FROM THE FRANCIS PARKMAN MEMORIAL FUND For CANADIAN HISTORY Established IN 1908 — & " "Tº JAN 16 1919.” INDEX MAP OF MANITOBA. INTRODUCTION - - - LAND EXAMINATION (with diagram) SURVEY, System of - - - - STATIONS AND DISTANCES M. & N. W. RY. CONDITIONS OF SALE - - - - - AGENCIES OF M. & N. W. RY. LAND DEPARTMENT LAND OFFICES, DOMINION GOVERNMENT WESTBOURNE, Municipality of, (maps and reports) OSPREY rt it. LANSDOWNE rt in GLENDALE rt -- ROSEDALE th th ODANAH ir -- CLAN WILLIAM in rt - SASKATCHEWAN in -: - - HARRISON it. rt - BLANCHARD ++ rt STRATHCLAIR ir rt SHOAL LAKE in a 11 - ROSSBURN th 11 BIRTLE th th SILVER CREEK rt it. - BOULTON rt rt - - ELLICE th th RUSSELL •r it. - SHELL RIVER th ir - LANGENBURG AGENCY in YORKTON th th - - - - EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS, &c., about the M. & N. W. Ry. country ILLUSTRATIONS 4Parm near Wapid City, opposite v Homestead in 7p. 13, A'ge. 18 ir - View of Shoal Lake th v View of Birtle rt - Z View of Binscarth Farm it. v. Three Views, showing settlers' buildings rt * Plans aſ house built by Colonization Companies th PAGe. 41 i 80 26 39 46 53 70 ‘ĀVAATIV H NH3ILSAM-HL HON CINY V8IOLINY W HO GINI'I NO ‘ALIO (II，IVH HYGIN IN AIY） 4. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. and the Commercial Colonization Company between Langenburg and Yorkton. Prince Albert, the objective point of the Railway is an old and well-settled district, and the town of that name on the North Saskatchewan River is assuming importance as a centre of trade, situated as it is on a navigable river, and surrounded by magnificent country. It is unnecessary to quote from the many authorities who have written in favor of this stretch of country, as the settlers them- selves are the best proof of its adaptability for farming, and they are in the main eontented and well to do. The crop of 1887 was unusually good and has quite established the fact that while the M. & N. W. country is unsurpassed for grazing it is also an excellent grain raising country. The country is divided into Municipalities as fast as settlement progresses sufficiently to warrant it, and these Municipalities are now working in an organized manner to induce immigration, and are always ready to welcome and assist newcomers to their districts. Towns and villages are springing up along the line of the Rail- way and the Company offer at all points a liberal rebate to purchasers of lots for building. Capitalists will find plenty of opportunities for the safe investment of money to aid the development of this country. Mills, warehouses, stores, &c., are required at many new points along the Railway, and afford a good return for the capital invested. The Sportsman will also find it to his advantage to pay a visit during the shooting season to this Northwestern country, as there is excellent shooting everywhere, in the woods and on the prairie. From the detailed information contained in this book, under the heads of the various townships, the intending settler can select for himself a location or district, and thus avoid the waste of time and expense necessitated by travelling all over the country in search of land. LAND EXAMINATIONS, M. & N. W. R. Qaţe wº *sº --- º S$6 ----------------------------------------------- - y Earazminer ................. *...}. 3.N_ -------------------------------------------------- Sec.º. Tº... .Y." (3 & W.\º JMer. It will be observed that each forty-acre lot is marked with a number expressing its relative value, judged by the following rule; No. 1, best obtainable; No. 2, good; No.3, fair; No.4, poor; No. 5, worthless; the fractional parts 14, 2}, etc., being used where doubt exists as to which division the tract properly belongs. The relative value is not what each of the forty-acre lots bear to each other, but when placed in contrast with land A No. 1 in every respect. 8 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. Nortºrer. –3] — º 33 34 35 º | | | l 30 29 28 27 26 25 19 20 21 22 23 24— t P | ; —18–H17 16 15 14 13 - ſ 8 ! 10 11 12 | | 6 — 5 4 3 2 1 ~- scº Uſ"Tº: E C. SYSTEM OF SURVEY. The country is laid off in townships six miles square, containing thirty-six sections of 640 acres each, which are again subdivided into quarter sections of 160 acres. The sections are apportioned as follows: OPEN FOR HOMESTEADS AND PRE-EMPTIONS: 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36. BELONGING TO M. & N. W. RAILWAY : 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35. HUDSON's BAY COMPANY; 8 and 26. SCHOOL SECTIONs: 11 and 29, Reserved by Government for school purposes. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY. LANDS. 9 INTENDING SETTLERs should get Through Tickets to one of the stations on the line of the M. & N. W. Railway, and thus secure the advantage of the Through Rate from the point of departure. Stations and Distances on the Manitoba and North-Western Railway. MILES. PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - MACDONALD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 WESTBOURNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 WoODSIDE . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 GLADSTONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 MIDWAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 ARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 NEEPAWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 BRIDGE CREEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .". . . . 70 MINNEDOSA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 RAPID CITY (via S. & W. Railway). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 BASSWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 NEWDALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 STRATHCLAIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 SHOAL LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 KELLOE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 SoLSGIRTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 BIRTLE . . . . . . * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 138 Fox WARREN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 BINSCARTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 RUSSELL (on Branch Line). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 HARROWBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 LANGENBURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 To find distance from Winnipeg, add to above distances 56 miles. –0– For tickets and full information as to the country and how to reach it, apply to any Steamship Agent. Pamphlets and other books descriptive of the country, its Seasons, Crops, &c., sent free on application. 10 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. Manitoba and North-Western Railway Company CIF C-A-N-A-D-A-- O L A N D R E G U L AT I O N S. O The lands within the Grant to the Railway Company will be disposed of under the following regulations: PRICE. The price of land, may be obtained from the Land Commissioner at Winnipeg, and is regulated by its location and the quality of the soil. TERMS OF PAYMENT. If paid for in full at the time of purchase, a deed will be given, but the purchaser may pay one-sixth in cash, and the balance in five annual instalments, with interest at six per cent. per annum. GENERAL CONDITIONS. - All sales are subject to the following general conditions. 1. All improvements placed upon the land purchased to be maintained thereon until final payment has been made. 3. All taxes and assessments lawfully imposed upon the land or improvements to be paid by the purchaser. 3. The Company reserves the right to take, without remuneration, a strip or strips of land 100 feet wide, to be used for right of way of the Railway or any of its branches, wherever the same shall be located. For further particulars apply to A. F. EDEN, WINNIPEG, 1st January, 1888. Land Commissioner. o AGENCIES OF THE M. & N. W. RAILWAY LAND DEPARTMENT. Settlers can purchase land from the agents of the Company at the following places, but the sales require confirmation by the Head Office, from which office all receipts for pay- ments are issued : GLADSTONE–Lands in the Municipality of Westbourne. ARDEN.—Lands in the Municipality of Lansdowne. NEEPAwa—Lands in the Municipality of Rosedale. MINNEDOSA—Lands in the Municipalities of Odanah, Clanwilliam, Saskatchewan, and Harrison. SHOAL LAKE-Lands in the Municipalities of Strathclair, Shoal Lake, and Rossburn. BIRTLE-Lands in the Municipality of Birtle. BINscARTH-Lands in the Municipalities of Silver Creek, Russell, Shell River and Boulton. o DOMINION GOVERNMENT LAND OFFICES. MINNEDosa—Little Saskatchewan District, Townships north of and including 13, Ranges 9 to 22. IRTLE-Birtle District, Townships north of and including 13, Ranges 23 to 2nd P.M. REGINA-QuAppelle Districts, Townships 10 to 23, Ranges 1 to 30 west of 2nd P.M. Touchwood—Touchwood District, Townships 24 to 31, Ranges 1 to 30 west of 2nd P.M. Note.—Maps showing settlement, list of lands open for entry along the line of the Manitoba & North-Western Railway, and all other information can be had by applying at the office of the Company, 622 Main Street, Winnipeg. PART OF MUN+ełFA+FFY. ſº *selodiha 119 Posh.0fficeſO. *g. M&N-W-RY Lands for Sale. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 11 REPORTS ON TOWNSHIPS, COMPILED FROM DOMINION GOVERNMENT SURVEYORS’ REPORTS -AND- MANITOBA AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY LAND EXAMINATION REPORTS -And- CORRECTED UP TO DATE BY THE FARMERS OF THE DISTRICT. -º-º-º-º-º-º- MUNICIPALITY OF WESTBOURNE. This Municipality consists of the whole of the County of West- bourne, Rges. 9 to 12 north of and including Tp. 13. It is a well- known district for cattle raising and contains several large cattle farms, notably those of Perley, Sanford and Lynch. The M. & N. W. Railway runs through the southern portion of this Muni- cipality. In this Municipality the stations of Westbourne, Wood- side and Gladstone are situated within its boundaries. There are six post offices and twelve school houses in this district. Church services are held in the school houses throughout the Municipality. It is fairly well settled, but a great deal of good land is still open for homesteading. Lake Manitoba forms the eastern boundary of the Municipality. In this lake fish are very plentiful and the fish indus- try has now assumed large proportions, the headquarters of this trade being on the White Mud River. The big grass marsh is situated in range 11, and is about five miles wide by twenty long; but a good system of drainage has been inaugurated by the Provincial Govern- ment, which is readily draining this marsh into good hay lands. The Town of Gladstone, its principal place of importance, is situ- ated on section 29–14–11. This place claims a population of 300 and supports a newspaper, the Gladstome Age. It has English, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, a public school, a grist mill, two grain storehouses, several general stores and two hotels. This is a 12 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. point well known for shipping cattle and grain, and the beef from this district commands a good price. Further particulars regarding this Municipality will be found in the Westbourne Municipal Guide, which is to be published in March, 1888. This Municipality is also a good district for horse-raising, and Phillips' ranch has been very successful in breeding horses. Splendid hay; good water; plenty of timber. TP. 13, RGE. 9-The White Mud River runs through the northern quarter of this township and is bordered with oak. The soil is of a light, loamy character. The station and P.O. of WESTROURNE are on section 25 and school house on S.W. 4 of section 26. TP. 14, RGE. 9.—This township is well suited for agricultural purposes. The timber is chiefly small poplar, through which frequent fires have passed. It is in general valuable only for roofing houses and firewood, but towards the north there is some fit for lumber. The railway touches the extreme south-west of the township. TP. 15, RGE. 9.-Lies on the western shore of Lake Manitoba. The soil appears to be mixed with shale and gravel. Along the Big Grass Marsh there is a large quantity of good hay lands. The southern part of this township is good. The east part is broken by Lake Man- itoba. In the northern part is quite a forest of really first-class poplar. Lakeside school house is on S.E. 4 Section 20. TP. 16, RGE.9—The soil, although shallow, is of very good quality especially on the lake shore where there is some excellent hay land. Along the southern and part of the western outlines first-class poplar is to be found in good quantity. The greater part of the rest of the township is covered with dead poplar, with willow brush, together with occasional bluffs of green poplar. In the west there are numerous bad muskegs. TP. 17, RGE. 9.—Is similar to the preceding township in soil and timber. TP. 18, RGE.9.—Lies on the western shore of Lake Manitoba. The soil and timber are the same as the two preceding townships. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 13 TP. 13, RGE. 10–The north half is marshy, the south half is well settled. The water in Squirrel Creek which flows through the south westerly part is very good and the land on its banks is fertile. Squirrel Creek school is on S.E. # of Sec. 9, and Wellington P.O. on S.W. 49. TP. 14, RGE. 10.—This township offers great inducement to the settler. Its soil is in most places a very rich and deep black mould resting on a marl subsoil. There is plenty of timber for fencing and fuel. For building purposes, good poplar and oak timber may be obtained along the banks of the White Mud River. The railway runs through the south half of this township, and Woodside Station is on Section 16. There is a P. O. at same place. Woodside school house is on Section 10. TP. 15, RGE. 10–The western part is broken by the Big Grass Marsh. The remainder is land of second-class quality, near the marsh being alternate ridges of gravel and long narrow muskegs. To the eastward it is better, but however, not first-class for farming purposes. Near the north-east corner there is some fine poplar timber. TP. 16, RGE. 10.-The surface, soil and timber are the same as in the foregoing township. TP. 17, Roe. 10.