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I
CONFIDENTTAL.
T.vtters from Sii; .Toiix Tvosi: to the Govr.Rxni}.
I.llNIION",
Sr/Jcmher 10. ISSi
Ml
Ih- \\i Coi vn.v
Yoii, uiul dui' cdU'a^H's, \\\\\ t'xpi'rt til hciir what imiJi-cssioiis lay
(ihscrviiliun- on tlu- Xurlh Wr>t liavc jjivdi vise to. -Mr. Ariiiit will no doubt rqiori ui
(Ictiiloii ill! mailers alii'diiiii- tlic ('.iiii|iiniy's iiitoresis, to wliieli lii' wa.s ilovotiiiL,' vcp,
oarnost attention ; Iml it mav lie iim'IuI to compare his cotielusions with my own,
unlntliiein'i'i! hy any |ire\ ions interelian^-o of views, a ju-oeess by wliieli indiviilnal
()]iini<in is sometimes umlnly (lualitied ; be.-ides there are many ixiiiits on which he wili
report I hut I need not notice.
An to oxv (Icnirit! Trwle : — T urn convincpd that this rannot b*^ continiird wiMi
p:-o)ll under existinfj; conditions and restrictions. We must t'aee the fact that tlie old
order of thintfs is entirely chaiif^ed, and I fear wo shall liave to consider without I'urlhei
delay the allrrnatives : —
('0 Of an 1 ntire ehanj^e of system, and partially of men.
(A) "t' Livini; up our u-eiural irade altofiother, or
Ic) Of liiniiinu- 'ur op'.r.ilioiis undi.;r altered conditions to comparatively few
You have lo seo with your own eyes wli.il is now <j;oing on aluiijj; the line ul
railway and it> vi.inily in order correctly lo njipiiM i.ile il. The road is now runnin-
to the new Capital Keprina. formerly i'ile of Hviiu's (h'cek, .-ouie 400 miles wot ol
W'innipeir. ll udl be pu>hed to the ba^e of the Koeky Mountains ne.vt year, and
completed ihrouj^hout i; is anticipaicd in ISS"). X'nt only ut the Towns and the various
istablished '■>talions on the line, but accoinpain iiig the track layers in their daily
protjrcss, you see indep( luknt traders carrying; on a thriviufr bnsine>s, many of iheni
umler telilN, and with the most complete a.ssorlnieiH. of goods recpiiri'd a^ well by the
iidlwav peop'e (of whom iheiu- are some 7,0IHI| as by the settlers, whose tenis iind
houses ure d tied all over the prairie. 1 f any article appears in be specially fancied, or
running short, it is immediately (d)lalni'd by telegraphi(! orders iVoni ^iich ismporiuina
Ms \\'innipe,u:i I^'- I'mil "'" ''hiea^j'c, and is in a tew da_\s on tl •• pot ami inimediahly
'-old and paid loi.
Tic lelegraiih is laid at ihe same timi' with the rail-, and al ihe end of the day's
\M)rk, a canvas villas; of stores, inns, sulooiis, \c,, seems to spring up. These truder.s
are ai live enerRi'tic fellovvs, nioslly finin bu-imss < cnlres in old Canudu and the I'liiled
.Suites, experienced ill dealin;.', ipiie!v lo aiipri'cialc whai is liKily lo sell, re^poiisilile lo
no one, liuving a fair cri'dil, and being sonu'liines in p.iiinei -.liiii with ihe wholesale
%
h' -•/-
iii(.TfK:;;il in llic liiy; cil Ics, iiiid :ill :irii lutiKitid 1,\ n kf< ii miix' of .-ili-iiiN ir-t. 'I Iic\
lire (HI tlic sjKil, :ill,l hMNiiiu' iViiud'y ri'liitiiplis with llic liiihv;i\ i.r,i|ilo ;iiici -. i:lcrs. i,'cl
llic ^':l^lil•.^t iiiforiiiiiliuii to liclp liicir nwii iiiilj;iiu'nl,>, that iiic UMially (|iii.k Piumyli.
iil)nut tlic licsi .-.ills !oi' -.((ires, iV;('., Mii'l tlic\thi:,s irct a lu..ti;ii: tor tu'iiic n|,.'iMii,iiis
iVi/iii wl'.icli it is Hut i'lisv I.I (li>[)iac.- tliciu. I <vmt iiitu ii iiiiiiiln'r nl -U<:i> aiul li'nl>
lihiU'^ lliu lino, iind was aina/crl at liir \a!i(ty ai.il »-\rcllcncc..| the unuj,- ajal lli.' cxirni
and llic ra)iidily id' tin' lurn-dvci-.
\m\v. do wi' [im^'Vi .-s. cini H ( ]ii'M'iin' ; oc, it' we can, aro wi' ifadx to imii rii^l oar
mm willi llif anthorily to condiul liii>'nc-> in that way 'r Lot i,,(' intiitioii u hat 1 >aw
at oiirPo-t f^'ApiM 11,-, and whiih 1 hcdicvi' to i)i' ii Ihil', if Jiciiiapsii littlfcxiifi-ffinitcd, t \ po
of our i-ondilioii, [\i-iiodil on the liih id' .Anfjiint The i-".ii;>lish frauds had onl\-
aiiivcd on llif liist wiik in .Iidy. 'I In Canadian L'-oods oi'diiril tin' [irovious vrai had
arlnally m t ronic to hand al ihr dal" ot oar vi>il. luii uii'i' oxprrtod in rarts fr.aii foif
Idlicc. '1 ho di niand. cM-ciii lui- a low I ndiali artiid'- and staph- |irodu(.is, siicli a« hacmi.
llour, Xc, had hull sap|ili.d. Many ot the poods Miit irom Knoland on rcipiidlioiis
pi'i palfd tho piTVioiis year wrvr nii^iiilahh'. and a ■.tc it doniand uxi'tid I'of ai'iadis that
had fitlu'f not liucn oiiloivd at all. or in insnliiiii-n: (jnuntiliiw : >onio ol th;in, such as
potted meats, \c., having a(.'ttially hten ijroeniid Irom passinir iiadors. Wli.-ii tin v run
short at the store they liavo tir-t t.i send a re.pii-i; ion liy what is ealh'd expn >s u, the
Oriieer in ciiaro'e of the district, at /i-// /.'.oiv i-ome Idil mile« oti ■ 'I'iiis, tiliei' n is
examined ami approved of there (whiidi T am t"ld ofleii takes sone tirriei, js lorwaidel
hy the nsual eross-cDuniry road to Mr. (iraham. in Winnipe;"- The ^ame proei s- n,enrs
thero. and he si'iids the oniev I'crhapN to Montreal. St. rani, Chica;:", <'V Knulami.
M.uiy months elapse hef. r.- the artiidi — wiiieh tli(> in.!ependent trader would in the
mean'inn' lii\e turned (>\rr two or liiiee times— arr;\ e-, h is, of coui'se, inn ossihh-
now to carry on inisinuss suceessfiilly wuh r sai h conditions where tleavare imh petnh nt
competitors an.l it is iindoiihted tint the system is oh-ohte and unsiiiied to ihi- new
order of ihino-s.
With my very limited personal knoulidp' of o.ii' Olilcei-. I should not like to
pronoun e ,in opinion, hut |,om all I have seen and luar.l.and I have taken sonu pains
to niako , iii|uiry, I ftar ther'e are few of them Irom our Chaf Coinmissioner downwards
who are rompelent to jday the role of iictive Tiaders succe sfnlly, evm if the Jloard
were wlliinir to concede thec"ential power of act iliUT indepeldenllw In ihisii.eit
w.inlil seem lasMiminu' that the Hoard was inclim'd to n iir;:aniM' and |ioMiiite the
!{cneral tiade nmler altered condiiion.s) tluil sullicieiit control coidd he practically
exetcisid if the Conipaliy had a thorough and ( theielit hii-iuevs riaaii at ihe head
of its tiadinir operations. The chiel ].!ac(- o| husiness are imw, or .s. on will 1,,.. wiihin
easy reach of c-aeh ollu'r. The results of the biisiiu'ss at evi r\- Slove, .md iis I'enrriil
maiKiuenieiil and prospects could he easily ascertained hall-Marly ''y the ( mi,|o\inint
o| an iii-piclor. iind fhire-iinis Iio re:is,,n w hy the delay neec-siry to aseeriainirnr
the rcMdl of ( lutlils for the fur Tr.ii
Hie >'iou'd apply to ,iur tradino' operitions.
Yo I will a-k, What CMnelusion does all ihi- lead to:- llut I piefer holdinu mv
jiidoiiiont III sii-p.iiM'on this very im|)ortaiit (piestion until you f;et Mr. .\rmit's rep.. it
.md \\f huve ,1 lull disi'ussi.u, u iili our i.'olleai;uen. 'I'hat there is a proliiahle trade i,, he
'' ''.^ s.. me one I have no douht Tlin presii(;i< and reputation of the Compiinv I'or
keepinj; ^■ood articles and I'or uenoral fair
lci\e We the necessary iusi riinieiiis III tiiin this a.lvantaue ti
will We proruro thein, and uill our doinu; so from oulsid
and MO (lisor;;uni.''c our I'lir Triide tuiuliiiicrv.
IS recotfnis.d hy I'Very one ; hut, sliil
.account .- if not,
c sources alioiial
e our ..llieei,-
1
It is jiiissiMf — tlic 111 ccs^.'iiT rliaii;;'' nrs\stfin l.i iiip fiiMiilcd ^ tliiil ^oIlu• ui lidlc
I'liiU'^i inns I" I'l r i.iir iiilcicsl, (.</. .—
I*
(■ ! ('(jiil'iiiu^ i.iir>(l\('s 1.1 A\'niiiiiii';r. kcfj.inf.'- ;i l.-ir^'i r Kl(,ck, :iiiil ^irliiiir :is
\\ !liilr>;ilt' <r>'l.cral (Kalilri i;iilv.
('i Wv-u'wUn'j^ ()\irM\\i--» til II siMiiil iiuiiiIki' it'lli.' l.t-t j.hiciN whirli i.n
wiiliiii rcai'li am] wliiTc wi- ciiri M I'liri' ccinin tt nl iiiaM:if.'tr.- and lliu^
iivdid ;:ivi:ii;- ^jciii'Vul nti'i iici' In '"ip <'nniliil -inlicd dtlii'i i~. Hiii t'Mii
tli's iiiiddli' four-c !•( (|ui!. - a -111. I aii.l ( t!ic ii i.l lu-ai at \\'i!ii:;|ii'._'.
M:. tiraliaiu is ii 1 liiin.ii.^iily I iiislMi'i lliv iilid ii 'i.^lil laaii, desiM \ iii^'
.t .'Ni-ry cdii-iilMatinii al i.iir li.iiid- I'l.r lii.> i. .n^ 'iid ('.lillil'id mi'vIim's^
ii it I am f.lurialiliy f.in..l t.i the i i.nclii.-i..ii Mi:. I In- lias imt t|:(.
qmdilics fitliiijr 'i^m I'^r lln ;.. w aini varied d- t .- lliut ii.u-it be iiii.lt i-
lakiMi il'wi' arc 1.. .arrv ciii an aili\i' ciiiniiirrrial busim^ss, iviii will.lii
nil. ill rato limits it \villliiil 1 asv tn lilld ■■licll il p(ir>'i'l. I tlimli' as
i-.\trii>.lve ili'lHiry in Caliailii as 1 ci.ald, w.tliiiiit l.iili;; Im. |iiiiMlrii. and
tho oid\ pfi- 1(111 will) sci'iiii-d titled by |ir(vii)iis iraiiiiiii; ilia' I cuiiid
hi .ai- lit' was Mr. V. f'l.tirad, at j.rcsoTit willi lial-'cr and <'... I kii'iw
li'ithili^ of l.iiii ]i''r.--.ilially, Inii Sir l,.iiii Macd.iaaM and ..'l.rr~
riiniii'i'ti'd witll tin- luili.Hi l)i]iurtin(.'ilt. as well as oiilsuliis, spraK i.l'
liiiu Its lii-iii;; a ll'iinui^li iiiiu nf business. Iiiipoitaiil iliiii^:i- ur"
in..v;lab!. wnli us ..riiirii iiiii^ ; .nid is 't an iiiiiiiaftii'al idea liiat d'
utili.siin: Ml'. .\n:ii* ,il Wiiinipiir': II.' lias i >■ j.i-i iriu-i', a|.titud.'_
I iier;ry, di'vuti..ii In lbi> service, and iii a seii.su his seleeli.ui tiiie:hl n.'
vii'wed as promotion inside nur nun sei\ iei. With tlii.^ siiperv i.-iiii
and sagaeilv we slmidd ie iiuire o:i a level uilli mir eoinpetiinrs llian
ue iiuw are. ^\ e hhould need iiiiuli h's -u|iervisioii In in Liiiidnn. and
.Mr. Ariiiit s deputy lieri' in;j,'lit mmhi he inslriHle.l sidlieientiy to
niidei t.ike the diiiiinisliL'd ummint nf u nrk teal w.ml.l tiiii^ tall nil the
Secretary in Lnndnii. .Such a step would be uituidnd with ttic
additional advaulat;e nt' liavin;^ a.ti ailditimial i-yeon the land niH'ratioiis,
respeetini,' ulii.li .Ml'. Graham has absl.'iiind I'rini likili";: aliv coiieeru
whalever.
(•O.MI'I, AIN IS .\(i.\lNsr nuvixiEs.
