The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-24
The Canadian Red River EXP <orsng Expedi-


woops-FERrILIrs or ~ns VALLEY or RED
siyER-PRksKNT STATE or SOCIETY AND CosDt
rloN or TUE PEOPLE CATHEDRAL or ST. BoNi-
FAcE-rHE FALLS on LITTLE DOG RIykR-sCENRRY
os THE GREAT DOG FOUNTAIN, ETC.
Prom the nus ,nated london News, Oct.
Our readers are - rare that public attention in England
The vast regions a North America occupied by the Hud
sons Bay Company hunting ground for the fur boar
hg ANIMALS The resources OF half continent, ana me
present coadi' Son Of ns inhabitants under the rule Of
company OF nerchans whose interests incline them 20 re-
Ns. al impr' rement, and repe every sina Oh massuy
which does tend sustain the value oil the moEopoy
ihey ENJOY, have stimulated spirit Of inquiry ~ch rs
now begin Ang % take definite form and produce prac
The Sci 81 Committee Of the House Of Commons, ap
pointed February Of last year TO consider the state OF
those b North America which are under
Ihe adm lnlstraison Of the Husons Bay Company sup
Piled q their mxuies Of evidence a vast anaouIE
o. co ,sictmg information on the general capabil
popo AsiR. In endeavonng 70 arrive al just CON
sias sns respecting the real adaptation Of kupe,s
orod bands OF half breed Indian hunters, we are
toI Gey saved the trouble of endeavorng TO reconene
almost opposite statements OF witnesses recorded III
minutes Of evidence by testimony OF dleres char-
seer and involving greater responsibility than tna en-,
eraced the Blue book before Let DC renrhpereo
that the Minutes Of Evidence contain the impressions
ssnly of gentlemen belonging 70 the HUDSON lay Com
pany and deeply interested in its monopoly OF o trave
rs liz. Colonel efroy and John Richardson, who had
wen defined and important duties 70 uih "mch ana
rsmoto from dc canoe routes which form the highways
81 fur throughout this almost unknown region
Nc works on this subject have been published from
xft b the desired information be obtained. Correct
nrrcssons he cleaned from many and widely differ
sni sources which few have either the time or OPP
vU tnity r studying Ii therefore, with much plea
sare that enabled TO commence the publication Of
aaeres articles the of Ruperts Land and
condition Of its inhabitants, illustrated with views Of
scenery sketches OF Indian life, which besides pos
ssing the charm of novelty, viii doubtless afford nstruc
The Canadian government and people have long been
casting and inquiring looks IN the direction OF
Red river Ruperts Land have recently taken strong
IN to
prar,es Of Red river and the Saskatchewan Knowing
sufficient OF the country to warrant the belief that Its re-
vastly undervalued, the Canadian govern
nent last July organized and despatched exploring
pednon Red river with view, in the first place, TO
cSaEnne the line of communication between Fort Will
ham Lake Superior and Fort Garry Red river; and, in
The oecond report on the capabilities of the valley Of
hed river within the British territory and the condition
~ tts half breed and Indian population.
The exploring party consisted OF three different
Of Professor H = Hind OF Trinity college Toronto sur,
yxyng, under Mr.. s. Dawson and engineering under Mr.
ably known Canada in their respective vacations The
assistants ten in number, and the combined parties
conducted the of their labors by Mr..
6iadman, native Of Ruperts Land and retired officer
from the service OF the Hudson's Bay Company.
The exploring party started from Toronto the 2sd Of
July, and reached Fort Garry the 9th of September
The surveyor and engineer, with their respective stats,
remained during the winter at Red river the geologst,
Mr. Hind returned TO Toronto In November, ST Paul,
Minnesota Territory and his report TO the Canadian govern
sscn been laid before the Provincial Parliament
We shall now glance at the results of last years expedi
ton deriving information from Mr. Kinds report and
personal communication with the author
ANY good map Of Canada viii show the position Of Fort
william post belonging TO the Hudsoa' Bay Company
mouth Of the kamnitqua river which
bouches into Thunder BAY Lake Superior The distance be
Fort William and Fort Garry miles by the ordi-
nary route through Rainy Lake Lake of the Woods
winnipeg river and Lake Winnipeg The time occupied by
the expedition raversing this great extent Of country
thirty three days including stoppages which in the aggre
gate Amounted TO five days and half With the exception
Of perhaps 20o Of arabic land in the valley Of the
Kaminitquia. the between Fort William and Fort
Frances at the Of the Rainy river, distance
q 173 miles, passes through sterile country in which
very few areas OF arabic land occur The valley OF
Rny river, however, auvial, supporting fine forest
growth, and fertile and inviting, The lake Of the
Woods is prominently beautiful, while Winnipeg
which drains offers variety of foamng cascade
rocky waste for distance Of 1853 miles until pours It's
waters INTO Lake Winnipeg.
