•'^ Mr. W. H. Dempttei-'s Report. ■ 41 



strongly ndvocates immigration. We returned to McTieod, which wns 

 named after Colonel (now Judge) McLeod. Getting back to Calgury 

 via Mosquito Creek and the ranches, we saw thousands of fine cattle and 

 horses. They are collected twice a year to brand the young ones and 

 sell the fat ones — which are magnificent animals from three years and 

 upwards ; they are quite fit for the butcher. AVe find that in this 

 part of the country experimental irrigation is the order of the day. 



Leaving Calgary for the last time, we got to liegina 

 Calgary (population, 2,200) on October 13th. We did not care 

 toRegina. very much for the country near the town. It is rather 



heavy land, but yields good returns in favourable seasons. 

 Wo were much pleased with the Indian Industrial School, where Indian 

 children are taken charge of and taught all kinds of trades. It contains 

 at present 40 girls and 70 boys, who are turning out very well. On 

 our way to Duck Lake, which is 23 miles from RegiuA, we 

 came across several successful farmers. Most of them complain of 

 hot winds this year, which made the crops below the average, Mr. 

 Curruthers has farmed his place three years, and has done remarkably 

 well. Mr. Bratt has lived five years on his section of land ; the lake 

 near his house swarms with wild ducks, geese, and other birds. 

 Undoubtedly he has well feathered his nest. On 17th October we 

 arrived at a little town called Grenfell, about 50 miles east of Regina, 

 and were received by several local gentlemen, who appeared to 

 be happy and energetic. Mr. and Mrs. Peel, with whom I 

 had the pleasure of staying, were not only hospitable in their house, 

 but assisted me by way of information, &c., and in driving me round the 

 country. I much admired a farm belonging to Mr. Skrine, v/ith a nice 

 house, buildings, «fcc., complete, which he is now offering for sale at 

 8812 per acre (1,840 acres). The country around is picturesque, and is 

 dotted with bluffs of wood and a chain of lakes. We visited 

 Mr. Skilita, Pipestone Farm, and saw some fine Shorthorn cattle, 

 also a particularly good heifer. I measured a bull, which was 

 a very tine beast — 7 ft. 9| in. behind shoulder, 6 ft. from point of 

 shoulder to rump, 5 ft. 3 in. from top of shoulder to dewlap, and 

 1 ft. 4| in. from dewlap to ground. Mr. Bennett, Grenfell, farms 

 940 acres : barley, 40 bushels per acre ; oats (poor crop), only 30 

 bushels per acre. He keeps a number of pigs, and says that sheep will 

 do well in that neighbourhood. 



We proceeded to Brandon again, and thence to 

 Rapid City Rapid City (population, 700). On inquiry of Mr. 

 and District. Haffer, we find that wheat is far below the usual 

 returns — only 17 bushels to the acre — and oats 40 bushels 

 per acre. Some fairly good mixed land may be purchased here at 

 S5 per acre. We examined the elevator (managed by Mr. Duncan), 

 which is capable of holding 4,000 bushels of grain. The woollen factory 

 was next inspected. Wool was bought at 8 cents, 9 cents, and 

 10 cents per lb., unwashed ; washed, 14 cents to 16 cents (7d. to 8d.) 

 per lb. There is also in this place a large grist mill, which is a paying 

 concern. Mr. Peter James, of Ashdale Farm, has 480 acres ; he came 

 here eiglit years ago from Milford Haven, South Wales. His children, he 

 says, enjoy better health than when they were in Wales. He is making 



PAKT IV. 4 



