The province of Saskatchewan, Canada; its development and opportunities

Canada. Natural Resources Intelligence Branch

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• Saskatchewan

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

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PROVINCE OF
SASKATCHEWAN
CANADA
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THE
PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN
CANADA
DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIESITS
By
F. H. KITTO, D.L.S., A.M.E.I.C.
Prepared under the direction of the Superintendent
Natural Resources Intelligence Branch
Department of the Interior
Canada
C.M.G.Kon. Arthur Meighen W. W. Cory,
' -Dcoutv MinisterMinister
19 19./(/
61244—^j?
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^'CONTENTS
PAGE
Historical Description 5
Area and Population 9
Physical Features 10
Survey System 17
Government 22
Revenue 27
The Public Debt 29
Government Agencies 30
Judicature 31
Naturalization 32
Franchise 32
Transportation and Communications 33
Roads and Trails 33
Railways 35
Electric Street Railways 38
Waterways 39
Teleph nes 41
Telegraphs 45
Mail and Aerial Navigation 46
Education and Religion 47
Religion 54
Climate 56
.•Temperature 58
Soil. 63
Prairie Soils 64
Alkali Soils 68
Agriculture 69
.•Lands and Products 71
Government Aid 80
Successes and Opportunities 82
Cities and Towns 85
Regina 88
Saskatoon 89
Moosejaw 91
Prince Albert 92
Swift Current 93
North Battleford 93
Weyburn 94
Urban Opportunities 95
Forests and Water Powers 99
Species and Occurrence 103
Lumbering Industries 107
Forestry 108
Water Powers Ill
Minerals 114
Economic Geology 118
Coal 121
Clay 124
Other Minerals 127
Fur, Fish and Game 129
Fur ; 129;
Fish 133
Game 138
Appendix 1 Synopsis of Canadian Northwest Land Regulations . 141
" 2 of Mining Regulations 142
" 3 of Timber 144
" 4 Synopsis of Grazing 145
" 5 of Saskatchewan Game Laws 146
" 6 Prairie and Forest Fires 147
" 7 Synopsis of Customs and Freight Regulations 149
61244—11
435721BIBLIOGRAPHY.
MAPS
FrontispieceThe Province of Saskatchewan
12Physiographic Map
17Drainage Map
37Railway Map
42Telephone Map
100Forest Map
112Welter Powers Map
CHARTS
20Survey System
74Crop Acreage
Pro uction 79Cereal
146Game Seasons
ILLUSTRATIONS
Harvest Fields of Saskatchewan 8
Legislative Buildings, Rei;ina, Saskatchewan 26
Canadian Government Elevator, Saskatoon 35Saskatchewan University Buildings, 50
A Typical Saskatchewan Homestead 57
SaskatchewanAgricultural Scenes in 70
Saskatchsw.inForest and River Scenes in 90
in 104Lumbering Scenes
ProductsSaskatchewan Clay 116
Churchill River, Saskatchewan 136Kettle Falls,HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION
of WesternThe prairies Canada need no introduction. The fame of their
wonderful magnitude and their unrivalled beauty has already spread the world
over, while the romance of the transition from the buffalo hunting grounds
of the red man to the wheat fields of the white is already history. At an early
"date the poet Bryant immortalized them in his lines entitled The Prairies,"
" " "wherein he described them as the gardens of the deserts and the unshorn
fields, boundless and beautiful." Like the mighty ocean they stretch away in
every direction from the eye till their gently undulating waves of verdant
vanish in the misty circle of the distant horizon. Day after day the early
explorers pushed their way across these unbroken solitides, and night after
their campsnight pitched under the starry heavens, with the same vista always
about them. What visions of the future they saw can only be imagined, but,
with the multitudes of gorgeous flowers and the luxuriant vegetation carpeting
their route, they must surely have realized that a great heritage of opportunity
lay there. Even the transcontinental traveller of to-day, though schooled to
expect it, marvels at the outlook. All day long his train rushes on its way,
and from the first break of dawn till the lingering twilight shuts out the view
the eye strains and fails to see any discord in the symmetry of the prairie gar-
dens.
From these mighty plains have been carved out three great provinces, the
" "prairie provinces of Canada, of which Saskatchewan occupies the middle
location. Their northerly limits extend beyond the plains, however, into the
more rugged and complex districts of the Laurentian region, thus giving a field
of more varied resources to draw upon and round out their internal complete-