'I'lli'se liM.k a taUirible Inriii on iiiy all i\al al Wiiinipee. and I I'ell ii nei'es-aiy
In ilesote Millie I iliie In I n Vi'^i i l; 1 1 ill l; I lielll. .^Ir. I i I'aiiani I mil me ill, it he ha'l al .Mr,
lllatliliaid's rei|iii s| l.ikeli a {"..ill 1 h iiiteri st in 1 lie pui ehase oi'tlii' I Mil I''..rl : — I hat he
believed ibe other ihree Iniirl h'- w. I e nwiud by Mr lirMlye-, .Mr. liiMlly ami Mr.
lilaiu.'bard Mr. .Smii h ma.le I lie s,nn.' slaleineni a.s conveyed to hini b\ .M r. ( i lahaiii,
and iiiliinalcd ihal as a Sliarehniiler he did iiol mean t.i hi the mailer r.'st. I ihniiirhl
il riijhl I.l iiilorm Mr. lliyi!i,e > ,,1' ti.ese .slal.im nts, bill he cave ihiiii with a eond deal
111' warmth ami imlie;nalinu ii nmsi iini|iiiililicd denial us reeards his own parlicipalioii,
III said he had reaseii to think bnlli Mr. J!al-ili\, Mr. Dlaiiehanl ami Mr. Urahani were
intirtot"il ill ilic ])iirrliiiso, Imt who else ho did not know, and so h)nfr is lio had fjot his
Jivic'c 111' h;i(l ii:» riglit to uuiiiii'i'. I founrl llial Mr. lii:iiii'h;in! «iis a i;riii Icnriii hc-iriuir
II vii'v liitrh idiiiriiitcr in Winiiijir-^ — hi' is ono of ihi' pi'iiifipal opi iiilni> in lai d ihi-ri'^
mid tlicn- is riTiaiiily imthiiiji: in lii.-. oiiiiKMiion with thi- ('nii.pa::)' to pr;'ch:d;' his
huyin^r- ^fi' liivd^ri's Iroiii itn' huIm'! aslu'd ji, SO, 00(1 aid altrr iiiaiiy months of
licirolialiMii M: i'.l I'M'hard agreed lo tfivf that price Ilf. Mr. lHaiudiard, ilil'oriTU'd ini-'
I'hat lie h hi ciiilv -111 'kill l.> Mr. <>rahaiii oiicf on the suhji it oH'ci iiii; him an inlcrr^I in
ra-c lie niailf ih' I'airhasi', lint thai ,M r. ( iraham ihiniMhi s-J.")il,tiOO the milsiih' vahic.
Iilaniliai'd, howcvrr. conijik'ttd ih' hiiri;aiii at tlio hiyhi r jiriii' in Mr. (jrahaiii'sab-cnii',
and wlirli ouin r n!' the [iro]i(.Tt\ uii^ \mmI ihr iiU'ci' to ^Ir. f iiahairi. I'llaiU'haid -.latid
that Mr. ( iniliain's iiitonst was oni-third and not ono-tourth : — that he had [laid lor
tin's tliird : — that the ot'tK-r tliii'd wa> Jlr. FiiiUiily's, and h(.> afhiinid in the stroiipfcst
hini^iiatro that hi> had nt vit aiipiirlioiii'd Mr. ]1ryd^'c> a ^harr, and that Rrydgos had no
intcii^t (lirri'tlv or indirpctly in ihi |iiin ha^c. I lointuunicated all this to ifr. Sinithi
hiif ill' was s<i!i a ilislif liovor, and <i."aliain cimtiniU'd to say that lio thought ho had only
a i'liurlli iiiti'i'rsf. .VI'iit :his I jjot all parties togollicr, ifr. (j-'aliani, ^[r. Sinitli, Jlr.
lihiiu'hard, ami M-. Arinit — Mr. (iraliaiu's nirniory was i-viili'iitly ontiroly at fault,
lio tir»t siatod that ho had jiaid nothici;, ami that ho always undorstood (ihous'h ho
iidiniltcd it had imt boon .so stalod in winls iiy Mr. lilaticliard i that ho had only ono-
I'ourth iuti'i'r^t. I. howi vcr. iior-^iinally M'rilinl tlic jiaynii'Uls al tin' Jiank of Moiitrial
ami uc'ually saw ^Ir (irahinn's arcoptanoi, whioh, at its nialiirity, hud hron dobilod to
his acciiunt yiic /.''<• uiK-Z/urd, :u-n\ Mr. Iilaiiohard's and Jir. I5,iisiilv's thoi.ks fur tlii'
ri iiiainiiiL'' iwn-ihirds all dated the la^l. It seems ini .\plioable
how such a inivennooption ahouM have arisei;, but I am 1 laiel in >tat<' in the strounrest
terms that havinir heard tlio staleinent- of all parlies, and vrilii'd all the facts, there is
not a -hailinv '•!' iriimnd f.ir siipp.i^iiiir thai li -vdijes wa>, nr wa^ ever inlended (o be
interosti d liiieiiiy nr iudireeilv in the transaction. And [ record this as ni\- own
uiuiualilied cnx iiiinn.
1 niii;l,i. iipfhaps, 1.) a-ld 'hi' the ri'-sale of a pari of the lots has u. it been
earrini nut. I'lm price wa-i f' Lriiiiied by eMryniio as alisiird — ihe deposit is likely
In be Inifritid, aiid iho )niriha--"r is ne.irntiatin;^' for reduced terms. And from all the
npilii ills I heii'il 1 xprcMil tlie ]ir;cn paid by the ^^ mlieale was all outside one, and
cniild iml be rciii.xeil to-dav.
I'LOCK .Mil. I. AT WINMPKC. AM> Till: CO.MPANYS
I.NTI'K'KST IX TIM', liiJI |t( iI".S.
I stroni;!y roeommeiid our di>posinn' of the (^)mpanv's interest in thesp iiiuler-
takiiiirs, and I leipiested Mr. liiydii'e-. I" (>iideavnur to jret snme nllers, and iraiiMiii*
tliem to lliell.Kiid. Il'lhe mill is in Miccii d, ue niiisl repl-ice the niachilirvv wit h
that of a nmre modern kind at a very heavy oxjicnso, and there will nnw bi im InnMcr
anv dilhculty in supplying' all the Cninpany's requirements from other niilis.
As reirarib- ihe bridtjes, they have answiM'ed their jiurpos" nf altractin}» the
t.iwn to the ( 'niiipany's properlv ; tlie struct ures nuist always be rivkv, and tlmuu-h
eariiilif; a j;nnd revolllio, iho capital can be cinplnyed otheruiM' to eipiallv nocd
aiUaiilaiie.
■I
J
I .■~liijiilil likcwis.' kccj) ill viiw tin' cxpcilii'iny of mIHiij; i'iii' Cdiiijiiiiiy's
interest in t)ie stouinerH as sonu u-s tlie proi^M-esri ni the raihv;iy will ciisun tiie (liH\cry
ol'llieir ;-uiiiili"s iiiil({)'.-ii(leiilly ot the liver.
FOET WILLIAM PIM U'FUTY.
Tile Piiiice Alljeit peoijlo ufe ;riukilii; :;ii ;it elinrl- te -eeiiie tlie teliiiiiui-^ tliere,
iiiid have offered uU the land I'ree, but the Canadian I'aedk- C'pinjiaiiy seemed inelined,
wlien I WHS at Winnipcfj;, to locate the'r lerniinn: on llio Company's property, provided
they trot a fre<' grant of 100 uere<, iiu iiiding uU tile water IVoiita<.'e for Ntatiou purposes,
Mr. llenriie; went ilown with ]Mr. Slcjiheii to visit tin' (■foperty. and I saw him on
his return. < 'n talking it over witii him, we disru>sed the alternative proposition
of ui\iiiLr the liailway ( 'imiiiaiiy a more liinitid spaee free, and an interest in the sale
ot the lemaiiider, av-iil.ihio for Town -ites. In an interview with Mr. Stepr.c n, at
New York, ho indieated his prclercnce for some sueh plan, but .stated that a- the
I'aeitie (.'oihjiatiy would not lake over that section of thi' road till the sprinir, he would
eoine to no dcH;ision at present, hut, would, in the me oitime, instruet their engineer
to prepare a, jihin of th.' p-iound, shuwing the smallest spaeo they would require for
station L't-oiind. and that then tlie\ uoiild prol ably make an otler to take u jrrani of the
wlioli, on tie ceiiditimi of .lecoiinlin^- to us in some e(|iiiiaiple proportion lor whatever
the retnuinder miii'lit realize. This " Town luttinfj " is ,i very speei.il business. Tri, //
can do s.) inuel to ui.d<e or niuv any loeality than wo van, that I am inclined to think
it would be for our interest to close with some sueh propo>al, provided the share i. a
i'.iir one.
SrSl'ENKlXC S.\LE OF L.WD.s.
.\fier I h li WinniiieL;- ^Iv. ITemiti.L!' and Mr. .\riiiit di-cussed the expediency of
withdrawiiio; any lands in the vicinity of the sii])po-ed line of railway from private sale,
and of substitiiliiiu' periodical jiubiic sales, and instructed Mr. r.rydi;es in that seilso
a'-kin^ me by tclei^'raph to concur. This 1 proiime proceeded iVom the impression that
there hud been favoritism, or at least precipiianey, in coiinectiou with some of the
])revious sale." ; that some of the purchasers had realizid hii^'e prolits by acquirinj; what
had turneil out to be St.ition or Town sites, .md th.it if proper I'oresijjht had been
e.Kerei^i'd, the Company sliould ha\e had the hmetit of the incicasrd value. Ih'.iii,'
unawuro of the cireuinstances they had in miiiii, I cannol, say whithei there is any or
what foundation for the idea, but I have f,'reat fats of the ell'ect (d' any intimation th-,t
we are witlidrawinir lands I'roni sale. 1 diu not, however, like to ri'iu>e aequiesicnee in
their instruetions, as theConimittee would have an early opiKirliinity of consideriiiir the
i.piestion, but I tpialilied it to this extent by suggesting that any oilers in the meantime
sliould be reported at once by cable.
u
I
i
il
A very larcro jiropnrtion of the ;icro:ic;e tli;if lius been sol 1 ciilicr hy tlie rdiiipany.
tlu' GdviTiiiiicnt, or llie Jtiii.wuy, i.s held in speeulatiun butli by iiiflividuiils ;iiiil by L.iiid
;ind CdloiiizLition ('(iiiipiiiiies. This land will be pressed t^Ti the marker Inliire Itiu;;, and
it is ini])o-i>ible in my judjjrinent that the demand by actual settlers will for many years
absorb the supply. There must be a reaetion in prices, and T see no reason to quidiCy,
but on the contrary, every reason to eonfirm tho opinion I have always held that we
should take advantaf^e of tho present demand to dispose of as much of our laud as
possible at the eiu rent rales of the day.
I found tlierc was less cordiality between Mr. Rrydges and the Canadian Paeific
A.utliorilies than is disii'able in our interest. They have it in their power to au"iuent
the value of much of our )>ioiii'rty by timely intimation regardiiif,' tiunr stations, the
hieation of their lines, ite., and of stimulating our trade by the pureha-e of Stores, iV.e.
1 have impressed upon Mr. Jkydges the extreme importauLX' of eultivatinfr friendiv
relations in every way, and of ubstainini; from assuming uny (piasi pulilie position, or
expressing any opinions (whi;-h 1 fear lie has hiiheito done) whieli are auta"onistic to
them. 1 \vi■^ll you would follow this up by wriling to him privately yourself.
I am glad to s.iy that Mr. I'lemini; stands very well with tlum, and not only fir
this reason but in many other way.s he will I beiieve prove a v.duable Director. He is
well a[ipreeiate(i liy ihe GovernnuMit, his relations with them are entirely satisfactory,
and he slamls hig'u in public estiniaiion. Theie is a lillle anlagoni-m between iiini and
lirylges just ell ai.:h to be useful, lie is ceniing over in October to meet tho
Committee, and Ironi all 1 luive been ablo to see and hear, 1 belie\o he will form a
valuable addition io the Unaid.
ST ATI-, Ml.. NT or lACl.s AND CI IM TMST.WCKS
CONMaTKl) WITH TllL .SALK OF lOKT GAiaiV.
Sometimi- ill ihe mouth of February la.st (>o far as I can recoiled i, Mr. (iraliauie
and I were speaking of llie extraordinary increase of llie prices (d' land, and ot tie
loiiunate veiilun-. ot many >■, ho had purcliaseil at what had at the lime been conddered
high prices, and in the eourve ot the couvei.silion Mr. Graliame siiggeMed that the
liurehase of wlial was known a- ihe fori Garry blofk might be a good spi eulat ion.
This eonversulion tirstturmd my alleiition |o the proper^. .Mr. Grahanu- wont
to Montreal shortly alterward>, and I had no fmihcr comn.unication wuli liim upon
the subject until his return to AVinnipeg, sometime alter I had made the purchase.
At llie liuie above rcfoiitd to .Mr l!i\dL:(>s was awav.
Tpiiii \[[- re.uiii and altt r .Mr, GiMJiame had hit Wiiinipc;;, 1 asked .Mr. Ilrvdges
wlicth, r he would sell the lu'operiy, and if mi, at, what tigure. lie a-ked Ibr an oiler,
and after considering the mailer and lii.seussiiig values with .Mr. Ilalsillie, who had
pii viou-lj agii.'d to lake an inleievl in the property if it could be got at a lair
price, 1 ollercd .\lr. liivdgm *,,'.Vi,(l;iO.
