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The past winter was more severe than usual at Peace River Landing. The snow was very deep and three showers of rain during the winter caus ed a heavy crust to form. This made it difficult for horses to paw the snow away to get at the grass and con sequently a number of young horses died. The spring was late and the supply of hay ran short which caused considerable losses amongst the cattle, the principal loser being Charles St. Germain, who lost 22 dead. Since spring opened the season has been most favorable, frequent showers causing an excellent growth. Unfortunately there is very little crop sown. There was a total failure of grain last season on account of dreath, which lasted un til the 29th of July. At that date rain fell and the grain started, but it did not ripen before the fall frosts came. Potatoes, however, came on wonderful ly and were a fair crop. Seed grain supplied by the government was taken in last winter by the Roman Catholic mission, but besides the mission only four settlers availed themselves of it. The others refused to take it fearing that it bound them in some way to the government. Rev. Mr. Robertson, of the church of England mission, took in some grain for the mission farm which is doing well. Some of the half breeds who refused to take the govern ment seed came to Edmonton this spring with furs and took back seed grain for use next year. The Indians had a most prosperous winter. Plenty of fur and also of moose and bear. At Slave lake the fishery was excellent, about 300,000 white fish having been taken last fall. The Peace river broke up on April 30th, which is later than usual. Tuberculosis, which affected the Hudson’s Bay Company’s herd of cattle at Grand Prairie seems to have disappeared. The last case occurred, over a year ago, and the disease has not spread to other cattle. It is thought that the dryness of recent seasons may have had something to do with curing the disease. A number of Polled Angus grades from the herd are being used on the cart road between Slave lake and Peace river and mke excel lent cart oxen. The herd at the ranch on Grand Prairie has been sold to Peter Gunn and Charles Bremner, who have been employed by the Hudson’s Bay Company for some years, and who will manage them as a private specula tion. Seven gold miners worked last summer on the river below Fort St. John, but owing to high water did not make their fortunes. They passed the winter profitably in trapping, however. Two of them came out this summer, Pete Ouilette, of Edmonton, and three others have gone in this season to mine, but as the water is very high their prospects are not very good.
Newspaper Details
Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Mon, Jul 20, 1896
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Cherish M.
USA 27 Jun 2026
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