CHAPTER XI 

 1880-1881 



Excitement in the North- West — Lectures on the West — 

 Negotiations with the "Syndicate" for the Construc- 

 tion of the C.P.R. — Fifth Exploration of the North- 

 West — Interview with Jim Hill, Railway Magnate, re 

 Route of C.P.R. — Decision to Send Railway via Bow 

 River Pass — Explorations along Lakes Manitoba and 

 wlnnipegosis and rlvers entering these lakes — ad- 

 VENTURES, Mishaps and Amusing Incidents — Difficulties 

 of River Navigation — Up the Red Deer and down the 

 Swan River and the Assiniboine to Fort Ellice — Takes 

 Train from Brandon to Winnipeg — Interview with 

 Lord Lorne and Donald A. Smith — Permanently Ap- 

 pointed in the Government Service — Writes a Book 

 called "Manitoba and the Great North West." 



THIS ended my second prairie exploration and, in a few days, 

 I was on my way to Belleville and arrived safely at home 

 and found the family all well and evidently glad to see me, 

 as I myself was to see them. I was not long home until I com- 

 menced work on my report and, during the winter, between writ- 

 ing and lecturing, I was constantly busy. The country was in a 

 wonderful state of excitement, owing to the facts I had made 

 public and the reports of others. At this time, politicians were 

 out of the question as the Opposition was completely smothered 

 by the facts that were brought forward. I lectured during the 

 winter in many cities of Ontario and, in the latter part of the 

 winter, I was asked by the Secretary of the Governor-General if 

 I would deliver my lecture before the Governor at Ottawa and I 

 sent a reply that I would be happy to do so at any time set for 

 it by His Excellency. The night of the lecture in Ottawa, I had 

 a packed house and many of the leading men of the Government 

 and the city were there. The Governor sat on the front seat 



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