Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-05-26
The Red River Rs gion.


tits well known that the Hu,!-
z-.f's Bay Company is about to re-
Unquisi1 its vast North American
possessions to the British Crown.
'This viii make the Dominion o.
Canada, in point OF area, the fifth
country in the world Much OF the
IIadsoH's Bay region has been sup
p8-ed to be nearly worthless OH ac-
.aant of its extreme northern lati-
tlsie. The isothermal lines, howev-
ar Indicate 4 niiIder climate than is
Eaurd III the aple latitude on tlIe
eastern part Of the Continent. The
prospect of speedy release from the
rfasp Of the great monopoly has
weakened a new interest in its devel-
= apmcnt among the settlers in the
hest portions cf it, and has aroused
throughout the Dominion of Canada
iii enthusiasm in favor Of its eXplor-
alton and development something
similar to that among our OWE peo-
ptr for the mining Interests of the
Far West The particular point of
interest now IS the Red River region
living north OF Minnesota and Dako-
Ia and extending northward to Lake
Winnipeg. Red River, from which
tire region takes its name, rises i'm
Minnesota, and running north emp
ties into Lake Winnipeg, receiving
ii. principal tributary, the ASsini-
boin, at Fort Garry. This lake is
about three hundred miles long and
Il the eastern outlet of the vast ter
ritory which lies in the valley ofthe
River Saskttchew and extends
sOuthward through the fertile valley
oftheA ssiniboin To the boundaries of
theUAited States. Recent discoveries
show that this region, in its soil. eli
mate and productions, does not diff
fer materially from that of Canada.
and that il Is equally adapted Tor col
ouization But it has ever been the
policy Of the IIudson's Bay Com
pany To discourage immigration, and
thus preserve their possessions III am
uubroken wilderness 1t has long
bcen known that the Red River
country is rich in the elements of
agricultural wealth, but late deyel-
opmcnts prove that il i also rich i'm
some of the most important miner
ais From an article in a territorial
journal, the Nor Wester, which We
Hui quoted i'll the Toronto Globe. We
gather some encouraging facts in re-
gard To the minerals Of the Red Riv
rr region. ON the Assiniioiu. about
pUe hundred miles from Winuiprg.
Jud also on the Mouse rivera branch
ntthe As-iniboiu, are surface iudica-
tiou- of very valuable coal deposits.
fine Prnbina river at certain points
las worn its way through a solid
stratum of coal some eight or ten
q,.et in thickness. which is above tine
ssater mark. This coal field Is sup
posed to extend to theSaskatchewau
r.sef, and occupies an immense area
ut country. The coal iS bitumiaou,.
and has long been used i'm that vicin-
tt} for forging. Further north, on
ihs tlIahaSC<t river, iISphaltunI or
Iutueral pitch i deposited in such
quantities that ii is only necessary to
dlg Il pit few feet below the surface.
amt it Viii be quickly filled with bit
E4meH. There are valuable salt
-If,nS7 on salt river, a tributary to
Peace river, and also Fairfield Mis-
-iau There i no doubt an album
iauce Of salt for the wants of dense
population. Gypsum, or plaster of
Paris, occurs in ellis ON Peace river.
FIumhago Of an excellent quality has
te.u found on the shores fAthabas-
r.t lake The discoveries thus far III
thl- hitherto terra iRc0gHitu are ne
ry>-arily the results of imperfect eX-
pieTRtion. but sufficient ia known to
Justify the steps which are 10 bc tax
IA for opening il by railroad and
naEigation to euterprisin@ and thrift
tE settlers. At present, the most
feasible route To the region is
through Minnesota but from Cana
da, the most direct route il from
Lake Superior through the chain of
lakes as far as the Lake of the
Woods, thence To Red River over q
wagon road, a distance ofabout nine
y miles. The whole distance from
Lake Superior ~ this route 464
miles but id cannot be made prac-
tlcahle until the dams, canals and
roads contemplated 10y the British
Government are completed, and
even then, we doubt whether it can
ever oc made a profitable route for
lhe carrying of frcights, owing to
want ot continued navigation. As
saon as the Northern Pacific rail-
raai i completed the Red River
country viii doubtless be put in il
rect connection with our Northwest
vfu railway system, and il will then
Ia am addition Of no iuconsiderable
+ Importance 10 the business of the
Northwest. The traffic last year
from that country, lay way OF II.
Paul. amounted 10 - coo COO, while
that 10y way OF Fort York and Hud-
sons Bay is from one and half 10
three millions of dollars YEARLY
.t.hlrago Republican,.