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O N T H E T R A I L T O P E A C E R I V E R 91
Altogether we estimated the prairie areas of the upper
river at about half a m i l l i o n acres, with much country, in
addition, which resembles the Dauphin District i n Manitoba,
covered with willows and the like, which, i f they can be
pulled out by horse- power, as is done there, w i l l not be very
expensive to clear. There is, of course, any quantity of timber
for building and fencing, though much has been destroyed
by fire, the varieties being those common to the whole country.
To the south, i n the Tellowhead, and on the Upper Athabasca
and its tributaries, there is considerable prairie also, more
easily reached than Peace R i v e r ; but this is apart from my
subject. I may say, i n conclusion, that the Upper Peace
R i v e r country is a very fine one, drained by a vast and navigable
river, compared with which the Saskatchewan must
y i e l d the palm, and, beyond doubt, this w i l l be the first
region to attract settlement and railway development.
Aside from settlers and a railway, the chief needs of the
country are a good waggon- road to Edmonton and mail
facilities, which were almost non- existent when we were
there, but which have recently been to some extent supplied.
Nearly three months had elapsed since we entered the country,
and not a letter or paper had reached us from the outer
world at any point. The imports into the country were
increasing very fast, and, through competition and fashion,
its principal furs were immensely more valuable than i n the
past.
As for the natives of the region, we found them a very
worthy people, whose progress i n the forms of civilized life,
and to a certain extent i n its elegances, was a constant surprise
to us. As for the country, i t was plain that all we met
were making a good l i v i n g i n it, not by fur alone, but by
successful farming, and that its settlement was but a question
of time.
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| Title | Page 103 |
| OCR | O N T H E T R A I L T O P E A C E R I V E R 91 Altogether we estimated the prairie areas of the upper river at about half a m i l l i o n acres, with much country, in addition, which resembles the Dauphin District i n Manitoba, covered with willows and the like, which, i f they can be pulled out by horse- power, as is done there, w i l l not be very expensive to clear. There is, of course, any quantity of timber for building and fencing, though much has been destroyed by fire, the varieties being those common to the whole country. To the south, i n the Tellowhead, and on the Upper Athabasca and its tributaries, there is considerable prairie also, more easily reached than Peace R i v e r ; but this is apart from my subject. I may say, i n conclusion, that the Upper Peace R i v e r country is a very fine one, drained by a vast and navigable river, compared with which the Saskatchewan must y i e l d the palm, and, beyond doubt, this w i l l be the first region to attract settlement and railway development. Aside from settlers and a railway, the chief needs of the country are a good waggon- road to Edmonton and mail facilities, which were almost non- existent when we were there, but which have recently been to some extent supplied. Nearly three months had elapsed since we entered the country, and not a letter or paper had reached us from the outer world at any point. The imports into the country were increasing very fast, and, through competition and fashion, its principal furs were immensely more valuable than i n the past. As for the natives of the region, we found them a very worthy people, whose progress i n the forms of civilized life, and to a certain extent i n its elegances, was a constant surprise to us. As for the country, i t was plain that all we met were making a good l i v i n g i n it, not by fur alone, but by successful farming, and that its settlement was but a question of time. |
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