The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09

these columns Of an expedition charged by
the Canadian Government with tho expIora
ton Of the country between Lake Superior
and Red Rver,--and which completed its
labors during this past summer, under the
direction OF GsoRGg GLADxAs, Esq, with
the assistance Of a scientific corps, including
the names Of Prof. HIsDs, Naturalist and
Ceologist, Mr.. NAPIER Engineer, and Mr..
DAwsos, Surveyor. Their report which has
been published by the Canadian Govern
ment, and copy Of which ia before IA,
embraces some valuable details. That part
Of the document which relates 10 the topo
graphical character Of the country traversed,
will serve TO Illustrate tho discussion, al
some future time, Of tho project Of seeking
. present outlet for the proposed Red Riy
CT Railroad, at Fort Williams, on Lake
Superior but may be dismissed for the
present with The remark that the report Is
certainly not favorable TO M immediate
execution Of that enterprise.
But IL the expedition had done nothing
more than put into an authentic and scces
sibe form the facts which this report en-
braces, 10 relation TO tho agricultural capa-
bilities OF tho l.cd River valley, il would
still have performed an immense service.
All that has been published OF the astonish
Ing productiyencss oftLe soil along tho valleys
Of the Red River and i,s tributaries, above
the l9th parallel. has done little towards
dispeing the prevailing Ignorance Of its re
sources, mud the testimony u individual
travellers ia too apt 10 bo regarded in the
light Of isolated facts, whose influence IL
constantly OVERCOME by our habitual dis
position TO regulate our ideas Of climate by
parallels OF latitude Let il be- borne in
mind then, that in reality the climate Of
the Red Rivor valley. is very little different
from that OF Fort Smelling, and the line Of
the average mean temperature OF ~. Paul.
instead OF following the A5th parallel defects
northwest from this point along the Misais
sppi, and following the declua,ion Of the
surface elevation along the Red River and
adjacent valleys. carries all the characters,
tics Of the temperate climates up To the base
OF the hoch, As~-'si.a, I" oboe, sn-,,aa 4,
meets tho balmy brcezcs Of the Pacific
slope. without the knowledge Of these
facts in modifying the effect of latitude upon
climate, the distant reader would scarcely
credit the statement, that the specimens Of
produc,ivencss given below, relate to n coun.
try five hundred miles north Of u, Paul.
Mr.. GowLsRs farm situated on the
Aminoboin. nine miles above Fort Garry,
was one Of those visited by Prof Huns.
The following presents II picture OF almost
English plenty and susriluity;
ann Rlvxs VARN.
On the 10th Of September. the day visited
Mr.. Gowlct house aud farm, nearly all farm.
ing operations were over, small stack yard
was Oiled with stacks Of wheat and hay HIS
barn, which WAS very roomy, was crammed
a
r,n. . s MI" rs,v",. root. rers .hortl, to no
transferred to root houses Which no had con
h,ah bank Of tho Assiniboin. and draining
them into tho river. the .., dram was supplied
closed when tho water rose during the spring
h, , W NOUN h". ,hn is.s, "S n" yivsr r s
chambers were about nine feet high, and their
eehoss 'n, ,, We, ' ,s vac P% nv, M,
sess Sss oo'H'"eu '"'vnsa NY W Wv .sn's
Wy Tss,. ',. ,h,u. -" 49, LA. ~,
.oo,' 49, 49, ~" .u,a', 80 80 ,.
.oot nv"s'' ~. VIZ "as no"' ~. w
49," suu w" ,,s',' ~, .n'' ,oa
sa.", s.' Nv ~ 80. ~ ,,,,,s ,L,n,,,t
ny yasa y, p ~ ~. s a "'P'
"s 49,, r'',, az, - 4, hit. .,a
80. ..,,, wv" -, -, r,,.,.n.s
~" .'vp., ny So, ,,. J ha 49,. 80
~ , ~. Y, y, 80, ~ ~ ~, - -, ~,
Sm Iv ,,s,.J az, ,sar Sa hal Ia man,
s " 49,, saa,as 49, .,...i "a
su.n.. y, p ', 80, p ~. P'' '"'"'' '""
""a o~'''' u'" "'"o ""''
The reader will find this potential argti-