—Like the other townships in the vicinity, is composed of bluffs of green poplar and small patches of hay land and of poplar woods which were burnt over some few years ago. To the west is the Big Grass Marsh, along the edge of which is a large quan- tity of excellent hay land. The soil, though perhaps not superior arable land, would be well adapted for pasturage. TP. 18, RGE. 10–The soil is shallow and there is a good deal of marsh land in this township. Abundance of poplar timber. TP. 13, RGE. 11–The surface is gently undulating; the soil, sandy loam. Good water can be obtained by digging. The township is well timbered. Silver Stream school house is on S.W. 4 of Sec. 31 and Golden Stream school house on S.W. 4 of Sec. 34, and Golden Stream post office on N.W. 4 of 35. 16 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. MUNICIPALITY OF OSPREY. This Municipality is situated in the County of Beautiful Plains, and consists of Tp. 13, Rge. 13; Tp. 13, Rge. 14; Tp. 14, Rge. 14; and the E Tps. 13 and 14, Rge. 15. This district lies just south of the M. & N. W. Ry. and its market town of Neepawa is situated close to the north-west corner of the Municipality. This Municipality is noted for its grain growing qualities, the grain from this district being of particularly good quality. It has two post offices and three schools, is well watered by the White Mud River, well wooded, and contains good hay lands. TP. 13, RGE. 13.—The surface is broken by hills and the township is well wooded and well supplied with water and hay. Soil—sandy loam. TP. 13, RGE. 14.—Is well wooded. Surface principally sand hills. There are a good many swamps. TP. 14, RGE. 14.—The soil is of an inferior quality. There are some valleys of second class land, but in the south the township is broken by sand hills. The surface partly prairie and partly timbered with poplar and oak, in some places of good quality. There are many swamps, but no streams. Drumfries school house is on S.W. 4 section seven, and Union school house on N.E. section thirty. EAST-HALF of TP. 13, RGE. 15.—Soil of good quality sandy loam with some groves of poplar. Two branches of the White Mud traverse the township and water is readily obtained by digging. Oberon Post Office is on N.W. 4 of section 3, and Osprey Post Office on S.E. of section 34. EAST-HALF OF TP. 14, RGE. 11–Is well watered by White Mud River and its branches. The soil is generally of a rich sandy nature, excellent for the growth of grain and root crops. About one-third is wooded with poplar and other kinds of wood of small growth. Neepawa school house is on N.W. 4 section 27. PART OF yº QWy MUN+c+PAL4+Y. * º * W. ~ % ! - % - 2. --> - G)* º z * * Z {º} Y. º º º: -Exº~ | ** Tº - º-º-º-º- º: * ----- - Z 2% ºa º - - *" -*** -** . wº. * %, § 8% º 2/ - wº Z * . . º **) ; : T N-2 - * - - *.*. * La: * 2: "Sº 73 - º º º-- 16 14 + School Houses. N w opost offices. Hèº %Ms NW Rylandsforsal. 1:5 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. I7 MUNICIPALITY OF LANSDOWNE. This Municipality is in the County of Beautiful Plains and con- sists of townships 15 to 44, ranges 13 and 14, and township 14, range 13. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs through the southern portion of this Municipality and Midway and Arden stations are situated within its boundaries. The southern portion of the Municipality is well settled. The Municipality contains five post offices and six schools. The character of the country is rolling prairie, well wooded, and there is a good quantity of hay and some very good grain-growing land in the district. Some gravel ridges run in a northerly direction across the township. The Railway Company have a large quantity of land for sale in this Municipality on easy terms. Mekiwin town- ship has become celebrated for its vegetables and farm produce. A visit to the district will demonstrate to any practical agriculturist the stock-raising capabilities. In every part of the Municipality may be found hay of good quality, the townships to the north being almost entirely devoted to cattle. Among the larger interests may be men- tioned the Phillips, Wilson and McKenzie ranches. Lansdowne has abundance of wood within its own bounds, or within easy distance, while the water supply—an important item—is good all over. The White Mud River runs across the Municipality and there are numerous creeks and coulees in almost every township. - TP. 14, RGE. 13.—Is very well adapted for agricultural purposes. The soil in the valley of White Mud River, which crosses the town- ship diagonally, from west to east, is very rich and timber can be found in sufficient quantity. Mekiwin P.O. is on S.E. section 16. MIDway station is on N.W. 4 36. The railway line runs along the north of this township. Ayr school house is on S.E. 4 section 15. TP. 15, RCE. 13.—The soil is generally a light, sandy loam. The land is in most places level. A few gravel ridges run in a north- westerly direction across it. On sections six, seven and eighteen there is a considerable quantity of poplar. The timber in the rest of the 8 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. township is suitable for fencing and fuel. The White Mud River passes through section six. It contains an abundant supply of ex- cellent water. The railway runs along the south line of sections. Roseridge school house is on N.E. 4 section 20. Tr. 16, RGE. 13—The soil is light, sandy loam. In many places in the north-west quarter of the township the soil does not exceed six inches in depth, the sub-soil being composed of gravel and boulders. The timber is of very little value except for fuel. Fencing and build- ing timber can be procured at the Riding Mountain, some fifteen miles distant. Florenta P.O. is on N.E. section 12. Florence school house is on S.E. 4 section 23. TP. 17, RGE. 13.−The soil is of light, sandy loam. The land, ex- cepting two small gravel ridges which run in a north-westerly direc- tion across it, is level. The marshes produce good hay. TP. 18, RGE. 13.—The township is low and level, nearly one-third being marsh and hay land. Soil is light, sandy loam. TP. 15, R&E. 14.—Is excellent farming land. The White Mud River, with several other small streams passing eastward through this township, give an unlimited supply of excellent water. The marshy land along the streams produces a rank growth of hay. Large oak, ash, elm and maple are found skirting the banks of the White Mud River. Salisbury P.O. is on S.E. # section 19, and Salis- bury school house is on S.E. 3 section 21. ARDEN station, school and P.O. is on section 13. The railway runs across this township. TP. 16, RGE. 14.—West of the Beautiful Plain ridge. This town- ship is all excellent farming land; and owing to its proximity to the Riding Mountain, where fencing and building timber can be procured is well suited for settlement. Glenholme school house is on S.W. 4 section 21, and Orange Ridge P.O. is on N.W. 4 section 32. TP. 17, RGE. 14.—The westerly half of this township contains some excellent farming land. It is nearly all covered with rose and willow bushes and small poplar. The eastern portion of the township is intersected with small gravel ridges. The soil is a light and sandy GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 19 loam. This portion of the township has no timber of any value, ex- cept for fuel. A large marsh is formed near the centre of the town- ship, by the spreading out of the waters of two large streams flowing eastward from the Riding Mountain. These streams supply an abundance of excellent water. Portions of the marshy land produce an excellent growth of hay. Building timber can be obtained at a distance of about two miles. TP. 18, RGE. 14.—Except a few gravel ridges the surface is low and level. Nearly one-fourth of the township is marsh and hay land. The waters of several streams from the Riding Mountain pass through it. 20 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. MUNICIPALITY OF GLENDALE. This Municipality is situated in the County of Beautiful Plains and consists of the W. of Tps. 13 and 14, Rge. 15, and Tps. 13 and 14 in Rge. 16. This Municipality is noted for its grain growing qualities and the wheat from this district commands the highest price on the market. It contains two Post Offices and six school houses and is well settled throughout. The M. & N. W. Ry. runs along the northern boundary, and the Station and Town of Neepawa are situated in the north-east corner. This Town, which is on the south-east quarter of Sec. 33, Tp. 14, Rge. 15, is the County Town and has the County buildings. The population is about 300. There are Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in the Town and a Public School. Several good stores and hotels and the Town is a first class market for pro- duce. Three grain warehouses are situated at the Station and in 1888 it is expected that a Roller Flour Mill and Elevator will be built at that point. At present Hamilton's Grist Mill at the Village is . turning out a good sample of flour. A weekly newspaper, the Nee- pawa Register, is published here. The White Mud River, a stream of good water, traverses the northerly tier of sections. Besides the Churches in the Town there is an English Church and a Presbyterian Church in Tp. 14, Rge. 16. WEST-HALF TP. 13, RGE. 15.—The soil is of good quality. Surface rolling prairie. A branch of the White Mud River traverses the Township. Oberon school house is on S.W. 4 of section 17. WEST-HALF TP. 14, RøE. 15.-Is well watered by White Mud River and its branches. The soil is generally of a rich sandy nature, excellent for the growth of grain and root crops. About one-third is well wooded with poplar and other kinds of wood of small growth. Neepawa station and Post Office are on section 33. Stony Creek school house is on N.W. 4 section 30 and Osprey school house on N.W. 4 section 5. The Manitoba & North-Western Railway runs across the northern boundary. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 21 TP. 13, RGE. 16.—Is high rolling prairie. Soil black loam with clay subsoil. Water is easily obtainable. Glendale Post Office is on N.E. 4 of section 33. Belton school house on S.W. 4 of section 16. TP. 14, RGE. 16.—The surface is rolling and the most part of it clear prairie, except on the western side, where it is well wooded with small poplar, cherry and willow. The soil throughout is good. The Stony Creek runs through the north-east sections. Its water is good, and water can be had in any of the sections by digging. Glen- dale school house is on N.W. 4 section 21, and Gordon school house on S.E. 4 of section 5. There is an English church on section 3 and Presbyterian church on section 9. The M. & N. W. Ry. runs across the northern boundary. ©W) A N A Hl. ¥4}N+C++2A4 +TY. - 18+ SchoolHouses. G)Post Offices. %. MaN-w-Ry Land, ºr sale. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 25 MUNICIPALITY OF ODANAH. This Municipality is situated in the County of Minnedosa and consists of townships 13 to 15, ranges 17 and 18. The M. & N. W. Ry. runs through the northern portion of this district and Minnedosa station is situated on section 2, township 15, range 18. This town, which is the county town, has a population of about 800. It has two saw mills, one flour mill, with a capacity of 100 barrels per day (Hungarian roller process); Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist churches and public school, two elevators, with a capacity of 80,000 bushels; telegraph and post office. The Minnedosa Tribune is pub- lished every week. The town is well supplied with butchers, bakers and general stores, a cheese factory and a brewery. The Dominion Lands office for the Little Saskatchewan district is stationed here, and the Government have erected an immigrant house. The Sas- katchewan & Western Railway starts from this point and runs to Rapid City. This Municipality contains two post offices and eight school houses and is well settled throughout. The northern portion is well wooded, and watered by the Little Saskatchewan River and Stony Creek. The district is well adapted for mixed farming. TP. 13, RGE. 17.—Surface is rolling prairie. An abundance of good water. The soil is chiefly a rich, dark loam, with clay and gravel subsoil. Creeford P.O. is on S.W. 4 of section 2, and Glen- burney school house is on S.W. 4 of section 14. TP. 14, RCE. 17.—The surface is undulating. The soil on the slopes is tolerably good. There are many small shallow lakes and ponds in the western part, the water of some of them being bitter, but many are to be found with good, fresh water. A portion is covered with scrub and grey willow. The timber is small. Lorndale school house is on S.W. 4 of section 2 and Hazlewood school house is on N.E. 4 of section 30. TP. 15, Roe. 17.—The surface of this township is gently rolling, with slope to west and south, and, except along the north and south- 26 GUIDE BOOK TO . AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. east, is covered with dense scrub and timber, with many open water ponds and meadows. The soil is good, except in a few places. It is mostly a black, sandy loam, about twelve inches deep, on gravelly clay subsoil. A great quantity of rails and firewood can be cut. The grass on the open land is uniformly good, and there is plenty of meadow hay. Stony Creek runs through some of the easterly sec- tions. It is about ten feet wide and one foot deep. Another creek runs through the north-west corner of the township. The railway line traverses the southerly tier of sections. Clanwilliam school house is on N.W. 4 of section 31. TP. 13, RGE. 18.—Is rolling prairie. Soil is a clay loam on a clay subsoil. Rookhurst school house is on N.E. # of section 36. TP. 14, RGE. 18.-The surface is generally rolling, and for the most part the soil is of excellent quality. There are no running streams but water is readily found by digging from eight to ten feet deep. A portion is prairie; some is covered with small and scrubby poplar and willows, but no timber of any kind large enough for building is to be found. Willow Grove school house is on S.W. 4 of section 18. TP. 15, RGE. 18.