The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-19 00:00:00

existence. In Manitoba this may he much mitigated.
There is nothing to prevent a man from haring his hooka
and papers, And in whatever part he nifty decide upon
settling he will not he long without neighbours, the sett
meats are forming so rapidly.
.• • ••

The first question with the intending settler then is, Ilue
can I get there, and which is the cheapest and best way to
go I will tell him. First, let him bear in mind. I only
advise hini to leave in the Spring : and further. I take it
for granted that from the nioment he has made up his mind
to go he is prepared to rough it, and commences somewhat
so to do when he puts his foot on board the &teenier leaving
Liverpool, or whatever port he may select to sail from

. •
The steerage fare from Liverpool to Quebec is six guineas,
and the average time occupied in the paatiage is tea days.
From Quebec to Toronto, a distance of 500 miles, the emi-
grant is conveyed in two days per Grand Trunk Railway for
the sum of Li Os. 64. From Toronto tickets are issued for
a:3 per head for adults, franking them right through to
w innipeg. They are conveyed as follows By Great
Northern Railway to Collingwood, a distance of 06 miles :
here they Lake a steamer on Lake Superior to Prince Arthur's
Landing. This delightful trip by water occupies four days
and extends over 500 miles. On arrival here they will
find emigrant sheds, where they can remain without any
expense beyond the co,t of their food until the stage Or
waggon is ready to convey them to Lake Shebendowan, 45
miles.
I may here menti•ns that from the time of the emigrant
leaving the steamer at Quebec, he will have to provide him-
self with provisions, and 5 this, should more than pay for
them At Prince Arthur's Landing he can lay in a fresh
stock, which will involve an outlay of another 5 •lols. As he
will have to provide himself with bedding and utensils on
board ship, lie will find it well te keep them or use the
whole of the Journey, and, of course, they will be useful
when he settles down.

But to resume the route. From Lake Shebandowan to the
north-west angle of the woods the emigrant is conveyed a
distance of 300 miles of broken navigation, through lakes
and rivers, by steamers and boats, and over portage,, the
longest of which is four miles, by waggons At these
portages dividing the lakes, houses are erected for the use
of the emigrant, and should his stock of provisions become
exhausted he can renew his supplies at coat price at most of
these stations. From the north-west angle his journey by
water ceases, and he is conveyed by stage to Winnipeg, a
distance of 03 nnies. There are also several resting places
on this road. Arrived at Winnipeg. the emigrant will find
a house, erected by Government, for his accommodation,
where he can remain until his plans are formed. Here also
he will meet with a gentleman appointed by Government to
give counsel to strangers ; and let me warn the intending
emigrant not to listen to the advice of outsiders, who are
always more or less interested, in the selection of his home-
stead, but be guided by his own judgment, backed up in
sonic measure by the advice of the agent, who has no other
object in view than his benefit. The trip from Prince
Arthur's Landing th Winnipeg will occupy about 14 days,
though it has been accomplished in much less.

It will thus be seen that the whole distance travelled is
4,229 miles, occupying about 30 days. Of course this may be
sometimes shortened, but I think about 35 days may be
reckoned as a fair time to be occupied en route. The cost
will amount, to round figures, to £l2 (Is. 6d. I have not
Included the railway fare from the place of residence of the
emigrant to the point of departure, as he can ascertain that
for himself ; but I should say £l5 should land him in Winni-
peg. The amount just quoted is only for travelling expenses;
but the intending emigrant will require to take with him a
couple of pairs of good blankets. I should prefer red, gray,
or blue, but that is a matter of taste; as much good warm,
stout underclothing as he can manage to buy, and a few
pairs of good strong boots—these latter he will only require
for Spring and Summer use. If he has not a gun, let him get
one. He can purchase such a one as will answer his purpose
for from 30s. to 505. ; and if he can afford to take two or
three, he can always dispose of them to advantage among the
natives. Of course, If the intending emigrant has a stock of
clothes by him, there would be no barn, in taking them out
but I would strongly dissuade him from laying in, as many
do. a new supply, which, as they find very often to their cost,
turns out valueless in a new country. Be had far better take
out the value in cash.

During the winter season he can purchase the articles he
requires, such as duffel, a kind of woollen material manufac-
tured expressly for Hudson's Bay Company's service, for leg-
gings and socks, and furs for his cap and mita and he can get
them made up by any of the half-bred women according to
his taste, at a very trifling cost. Mocaasins also for winter
wear he can purchase as he may require, or he call buy a
moose, buffalo, or deer skill, and have them made for him.
Those made of buffalo hide are the warmest, but they do not
wear so well as those of moose or deer. They are worth from
50 to 75 cents, a pair. Moose and deer akin mocassins are
worth from a dollar and a quarter to a dollar and a-half. The
latter are the most durable, but not so warm as either moose
or buffalo.

The emigrant's baggage should be stowed in chests not
containing more than 200 lb. weight in each, for convenience
of handling. Ile would find a small box with lock and key
very convenient for holding his provisions on the journey
from Quebec to Winnipeg, as they would be kept dry, and
would be handy to get at, and he would thus be more than
compensated for the outlay. I would further recommend
him to provide himself with a small axe, matches, a bottle
or two of painkiller, and a little mosquito netting. If
three or four were to club together, buy a tent and a
few cooking utensils, it would render the trip more like a
picnic', and sleeping under canvas is far preferable to the
houses—hesides breaking in the new chum, as the Austra-
lians term a stranger, to his future life, lie might with
advantage also take a few hooks and lines, as all the lakes
and rivers through which he travels are full of fish, and
these, with now and tin, a pigeon or rabbit ho may
shoot, make a nice addition to his ordinary fare. I
should also recommend hint to provide himself, always
presuming he can afford to do so, with a good waterproof
sheet this will answer the doilble purpose of folding his
blankets in when on the move, and at night he can lie on it,
and should he have been accustomed to a spring mattress
and chance to camp near a spruce tree, he can, by breaking
off some small houghs and placing them in the ground in a
slanting position and the sheet over them, improvise a bed
equal to any he has ever slept upon. Should the mosquitoes
prove troublesome, he can, before retiring to sleep, build
what is termed a smudge or smoke—that is, collect together
some dry leaves or sticks, kindle them, and place on the top
some grass or moistened leaves. This creates a great smoke
and generally drives away the intruders, though there is
nothing so eifeettud as a good strong wind.
I have now landed my settler in Winnipeg, and will in a
future letter lead him to select his homestead, place him there
with some necessary provisions, anti show him what has and
can be done by energy and steadiness of purpose.