THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. REPORT CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF AFFAIRS FOR THE YEAR 1897. LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, REGINA, N.W.T., 31st December, 1897. To the Hon. CLIFFORD SIFTON, Minister of the Interior, Ottawa, Ont. SIR,—I have the honour to submit the following report concerning the administration of affairs in the Canadian North-West Territories, during the year 1897. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS. The year has been marked by noticeable improvement in the condition of the people. A bountiful harvest of products appertaining to the soil, and increased demands consequent upon the Yukon and British Columbia gold discoveries, have enhanced prices, and created general satisfaction. Dairying, horse ranching (which has for so long been depressed) and the cattle trade all show marked development and gratifying progress. IRRIGATION. During the past year the subject of irrigation has continued to fattract attention. in the southern and western portions of the Territories. Unfortunately the sudden and unprecedented floods which occurred in June last on most of the streams heading in the mountains caused considerable damage to many of the existing irrigation works, but in spite of this damage and the delays which resulted therefrom, the crops obtained from irrigated lands were of a most satisfactory character. Several new and extensive irrigation systems were constructed during the year, among which the ditch constructed by the New Oxley Ranche Company and that completed by the North-West Cattle Company are deserving of special mention. The extensive scheme proposed by the Springbank Irrigation District has also assumed definite shape in the passage of the by-law by the District authorizing the sale of debentures for the construction of the proposed works, and if these debentures can be sold a large area of land in the Calgary District will be brought under irrigation in the immediate future. C. G. Geddes.. S. B. Harrison.. Wm. Milburn.. A. W. Fish.. L. Hanmer.. Districts from which returns have been received for 1897.... 86 11,727 7,286 2,132 2,309 Total amount of cash received by districts making returns $3,503 20 The work performed by statute labour in the 86 districts above mentioned consisted of grading, brushing, corduroying and clearing roads; building and repairing bridges and culverts; building and repairing dams; filling holes and draining sloughs; ploughing fireguards; and in one instance in Saltcoats Electoral District, in filling 28 old wells. The following figures are approximate, but are rather below than above the mark, most of the overseers having misunderstood the request as to work done, the amount had to be computed largely from the number of days worked. Up to the end of September, 1896, there had been proclaimed At the end of November, 1897, the total number of schools erected was : The number of pupils in attendance has increased from 10,710 last year to 13,780 at the present time. Since 1st October, 1896, school debentures have been issued and registered to the amount of $7,480.00. The total amount of debentures authorized during the twelve months last past is $10,100.00, the smallest debt since 1887. In the year 1895 the debentures authorized amounted to $44,725, last year to $33,500. COMMISSIONERS FOR TAKING AFFIDAVITS. The following commissioners for taking affidavits were appointed: |