Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-02
CANADIAN NORTH
WEST RESOURCES.

II
- from Collingwood the following
concerning the resources Of the north
west of Canada. and more particu-
larly of that portion lying north of the
saskatchewan, which is often referred
to as "Canadas fertile northland:"
The Canadian prairie provinces OF
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
nave nearly reached the 100000. 900
Dushel mark of annual wheat produc-
ton, and there is also being produced
yearly 100,G00.000 bushels of other
grains annually.y The tract OF country.
from which this enormous yield OF
grain is being produced is practically
confined to what has been known in
past years as the fertile belt" that
is. the country south of the North
Saskatchewan river The limit of pro-
duction In this area is very far from
being reached.
The size of the northwest even that
OF the fertile belt, is hardly realized
by one accustomed to the less extern
sive fertile areas in eastern Canada
The following is summary in part
of an account in the Toronto Globe
by a writer who spent last summer in
an exploring expedition in the north:
From Winnipeg to Edmonton is about
500 miles, more than three times the
distance from Ottawa to Toronto. 1t
has been stated that the Canadian
Northern railway between these two
points, with about 100 stations. will
have grain shipping station at all hut
two of the 100. In this area there are
now probably more than 100000 peo-
pie, and the annual increase by inn
migration Will approximate $780, 900
The size of the region lying north of
the Saska tchewan river is still less
comprehended. From the international
boundary to Edmonton is 312 miles.
but from Edmonton to the mouth Of
the Mackenzie river in an air line is
over 1900 miles, about four times the
distance from Toronto to Montreal
North from Edmonton about 400 miles
as one travels by the rivers is Fort
Nermilion, on the Peace river, where
there Is well equipped, modern. cleo
trio lighted -four mill. There is I'M
doubted evidence that wheat has been
grown about this point for many years
successfully. North from here down
the Peace river TO the Slave river and
thence down the Mackenzie river
(Which In this part might be navigateI
by large ocean Gteamships). is Fort
Good Hope, which is just outside the
arctic circle AT this place. 200 miles
farther north than Wannipeg-eXcel-
grown.
From Prince Albert on the North
Saskatchewan (Which is about 800 miles
north Of the International boundary
north 100 miles is Lac La Rouge, where
there has been a Hudson bay post and
a Church of England mission for many
years. Wheat has been grown success
fully there for a number of years ia
succession, as well as all the ordinary
garden vegetables. In the country 100
miles north OF Lake Winnipeg and the
North Saskatchewan, which the pro-
posed railway 10 Hudson bay will tra-
verse. there Is n great clay belt Ike
mat through which the Grand Trunk
Pacific runs in New Ontario. estimated
to contain at least 10000 square miles,
whore all ordinary vegetables and
hardie: grains can be grown.
There are yet other sources of
wealth. About IL years ago there was
bored ON the Athabaska, 10 miles
north of Edmonton. a prospect hole
looking for natural gas. The gas came
In such force as 10 stop the operations
and this gas well, the largest known
in the world has been burning continu-
ously ever since. Up and down the
Athabaska, above and below this
point, are remarkable deposits Of tar
sands as they are called, which II
utilized would furnish paving material
IN abundance. Moreover there are in
disputable evidence OF enormous wealth
In petroleum, which In oozing out as II
has done through centuries, has caused
these strange deposits. In the vicinity
OF the tar sands, along the Athabaskn
are also extensive deposits of salt.
where It can be taken from the surface
In great masses, pure white.
Along the bank of the lower Macken-
gle for many miles are great areas "
burning coal When the dscoverer OF
this river, Sir Alexander Mackenzie
passed down, about 1859, the same coal
was burning, and II has never stopped
sinc0.
Tho country is so large and so little
known that no one could say what hid
den sources Of wealth there may be
IN view VI the development OF Cobalt
which Is not very far from Ottawa
valley, from an unmarked spot In tho
wilderness seven years ago 20 the
greatest silver mining district IN the
world, IL Is difficult 10 predict the
possibilities OF this great uncxplored
country north Of the Saskatchewan.
Last winter IN Ottawa the statement
waa made before a committee OF the
senate, and by one well qualined 10
Judge, that I'm the land north Of Ed
monton, extending down the Peace
river, as far as wheat production IS
possible, there was a tract of country
~ foI settlement as great as that now