132 THROUGH CANADA 



The evidence of a great coal industry is at once 

 noticed on reaching Edmonton, in the blackened 

 track near the station, the elevated railway with its 

 sidings, and the inevitable row of coal wagons. 

 The discovery of this mineral, which is said to be a 

 high-grade lignite, places the city in a unique position 

 in relation to the Dominion. So far it holds the 

 monopoly of the trade. The report of Government 

 experts puts the area of the coal-bed at ii,ooo square 

 miles, and the quantity at 60,000,000 tons. The value 

 of the find to the inhabitants is most important, as 

 the fuel can be purchased at 13^. per ton delivered, 

 or /i-. at the pit mouth. 



Over 25,000 tons per week are transmitted on the 

 Canadian Northern Railway from the Morinville 

 mines, and the companies' projected extension is 

 planned to traverse the Brazeau River valley, where 

 further vast deposits of coal have been discovered 

 and only await railway facilities to become a cheap 

 and marketable commodity. 



At the Board of Trade offices I saw samples of 

 various agricultural products, grown in different parts 

 of the province, which showed the versatility and 

 richness of the soil. 



From Edmonton to Calgary is another section of 

 the Canadian Pacific Railway. It has been opened 

 up long enough for agricultural interests to take 

 more definite shape. Near Edmonton well-tilled 

 farms are to be seen and herds of cattle browsing on 