He tonk a cr uplo of days to dpcido, and concluded tliat he would not g^ll
for less than $280,(-00.
I ajTiiin Kaw Mr. Balsillic and wo camo to the conclusion that iho price asked
WIS too liij-'h, and *hat wo would let the matter drop,
Mr. I$r\dges rofin'rcd to the subject on two or three occa.sions afterwards, but I
tohl liim I did not see my way clear to pay more tlian )^2oO,000.
Two or tliree weeks after Mr. Rrydges had fixed the price of the land, I decided
to purciiase and notiliud him to that effect.
Subsequently I infonned Jlr. Ijalsillie that I had bought at !Mr. Drydge.s
tigure, and i.ffered liini an interest wliicii he accepted. At this time nothing was said
about tlh.' proportion of the sliurcs, as it was understood tluit if Jlr. Grahame so desired,
he could sliaie in the purchase.
Upon .Mr. (}rahani(>'s return, and some two weeks or so after the purchase, I
offered him a one-third interest, wliich he accepted, and he paid me tiie sum "f
>,i),10(l,';,", by accei>ting my draft on him through the liiink of ilonlreal, that aTuount
being one-thii'd oi the payment made by me to the Company.
]\Ir. P)rydges lias not, nor ever had. any interest in the property or in any profits
to arise from llie sale of the same either directly or indirectly.
Tliero has never been any agreement or underslandinii; between my.self and him
tliat 111' -.liould h.i\e any ii.tere^t of any kind in the prepirty, nor lias the matter ever
beer alluded to betwe(Mi us, except as has lately arisen in conseciuem'e of liie impiiry
made by the Hudson's Buy Company, based, as I understand, upon a statement made by
51 r. Uraharae.
1 have never, on any oeciision, slatrd to Mr. (Jraliame or any one else th^if
Mr. l!ry<lges liad luiy interest in the traii-^aetion,
I m.d<e tlie foregoing statement positiv'ly and wilhonl enuivocalion of any kind.
The facts are, I think, complclely sub.^lanUaud by tlio e\iili uce produced before
>ir John Rose and Mr.
It would be impo-silile tlial Mr. I)|-yd:;'es could have a.i interest wlllioul tlie
Uiiowh dge of Mr. Halsilli", und tiieeulry in ihe stub of the la;ier geiitlenniu's cheek-
book made a! llie time he p lid his share of llie [.iirclmso money shows comdusively to
mv miiul that tie Ikhui Hdr understood that he w is gi'fiiug n full tliird interest.
Any other theory would be incon-istcnt wiih the entry inido ^^{ "on.' tliird
interest," as it was (|uito unnecessary for him to m,ik.' any .■niiy ul all beyond the
date, payee and amount.
(Signed) SKDI.r.r !!L.\NCil.VRl'.
i
S'ln-ciiJio- l.'!///, 188J.
My nr.AR Coi.x ii.r.,
T miivbo unable to bo ut tlie Fucircl lo-iiiorro\v, and must tht-it^iorc write
wliat I .should tlien Ikivl' said.
I have carefully I'ead all the views e.\pre-<sed us to our land poliey, and ;\vit!ii.'Ut
8U^n;estiii<r that the I'oard should come to any eonelusioii before Mr. IJrydge-' arrival i
I . ■should like to brinfj under notieu .some facts for th.e con.sideration of our coUcaf^ues
now, a.s u prompt decision one way or tlie other will be necessary in I lie interests of the
Company as soon as ^li. lirydprs arrive.s.
I am afraid tbattlie unexp"cted favourable re.-ults of the past have gi\en us all
somewhat e.\a|,'^prated expeclaiions as to the luture. I have laktn .some jiains to
usuertaiu what lands elsewhere — both in the United States and Canada — have realized,
whether administered by the Uovernnieuis, Itailway Compariie--,or Laud Cum>anies. 1
am not aware that any complaints as lo the manaiiemeiit by the great railway or other
eompanies to whom concessions have been granted, liavo over boon made; on the
contrary, their lands have been supposed to be judiciously and carefully marketed.
The United States (iovernment formerly .s.dd all iheii' lands at j«r:.'."> jjer acre,
but after some years raised iheiu to <'2'i")li per aer<', along ih" line of the principal
lliiilways. To iliese Ilailways they have granted some 17,oo(),()Uti of acres in all. The
princijial were —
{(i) The Union I'aeitic Ilaihvay wliose aveia:;-e reidized irlci- is »sl'I):i por acre
(/i) The Central Pacili<' U.iilway ,, „ <.J-M „
(/) The Northern racitic ]laiU\ay ,, ,, ^'ioO .,
but their laiuls being payablj in Pr,r'i ri-'i/ Sioc/: wiiich ruled at iVoni
00 to !'• cents, their net realization lias b<'cn under one dollar per acre.
((/) The Atchesan Tepeka and Santa i'l' Railway whoso average re.alizcd price
is ■^.'r'J;) (icr iicre.
(i) The Texas and I'acilic Railway whose average realized price is >1 I (i
l)er acre.
(/) The St. Paul and Minneajvilis Railway re[)i)rl their total sales (not
receipts) to be >l,;it)(Ut,oiHI for l.lOO.dUO acres sold, and even the .sii'. s
of the Illinois Central Railway owning some of the best lands in the
United State.s only average >5'69 ])er aero.
'I'iie (iovernment. of i anad.i — a^ you know — .■-ell ut iVom ^'J tn si [jer acri
i iie\ tried a public .sale in .Viigii>t a)).d September last of tiio best lands near Red
iuvi 1 ,ind thu As--imboine, winch a\eraged ^I'^U) [kv acre.
'Ihe I 'aiiailian J'ncilic have sold (j.JtV-'"" acres lit >'J"")0 hiimiiid/ subject to a
rebiilc of ^1"J'J, and tlie iiighesl price wiiii'li tluy ha\e '.'ol Inmi tlie Land Oompiiiiic.s is
<« 1 |iet acii' payable in 1 ou.ls at llC, the [)ulelul^ers liawiig 1j, sale.-, uiie-half tlic iniere.-t
in iiU tlii'ir Towu an<l Station sites. Compare (hc.si> figures witi, tlic if>iili>. ol' our
s;il('s, viz. : >7 piT iioro lor agricultural lands, and *<ti-JiJ por lot for y, I'l J Town lot.-, .>r
al)(jut 1, (Jth of an acre each, and 1 cannot lluuk that we have any reason to be dis<alistie(l.
It )n:iy he urged that tiie iigures I have given of tlu^ liail«uy tales inclii.le only
ordinary lands, but as far as 1 can useerluiu they include Tincii lots, a^ well as those
adjoining Stations ; for the Companies are all interested in giving the best ligures for
their relurns, and tlu'rc i-; no distinrtidii made. But even it tlii.^ wei'e iiul .--o, look ai
the Town lots along the Union I'acitic, and Missouri, Kansas aucl Texas, or — even with
few exceptions — those on the Illinois central road, and compare the prices of lots there,
with what our avei'age is — we are tar — indeed enormously — in i.'xcess ot' any, Then> is
certainly nothing in the (juality of the noil, situation or circumstances of the country to
nmkc oui-K more valuable, on the contrary the (dirnate, the doubt about fuel, the difficulty
about building materials and water, are all calculated to detract from the value of ours.
There are f i \v or no lots having value on account of water privileges, lor I bi e
by a Government RiUirii that (uit ot .Vi miles in Manitoba ami the Norih-\\'esl, xi.r
only are driven by waler power. ] Ijelieve that the high prices we have niili/ed an.'
due to many exceptional causes that hav.' combined at the same time, — liic rapid
eonstruclion of the railway, the large influx of English ami Canadian iiinney, due to
very low rates liolii liere and in Canada, the agrieulluial dcpnssion at home, and the
spirit of adventure, which for tlu! liist lime has sprang up in C;:nada on lin ling thai
ihoy have a piairie country b( hind them !
It seems to me that all precedent is adverse to a continuance of the preMiit high
range cf prici'S, and tlieso conshierations all weigh in favmir of /•//■■■■/linr/ mi/is mil
V'llhvtiltil iiisliiiii.'i iil.s, as rapidly as ]>ossible, and that wc .should be very guaide.i i.bout
Interposing any dilliculues as to the t'u:ure.
Tiie advisaliiliiy (d' trying am 'on sales is a ijueslinn wiiich it is oli\ iously pi'iper
to defer a decision upon until Mr. iSrydges arrives. If that, or any other plan, uiU
I'lixiiir i'(ilicr />rir,s\ tn'rlnuif iiinidlinj xii/r", I am ready most cordially t>i acipu' -, r in
it, but 1 do mil think i: has been praeli-ed by olhi r Cum panics or by au v I ro\ i i nui. nl .
The oidy occisinn on uhiidi 1 am a.vare id' its being tried, was la-t year b\ t!ie
Canadian (invcrnment in reference lo their Meniinniii mid oilier lands iu Maiiiioiia —
the exjieiiiui nl, howevi'r, resulted in ll'.c irlluir nnil of \\\v hinds al § 1 oD an acre
The siigge.siion HA to the aueliiiii ,sales is, ho.vever, inspired by a bi liei' th't
hitherio there have been preci|)ituney and favoriti,sm in, the sabs; ihat the C'im[i:iiiy's
interosis huvo been suliordinated to those id' the personal friends of liie Cmnmissioner,
and that ho has sold lands having execpliiuial value to favoi'iUs at inad. ipiate prices.
The iilea of public sales is suggested, in a very proper and commendable si>irii, a< a
nii'iins (d" idieching ihis. iiul it npens up a very serious (picsiinn, wiiieli caniml b^' hit
on an uncertain t'n.iiing iu the inieresis of the Company and in fairness to Mr. liiydgis.
,Vnv past triinsarlions which raise dimbts as vo his inteifrity should lie invesligal"d, and,
if ascerlained to bi' grcundless. full conhdence shculd be re|"ised in iiini. So impuriaiil
a branch of the Company's businoss cannot be carried on umler conditions of per[)etual
suspicinn and distrust. No regulations, however stringent, that «•<■ can lay down here
will ensure an niiright administration, and smdi regulatiHiis would cei'tainly act very
deinnicniallv in impeding a speedy reuli/alioii of ihe t.'miip.iuy's prepi rty, considering
10
the competition we have now to encounter, ll", liowevor, any transactioTis ..i' ihe Lund
Comniissionors «/■- found to bo tainted with serious 'iitiddity to the Conipitny's intere-i<.
it would manifestly be improper to shrink from making sujh ch:iii;ros as ihi-
circumstances may require.
I feel that it would be more delicate to my colleagues that this (jiie-ii.Hi should
be discussed by them iu my absence, and I will only add mv own view tliat all
jiir-soiia/ I'nii.fii/rnttiiiiin niu-it lie. atdiurdhuited to the duty we owe to the ];roiirietors nt
endeavouring to ell^url" an upright and ellieient administration of their alfairs.
F.iiKN Colvim:, Es(j.,
Hudson's I lay House,
Lime Sli'eel, E.C
lielieve me, to be,
Yours very truly
(Signed) JOHN KOSE.
^'■^- — As u)ii are aware, I have asked Mr. Armit to jirejiare a statement as to
the price, the date of sale, and the names of the purchasers ol lot.s, suppotied to posses*
an exceptional value.
I)r:AU Mk. Go\iii\()K,
Jj.Vll!lI(il,OMJ;\\ L.AN]:, Lo.MlOX,
l)ff),il,rr l-th, lSS;_i,
As I feiir T may l)e une(iual M attend to-moriow, I nm-t write what 1 should
have liked lo say <iu tlie tir.st occasi..,, when our new colleagues will be present.
I need hardly premise that so long as I remain, my hearty co-operalion will he
given to anything culculaied to ensure the upright and elheiciit administration of the
• 'oinpany's affairs : —
/•"•.v/. — As regards the Fur Trade ])roper, I am lUii aware l! at a-iv ( caiiphnit
has been made, or any eluirges suggested, except, indeed, ii, relcrcnee to th.'
general supervision and direction on the part of the Company's ("onimis^ioner.
*('(««/. Touching the general trade in merchandi.se, it is due to if.e old
Directors that our new colleagues should understand tiiat we have not bi'en
insensible for matiy nuuuhsto the diiliculties under which the C'onip.any labors, and
that we were striving to overcome them as well by the seiecii..n of" at: efficient
romniissioner in tlie place of Mr. Graham, as by the chan-es in the persomu 1 . f
the Winniiieg establishinent, which the ussistantsecretary was lately despatched
to carry out. It ougiit to be understood that Mr. Graham uas re(|iusted to resi-n
nuiny numlhsugo; that the Hoard only deferred its aci'eptance until a compel, nt
>iUcce.s.sor could lie f.iuiid ; and that the consideration of that question had to he
delayed until the n.pmt of the Nectvlary of ti.e rcsul' of iiis summer's vi>it, was
received and considered.
11
A jierusal ot'llio Ifttcr I ucldi'ossi'd ymi on tny ri'iurii from \Viuni|)(:';;' la>t voar
(and wliicli 1 think .should In' L'liiiiiiiuii'.'ulcd t(( tlie nc'-.v I >Ir(.'i;tors) will .^liou thai
wo all have at least Ixcn strivin};; in ajipri'i'lulo llic {■.\<L'j)tiouuI diHicuUies undii-
which till' ('oiiiiKiiiy has houii phuid. aud ymi know that wo have not relaxed in
unxiely, or etlorls, to remedy them.
