The sun., 1891-05-31

the safe side. weighed out fifty pounds but on
about two inches more required to make the
proper bulk"
In corroboration OF those specific state
ments. I find In the Mission Field OF Jan. 2.
London monthly publication OF the Society
for the propagation OF the Gospel. an abstract
OF report OF the Rev. W. Bompas Bishop Of
the Church OF England In the Athsbasca and
Mackenzie districts-his diocese comprising
the entire Arctic water shed Of British America
of which the following extracts are per-
tinent: The excellence Of the land In tho
Peace River country for farming purposes Is
we'll known: the soil is rich and productive.
and the climate most salubrioua A mis-
sion station is established at Fort vermilon
under the charge Of the Rev. Arthur Garrich.
and q church is fast approaching completion.
Other mission stations have been startedat dif-
ferent parts OF the river. and in 1878 mission
farm was begun which the Bishop hopes
will in time obviate tho necessity of procuring
oil the supplies OF flour. &C.. from Red River.
the expense OF which, from heavy freghts. is
80 great that every bag OF -four by the time It
reached the missionaries north OF Athabasca
costs upward OF e." Equally explicit is the
testimony Of the Rev. ]. Clut. Catholic Bishop
OF Athabasca, before committee OF the Sem
ate OF Canada. A forcible and unique tllustra-
tion OF the far Northwest range OF the wheat
plant In central Canada was o suggestion Of
Mr.. James J. Hill OF St Paul. President OF the
Great Northern Railway. before a committee
OF the Minnesota Legislature. that limo of
1000 miles from Chicago to Forts Vermilion
and Dunnegan In tho Peace River Valley. where
wheat and other cereals have been success fully
grown by Messrs Garrioch and McDougall.
was the radius Of circle which enclosed the
Rarnuda Ialanda IN fhA he Hul ~
Mexico. and San Francisco on the west
will now endeavor. In few words, to indi-
cate tho causes. In my judgment for this re-
markable northwestward extension Of cereal
production:
Frsl-Reduced AHitude-Ths Union Pacific
Railroad crosses tho dome of tho continent
near latitude 40'. with its highest elevation at
Sherman Of 5000 feet and with an average of
5000 feet for fifty miles eastward from the
Rocky Mountains. This piedmont on the route
OF the Northern Pacific. In or near latitude A..
In Montana. Is reduced to an average OF 1000
feet; at the crossing OF the Canadian Pacific
hallway. on the south branch OF the Saskat-
chewan. In latitude 51'. to 5000 feet: In the
Athabasca district. latitude 65'. to 1000 feet.
ard In the valleys OF the Peace and Lard
Rivers. latltudes 56" to co.. to 1000 feet-untll
subsiding enthusiastically. the plains connect
with the navlgable channel Of the Mackenzie
at an elevation OF only 800 feet above tho Arc
tic Ocean. This difference OF altitude 10 equi-
valent to 13' OF latitude. considered climatic
ally.
Second-Paciac Hlnds.-Ths Utah basin. q
plateau 800 miles In width. at an elevation Of
5000 feet between the Rocky Mountains and
the Sierra Nevada. making total mountain
barrier Of 1.400 miles. excludes tho moisture Of
the Pacific winds from the central areas OF the
continent. while the interooking valleys OF the
Columbia and the Missouri on tho route OF the
Northern Pacific Kailroad aud OF tho Fraser
aud the Columbia rivors with the Saskatche-
wan on the route OF the Canadian Pacific.
facilitate the ingress and ameliorating intu-
ence OF the Chinook. or west wind Of the Pa
cific coast to the eastern piedmont OF Mon
only In latitude 55' to CO. that the remarkable
physical effects occur OF the Peace and Lizard
rivers rising In the western slopes Of the
Rocky Mountains and breaking through it's
barrier on their courses to the Mackenzie.
after interlockinR at their sources with the
Skosna and the Stickeen.
Third-Sunmer Moisturs-As Q corollary to
the foregoing facts OF reduced altitude and the
INTERPOLATION Of the Pacific moisture. am sat-
isfied that there Is no necessity OF Irrigation
north Of latitude So. In the north 6sskstchs-
wan. Athabsscs. and Peace Rivor districts
there Is much evidence that the summer rain
falls. without being excessive. still exceed the
average OF Manitoba and Minnesota
Fou E-SOiar Heat-On this subject avail
myself OF a very Intelligent statement OF Prof. @.
N. Dawson OF the Canadian Geological Survey:
In addition TO the favorable climatic condi-
tions Indicated By the Thermometer. the length
OF tho day In summer In the northern latitudss