The National tribune., 1898-11-17
BY GEN. JOHN POPE.

it and takes on its own character. that NJ
one would hesitate a moment to decide tina
the Missouri is the main river, the Mis-
sissippi its tributary.
The Red River of the North is the distinct
/ i've feature of northern Minnesota and tht
Manitoba Province, and is, besides, q river 81
peculiar and so different from any other in
that region that it is worthy of brief descrip
! ton.
1t is the main, if not the only, considerable
stream within the limits of the United
States which flows to the north or has any
connection with the Arctic Seas. 1t has its
source near the head of the Mississippi, and
its small tributaries overlap those of the
Mississippi at many places, so that by a
portage of few hundred yards boats can
pass from the waters of the Arctic Sea to
those Of the Gulf OF Mexico or of ST.
Lawrence.
For some distance from its source the Red
River runs northwest through numerous
lakes, the largest of which it Ottertail Lake,
about 10 miles long and one or two broad.
From the point where the Red River leaves
the lake until it joins itself to the Bots des
Sioux, at the present site of the town Of
Breckenridge, Mimi, it was called Ottertail
River, but it is the main fork of the Red
River
HOME OF THE RED MAN.
Below this junction the river changes its
character altogether. Passing out of the
gently -undulating country of small lakes
and swiltly-runnings streams connecting them,
it turns abruptly to the north and debouches
into the great flat PLATA which stretches for
100 miles TO the north with scarce an in
equality on its surface.
Through the midst Of this vast level plain
the river holds a general course due north,
with nothing to mark its presence except
the strip of heavy timber which borders its
banks f5r half mile on each side 1t runs
through this fertile prairie more like ditch
or canal than river and, with the exception
of small ripple above the month OF Goose
River, Is without sandbars or shoals as far as
the British line, tie parallel 49, BeyDnd
that it passes over almost continuous rapids
to Lake Winnipeg.
To look down from the comparatively
elevated lake country on Its upper waters
upon this vast plain cf the richest soil in the
world, covered with the greeneSt grass and
adorned with myriads OF wild flowers with
the great canal running throag1 the mid lie
OF 1T inteISccted every few miles by streams
from the cast and west, each with is fringe
Of heavy woods, the first feeling is one Of
surprise not 10 see village steeples and great
mansions incident to such q landscape.
In 1919 this plain of nutritious grasses
was the home of the deer, the elk and the
buffalo and being the debatable ground OF
the great nomaiic race of mounted Indians.
the Sioux, who live on the plains toward the
Missouri, and the Chippewas who are Indians
Of the woods and footmen wholly, war
parties of each of these tribes often in
lest it and have made it the scene of bloody |
lights and massacres.
They hunted the game only for food and |
lie reckless and shameful destruction which |
followed the advent of the whites and which /
las destroyed or driven from that region the
great herds of buffalo which had in large
part furnished the food for the Indians and
,alf-bIeeds was wholly unknown to their
history and abhorrent to their practice. |
But the vast plains on both sides of the Red |
siyer still remain for the occupation of man,
md are so fertile and so well adapted in
oil and climate to the production Of wheat
hat even now the yield from the partial
settlement of only small part of them has
Affected the markets Of the world.
GROWTH OF A COLONY.
Scotch colony had been planted by Lord
'eikirk on the left (west) bank of the Red
River about SO miles north of what was after
ward determined to be the boundary between