New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-23


| RIVER CLIMATE.
RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, Aug. 1.-THE
Winnipeg episode Is over and now twisting. and
| otering and humping way back toward the 10th
parallel Owing to the exertons OF Consul Taylor and
tho hospabe Manitoban gentlemen. every hour OF
| brief visit prohtaby disposed Of In advance
Nothing was required OF us except to submit to good
guidance, keeping our ears-and mouths frequently
open. The days programme opened with visit 60 his
! Exceency Gov. Archibald, in Fort Garry at an hour
which, elsewhere. would have been unseasonably early
The gray walls and bastions imposing in evening
light, proved to be only available for Indian warfare
Inside there very peaceful and thriving gardens,
comfortable official residence ample barracks and the
| store houses Of the Hudson Bay Company.
On Gov. and Gen. Hawey Of Connecticut devolved the
duty of speaking for party /, for one, rejoced
find gentleman courageous enough TO express himself
| in the simplest and most fitting terms and in ord-
airy conversational tone. Gov Archbads reply was set
to the key and the reception which might easily
have been formal aud resOmc, became at cordial
and uncOnstraned. The Governor had just concluded
tat the Old Fort % miles north of Winnipeg treaty
with the saulteaux Assnbon Indians, the basis
OF monthly compensation varying, a. was told, from
So TO S. for each family 1t Ia believed that this arrange
ment which will be faithfully carried ont will prevent
any trouble with the native tribes in the province OF
Manitoba.
Some Of our party eager to see the great Indian camp
at the Old Fort succeeded in finding vehicles TO convey
them thithcT the of had in prospect excursion
up the banks OF the Assniboin for the purpose Of in
spectnr the farms and fields of the Scotch halfbreeds.
But first We thought II well TO call Bishop Tache at
the Catholic Mission Of ST. Bonfacc the Eastern Bank
of Red River.
Tho Mission buildings comprise college for boys an
episcopal residence. cathedral of moderate dmcn-
sons and convent in which there IL school for girls.
The substantial houses the gardens and cumps OF shade
trees in strong tconrast TO the baroness and eoniu-
sion OF tho unfinished village of Winnipeg. On the one
side there to be Tcpose; on the other restless
labor here the worlds most active forces, there abne-
CATION OF the world.
Bishop Taeb6 met us at the outer gate and en-
tered his charming garden, where pnks, glynowers,
and sweetpcas blOseOmcd all sides small brass band
OF alfbreed scholars the portico struck ringing
salutaton We cordially welcomed by the other
ptres andreceyed in elegant paror. Tho converse
tOn both I'm English and French related principally TO
the great central eons OF British America, which the
Bishop has xpored for 90 years pasthe Saskatchewan,
Mackenzie, and COppermne Rivers, Athabaska and
Slave Lakes ami HudsOn's Bay. The rich farming coun-
try extends westward from the Red River to the Rocky
Mountains and northward following the lines OF mean
temperature. had now tho first direct evidence that
wheat has raised in the Saskatchewan Valley Our
Consul in spite Of his boundcss enthusiasm, has not
| yet visited that region.
To there is something ludcrous in dotting maps and
nterlardng speeches with the latitude OF Paris" or
Venice Jerusalemas II that had anything whatever
do with American climate The latitude OF Venice
is found Minnesota; but where are the gondoas san
Marco, the olive orchards OF the Brcnta, the distant
Alpsi London and the Saskatchewan River are nearly
line; but shall see the lex and the cedar OF
Lebanon UP there where white birch and the hardest
frs are at homei No amount OF latdudna condolences
soften these rigorous winters diversity these monoo-
nous landscapes add fictitious charm to the few
which Nature Is able to spend The plain truth Ia good
enough for all practical purposes This region IL not at
all the Arthy Paradise OF Sam Slick; but, wherever
wheat be raised wherever oak-trees grow, man
live and thrive.
The Bishop took up to the observatory the top of
his palace The radius of the landscape was
about ten twelve miles-a dead level OF fields, small
farm-house and gray aspcnwoods, except in the east
where there a distant elevation of perhaps fifty
feet Lake Winnipeg. which were not to see ION ac-
count Of shallow water and various dcays) commences
as marsh: all its southern portion is shallow, with low,
tame shores There is little scenery before reaching
Fort Alexander at the mouth OF Winnipeg River, on the
eastern shore. The main body Of the lake is more than
200 miles long, andihe mouth OF the Saskatchewan must
be nearly that distance from Fort Garry by water 1t is
Journey OF two weeks and half to York Factory, on
Hudsons Bay; while the return trip, on account or the
rapids and portages, occupies nearly six weeks.
With the music of the band and the chimes OF church
bells left St. BOnface crossed the Fye ana set out
on our drive up the Assnboin Gov Bross Mr. Bromley,
and myself the fortunate guests OF Dr. Schultz one
OF the stanch ManltOban WIZ Hosl
Rles rebellion. We had fearfully sultry day, with
mutcrng thunder all around the horizon. The loan,
black as ink was cracked with theheat, yet little
moisture converts it INTO greasy, sticky mas which
resembles taow rather than earth Mychlef desire was
TO see the wheat-ieds, and was presently grained
Wheat oats barley, and potaoes-it was difficult to say
which fourshed most opulently. Such an array OF
bearded heads such huge green clusters OF vines,
have seldom The average yield of wheat IL 50
bushels TO the acre and this frequently was soemnly
assured upon fields which have annually produced
wheat crop, without manure for FORTY years! Inc latter
statement seems almost incredible. supposed hrst,
that the nundaon Of the Red River might here produce
the phenomena OF Egypt; but the people say that the
country il not flooded more than once In ten years
At Mr.. McKay's farm we found wonderful garden
flor the latftudeJ in addition all the hardy veget9
bes which were beautiful to behold there were melons,
so,patoes and others belonging to southern elmes.
Berries OF all kinds abundant AID fne; but saw no
fruit except the small wild plum, nor could learn that
APPLES and cherries have ever been successfully Intro
duced The Swedish and Russian varieties ought to
thrive here If the dryness OF the winter cold Is not 100
hostile an eement-as 1t may well prove TO be.
Our drive OF eight or ten miles up the river gave us
picture Of Winnipeg farming, which Is only reproduced
in the other parts Of the settlement The farms extend
westward for about miles and down the Red River Tor
80 miles The Scotch and their hali-Dreeh descendants
have followed the Prench-Canadan habit OF building
their homes together on the r'erDahK Whhe ther
lands stretch behind for two or three miles, In narrow
s,rins There "a a remarkable difference between the
| French and Scotch halfbreeds The former are more
than half Indian and show signs OF areverson toward
the pure Indian type the latter are apparently three
fourhs English, become good steady Farmers ana eh
ceent citizens and their children exhibit an increase
| OF the stronger element Nel'hci H!Di'" " ' fl
| than the original races.
The repors OF the Red River Winter agree at all points
Fort Abercrombie Pembina, and Winnipeg The ex
IRENE OF cold is frozen mercury-or 40 below zero Inc
ordinary nowfalI ia about two feet, the air Is pure and