ness.
The province of Saskatchewan embraces the heart of the prairies, and the
lion's share of their choicest lands. To the east lies Manitoba and to the west
Alberta. Here in the midst of the great grain belt it has developed within a
few short years into the greatest wheat-producing province of the Dominion,
and can boast of the most extensive unbroken area of lirst-class wheat land
foundto be anywhere in the world. The march of progress is now in full swing
and the opportunity share into the great growth that is to be witnessed in this
province in the immediate future allis open to who may desire to cast in their
lot with her people.
The southerly boundary of the province the International boundary lineis
between Canada and the United States, being the 49th parallel of north latitude.
The states of North Dakota and Montana are immediately adjacent to this line.
The northerly boundary is the 60th parallel of north latitude, beyond which
lie the Northwest Territories. In length, then, it extends over 11 degrees of
latitude and measures 761 miles. Its width gradually decreases from 393
miles, at the International boundary, to 277 miles at the northerly end, extend-
ing from 101° 30' 102°an irregular line between longitude and West, to longitude
110° West. The average width is 335 miles.
5The Province Saskatchewan, Canada6 of
essentially an agricultural province andSaskatcbewari is predominates in
wheat. The remarkable fertility of its soil, thethe production of ease with
prairies could be brought under cultivation, and the wonderfulwhich its suc-
crops have resulted in a more rapid development along thesecesses of its lines
other district in the world can boast of. To maintain its supremacy,than any
practice moreit will become necessary to scientific methods of farminghowever,
few years, andare required during the first already mixed farming isthan
the rural activities,receiving more attention. Following urban centres have
rapidity and the many-sided perplexities of a youngsprung up with amazing
Since the creation of the province in 1905nation have demanded attention.
has taken most progressive steps, and enacted far-the provincial government
ensure the prosperity of this community and guaranteeseeing legislation to
the welfare of its people.
Saskatchewan is brief and rather uneventful compared withThe history of
romances and oneprovinces of Canada. However, it has itsthat of the older
The provincesits transition from the primeval to the modern.rebellion to mark
Confederation, and as suchand Alberta are the youngest of theof Saskatchewan
years. The evolution leadingdating back barely over a dozenhave a history
from about theculmination of provincial status might be said to dateup to the
three prairie provinces and thewhen the lands now comprising theyear 1870,
Dominion of Canada. Prior to this date theacquired by theterritories were
history of its fur trade, covering a period ofof Western Canada is thehistory
is corruption of a Cree Indian200 years. The name "Saskatchewan" asome
"" rapid river." It was originallysignifying swift current," orexpression
such peculiarities, but soon becamenatives to any river havingapplied by the
great river of the fertile belt. The namethe whites to the onerestricted by
thedivisions and finally adopted bywas later given to one of the territorial
province.
powerHudson's Bay Company constituted the chiefFrom 1670 to 1870 the
include theRupert's lands were supposed tothroughout this area. Prince
Companyin these lands the Hudson's Baywhole of the Great Plains, and
The French,under the terms of their royal charter.claimed absolute authority
Company's charterclaim to Western Canada, and as thehowever, had early laid
Christian powers, aowned or claimed by otherexcepted such lands as were
the cessation ofhave undoubtedly occurred had notclash of interests would
advancebefore theto the English in 1763 taken placeCanada by the French
1783came together. InCompany or the French explorersguards of either the
internationalindependence, but theof America gained theirthe United States
of the 49thupon in the choicein the West was amicably agreeddividing line
disposed ofhaving thus beenparallel of latitude. All questions of inter-state
been confineddevelopment hascolonization of this district, itsbefore the
entirely to internal affairs.
Selkirk 74Earl ofCompany granted to theIn 1811 the Hudson's Bay
was madesettlementestablish a colony. Amillion acres of land on w