The New York herald., 1870-01-15

Guiding the Cheyenne PembIna Red FORK, Roseau
and Assnnibolne rivers. Its whole length from where
1t enters British territory from the United States to
It's mouth at lake Winnipeg Is 40 miles, and all
along good portion or this distance are scattered
the settlements formed within the last few years.
Equally rich and attractive districts border the AS
sinnibone and saskatchewan rivers and few settle
ments have been formed in them, but most OF the
emlgrants to RuperJs Land have located themselves
along Red river.
THE CLIMATE
OF this country s remarkably mid for so northerlya
latitude. Mr.. Lorln Blodgett in his standard work
on the Climatology OF North America y has pointed
out The existence OF vast wedge-shaped tract ex.
tending from foryeight degrees TO sixty degrees OF
northern latitude, ten degrees Of longitude deep at
the base, which may be denominated the winnipeg
basin. 1t contains 500 900 square miles or habtaDle
land and is subject to few ana 1nconsiderable vara
tons OF climate. This author gives summer OF
Cumberland House, on the Saskatchewan river, IN
latitude lfty-four degrees A Canadian engineer,
MI. simon Dawson, from personal observation
compares the climate OF Fort Garry to
that Of Kingston. Professor Hindes, In
an elaborate report to the Canadian gov
ernment, places the mean temperature or
Red River for the three summer months al 81 10,
nearly three degrees or heat more than Is necessary
ior corn while July has four degrees Of heat more
Blodgett claims that the whole SASKATCHEWAN Valley
has climate very nearly as mild in iis annual
winter mean OF fifteen degrees and an annual mean
OF iorty-lour degrees, representing the climates OF
Wisconsin. Northern Iowa, Michigan, Western
Canada Northern New York and Southern New
England.
In report Of the Treasury Department upon
.sForegn and Domestic Commerce Of the United
states,h Senate document, June 20, 1854 occurs tue
following summary
The country northwest Of Minnesota reaching from Sci
a. % ss dcrses on the longitude q Degrees and 70 M
iude DO degrees on the Pacific coast as favorable grain
% Nsa hs and and
accurately traced through For. Smelling and the
sofa this whole district British X@srss Is threaded in al
directions BY the naygable water lines which converge
Lake Winnipeg
The winters commence about the 1st OF December
and spring at the 1st OF April The break up
ABOUT the middle OF April and seed time commences
soon after. The growth OF vegetation Is very rapid,
harvest commencing the first week In August.
Wheat, barley oats, rye potatoes, turnIps, beets,
carrots cabbages tomatoes melons and all ordinary
vegetables attain perfection in the region above IN
dicated, and q large variety OF fruits including
pums cherries, currants, crauberyles raspberrles,
Strawberries, &C., aDornaa.
TUE POPULATION
OF the Red River Country numbers about 15 000 ana
Is dvided among French, English, Scotch Cana.
dian, Americans and halfbreeds. Fort Garry, at the
junction OF the Assinnbone and Red rivers, Is the
headquarters OF the settlements, and was until re-
Gently, the headquarters OF the fur trade OF Rupert's
Land. Winnipeg Is q small town. about q
quarter Of mile from Fort Carry The greater part
OF the French reside between Pcmbina and Fort
Garry, on both sides OF the river, and also on tho
Assinnboine, as far as Portage la Prairie. The
English are ON the Assinnboine, principally on the
north side or the stream as far as the White Horse
Plains about haf way between Fort Garry and Port.
age Ia Prairie well miles this side or the
latter place and distance beyond IL towards Lake
Manltoba they are also on the Red river, beyond
the scotch settlement, far as eight miles the other
side OF the stone Fort, or Lower Tort Garry. The
scotch settlement extends IRON Winnipeg town
about six or seven miles down the Red river Alter
passing Lower Fort carry about eight miles there Is
Tue indian settlement extending rs far as Lake Win
npeg. The residence, '.5ilver Heignts,n engaged
anu prepared for Mr.. McDougall as the Governors
mousse, Is about five miles from Fort Garry.
THE FRENCH HAIF-BREED5
are mostly given to hunting, fishing and trading for
aHvennooo. They are quick and excltabe class
OF people. AS rule they are law-abding and
honest In thelr dealings. Where any OF them have
mad educational advantages they profit by them,
being quick to learn and intelligent at grasping
IDEAS. Wnere they pay attention to agriculture
they generally turn out good, thrifty farmers. But
farming ~ o general thing Is distasteful them;
tneir wants neng few they are easily supplied;
and trained as most OF them have been from infancy
TO hunting trapping, trading, tripping, fishing, &C.
| their nomadic habits have become part and
parcel Of their nature. correspondent
| writing from Fort Garry says:-.Tne French
are noted here for their love OF gayety
and fun; their homes are models OF cleanliness.
| Altogether they are people that the longer you
know them the better you Ike them. They are brave
% , RYE; AsE religion " the Roman Catholic and