IMPORTANCE OF TIMBEE AT RED RIVER. 



231 



vations lead me to the opinion that no real difficulty exists 

 in the least degree likely to hinder Eed Eiver from becom- 

 ing a grazing country of the first class, when other inter- 

 ests shall be permitted to exist in the presence of that 

 all absorbing, all-controlling service — the Fur Trade. 



Timber fit for lumbering purposes is only found in 

 narrow strips on the Eed and Assinniboine rivers, and 

 in still less quantities on the Eoseau and Eat rivers ; the 

 timber consists of elm, oak, maple, and poplar of very 

 large growth, as is stated elsewhere ; but if the settlements 

 progress, — and why should they not ? — these supplies will 

 soon be consumed. The ridges afford small aspen and 

 pine ; and in the rear of the great ridge, on the east side of 

 the Eed Eiver, good pine is to be found towards the Lake 

 of the Woods ; the Winnipeg would doubtless furnish some 

 good pine, but the difficulty would he in bringing it up Eed 

 Eiver, in its unmanufactured state. Saw-mills are unknown 

 in the settlement, but the rapids of the Winnipeg could 

 afford any required power there. The question of a 

 supply of timber for building purposes is not so important 

 as the requirements of the same material for fuel ; hence 

 it is that those who interest themselves in the future of 

 Eed Eiver are anxiously turning their inquiries in the 

 direction of the upper Assinniboine and the little Souris, 

 to those supposed beds of lignite or tertiary coal which are 

 so often spoken of by the Buffalo hunters who have 

 occasion to cross these rivers in their progress to the 

 high prairies. The value of the expectations of the settlers 

 in this respect will be discussed in the second volume. 



Whatever may be the future of Eed Eiver, it is quite 

 evident that it will depend to a large extent upon the 

 character of the country lying to the west of the present 

 area occupied by settlements. With a view to supply 

 some data on which an opinion may be based regarding 



Q 4 



