566 Our North Land. 



the selection of homesteads, and in the purchase of stock and imple- 

 ments, and in every way in their power to promote the success of 

 those who asked their assistance. Colonization was thus conducted 

 under conditions specially favourable to settlers. His experience in 

 carrying out the practical details of Lady Gordon Cathcart's emigra- 

 tion scheme was that an ordinary family, of say five members, should 

 have sufficient means to pay their passage from this country to 

 Manitoba, costing about £25, and at least £100 for the purchase of 

 seed, farm implements, a couple of work oxen, a cow, and the erec- 

 tion of a house. There were many families who would only be too 

 glad to avail themselves of the scheme he had just sketched, had 

 they the necessary means. For their case the Canadian Govern- 

 ment had made provision. By the 38th section of the Land Act of 

 1883, sums of money advanced to settlers in payment of the passage 

 out, and in procuring seed, implements and stock, might be made a 

 statutory charge on the one hundred and sixty acres of free lands 

 granted by the Government to such settlers, and the patent of title- 

 was not granted to such homesteads till the advance, with 6 per 

 cent., was repaid. Consequently, respectable families who had not 

 the means of their own could offer this security to friends who were 

 willing to assist in making up the amount necessary to give them a 

 fair start in their new homes. He believed the provisions of this 

 statute, which was only recently passed, had not yet become so well 

 known as their importance deserved. He was free to admit that 

 loans under these statutory mortgages were as yet an experiment ; 

 but if, as he believed would be the case, it was found by experience 

 that they were well secured and repaid with interest, it might be 

 the solution of the most difficult social problem of the day. Those 

 who wished to improve their condition by settling in Canada were 

 thus enabled to do so on sound, commercial principles, without 

 having their self-reliance impaired by accepting charity; and it was 

 on this principle the crofter colonies he had had to do with had 

 been established. 



Mr. Edwards greatly underrated the cost of transportation of a 

 family of five from Europe to Manitoba when he placed it at $125, 

 By the present line the expense is considerably more, but, by the 



