164 FOURTH EXPLORATION, 1880 



Pass in preference to that of the Yellowhead Pass and considered 

 it their duty to belittle my statements and, in one or two instances, 

 to make counter ones. The first route was advocated by the 

 Liberals, or Grits, and the second by the Government. In my 

 report of this year, I classified the lands on the basis of all the 

 knowledge hitherto obtained and showed that there were 150,000,- 

 000 acres suitable for pastures and wheat culture. 



Before Sir Charles made his speech, he came into the room 

 where I was working and he said, "Macoun, Fleming and myself 

 are prepared to swear by you, but, for God's sake, do not draw 

 on your imagination." Sir John, himself, had his doubts of me 

 and was far less enthusiastic of the country than Sir Charles 

 Tupper. As a proof of this, I may state that, in an interview I 

 had with the Premier in May, 1880, he said: "Mr. Macoun, I 

 think you are very enthusiastic regarding the country." I said: 

 "It may be so, Sir John, but my enthusiasm is bred of belief." 

 Before this, Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Blake had shown, in their 

 speeches, during the session just closed, that the country was of 

 little value. Sir John, I could see, scarcely allowed himself to 

 accept as a fact that which he so ardently desired, but Sir Charles 

 Tupper entertained no doubts and encouraged me to do my duty 

 and stick to what I considered to be the truth. 



While not at work at Ottawa, I was called to various cities 

 in Ontario to lecture. I can remember especially being at King- 

 ston, two days at Toronto, and also two at Hamilton and, in every 

 case, the hall or church was filled with an applauding, enthusiastic 

 crowd. 



During the summer of 1880, I was sent to the field, but this 

 time I received a map of the country with a blue line placed in 

 zig-zag fashion upon it and was asked to travel on this line during 

 the summer. The line itself was intended for me to go through 

 all the worst places mentioned in previous reports. My party, 

 this year, consisted of my nephew, David Macoun, George Moore, 

 of Winnipeg, and Mr. Woods, of Madoc. My Government as- 

 sistant was Mr. Jukes, of Niagara District, and, from Captain 

 Therket, a nephew of Col. Dennis, I received my instructions. 

 My previous exploration had caused the surveys to be conducted 



