The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-09-23
MANITOBA AND wihNIpEG.

1hat province OF the DomInIOn OF
Canada now known as Manitoba was
originally limited to less than $4,000
miles But its authority is rapidly
extending westward ana northwest
ward, along the valley of the Sas
katchewan; and when Manitoba is
now mentioned it implies vast area,
as large as Illinois, Iowa and WIS
consin. 1t embraces ali the territory
around Lake Winnipeg, the entire
valley of the Assiniboin river, all of
tile valley of Red river north of the
American line and all the lower valley
Of the great Saskatchewan, a river as
long as the Ohio and navigable for
hundreds of miles in the direction OF
the Rocky mountains, where It's sour
ces are, in latitude from so to 55 de
grees north. The course of Red river
is due north, from about latitude 45
degrees north, in Minnesota, and the
greatest length of the river is in that
State. not more than 100 miles of II
being in Manitoba. The river de-
bouches into Lake Winnipeg at the
extreme southern end of the lake.
after receiving the Assiniboin from
the northwest, about twenty miles
from the lake. At the junction of
these two rivers, is situated Winnipeg
the capital town of Manitoba, in
latitude. so degrees, or just about
700 miles further north than Phila-
delphia, and 300 miles above the lat
itude OF Montreal. But the climate
is not more rigorous in winter than
that OF Quebec. For hundreds Of
miles all around the city Of Winnipeg
the country stretches out dead level,
treeless, save on the river banks,
where the cottonwood and willow
are found in rather stunted growth.
The soil is rich black loan, with a
subsoil of white clay or marie, and as
far as tested it produces immense
crops OF wheat, oats and such other
cereals as can be raised in North
Germany and the Scandinavian coun-
tries. Wheat on the new lands
yields from thirty to forty-five bush
els per acre, and oats from fifty to
sixty bushels. The native prairie
grasses are excellent, and the valley
of Red river has long been famous as
the summer resort of the largest
herds of buffalo. To the hardy races
of Northert Europe this reigon will
prove an agricultural Ell Dorado in
the near future, and it is now attract
ing as much attention and emigration
from the Eastern provinces OF the
Dominion as Dakota or Texas from
the United States.
The population is assumed to have
doubled within the last two years,
and though the census returns from
that part OF Canada are not yet re-
ported, there is a strong conviction
that the returns for 1881 will more
than double the entire population in
1880. In 1871 it was officially stated
at 2,22s, and at shat time, the place
now known as Winnipeg had no ex
istsnce, save as fort and for trading
establishment Of the Hudson Buy
company. The papers of Minnesota
now state its population at l. 900, IN
the early spring OF the year, growth
of nearly 10000 in one year. And it
is confidently spoken Of as "the future
ST. Louis of the North Lots for
building purposes on the business
streets are selling at prices ranging,
according to location, from $500 to
5000 per front foot, and business is
on constant "boom." The influx Of
new corners is confined to Canadians.
Th ousands Of Americans from Mime
sofa and Dakota are floating down
the Red river into Manitoba. There
are already three railways in oper
alton from Winnipeg, and steamers
are multiplying on the lake aud the
rivers. 1t is said that by another
year seven railways will center at
the capital, and many others are in
embryo projection. The cost of CON
struction, owing to the dead level of
the country, is little more han the
cost of ties and rails, and it is the
cheapest railway region in the world.
Here, then is the bud Of a new life
bloom for the Dominion. Winnipeg
is to become in a few years greater
and more populous city than Mont
real, with its railway system rival
ing that of Chicago, and its wheat
fields stretching eastward to Lake
Superior, westward to the foothills
of the Rocky mountains, southward
to the MinEesota line, and north 20
the divide which separates the waters
of Hudson bay from the river system