402 Our North Land. 



The assessment is divided — real estate, $25,154,900 ; buildings, 

 $3,277,550 ; personal, $2,090,270. 



The steady and rapid growth of the city is shown by the follow- 

 ing statement of population and assessment : 



Inhabitants. Assessment. 



1870 '. 300 



1871 500 



1872 1,000 



1873 1,500 



1874 2,000 $2,676,018 



1875 3,000 2,635,805 



1876 4,000 3,031,685 



1877 ,...'.. 5,000 3,097,824 



1878 6,000 3,216,980 



1879 7,000 3,415,060 



1880 8,000 4,000,000 



1881 9,500 9,196,430 



1882 25,000 30,432,270 



I am aware that these figures are slightly exaggerated. The 

 assessment is higher than in other cities of like population, but it 

 serves to show the immense growth of the place — a growth, however, 

 which has not yet fairly commenced. With the opening of a line 

 of railway between that city and the western shore of Hudson's 

 Bay, a new and greater era of prosperity will be started, the popu- 

 lation of the city will again be doubled in a few months, and the 

 vacant lands throughout the great Province will be taken up by 

 incoming settlers from Europe. No doubt great cities will grow up 

 to the west of Winnipeg, in the future Provinces of that vast terri- 

 tory, but none of them will be likely to exceed in population and 

 commerce the future of the present commercial capital of the prairie 

 country. 



