42 i The Peace River District

freight rates were overcome by the high price prevailing at that time. This is
not a normal condition, however, and until railway facilities are provided for
shipping the grain, this district must find its markets nearer home. The
northern trade, rapidly expanding, will provide markets for many years to come.

While the district is exceptionally well adapted to wheat growing, it is also
well suited to stock raising and mixed farming. Keeping in view the market
possibilities, it should prove an excellent field for mixed farming, dairying, and
small cattle ranches. The Keg river valley contains thousands of acres of the
finest grazing lands to be found anywhere. The Hay river valleys, Hay Lake
prairies, and Buffalo Head hills also contain much excellent grazing land.

The Hudson’s Bay Company have outposts at Red River, a few miles below
Vermilion chutes, at Hay river and Keg river, and also a warehouse at Carcajou.
Revillon Fréres have outposts at Hay river and Keg river, with a warehouse at
Careajou. The Peace River Trading Company also has an outpost at Hay river,
which is reached by a wagon road running about 100 miles north-westerly from
Fort Vermilion. The fur trade at this outpost is very extensive, it being the
chief trading centre of the Slavey tribe of Indians, whose hunting grounds extend
from Hay lakes to Great Slave lake. Between this post and Great Slave lake are
found the wonderful Alexander falls, whose height and beauty rival the mighty
Niagara.

Westerly from the post, a pack trail leads about 75 miles up stream to the
Hay lakes. About these lakes lies an extensive plain, level and fertile, and
producing yearly hundreds of thousands of tons of hay. Much of this area,
however, is low and wet and subject to annual flooding, which renders it unfit for
grazing the year round. Along the wagon road from Fort Vermilion to Hay
River post for the first 50 miles, is found the finest land one could wish to see,
Buffalo prairie being a particularly beautiful stretch of country. The divide
between the Peace and Hay watersheds is high and stony, and stony land
is also found for the remainder of the distance to Hay River post, but it is covered
with a luxuriant growth of wild hay and peavine. It is well watered, and would
make an excellent ranching district. The well-wooded Watt mountains lie
immediately to the west.

A good wagon road leads from Fort Vermilion to Keg River post, and from
the post to the bank of the Peace at Carcajou. Along this road, the land is
exceptionally good. A little heavy bush is encountered, and many large hay
meadows are seen where the Beaver Indians make hay for their horses. For 30
miles before reaching the post, the road runs through one of the finest ranching
valleys to be found anywhere, covered with peavine waist high, watered by a
good strong stream, and sheltered by woods on either side. A number of town-
ships have been recently surveyed and thrown open for settlement in this district.

From Keg River post, a pack trail runs to Battle or Notikewin river from
whence it widens out again to make a wagon road to the town of Peace River.
Steps are being taken to cut out this last section of pack trail so as to give a
wagon road from Peace River to Fort Vermilion.

South and east of Fort Vermilion, numerous trails lead across the great
stretches of beautiful rolling land extending to the Buffalo Head hills and the