420 A GLANCE AT THE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 
It now remains to glance at the intrinsic worth of the Southern 
part of Central British America in its agricultural aspects and its 
mineral wealth as far as known. 
The area of cultivable land of the first quality is estimated to be not 
less than 80,000 square miles, extending from the Lake of the Woods 
to near the head waters of the Athabasca, and in a narrow stripe on 
the east flank of the Rocky Mountains as far south as the fiftieth 
parallel of latitude. The length of this Fertile Belt is about 800 
miles, the mean breadth 100 miles, and it is susceptible of cultivation 
or depasturage throughout. It is capable of sustaining an agricul- 
tural population equal to that of the Kingdom of Prussia. The 
basin of Lake Winnipeg alone, is capable of sustaining an equally 
numerous population. It contains several million more acres of 
arable land than the Province of Ganada.* 
a 
chewan, there would be an uninterrupted navigation for shallow steamers—such as ply on 
the Upper Missouri—from Georgetown on Red River, already in communication by stage 
with St. Paul, and Edmonton, within 200 miles of fhe Rocky Mountains. The dimensions 
of the Grand Falls or Rapids of the Saskatchewan are—2z miles long, and a total descent 
of 434 feet. 
*The agricultural capabilities of the Basin of Lake Winnipeg may be summed up as 
follows :— 
Acres. 
On the route from Fort William, Lake Superior, to the Lake of the Woods, in- 
cluding. the valley, of Rainy River. :..dccc.c-cdevecsectvesssccsbssersvcieaychetencnsssinasearesacsepea 200,000 
The Fertile Belt, stretching from the Lake of the Woods to the flanks of thé 
Rocky Mountains, and as far north as the 54th parallel, on the Athabaska, 
west of McLeod’s River, (80,000 Sq. Miles).........cccccecccacssccnscscovessenensssenesserscses 51,200,000 
Tsolated areas in the Prairie Plateau, south of the Assinniboine ........ bela baba eavensice 2,000,000 
Isolated areas in the great Plain Plateau, the extension northwards of the great 
American Desert, and in the valleys of the rivers flowing through it............... 1,000,000 
Total area of Land available for agricultural pUYPOSeS.........sssc0ecesseesere siete Bde eet 54,400,000 
Approximate area suitable for grazing PUTPOSES..........ecceesccseseeeens nse qa» salad ga 30,000,000 
Total approximate area fitted for the abode of civilized man.. SPL Eee ths , 84,400,000 
Approximate area of the Basin of Lake Winnipeg, within Rg Tie, PE “199, 680,000 
Area fitted for the abode of Civilized man............cceccssersssveeeeros Ko duassscuteassetemenceesies 84,400,000 
Desert area unsuitable for the permanent abode of man 115,280,000 
Comparing this extent of surface with Canada, we arrive at the following results :—~ ~ 
Acres. 
Area of the Province of Canada (340,000 square miles).............000 BARE ARES 5) aN 217,600,000 
Area occupied by the Sedimentary Rocks. ak 000 Square Mi]eS)...........:seeserseeereree ees 51,200,000 
Area occupied by the Crystalline Rocks... Ar Wicasesnaretae sesesessanseeres ses 100,400,000 
If we suppose that one-sixth of the area , oceupied by the Crystalline Rocks is 
capable of cultivation, as regards soil and climate, (an estimate probably in 
excess) the total amount of land in Canada available for the purpose of settle- 
ment, will be approximately .........sccccseccssesceresceeveees ae eae ee aatdiehs bets efdea ster: 78,900,000 
‘Showing an excess of land fitted for the permanent abode of man, in fayor of the 
Basin of Lake Winnipeg over the Province of Canada, Of ...rcctssserescescesseseeeine 5,000,000 
es 
In Upper Canada, with a population of 1,396,091, there are 13,354,907 acres held by pro- 
prietors, of which only 6,051,619 acres are under cultivation, ‘cropped or in pasture. If the 
