Evening journal., 1909-09-22
Mr.. MACLEAN WRITES
OF CANADIAN TRIP

Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
Dear Sir: Left Calgary at o'clock
this evening. enroute for Bann. ar
irving there 10 o'clock same evening.
Calgary has a population Of about
10000, and is the principal commercial
city between Winnipeg and Van
couver.
Farming is carried on extensively
east Of Calgary for many miles. The
works of the irrigation canal of the
Canadian Pacific Railway, east of this
city. are said to be the largest OF their
kind in America. The water for the
canal Is obtained from the Bow River,
a fairly wide stream OF unusually
clear water The city also gets its
drinking water from this river.
Calgary As a well-bullt. substantial
looking city. There are splendid busi-
ness blocks and public buildings built
OF Calgary stone" This is a lime
stone and Is easily quarried. When
under the surface Of the ground. It can
be cut with a iaok-knlfe. but when
exposed 20 the air IL hardens and
makes good building material. II gives
a building a very substantial appear
ance.
In Calgary, as IN other western Cam
adian cities. they gamble in real
estate lt Is entertaining to listen TO
real estate dealer tell OF the value
OF vacant lots. on this subject. he
is a monomaniac. When duh times
strike n community like this the price
OF real estate goes down below zero.
and when good times occur tho price
goes up 10 one hundred and five and
then some. In the shade. Speculation
Is very detrimental TO the proper and
substantial settlement Of this western
country.
on The main street Of the city, about
three squares from the business center.
boot-blaclx has ''holc In the wall"
with a hve-foot frontage. The rent
is seventy-five dollars a month. and he
thinks It is reasonable. a shoe shine
I'm any part OF the city is ten cents.
The barber shop charges are rs cents
FOR a shampoo. 30 cents Cor n hair cut,
10 cents for a shave and 90 cents for
a massage.
The hotel charges are reasonable.
Good board. with a private family,
costs from So to $3.50 a week
/ IAnlN ANihUiN 70 bAiill Alt AtiMohu
/ follows the valley of the Bow River.
/ BY way OF diversity. the road is on
one side OF the river for while and
/ then on the other. The road-hed Is
excellent and one feels lust as safe as
travelling between Washington and
| Wilmington. A splendid observation
car is put on at Calgary and run
through TO Vancouver.
Between Calgary and Banff. there Il
nothing of special note. II is up. up
but the ascent appears TO be gradual
Banff Is $500 feet above the sea level
IL IS a summer resort and has sew
eral good hotels The G. y. r.. HotC
here is one OF the best anywhere.
; Is built in a valley surrounded b
magnificent mountains. several
which are said to be 1900 feet hig
The valley is covered with tail your
pines and other trees. The carriai
drives through these mountains a
very enjoyable.
n Tho hot sulphur springs here are
r great interest 10 tho traveller. III
;, temperature OF the water coming OF
q Of the earth was. to-day. one hundre
b and fourteen degrees. It was almos
too hot 60 let the hand stay IN IL 70
= half a minute. Sulphur bathing /
3 one OF tho features Of tho resort
Surrounding Banff. Is the Canadiai
National Park Of $500 square miles
j the largest park in the world Il EN-
J braces part Of the valleys OF the Bow
Spray and Cascade Rivers and severa
OF the highest mountain ranges Herr
good views OF tho mountains arc easil,
accessible. as there are many we'll
built carriage and bridle-paths. tn
. latter reaching 10 the tops OF SOM
! of the mountains. For picturesqu
views and for health. this place Is m
: doubt unexcelled in the world. Her
b. people come in large numbers eac
year from the principal centers OF tn
: United States, Canada and England
J Ninety Der cent. OF the arrivals to-da
q are from the United States.
Thursday / leave for Revelstolle. on
D hundred and eighty-two miles west
D here. a days trip through the mour
. tains.
Respectfully,
. r. j. Maclean.
Banff, Alta, Canada, Sept. H.