16 The Agricultural lUiources of Canada, 



cattle, and j^row some crops. In this district were several sheep fanns. 



My j^Hjrsonal impre^^siou is that splendid sheep-wolks could be made 



here. A farmer who was our fellow-travelhir for some distance, and 



nho had a cattle ranch and a horse ranch, told us that, in his opinion, 



sheep had better prospects than any other animal in this district. 



Another farmer, v ho had been sheep-farming in New Zealand, told us 



that he considered this place better for making money than New 



Zealand. A young man could start a sheep ranch with very small 



capital. A good class of sheep could be bought for about $y or S4 



(12s. to 168.) each, and a stock of 500 would be a fair start. Wool, 



owing to the McKinley tariff in the States, is not high at present, 11 



cents (5|d.) per lb. being the average price. Wolves are the only 



dangerous animals in this neighbourhood, but they do not run in packs. 



The town of Edmon is situated on the banks of the Saskatchewan 



lliver. The river is 1,00C fc. wide, with banks rising 200 ft. high. 



The town is in two parts, the oldest being on the north bank of the 



river, and the new part on the south side, where also is the railway 



station. There seems to be much rivalry between the two parts of 



the towii. There is some gold found by the river side in the form 



of dust. The gold-washers earn from $2 to S4 a day. Seams of coal 



can also be seen cropping out of the ground on the river banks. We 



went to see a coal mine near the town. We walked about 100 yards 



along a level to see the coal before it was mined. There seems to be 



any quantity of it, and it is sold in the town for $2^ (10s.) per ton. 



There are four or iive coal mines near the town. There are also 



brickworks there, and some very good bricks are manufactured, and 



used on some of the best buildings. 



On the 22nd we drove along a circuitous route to St. 

 St. Albert, Albert. On our way were some of the heaviest crops of oats 

 and barley that I ever saw. The barley was of excellent 

 colour. In the village of St. Albert we found a large number of 

 farmers — mostly half-breeds — horse-racing. They could find time to 

 do this, although most of their grain was in the fields, not being 

 carried. On the bank of the river Sturgeon is situated the Eoman 

 Catholic cathedral, together \v\t\\ the Bishop's palace. We were 

 received by the Vicar-Cxeneral, his Lordship being away from home. 



The land in this district seems to be very rich ; it has a depth of 

 several feet of black mould, under which are several feet more of 

 marly clay. There have been some very heavy yields of oats — as much 

 as 100 bushels to the acre; of barley, 65 bushels; and of wheat, about 

 40 bushels. 



On the 23rd we drove to Fort Saskatchewan, 20 

 Fort miles down the river. This is the headquarters of 



Sashatchewan. the Mounted Police of the district. Travelling back 



by the south side of the river, we had our first 

 experience of the trouble the fencing in of the land makes by 

 shutting up the trail. We completely lost our way. We passed 

 several new settlers; and as we got nearer Edmonton we saw many 

 old settlers, several of whom had good and well-made houses. I 

 am of opinion that this district has a splendid future, on account 

 of its lich soil. It will grow all kinds of corn and vegetables. It 