I am iKil yd hy any means satislii-d tliat we can e;irry on a /ar^ir ijaii'i-nl /msine-^-
jn.ililahlv. We certainly eannnl, withoui an illiciint Commi.ssioner and trust-
worthy u.isistanl!5, and I hope our colh'uj^ui-s iniy ho able to aid us in the selection
ot a comijetent head — a duty that presses tor inimediale eonsidoration.
II' thi re bo delects, nr misniaiiati-enunl, in wny.s not a^ivcrlcd to in the letter
to whicli I have reterred, I liu>t Mr. .Smith will not hesitate to lay them bi.'t'ore his
collca;;iir.s in i shape which will cuabie the li-ard pruetically lodcal with them.
1 hird. — The adniiiiistvatiun of the laid dcpartnuiU : I wish to repeal
emiihatically what you and my colleagues will, I think, aeknowledge has beiii
my desire — liial it' any ini'gularily or mi.scoiiduet has t.iken place, it should b'
lij^idiy iinpiired into, uiul that — no matter wlu^ni it. may atlcct — the Ci.miinny
shoidd not retain in its s'jrvice any one in whwse iiileu-rily, reliance cmild imt, be
)ilaceii. Mr. Hrydu:cs was not iiiv noiniiu'e, as yiu W'cli know, but his namehavinc'
bicn su^'i^e-ted on J\lr. .Nnuth's resij^iuiiion. [ v!;ave my .support to hi.s appointment.
st;iiinu' lo WW colleaiTues all f knew n|' his character and antecedents, and I believe
the Coinpanx had liiiind m him an r.\rcp; i iiniliy ah'e ..4iicer.
\\ hen ' cttain cliaii^es caiue to nur ears, we all desired that they should be .so
I'nrmulated as that they mi^jht be probed to the bottom: on the inirinn.aion
communicated to inc by Mr. I^mith, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Armit, wh.'ii at Winnipeg,
r deemed it my duty to nndie a.-- lull and imjiiirliiil enquiry a.s I could into the ease.
The result is embodied in my letter to you, .iml to this I wish the atlentii'U ol' our
new colleagues to be specially drawn. (.»ii the general qm:'stion and residts oi
.Mr. Brydgi's' admlnistiatioii, I think I added a further letter to you, which I Would beg
that you will diiect the Secretary to have co[)led and phiced into their htinds.
ir till le be i'resh changes, or if the old ones have been imperfectly dealt witli, it
is dn( lo the laic IJoaid and Mr. llrydges, that the accusation .should be put into a
ell, 11 and e.spliril .-ha])e, to be first comiiuiiiicatcd to Mr. I'lydecs lor his re])ly, and that
then unv evidence re(piired should be taken by .some comiicluil uud impartial t^entlciiian
I'or the decision of the lioard.
The extent of Mr. (irahiim's and Mr. lialsilly's iiileicft in the purchase of tlie
\Vinni|iig lots is not denied, and the Uoaid have already intimated ihiir ilisapMiMval
and censure (if iinv ol'tlie ( 'oin[iany's otiieers lniiiLf interested in Iraiisai lions connected
w lib I he purchase or sale of its properly. If the new Oii'vetors think ihe action of the
Hoard as rt'gards these gentlemen should have gone beyond this, they ought lo have an
opjiorturiity of laying their views belore u.s.
I know we are all in-pirnl by the desire not only to see that the Cumpany'a
"^
12
intercst-t hud not bcon s.icriilofil in that iKirtiriilui' tnin-ucfion IpuI to ijuiird nujiinst evil
-eproai'li in ivlcronce to the wny its land ufiuirs were condiated,
I iini surf tlKjt wi' sliull ull iirrrre tliat it would have hrcii iinwiHi' in tho interests
oi' the (-'(Miipiiny to have madi' the d-tails of tliese deliciito Tuattcrs the Huhitrt ot public
discussicjii at the iini^tiun-, hut I do^iri; to suy in conclu.sion that niy mind is tntirtlv
open to ( iinviclii n on them all by any nvw considoration which oi:r iiicomin"- collcajfuis
may press on our al tent ion.
Yours very faithfully.
JOil.V UO.SK.
I'JiKN COLVII.K, I'.'sn,
CONFIDENTIAL,
Letters from the Secretary to Sir John 1?osk, Bart.
llriJSDs's ]', vY lli)t-;r,,
X.,r. 17, 18S'2.
Bi.Ait Sir,
I Aii-fjot, on Tuesday lust to show you a note from Mr. I'lt-iuiui: «ith rt-ri'i'dici' to
till' enquiry you wMicd to 1k' made about T.and .Sales.
In rcjjly, I li;ivo to mention that about 1'2,(IIH) aiMos of land, witliin a mile
of the railway west of the 2nd Mer. have been .sold at about $7 an aere out ol a total
of 57,000 acres sold sineo Febniaiy lust.
T .saw ^Fr. Beiji? yesterday, and askol hiin what ho considered the value of tln'
reserved railway lands adjoinino; the railway (not Town h)ts) and he s'lid that purchasprs
could be found for them at $U) an aere, and as re.LMrds the Town lots, althouirh tlu;
Company's are not on the selected stations, iiumy of them are not more than a mile and
a half distant from these places, and the value of these lots would be more than that of
iigricultural lands. He also said that the laiul in Southern ilanitoba to be sold by tiio
Railway Company will not be sohl till the Direclurs have fi.xed a price. The neivcst hits
are 21 miles from the railw.iy, and »;< lo >.S an aero would hi' a i;.)ol price for them.
As rejjanls the hits which were chanfred for Stuarl, lilanchanl ( fall .\: W'hyli',
it ghotdd be borne in mind that remarks upon this multer were made in Canada, and
they may be rcpeateil. Mr. liryili;es can ;,nvo the Conmiittee the names of the persons
con
iposiuii' the svndicale, and the e.\tenl uf their purchases, and if he can pi-odu'c the
ajjreements which were si^'tied at the time the lots were iiouf^ht, stipulaliu;.;' thai ihey
e answer ooulit lie
were 1(1 be clian^xed fur ollu'rs under certain conditions, a eomplel
jfiven, oihcrwise the fact remains that noihiny: was said to the ( '.imruillec on lln' subject
till t1
ley asked Inr the explanalion
I seiiil you a list of the purcdiascs nf laud you asked fii', in rel'eretice lo which I
have to stale itiy belief from what peo[)le said in Canida that if .Mr. Rrydj^cs had
waited till the niihvuy reacdied these lots ami
better for the (,'ompany. The list nf Town 1
thi ni iiulilich , he wou
ol sales include
Id hav(> do
if ll
iiw (II llie luimes
ibout which you empiired, and tlie names of several ol' the (.'ompany's < llli.
1 am. Deal' Si
^'oul■ failhfullv,
\V. .\l;.MIT.
Siu .loHN RdSi:, ibirt., (i.r.M,(i.
I)i;,
IlnisoN's Bay HdisK,
X',mi,h,r -27, 1882.
T liMvc prepared soino notf:
It' it could be dd
Since heiirin^ tlic cxiilanutions uivcu l)y Mr. Hrydpe.s. on Friilav last.
will
wciiso mo tor .■^cndiii'' thciii to vou.
I tl
ii won
Id be (idviaable to dctiuo the laud pol
icv,
nnd leave a.s litlln uncertainty us po.xsible in liaving public opinion asccrhiindl iVuni
time to time na to viilues, and limit the extent of land to be .sold without ret'erence to
the H,,ard. The .sale of £")ti,0(l() of Town lots at Winnipe;,' in April last has j;ivcn
risi lo much correspondence an<l many oh.scrvauous. It was jud;;eil hy the pr
ruling' )U that tune, and not by subsoijucut events, and only now the full condit
sale are verbally ex])lain(d. \o outside competition appears to have beei
ices
ions of
iled I
or
the lots seiiai'atcly, altliou;;li ,sonu- of them we know \vo\iId have been ;)urehased for
Toronto people, and there was a ffood demand for lots t
Mr. Donnell t.oon afterwards shi
At that tinu^ la
len, as the re-sale to
Id have been sold aliiio,-t
anvwhert
As tiir out as .Si
lKii,'hts many farms were sold at Town lot
-McKay's Deer Lodge — liane's property and .-cores of others.
prices
Th.
d of demand existed for himl al and out of Ik:
niclou ana oruer
iilaces, so
that the prices at which the farm sections belungiiig lo the Company-
sold appeared absurd compand with those ut which the purchasers soon alter were
olfering the land in lots to the public. I undei'stood that Kots liail realised all h'a
proinrty a
t ilr
but
tiiv some of the lots mav si ill be in his hands
At (iu'A[)pellc Post a (pmrter section has recctitl^ In en s, Id by tin
mipany ar
*i"2ll an acre. This is in marked contrast to the premature sale of u sod ion iieai- that
jihice at S~ I'll a< ru. Mr. lirydges says the purchaser was foolish in giving the liiuher
Till' latter had no doubt in vie'v theT^wn site, uf which
u e I ave rcieivci
ind it would be well tr
plans
dir whetl
ler I hi
'J'.
It- at tju'Appcll
lid U
soon or held tor improvements in the adjoining district, which is belug scllli.'il up by
till' Di'll farm Compuny, and soon tho braurli line somewheie near may be made,
As to till' prices ruling in August last fir I
il
mil along thr line of railway so
far
ii'giiia, and the prici s at wl.iili so many of the fniiiiiany's sections were sold, I
alluded ill my repoi't to tle^ opinion of Mr. Hill, the Fn'.-iili iil of the St. I'mil Jload,
whom as well us Jlr. Kiil!<im I have known many years.
'11
grants i-
11' aveiaiic ni'ii
reaii/i'(
1 I
ly tlic dillennt
Iway Cumpanics fur tl
land
iiiiiLinsoii with the
Com
jiany s, iiiasinucli as the liailway
Companies inMiriably oiler iiiducenKnts to settlers with the \iew of increasing the
Irallle relurti
i;
iii[uiries could bt made regarding the luiee at whi
eh tlie
^'ortll AVest
l.;iiiii ( 'ompany aie selling the reserved liailway sei'tioiis almig the line Ik iueen the
liidv it will he loiiiid li\'
western liiiiiiulai'y i
ci'mpari--oii thai the Ijiid'
f .Maiiiliila and Mi
law.
tl
on -■ jiaX Si et Ions III tlie same ti'W li-liijis w el'e hi
ihl t
00 soon.
1 cannot tell, nor do I think it allecis llm i|Uestiou whiit the ultimate value of
ot 'Jii luljoiniiig liegiim may bi
ih
I
can
sav that li
rge (igures Wei'e iiuuted when 1
was there, and w li. rever the mIci'IIoIis o
if tl
principal towns
stations nia\' be
liiiiile, some of tlie ' 'o|ll[)aiiy's lot- eailllot be mole than one, two or three mile- oil.
If ilio value of tli,_ lot spokun of is only s^;],oOt) or >t,000 as ]i:tid tor it, it would
seem strungc tliat any public inquiry sliould be urged to show what prolit Dewdney
and others made by the transnctiou
When at Winnipeg I iiuiuired of Mr. IJrydges what interest he had in
rpcomineiiding the erection of a now store at lirandeii for the (^'ouipany. He said that
the value of land as far off as 1/j miles would be eidianced by improvements there.
Now he seiMMs to think otherwise, and to s^y tliat land near the towns is not clearer
than land at a distance I'roin them, W'v had sections near ('apelle and Indian head
stations, where it will bo necessary to build a warehouse or store for (i'Appelle IHsinct.
if the business is to be enlarged as proposed, and instead of S~ per acre near these
places, I aiipreh(>nd we .shall have to p.ay at least SJO or SilOO per lot or from >:S(lO to
^iiOO an acre.
1 am sorry to trouble you with these lengihened remarks, but I must add that,
notwithstanding the views expressed by Mr. IJrydges on Friday hist, I do not see that
any modilieation is necessary in the Ile))ort which I addressed to the Governor on Lind
matters.
.Sir .loiiN KoM , I'aM., (i.C.M.Ii
I am, yours faitht'ully,
\V. A1;M1T.
¥
} i
IIEVOIVV V>\ TIIK SECKETARY
OX THE TRADE OF THE COMPAM^
MoN riM'.Al., Sr/i/iJi'f>, I- -0, 188"-!.
F.nKX Ciii.vu.i;, l'".s(|.,
D.'ur Sii.
In !i furiiicr lettir I iviiortcd a) you tliiit tlio Diirctors of the
C'aiKidian Paciiic IJaihvay eiialik'd me to .«ee in a (.•(>nii)aiatively sliovl
space of time the country exteiiilin^' i'luni Lake Supeiidr to the I'ocky
Mountains, and I availed myself of the opportunily of conf.M-riun' with thy
principal ollicers in charge of the di.-triets tiimugh whirli tiie railway
passes, and whirli :m'. now beiniij opened up for settlement, Sulist-ipii-ntly,
I discussed with them at Winnipeg more minutely the details of the
business, and the arrangements for i-onductin- it iu a satisfactory maimer.
I am u'lad to state the ollicei's ai'e of opinion lliat tlie-^c ccinlerenccs
upon the (iiiierent suhji'cts upon which I shall iimw report are likely to \>.'
fdllowed l»y l)enelicial results.
WINNii'Kti STOKK.