—ſs well wooded and watered, the Little Sas- katchewan River winding from its northern to its southern limit in a lovely valley. There are several beautiful small lakes; the waters for the most part are good. Also abundance of good hay land. The railway line runs across the south half of this township and the station of MINNEDOSA is on section two. Cameron school house is on N.E. 4 of section 29. HOMESTEAD IN TP. 13, RGE, 18, ON LINE OF MANITOBA AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 27 2 MUNICIPALITY OF CLAN WILLIAM. This Municipality is situated in the County of Minnedosa and consists of townships 16 to 18 in ranges 17 and 18. The southern boundary of this Municipality is just five miles north of the M. & N. W. Railway. This district is well known for its cattle-raising, and several fine farms are situated along the township road running north from Minnedosa. Minnedosa is its market town. The district is well watered and well wooded, and the southern portion is well settled. The northern is being rapidly settled by Scandinavians. The road to the Lake Dauphin district passes through the centre of the Municipality. At Scandinavia there is a saw mill which is turning out good lumber. There are three post offices and three school houses in the Municipality, and a Presbyterian church and English . church. TP. 16, Roe. 17.-Surface is gently rolling, with small ponds and sloughs, and the north and east of the township is covered with bluffs of poplar and scrub. Slopes strongly to south and has numerous shallow coulees or natural drains, which afford a ready means of drainage. The soil is all good, being a rich, sandy loam on clay sub- soil. There is a quantity of meadow land, scattered over the town- ship. An abundant supply of fuel, fencing, and building material is to be found in the wooded portion and water is easily obtained. Several sections are very well suited for mixed farming. Murchison P.O. is on N.E. and Bethany school house on S.W. 4 of section 2, Holland school house on section 22, and Presbyterian church on section 19, and Clanwilliam P.O. on S.W. 3 of section 18. TP. 17, RGE. 17.-Is chiefly timbered with poplar, spruce, grey willow and tamarac, of little use except for firewood. The soil is usually good. The surface is rolling and somewhat rough. There are many muskegs and small lakes, with some fine living springs. The township is well timbered and well watered. It could be brought under a good state of cultivation. * A R R1 & © ſy. * N +c++a++++. rva .*, -- -- - - - - % u% 3. - T | | A i. GFbstoffices?0.4 SchºolHouses. 19. — M & N-W-RY Lauds for Sale. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 31 MUNICIPALITY OF HARRISON. This Municipality is situated in the County of Minnedosa and consists of townships 16 to 18, ranges 19 and 20. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs through the south-west corner of the Municipality and NEwDALE station is on section 8–16–20. The southern portion of the Municipality is well settled and contains one post office and three schools. The Little Saskatchewan River runs through Tp. 16. The northern portion of the Municipality is well wooded and contains some fine lakes and good water. TP. 16, RGE. 19.-The Little Saskatchewan River flows from west to east across the north half of the township, in a broad valley 200 feet deep. It is mostly along the banks of or in this valley that the railway lands lie; the surface of all is more or less broken, and the greater part is covered with small poplar and scrub. The soil on uplands and in valley is good, sandy loam on clay subsoil, but on the banks is mixed with a good deal of gravel. Some good meadow land in valley, and the upland grass is good. All the sections are suitable for farming and section 27 would do nicely for stock. Fairmount school house is on section 10. TP. 17, RGE. 19.—The township is well timbered with the follow- ing kinds, viz.: Poplar, White Birch, Grey Willow and a few Spruce, useful for firewood, fencing and general purposes. Regarding soil the township in the main is of good quality, being clay subsoil and loam on top. With regard to lakes and muskegs there are quite a number of them, very few of the lakes having any connection with others by streams. In fact, the only stream worthy of mention is called “Whirlpool River,” which enters north-east portion and runs through the east sections for the length of the towtship, in several places affording good mill sites. The water is fresh and of good quality. Taking the township as a whole, the soil is good, well watered, well timbered, and could be brought easily under a good state of cultiva- tion. The east half of this township is an Indian Reserve; the west half is open for homestead entry. - wº M. J. N4C+ PA+ ++Y. - arry | ºf + --- 15 (TTTTTTTT - | 9…. 14 * H ſº º— + gbºk |- D kº. ºn 13| | | | | | |*|| || * | | | T^+\L__ Wr T |\| + churches. $22 + sºh. , 816) Pºst Offices. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 33 MUNICIPALITY OF BLANCHARD. This Municipality is situated in the County of Minnedosa and consists of townships 13 to 15, ranges 21 and 22. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs from two to six miles north of the Municipality. It con- tains four post offices and four school houses and is well settled. The character of the country is undulating prairie, fairly wooded and watered by Oak River and numerous ponds. Is an excellent district for mixed farming. Two railway lines are surveyed through the southern part of the Municipality and it is certain to get good railway facilities in 1888. Their present market towns are Rapid City on the east and Newdale and Strathclair on the north. TP. 13, RGE, 21–The soil is first-class clay loam. There is a small quantity of poplar in the township. Well watered by ponds and marsh springs. A creek runs across the township. Medina school is on N.E. 4 of section 22. Presbyterian church on S.E. of section 24. Very good township for mixed farming. TP. 14, RGE. 21.—The soil is first-class. A small quantity of poplar. Is well watered by ponds and marsh springs. Totonka P.O. is on N.E. 4 of section 30. TP. 15, RCE. 21.—The surface is undulating prairie; the soil rather gravelly. Swamps are numerous but small. There is a pond of good water in section 34. Rosedale school house is on section 19. Marney P.O. is on section 32. TP. 13, RGE. 22–Good soil; clay loam. Fairly good water, easily got by digging. Good hay meadows. Oak River runs through the east half of the township. Wheatland P.O. is on N.W. 4 of section 14 and Wheatland school house on N.W. 4 of section 12. TP. 14, RøE. 22.—Is fairly wooded and watered. The timber is poplar, large enough for building purposes. The greater part of the surface is rolling prairie, the timber being scattered over it in small clumps. The soil is excellent. Oak River runs diagonally across the 9W §§Tºlºl. Allſº Mu Nº e PA+++Y. º P sº * % *r-Azis % * W º % Z W. Jºãº • | . Cº. I V Ø Z ..]" % §Pºž, she % Tºº Z º _ % $º º, *Hº-Hº-Tiše lºs- g & A ºf % gº Tzi- | º ºs- UT V + Z +- - % *s 1G SWAZ" 42%% % T % / | ? +churches. tes: 8shool. Hovisee - ºf G)Post Offices. É% M&N-W-RYLands for Sale. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 35 MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHCLAIR. This Municipality is situated in the County of Minnedosa and consists of townships 16 to 18, ranges 21 and 22. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs through the south half of this Municipality and STRATHCLAIR station is situated on section 35–16–22. At this point there are good stores, a good hotel, blacksmith and saddler's shop, and a grain ware- house. There is also a Hudson's Bay post on section 8–18–21, and a saw and grist mill at Strathclair, on section 25–17–22. The Little Saskatchewan River runs through townships 17 and 18, range 21, and there is splendid hay in the river valley. The Municipality is a very good mixed farming country and well adapted for both cattle and sheep raising. On section 34–18–21 Mr. Campbell has a fine herd of Highland cattle, which remain out all winter without shelter. His sheep are also flourishing. The character of the country is rolling prairie and well wooded, especially in the north. The Riding Mountains, taking their rise from the river, are heavily timbered, and the district is well watered by the river and several lakes. There are three post offices and four school houses in the Municipality, as well as two Presbyterian churches and a Baptist chapel. TP. 16, RGE. 21.—Surface of this township is rolling, open prairie, or a succession of low hills with sloughs and ponds lying in some of the hollows. Water is of good quality and soil first-class, being a rich loam from ten to twenty inches deep on a clay and gravelly clay subsoil, but owing to rough surface and numerous sloughs the land is better adapted for mixed farming and grazing than for exclusive grain raising. Grass is very heavy and large quantities of hay can be cut around the marshes. The railway runs across the township. TP. 17, RGE, 21–About one-third is prairie and one-sixth is partial prairie and what is usually called scrub, being covered with brush of willows both small and great, with hazel and young poplar, some burned and some green, interspersed with small patches of prairie. One-half of the township is covered with large poplar, mostly burnt s\QAL l, Fl KE r’ Aſ UN+C+PALTY. % % W Z %ookiº. * |ſ. à. Ø\ } º ºu, ºlis / %. % Yiº tº £4. %|%, Jºãº º % º Z * 4, 2% & 4 fºº ºf i-ſº *-s- º +--|-Tsk º sº 17 P ++ | V Ts- TTT 2jº - r Aaºz. Zzº. 24 Ž77 zzº- 15 | Z \{ ZAZ / J' F Selwool Houses. £4 - £3. OPost Offices. %. MaNWR: Lands fºr sale. - * … * GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 39 The Municipality contains three post offices and five school houses and is well settled throughout. TP. 16, RGE. 23.−The soil is a black, sandy loam. The surface is undulating, principally prairie, with numerous small clumps of brush and islands of poplar. Shoal and Raven Lakes (which abound with fish) lie on the westerly part. The water in both of these lakes is good. Raven Lake occupies parts of sections five, six, seven and eight. Along the east shore there is a firm gravelly or sandy beach. Along the south shore there is some good poplar timber. The south end of Shoal Lake has a fine gravelly beach. Shoal Lake school house and Raven Lake P.O. are on N.E. 4 of section 18. TP. 17, RGE. 23–The surface is rolling, with clear, open water ponds and sloughs and excellent soil. Bluffs of poplar all over town- ship will furnish a liberal supply of fuel. Two small streams, Wolf and Oak Creek, ensure an abundance of water. The railway runs across the south half of this township. Shoal Lake, a lovely sheet of water, beautifully situated, extends into this township in sections four, five and nine, and on section nine is the station and village of SHOAL LAKE. There is a school and P.O. at this point. TP. 18, RGE. 23.−Surface is rolling or broken by low hills and ridges, with ponds and marshes in a great many of the hollows. The water is slightly alkaline in the ponds but good in Wolf Creek, which runs south through east of township, and in Oak Creek, running through centre of township. Soil rates No. 1, being a rich, sandy loam from six to twenty inches deep, on a clay subsoil. Bluffs of poplar dot the surface of the township, affording enough timber, fire- wood and fencing. Grass and hay are abundant for stock-raising, and shelter afforded by bluffs of timber and abundance of grass and water make this a desirable township for that purpose. The railway lands for sale are choice. Oakburn P.O. is on S.W. 4 of section 32 and Oakburn school house is on S.E. # of section 21. TP. 16, RGE. 24.—The soil is principally a rich, dark clay loam. There are several lakes of good water and numerous islands of timber and underwood. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 41 MUNICIPALITY OF ROSSBURN. This Municipality is situated in the County of Russell and consists of townships 19 to 21, ranges 23 to 25. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs about eight miles from the southern boundary. The Municipality is well watered by the Bird Tail Creek, and the northern portion of it contains heavy timber. Some of the finest land for mixed farming can be obtained where the wood has been cleared off by fire and grass is now growing. On the Bird Tail Creek is Sharman's cattle farm of thoroughbred Herefords and in Tp. 21, Rge. 25 is Grant's large sheep farm and Huston's stock ranch, comprising horses, cattle and sheep. The soil throughout is excellent. There is one post office and one school house in the district. Church service is regularly held in the school house. TP. 19, RGE. 23.—This township lies on the southern side of the Riding Mountains, and is drained by streams tributary to the Oak River. The southern boundary of the township skirts the open prairie. The township lies within what has been a densely wooded tract, now almost completely destroyed by fire. Only a small tract in the north-east corner, chiefly in sections thirty-five and thirty-six, and in the south-west part of the township, in sections four, five, six and seven, being green poplar woods. This great brule is now covered with dry, standing poplar and windfalls, in most parts grown up with young poplars, willows, hazel and other brush. No timber remains of any value except for firewood. The soil throughout is deep and rich, dark clay, entirely free from boulders. This township contains a great number of lakes, ponds and marshes. Many of the smaller ones are easily drained by removing obstructions from the water course, and all the lakes and streams are good, fresh water. The whole surface is very level or slightly undulating with easy slopes. TP. 20, RCE. 23–This township is situated on the highest part of the Riding Mountain, and is drained by the headwaters of streams tributary to the Little Saskatchewan. The surface of the township Wº W RTL E. +\{{ }{N} + C + + A + +T Y. jo § J H | + - f 27+School Ho. 2GOPoéroffice:25. Mar N-W-RYLCunds For Sute. 18 1G GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 47 about. The soil is fair, but stony in places. Wattsview P.O. is on S.W. # of section 30, Blenheim school house on S.E. of section 14 and Oxford sohool house on. S.E. of section 19. TP. 17, RGE. 27.-Rolling prairie traversed by several small creeks and dotted with small patches of scrub and willow and occasional clumps of poplar sufficiently large for fencing. The soil is a friable black loam from one to three feet deep, with clay subsoil. Dunstan school house is on S.E. 4 of section 33. Snake Creek runs along the west side of township. The M. & N. W. Ry. crosses this township. TP. 18, RGE. 27.