CHAPTER XL. 



The Great North-West. 



extent of the great fertile areas — the five future prov- 

 inces of the north-west — probable future of the central 

 portions of canada — railways — the hudson's bay route 

 — cause of the agitation and discontent in manitoba. 



T the outset of this volume I gave a brief account of the 

 y circumstances which led to a consideration of the Hudson's 

 Bay Route, and subsequently to the Hudson's Bay Expe- 

 dition. Following this is a record of the experiences of 

 that Expedition, with a description of the Hudson's Bay country 

 and the resources of our northern waters. In addition to this I 

 have sketched, in brief, other expeditions to the north and west, in 

 such a way as to give the reader some idea of the vast extent and 

 wonderful fertility of the great central portions of the Dominion. 

 In connection with these records there are such references to the 

 practicability and advantages of the Hudson's Bay Route as to 

 leave little or no doubt in the minds of the reader concerning the 

 future great importance of that natural channel of commerce. 

 Having, therefore, considered the relations which the Hudson's 

 Bay Route sustains, or is destined to sustain, to the Canadian North- 

 West, it is left to us now to look at the present position of 

 Manitoba and the North-West Territories in their relations to the 

 older provinces, and to point out, as far as we may be able correctly 

 to do so, the steps necessary to be taken in order to secure the early 

 establishment of a direct line of traffic communication between the 

 central portions of Canada and Europe, through the waters of 

 Hudson's Bay and Strait ; and, also, to promote most advan- 

 tageously the general progress of the great North-West. But before 