Mr. Teeliles, the ollicer in charge I'f lo'd IJiver District, liein- iu
Montreal on my arrival liiere, i lo.si no time in reiiucstiuu him to have
.vtatemeuts prepared showing the statVal Winniiieg, the salary m- wages »f
each person iu the employment of the t'omi)any at that place, lists of out-
stamling halances at the end of August, i)articulars of the .sales oi goods,
the protils made, and other mailers upon which explaiiat i'Uis wero
rei|uired.
Tlie.se documents were ready s.Miie ten <la\s afterwards, and I found
them u.seful iu discir^sing the pndtiou and prospect, nf the biisiiiu-
sr.VFK.
The services of two cleiks Wrw dispensed with in the
lU-partnient l )llice. ()neof them, Mr. (ioodridge. was selected a-
Avay (lualifu'il [or the iK>-itiiiii of cashifr in the WiiniiiicL; Stdic, in tlir
l)liico of .Mr. lIiirL,nav(', wliu was Icavinu' on fiirloiiuh ; tiic dtlii r was .-cm
1(1 lirrsauiis, liy way of ^fdiitrral, to assist Mr. I'arsoii, wlio lunl iccentiy
lost oiu" ot'liis (jliicris at that jiost on the (iulf.
No furtlior rc'iluitiuus in the staff at Winnipri'; was ri'cniiinu iidrd in
till' intiM'csts of tilt' trailc. l>ut lookini;' to tlw fact that niiiny traders with
inadc(|nato means hail closed llioir jilaci's of Imsincss, iiiid the ( '(ini ar\
(h (( mitctitioii as hr.d 1 > en in vi( r,.-lv
a'.v not now exp
to so
■T
ox|icri('nci!il, and havint;- the liest of the trade at their connuand, tlic
I'csulls under ])i'oj)er nianMi^cnicnt, and lietter control, ou.i;ht certaiidy to
[irove satisfactory. 'I'lic total amount of the .salaries or waives of the
W
mm]
le:
■^tair is not tar .-iiort of .--fo,!!!)!) or ,i;^.00() a year.
Th
amount niclnde
promise
the wa,L;;es of dn-.'^smakers and niilliners employed on tin
mouthlv accounts
's, for whoso woi k charges are maiie in the
rendered to customers. Their wa.u'es, with a small amount of profit are
collected liy the payment « f the accounts of j;i)ods ohtained ami maile uji
at the stores, and the.se supplies heinj,' ueueriilly of the finer de.sciiiitions.
upon which the profits aie con.'^idoraide, that 1 >c|iartr.ii'tit of the luismess
i.-. held to be remunerative.
ceu
furni.-
'I'ho cost of the >tatl'al Winnipe.^' last nutli' atuounted to ouo-haif I'er
t. on the total .sales ef -oods efh^cted at that place, iiieliidiu;^ supplies
1.) posts at co,-;t laiuled .'S'JdiJ.Olis, and a sum of .sr.ojKjii foi-
to oflicers and servants, on which sum under tho present .s\slem.
uh'anees
the trad ■ lia
iflered
I'o this point I shall reh'r her.'afte
or ISl'AXDINt; l'..U..V.N( KS.
The statements of t
le.^e
balane
es, sen
t to k
oiidnn from ; ime to time,
•n ill ilie liaMt ;.t' dealiniL:
Thex linn^' their furs finm iieiiihliourine distiict,-
imiude the aeeoiinls of tr.iders who hi(\e loni.
u ith the ( 'oinpauy.
and 1
ceeivo p.ivnieut in ;;'ood,-> an
1 e.isii, and to such of tliem as an
ciiown
t'l ho I'oliahle, ,u( ( (Is aie fU\ ] Yu d at letail prices < ii credit e\t( ndiiie ovi r
sevei'al months, and in di.e time their invnices are paid. Se\eral iiccouuts
u so eases iioiice
oreusiomers were found to lie o\enlue, and in most of tl
had lii'en eiven thai intore-t at tho rate of one i)er cent per mouth wm
il<l
he el
iar<4od on the>e amount- until p,
iani
NN'iieie interest was not chained
auainsi parties havinn' traiisaetious with the Company, Avliose accounts
■re also overdue, peisonal and written applicalious wire made, which
w
laid the i
llect
of rediiemu tiie liaiances.
^\^
pjlied t>i and ootiniieii the
assurance o
uitlim two nuai
f Mr. r>ryil,L;e>. the I're.-ident of th,' Maiiilnha Clnh. thai
ths lime its deijt ofisi.UUt*, now hoarin- iiitere-L, would be
j)aiil, am! i);iymL'iiL ot rutiiiv supplies tn tlic ("iu!i wouM ix' miuli' rn<\\
iiioiitli a.-. (.•usUiiiiir.v in oUi^T r.i>fs. Ali.r a caicful i x.iiiiinatinii ot tin-
wliiilc li>t. Mr. I't-flilcs stated that ^vi^ll the cxccjitioii of .me iiein_
amniintiim- to si, Ki."). the recovery uf which ua.s (loiilitful, he cdiisidcied
tile l.;daiici's as -.Hid del.ts, and iiad every ivason to heiieve that tliey
v,.)>i!.i lie duly paid. iMirthei' parliLtilars ..t' tli' halaiires .ailstan.liiiL; will
l.e |.repared each UDUtii, aii.l >eai to l,.)irl.'ii lor the iiiierniatinii .if tli<-
i'.oai-d.
<;;)()1)S ON !i.\M>.
Til.- u-eiiera.l rhara ter .'i' th.' -'..ods .-^oM by tlie e'.mipa ly at Wiiuiip.,-
am! elsewhere in ih.' settl-d er partially seltl.'.! l.)i:-t!'i.-t.-,, apj.ear with t.w
t>\.vpuoiis t.i meet tlu' U'.inirehients of tlu' trade and the a[.pnival .'1
parties who liave iriuisuctioiis with the ('..mpany. The iio.ids at V\ imiiiie-
ar.' seen t.. a-lvanta-v in tlie store, au.i llie .,toeks on iuui.l, excepting in
Hardware an.! farp.'t.^. di.l n..t ai»pear to he -reairr ;han ih- am.unit
re.iuiie.d, hi..kin.i;' to the d.-lay which necessariiy arises m having >uital;le
selections of g.^.^.ls ina.le in i-nglaiid or Canada, aiui sent l.auanl iVoiu
time to time. .\t Winnipeg and several of the ..utlying .listriets tii.iv are
s'.id on hand s^nie u.umIs— the aecuimilation of y.'ars at l"..rf (.arry aa.l
other pkuvs whuh ha.i Iven >eiil to tlie New Sior.' h-r sal.-. i hese
giiods are gradaailv luuiig .lispose;! .it at alMUit !.". or -Ji: J.er eeni. pro, it
on their .'ost, and ..:.re will i.e uilvcn to guar.! a-ainst a(LUi.iuiati..ii.-. in
ill Hire.
Tlu' st.H'l; of C arpi'ts is large aii.l lil<ely t.. lie suliieient f..r tlie tia.l..'
f.ir maii.N nionllis t.) ..mie.
llar.lware. aiiionnting t.) .^17,iiii(), wlii.li lai.l Leen on invent. iry for
some time, an.l was taken .iver hy the Winnipeg Store, is now re.lnee.l by
saU's to si.,(iti(t or sT,^!*!, and the leinainder will bo sold as soon as
[lossiblu.
At th.' end of v:\\\ Onttit tlie iiivi-ntories uf goods on liaii.! aiv
carefully taken, the prices tixe.l behig l^as.d on the iiiv..i.v.s. with .iir.\
and eharg.'S add.'.l, ami the .l.bts which are valued at full pr. e.^ are
those c.msi.lered -.h..I. .le.lucii.nis being mad.' tbr d.-ubilul an.l ba.i .lebls.
The present stocks are ligliier than tli...>e of last year, ami the iiueiilories
uf the Red Uiver District l.^ lie made ui) at the close uf this year f.ir
Outlit 1S83 will, it is expected, sliow a coiisideralile re.liiction ou tlio.so
of Oiitiit IN!^'^ at the cl.isu of which the anujuut .slo.'d at .-sriir^iilil.
I'UOFITS.
All cxaniiii
iliai'ir^ <"' «"
01
c'diivutlv a-rciiaiiu'i
atioii "f tilt" cxtciiilLMl invoices slinwcil tlial tliu duty au'i
j.plii's liom I'.iiulaii'l aiiinuutiMl to a lai-c pcrcoiita-o nii tin
«taiicc tin- cost laiui.Ml at WiiiuiiH ^ wa?
i^iiial cost, ami that in every
,• 111
pci'ceiitauc vaiu';
accoidiiit;' to tlic nature ol
the -oods. tlie h)\ve>t beini,' '271 per cent, on silks, the hi-liest ln',i pereeiii
on bottled ale. TIio duty and cliari^e> on clothing' amount t<> 4-,", I'ci
t; on Maul<els, 47.', per cent.; lirantl\ and whiskey,
cent, on invoiee eos
Hy per cent.
to more tiian 'I'l l>ei' cent.
he average on an assor
te.l
invoice o
f I'ood.s ^^•ollld amount
The
tl
]irolit.i areealcu
lated on the cost of the .^^'oods lauded at WinnijMv
11(1 these also
varv according,' to the nature of the supplu's.
Oil clothini
md drv n'oo
cent.
UOOl
Is the retail pi
1 profits are fully 5i» per cent. ; on carpets, ..., \
)VV
IKIUOIS
ami ci.uars, .")() yov c(
nt. ; earthenware and electro-platt
Is, i)() per cent, to NO per (
en
t. ; and faiicv
10(1 per cent.
Wholesale orders of a eonsit
lerabh' amount are executeil at a protit o
landed, and parties with -ood credit are usually
1 niiKtvdav f(«r the setthnieiit of ih.- iinoices of wholesale ].iir-
25 per cent, on cost
allowe
einises.
m -m."i
Her e.-taMi
.v'nnents at Winnipei; tl
f same i
'Xteiit of credit
IS uivi-n : lait
far I he lar.'er amount
^i^ the ('ompan\"s business in
\\'
mnipe;.;'
comes um
Icr the head o!' retail onlers. the aec(
Hints of Mhich are
la
vid)le niiMitlilv, with ten (hi>s t;iace. at
tlu' exiiiratioii of which th
Collector calls for payment.
I'uis to the aiiioi
dioinin,i.,Mlistricts iliiruu
int of .-:S.'),(IOI» W'y'V
the past Outtit, ilie values bein
if tl
e- la:
jirices (
years
the Wimiipe.; Store ammiii
;t sales, which were mueli
tra^leil at \VinnipeL;- and the
i^nmi'd ai the
the a\ciaue of former
On that bap::> the proli!.^ of !!ed Kiver District, incimlm- tlio.se ,
ted to ss5,000, or l-J,'. pc'r cent, on the capi
id
enij
ar-er.
l,,\cd. With b.tter management the per centa-v should be much
m.\.n.\(;i:mknt.
T re-ret that I am unable to report favourably on ihc- manaLrinent of
Air Peebles of the Winnipet;Sto,v. The syst.Mu pur>ue.l la that ollicer
tor some time past re,,uired innnediate emreetion. and after due cons.dera-
,. ,„ , , ,,,,,! n,, !,is ^mdaiiee. and that of the assistants emi-lyed,
fve.sh inslructi.ms in the form of the following letter, upon which furtaer
esp'analions will be i;iven.
< Dim.
WiNMi'Li;, MANir.ii!
^/// N'/'/' iiihcr, y^^
,1miin a. Pi'.F.iiLr.s, l^siiuin
lludsdii'ri P>ay Couipany,
Winuipoy.
Sir,
■111' vol
ur miiiliiufc in com
liiotiim tlio ('nnr,ii;n
v's liusiiiess uinl
rr
vouv rlia
instnu'tiiiiis. a
it;c', I have to iripu'st t
11(1 conimiuiioato
liat vnii will carry int.) eticct the Inllowiii'
hem" to the heads of the .litVevent (h'part-
men
ts of the Store, who, in tuture, iiuis
t be ennaLieil ;i-
month
Iv instead of
weekly servants; -
iil^ (if iiiiv ili'scn]
ition shall li'- s.'iit frniii th
h,. SiMV witlinut liciiiK pai'l 1''
.(1 to 111'' 1>
uri'liascr. ii
HI.! fnr lliMl |.uriin«o
th.. hriiils .if .l.'iiartiiii'iits must sr.
thiit the II..C. ssury ii.arthiiliirs .il .nsli \
i,l,,i. thiMl.nail^ "i 111" P'
111- ar.' fiU'insh.
.,1 .Ui
to tho 11 miilimt .ir uivoi..' i
sliall !..• li.'l'l as .lU.il'i
h'rk. Anv ut't,'!.'.! "ii th.sr part m
l'iu-iii~hiii,i;sii.h pavti-
Milars sn
villi;' t
h.. rules .jl th.' C .lupaiiy. aii.l sui
h cusi'S an
t.i I,.
aiily r.'imit.'.l hy y..u.
No uriituitii's .ir priw
nts of iiuy Uiii'l arc t.
h(. M'iv.u til any p.i-s.in in th.'
I'lUlihiyiiii'iit '
,i th.'. ('(iiupaiiy, with.iut a wi
Ittuu iirdi'V fr.iai iii.' ; an
il 111. Ill
I'l.ts ..t any
liiii.l ar.' I" I'" "la
li. til anv .111.' nil. ■.mil'
.•ti'il witli til" I'.'iniiaiiy, or I.
[i.'rMoiis liaviup
transui
tl.lllF iVlt
hthi'iii, i-'itlior lis iiui'i'hasors
it tr....l
^ ..r m'l'i
nfa.^oir.Ts wlni ni
till niav vi:
iit th
St.iri's; (he rule in tlieso l'('»li.
