Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-02-13
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
An Editor Tells What He Knows About
1t-A Good Many False Stories.

IVA OOOO many T81B0 SCOrAoSs
CHICAGO, February 5.-Editor Rowe,
of the Winnipeg Times, is in the city.
Last evening, in speaking of the stories
about the secession of Manitoba from
Canadian control, Mr.. Rowe said there
was nothing in it. There had been
some dissatisfaction among the farmers,
due more than anything else to the late
fall frost which had damaged the crops.
1T was claimed" said MIR. Rowe, ''that
the railways and elevators had a menop.
oily and the freight charges were too
high. The Canadian Pacific is now be-
ing operated from Prince Arthur's Land
ing, nearly opposite Duluth, to the foot
of the Rocky Mountains, a distance of
1900 miles, the western terminus being
Calgary. This is, of course, the only
road being operated in the province and
people thought it was monopoly.
There have been strong expressions,
and some few said they would look
across the border for aid. In order to
meet this view of the case the domin-
ion government, having the fixing of the
rates in their hands, advised the COM
pany to reduce their rates, and the COM
pany acceded to their request and re-
duced their rates on wheat from 29 cents
bushel to 10 cents laid down at Port
Arthur. The result of the reduction
was that the shipping of wheat was
rapidly increased and farmers were not
obliged to sell to the local dealers any
longer.
The great agitation now is an outlet
on the Hudson Bay side. From Winni-
peg to Hudson Bay it is $50 miles. A
line of road to the bay would give the
farmers q short outlet and short route
to Liverpool. From the old port on
Hudson Bay to Liverpool it is no farther
than from New York City to Liverpool.
The great hope is to find that the straits
through which the vessels must pass
will be open at least three or foul
months in the year. The northwestern
prairie is of such an extent that
without proper outlets wheat grow.
ing will be failure. The north termi.
nus of the proposed road would
be 1T. Churchill. on Hudson Bay.
A meeting was held in Fargo, D. T., in
dorsing the movement on account Of the
aid it might be to farmers in that sec
ton in the way of shipment. The peo
pie of the province of Manitoba have
made suggestion that the local govern
ment offer subsidy for the building o
the road. 1t is to cost between twenty
and thirty millions of dollars. The peo
pie of the province have memorialzet
the dominion government, now in ses
sion at Ottawa, to place sum in the es
Inmates sufficient to fit ou feet to ex
plore the straits in order to ascertain th'
exact number of months in the year tina
they are navigable for steam vesse|e."
"The passenger rates on the Canadian
Pacific siuce the reduction are less thai
those in the western states or in the do
minion. Recently the Canadian Pacifi
directors have .rearrapged their passen
ger rates from Montreal to Winnipeg
and they hope to take immigrants owe
their line from Montreal to Winnipeg,
distance of about 2, 900 miles, for SO. sc
This has attacted the attention of th
real estate owners in Minnesota and d.
kota to such an extent that, it is cu1
rent]y reported, these dealers will eve
place immigration agents in Winnipe
this year in oleer to get the Immigrant
into Dakota and Minnesota."
There is great excitement in the sc
t!ement at Kicking Horse Pass in tt
Rocky Mouutsins over the finding
gold there. Mr.. John Egan, .gener
superintendent of the Canadian Pacif
Load, told me that he had not the lea
doubt that before SIX months the
would be $4,000 miners in the camps
this locality. The deposits are said
be very rich. How much of the ye
can the mines be worked? d? About eig
months. Why, there at the foot of Il
, Rocky Mountains now there is no snow