-Rolling prairie, rather broken by sloughs and dotted over with clumps of poplar and willow. Two or three creeks traverse the township. The soil is a rich, black, friable loam. Snake Creek and its tributaries afford ample water for all wants. The M. & N, W. Ry. crosses the south-west corner of this township and Fox Warren station is on section 4. 48 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. MUNICIPALITY OF SILVER CREEK. This Municipality is situated in the County of Russell and consists of townships 19 to 21, ranges 26 and 27. The M. & N. W. Ry. runs within two miles of the south-west corner. The Municipality con- tains four post offices and four school houses, and is well settled and a favorably known farming district. It is well wooded and well watered and contains some very pretty scenery. The wheat from this district is of a good class and the farmers, who are mostly from Ontario, are good and practical men. TP. 19, RGE. 26.—Rolling prairie, with some small ponds and marshes; also scattered clumps of poplar and willow and some scrub. It contains two lakes that have areas exceeding twenty acres. Soil first and second class. An Indian reserve takes seven sections in the north-east corner. Seeburn P.O. is on S.E. of section 32 and Boyle school house is on S.W. 4 of section 17. TP. 20, RCE. 26.-Prairie, with some heavy poplar, willow and hazel scrub. There is a chain of lakes of considerable size in the western portion of the township and numerous small ponds occur elsewhere. Six sections in the south-east corner are included in an Indian reserve. Soil principally first and second class. Sections 19 and 33 are excellent ones for farming, sections 21 and 25 are valuable for timber; all the rest of the railway land in this township is well adapted for mixed farming or stock-raising. St. Mary's school is on N.E. 4 of section 30 and Seeburn school house on S.W. 4 of section 4, and Snake Creek P.O. on S.W. 4 of section 32. TP. 21, RGE. 26.-This township is all bush, the timber being chiefly poplar and balm of Gilead, with some white birch scattered through it, the latter running from four to eight inches in diameter and the former ranging between six and twelve inches in diameter, while a few are to be found as large as twenty inches in diameter, the average being about nine inches. Two or three sections in the south- GUIDE BOOK TO M. ANI) N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 49 west corner of this township are tolerably open and suitable for settlement. The surface is of a rolling nature, and the soil through- out, on the whole, is first-class, chiefly sandy loam. It is traversed by Silver Creek, which runs diagonally across it from north-east to south-west corner; several other small creeks are also to be found throughout. There are three or four tolerably large lakes on the east side of the township and numerous marshes scattered throughout. The water in all the above is good. Fish are to be found in that lake touching the north boundary of sections 34 and 35. TP. 19, RGE. 27—The south-easterly portion of this township is much broken by lakes; the remainder is well adapted for agricultural purposes. The soil is a rich, black loam, and there is sufficient poplar for all purposes. TP. 20, RCE. 27.—Nice rolling prairie sloping to south, with small bluffs of poplar and scrub dotting the surface. The soil is a rich, black loam six to thirty inches deep and containing a variable amount of sand, on a subsoil of light clay, with occasional stretches where it is sand and gravel. Silver Creek, a good, running stream of excellent water crosses township, and on section 23 there are two nice lakes. The upland grass is good, and most of sections have a good supply of meadow land. The creek, lakes and poplar groves combine to make this a very pretty township. The unsold railway sections are well suited for general farming. Silver Creek P.O. is on N.W. 4 of section 22, Silver Creek school house on N.W. 4 of section 34 and a good general store on section 35. TP. 21, RGE. 27.-Rolling, with slope to south-west. Surface of north-east corner is covered with brush and timber and the rest is dotted over with poplar groves and clumps of scrub. A few small meadows and marshes. A number of small spring creeks rise in the north-east part in muskegs and flow in a south-westerly direction. The soil is good, being a rich, black, sandy loam six to twenty-four inches deep, on a subsoil of clay and sandy clay. Some nice meadow land along creeks. This is a very pretty township and some nice land is yet unsold. Mininska P.O. is on N.E. 4 of section 30. 50 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. MUNICIPALITY OF BOULTON. This Municipality is situated in the County of Russell and consists of townships 22 to 44, ranges 23 to 27. Except in the south-west corner this Municipality is unsettled, as it is heavily timbered and lies principally in the Riding and Duck Mountains. TP. 22, RGE, 26.—The south-west portion of this township, which is the only part subdivided, is all brush, chiefly poplar and balm of Gilead, of a fine quality, some of it running to fourteen inches diameter. There is a good deal of white birch interspersed with it, running to six inches diameter. A belt ten chains wide of fine, tall, straight spruce, running to eight inches diameter, crosses the southern part of the east boundary of section 16, beginning a few chains to the west of this line and running in a north-easterly direction. The soil is chiefly sandy loam of a first-class quality; some of it, however, is of a light nature and only second class. The nature of the surface is somewhat hilly, with numerous marshes and some lakes. TP. 22, RGE. 27—The west half of this township is composed of prairie, scattered with clumps of small poplar which is fit for fence rails, while the east half is all bush, chiefly poplar and balm of Gilead, interspersed with some white birch on the extreme east side. The timber is small on the western outskirts, but gets larger towards the east boundary, where it is serviceable for building purposes. The surface is of a rolling nature and the soil throughout is of a first-class quality, being sandy loam and clay loam. There are three small lakes and numerous small marshes on the east half, and a few of the latter scattered throughout the township. Section 17 is an excellent one, and sections 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 19, 21, 31 and west half of 33 are suitable for mixed farming. TP. 23, Roe. 27—This is a good township, nearly equally divided between woods and prairie and well watered by small lakes and ponds. The land rates first and second class. A good road, known as McKay's trail, runs through the westerly half. Section 3, N.E. 4 of 7, 9 and S.W. 4 of 17 are good. TP. 24, Roe. 27.—Covered with timber. The soil is excellent. There are a few small lakes and muskegs in the woods. W. W. L. ..., Mºnte HPA+++ * I, R. . TS 1G º % £9 + School Houses. 28 OPosłOffices. % Ma,N-W-RY Lands for Sale. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 51 MUNICIPALITY OF ELLICE. This Municipality is situated in the County of Shoal Lake and consists of townships 16 to 18, ranges 28 and 29. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs through the north-east corner and the Assiniboine River runs from north-west to south-east across the Municipality. The Qu'Appelle River joins the Assiniboine in this district. The Munici- pality contains four post offices and two school houses and is fairly well settled. TP. 17, RGE. 28.-Rolling prairie. The soil is a dark, friable loam, with clay subsoil. The township is watered by the Assiniboine River. There is a fair quantity of timber. Crewe P.O. is on N.W. 4 of sec- tion 28, and DeCorby school house is on section 17. TP. 18, RGE. 28–Rolling prairie, broken towards the north-west by deep ravines and gullies. The soil is very rich and deep. It is well watered by Snake Creek and two large creeks. There is a fair proportion of timber. There is an Indian reserve in the north-west quarter. The M. & N. W. Ry. crosses the north-east corner of this township. Balmerino P.O. is on the S.W. 4 of section 28. TP. 17, RGE. 29.—The Qu'Appelle Valley crosses this township. Its high banks are crowned with timber. The soil in the valley is very good; elsewhere it is merely coarse sand. It is better adapted for grazing than grain-raising. TP. 18, RCE. 29.-Traversed by the Assiniboine River. The banks of this river are well covered with poplar. The valley bottom is good but the remainder of the township is inferior. The north-east portion of the township is included in an Indian reserve. *AU MuNetPA+++x. 3 S E l, Q, | || § 4% - 19 ; § R.I. 3. GSPterofficeab." +SchoolHouses. ES. \ M & N-W-RY Lands for Sole. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 53 of making Binscarth famous for fine cattle of the shorthorn breed, and this it is rapidly becoming. Anyone going to Manitoba, seeing this farm and what can be done in a comparatively short time, will be well repaid for the trouble; a warm welcome is accorded travellers by the manager, Mr. Smellie, who takes a just pride in showing his splendid cattle. MILLWooD village is situated in the valley of the Assiniboine and has large lumber and flour mills, general store, hotel, school and post office. RUSSELL-This village, which is the terminus of the branch rail- road from Binscarth, has good stores, hotels, school, etc., and is becoming a good market point for the surrounding country. Dr. Barnardo's Home is about three miles west of this point, and is well worth a visit. Boys are sent here from England to be trained as farm laborers. This Municipality is a well and favorably known district. The Assiniboine runs from north to south on the western side. It con- tains four post offices and three school houses. TP. 19, RGE. 28.-This township is well adapted for farming. Rolling prairie. The soil is a black loam. Sufficient poplar bush for all requirements. Binscarth Farm P.O. is on section 35 and Binscarth station, P.O. and school on section 15. Six sections in the south-west corner are taken up by part of an Indian reserve. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs across the township. TP. 20, Rae. 28.-Well adapted for farming. The soil is a deep, black loam. There is enough poplar for settlers' requirements. On sections 10 and 18 there are two lakes. TP. 21, RGE, 28–Rolling prairie dotted over with small clumps of poplar and scrub and small lakes. Skunk Creek, a small stream of good water, flows across the township from east to west; over most of the distance the banks are only ten to twenty feet high, but on section 19, where it leaves the township, they are about 150 feet. The soil is good throughout, being a dark, sandy loam varying in depth from six to thirty inches; in a few places the subsoil is sand 54 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. and gravel, but such places are of small extent, the most of it being sandy clay or clay. Nearly every section has a liberal supply of wood and hay meadow, and all have as much arable upland as is desirable for cultivation. No prettier lands in Manitoba. Shell River P.O. is on section 3, at the village of Russell, where there is a school house, two stores, hotel, livery stable, etc. TP. 19, RGE. 29.—The land is undulating and gravelly. East of the river the soil is fair, but broken by ravines. There are a few bluffs of poplar. Six sections in the south-east corner are taken up by an Indian reserve. TP. 20, RGE. 29.—West of the Assiniboine River the land is fairly well suited for settlement but is well wooded with poplar, birch and oak. On the east side the soil is good but broken by ravines. The M. & N. W. Ry, runs diagonally across the township from south-east to north-west, crossing the Assiniboine in the south-east corner. Millwood school and P.O. are on section 2. TP. 21, RGE. 29.-Surface of upland gently undulating, with some small ponds, etc. Township is broken by the ravines of Assiniboine River and Skunk and Smith's Creeks. The Assiniboine flows from north to south through centre of township. It is two or three chains wide and has good current; the valley is one to one and a half miles wide, with rough and steep banks 150 to 200 feet deep. Skunk Creek, flow- ing from the east, and Smith's Creek from the west both join the river near centre of township ; they both have deep and wide ravines at junction and these grow less as they recede from the river. Soil is generally a sandy loam ºn gravelly clay, with sand and gravel in parts near banks; along the ravine there are bluffs of poplar, etc., (some of a very good size), which will furnish fuel, fencing, etc., and on upland also there are scattering bluffs of small poplar, which add to the appearance of the land. The water in river and both creeks is very good. Grass on upland is fair, and around the ponds, etc., and in places along the Assiniboine and Smith's Creek hay can be cut. There are a number of boulders and stones on and near banks of ravines. Most of the upland is very good farm land, and the town- ship being broken by the river and creeks, is in many parts very picturesque. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 55 MUNICIPALITY OF SHELL RIVER, This municipality is situated on the county of Russell and consists of townships 22 to 44 in ranges 28 and 29. The Assiniboine and Shell rivers run south through the municipality to township 22, where they unite. By their influence they give the land a very picturesque appearance, besides enchancing its value, by affording an unfailing supply of hay, water and wood for fuel and buildings, A branch of the M. & N. W. Railway terminates at Russell, about six miles from the southern boundary. The municipality possesses five post offices and two school houses. Each Sunday divine service is held at the principal points alternately by the three great denominations The district has been well and favorably known for some time to possess great attraction to the farmer who wishes to raise stock, make dairy produce and grow grain. Shellmouth, pleasantly and beautifully situated at the side of the river in the valley of the Assiniboine, at this place a swing bridge costing over $13,000 crosses the river. The village possesses store, school, hotels and post office with mail communication twice each week. Great numbers of cattle, horses and sheep are raised and grazed in the vicinity. Assessippi is very picturesquely situated in the valley of the Shell River, and enjoys unrivalled advantages in respect to water power, already utilized for gristing and sawing pur- poses. The roller process flour mill has a capacity of 50 barrels daily. It does a large gristing business, and regularly ships flour to Ontario, thereby utilizing a great portion of the wheat grown in the neighborhood. The saw has a manufacturing capacity of 10,000 feet daily, these both are great advantages to the district. The village also possesses a town hall, store, hotel, feed stable, blacksmith shop and postal communication twice each week. TP. 22, RGE, 28.