I'tS
huviuLJ lioi'n fouml f.i he ahnse.l.
;!, A- vi"^'ar.ls sani|
St. If,. keeper
ih.' 'laiiu'S I
■t k. .'P
ih s for the sal.' .'f
111 11. 'I'. .1111' ol eaell I
pints. .I'.Mrs an
,1 oilirv ^'...i.Is. til'
L pa.^icii'/.' re.
liiir.'l I'.ir tlial purpi
,f the eh'rUs in Un
ililVerenl il.'partni.'iits \vh.. luiv \-<-'{
iiiinples from linn
,1 his Iriolis as a 1
it ih.> (*onipaii\'s siipi
■1, N.) p.'rsMii
t.i tiiu.'. sil.ll iiiToilii!
to lie liamh^.l ill!
re.iiiir* 1.1 eiu
.unlaiit, an
mil rii'or.l
fir Ihi'si'
,1 ellt.'fil
■,)p1 of th.' .|i
iti.'S ot ;j:o.i I
.,1, S.I that ill 11.' fas
ilies hu iinari'iunl ■.! for.
li,. aUowinl lo .ons
\H\.,' .m tlu; O.impaiiy's pn
is.'s wines, SI
ir oilier j,"!'
kIs, e\e,•plln^' sin
h a> may
lie I'l'iplU'
■il us sampl.s i'.,r .ir.l"rs in reji'iir
lints
,1 to
vliiili no traiisiielioiis ar
to
laU.' |ila .■ in ill" li'l""'' «''"'
,|„, ol.je.l .'f Ihe ('.impiiivy
ll.'llie I.
the I'l'-l"
havelh
ir i.iisincss e
milneleil in cm li a .lun
t ami .ir hrly maiin.'r as w
ill elislU'i
. I an
il loliliilellee of tlleir I'llstolliers,
Yonwditiunishacopvofthish'tti'rlolhi
lii'ads ot each deparlmeiil.
1 am, Sii', yon
r o
lu'ilicnt servant,
Monei
n .IAS. <). (iUAllAMi:, C. C'r,
STKAMI'.OA'I' AM) inaix;!", SilAK'i.S.
TIk' ili'sirc 111' the (iiivci'iini' and ( 'niiiniitti.'o tn icdiicr the lunoiiiit ot'
the ('(iiiiiiaM\ "s iiive.^tinciUs in .-liiiifs ni' tlic A iniii] r^ ami Wf.-triii
'rraiispoi'tatioii Company, ami in llu" sUick nt' tlie lUd i;i\iM l!iiil^c
Cniupaiiy, cduld n(jt in the piTst-nt stati" of atlaiis lir (arrird i nt. Tiic
('iiici' ( '<ininii>^i(in('r and I lie Land ( 'i)innii>sioniT war I'dtli (•(.nimuiiiratcd
w itli on till' sulijfct. and tlioy will a\ail tlicniM-lvi's of the fiist l.tMiiaiilc
(ijHiortnuiiy that iiii'^cnts itx'lf for rcducinu' thi'su in\('>lnu'iiis.
i.)i''Ai'i'i;]j,i:. SWAN iMVKi; distkkt.
in cxaniininL; \siih Mr. M( I'miald, tlu' Dll
II :•!■ Ill rluiruc
iln' ri'-uhs (it
the irad'' o| hi-, I )i>irict lur ( liillit l^S-J, I f'unnd (hat in ih,M)iUlyinL; I )i--iiict,-
wlii'i'' till' I'lir 'I'radi' is still carried un, tlu' Indians wi'ir liadly oil' diirini;'
la.-i w iiiliT. ,iiid their l''iir hunts weri' miich smaller than those of lormer
veaiv
■1
le n'oiiils wele oi'i
ieicd tor ( inllit 1^^:
leti re nianv settlers laid
leached (,)li
Appelh
-t aiRl a
t liial iilace. i'lHi 1',
nee, and linliii
I li
Miiiiiilaiii. ihe full ad\aiitam' of iirolit.s ari-^iiiL;' tioin the .-ale of ^-oods to
-el llei- will Hot \et lie -Ik i\\ n. wliif' in the meaiitniie elh
irts had til li
made lor the dis|)osal of I'm' Trade L;()od>, soiae of which iiad t^ he
ieiii(e>ed to oihei' I ffstrii'ts, fre.^h supplies for (,hi \p|ii'll( and I'ort liliiee
will iiow he nnicred t
vei\ six iiionlh.-, or niiiie tieoneiitlv if the I'd
iiri'L: w lien
111 Ihi- i >i-lriet i> ii
are sold (|iiii kl\ . and ilie proceeds of .-ales are .-eiit lo Wim
lic-h -iipplies are rei|niied. 'Ihe >y-tem piir-in
asicrtain the cost oi the dill'erent classes ofi^oods landed at all tic l*o-t.-.
and till' avei'aue amonnt of prulit added to the co.-t appeared tn ho ahoiil
."i(» per ci'iit., whieli Mr. Me|)oiiald coii-idered a- iiiiieh a.-, could lie
(ilitaiiu'd. ( >ii rioiir and Haeiin the ) mlits are onl\ II oi' i.'i pel- cent, in
ders fur
ci in-ei|iieiue ot the eoiiipelil loll to which he i.^
the .sale of the.se article.-.
e\piised li oiii liin
The e-iima'e.i .■iiiioiini ol'capit;il emplou'd in the |ii.-triii i.-, $",il.n(i(i,
and the expenses nf manaueiiiont appi'ar to lie modeiate. The profits foi'
()iillii l^>i'_' amoinii to ;?;>,(i(Mt. a sum whieh conhl not he i oii.-idercd an
adeipiale retmii on the capital eiiiplo\eii. The disii'irt. luiwcver. is an
importani one, and the Midden chaiiu'c in connection \\\\\i llic opining; n|>
of the eoiiiiirs imi-i lie con.sidered ill relation to the prospei Is of the trade
under dilli-rent maiia^oment Irom that of hist yeai'. Mr. Mel loiiald i-
liilly ali\e to the mci's.-ily ot iii-pectin,i;- llm po.st.s of I'ort llli e and
K'ldiii:^ .Moiinlaiii, and serinii ih.ii the )irii|icr class ul ^^omi- in deiiiainl li\
settlers and Iraders are piniiipll\ ; iip[ilied ulieii reiinii' d lie will -naid
a.L^ain.st having in Iiaiul laruf >lncks ol" -nmls, ai^l jiay .-,ti'irt attmilinii to
tilt- enllccticiu nf oiitslaiidiiig iiel)t.s as tlu'V liccoim' lUa'. in >ouw caM'-,
creilits cxtciKliun' to six iiKmth.s ri-ijuin' ti> lie -ivni to ivs[ioii^iMe parties
ill Swan liivcr District, wliciv i't'w, if any, lo.-srs in tin- -ciicrai traut> iiavi'
jiitliLM'to lu'cii sii>tainecl.
SA^KAT('lll-;\ AN D'STiliCT.
'riu' accoiiiils ofthi,- aistricl arrivcl at Wiiniipeir ,;\ir:!i.-;' my vi-it \n
lliat plarc, ainl Mr. I.. Clarla", the ( iHircr in ciiar^.'. ariivr,! tln-iv tun
.lay- Inluiv 1 Id't tn make arrauux-.nen'.s witli ro-anl t . tli • tran-i^a't nj
(Invernnunt .vapiilics. W.' ili-niss-Mi m iii\ maftcrs rPinn'.-tcii with tin'
liusincss, anil caivrMlly rxamiiifd tlic ammnis wliieli iv.iuircd cxplauati.ms.
'i'lie inciva-c in tiif amniml nfcajiital cmiiLvvrd in tlif .iistii t was .liir to
the fact thai a imrtinn ol' the supplies intended for la>t winter's trad.' was
detained in the St.'anier '■Northcote- at C'linilicrland, an<l was iu-lnd<'d
in llu^ inven'.ori.s made up on the 1st of -lunelasi. Moreover.an amiiunl,
als., included in tlie inveiitnri-.. of nearly sriO.OOO for s,' Is supjilied this
veai' to the (rovernment, will soon he due, and e..l]ected f..r the civdit nf
th ' ,^a:d<atchi'wan 1 lisirict.
The capita! at the date mentioiu'il .stond at <^L: lo.tHii) as auainsi
si. -(»,(»(((» in Ontlit issl. and ^-JtHVcdo in (huti' 1-Nt. The profits of
Outfits Is^-J amniiiit to >:i.-.,(Mh), inciudin- s-nie *f.n!i(i the increased value
,,f tlie furs iradeil. In ' Miltit 1^>1 the j.-zolits of tlie .listrft annmnted to
S-J7,t><i<'.
Tlic IWrnMaMvliieh tlie aecamts N\ere made iij> in tlie district, and
sonKMli^civpancies in lie- matter ..f tran>fers of .^nods to other .listricts
su---este,l a \i-it hv Mr. lleeMon. tlio accanitant .f the Xorllu'rn
])q?artment. t., I'rinee Alhert, to have ihese matters at , an e adjusted, ami
he will aUo examine tie' mode in ^^llleh Handlers of --..ds and inland
fivi.dil arediaruvd, in .a'dertoframea new tariti. as under the proent
>ystmn Mr. Clarke maintains that his .li>tricl suHers In-s ii'om the trans-
fers, which last year amounted to ^tiC iMM». while other olhcers appear to
think that inland fivi-ht chai-es are excessive.
r,„,n ihisMihject 1 should monlion that .strict ailenlioii has l.een
.■.illedtovaiiouseiiorsintlie.lislrici accounts ari.sin- from nmis>i,ms in
seudin.- at the proper time invoices ami paitiuilars ol cha.-cs on K'-1s
inui.sferredlVoinnnediMiacl ,o au,.iher. and ollicer> have l.een mtormed
,l,^„ ,„ ,„,„,,, ,1,0 amonm- nf the tninslers must he a;;ieod hetween district
,„,„ cers helore the annual accounts are sent to the Norll.ern 1 lepartment
8
Dopnt, as tlio former mode of rectifying mistakes of tliis nature in sulisc
quent Oiitiils ean no longci- 1)C iiliowed. The system now followed at tlic
DeiKit and tlie IJed 1-Jiver Pistriet, in regard to invnii-cs and eliarges, ounlii
to |ii('vent tlic eoinplications wliicli were cxperieneeil iiy dealing "witli tlu'
arrnuuts 111' Innuei' ( )nlilts.
The jirolits of tlie sales oi' ( loods at Prince .Vlhert. where a laigi'
"cneral tradi^ is carried on, liave liilherto been calculated at ahout
KM) per cent, on \\ lunipcg prici's, hut, in future, Mr. Clarke -will ascertain
tlie cost of goods landed in his District, and charge i)rofit.s du tliat hasis.
CAUIAHY, EI)M()XTOX DISTPJCT.
'J'lie same system will he folh'wed at l'al^ar\, ^50 miles west of
Winnip
on
the Canadian Pacific Railway, an impoi'taut jxiint in
connection with ealtle raising, and one which will be of great service to
the Company m trans[iorting the supiilies for Edmonton and i'eaco JJiver
at cheaper rates tlian those hitherto paid for friighl by the Saskatchewan
■iteanu
■rs, Ciitil the location of the railway .station at Calgarry is
(ielei'mine(l. it aiiiM
ared to br premature to ilecide on a i
lew site for tin
Company- Sioi'c. The present wooden buildiui;s are being enlarged at
a sm.iU cost, >o that ilie .\uinmn and Winter Traile can be conducted by
Mr, Dardisly, the oHieer in eliaige, who is taking steps for the improvement
of the luisines> in tlial impoftaiit di>lri!'t.
was eiiaoieii
to intiodiire to liim -CNcral l,i
the callle ranches, and al-o two of tin' ]
P.icirie li'ailway. with \\hoin it appeare
eordial relation-^.
iitlennii connected wiih
ii;i(i|ial olheials of tlie Canadian
d to lie de.-iiable to cultivate
Mr. llardisty broiiuht to \\ innipeg
Is for the aniuiiui trade, amoiiiiliiii;- to
a cai'efully piepareil mi
lent of
1(1.000, and arranueinents were
l)einu' madi' to L;t
I suitable sup|ilies selected, partly from the \\ iiinipi>g 8t
ore
and partly from adjoining district;
'he l-'.dinoiiton A^'eoiinls h
ir ( )utlit l^^l' had not arrived, but wen
soon e.\pi'eleil
at
he JJejn)! of the Northern Itepaiinn lit.
