Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-13

edmonton, N. w. T., Sept. 2, 1904.
| ar1i trying to find the frontier, but
in this Canadian Northwest it always
seems to be little further on. at
least have not been able to catch up
with it yet. arrived in Edmonton last
night. 1t is the most northerly railway
point in America that is connected
with the railway systems of Canada
| and the states. 1t is near the ter
minus of the Calgery branch of the
Canadian Pacific railway. say near"
because strictly speaking the Canadian
Pacific road ends at Strathcona on the
south side Of the Saskatchewan river,
and it is two miles down the high bluffs
across the bottom and up the bluffs
again to the city Of Edmonton. But
no city in merica has finer natural
location When reached Edmonton
with its fine hotels, substantial bust
ness blocks, beautiful homes, numer-
Gus churches. splendid schools, a
Methodist college, system of water
works, electric lights, two daily papers
and indeed all the Accomplishments of
the best civilization, | asked in some
establishment, where IS the frontier?
Il really had supposed that Edmonton
was the jumping-off place Of American
civilization. A Hudson Bay man an
swered me, and said:
IF you will drive on hundred and
five miles to Athabasca landing and
then take one OF our steamers plying
on the Athabasca river and go down
(Which seems like up" for the river
runs north) couple of hundred miles,
you will probably come we'll up with
the beginning of the frontier"
l asked if it is possible that there
are any people living north Of Elmon-
ton excepting Indians and trappers.
The reply was that there are not only
people living there, but there Is a
big roller process flour mill many
miles north Of Edmonton to grind the
wheat raised by the people living in
that section, which is as yet untouch-
ed by the railroad Edmonton is ap-
proximately $50 miles north of the
boundary line between the United
rectly north though still little farther
west, of Salt Lake City or Helena in
the United States. And yet Ed
monitor is in the same latitude as Liv.
erpool, England, while st. Petersburg
the capital of Russia, is III latitude co,
some 500 miles still farther north.
I pursued my inquiry of the Hud
sons Bay man little further, by ask
ing. HAS your company many posts
(that is stores) north of here?' He
answered by showing me a hundred OF
more indicated on the map, the farth.
est one probably being at Fort Nc
Pherson, at the mouth of the Macken-
zie river. which empties into the Arc
| tic ocean. This fort. as we'll as 9TH
ers on the river is reached one time
per year by Hudson's Bay steamer,
plying on Great Slave lake and the
Mackenzie river. By lake and river
Fort Mcpherson is fully two thous-
and miles from Edmonton, and from
/ twelve hundred to fifteen hundred in
a direct line. Indeed visit to this
section of the world convinces one that
the Canadian Northwest is the biggest
country in North America. Just what
its full possibilities are for the future.
no one can tell. Certain 1t is that
! have met enthusiasts who predict m ost
wonderful things, claiming that this
region is capable of supporting many
millions Of people. and that a few
! years hence the world will see line
of railway running direct for dis
lance of a thousand miles or more
| from Edmonton to the rich mining re.
gions in the Yukon. 1t would seem to
the casual visitor that the people Of
Edmonton just at this time are dis
counting future possibilities prett.
fully. Property on the main street is
being held at from two hundred tt
i five hundred dollars per front foot
and one corner lot on which is now
being constructed a fine bank building
recently sold for sixteen thousand dol
lars The people of Edmonton claim
and it would seem properly SO, tina
!, that city is the natural gateway to al
of the great Northwest as we'll as hav
ling a vast farming district tributary tc
it on the east and south, with great
cattle ranges extending clear to the
mountains on the west. The Canadian
. Northern railway is building line
from Winnipeg to Edmonton, and will
run trains into the latter city mex
; season.
!. Rich Farming Country.
This will bring Edmonton within 80
: miles Of Winnipeg. the commercial
! metropolis of Western Canada, and tn
people of Edmonton proudly announc
:, that Edmonton will then be forty mile
nearer Winnipeg than Calgary. whic
/, latter point is Edmonton's only riva
J in this Western country. In additio
to the Canadian Northern railway,