Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-29
rhe Grent Nnrthwest.

the emigrant from the Eastern States was
the wilderness which has now grown. up
into pOpulous States, alive with industry,
and full Of the hum and olatter of expen-
sive machinery. The HGreat West" then
included only the regions adjacent to the
Mississippi, and bordering upon the great
lakes-the more distant wiIds Of the up
per Missouri and the Rocky Mountains
had hardly been pressed by the foot Of the
adventurous trapper. But the march of
civilization has tended steadily and re-
sistlessly westward until the overland
route to the Pacific has became one Of the
great lines of travel, and the explorer and
surveyor has made way for the lumberer
and settler clear across hecontinent. We
are especially reminded of this surprising
progress by document compiled by Mr..
James Taylor, special agent Of the Treas
ury Department, and laid before Congress
in reply to q resolution to the House Of
Representatives, requesting the Secretary
Of the Treasury "to communicate any in
formation in the possession of his depart
ment which he may judge to be in form
suitable for the consideration Of the House.
upon the relations between the United
States and Northwest British America,
particularly the central districts of the
Red river of the North and the Saskatche-
wan" From tAis we learn Of the vast ex-
tent of territory yet undevelOped and un-
employed, except by the fur hunters who
are auxilaries Of that gigantic monopoly,
the Hudson's Bay Fur Company. The esti-
mate made by Mr.. Taylor shows that there
are in that portion Of British America,
west Of the lakes, which. by soil and cli-
mate are suitable for agricultural settle
ments, an area Of 100000 square miles,
enough to fora twelve States, each the size
of0hiol Mr.. Taylor estimate is as follows:
VancOuv,.r,s Island, 10000; Frazer and
ThOsnp,son rivers, 10000; Sources of Co
lrmE;iia, 10000; Athabasca district, $4,000;
ssckatchewan, Red river, AssinibOin, SC,
$50, 900; total, 1920 square miles. In
these vast regions, where Lord selkirk,
half century ago, declared there was
field enough for a population of 10000, 600
souls, there are now settled, exclusive of
the population attracted to the Pacific
coast by the gold discoveries, only some
1000 OF 5000 people in and about Fort
Garry.
Itmsy be said that this region is too far
North to be habitable and capable Of culti-
ystion. This is a natural suppositiOn, con-
sidering its latitude, but it must be borne
in mind that the line of temperature is not
identical with that Of latitude. On the
contrary, the temperature steadily.rises as
we 20 west on the same parallel until reach
ing the Pacific. A place on the Pacific, in
the same latitude as Montreal. has temp
erature eight degrees above that Of the
latter place. In these northern regions
grain is grown successfully and grazing Is
excellent. The Red Deer and Swan rivers
it is said, drain country Of rare fertility,
with rich prairies and heavy timber. The
late Governor, Sir George Simpson. des-
cribine a portion Of it says" we travers-
ed a beautiful country with lofty hills and
long valleys full Ofsylvan lakes, while the
light green of the surface, as far as the
---..la -.As ah aasr,rnad n foreign tinge,
under an uninterrupted profusion Of roses
Hpa RgsiRalsT s. sl Teu sEGR ars saRs Of The
ish territory, as described by Mr. Taylor.
The report is very interesting as showing
what the country is capable Of producing,
but our pioneering emigrants should not
too hastily conclude that it is the country
for them. There is much to be done before
it viii be an inviting field for the settle
ment Of families. 1t is not yet even open
ed to the public, no roads have been con-
strueted and these regions are almost as
inaccessible as Greenland. No provision
has been made by Government for bounty
lands or for homesteads to settlers. The
western lands of the United States offer
vastly superior inducements to the indus
triOus emigrant. In them he may find 8
free homestead for himself and his children
after him, and will share in all the benefits
which accrue when the Territory becomess q
State. The United States Government is
guaranteeing an access to market and a
greatly increased value for these lands by
the construction of the Pacific Railroad. 1t
will be many years before anything like
equal advantages are offered the settlers
in British America.