The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-30


Albert. The fact that the upper end of
the line is marked by considerable ,set-
tlement and Improvement, whila the
lower portion Of the grant toward Regina
is almost unoccupied, is accounted for
partly by the fact that the portion Of the
grant between Regina and Saskatoon
has been In controversy between
the railroad company and the Do
minion government until recently, and
partly by the fact that apparently, more
desirable lands lie north of Saskatoon,
and by the further facts that the cstab-
lishment of the Hudson's Bay post at
Prince Albert and the advantages of river
navigation have drawn settlers into that
country for many years. The whole tract,
however, is now upon the market. The
selections of the land company are offered
at prices ranging from 81 to $6 an acre,
on five years time. at 6 per cent interest
There is already considerable movement
of population, and no little activity
among speculators in these lands. 1t is
understood that the company sold 100000
acres, or thereabouts, while on this trip,
and fifteen or twenty -. 80 ~
further examination and selection OF
| lands.
Practical Questions.
The practical questions with regard to
| this region, of course, are those of soil,
climate, rainfall and water supply, tim
ber and fuel, transportation and trans
portation rates. AS to the character of
the soil, the growing crops are, perhaps,
the best evidence. The principal crop, of
| course, is wheat, although oats and barley
are grown successfully; the lands arc
we'll grassed, and In the older settle
ments vegetables and small fruits are
| successfully produced The official re-
ports as to the rainfall average l6 inches
for period of nine years at Prince AL
t. h1
rainfall to date has been heavier than
usual and the indications for period of
| 10 or IL years show a gradual increase
through all that region.
On the higher lands south Of Saskatoon,
where streams and lakes are less fire.
auent, water is obtained in various places
at depth of 27 to As feet. although thor
ough tests as to the depth of water have
not yet been made. Government outfits
are already on the land preparatory to
making these tests.
The Weather.
AS to temperatures, of course, 1t is not
| to be contended that Assiniboia and Sas-
katohewan are not cold countries. The
figures at Prince Albert for January 1901.
show mean for January OF AZ, a max
imum of 20, and a minimum of -465. the
! lowest temperature occurring on the first
day of January; for February a mean OF
W
-2e.4, occurring en- the 25th, of that
month; for April mean of 3S, maxi
mum Of 70, and a minimum OF 3. occur
ring on tie 9th of that9month; for May a
mean of 57.7, maximum OF 88.5. min
imum of 27.5 on the 18th of that month;
for June a mean of 54.S, a maximum or
1875 and minimum of 1915, y occurring on
| the 9Th of June. Qu.Appelle and Regina,
at the south end Of this region, shows
slightly higher temperatures. The eleva-
ton of Regina is 1885 feet. There Is a
rise between Regina and Saskatoon of
several hundred feet, and then decline
to 1,432 above sea level at Prince Albert.
| The official reports for 1901 show
January OF that year to have been a calm
I:month, with plenty hof snow and good
roads. For April the report is spring
backward, but trees budding and seeding
commenced; for May, seeding about al
finished and vegetation we'll advanced.
for June, "crops progressing favorably
and rain every day at Prince Albert or
in that vicinity" The seeding season
seems to be but little later than that in
the Red River valley and this year much
earlier on account Of the excessive rains
in the upper valley Of that river In our
own state. Under ordinary conditions the
stage Of the wheat plant at this time will
probably show little difference between
the two localities, although this year the
wheat in the Saskatchewan valley Is con-
. ! siderably further advanced than it Is be-
tween Grand Forks and Winnipeg.
Fuel and Timber.
On the banks of the Saskatchewan river,
particularly in the upper stretches
, of both the north and south
branch, there are outcroppings OF
Ignite Of good quality and said
to exist in large quantities. This
will doubtless contribute materially to the
fuel supply, particularly to the south OF
the Saskatchewan, where there is no tim
ber. This coal is satisfactory for domes-
tic purposes and stationery engines. It
} costs IS to Sc ton at the railroad sta
! tions, but settlers are privileged to mine
, for themselves on payment OF small Zee
The lumber used in building at Saska'
toon and other points along the line Is
, from $1S to $21 or $22 thousand. Brick
: is successfully made at Prince Albert and
is used there for building purposes.
Transportation.
5 TRANSPORTATION is furnished entirely BY
the railroad. Lying against the bank al
2 Prince Albert is large river steamer
which the railroad company Is said te
r have retired from service along witl
, ! others of like character, in order to mo
/ nopolize the. traffic at that region. There
is at present but one railroad, but three
D or four Otlef lines are dlfoduy ueduSt
r for that district, and will penetrate it a
i intervals between rPince Albert and
S point half way south toward Regina
+ Wheat rates along this line range from
b 13 to Is cents to Port Arthur. Thes,
projected roads are extensions OF the g
P. R. and the main line of the Canadian
Northern, which is expected to go through
e Prince Albert and Edmonton and tn
t Yellowhead Pass to Fort Simpson on tn
d Pacific coast. Additional elevator ca
t pacity is much needed, but will of cours'
e be supplied. ~.s ~ I: .--@
Q One must not expect to find other tha
g pioneer and frontier conditions In this ia
s northwest, but the Canadian government
e while entirely separated from the church
q has provided literally for public schools
: and for the promotion of agrtcultur
e maintains a system Of farmers institute
a with lecturers on special topics who hol
# meetings in various settlements at state
n times during the year.
a Americans Arriving.
i The census of Canada shows that les
9 than 13 per cent of the people of the do
n minion foreign born. In this north
u west settlers thus far are largely foreigl
: born, consisting of Mennonttes, Gallician
g and Doukobhors. The Mennonites ant
: Gallicians, it is said, constitute desira
: BILE class of settlers. The railway station
O at Winnipeg is crowded with emigrant
: every day, chiefly foreigners, apparently
G who are to he distributed thrOughOu