitherto much

regar e
Sleighing, moose hunting, snow shoeing, partridge
shooting, snaring rabbits, and trapping fur-bearing
animals', form the principal occupation of the half-
breed during the winter, and these amusements and
sports are entered upon with much zeal by most I
settlers.
Fishing for jack and pickerel under the ice also
forms one of the occupations of the native, and as
many as 600 and 700 have been known to be taken by
a single person during a day. The Indians subsist
on them during the winter, but they are usually
purchased by the settler for feeding his hogs poultry,
and dogs, as when boiled they make good food.
Dogs are used principally for sleighing; in fact, they
are in many instances preferable to horses, as on long
journeys there is no trouble is carrying their provender,
and they can travel over the snow where a horse could
not tread. They can go from 40 to 100 miles in the
day. A dog will draw from 1001 b. to 1501 b. with ease,
and at night a fish will satisfy him, and he makes his
bed in the snow. A good team of four train dogs
could not be purchased for less than from 80 dols. to
100 dots., and I know an Indian who refused 200 dole.
for a team of three.
Good female servants are in great demand in Mani-
toba, and the demand will increase every year as the
country becomes settled up.
It would be a very good plan, I think, for a man of
means who intends proceeding to Manitoba to take out
with him a family of the working class. The services
of all the members would be utilized, and he would be
benefiting them as well as himself by giving them a
chance to better their positions.
This letter and the information I give in it apply to
an emigrant or settler who possesses a moderate or
small capital—say 12200. I will consider the subject
in further letters as it regards settlers who have little
mi,re than tools to work with and strength and
courage to use them; but the subject is by no means
yet exhausted as regards the class to whom this letter
refers.