—Surface is rolling, with a general slope to the south west. In the south west corner there is a decided fall, sections 5 and 7 being considerably lower than the rest. Thunder Creek flows through the township, passing through sections 1, 15, 17, 19, GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 59 digging twenty feet. Good grass all over township and nearly every section has meadow enough for a large number of stock. All things considered this is a very desirable township for settlement and nearly all the railway lands are choice. The railway runs diagonally across the township. TP. 22, RGE. 30.—Varies from undulating, with flat tracts, to rolling, and all much cut up by marshes, meadows and meadow-edged ponds and banks of Assiniboine River in north-east corner. Soil is all good, being a dark, sandy loam ten to twenty-four inches deep, on a subsoil varying from clay to sandy clay. Timber is somewhat scarce, there being only a few small groves of poplar in the south- east part; over other parts there is some scattered willow and poplar scrub of little value. All the sections have a good many small, shallow ponds and marshes with fair water and around the outside edge a broad belt of meadow, the grass in which is often four and five feet high. Most of the sections are well fitted for mixed farming and along the east side, where the poplar groves are, the land has a very pretty appearance. TP. 23, RGE. 30–Gently undulating prairie, dotted over with innumerable marshes and meadows, both large and small, and clumps of willow and poplar scrub. The soil is a good, black, sandy loam ten to thirty inches deep, on clay subsoil with sand and gravel in higher parts. In wet seasons a large extent of surface will be under water and there is very little natural drainage. The ponds and marshes were in July, the date of examination, mostly dry; those not dry have nearly all alkali water. The upland grass is a good growth and nearly all the marshes have a broad strip of meadow around them. All the sections have a fair amount of arable land and are suitable for mixed farming. TP. 24, RGE. 30–A township of undulating prairie dotted over with clumps of scrub and small poplar groves. A dry water course crosses the south-west part of township, and along this the land is fairly free from sloughs, but where not drained by this there are a good many marshes and ponds. In July, at time of examination, a good many of these water beds were dry, and those that were not GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 61 scrub. The soil is clay and sandy loam, except in the valley, where it is deep, black loam ; on side hills gravelly and sandy. The valley of the river is both wide and deep. The land in this township is well suited for settlement. There is abundance of good water. TP. 19, RGE. 31.-Nearly all of this township is rolling prairie, the soil in the easterly two miles being sandy and that in the westerly four miles being of better quality, though in it considerable sand and gravel are mixed with the loam. Along the valley of the Cut Arm are bluffs of poplar and oak with dense underbrush. Wolverine Creek has clear spring water and at one place in the township it expands and forms a beautiful lake. Though there is no timber ex- cept along Cut Arm, there are numerous bluffs of willow, hazel and small poplar scattered throughout the township. Spyhill is on the north of section 1 and can be seen for some distance. TP. 20, RGE. 31–The soil is of fair quality, gravelly loam with clay subsoil, but there are too many hills and swamps to render it very desirable for farming purposes. Along Wolverine Creek the country is not so much broken by hills and ponds and hence is much more suitable for settlement. Wolverine Creek has an average width of about eight feet, with a depth of about one foot, and the water is of excellent quality. Bluffs of poplar and willow are found at inter- vals throughout the township but are more numerous in the eastern and south-western portions of it. There is no timber suitable for building purposes and very little for firewood. TP. 21, RGE. 31.—Waries from rolling to low and flat; is high at west side and has a good fall to east, except at south-west corner, which has south-west slope. A great portion is covered with chains of ponds and dry marshes surrounded by meadow and flat land and many very small meadows. The ponds are shallow and nearly all the marshes are dry. On the north half are some dry watercourses or natural drains running eastward to Smith's Creek; these afford a ready means of disposing of many of the marshes and the south-west portion also has natural drainage to Wolverine Creek. The soil is a dark, sandy loam, mostly about 15 inches deep, on light clay subsoil, except on some of the highest portions, where it inclines to sand. No 62 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. timber, but most of the sections have considerable low willow scrub. Ponds and marshes are surrounded by broad tracts of meadow with very long grass, affording on each section a large amount of hay. Owing to the broken nature of the surface no very large tracts of arable land can be had, but for mixed farming this would be a desir- able township. The Railway runs to section 27, on which is situated the village of Langenburg, with P.O., stores, hotel, etc. TP. 22, RGE. 31.-Surface is mostly low and flat, the dry or upland having an elevation of only from five to ten feet above the low land level, except in the immediate vicinity of drain on east of township. Soil is a sandy loam from eight to eighteen inches deep, on a sand and gravelly clay subsoil, and very suitable for farming where dry. The low, marshy land, which includes fully one-half of area of town- ship, will yield an immense quantity of coarse hay or good summer pasture, making township a very suitable one for stock-raising or mixed farming. TP. 23, RGE. 31.-This township consists of gently rolling to undulating upland, with a great deal of low, flat land and numerous ponds, sloughs and meadows. The soil is mostly a sandy loam on a sandy and gravelly clay subsoil, with a gravelly top soil on ridges. Rates generally one and a half, though some parts would rate one. Alkali shows rather strongly in nearly all the low places around ponds, etc. Surface is scattered over with willow scrub thickly on north-east and slightly on south-west. There is some small poplar towards north-west of township, where some fence rails might be cut. There are numerous scattering ponds and sloughs, containing one to three feet of water in July, all of which is alkaline; there are also a great many marshes and low spots which are dry now but would probably contain water at an earlier season. There is a lake at south of section 19, which contains fairly good water and is apparently deep. The growth of grass on the upland is generally good, in low, alkaline lands, poor. Around nearly all the sloughs there is a belt of strong and rather coarse meadow grass, and also in and around the dry marshes and meadows, which will afford a plentiful supply of hay, which should recommend the townsnip to those contemplating the raising of stock. There are some boulders and stones but they are 64 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. of the ridges, is of good quality. The north-eastern portion of the township has fewer swamps and numerous bluffs of poplar. There is not, however, sufficient timber for wood lots, though there is a small amount suitable for building purposes. TP. 20, RGE. 32.—The township may be described generally as rolling prairie broken by swamps and ponds. The valley of the Cut Arm Creek is about 150 feet below the level of the surrounding prairie, and has more numerous bluffs of poplar and oak than the rest of the township, and where not wooded is covered nearly throughout by thickets of hazel, willow, etc. The Cut Arm Creek has a average width of about 12 feet and a depth of 2 feet, and the water is of fair quality. There is some timber in the valley suitable for building purposes and firewood. Redpath post office is on section 2. TP. 21, RGE. 32–Nice undulating prairie land with some small clumps of scrub on south west quarter and traversed by a dry water course or creek and several natural drains, which afford good drainage. A large part of township is free from ponds or sloughs, but the north east corner is thickly covered with them ; shallow lakes with marshy edges, and good water on sections seven and nineteen. Soil is good black sandy loam 6 to 20 inches deep, with gravel on high places, on a subsoil varying at short intervals from good clay to sand, the greater part being a mixture of the two. Grass is good all over and small meadows on nearly every section, with a fair amount of hay and some few sections having enough to support a large number of stock. The large tracts of unbroken land on many of sections will make this a very desirable township. TP. 22, RGE. 32–Varies in surface from nearly level to rolling with a general slope to south. At south is free from scrub but grad- ually becomes scrubby towards north, and as centre of north side is thickly covered with young poplar and scrub with a few small clumps fit for rails and fuel on sections 21, 25, 27, 33 and 35, and on one or two sections a few house logs. Some of the sections are nearly free from ponds, and other adjoining sections have about a third of surface covered with them. Nice lakes on sections 25 and 13, and also a large chain of alkali ponds on section 25. Soil is good black loam 66 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. TP. 26, RGE. 32–The land throughout this townthip is of good quality but is very much broken up by swamps, sloughs and marshes. There are some large bluffs of poplar suitable for building purposes and belts of dry poplar fit for fuel. The general character is undu- lating, and where not timbered is overgrown with willow and scrub. TP. (Fractional) 19, RGE. 33.—Quality of soil third class. The Little Cut Arm enters the township in section 9, leaving it in section 3. The valley of the Cut Arm is about half a mile wide and about 200 feet below the level of the plain, which is rolling prairie, rather stony and full of small ponds and marshes, many of which are alkaline. There are numerous bluffs of poplar and patches of poplar and willow scrub. TP. (Fractional) 20, RGE. 33.-General quality of soil, third class. Country rolling prairie, with numerous bluffs of poplar and willow, very much broken by small ponds and hay marshes. TP. (Fractional) 21, RGE. 33.—This township adjoins the second meridian line and is only a little over three miles in width. It contains a large percentage of good land and is not so badly broken up by marshes and ponds as the townships to the north and west, although there is a considerable number of ponds along its eastern portions. There is a considerable quantity of small poplar scattered all over the township. Big Cut Arm Creek flows through the town- ship, entering on section 21 and flowing out on section 1. It flows through a deep valley of about a quarter of a mile in width and over a hundred feet deep. The stream itself is small, being only about from fifteen to twenty feet wide and from two to three feet deep. There is not much fall on it through this township, not sufficient for power. The water is clear, spring water. On the whole this may be considered a very fair township for farming purposes. TP. (Fractional) 22, RGE. 33–Surface is generally undulating, and sections 9, 15, 23, 27 and 33 are all more or less covered with brule, scrub and young poplar. The south and east parts of township have some tracts of open land free from sloughs. Section 3 has a nice lake in the centre and is altogether one of the prettiest sections in the district. Section 35 also has a pretty lake. Soil is a black, sandy GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 67 mould ten to twenty-four inches deep, on sandy clay. Grass every- where is good, and plenty of hay. Very well suited for mixed farming. TP. (Fractional) 23, Roe. 33.−A fractional township, only two miles wide. Land mostly rolling or undulating and dotted over with small meadows and low spots. A lake on sections 1 and 2. Soil is sandy and gravelly loam three to twenty inches deep, on subsoil of sandy clay. Some scattered bush on nearly all the sections, and on sections 1, 12 and 23 some good wood and a few logs. Plenty of meadow hay and pasturage. Very few stones. All the lands suitable for mixed farming. TP. (Fractional) 24, RøE. 33.—A fractional township, two miles wide. Undulating and dotted over with clumps of scrub. Soil is good, black, sandy mould six to twenty inches deep, on clay subsoil. Numerous ponds, marshes and meadows all over and some ponds quite large. Abundance of hay in meadows and good upland grazing. Sections 1 and 35 are the best in the township. TP. (Fractional) 25, RöE. 33–The land in this township is of an excellent quality, and although broken by swamps and marshes is well adapted for settlement or grazing purposes. With the exception of a few bluffs of poplar this township is devoid of timber but an abundant supply can be had from the townships to the west. The water in the south part is slightly alkaline. The country is undu- lating and mostly overgrown with willows and scrub. TP. (Fractional) 26, RGE. 33.