be effected in the centre of savage tribes, and not once has the moral prestige, which was in reality their only weapon, been found insufficient to cope with difficulties which, in America, have often baffled the efforts of whole columns of armed men. I am glad of this opportunity to name these men as well worthy of Canada's regard-as sons who have well maintained her name and fame." His Excellency paid a high and deserved compliment to the Hudson's Bay Company, and one equally deserving to the Mounted Police Force. But for them the country, at least in the far west, would have yet been a terra incognita, in a state of anarchy and demoralization. There would have been no safety for either life or property. The officers of the North-West Mounted Police are men of experience and tact. Their prudence and courage have been proved on many occasions. The names of the Commissioner, Col. Irvine, Superintendent and Adjutant Cotton, and Superintendent Crozier, have frequently been mentioned in the public press in connection with the meritorious discharge of their duties. In view of an expected large increase of population, and a great importation of cattle, sheep, and horses, it has been decided by the Government to increase the force to 500 men. To meet the cost of the consequent expenditure, $90,000 have been placed in the supplementary estimate for the year ending 30th June, 1882. The estimated expense of the management of the Indians in Manitoba and the North-West Territories for the year ending 30th June, 1883, is set down at $830,500. The sum required for the Mounted Police for the same year is $113,000. The present officers of the North-West Mounted Police, as gazetted January 28th, 1882, are as follows: Commissoner: Acheson Gosford Irvine, appointed 1st November, 1880. Superintendents: James Murrow Walsh, 1st June, 1874; Lief N. Fitzroy Crozier, 11th September, 1874; William Macaully Herchmer, 1st August, 1876; Albert Shurtliff, 24th January, 1882; John Henry McIllree, 26th January. 1882; Alexander McKenzie, 24th January, 1882. Superintendent and Adjutant, John Cotton, 1st January, 1882. Senior Surgeon: Augustus Jukes, M.D., 24th January, 1882. Assistant Surgeons: Robert Miller, M D., 20th October, 1875; George A. Ken- Inspectors: John French, 30th March, 1874; Sévère Gagnon, 3rd April, 1874; The distribution of the Force will be changed from time to time, according to the movements of the Indians and the tide of immigration. During the years 1882 and 1883, the chief locations will be at Fort McLeod and at Fort Calgary. Fort Walsh, the present headquarters, will be reduced to a few men, if not abandoned altogether, as the causes which necessitated its establishment, namely, the arrival of refugee Indians from the United States, have passed away. The Indian question continues to be one of great delicacy. The natives have to be dealt with like children. It will require some years of careful, patient management to bring them fairly within the pole of civilization. As yet the Blackfeet, Bloods, and Piegans practise polygamy, and have their annual "sun dance," when all their brave deeds are recounted. The correspondent of the "Toronto Mail," writing from Fort McLeod, in September, 1881, says: "Farther down the Old Man's River, about twelve miles west of Fort McLeod, I reached the Piegan Indian Reserve, where there are about 900 Indians, under the superintendence of Mr. Kettles. On this Government farm there is a good crop this year, and a few of the Indians on the Reserve have raised some oats, potatoes, etc. They seem well disposed and willing to help themselves, but it is no easy matter to get rid of their old habits and fall into new. I happened to be present at one of the regular semi-weekly ration distributions. Four fat cattle were killed on this occasion-two carcases were to be kept over until next day. The butchering was speedily performed by the Indians. A bullet fired at the head of each of the cattle, produced instantaneous death. Mr. Kettles brought down one by a bullet which struck direct in the animal's forehead. Three Indians followed suit with their rifles, and brought down the other three. In less than two minutes, the work of skinning commenced. Three or four Indians around each beast soon took the hide off, and before the flesh had ceased to quiver, the entrails were out, and divided amongst the hungry crowd. They seemed very fond of tripe, and appropriated every solid particle, except the horns and hoofs. Fires were kindled, and pieces of meat partially cooked over the burning sticks, were eaten with great relish. Choice portions were chewed raw It took the greater portion and considered a good treat. of the forenoon to apportion the rations of beef and flour to each family, but the agent seemed quite at home in the work." The beef and flour for the different reserves, included in treaty number seven, have hitherto been supplied under contract by Messrs. I. G. Baker & Co., of Fort Benton, Montana. CHAPTER XXXI. Steamboats and the Development of our River and Lake Navigation. First Steamboat on Red River-Attempts to Establish a Trade-Want of SuccessOpening of the Northern Pacific-Regular Trade Established on Red River in 1872In Three Years it Increases to 50,000 Tons-Doubts cast on the Navigation of the Red and Saskatchewan Rivers in 1876-Mr. Trow's Statement made in 1877-Red River Fleet in 1879-Navigation of Lake Winnipeg-Assiniboine Opened up-Its Capacity and Present Facilities-The Qu'Appelle and Souris-The South Saskatche wan-North Saskatchewan-Steam Navigation on the Athabasca, on Peace River, on the Mackenzie-Lake Athabasca and Great Slave Lake-Impediments to Naviga. tion-The Future of the Lake and River Trade-Summary of Navigable Waters. Up to the year 1859 no attempt had been made to put steamboats on Red River, and not a few in the colony derided the idea as preposterous, and maintained that the river was too shallow, too crooked, and too full of snags. One morning early in June of that year the colony was unexpectedly greeted with the whistle of the steamboat, and the “ Anson Northrup" tied up at Fort Garry. This boat was brought at great expense by the proprietors from the St. Peter's River, and taking advantage of the spring floods reached the Fort. Its arrival was treated as a great event. The cannon of the fort thundered out a welcome, and bells pealed forth a merry chime as a signal of rejoicing. The arrival of the "Anson Northrup" inaugurated a new era for the trade of the Red River Colony. When the Hudson's Bay Company saw the success of this venture they determined to try the river for their trade. With this object in view they acquired some property opposite River au Boeuf, 200 miles south of Fort Garry, and commenced a town which they named Georgetown, in honor of Sir George Simpson. Messrs. Burbank & Co. of St. Paul, established a stage line between Georgetown and St. Paul, and communication was opened with the outside world. A few trips were made in 1860. During the next season the boat made regular trips between Georgetown and Fort Garry. The stages continued to run to St. Paul, so that the trip from Red River to Montreal could be made in twelve days. In the spring of 1862 the "International" was launched at a cost of $20,000, and commenced to make regular trips. Owing to the Sioux massacre and various other causes, the navigation of the river was not a success, and little freight offering, her trips almost ceased. Trade languished until 1872, when the Northern Pacific Railway reached Moorehead from Duluth. As soon as the railway was opened the trade on the river took a fresh start, and Kittson at once took advantage of the new impulse given by the railway to perfect arrangements for regular traffic. During the year 1872 immigrants began to pour into Manitoba, some going by the Dawson route, while others came by railway to Fargo and thence down the Red River to Winnipeg, which now began to be spoken of in connection with the west. In 1875 trade had increased to such an extent that Kittson, or the Red River Transportation Company, carried no less than 50,000 tons of freight on Red River that year. I heard him make the remark that on the Red River, between Fargo and Winnipeg, more merchandise had been carried that season than on the Mississippi between St. Paul and St Louis. So little did our own people know of our resources and the capabilities of the country, that in February of the next year, when delivering a public lecture in the City of Ottawa, I was publicly contradicted for stating that the Red River in Canadian territory was navigable the whole season. In the fall of 1875 I happened to be at Carlton when the "Northcote" reached that Fort with a heavy load of freight. |