New-York tribune., 1870-05-21
MANITOBA.
THE NEW BRITISH PROVINCE IN THE
NORTHWEST.


which the Indians shun haunted ground On no con-
dtion will they approach It. much less land IT, for 1t
the home of Manitoba-"the Speaking God"-whose
voice they hear nightly as they camp by the lake OF
guide their fishing boats over its surface The voice
no myth. II assas not the Indians ear alone but inc
white mans as we'll Whence comes itf The supersfi'
tous Obway hears and keeps away, piousy pronounc-
ing the name Of God The Englishman hears and
examines Not the inquisitiye investigator, but
the divinity OF the place perishes ny the
invasion. Touched by the wand OF science, the
mystery Of the place IL resolved into simple hatuai
phenomenon-the beating Of the waves on peculiarly
sonorous shngle. Along the northern shore OF the
island runs low cliff Of compact fine grained limestone,
which clinks like steel under the stroke OF hammer
When the wind blows from the north the waves beating
at the foot OF the cf dash the fragments OF stone
against each other causing them 10 give forth sound
which resembles the ringing OF distant church bes 30
strong is this resemblance that the explorer Dawson
who spent several days and nights on the Island was
more than once awakened with the impression that he
listening TO chimes When the breeze subsidies ana
the waves play gently the shore low wailng sounds
spirit voices the awe-strcken Ohbway-come np from
the beach And the explorer lay his bed OF moss
covered rock at night and experienced their peculiarly
impressive" effect found very he says TO under
stand why the credulous natives should avoid the place
Naturally this island home Of Manitoba became known
to whites "Manitoba Island" The island gave its
first the lake. then to the nearest trading post OF
lament proposes the "euphonious appelaton" Of
the combined British settlements Immediately south and
east OF the lake. Whether the name and the government
that il intended to with IL will be accepted by the
settlers with without remains to be seen. In
any the American public interested In knowing
the actual and condition Of the country and
people thus rising into political importance on our
northern frontier.
EXTENT OF TIE PROVINCE
Beginning at point the boundary line of the United
States 95 from Greenwich the southern line OF the
Province follows northern lne the 10Th parallel OF
latitude to point 800 west The western boundary runs
thence due north to line Of so north, which line
forms the northern boundary Toward the east the Prov
will doubtless extend far as the western hne or
Ontario, though proposed extends no further
than the meridian OF $50 west leaving on the northern
shore of Lake Superior extensive noman'sland be-
tween the Provinces. As it stands, Manitoba con-
tans 1900 square miles. 1t includes all the settle
along the Red River and the Assinbone as far
Portage la Prairie At first the latter settlement was
not included proposed Province from the belief on
the part the Government that the settlers were averse
to being connected with the people of the Red River
country ago the settlers at the Portage set up
little republic their own calling it Manitoba. They ap-
pointed Provisional Government and refusedto be con-
nected any way with the authorities OF Fort Garry
the capital Of the Red River Settlement The dispostonof
the Canadian nmen to favor the people OF the Port
age gave way however the opposition which was man
fesed by Protestans Of Canada against the forna
ton of new Province preponderatngly Roman Catholic;
SO the boundary line carried degree west, to
bring this Protestant settlement into the Province
Though but Of relatively small area, Manitoba is des
tined soon to very important state inasmuch
as it commands the navigabe rivers and the more I'M
lakes British possessions in the In
terror of the great Northwest The country to which
this Province the key is little understood indeed
is grossly misunderstood by people generally On the
most OF maps it Is set down unexpored II not
impo n
lakes M only for the home Of beavers and water fowl
As for climate shiyer at its name, believing the
country little II any nhabitabe than Greenland or
Labrador In reality, the country thus malgned L. in
respect climate fertility Of SOIL and other natural ad
vantages fully equal to Of the most densey popu
lated portions Of Europe The territory, of which
Winnipeg may be regarded the center, is com
parable the Valley OF the Mississippi both regards
the fertility Of its soil and the great extent and gentle
slope of its plains. the Lake of the Woods the
Fertile Belt stretches thousand miles In a northwest
ery direction, comprising of the richest and most
beautiful regions in the world in which there 600
square miles Of land Of the finest quality clear and ready
the plow. The climate does not exceed in severity
that OF the greater portion Of Eastern States, while
the richness Of the soil makes it far suitable for the
home OF a numerous and prosperous community The
chief river of this belt the Saskatchewan affords navi
gable line from Lake Winnipeg to the very base %.
the Rocky Mountains-over 900 miles.
CHARACTER OF MANITOBA.
The country between Lake Superior and the Lake OF
the Woods is Of crystalline formation; is generally hy
and broken and ntersected by rapid rivers and wide
spread lakes The hills, however, do not rise to any
great elevation except & immediate border OF Lake
Superior. The watershed divide between Lake SUI
peror and Lake Winnipeg is only 40 miles from Fort
William the former lake, and 900 feet above it, West
ward from the divide to the Lake Of the Woods the
try little known except along the line OF commnca
ton through the rivers and lakes where several fine al
luval valleys found the extensive OF which is
that Of Rainy River. which flows from Rainy Lake to the
Lake OF the Woods distance of miles, through beau
tully fertile country studded with maple, birch poplar
and oak and containing at least 900 OF the very
best SOIL The lakes and rivers OF this region present
long reaches Of navgabe water the principal OF which
extends from Fort Francis Rainy Lake the Western
extremity of Lac Plat, distance Of miles Dense
forests the whole Of this region. At Rainy Lake
there is population Of 1900 Indians. Wild rice grows
in the greatest abundance throughout whole OF this
district while on the islands Of the lakes the Indians
have cultivated maize from time imnemOrial, never
knowing it to fail, circumstance which goes to show
that the climate Of this rugged portion Of tho
Province Is not entirely unfavorable to agricultural
operations
From the Lake OF the Woods TO Lake Winnipeg the
Winnipeg River presents succession of lakeike
and fOaming cataracts making descent
Of 800 feet In leo miles, It's shores generally rocky
but back from the river the country is comparatively
level snd we'll suited for farming purposes. From the
Lake OF the Woods, Mr. DawsOns route 10 Fort Garry
passes through Lac Plat, but navgable channel
"a miles to the western extremity Of the lake. then
through 30 miles Of wooded country generally level and
finally for 30 miles level prairie; the whole dis
ance from Lake Superior to Fort Garry being about 500
miles, 800 OF which are open to steam navigation.
The Red River country differs widely physical char.
acter from that just described. Instead Of the skes
with their wooded islets the clear running streams and