−The land in this township is undu- lating and of good quality but is much broken by swamps and marshes. There are a few bluffs of green poplar, and the country is mostly overgrown with willows and scrub, with groves of dry poplar. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 73 TP. 23, RGE.3—The greater part of this township is covered with willows and poplar, the latter varying from 1 inch to 12 inches in diameter. There is sufficient timber to supply the settlers with fuel and fencing and building timber for many years to come. The soil is ex- cellent, being a black loam, and in some places a dark sandy loam resting on a subsoil of whitish clay. There is a superabundant supply of water of comparatively good quality, and there is also a large quantity of good hay land, but the surface of the land is very much broken by large marshes. Crescent Lake P.O. is on section eighteen. TP. 24, RGE.3—This township is mostly rolling prairie, but contains several muskegs, two of which are of large size, and are situated re- spectively in sections eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen fifteen twenty-three and twenty-four, and in sections five, six, seven eight, seventeen, eighteen and nineteen. Through the former a swift creek, varying in width from half a chain to 2 chains, runs in a northerly direction and empties into the Little White Sand River. The water of this creek is of good quality, varies in depth from 2 to 6 feet and has a gravel bottom. Its slight improvement by straightening and deepening at certain points would suffice to drain the muskeg through which it runs. The other muskeg partakes of the nature of drowned land, as the sections on which it is situated are very level, and are overflowed every spring by the waters of the Little White Sand river, which runs northward through the north- ern tier of sections of this township. The water of this river is very good in quality and abounds in fish. The current is strong, running at the rate of six miles an hour. It is of an average width of two chains and has a mud bottom. The rest of the land in this township consists of good sandy loam. Timber is only found upon the west side of section eighteen and on sections nineteen, thirty and thirty- one, that upon eighteen being fit only for fuel, that on nineteen con- sisting of a growth of thick young poplar and willow, which has followed the destruction by fire of the large timber; and that on thirty and thirty-one being poplar fit for fencing and fuel. TP. 25, RGE.3.−In this township the soil is in the greater part sandy loam, with sandy subsoil, in places black clay loam, clay subsoil. Consid- erable water in the south and east parts; a large stream a tributary GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 75 streamlet averaging about fifteen feet wide and one and a half feet deep, and passing through sections 28, 29, 27 and 32, joins the afore- mentioned stream in section 29. The water in both these streams, and throughout the township generally, is sweet and good. The soil on the high lands is light and sandy, with the exception of a small area near the centre of the township, which is of very fair quality, being a black loam. The swamps and marsh lands would require draining before they could be cultivated to advantage. About one- third of the surface of the land is swamp and marsh, one-third covered with poplar woods, willow and hazel, suitable for building purposes, fencing and fuel, but not large enough for saw milling, and the remainder rolling prairie, scrub and brush. TP. 29, RGE. 3.−Not subdivided. TP. 30, RGE. 3.-Not subdivided. RANGE 4, WEST OF SECOND MERIDIAN. TP. 22, RGE. 4.—About two-thirds of this township is rolling prairie. It is watered by a stream running north through the centre. The soil is a light, sandy loam. TP. 23, RGE.4—There is sufficient timber in this township for pur- poses of settlement, but it is not large enough to be manufactured into sawed lumber. Poplar is the only kind to be met with. Section 34 contains the largest timber in the township ; sections 31 and 32 are nearly destitute of timber. The soil in this township is very fertile All the timber growing in this township will be required for local purposes. TP. 24, RGE. 4.—Leech Lake, a body of water about thirteen square miles in area, is situated almost entirely within the township. Its waters are good and full of fish. The north-easterly and south shores of this lake are comparatively high, ranging from two to six feet above high water level, while the westerly and south-easterly shores are low, the adjoining lands being flooded at the season of high water. A creek of fifty feet in width crosses sections 31 and 32, and one of eight feet runs through sections 6, 5 and 4, both emptying into the 78 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. TP. 27, Roe. 5.—Level prairie, with good soil. Thickly dotted with clumps of timber and broken by marshes. Abundance of good water and hay. TP. 28, RGE. 5.-Not subdivided. TP. 29, RGE. 5.—Not subdivided. Devil's Lake is partly in this township. TP. 30, RGE. 5–Not subdivided. Devil's Lake is partly in this township. RANGE 6, WEST OF SECOND MERIDIAN. TP. 22, RGE. 6.—This township is wholly prairie. Soil light and gravelly, watered by several small streams, which in ordinary seasons would be dry. TP. 23, RGE. 6.-This township is rolling prairie, with occasional clumps of poplar. The soil is rich in many places but is a gravelly loam on the summits of the small hills. There is only fuel sufficient to supply a limited number of settlers for a season or two. Timber for building purposes could be procured at the Beaver Hills. There is a plentiful supply of good water. TP. 24, RGE. 6.—This township is mostly rolling land, intersected throughout by creeks of fair size, by which the required drainage is effected. The soil is a light, sandy loam of fair quality, and well adap- ted for farming. This township is fairly well wooded, building timber being found in the northern portions of sections 7, 8, 9 and 10, and the southern portions of sections 15, 16, 17 and 18, and also upon sections 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34, while upon sections 1, 2, 9, 11, 12 and 19, and elsewhere, timber fit for fencing and fuel is to be had. TP. 25, RGE. 6.-Rolling prairie, with the exception of two or three small islands of wood. The land is pretty good. The township is traversed obliquely by the Fort Pelly trail. TP. 26, RGE. 6.—Rolling prairie, with bluffs of poplar, willow and scrub. There are two or three creeks containing good water, and several marshes. The soil is sandy loam. 82 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. over the river valley and the town below. The railway climbs up the grade to an elevation of about 1,900 feet above the sea to get upon the higher tableland beyond, the route being carved out of the hillside composed of much gravel and boulders. There are little lakes upon this elevated prairie, and wild birds abound, for the sports- man has not yet done much in this remote region to disturb them. The shooting is very good—ducks, geese, plover, grouse, prairie chickens, snipe and other birds being abundant. There is considerable settlement here, mainly by emigrants from Ontario province, with some Germans and Scandinavians, and the omnipresent Scotch, who are the most persistent developers of the new country. We reach Shoal Lake. - - - - This is a beautiful sheet of water about six miles long, where a hotel "is to be built to make the great summer resort of the far Northwest. A site has been selected in a pleasant grove near the shore. This lake is elevated about 1,700 feet, and the railway, which came along last year, has made near by a representative village of some 100 people, just ten months old. - - - - This new little town and its dependent region expect to give the railway 100,000 bushels of wheat to export this season, and the managers say the whole section the railway serves will produce about 1,000,000 bushels from the very good crop just harvested. Thus we run out along this railway, and finally 'get upon the new track which has just been laid and is still unballasted. Moving carefully down another coulee, we cross the valley of Bird Tail Creek, an affluent of the Assiniboine, and beyond this go up to the top of the hill again to the station for the village of Birtle, which has 500 people living down in the valley along the creek. Here is one of the Dominion emigration offices, and shelter sheds for the arriving settler who has no place for temporary refuge. Next there comes difficult engineering to carry the line across the Assiniboine and two or three streams that flow into it. Broad, airy, and rather startling trestle bridges carry it over deep valleys, and these difficulties of construction, unusual in a prairie country, make it a costly line to build. The engineers take the road over the Silver Creek, a deep valley, by a ponderous and lofty trestle bridge, and as they are then at an elevation of nearly 500 feet above the Assiniboine River, they seek a long coulee to carry the line down. ' ' ' ' We turn back and drive up to the tops of the hills, seeking the famous farm of Bin- scarth. On the way, lakes are passed with sedgy edges, and we stop for a little shooting. They teem with wild ducks and several are bagged, also a prairie chicken or two. Every- one in this country takes his gun when he goes about, and thus varies the time with a little sport. Reaching the farm, which belongs to the Scottish, Ontario and Manitoba Land Company, an elaborate establishment is found, with large herds of valuable cattle, sheep and pigs, and about 4,000 acres under cultivation or used for cattle ranges. The wheat crop just harvested averages 40 bushels to the acre. The thoroughbreds have taken fre- quent prizes, and, in fact, are the most valuable herd in the Northwest, there being 260 of them, mostly pure Durhams. This establishment has all been made in the past four years, the company owning 30,000 acres of land, and having invested in land and buildings $135,- 000. They have complete buildings for the farm, and are making a great impression upon the neighboring country by their success as cattle-breeders. The colony at the farm are Ontario people and Scotch. There is to be established here next season one of Dr. Bar- nardo's Homes for Destitute Children, 200 boys being sent out from London to learn farm work. This enterprise is promised $1,000 bonus by the Local Government and 2,000 acres of land, and will do much good, it is thought, by providing farm labor where it is greatly needed. All these results have been accomplished by stretching out the railway into this GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 83 attractive and fertile region, where pretty much all the lands are already taken up. In fact, the frontier has been removed far beyond, by the anticipation of more railway building. The location of the route into the Northwest Territory has caused settlers to flock thither, and thus when the Manitoba and North-Western Railway has been pushed to completion to its present intended terminus at Prince Albert, on the North Saskatchewan River, nearly 500 miles from Winnipeg, it is probable that the onward march of settlement may then tempt its enterprising builders still further to extend the line, until it reaches the hyper- borean regions up by the Arctic circle. (Pall Mall Gazette.) After visiting Southern Manitoba and driving across the prairie back to the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the central part of the Province, Northern Manitoba remained to be seen. Such a trip is rendered easy by the Manitoba & Northwestern Railway, which runs through the fertile belt north-westerly from Portage la Prairie, a point on the Canadian Pacific, 60 miles west of Winnipeg, for about 180 miles. Its present terminus is Langenburg, about 20 miles beyond the boundary line of Manitoba, in the Northwest Territories, but it is the intention of the promoters to carry it to Prince Albert, on the Saskatchewan river, 250 miles further up. It was constructed by local capitaists for a distance of 35 miles; then the present company, in which Mr. Andrew Allan is the chief figure, bought it, rebuilt it, and extended it to its present limit about a year ago. ' ' ' The character of the country through which the road passes may be roughly described as rolling prairie, well wooded, with plenty of water. It is especially adapted for mixed farming, as besides having plenty of hay and water for the cattle, the patches of timber and the Riding Mountains to the north give a natural protection in winter, while according to the report published by department of Agriculture of the Province this year the yield of wheat per acre along this line was some two bushels per acre better than in any other part of the province. The Portage Plains in which the line starts and which it traverses for a dozen miles, are famous even in Manitoba for their fertility, They contain excellent hay lands and abundance of cover and water for cattle, while their wheat crops and incidentally the ease with which farming is done, may be judged from the fact that one man told me that he and his sons had harvested 13,000 bushels of wheat with only $30 of hired labor; and another that he had himself reaped with one binder his whole crop of 10,000 bushels. The next place of note after these wheat plains is Glad- stone, where the citizens requested me to send through you their Christmas greetings to the statesman after whom their little town is named, as I did by cable. At this point the country grows more rolling, and all the houses are cosily sheltered behind well wooded bluffs; indeed at Neepawa, the next place at which I stopped and which is the Cree word for “plenty,” the inhabitants, well satisfied with their great success at mixed farming, spoke almost pityingly of the mere “wheat raiser” along the Southern railway. The prettiest place on the line is a little town with the pretty name of Minnedosa, meaning “rapid water,” on the little Saskatchewan River. The valley here is a mile long by 300 yards wide and the road rises up to it by rapid steps. From all these towns we made little excursions by sleigh, north and south, into the Province. Beyond the general wellbeing and content of the inhabitants, however, there is nothing noteworthy to chronicle, t t t - - 84 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. We