Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1910 — CANADA EXPLORES NORTHWEST. [ARTICLE]

CANADA EXPLORES NORTHWEST.

Vast Rejrlona North of Alberta Still . v Are Entirely Unknown. Charged with the exploration not only of its mineral, lumbering and power producing possibilties, but also of its farming lands, and with a view to ascertaining the feasibility of constructing two railways, the northland exploration branch of the Interior Department here has sent out an expedition from Edmonton to investigate the vast unknown district north of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, according to the Ottawa correspondent of the New York World. In view of the great acreage of the Canadian western farming lands, it might appear Canada could rest on her plow handles, agriculturally speaking, for a little while at least, but such is not the purpose of the minister of the interior, who has long been Impressed with the vast area and immense resources of the country stretching north from the northernmost boundary of the three western provinces. There, is estimated to be 220,000,000 acres of available firstclass land for cultivation in these prairie provinces, and only one-twen-tieth of this is now under cultivation for all classes of grains. The wheat yield alone for the last year Is put at 147,000,000 bushels, which Is 3% per cent of the world yield for 1909. On this basis western Canada Is in a position to grow 4,500,000,000 bushels of wheat In a singlo year. In the year 1909 the thirtyeight wheat growing countries of the world produced only 3,500 000,000 bushels.

The exploration party is in charge of F. J. p, Crean, C. E., and two assistant engineers. The party consists of five white men from Ottawa, while the remaining portion of It will be made up of Indians. The party carries with It a fully equipped steam launch for navigating the Athabasca River, and will winter at Fort Smith, in latitude 60 degrees north. Perhaps the most important object of the expedition is the investigation that will be made as to the feasibility of building a railway across the portage at Fort Smith, and another on the chutes of the Peace River. With these lines built and the Alberta & Great Western Waterways road constructed to Fort McMurray, the whole northern district would be opened. North of Fort Smith there are reported to be practically unlimited deposits of tar sands, which, if developed, would put the famous asphalt lake, Lake 1 rinidad, in the background. There is pulpwood all over that district and the available water power may be judged from the fact that,in one place the Athabasca river drops fifty feet, producing 150,000 horse power. The district is at present inhabited only by a few fur. traders. An immense area of farming land will be accurately outlined and reported upon, the nature of the soil noted and the success of cultivation ascertained. The expedition is perhaps one of the most important ever sent out from headquarters here on such a mission.