No. 14.

REPORT OF T. D. GREEN, D.L.S.

SURVEY OF ROADS IN ALBERTA.

OTTAWA, 14th December, 1887.

SIR,-I have the honor to submit the following report of my past season's opera tions, which may be divided into four divisions, according to instructions, as follows:1st. The completion of the survey of the Fort McLeod and Calgary trail in Township 24, Range 1, west of the 5th Initial Meridian.

2nd. The survey of the Fort McLeod and Blackfoot Crossing trail.

3rd. The survey of the trail on the south side of Bow River, from Blackfoot Crossing to Calgary. This trail is mentioned in instructions as "The Bow River Bottom Trail."

4th. The survey of the trail on the north side of Bow River, from Blackfoot Crossing to Morleyville.

The first division was completed on the 16th of June, and consisted in locating the road or trail through Sections 3, 10 and 11, so as to connect with the sub-division survey of the south-west quarter section 14 into town lots.

Before proceeding to Fort McLeod to undertake the operations of the second division, I located certain important parts of the Bow River Bottom trail, which was completed on the 27th of June.

The following day I started southwards and reached Fort McLeod on the 2nd of July, but could not begin field operations until the 7th, as I had first to send to Lethbridge for the iron posts necessary to delineate my survey. Moreover, as there is no wood between Fort McLeod and Blackfoot Crossing, I was compelled to purchase sufficient wood at the former place to take me to the latter.

The second division was thus begun on the 7th of July, at a point about one mile north of the town site of Fort McLeod, the initial point being connected with Mr. Bigger's road survey of 1886. The "Little Bow River," on the route, was crossed on the first day of August. Thigh Hill was reached a fortnight later, and the work completed to Blackfoot Crossing on the 6th of September.

The third division was commenced on the following day, from a point upon the bench land nearly two and a-half miles south of the ford or Blackfoot Crossing. This method will enable all statute labor rendered for the improvement of the road leading to the Bow River valley to be consumed on one instead of two hills, as would be necessary if the old trail was followed westwards from the ford. Moreover, the damage to land will, by this location of road, be very much decreased. I surveyed about ten miles of this south trail and then crossed to the north side of the Bow River, deeming it advisable to complete all the road surveys required on the Blackfoot Indian Reserve while in that vicinity.

The fourth division (which was only partly surveyed) was commenced on the 13th day of September, and was completed, to the western boundary of said Indian reserve, on the eleventh day succeeding.

The 26th and 27th days of September were consumed in returning to the south side of Bow River to continue the survey of the south trail to Calgary, and we camped during the evening of the latter day in a coulée about eleven miles west of Blackfoot Crossing. Two days afterwards I was forced to close this division of my work on the post in mound on the 6th base line perpetuating the north-east corner of Section 32, Township 20, Range 23, west of the 4th initial meridian, beyond which point the old

trail had remained unused for such a length of time that no further traces of it could be seen, and it was thus impossible to survey and follow it. The existing state of affairs was at once reported to the Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories and also to the Inspector of Surveys, then in Calgary. I then proceeded to Dunbow, at the junction of High and Bow Rivers, and from there to Calgary the survey of the" Bow River Bottom Trail" was completed.

While camped at Fish Creek I received instructions from the Inspector of Surveys to complete the sub division survey of Township 22, Range 1, west of the 5th Initial Meridian, which, as regards the portion included in that lot or parcel of land known as the Indian supply or Government farm, had been omitted.

On Friday, the 28th October, as I had completed the work on the south side of Bow River, I crossed at Calgary to the north side to survey through Township 24, Range 1, west of the 5th Initial Meridian, part of the old trail from Blackfoot Crossing to Morleyville. From Calgary to the western boundary of said township the survey was completed, but from the 5th Initial Meridian to top of hill near Calgary the survey was merely delineated by iron posts driven within ten inches of the earth. At this stage of the proceedings of my operations, as the final settlement of the location of that particular part of trail had not been decided, I was authoritatively advised to desist from digging pits around said posts, as my location might require to be changed. This occurred on the 2nd of November, and as the season was thus getting far advanced and the days of short duration, I concluded to stop the field operations for the year.

GENERAL REMARKS.

From Fort McLeod to Blackfoot Crossing no farming lands of any con sequence exist, excepting along the rivers in the immediate vicinity of each, and in the bottom lands along the "Little Bow River," some thirty miles north of Fort McLeod, and consequently no settlers are to be seen along this route. The country is one vast gently undulating plain of light soil and is well adapted for grazing purposes, as may be daily observed by the excellent condition of the herds of roaming cattle. Moreover, the average winter (so it is reported) is not more than of six weeks duration, which fact is indeed a very inportant feature in favor of stock raising.

From Blackfoot Crossing to Calgary the soil is heavier and much better adapted for mixed farming, specially the growing of roots; but even in this district stock raising is preferable, and more profitable, and will, I imagine, continue to be so, unless good crops could be ensured by aid of irrigation.

Sheep-raising, with quick returns and good profits, is also extensively conducted in the vicinity of Calgary, but the wolves are proving very destructive.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

E. DEVILLE, Esq.,

Surveyor-General,
Ottawa.

Your obedient servant,

T. D. GREEN, D.L.S.

No. 15.

REPORT OF ARTHUR ST. CYR.

SURVEY OF BOUNDARIES OF ROCKY MOUNTAINS PARK.

BANFF, 12th December, 1887.