Al)\ AXCES TO ()IFICEi;S .\N1) .-^Kb'VANT.S
With the Chief Coinmi--ioiier, Chief l'aetoi> I lardisly. Clarke, and
M. Donald, and al>o willi Chiel Eatm'- I'.ell, Jiaiikiii, and i'arson. I
(liscinscd the ([iiestidii i)f till! (lid system of adiliiif^ HO); per cent, to tlie
invoice cost of the siipplies ivfjiiired by the otlicers, lunl jiointed nut the
fact tliat, with the f^reater assortment of goods imported by the Company,
these sup])lies had lieen iarnely increased Fn-m the Winnipeg' Store
alone ^'oods to the amount of .s:)(),()(»0 had been taken np nmler the old
system, ami the loss to tlie tra(U' in Outfit l^s-j on that account could not
liave been less than >4.0()(» or ,i5,<MKI In Onttit l^si the olHc;'rs' supi)lies
amounted to sl>;,-_'r)7, in < )uttit IS.sd to jiU.OdO, and they were murh smaller
in former Outfits. 'J'he Officers all a(bnitted that, under the circumstances, a
change was necessary in tlie districts which were lieinu' opened ujt for
settlement, lait in the Fur Trade districts, where it is difficult to ascertain
the actual cost of country provisions, such as deer, fisli, ifcc. it was
jiroposed thai no channc should be made in the Olhcers' and servants' tariff
for the purchase of such goods as are reipiired at these posts. .\t Ited
Eiver, Swan Kiver, Saskatchewan, and Edmonton distrirts a chan;^i'
api»eare(l to be necessary to prevent direct losses to the tra<le. With the
view of giving the Officers and sc-rvants, as heretofore, an advanta^o
over the outside public, a pi'otit of ten per cent, nu the cn-t of
goods landed in the districts uameil, appeared as rea.sonable to
the officers, who admitted that a propnrtinii of the .salesman's \vage>,
interest on outlay, and tlie cost of handling tlie goods, should be paid ;
and if this proposed arrangement is sanctioned liy tlu' IJnanl.it dULilit folic
exteiuh'd to aiiv othi'r districts in which a gcner.d trad.' is con. In -led.
MKSS EXrENSES.
I
In all Fur Trade districts the Ollicers in charge have iiecn called upon
to keep a correct aecoimt of these expenses, but iu future they are to
state iu tiie annual accounts of the different posts the sums .so expended,
in order that a comparison of the amouuts can be made frimi time to time.
I found that a general feeling prevailed among the Officers of frontier
districts of the Northern nejiartment, in favor of their bein- paid the
allowance fixed upon at \Vinnii>eg and other places in lieu of board and
lodgings, and with the sanction of tlu> Chief Commissioner, I now submit
that in the interest of tlu; ('ompany, it wouhl be de.siral)le to commute the
mess expenses of the ollic(U-s in I'harge at Calgary, now the head-Mi'arters
of Edmonton District, .Saskatchewan, and Swan liiver Districts, for i'l'.")(»
each per annum, and allow them to lioard their clerks and servants, at or
aI)0UtS2U per month. In tiiis way the expenses of each post can bo
corri'Ctiv ascertained.
10
COUNCIL .MEKTINC.S AND I'ROMOTIOXS.
Tlio last CoiiiiL'il liolil iit Carlton was atteiuU'il liy ciulil of tlir
principal OtliciTs, ont of a total nnmlxT of 'J:5 who are intitlfii t" niaki'
n><'oninu'n(Jations for promotions, 'riicsc ciiilit OHiwT.s aic all t'uiplovcil
in tlie Nortliern Dcjtartnu'nt, ami liavo no opportunity of con-iilcrinu the
rciiorts and acccaints of the otluT dc[)artint'nts, of which tjic I'lintipul
OHicors L-oiuplain that their inti'rests in the matter ol promoiic ns are in a
<.,'reat measun; overlooked. Some of them have state(l :
'• W'l! arn Diitvotccl by tho liiryi-r iiunilicr of Offlcors in tlu' NcrtlnTii l)([iiirtmi'iit
" who uro ill a |)o»itii)n us rcfjanls ilistanco to attend the r\miiiils."
I bron}.;lit the matter niidei' the iiotiee of the piineipa! * )nicers who
atti'iided the last Coaneil, and ex[)lained to them that the coml'ineil profits
of the Sontherii and Mcaiireal Departments exeeeck'd tho.se of the
Northern l)epariment, where the lailk of the ca[iital was employed at a
comparatively small retui'n to the tradi'.
Keeping.; in view the interests of the Otlieers em])loyeil in tl:e
different Departments, ami i)lacint,' the I'iuhts of parties lu'vond any ilonhtj
rt'ferenee was made to the deed ])oll whieh declares that :—
-•Till' (ii)vi-riinr ,inil ( niiinnttoc .shall, if anil v. 1m n flii'v sec fit tn ajuinint I'ortaiii
'•OIIiivr>" * * '' *' '■■
;iiii| to a ri'soltitioii of the Board under which th ■ iitiiieipal Ollicer.
wcfe
•' allowed til .seiiil in for thi^ consiiU'ration of tin- (Jnvfrnov ami Cpiianittre I'itiitu-
'■ nii'iulations fm- iiroiiiotiou."
Thex' piiint.s were neeess;ify. ;is under an erronentis view, five oiU of
the eioht Otlieers who atteiidi'd Coimeil voted for a tuiiiiitc, the meanino'
of which thev were at some loss to e.\[ilain. It a[ii>eai>- in the proceedings
of Coinicil as follows : —
•• TImt thr rrriiniiiii nihitiiins I'm' all ii|ijiuintiiii'nli to ( 'onniii.ssioiis and iirnniotions
•• in till' Mi-vin' li' lii'i'caftiT li'ft to till' uoininatiiin of tlii' Cliirf e'lunniissiiinrr.
•• snliji'it to till' a|iproval of the ( iovrrnoi' and Coniniitteo."
I'l'om tlie Otlieers who had not attended the Coiuicil many ohjections
were nifide to the mimtte ipioted. and to the .system piu'sned in regard to
" votiiio" for in'oniotioiis. In the ]iresei!t insttinee three recommendations
were made in lavor of the ]iroii'.otion nf .Mr. .1. 0(liaham(> tind Mr.
\V, Cliirk, to the position of factot'-, in the service, not withstandino' the
instructions of the Tiotird that tlie Ollicers to he promoted ro tiiat orade
shotdd lie en<rii,ued in the l''ur Trade, in important positii n-. and tl;at the
merits of the diilerent Ollicers should be didy coiisiih'ri'd. Several of the
Olliccrs wlio niiiilc IK) rccdiiiiiicMiliitious tn tlu" ('Diiiicil wciv ^iu'iiii->i <i t(
if Mr. .lames (). (Ii-iiluiiiic liail Itch l.iuiij^ht tniu;!!'!
I'md tliat tlic uanit' (
his siM-viri's liitlu'i'tn liaxiiii; 1 ii cnuiiinil to (n]i\i!i^ Iriicis. I t'ouinl lliai
lie (Icsiivd a cliaiit:!' nf ai<i.('iiii iiiciit. and \\w (hid' ( 'niniiii.-sidiicr lia.s U(a\
a|.|M>inti'(l him tn the cliar-v of Kaiiilooi.s in iIk- Wr-tcni (h-partiiii-nt. in
tile niaiiaL;('iiicnt ol winch his sci'vicc.s ni;
iV 1(0 turiR'il to j^Doii accouul.
Mr. W. Chirk was ajipoiiitcil to the char,m' of the l»c|Mit of the
Xortliei'ii (h'partmciit ou\\ i/iSt year, and iiiijieai's to li • aii\ioiis to pciforni
the dnties of tiie jiosition in a sy-^tcinatif and proper manner, liut there
are oilier Ollieers ot ecpial standing in cii;ir-e of Fnr Tiieic ili-iricts.
whose claims appear in the presenr iiisMnee to li.- siron.er than tho.-;e ol
Mr. Clark, ami as the .'Southern 1 Jepaitiiieiit aiipcais to have Keen
overlooked at thu Council, th ■ names of .\[r. Cotter, the Olliccr in chai-v
of Moose Fa'.-torv. and of Mr. liron-hton in char-e of .Mhaiiy commended
themselves to the Chiet Commissioner, and to the Ollieers entitle 1 to make
reeonimeiidatioiis fur promotion. Tliuy are therefore suhmitted to the
(iovernor and Committee, with others \\hose names ai)iiear in the lists
siilimitted to the < 'oumil.
l'"aitor, .1. I., ('orri'.i:, for appointment as Chief Kacfor
Chief Trader. W. K. iSia.i (.nrox, for aiiiiointme it as Factor
■liinior Chief Tiider, DixiiAMUKAii/r, as Chief Trailer
,, II. J. Skinnf.u, „ y, ■ •
\V !•>• Tkaiu.,
'IhefoUowin-llriks lor ainiointment asdiihiiUl hief Traders
.JAMi;> V'iNCKNT
.J. K. M( DoNAI.I)
A. 1.'. .M( Ki.N/iK
W. Ml IvAV (J.)
.lollN JiKI!) .....••••
E. Iv. r>r,i;sToN ■ •
.', Share
• 1- M
■ 1
I <t
. A ti
• 1 r
S'. Shares.
Two unfilled Shares under tlie Deed Foil iire proposed to he h'ft in
coiisi.kTution of an in.rca^e in tlie salaries of >[r. Dow, the principal
salesman in the KryCoods Department of the Winnipe- Store, and ol
Mr. (loo.lri.l-e. the Cashier appointed in place of Chief Trader llai-rav.',
some fur lier experience of the .service l.eiii- considerc.l advisahle before
,,,.ommendin- them to the notice of the Board f..r the po.sition of Junior
Chief Traders.
IJ
Tlii'1'0 now siH'ins to he hut ono opinion finioiiix tlic Coiuniissioiied
Otiiccrs that, in the aliseuco of inspuctin^' factors, it is essential for the
l)mper eomhict of the Imsiuess, that eaeli OlUcer in eliari;-!' of a (k'partnient
in niakinLt his annual report on the ii'aile, sIk.uIiI also icport on the
ollieers and elerks unihr his own charge, and when the ,vliole of
these reports are reeeived, a sunuiiary of them, with remarks
by the (Miief ('ommi.ssinnei'. would. enal>le the Uoard to decide
upon the (iuestion of promotions with due re.i^ard to the interests of the
whole service. Its jjroper discipliiu' and the arrangement of matters
pertaining to the trade, now require more frerpient conferences hetween
the Chief ('onunissioner and each of the ])rincipaM>tlicers in chaTg,e <)f
departments, which C(nUd easily be held from time to time, and uidess for
sjiecial purposes, on which the majority of the (Jtficers should be represented.
thi" annual Councils would lie rendered unnecessary.
Hurinu recent years the Council Meetings have been of no bent tit to
the sersice, but have given rise to usidess di.scu.ssions among the dliieers
wh.i have nnt had an opportunity iA' attending them.
am.
Yuui's failhfullv.
\V. ARM IT.
lU^POKT BY Mi;. BliVDCiES.
London,
(/ A'i/reiii/i'f. '\^^:
As roi\\u
<tvd iU llio inrdniial lucetini;' of sonic lucnilioi's of tin-
Comniittco on tlic 'J'JikI instant. T now ])rofeeil to put in M-ntmir an
oil
tlinc of the views wliiili 1 linn ('X])rcs^(>(l.
I liavc rca<l can'tiilly tlic <ili-('i
])olicy of the ComiKiny.
vations of Mr. I'leinini: on the lam
I liavo also had an ()]>poi-tun
itv of vailing' tlie lettrr addresseil l\v the
>eci'(
tarv to thi- (Hjvei'iiov, (hited :\Ioiitival. '-'Isl .•^epteuiluT. 1 -<^--' ; an.
to-dav 1 had a full disciKssion with .Mr. Fk'num; upon the <iii
est ions rai.^e
d
111 his }>aitei'.
T (hi not propose to say anythinii iu'i'i> upon
tlie personal i|iiesti(i
i iiieidentall\ in tlie doeiinients
raisei
thi> Coiiiinilti
1 have referred to. 1 understand
to he fu'lv saii.-^lied as to the enliiv -'r
aindlessness ol the
s(>verai ruinoiirs a
ml iii>iniialions \v
Jiiidi havr hoeii -oiiH'what Ireeiy
■irtMilated in * aiiada ami repealed in London.
'Die iiii|iortaiil ini.'stioii is, a.-
orih'i' lo disjiose most ijiiieklv r
(il-lain for it ilio lii:.;hest pi lee.
to what is llie I'est policy to pur.sno. in
■ the (din[iaiiyV lamh-d esiale, and lo
The plan hilherlo piii
-iicil ha- hocn lo piil a jiricc upon
the lands in
acciin
lanee with current niarki
1 value,'., ami ihe reports rcceixci
1 friiiii tin
lllslH
ctors, who examine and report niion tlie sedi.
HI- in the dill'ereiit
Towiislii|is. in almost every ease the prices
litaiiic'l ii
,ivr lieen m excess
th' \aliialioiis inai
i\ il;(> in-iierlors i
n a i;reai inaii\ eases \cry
iiisnIcraliU so.
I'mh'i' llii' .-v.-t( 111
liave heen disposed of toliic end of O.'toher, at a total pri
h'llowed, a total of 4(;(i.741 acre:
,f .<:;,! :U),s77
or a
n a\erat40 of ^tlMl per aei
Duriiiy this lime the Covernnicii
I of Canada lia\e l.(>en ejvinL;' free
liotnestead- to settlers, an
1 selling- lands al price- raiiijinc iium <\ to >-J,,
an aire
the Canada I'iicilic IJailuav Ci'inpanv have
been selling at M',',
anacre. and -ivingl:u-e(liiiwl):u;ks(.ll' tliat price lur fvciy anr biuk..ii
(hirin- a certain \n-v\ni\. Wr cliarue 7 per ecnt. inierest up.^n unpai.l
iustalmeutri, whilst liotli the Goveniraeiit and the Canadian I'aeiti. IJailway
('(in)|)any chr.rLie (inly '> per rent.
Afew.lays before I left \Vinnii)e- the I.and ( '(.nnni.>inner (.f the
Canadian Paeilie Kaihvav told me tliat indep.nidently of the sales nf lar-e
.quantities to such Coiupanio a> the Nurth-West Land Company, th.'ir
total land sales had so far a-gregatod between 'MnKWU ami -Kh.,(mm»
acres.
