The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-15
more MOUNTED POLICE
SERVICE IN NORTH COUN-
TRY TO BE INCREASED
Made Necessary BY Expected
Influx of People Into The
Oil Fields
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch. ]

lNoSoSialSu IitSS III
Edmonton, Alta. April 13.-Police
service in the north country will be
increased in view of the expected
influx into the oil fields during the
spring and summer and rigid police
regulations will be enforced, it is an
nounced here. A new detachment of
the Royal Mounted Police is being
established at Fort Smith and all
other detachments in the north are
to be considerably strengthened.
, There will be a total force of two
officers and twenty five msn sta
toned at various points from Fort
McMurray to Fort Norman inclusive,
and all travellers into the Mackenzie
basin this year will be carefully
checked up.
Every effort will be made to facili
tate the working out of laws and
regulations in the north, according
to Major Jennings, superintendent of
the police, and to that end arrange
ments are being made to augment
the force all along the route TO the
oil fields. Strict adherence to the
rules already laid down is insisted
upon by the police. No travellers
win be permitted to enter the Mac
kenzie territory without a permit,
whether travelling by steamer, air
craft or other means.
One of Essential Features
One of the essential features of
the trek north, according to Major
Jennings, will be the matter OF re-
turn transportation. and provision
For linn
season will be insisted upon before
anyone will be allowed to enter that
\ part OF the country. For this reason
no transportation outside high pow
er boats, capable Of upstream navi-
cation under their own power, will
Re allowed past Fort Fitzgerald.
This will shut out all contemplated
travel by canoe and open boat.
Carrying of firearms into the ter
ritory also is forbidden. Ingoing
parties will not be allowed to take
revolvers and pistols under any cir
cumstances, and rifles will be per
mitted only to those persons who
have satisfied the authorities that
they are QUILTED to remain in the
pointed out, are not necessary for
the north country, but will be per-
mitted to persons who have licenses
covering Alberta and the northwest
territories.
Since the summer will be a closed
season under both the provincial and
territorial regulations, however
game licenses, it is pointed out, will
be Of little practical value to travel
ers and the carrying of even shot
guns, therefore, will be discouraged.
Bona fide residents in the north will
not be subject to these inbibitions.
Provision For Medical Needs
Some provision for the medical
needs of the north is desired by the
police authorities. and a report has
been made to Ottawa recommending
the establishment Of hospital units
at two or more points above the
bounds of the province. Major Jen-
nings hopes that his plan of posting
medical orderlies at Fort Norman
and elsewhere will be, approx ed AL
ready police headqarters here have
applications from men who served in
the medical corps overseas and from
nurses who are willing and eager to
go north, but it is not expected that
nurses will be needed at present.
In line with the policy of strict
enforcement Of regulations a new
police boat is being built at Edmon-
tor for sevice on the Mackenzie.
and will be ready to 60 north with
the opening of navigation. This boat
probably will patrol the river be-
tween Fort Norman and Fort Smith
and the police in charge will exam
inc all camps along the river and
give necessary attention to the en-
forcement Of law and order.