The Penn's Grove record., 1896-10-09
THROUGH CANADA AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA,

NAHCoTTA, WASHINGTON Sept. "a.
Mr.. EDIToR-Once more 1 will en-
deavor to give TO you a description OF
u trip across the continent, beginning
as nearly as possible where my friend
and companion, Mr.. G. D.. Shannon,
closed with his previous letter to your
paper. He left you at Moose Jaw, Civ.
ing you a description of the place,
name, etc. From here the line steadily
rises, on the eastern slope and winds
through an irregular depression to the
basin of the Old Wives Lakes, which
ale extensive bodies Of water having no
outlet. The northern most of these
lakes is reached at Chaplin, and the
country is t~reeless, az far as the eye can
scan it, or for over 200 miles TO the
Cypress Hills. but the soil Is excellent
nearly everywhere. Roaming Caravans
of Indians are noticed all along the
route from here on to the Pacific coast.
Prairie Schooners covered wsgons1
also dot the prairie land at intervals,
with their occupants. Gold seekers,
slowly %prodding along, like a band Of
Gypsies, sometimes seen In Divers
woods.
The prairies about and beyond Old
Wives Lakes, are marked in all direc-
tions by old Buffalo trails and SCARED
and pitted by their ''wallows," while
the bones of the vanished bison can be
seen piled up at different stations
awaiting shipment. Occasionally an
antelope may be seen, but moro often a
coyote and prairie dog or golfer is notic-
ed perched upon his launches or seen
diving into his nest, u small hole In the
ground. Everything is so vastly differ
emit from anything we have on our side
of the continent, that 1t is pleasing to
the eye, and you tire in looking,
for there is something new, ever 10
sameness as you fly along from one
point to another.
AS the train came to a halt at Rush
Lake, | inquired why there was better
buildings on this rancho, and I was in
formed that it was the second Of the
Canadian Agricultural Company's
farms containing about 10000 acres,
with some Of the finest soil that could
be found upon the American continent.
1 have now covered $50 miles and ar.
rive at Gull Lake station, where all
passengers alight and knock and ham,
mer at the skulls of a huge heap of
Buffalo bones, to find some relic, in the
way of teeth to keep in memory Of the
occasion.
From here to Vancouver, b. q. lies
the most interesting, picturesque, bean-
tiful and grand natural scenery that the
eye of man ever baheld. / cannot do
justice to its granduer, but will only
your readers a brief description Of some
of The beauties which surround you as
you pass through and over the Rockies.
1 will pass quickly ON leaving the rich
valleys between US and the Cypress
Hills and bring you with me to Medi-
cine Hat, altitude 2,150 it,, population
1000, which is a railway divisional
point. where we stop for 30 minutes,
and as usual are presented with, Mr..
Shannon's, mounted monkeys or I
should say police. Leaving here we
have quite a high mountain TO climb,
and for the first time We find the train
being carried along by two engines with
one in the rear and the grade being 30
steep and the train going so slow, that
/ jumped off and gathered some wild
flowers as we mounted the mountain
side. Here we reach the high prairie
plateau, which extends, gradually ris-
ing to the base of the mountains. AS
we roll on into Filly, which Is only .
small station, interest grows more
intense, for from this station the higher
peaks of the Rockies are discernable,
$50 miles away. Flying OH from n
scene to another we reach Glelchen,
another railway divisional point, alti
tude 1900 it,, here the Rockies come
into full view. q magnificent line Of
snowy peaks extending far along the
southern and western horizon. At
Lanedon the railway falls to the valley
of Bow river, and a few miles beyond
Shepard the river ID crossed by an iron
bridge and the grand old foot hills r
reached.
We now climb the mountain side,
which at times seems almost or quite
impossible, and come to Calgary. alti-
tude 3,3SS it,, population 1850. This
is one of the most important as we'll as
the most handsome places between
Brandon and Vancouver, which has
recently been created a city. It is
charmingly situated on a hill grit pla-
teau, overlooked by the white peaks Of
the Rockies. 1t is the center Of trade
of the great ranching country and the
chief source of supply for the mining
districts in the mountains beyond.
twenty-five miles from here brings Vi
well within the rounded grassy foot
hills and river benches or terraces.
Extensive ranches are passed in rapid
succession, great herds of horses in the
valleys below, thousands OF cattle upon
the terraces, and flocks Of sheep upon
the hill-tops, all may be seen at once.
making a picture most novel and inter
esting.
fro BE Continued
PUBLIC LETTER.
" a.