Fortunately the future of the Red river the expiora
tons Of Mr. Dawson during the past winter have estab
hshed line Of communication from the Lake of the Woods
10 Red river without involving tins dangerous
boat navigation the Winnipeg which falls 333 feet
n course of Ie3 miles From Shoa lake which commu-
with the Lake Of the Woods by navigabe chan
mel the distance Garry the country only
eighty miles and 1t appears that only eghy-two
miles Of this is Of character which Will require
any expenditure capital labor road be
yona what required for cutting down the Of the
tmbcred portion. The remaining hve miles is bog
three 10 four feet deep and easily susceptible OF be nr
crossed by brush road SO common In many parts Of
Canada, al q comparatively small outlay
tn valley ~ Rcd river is described by Mr. Hind as
possessing remarkably deep, rich and fertile soil All
kinds Of vegetables commonly cultivated IN Canada
coed well, the root crops acquire surprising dmcn
OF life capable Of being supplied for many years
Tho area Of fertile soil where Indian corn and
whoai VIII flourish IN the district Of Assnnooa, which
embraces the settlements Of Red river and the Asinni
bone, considerably exceed 900 600 acres; and it rs
highly important know that the greater portion Of the
rich and available land the valley Of Red hes
within British territory, while that Of the Assnnioone is
Thc present state Of society and the condition Of the
people in the settlements. not encouraging. The Eu-
ropcan and Canadian element have been gradually d.
Vanishing for wears, and the bali breed population a
parcnty drawing closer 70 the habits and tastes OF their
Indian ancestry.
couyagod ny those engaged the fur trade whose IN
tercss necessarily opposed 10 the Capitalization and
settlement u thu half breed and Indian hunters The
practice of seons and sfr policy has enabled the
Hudsons Bay Company 70 suppress numerous efforts AT
sadusy which have from time 70 time been made by the
The majority II The popoulsiou are gradually becoming
yoorer approaching the Indian staea result,
uach srrng from the hitherto almost hopeless
circumstance under which huhsndry has been conduct
ed and = quiet. nosion,aious suppression chiefly by
mans Of competition through snportaons every kind
Industry which might lead 70 the selection o perma-
ne, homes by the hsf breed ana Indian hunters Tue
better class ~ people looking with much ETY. 20
ameoraon IA their condElon. aud 20 remuneration
Dor b1me industry irrespective 81 ,he far trade
Ia male ropulatc fast DIMINISHING. the European
and Canadian element more particularly enterPFisiDg
youlg seeking their fortunes 10 the United States.
Trade With the United states has lately acquired growing
imponce the BOD cattle and horses exchanged
for goCis 81 different kinds al Grow Wing and - Paul
Ar aSrazng country Red river has perhaps, equal
nR and rrrumn, yet sheep fast diminish
ing ia pgnhers WOO being comparatively worthless, IN
OF the rrerai even TIE Simplest
,hOaseSsla machinery - he pure of 'horncspan .
Tbesas-e melancholy facts; Will such excellent
~ pourCe and courageens hardy population anxious
I'm pr1ve condition. ursgcd 10 hope well
for Eed river. The steps now taken ~ the Canadian
guy sxnneI. gill draw eNhc attention ~ the value u
Rut go ~ nd and - pre~ent condts- We shall watch
with much interest the expedition thes have recently de-
tsf an1 glad a. haze The opportunity Of record
inr Al q liza, rating - prersess
The Cathedral u -. B-rifsce the AMOS. imposing
huldu ii settlements the banks o! the Red river
and tht kssInrfboinc.
- es,s ~ external architectural b,sgty. hut It's
asrtor \ very Iretiilv dccoraaed
~ ~ spses oi - Bcnnsee be seen Cor great
distance sus rar ~ the oundcss bcvc prairics by
whrf lie rIrrrfuacd. II possesses a very sweet toned
peal q bel aud 90 sound IN BID delightful 20
the woary ,gaqn the stranger bis arriyalRs the
chmor Of 81 ronrtce breaking enc stiffness Of the
ms o. Cvcnnl 'ar