Commercial 'Relations with Canada. 315 
vast North-western territory to which so much attention 
is now being directed that we may expect to see for 
decades to come those illustrations of progress of which 
Illinois and other Western States are remarkable exam- 
ples. The extent and value of that immense region 
watered by the Red, Saskatchewan, Athabasca and 
Peace Rivers cannot yet be accurately stated ; but the 
explorations of the Government and the pioneers who 
have already ventured into its solitudes, demonstrate 
that there is a sufficient area of rich lands out of which 
probably ten States as large and productive as Illinois 
may be eventually made." 
This territory and Manitoba will give the Dominion of 
Canada the supremacy as a grain growing country over 
the famous wheat States of the West. 
American authorities admit that the land of the Red 
River Valley as well as of the Saskatchewan and Peace 
River country is more prolific than that of any Western 
State, and a writer in Harper's Monthly for September, 
1 88 1, does not hesitate to express the opinion, that this 
country produces the cereals in a state of perfection 
which has not manifested itself further South. The 
superior quality of the wheat raised in this new country 
may be better understood by reference to the relative 
market values of northern and southern grains at 
Buffalo, where, what is called " No. 1 Hard Duluth," 
grown in the Dominion, was quoted about 4c. a bushel 
higher than " No. 1 Spring" (grown in the Western 
States,) and from 8c. to 14c. higher than the inferior 
grades of wheat grown in a more southern region ; 
whilst the flour from the same superior northern wheat 
brought $2 more a barrel. 
RR 
