TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 195 



fhe waterslied between the Slttang and Youngsalen to the Kweestookee branch of 

 the Thaiboot riyer, and do-w-n their right or left bauljs to the Youngsalen, down 

 and across which to Tzeekameedac ; Gth, thence over the watershed between the 

 Youngsalen and the Salween to our frontier-line imder the Karen Hills, where we 

 are within reach of all the Chinese and Shan caravans which traverse the coimtiy 

 north-west of that point. 



Another most important featm-e in the project is the establishment of an electro- 

 telegraphic communication along the whole route. The line, once brought to 

 Esmok, could be easily carried across coimtiy to the Pearl river, and down the 

 lower valley of that stream to Canton and Hongkong, and thence, taking in 

 the principal towns along the coast (Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai), to 

 Pelnn. 



In like manner, by extending the commimication to Niew-chiang, and down 

 the Corea, the open ports of Japan might be brought to the veiy door of Rangoon, 

 which already possesses telegi-aphic connexion with Calcutta. 



On the Capabilities for Settlement of the Central Parts of British North America. 

 Bij James Hectoe, 3LD., F.G.S., F.B.G.S. 

 The region noticed by the author extended from Lake Superior to the Pacific 

 Ocean, lying immediately north of the boimdary-line of the United States, and was 

 drained principally by the river Saskatchawan. A considerable amoimt of agita- 

 tion had been employed in Canada and at home, in order to have this coimtxy thrown 

 open for settlement ; the whole, with the exception of that portion which fell within 

 British Columbia, being imder the direct control of the Hudson's Bay Company for 

 the purposes of a fiir-ta-ading monopoly. It had been placed beyond doubt, princi- 

 pally through the labours of several government expeditions, to one of which he 

 was attached, that there existed within these territories extensive areas, with good 

 and varied soil, adapted for agricidtitral colonization, but which, from their geogra- 

 phical position, were necessarily subject to all the advantages and defects of a tem- 

 perate continental climate. The winter was long and severe, the spring short and 

 imcertain, and the simimer tended to scorch the vegetation. The winter, however, 

 was not more severe than that which was experienced in Canada and elsewhere. 

 Many crops which were readily raised in Canada woidd not meet with equal suc- 

 cess in the Saskatchawan ; but all common cereals and green crops had been grown 

 successfully. The depth of the snow was never excessive, while in the richest 

 tracts the natiu'al pasture was so abimdant that horses and cattle might be left to 

 obtain their own food during the greater part of the winter ; and there was no 

 doubt that sheep might be reared, were it not for the immense packs of wolves 

 which infested the country. These remarks applied more especially to the 

 "Fertile Belt." The Saskatchawan coimtry offered a most desirable field to 

 the settler who was deficient in capital, and who had no desires beyond the easy 

 life and moderate gains of simple agricultural occupations. It was only the diffi- 

 cultv of access to it that prevented its inmiediate occupation. One route fi'om 

 Hudson's Bay, by a broken land and water carnage, was now almost abandoned. A 

 second route wa.s from Lake Superior to Lake Winnipeg, which had the same disad- 

 vantages. The third line of ingress, undoubtedly the natural one, passed through 

 American territory, up the valley of the Mississippi river to the Red River settle- 

 ment, by way of St. Paul's, Crow Wing, and across the low watershed which 

 there divided the waters of the Mississippi from those flowing to Hudson's Bay. 

 The progress of the adjoining American settlements was then noticed. In the rug- 

 ged country which lay between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast, no 

 doubt all the valleys were filled with rich am'iferous deposits ; diggings were con- 

 stantly being discovered in fi-esh localities. The fonnation of a line of railway 

 through British Columbia woiild involve great difficulties. Throughout the Sas-. 

 katchawan country there were deposits of coal of considerable value, though not to 

 be compared with that which was common in England. Coal of somewhat better 

 quality also occurred at Vancouver's Island ; and that colony was a valuable link in 

 a chain of commimication with China and the East Indies, by way of a line of ron^e 

 across the Noilh American continent, 



13* 