Considerable .[uantiiies of what are known as scrij. and half-bre.l
lands, haw been secnred by spe(ulator>. and all the sales made by them
hav(> beea at prices less by from >'J to s!! an acre than the i.rices obtained
by us.
We liave never asked a purchaser whether he doired to obtain the
land t.. settle upon it, or to acquire it as a speculation all we demanded
was that ho should i.av the price we asked -pay the r,r>r u.xalment u.
cash-and enter inte, the covenants as to futuiv payn.ents that ue had
lived upon. The fact that wo> .sohl without any •' conditions of settlement,
and did not care or em,uire what the i-urchaMTintemled to do with the
proportv, ..ave us a -reat advantage ..ver other sellers, and enabled us to
obtain hi-her p.ice.. The fa.'t that people co.dd buy from us. pay us
l,j„l,(.P prices than tlicv cotdd bu\ ,.1m.xv here, aiui yd in sonuM'a>es make a
,;,,.„ ,„„ „,• ,1.,.:, purchases, put our lauds it. point of fact at a premium n.
tlu- market, and had the effect of cnablin- us to dispo.se of a nnud. lar.-er
area than won
Ihave been no.ssilde if we had stood out for the highest
llOSSl
blc ultimately sp.Tidative prK'c,
What the ultimate prohl to many
if the sjieculative pun
hasers, after they have paid interest, tax
es. anil
other expen>e~. i
na
V bo. is a 1
rohlem V(
t to be solved. Thi' history of th
woi
hi docs not show
1 l,elieve, that all speculatious liuai oiU a.^ those
em
barking in tnem hope for.
Sales of iaiitl are effected in this way
]\\ advcrlisenieiHs, tlie i>.-ne
if maps. pam|
ihlets, \-c.. and in other ways, we i
;dl pulilic attenli'iu lo
the fact that we ha
\e laiKi^ m
V sah' two a
nd oiicn lhi( c a
lid fi'iir trams
arrive dai
|\ in Winnipeg coiiiainim
liie coiinlrv.
Iie\ '^o
to the dilferent
ei
(her about land genera
ciiple who have viv.w^' to -elllc in
land ollices in the cit,\ to rn(|uire
that lhc\ have
Iv, or about particular si'ction.-
Iicard about from friends already in lh>' couiiuy, oro
-iiiumer ami
(■mpiiry olfa
iriii^-, we irci|\
icutlv had from .>!• to , •> peo|
iherwi e. 1 luring last
lie in our
e ilai
Iv. I'ntil wi' enlari
till' ollice. 1
t was an every Uay
OCCI
iri'i'iice to see liles ol men w
aitiii- lo. in llieir
lurn, reach the limited
coiiiitor room to make the iMii(iiiric.s they <lc.siri'il .Miiii\ of tlu'so jumijiIc
had their fiimilu's aiul L'HiMls with tlicm, ami iiatiually lUvsiivd to remaui
>ssi!ile. A ureal m;iii\
e as no
at Iari(e expense in \Viiiiii|ieL!, as >hort a tim
houulit si'ctious IVoni us tlie da\ tliev arrived, and went olVat ouee in te.Ue
ts |l
i)ossession.
It lias iieen su.L;.:i'sted th;
;n!d '^''t lietter priees il we soli
1 1.
hat the result would
jiiililie auction at -hoil interval-. I am ofi'piiiion
l.e (liferent, reojile will pay u ^ for the reaHoiis I liave ahvady stateil,
liiii'iier fi-ures l.y from s-J to -;; an a-re than tliey ean l>uy ' 1-ewhi're.
, I tlie Canadian IVeitie Kailway, they pay us thn^ times as
sa* to iulendiny
In the ease i
inneli as tliev ean luiv for fi.im tliai Company. 'H
l)urilKiS(
rs tliat tiiex nin.-t wait a eei
personal exjiense
ir an aiietnai sale. n\
tain ieuuth of tina-. ai eonsiderahle
hen thev m;a not lie aMe to
seiairf the s( i
UlU \V(
^hall
tinn thev re<|nne, will sciiij tlh'in to -nine
o.-e tlieni as eiistnmers ciitirelv.
itlier land oiliee,
am no
t aware that an> Land Coniiiany. nr railway ownin-' laial-
eit
hir ill Canada nr lli- I'liiied Stales, has adnptcd tiie I'laii of
aiutinn .-ale^ !'er ilrar farmiii.n lands. They have al
alile to learn, lolloui'd tlu' plan wo p
tar as I liav
iMVin'4
e lic^Mi
umlcr (
inaiin.'tanei'.-- .-nular lo our;
nisii.'. and leaie i.i tiuii! I lielie\(''
have ohlained sueh a high axcrain'. as
far done. 1 do lu
\\ I- na\ e ^o
alfeeled in vaine wiii'lhcr
,t lielit've that farm lands are materiidiy
liiii' of railway
ihi'V are 1 or a or i"> mile.-- Irom a Inu' ol ra
riimiin
u thron-h a iirw and uudevelope.l eountrv. In the eourso of 10 or
l."» \ears, when tip' eoiintry has lu'iome eninpara
dill'eren
lenuth of time
■e ol \alih' ma >
iri.-e. Imt il'Vti llio Companv
lively settled up, a
desire to wait tha'
isni''' ralere~.t an
paviiiu' ta\e> and other expeli.-r.
not l)elie\e that laial mund sma
II intermediate railway statioii.s is eouij
tol
increased m \ aine liec;iiif-e o
for a ureal man\ \eai-
I iis proximity to such small station, at leasl
I think the same u'cneral i>rimiple will apply to
farmin.u' lamis round lar,:;er
mo(iilie;itioll.
-er towns and centres, with peiliaps s
ome siiLilit
Then take the ease of lo-iiia, a prospective town of .onsideraM."
.|imcn>ioiisa.rordinetoth.- views nf .s,,nie people dhe owners of llm
~ilc have laid aside Cseetious. ..r •_'.:.il(> acres, as ihe [a'opo.M di t. .wn and liav,'
divide.l it intoalu.ut -Jo. (MM) lots. To have every one of tho.e 1.,is.k cupi.'d
I IV a x'para
le individird. will n ipiiic ,i jiop
ilalioii at lea^l eipial lo the
1 i)oi)iilation *<\' the ( "\\\ ot
presenl po]
has a population of Imm
\\ innii
To-da\ Tort,
l.a i'rairii
\ 1,1 ."i.dtm, ,ind IhMudnu has not more, it so
main. Hiaii
■J,.")(l(l. With .-n
•h fact.- liefore us, is Keeiuii e(i,iin> to in-
led al such a late, that •::..(mM) lots will in any ivas.aiahle time he
lisiiosed of ami the growth of poiailatum he so en,n i|,at it will I'c
peoj
nooessiirv fnr it tn swarm off on to lots in .section '20. Is tlicir tlic snmlli'st
reason lintlin to liclicvc that Kcn'ina wonld cvci' liavc been tiscil njion, il
section ■-'•; liail reiniiineil the projterty of tlip Hudson's Hay ('oni]iany.
W'itli o:u' or two exceptions, auction sales have never been atteni[)te(l
in ^Vil^li|)e;i. except for properti(>s of doubtful value, or when tliey had
to bo sold to reali.s(> money. Auctiou sales are usually looked upon witii
suspicion. They have been tried in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, but.
have not ]H'oved a success. 1 liclievi> oiu', or [iossii)ly two, amtion sales
■were tried in Toronto of farm lands, but were failures. All auctions in
Winnipeg;' have been of Town pidjHTty, with tht; exception of one by the
(bivt'rnmi'iit of a certain number of farm lands, which were jmt uj) at an
U|)set price of .-sii', and realized abdut ■-<;) for a moderate i|uantity only of
what were olVered. This result was brou,i,'ht about by a combination to
]irevent biddiii;' cxicjit at a tritle over the upset i>rice.
If we had an auction sale with annonnceil u])set jM'ices, and the
biddiiiLis, from any cause, did not ltd biynnd (jr reach onr upset price,
the elVecl wmdd at onre be to make our counter sales fall, or we should
make no .sak-s.
Anv attempt at an auction sale at present of Town lots wouhl be a
serious iniMake. There is no jnesent demand for this jtroperty, and an
advertisement bv us of an auction sale of oiu' Winnipeg lots, would most
liiicly produce a panic in real estate and dr.^p prices from 'JO to 'J;')
|ier ccUl .
I'',vt')! if auction sales coirul be consiih red advisalilr at any time, it
wmild b ' cleai-ly unwise to havr them wIumi the real e-Jitte market is
tiat or talliiiL:'. No menhant. 1 pre-nnie, w.iuld nti'er a cnn>i^L;nmeut of
e()ods on a lallin.u' market by and ion. inile>- he was forced to realize
reeanlless ol' < nn^-eipiences.
I b;'Iieve myself, the coiii'se we have hitherto jmrsued is the ri^ht
(MIC to toUow, and I am very sti(Migl\ ff opiiumi ihal it is mo.4 iniiioi-lanl
not to clianL'c our jiolicy except for very pntential rea>ons. We have
• ••reatly beni'lited iu the i)a<t bv liavin- i)\ir>ued a p.Tsi.tent poliey wlieii
dllier seilci> iiave lieen mikiue' coast lal chanu'es.
If llie matter is left to my dis.'reliou. 1 will, when the opportunity
ajipears la\nurable, make an experiment uf invit inu- competition for Mime
of our larniin- lands, b\it 1 think it would ri'iiniiea vciy material change
Ironi the |ii'esent condition of the real cMaie mirket before snch an
expeiiment coiihl be prudently made. In the sann- way, if L tind a
cunsidemlile (loiiiiiiid for fanniii'^ lands in any partiruliu lurality, and that
several people are enqnirinj^ after tlie same lots, I will trv and indii<e
competition where it is [lossiMe lo ilo so safely.
The Committee are aware that the Canadian I'a.ilie Kailway Com-
pany have decided to sell the land:-, lately allotted t<i them in Southern
Manitolia, preci>ely on the lines we have hitherto done, for the reason that
thev consider we have heen so sneccssfnl and they will l>e very ^■lad if they
ol)tain as ^nod prices as we have done, ahtnit whieh [ eiilntain donlits.
The Xorth-West J.aiid ( oie.pany an- iroin;; tn sell exactly as wr have
done, and are -;oin^^ to coi)y our phms exactly. 1 hav,' arran-ed with then-
IShinapTs to endeavoiu- to keep np jirices and to avoid any attem|it to
under.sell each other. Ihey will be very gkul. they lell nie, if they can t^ct
as good prices as we have done.
There are, 1 think, reasons peculiar to our Comi-any why we should
sell asrapiiUy as we can, and at rnnviit market piir. - Asa luleland
will now sell tirst from icn to litteen miles on eilli-T srle of the r;ulwa\.
and when that is taken ui) it will gradually extend further hack, hut 1
l.elieve that distance must be pretty well hlled up before many sales will
be made further back.
It is a nuMlerate price f.r farmlands, andtheea.se witii which I he land
is brou-ht into cidtivation which is brni^in- ^ettlcrs into the cuntrx. If
the pric'e ,u-oes up very much pe.iph- will cea.^c L. uo there. Tiie further we.t
sottlersuo the more eo.stly will it hv to tran>|H.il then' |>rodu.1Mn a ni;iil;et.
Would "the Western States have been Idled up tn the exieul lbe\ ha.\.
been if .set tiers had had tn pay any >uch jnice.. as ue aiv uu^, -ettinu '
Then c(msider the enurniMus .luanti;) of available land thcie i. le tic-
North-Wesl, compared with the .small -piantitx already di>po>edor. to b, O,
setters and >peenlalors.
The IlHnois Central be-an to,li>pose of their land erant abnut twciitv-
hve years aeo. It is, 1 believe, all s,,l.| now. an.d the avera-e price o' iheu'
lamls. 1 understand, was about slu an acre, and only brou.ht up to that
iieure by late sales, .///-/• the eoiupletiou of the railway and a xerv lar-e
population exist in- in the >tate.
I think what 1 have written deals with the mam factors to be
con,sidered, and 1 will no, wearv the Co.nmittc, with a more extended
.laement I have tried to .leal with the question as a imav question ot
business, and without regard to any rutnonrsand half expressed iusmttations
.vhich may arise in the future as they have in the past. 1 do not belune
liiiit iin\ plans riiulil
wliiih m
ilicc (ir piiw would lint SOfU to
lU
k hoi
fS 111.
• )ne can ot"
ly a
o one s (
lltV to tllC liCSt of OlU'
iliilit
V, anil
kc the most of what is placed uiidcr our diari^o. 'ilic
Huctiiate lar"'clv iiccordinu' to varyiii,L;
cndravour ti> ina
extent of land sales will of necessity
I'lreuinslaliees
lia]»peiiin,ii mnii
realized eonsiderali
liave been secured.
Much can I'C duiu'
liv lakiuir advantage of what i.-
l us nil tlie spot, and prouiiitness of action in the pa:
>unis of iiioiiey
ales
;t has
vvliich (itherwise would probably not
iieninnin,:;. am
lo cotne will lie lai:
atiLHii'V for liie lulun
.iurin- the last three years of nearly .£l,200,(iiH» is a -o.al
1 ahhnu-h it is not at all likely that the sales for sometinn«
,liat lias alreai
Iv been achieved, is, I hop
a u'l " '< I
('. I', BRVDGES.