128 SANDFOEI) FLEMING ON 



British Columbia with the railway system of Cauada." The Canadian Government 

 accordingly considered it advisable that the whole distance should be carefully explored, 

 and the writer was instructed to make the necessary organization to carry out the work. 

 The examination was commenced in the summer of 1871 and was continued during 

 the following wanter. A large number of surveyijig parties were engaged between 

 the valley of the Ottawa and the Pacific coast, and in 1872 it became necessary to ixndcr- 

 take a general rccouuaisauce and tour of inspection across the continent. 



Previous to starting on the exi^edition, the writer, as chief engineer of the Inter- 

 colonial Kailway, then under construction, had to make an examination of that line ; 

 this duty necessitated his presence iu Nova Scotia. Accordingly his western journey 

 commenced at Halifax. 



Great interest being felt with regard to the surveys, it was considered advisable to 

 make known to the public as far as was expedient, the information obtained, so that the 

 problem which the Dominion had undertaken to solve could be the better understood. 

 The w^riter had the good fortune to induce the Rev. G. M. Grant, of Halifax (now Prin- 

 cipal Grant, of Queen's College, Kingston), to accompany the expedition as secretary, with 

 the view of publishiug a narrative of the journey. 



Leaving Halifax on July 1st, 1872, the party arrived at Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, 

 on July 22nd, and Fort Garry, on July 31st. The plains were crossed to Edmonton, 

 which place was reached on August 27th. At Edmonton a detachment consisting of 

 Messrs. Horetsky and Macoun, was despatched by way of Peace River to the Pacific 

 coast. The main party proceeded to Jaspar House, crossed the mountains by the Yellow 

 Head Pass to Tête-Jaune Cache, and passed southerly by way of the North Thompson 

 to Kamloops, where they arrived on September 28th. From Kamloops they followed the 

 government road to Yale, the head of navigation, and by steamboat reached New West- 

 minster. 



After crossing the mountains by the Peace River pass, Mr. Macoun passed down the 

 Fraser to its mouth. Mr. Horetsky found his way to the river Skeeua, and arrived at 

 Port Simpson, on January 23rd, 1873. 



The writer extended his examination to various points in British Columbia, and 

 returned to Ottawa by way of San Francisco. Full details are given in the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway Rei^ort submitted to Parliament. A narrative of the journey by Dr. 

 Grant ' was published the following year. 



(3) Exjiedilion of AJjiikuil-General P. Robertson Ross, 1872. 



In Jvrly, 1872, Colonel P. Robertson Ross, Adjutant-General of Militia, left Ottawa 

 for the Northwest Territory. His route was by Toronto, Collingwood, and the hikes to 

 Port Arthur. Following the old canoe route to Lake of the Woods, he reached the 

 road to Fort Garry, then lately opened. After visiting Pembina he proceeded to Fort 

 Ellice, Carlton, Victoria to Edmonton and Rocky Mountain House. From this point he 

 passed southward to the Blackfeet country and crossed the Rocky Mountains by the 

 North Kootenay Pass. In his narrative, pirblished iu the Militia Report for 1872, he gives 



' Ocean to Ocean. Saadford Fleming's Expedition through Caiiailu iu lS7l'. By the liev. George M. Grant. 



