No. 4.] SELWYN — THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY. 215 



danger and difficulty of their uavigation might be greatly lessened^ 

 if DOt altogether obviated, by the removal of some of the large 

 boulders, a work which might probably be effected at a compara- 

 tively small cost. The current on this peice of the river would, 

 however, always be very heavy, and proper arrangements for 

 warping boats up these rapids in case of necessity, should be 

 made in advance. 



There is another very important matter connected with the 

 Saskatchewan navigation which would require careful considera- 

 tion. I allude to the great scarcity and poor quality for steam 

 purposes of the wood which could be procured on long stretches 

 of the river above (Jarlton ; indeed the whole distance between 

 Carlton and Edmonton this difficulty would arise, and I question 

 whether it would not be more economical to establish coaling 

 stations which could be supplied from the thick seam above 

 Edmonton, than to use either poplar or spruce wood, neither of 

 them o!" luucli value for steam j>urposes, especially where con- 

 stant full pressure would be necessary. The coal in the seams 

 referred to is very favourably situated for working and shipment, 

 and could be taken down stream at a comparatively small cost. 

 The arrangements for the return of the empty barges up stream 

 would be the principal item of expense. My impression at 

 present is that the coal-bearing rocks which crop in the banks of 

 the river from near Victoria upwards pass with their associated 

 coal-seams and iron ores beneath the Cretaceous septaria clays 

 which are observed in the vicinity of Fort Pitt and the Elbow, 

 and it may be that boring along the river valley would reveal 

 workable seams of coal at such a limited depth beneath the sur- 

 face as would render them available even as low down as Carlton. 



Printccl March J'Jnd, 187-1. 



