The Great North-West. 425 



justify the statement that the richest petroleum fields in the world, so 

 far as they are known, exist north-west of the Saskatchewan. This 

 becomes an exceedingly important fact when it is remembered that 

 recent discoveries make it plain that the future great steam- 

 producing fuel of the world will be petroleum and water. 



There is an impression gone abroad of late — and I fear certain 

 sentiments expressed at the late Farmers' Convention, at Winnipeg, 

 have produced it — to the effect that the settlers in Manitoba and the 

 North-West have become discontented with the country and are 

 discouraged concerning their future. I have in a previous chapter 

 explained the nature and cause of the discontent in that part of 

 Canada. It arose from no fault of the country, but owing entirely 

 to the policy of the Dominion Government toward that section, 

 which became a source of complaint, especially in relation to the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway. However, as these pages will find readers 

 in both Europe and America, I will — lest there should still exist in 

 the minds of the people in certain quarters the idea that the settlers 

 of ■ the Canadian North-West are dissatisfied with the country — 

 reproduce here letters from settlers in nearly all parts of that 

 section, which show to the contrary : — 



" I am a native of Western Ontario and have been farming fifteen 

 years. This is my fifth year here, and I much prefer this country to any- 

 where else." — James Stewart, Meadow Lea. 



" The usual time of sowing wheat, oats and peas is from the beginning 

 of April to the middle of May ; barley from the middle of May to the 

 beginning of June. The weather during seeding and harvest is generally 

 dry. The usual time to harvest is from the middle of August till Sep- 

 tember." — Jno. McKinnon, Three Creeks, Portage la Prairie. 



" In my opinion the month of September is the most favourable for 

 settlers to come here, and in no case should they come earlier than May. 

 Let them bring good, medium-sized, close-made horses with them. Have 

 been here eight years, and know the requirements pretty well." — Nelsox 

 Browx, High Bluff. 



"I would just say that there are no obnoxious weeds here. When a 

 field is ready to be reaped, as a rule, you cannot see anything only grain. 

 Flax grows well in this country. It can be grown with profit. I have 



