sources. By whomsoever a false statement has been made, I have met it with prompt denial and have always given my reasons for so doing. There is one class of speakers, however, to whom I have made no answer. This class are representatives of the people, and if they make statements at variance with known facts, it is not my province to dispute them.

Previous to 1874, the site of the present city of Emerson was merely a prairie with small cultivated patches here and there, and no indications of a city in the future were apparent. The nearest point at which any signs of a settlement were visible was where the old Hudson's Bay Company's post existed, just across the boundary line, while three miles distant, on the American side also, was the hamlet of Pembina, and the united settlers at both places, at the beginning of the year we have mentioned, did not exceed 150 persons.

In the spring of this year, Messrs. Thomas Carney and W. N. Fairbanks had 640 acres of the present city site laid out into lots, and the same summer Mr. F. T. Bradley and Captain Ash laid out 200 acres more. Thus the original town plot of the city included 840 acres, an extent unusually large and certainly indicative of great faith on the part of the founders of the city. People in other portions of the North-West began to believe that it was possible for a town to exist here, and before the winter of 1874 had set in quite a few business institutions of various descriptions were permanently located in the village.

The proprietors of the town site of Emerson acted with a spirit of great liberality in those days. They sold their lots quite cheap, and assisted in the establishment of a school and the regular ordinances of religion. In the summer of 1875 the population was about 100 all told. During 1879 the growth of the village was very rapid. The opening of the railway between it and St. Paul in the spring had given

a great impetus to immigration, and Emerson and the surrounding country received great additions to their numbers. The close of the year found Emerson with a population of over 800, and that steady stream of prosperity now set in which has continued ever since.

Early in the spring of 1880 Emerson was incorporated as a city, and at once the inhabitants taxed themselves to build a bridge across the Red River, so that farmers living on the west side of the river might bring the produce of their farms to the city. A steam planing mill and steam flouring mill were now in operation, and numerous other manufacturing industries were established. The summer and autumn of 1880 were busy times in Emerson, several brick blocks were erected, and churches began to rise in various parts of the city. The close of the year saw a population of almost 1,400 in Emerson, while her business places numbered not less than seventy-five, the trade operations extending for 200 miles to the westward.

Last year (1881) the progress of the city was remarkable. Many fine buildings were erected, lumber mills were established, and the Emerson Agricultural Works were put in operation. At the close of the year her population had increased to fully 2,500, and six denominations of Christians were holding weekly services, while her public school was attended by nearly 200 pupils and taught by three teachers.

That Emerson is destined to be a city of considerable importance can be seen at a glance over any of the late maps, and the possibilities are thus set forth by a recent writer: "The Gate City is practically the southern key to all the Canada Pacific Railway Company's lines, and from it two trains are run daily direct to Winnipeg, and directly through to Portage la Prairie and Brandon. That Emerson will long remain this Company's base of operations is evident from the commodious depot arrangements which they have made here. Their freight and passenger arrangements are not