The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-17
OVERLAND TO THE
LESSER SLAVE LAKE
A. Livingstone Speaks Highly
Of the Country Passed
Through.
SAYS 1T HAS A FINE FUTURE
Special to The Evening Times.

Special to The Evening Times.
Winnipeg, Aug. 17.-There is fas-
cination about the north, which, when
1t has once obtained it's hold upon the
adventurous mind. keeps him in tharl-
dom. This. perhaps, accounts for the
repeated excursions of Mr.. Alexander
Livingstone who recently returned
from the Peace river country. This
gentleman could relate things stranger
than fiction, but he is a reticent Scots
man, equally attached to the diction
concerning the still tongue.
In conversation. Mr. Livingstone
had, however, few observations to
make on the scenes of his recent
travel. In the first instance he spoke
very highly of the soil and climate of
that distinct region. and expressed his
confidence in its future.
49,, Crops Are the Finest.
Wherever the ground was culti-
vated," he said, the crops were of the
finest description. This applies to the
Prairie river settlement, about 80
miles west of Lesser Slave lake, and
the country around the Lesser Slave
: lake, where, perhaps, in all, there are
5000 to 1000 acres under cultivation;
largely oats and barley. and also some
wheat. The water in the lake had
fallen about five feet from the level
1t held during my journey there three
years ago. The water in Lesser Slave
river was also very low. The Atha-
6asca river is still navigable and a
fine steamer, with the appropriate
name of the Midnight Sun, belonging
to Captain Woods, of Athabasca Land
ing, is running from that point to the
mouth of the Lesser Slave river. A
side-wheeler has been constructed to
operate on the Lesser Slave lake, but
1t had some difficulty in reaching the
lake through the Lesser Slave river"
Referring to the Grand Trunk Paci-
nc route, Mr.. Livingstone mentioned
that the railway surveyors were work.
ing west of Sturgeon lake, to the
Smoky river and Grand Prairie. AT
Sturgeon lake." he continued, there
is good deal of prairie, and the soil
seems to be first class, judging from
the small amount of crop examined.
The Indians have some oats. and there
are quite nice patches of potatoes
all looking beautiful. Besides In
dians, there are priest and two Hud-
sons bay officials.
East of Sturgeon lake-about so
miles-is the Prairie river settlement,
where ten or twelve settlers are liv-
ing. The land is not enough surveyed,
and they have not gone ahead as fast
as they would like to do. The absence
OF survey debars them from putting
their full energy into the settlement,
as they may be improving land which
eventually belongs to someone else.
A Splendid Future.
The soil. however, is excellent, and
the crops are of the finest. They ripen
fully two weeks earlier than in Mani
toba or Alberta, owing to the greater
amount of sunlight. 1t is going to
form splendid settlement when it is
surveyed.
There is ready sale for their oats
at $3.50 per bushel. Around Lesser
Slave lake, there are probably 1000
acres under cultivation.
Fishing in the lake has been very
poor this year.
Mr.. Livingstone set out on his trip
in March last, going to Edmonton by
rail, and thence by wagon 800 miles
to Lesser Slave lake. and 20 miles to
Sturgeon lake. Then he returned to
Lesser Slave lake and came down to
AthabaSca, landing in York boat.