Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-29

in the rapid increase of titled acreage
which has run up western Canada S
annual crop from o0,G00,0A0 bushels in
1900 to l40. 10000 in 1909.
Train service to Edmonton has
brought into the world % new and
lusty towns. from Edmonton east t.
Wainwright including Ardrossan. Un-
cas-, Deville, Tofield, Shonts, Ryley,
Poe, Holden. Bruce. Nestor, Meishen,
Philips. Einsella. JunkinS, lrma. Haw-
kins. Fabyan. From Edmonton west
Spruce Grove, Stony Plains. Carvel,
Dutiield. Wabamlm, Falls, Gamford,
HarsNep Isfield Jarrow. Keston, Lea
man. Mackay, Niton, Otley. Peers,
Rosevear, Thornton, Yates.
The region of romance between ed
son and Prince Rupert is not un"X-
rlored. in fact has been reconnoitered
time and time again, not only by the
surveyors and by engineers inveSti-
eating the traffic possibilities there for
the government which guaranteed
bonds to the amount Of Is per cent.
of the cost of the mountain section but
which guaranteed the remaining -
per cent. and the Grand Trunk Pa
cific officials who are building this
daring project One report states
ut is probable that no oth"r area in
North America can equal this portion
of British Columbia in her natural re-
sources. Where there is no agricul
tlIre and pasture. there is mining or
lumbt ring to be developed. and where
there are none of these. although they
often occur in one district, there is at
least trapping and hunting. 1t is in
truth II northern iIldOrado. which flu
ture events are bound to verify. Lying
as it does. far to the north. the climatic
conditions have in the past been sup
posed to be extremely severe during
the winter season. but the fallacy OF
this Impression is rapidly becoming
known on account of the reverse con-
ditlons actually existing. due in large
part to the proximity of this territory
to the Pacific Ocean and the influence
of the Japan Current. Fefore the
House of Commons Agriculture Com
mittee recently Mr.. Elihu Stewart
Dominion Superintendent Of Forestry
in testfyins as to the resources and
conditions concerning the northern
country. having particular reference.
however. to the district adjacent to
Great Slave Lake. which lies many
hundred miles still more northerly of
where the Grand Trunk Pacific will
be constructed. said that the growth of
vegetation in the Mackenzie Basin was
the sun iii the summer he
ing visible for about twenty hours out
Providence, near Great slave Lake.
on the Mackenzie river. about $50 miles
north of Edmonton. Mr.. Stewart said
he saw wheat in the milk. potatoes in
flower. peas fit to use, tomatoes. tur-
nipS. rhnharb. beetS, cabbage, onions
and other garden vegetab Ies. The
bad been ripe there for
some time. and the people had cur
rants and gooseberries. To Illustrate
the heat, he said at Fort Chipwaya,l
1t had been 100 degrees in the shade
for several days and nights. Indians
coming from Alaska boundary to meet
the steamer Wrigley had lost two dogs
from the heat in the Arctic Circle He
thought systematic exploration would
show surprising amount of good
extending down from Slave
Lake to Peace River. Along the Mac
kenzie river. spruce grew clear to the
shores of the Arctic Ocean. There were
aspen, white poplar, balm of gilead
md birch growing as far north as
Fort Macpherson. Mr.. Stewart said
hat on Slave River he had passed a
)ank of burning coal about twenty
niles in length near Fort Norman, |
which Mackenzie had reported burning !
n 1889.
All the United States railroads to the
Pacific, with their stupendous climbs
which reach TIC feet to the mile on
he Great Northern, Northern Pacific
md Union Pacific. 175 feet on the Atch-
son. Topeka & Santa Fee and 52S on
he new Western Pacific. ere outdone
~ the gradient secured by the Grand