visited at Shoal Lake, a bright little village sixteen months old. Shoal Lake two years ago consisted of one house; this year it will ship 100,000 bushels of wheat. At Birtle, the next place where we stopped, the mayor waited upon us, and furnished us with glowing accounts of the prosperity of his municipality. I have with me in my note book a half dozen of the instances he gave me in which poor men had come out from Ontario or from the Old Home and were now owners of their land and abundantly provided with oxen and cows and implements and all the necessary comforts of life. Birtle has another industry, however, than wheat growing. The Bird Tail river brings down the lumber from the Riding Mountains, which its saw mill will cut this year to the amount of 4,000,000 feet. Birtle was feeling very happy when I passed because of the visit of General Wilkinson and his purchase of two and a half sections forming 1,500 acres of land there, after visiting many other parts of the Province and the American West. “He enjoyed himself fine,” the mayor said, adding that the town wished to give him a public banquet in recognition of the compliment his choice made to the neighborhood, but the General declined the banquet until, as he said, he could do something to earn it. The show place of the Manitoba & Northwest Railway is, however, the well known stock farm at Binscarth. I know nothing to speak of about stock, but if there had been doubt as to the quality and good looks of hundreds of beautiful, sleek cows and the half dozen enormous bulls which filled the long rows of stabling, it would have heen dispelled by the sight of the colored prize cards from agricultural shows all over Canada, taken by anim: als from this farm and with which the stable doors are literally plastered. Besides stock, grain is also grown here and I cannot perhaps, do better than give an exact copy of the grain return of 1887, furnished me by Mr. G. S. Smellie, the manager. It shows exactly what is done at a place where grain is, after all, a secondary consideration. The table is no doubt, too technical for the gentle reader, who may be invited to skip it immediately, but to any one interested in farming it will tell more than a good many columns of description. BINSCARTH STOCK FARM-GRAIN RETURN FOR SEASON of 1887. Kind of grain. No. of acres. State of cultivation. No. of bushels. Average yield. Wheat— Red Fyfe 214 Summer ſallow. 836 39 37-185 tº 14 Second crop. 409 29 3-14 354 1,247 35 53-141 Oats— Race Horse 184 Second crop. 1,238 66 2.75 White Main 14 Second crop. 661 47 3-14 Black 76 17 acres summer fallow 5,599 73 51-76 - 29 acres 2nd crop & 30 3rd. -- 1084 7,498 68.412-435 Barley 41% 28 acres 2nd crop & 163. 3rd 1,647 37-1-89 188% 10,392 55.49.371 Average weight of grain per measured bushel. Wheat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 lbs. Oats, of 1,238 bushels............ 48 lbs. Oats, of 6,250 bushels . . . . . . . . . . . 44 lbs. Barley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 lbs. From Binscarth a short line runs due north to a little place called Russell, and half way between Russell and Harrowby, a corresponding station on the main line, is the site of Dr. 88 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. by the English immigrants coming in later as very rough people, and a social barrier, so to speak, sprang up between them. For the ultimate failure of many English settlers this issolation is responsible, since they reſused to imitate their Canadian neighbors in the tilling of the soil, and in the treatment of stock, and particularly in the economical arrangement of the kitchen. Another class of farmer, more or less a failure here, may be designated the ‘all-eggs-in-one-basket farmer,’ trusting entirely to wheat-growing and ignoring stock of all kinds. This class of farming ran high from '78 to '85; it is now fast disappearing, and farmers are adopting the hundred-and-one chances of mixed farming. The present price of land is from $4 to $8 per acre. Land in this country is much of the same quality —very rich—the difference of value lying in improvements, location, and the presence of water and timber. Good water can be had anywhere for the digging, and in many districts running streams of pure spring water exist, particularly in the eastern riding of the county. At present this is the English settler's choice, and I am glad it is so. Large and small game and fish are here, and it cannot be excelled for stock. Settlers have the choice of two markets, Minnedosa and Neepawa.” In respect of cheese-making, Mr. A. Malcolm, of Minnedosa, writes as follows to the Minnedosa Tribune:-“Ours is a private dairy of 36 cows. From these we make abont 90 lbs. of Cheese daily. The factory building is about 16 x 20 ; it contains two 130-gallon vats, four screw presses, curd sink, milk, &c, A spring of cold water runs through the factory and supplies the vats with plenty of pure cold water for cooling the milk; thus we have no trouble in keeping the milk perfectly sweet for 48 hours in the hottest weather. The curing room is a separate building, being about the same dimensions as the other. I commenced to make about the 1st of April. The product of April and May were sold at 12 cents per lb. ; June, 10 cents. SHOAL LAKE..—Near to a beautiful sheet of fresh water, and in the midst of excellent land, the pretty little town of Shoal Lake stands, 36 miles west of Minnedosa. This place promises to become a favorite resort, on account of boating, fishing, shooting, picturesque scenery, and an atmosphere as healthy as any in the world. On the lake shore, about half a-mile from the town, a two-year old cheese factory is located. Last year was a sort of preliminary gallop with it; yet the output was 35,000 lbs. of cheese, which averaged 10+ cents per lb. on the spot. This year it manipulates the milk of about 200 cows, a good many of which, owned by various farmers, are pastured in common, and on the common, so to speak—that is, on the prairie unfenced, though not untended—for a “herd law,” now in force, requires live stock either to be fenced in or tended. These cows are herded, brought down to the factory night and morning, and milked by the factory hands. Other cows' milk is “collected" from distant farms by wagons owned at the factory; and yet other milk, from still more distant farms, is brought in once a day by the farmers—in some cases right away in the 'teens of miles. Milk out of condition is rejected, but this seldom occurs. Mr. J. G. Waldock runs the factory, and pays for the milk as follows, once a month, a month being kept in hand :—For that milked by his hands, 55 cents; for that “collected,” 65 cents; and for that brought in by the owners, 80 cents per 100 lbs., which is about ten gallons. This is about 24d., 33d., and 4d. per gallon respectively, and, as will be seen, 14d. per gallon pays for herding and milking, and #d. for “collecting” only, on which errand four light waggons are employed. The cows, generally speaking, are of an inferior breed, and yield an average of about two gallons per day each in the flush, or about a gallon and-a-half through the season. The milk is of good quality, which is often the case with GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 89 scrubby cows, but the quantity is little—it will average about 16 per cent. of cream, which is very satisfactory as to quality. As to its cheese-yielding quality, 3,656 lbs. of milk—one day's milk in September—produced 452 lbs. of cheese, weighed out of press. This cheese would probably lose ten per cent. of its weight in curing, leaving 407 lbs. of ripe cheese, or just about 1 lb. of ripe cheese from each 9 lbs of milk—a satisfactory yield. The cheeses I tested were clean flavored, close grained, of very good quality, and well made in all res- pects. They were being held for 13 cents a lb.; the previous parcel realized 11 cents. I took a warm interest in looking through this factory, because it illustrates a system capable of almost unlimited extension in Manitoba and the North-west, and I am glad to be able to award considerable commendation in this instance. Manitoba is already beginning to supply British Columbia with cheese and butter, and this points to the extension of cheese factories and creameries. A vast area of country in the Northwest—a good deal of which I saw in my journey—is, I believe, well adapted for dairy farming, that is, for stock breeding and the production of cheese and butter of high quality. . Cows can be bought in winter at $30 to $35 each—which, indeed, is quite equal to what they are worth in England at the present moment (November)—and can be wintered for $6, plus attendance. Indeed, as it appears to me, dairy farming is a pursuit to which the energies of many North-West farmers may be profitably directed ; and I ventured several years ago to make a public statement to this effect, at a meeting of the authorities in the city of . Winnipeg. The land in the Shoal Lake district is undulating and the soil strong and good, and as a rule there is plenty of water. I have seen in that locality a very fair crop of swedes and a really good one of potatoes, both of which were grown without manure and with absolutely no cultivation at all subsequent to the putting in of the seed, and with as little as possible before. The seed was put in, evidently very roughly, and the turnips were not even thinned or hoed, or anything; the potatoes were just as severely let alone. The fact is, nature does so much for the farmers that they consequently do little or nothing themselves beyond what they are obliged to do. This is true of some of the farmers in the Northwest, but not so of all. I do not “divide them all into one heap,” as Josh Billings would say. Indeed, I will say this: all of them work hard enough, at times, in seed time and harvest, for instance; and the women work hard, too, all the time—harder, I think, than the men. Here is a case:–J. Armerston and wife, living six miles south of Shoal Lake, this year cut and stooked 100 acres of grain The wife drove the binder; the husband stooked the sheaves. The wife did the loading and stacking, the husband did the pitching on the cart and on the stack. These "people are probably exceptional. And, again—some Canadian farmers have the farmyard and premises in a gratuitously rough and untidy condition, with ploughs, and harrows, and wagons, and logs of wood, and various other sorts of impedi- menta left tumbling anywhere and anyhow about the place. Costly implements and machines and tools are left out in the weather—to be roasted in the sun or drenched in the rain, or smothered in the snow in all probability. I have heard of implements being put into a bunch in a field and, with a fire guard ploughed round them, left out all winter. I have seen a horse rake, a grass mower, a twine binder and a wagon pushed into a bluff of trees and there left to take their luck. And yet such people complain if their machines don't work well the following year. I don't think the inferior Canadian farmer cares to fill up his spare time in doing odd jobs around the place. If he did, his place would be more orderly than it is. 90 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. - There are numerous natural meadows and swampy tracts of land where large quantities of hay may be cut free of charge; hay, indeed, is cut to some extent, but when men can have all they want for the trouble of harvesting it, they seem to care nothing about it, and the harvesting is done in a slipshod fashion; the hay is left out too long after it is cut, baking in the sun until its nutritive properties are greatly diminished ; indeed, the hay was still out in lumps in many places when the wheat was being cut. Well, the country is good enough, and it only remains for man to do his duty. “There is plenty of wood, water and hay and any amount of ploughable land,” as one of my companions for the day correctly and tersely put it. The wheat yield was extraordinary this year. I heard, on what ought to be good authority, of a case where a farmer threshed out nine stooks of wheat, each stook having ten sheaves just as they came from the binder, ninety sheaves in all ; the yield of wheat was twelve and a half bushels. There are, of course, sheaves and sheaves, even from a binder, and these sheaves might have been just about as big as the binder could make them with comfort; I only repeat the story as I heard it. Taxation amounts to $28 per section of 640 acres, including bonus to railway; this is 4 cents, or 24d. per acre, and it covers everything. Not a few farmers came into this district about the year 1880, and having no market within reach, their little money slowly dribbled away; now the railway has given them a market, and, being well rooted in the soil, as one may say, they are likely to prosper better than new comers; at all events they ought to be able to do so. Since the “herd-law” came in force stock-farmers are beginning to fence their land, in order to save the trouble of herding their cattle, sheep and horses, and to prevent trespass on neighbors’ crops; for the owners of stock are responsible for the mischief it does. The fencing is almost invariably done with wooden posts and barbed wire. The snug little town of Birtle is prettily situated in a well wooded valley, down which runs a stream called “Bird-tail Creek,” of which Birtle is obviously an abbreviation. It is in fact on the Bird-tail, and is called Birtle for short. A grist-mill is on the stream ; and a lumber-mill, driven by steam, stands near the town. New houses are being put up, and, though Birtle may not for some time to come increase very much or very rapidly, it is already an important market town, and will surely hold its own in the future. It is only some ten miles east of Fort Ellice, a well known trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Barnardo up the line, en route to his new colony between Birtle and Russell. The location is well chosen, and the country is adapted for mixed farming. This sort of land is just the place for such a colony as Dr. Barnardo is establishing; for young men who understand mixed farming will do for any part of the Dominion. Seven sections of land, or some 4,500 acres, have been secured, all of them well watered and wooded. The Doctor intends to locate a lot of his lads there, and have them trained for farming. Premises will be built at some central place, and the manage- ment of the colony will be in competent hands. A cheese factory will be established, and it is in contemplation to build a “cannery” to utilize the fruits which the country will so freely produce. The lads will be taught to do all kinds of farm work, from driving a plough to milking a cow; and, as they become proficient, thirty acres of land will be allotted to each one who desires and deserves it, with thirty more to follow if advisable. Other lads will go out as farm servants, if they like, or they will be free to take up a home. stead of Government land. This new developement of Dr. Barnardo's philanthropy appears to me to contain the elements of success, and it certainly deserves to be well supported. