Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-11
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.
VAST WHEAT FIELDS, LEVEL AND GREEN
Outing With Badger Press Voyageurs
Covering $500 Miles in Seventeen
Days-WarmIy Received by
Canadians.

indeed will be the head OF the editor
who went on that trip if he does not
remember to the end of his days the
bighearted, courteous treatment ac-
corded the eXcursionists on their way
across the continent. The broad ex-
panse of rich rolling prairie, dotted
here and there with substantial homes
of sturdy frontier farmers, the vast
fields of waving grain stretching for
miles and miles on every hand, then
the extreme contrast as abruptly wind
ing, turning, putting and painting the
train shoots through solid mountain
masses, were sights the editors little
expected to greet them in panoramic
succession through that faraWay coun-
try to the north and west. Of course
they will remember it all, and now it
devolves upon them to tell as best they
can something of what was seen and
enjoyed, not merely mentioning ban
quets, receptions, trolley excursions
and the like. of which there was an
astonishing number. The resources of
great wheat belt whose residents are
reaching out for new settlers and more
neighbors is what we ale expected to
REPORTER readers and of being rele-
gated to the retired list by patient
public that has troubles of its own, this
paper will have few columns devoted
each week for short time to por-
trayal of a trip through Dominion
provinces, the mountains, British Col
umbia and coast cities.
Two preceding issues of the REPORTER
have already given enough information
to the interested reader to carry him
with the writer from St. Paul 422 miles
northward until the international
boundary line was crossed at p. M,
Friday, July %. A row of small iron
posts set about four feet above ground
is the only indication that snch a line
exists, and like many other boundary
lines, there is in evidence neither
change of climate nor change in topog-
raphy to point that this is the United
States or that is Canada. A traveller,
| bent on inquiry might wonder what
foolish man had started TO build a fence
with these posts, for, as is we'll known,
there are no fences to be seen for hun
dreds of miles across the wheat
stretches. Said inquiry would lead to
the answer, "You have crossed the
boundary, that's all"
The generous treatment and courteous
welcome which the editorial party was
destined to receive all along its journey
| began right at this boundary line. Mr..
Andrews, mayor of Winnipeg, and
members of the Canadian Press asso-
citation boarded the train and presented
each person with a small British flag
and a very rich and handsome gold
plated souvenir badge from the domin-
Eion government. Sixty miles from the
boundary Winnipeg was reached, and
the party was at once escorted to the
Manitoba hotel for dinner. The Nine
teenth band played several British and
American airs during the repast. After
dinner all were invited TO the balconies
of the hotel, the fire department was
called out for inspection and the cleo
trio cars were taken for an excursion
about the city and parks. The electric
train was profuse with its decorations
of stars and ripes and British jacks
entwined, while streamers on one side
bore the significant motto, 'Welcome
to our American cousins. The Pen is
Mightier than the Sword" and on the
other side, "British-American Alliance.
The Anglo-Saxon Race Forever" The
pleasures of the visit in this thoroughly
busy and progressive city ended with a
banquet at Edison Hall in River Park
served bv the ladies of Winnipeg, fol-
lowed by dance until 1890. A happy
feature that prolonged our day of sight
seeing in Winnipeg was the fact that
the sun did not set until eight O'Clock
in the evening and darkness held aloof
until long after nine.
ToASTs AT BANQUET HALL.
From Manitoba Free Press-When
| Justice had been done to the v1ands the
mayor of Winnipeg rose and expressed
delight at having present so intelligent
and so good looking crowd They
were, he said, all the more welcome
because they had brought, he believed,
their fairest daughters with them. 1t
had been the intention to give an in
telleCtual treat, but had since been
| decided TO cut out the speeches ard
give dance instead. (Applause.) He
could not, however, allow the oppor-
tunity to pass without expressing the
sentiment of all his people in this hour
of trial, they sympathized with the
| United States in their struggle. Their
soldiers were fighting we'll; we were
proud of them, but it was no wonder,
considering the stock they came from.
II eproposed one toast, the Queen and
the president Of the United States,
coupled with the names of r. W. jane
son, NJ. P. for Winnipeg and Lieutenant
Governor Baensch of Wisconsin.
The toast having been drunk, Mr.
! Jameson, as representing this city in
the parliament of Canada, said he had
very great pleasure in synpathizing
with the sentiments expressed by the
mayor. He had found the sentiment
of the people to be unanimous in favor
of the American nation in the struggle.
The feeling was that they were engaged
in the cause of humanity, in war that
was just and honorable. Therefore he
had pleasure in being here and welconl-
ing the visitors to the city and country
He recalled the fact that Lord Salisbury