The letters of Rusticus. : Investigations in Manitoba and the North-West, for the benefit of intending emigrants.

Two or three years ago the Montreal Witness devoted much attention to the question of finding work for the unemployed in agricultural pursuits, and opened its columns to descriptions of the attractions of different parts of the country.It was s on found that the hope and interest of the people centered largely in the prairies of the North-West, and numerous were the letters of enquiry with regard to tbat land of promise.In the published accounts within reach there was much evidence of one-sidedness and some contradiction.Another defect which was too ap- parent in almost all North-Western literature was the fact that the writers were not practical agriculturists themselves, and it might be as wise to send a doctor to examine and test a steam engine as send a man who never did a day's work on a farm to write of the agricultural capabilities of a new country.Still another defect in the writings referred to, was the lack of sympathy, or fellow feeling, between the writers and the class of readers who, above all others, needed correct information.Perhaps a doctor after having carefully examined a steam engine, might be able to make a report on its condition, which would be underst iod by other doctors as well, if not better, than if the report DAVID CURRIE.Montreal, March 10th, 1880.P. S. -I have just read in the papers that the Government at Ottawa propose to allow settlers in the North-West to import cattle for their own use free of duty, for which considerate act they have my most hearty thanks.D. C. The Letters of Rusticus.in many places the water is very bad for drinking purposes.We reached Madison, the capital of the State of Wisconsin, at four p.m.This is the most beautifully located city that I have seen, being built on a hill almost completely surrounded by three or four pretty large lakes, one ol them at least ten miles long and four miles wide.Shortly after passing Madison we came into a rough, mountainous country strongly resembling the Gatiueau region.In some places we passed through immense rock and sand cuttings and be- tween high towering rocky hills clothed with brushwood and scrubby white pines.five p.m., and Btarted to the station to make ar- rangements to get our baggage checked for Winnipeg ; but how great was our disappointment to find the Btation locked up, and not a soul around to give any information !The station was nearly all surrounded by water, the track being only a few inches above the surface.At first we could discover no sign of human habitation, but at last dis- covered two houses about half a mile distant, but did not feel like wading out to them.We were not kept long waiting, however, before the station agent arrived in a waggon and consoled us with the information that it was uncertain when we could get on to Winnipeg, but we might rest for the present as no train would leave until near noon on Sunday.Had it been another day I would have staid over night along with my companion, as the conductor of the train we came in told us we might occupy the cars over night.But atsund)V£n I started on the track to Emerson, two and a half miles distant, and as the Emerson station is a half mile from the hotel we were to stop in, I got acquainted with MANITOBA MUD, which seems to be very friendly with your boots, as it rises up and comes along without any coax- ing.was only exacting his just rights, as he was paying a high license to the Government. 1 suggested that if he had a right to levy toll, he should furnish proper accommodation, and that temporary bridges could be erected for a few doi Jars.They laughed at me and said that I did not know what I was talking about, as the cost of bridging here was quite different from what it was in the " Ottawa region."I wanted to know if they would not try and do something in the way of borrowing lumber for a temporary bridge, but was informed that they had waded around Emerson all Monday trying to borrow lumber, but could not get any.I left the immigration office, thinking to myself that Sir John Macdonald could apply the pruning-knife with advantage to a few more immigrant agencies.When I got back to Emerson I found that the Greenway party from Exeter had already bor- rowed twelve planks, about twenty-four feet long and nine inches wide, and had with these constructed bridges at both sides in places where the shore ice had jammed.I waited with them all day, a pretty smart snow-storm blowing from the north-west nearly all the time.The shore leading down to our temporary bridge was rather steep, and the horses had to bo taken out of the waggons and led over the bridge singly, after which the baggage was carried over to the solid ice in the centre of the river, and lastly the empty waggon was taken down the steep bank, and although we had pieces of scantling stuck through between the spokes of the wheels to prevent them from revolving, yet, owing to the snow, it was difficult to prevent the waggon from going too fast, and on several occasions one of the wheels would miss the bridge and break through the ice.After the wag- 7-1 9 it-, : ,U V : • j-f ?• iH Range Niitnfjer 1,1.11JST.

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