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 91 BINscaRTH.-One hundred and fifty-five miles from Portage, and almost on the edge of the beautiful valley of the Assiniboine, the rising town of Binscarth stands. The country around is one of hills and dales to a great extent, and picturesque to a degree not too often met with in the North-West. There are numerous lakes and streams, and plenty of timber. The soil is a deep, black loam for the most part, suitable alike for crops and grass, and all kinds of farming live stock. An Indian reserve lies directly to the south-west of the town and another to the east, about a dozen miles away. The Scottish Ontario and Manitoba Land Company own a large portion of three townships about the place, and on one of them the famous Binscarth Stock Farm is situated. The premises at this place, comprising church, hotel, houses, barns, work-shops, and other appurtenances, are situated on the edge of Silver Creek, which is certainly a beautiful valley. The farm is under the management of Mr. Smellie, and is in good hands. A large herd of pedigree shorthorns is kept on the farm, and among them are many animals of very considerable merit. One of them, a bull, “Prince Arthur” by name, is a long and level beast of excellent quality; he is big, massive, symmetrical, with grand quarters, well let down everywhere. He was sired by “Knight of Warlaby,” and his live weight is 2,800 lbs. The object of the company is to disseminate good bovine blood throughout the country; and of course to make money. A considerable area of land is under crops which are subsidiary to the live stock. A well built barn, one of the biggest in the North-West, shelters the herd in winter. The cattle are in the base- ment, and overhead are compartments for hay and straw and grain, and the preparation of food for the stock. A huge avalanche of animal manure has tumbled headlong into the valley. and awaits the time when it will be wanted for the land. I saw a crop of swedes, many acres in extent, grown without manure; it would average quite thirty tons to the acre, I believe, and the mangels would be nearly as much. A strip of land running across the crops has been manured, and here the swedes and mangels were decidedly better than elsewhere. Some Canadian farmers tell one that the land needs no manure; my impression is that they say so as an excuse for not taking the trouble to apply it. No doubt there is land in Manitoba so rich in the elements of plant food as to grow good crops during a succession of years without manure. A few inches of subsoil brought up now and again, refertilises the surface no doubt; but there is no land which, after a few years' cropping, would not be all the better for a dressing of farm-yard dung. The most prolific and carefully tendered garden I have seen in the North-West, is at the Binscarth Farm. A large variety of vegetables were grown on a manured and well tilled soil; the crops were heavy, and free from weeds. As a matter of fact, the soil will grow excellent crops or almost any kind of garden or field produce, if only it has fair play and is well attended to We drove round the country and called on a number of settlers. - - - - LANGENBURG.—Another five and twenty miles and we reach the present western end of the road, 180 miles from Portage. Not far from the station a German cabinet-maker, Theuer by name, has homesteaded land, and, with his son and son-in-law, has built a superior house, and very substantial buildings for cattle and horses. These are people of some little capital, no doubt, and soon they will increase their store. In spring, summer, and autumn they attend to their land and stock as far as need be, and in winter earn money at their trade. Such people are sure to get on, and they are setting an example, sorely needed by settlers who prefer to hibernate in winter. The Germans, indeed, being a thrifty, ingenious, and industrious people, usually make good colonists, and there are a good many of them at Langenburg. 9 2 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. Various Colonization Societies have laid the scene of their labours in Manitoba and the North-West Territory. Their object has been to relieve the congested state of popula- tion in some parts of England, but they have not been always successful. Two of the better known of these societies have locations west of Langenburg, and it was with the object of inspecting them that I drove a distance of forty miles, or so, away west from the end of the line. The Churchbridge Colony, established under the auspices of “The Church Colonization Land Society, Limited,” is situated in Assiniboia. The Society is a very influential one, and its object is “to carry out, in connection with the Church of England, a practical system of colonization on a self-supporting and remunerative basis—the settlers being assisted to attain independence, and the Society receiving a fair return on the capital —the whole being in our own colonies, under our own flag.” The Churchbridge Colony is affiliated to the Albany Colony, and both of them are promoted by the same society. “The mode of operation is to raise capital by issuing shares of £1 each (without further liability) for acquiring blocks of land for 40 to 160 acre farms, erecting houses thereon, and on the intermixed free homestead lands, breaking and sowing a portion, and providing stock and implements ready for the settlers; to purchase the whole, or to rent the 40-acre farms with option of purchase, at equitable prices, payable by installments. The land is suitable for grain and cattle farming.” In the Churchbridge Colony the settlers are placed on free grants of 160 acres of land, and are practically homesteaders who have houses put up for them by the society, and also implements and stock where needed, the whole outlay being secured by mortgage, which is redeemable by the settlers. This is the second and larger system, and in each the settler may enter on a farm on which the first necessaries have been provided for him, and he can remain upon it or not as he chooses. It is understood that settlers will provide their own passage and outfit; yet probably some of them will receive direct or indirect assistance in these respects, though I am not in a position to say to what extent they will. “If a settler under the first system quits his holding, he will leave his improvements behind him, for which the society may, but is not absolutely bound to, compensate him ; each case would depend upon its merits. If a settler under the second system quits his free holding, provision is made by law for the mortgagee to take possession and put another settler in his place. There is, therefore, great inducement to stay, and provision against loss in case of quitting by any restless settler.” “The society does not collect and dispatch numbers of men, women and children to the colonies and leave them to shift for themselves, but does its best to select suitable emigrants; requires them to pay their passage out, or the greater part of it; provides them with homes on arrival, and a portion of their land broken and sown with food for the first year; assists them with cattle, implements and practical supervision; and finally looks after them spiritually as well as temporally, so that they shall not in going to a new country be utterly deprived of the social and religious advantages of the land of their fathers.” Fourteen houses have been provided at Churchbridge, small but comfortable houses of wood, and about sixty persons have arrived in the colony. Mr. Roberts, who hails from the neighborhood of Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, is a good example of what a colonist ought to be. He has put up a good store of hay, has done a good stroke of plough- ing for next year's crop, and may be regarded as a pushing man who understands his work. GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. 95 The impressive stillness and solitude of a night on the prairie has, after all, a weird and singular charm of its own. The moon is bright and the air transparent—just the sort of time to enjoy a pipe and an hour's quiet thought. All is still—for the wind dies away in the evening in the Northwest—not the sound of a bird or anything; but, hark through the warm, pure air comes from a distance a sound as of children laughing; then it dies away; again it comes from a distance that seems lessened, and we strain our eyes in that direction. It is the coyotes or prairie wolves out on a frolic; but they will not come near enough for a shot; in fact, they are half a mile or more away on the plain. Presently a dog barks, and the cackling fun of the coyotes ceases; we listen for it again but it comes no more, and at last we turn into bed and sleep. (From the Financial News, London, Eng., Feb. 8, 1888.) Manitoba is likely to derive many indirect, as well as direct, benefits ſrom its splendid wheat harvest of last year. All the farmers have been put in funds, the Canadian railways have been overwhelmed with traffic, and a great stimulus has been given to the business in the Northwest. These have been the immediate effects; but there are a good many others to follow. Next spring there is likely to be a larger immigration in Manitoba than even during the boom of 1882. Young farmers in Ontario and Quebec will go west in search of fresh fields and pastures new. They begin to see that in wheat growing the Eastern Prov- inces have no longer a chance against the Red River Valley and the rich prairie lands beyond it A large increase of European immigration may be quite as confidently expected Germans, Danes, Norwegians, and even Poles, have been finding their way to what used to be called the Great Lone Land, but is a lone land no longer. It has been filling up gradually with hardy settlers, who have made for themselves comfortable homes, where only a few years ago, the buffalo ranged at large. Not only will the new comers require homesteads, but existing settlers will be eager to increase their holdings. Every dollar of profit made on last year's crop will be invested in more land, which is the only savings bank of the country. What with a large wheat traffic coming down and a stream of immigrants going west, the Canadian railways should do well all next spring. - - - * Most people in this country have heard of no other road in the Northwest than the Canadian Pacific, and they assume that it is the only one. Of late there has been some amusing controversy about its supposed monoply in Manitoba. Not one in a dozen of loquacious disputants seems to have been aware of the existence of another railway in the Province quite indepen- dent of the Canadian Pacific, and, though a much smaller road, having the promise of an equally prosperous future. The Manitoba and Northwestern branches off from the main line of the Canadian Pacific at Portage la Prairie, and runs northwest for a distance of 180 miles toward the Saskatchewan river. It traverses what are called “the park lines of the fertile belt,” and has opened up one of the finest farming countries in the whole Northwest. A historical interest attaches to its route, for it is the one originally intended to be taken by the C. P. R. Even then the country was pretty well settled, and in the first surveys of the Dominion Government engineers the line was to make a bend to the north, where the Manitoba and Northwestern is now. When the syndicate took over the enterprise they had new surveys made, and, for engineering reasons, they located their line further south than the Govern- 96 GUIDE BOOK TO M. AND N. W. RAILWAY LANDS. ment route. The settlers in the Minnedosa district were, of course, indignant at being shunted, and to appease them a concession was granted for a branch line. Sir Hugh Allan and his friends took it in charge, and when about 130 miles had been built they negotiated in London an issue of bonds on it at the rate of £3,000 per mile. The security they had to offer was much more substantial than is customary among prairie roads To begin with, they had a land grant from the Dominion Government of ten square miles, or 6,400 acres, for every mile of road built. This amounted on the 130 miles to 832,000 acres, the greater part of which was an absolute free gift, while the rest was subject to a charge of $1 per acre in favor of the Government of Manitoba. The road itself had been solidly built, laid throughout with steel rails, well equipped and finished in every respect to the satisfaction of the Canadian Government engineers. - - - - The road, which was then newly opened, is now doing a very large and profitable business. The lands have sold well and at profitable prices. - - - • * The sales of the past two years have also been very satisfactory, having yielded an average of two and a half dollars per acre. The land department of the Company has been conducted with great energy and skill, the best class of settlers having been selected in Northern Europe and taken over under the supervision of the Company's own agents. In the coming spring a special campaign will be made among the Danes, Germans and Norwegians who begin to exhibit a great partiality for the Northwest. The land sales are expected to double or treble those of any former year, and later on the business of the road will increase proportionately. - - The Manitoba and Northwestern Railway, standing on its own feet and with only its own territory to depend on, has every assurance of becoming a valuable property.