The Great North-West— Manitoba. 401 



souls, and of these the greater number were half-breeds and 

 Indians who did service for the Hudson's Bay Company ; besides 

 these, however, there was the nucleus of what has since proved 

 a populous city, and one that is destined to occupy a far 

 greater and more important position than it has yet attained. In 

 addition to the facilities afforded for inland navigation, railway 

 enterprises in operation, and others projected, give every indication 

 that Winnipeg may shortly become a railway centre that will rival 

 Chicago itself. It is fair, then, to assume that a city, with direct 

 communication with the coal systems of the mighty Saskatchewan, 

 together with railway facilities to the Eastern Provinces, to the 

 United States, and to the interior of the great North-West, and 

 finally to Hudson's Bay, must become the entrepot of a great com- 

 mercial community. 



From the beginning of 1881 Winnipeg entered upon over-reaching 

 strides of progress, some of which were characterized by recklessness 

 and consequent injury which will take time to overcome ; but 

 although hundreds became victims to the " boom," the city's 

 future is assured. The corporate finances, like those of most of its 

 citizens, have become badly entangled, and will require skill and 

 patience to straighten and readjust. In a few months, we may say, 

 the population of the city was more than doubled, and the value of 

 property enhanced greatly beyond its true value. However, reckless 

 speculation has entirely ceased, and a steadier and more certain 

 stream of prosperity has set in, and Winnipeg, with the whole 

 Province, will move forward in the highway of material develop- 

 ment. 



Some idea of the wonderful growth of the city may be gathered 

 from the following figures taken from the Assessment Boll for 1882 :. 



Ward. 1881. 1882. Increase. 



South $3,374,880 $10,467,150. $7,092,270 



North 1,923,820 8,103,870 6,180,050 



West 2,257,385 7,780,300 5,522,915 



East 1,640,350 4,080,950 2,440,600 



$9,196,435 $30,432,270 $21,235,835 



26 