SIR,-I have the honor to forward you the following general report of my operations this season in laying out the boundaries of Rocky Mountains Park.

In compliance with instructions received from you dated the 16th August last, I left Ottawa for Castle Mountain in the beginning of September, at which place I was to commence operations. After remaining over three days at Calgary to organize my party and procure provisions I reached my destination on the 11th September. I could not, however, begin work before the 14th, my tents, &c., having been detained at Calgary.

The first line which I surveyed forms the western boundary of the park; it has been run five miles, and posts similar to those used for section corners were planted at each quarter of a mile according to instructions. This line, the course of which is S. 35° 03′ 20′′ E., crosses Bow River at one and a half chains from the point of beginning. The current of the Bow is tolerably rapid and averages four chains wide; its depth at this place is fifteen feet. The valley of this river is one and one quarter of a mile wide and contains soil of first quality, and is crossed by two creeks, one of sixty links and one of one chain in width, respectively. The first of these crosses the line at post 0.25 M., and is the discharge of immense swamps lying at the foot of the mountains which bound the valley to the south of the line.

The second, which is very swift, crosses the line near post M. 1.25 and is fed by a lot of small creeks which come from the mountains and which themselves are fed by the melting of the snow with which these mountains are covered for the greater part of the year.

Some bluffs of wood, composed principally of spruce and Douglas pine, of an average diameter of 10 inches, are met with in that part of the valley crossed by the line.

To the east of the last mentioned creek, a mountain whose west flank is covered with forest attains a height of 2,900 feet above the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Its distance from the west corner of the park is 22 miles. From this point the line crosses nothing but mountains and escarpments, the heights of which vary from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, and which are cut by deep ravines where some clumps of spruce are scattered about.

I could not produce this line more than five miles, being unable to penetrate further into the mountains to the west, with my equipment. I therefore returned along my line and commenced to run the northern boundary of the park.

This line, the course of which is N. 55° E., is at the present time of writing run as far as the Cascade River, and with the exception of the first mile and of a part of the valley of this river, the wood of which was destroyed by fire a few years ago, crosses an extremely mountainous country, almost entirely covered with forest. Spruce, pine and balsam, are the principal kinds of wood met with. They are in the main sound and of good quality. The Cascade Mountains are the highest which I crossed on this line. Their altitude at the point where the line crosses is 4,800 feet.

The valley of Cascade River presents nothing remarkable in appearance. The ground is rough and of medium quality. A young forest of pine at different points is replacing that destroyed by fire.

E. DEVILLE, Esq.,
Surveyor General,
Ottawa,

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

ARTHUR ST. CYR.

No. 16.

REPORT OF C. F. MILES, D.L.S.

SURVEY OF MOUNTED POLICE BESERVES.

WALKERTON, 9th December, 1887.

SIR,-I have the honor to report on my last season's surveys as follows:

Leaving home on the 10th day of June, I arrived at Regina on the 15th, and having reported myself to the Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police and received my instructions, I left for Calgary on the 22nd. From Calgary I proceeded to Lethbridge where I made searches at the land office, receiving every assistance from the agent, Mr. Kirby. Arrived at Fort McLeod, I interviewed Superintendent Neale, the officer in command at that post, and was by him supplied with transport, men and rations.

While waiting I traced the limits of the Police Reserve here, planting later on iron bars at the corners, marked with a cold chisel thus: N.W.M.P.R.

I also laid out several small parcels on this reserve on the banks of the Old Man's River for Customs Collector Allen, for Colonel McLeod and for a hospital

reserve.

On the morning of the 4th of July we left for the reserve at the Crow's Nest Pass, passing through a fine grazing country. Here I located the Police Reserve on the south-west quarter of Section 15, Township 7, Range 3, west of the 5th initial meridian, tying in with the meridian between Ranges 2 and 3, the most westerly line surveyed in that vicinity. A building for Police purposes was erected here some time ago, and is prettily situated in the valley of the " Middle Fork" of the Old Man's River, overshadowed on the north and south sides by Foot Hills and on the west by the Crow's Nest Peak, and is about three miles west of the most westerly habitation.

From the Crow's Nest we returned to Pincher Creek, and here, in com. formity with an official letter from the Assistant Secretary of the Department to the Comptroller of the North-West Mounted Police, I staked out the whole of the southwest quarter of Section 23, Township 6, Range 30, west of the 4th initial meridian Shortly after this I met the Superintendent of Mines from whom I learned that that portion of this quarter-section lying north of Pincher Creek had been awarded by him to some settler. This reserve, therefore, comprises only that portion lying south of the creek; it was occupied and cultivated by the Police some years ago as a farm, and the buildings, consisting of stables and dwellings, had also been erected thereon some years ago. A squatter named Schofield has recently built 2. log house and stable, and also fenced in a portion on the westerly half of this quarter-section. There is quite a village on the quarter-section adjoining this one on the west, comprising several stores, drug store, blacksmith shop, boarding houses, feed and sale stables, &c., &c., and several churches.

From Pincher Creek we proceeded to the Dry Forks of the Kootenai (Waterton) River, traversing the Indian Farm Creek valley, along which a number of ex-policemen have settled, and. to all appearances are prospering. The police detachment is at present (or was then, in summer) located at the Dry Forks; however, on consalting with the officer in command at Fort McLeod and also with the representative (Mr. Dunlop, who has since met his death through an accident) of the Cochrane Ranche Company, it was concluded to move this post further south where the police could act more effectively against the Indians killing cattle, and we thereupon