36 The Peace River District

It is surrounded by lands, partly broken and fairly heavily wooded, but with
fertile soil everywhere. Much good land is still available, but will require more
or less clearing.

The town is well provided with schools and churches, telegraph and mail
service, sawmills and business establishments, and has a board of trade actively
engaged in furthering the interests of the district and assisting new-comers to
locate.

Grande Prairie

This famous district comprises a vast prairie lying on a high plateau south of
Peace river and between the sixth meridian and British Columbia. It is bounded
on the south by the Wapiti river and on the east by the Smoky river. On
the north a rough and wooded ridge divides it from the Spirit river and Pouce
Coupé prairies. Westerly it extends to the foothills of the Rockies. Its area
exceeds two thousand square miles of as fine-wheat growing land as can be
found anywhere. The surface is level or gently rolling and the soil is a deep,
rich, black loam on a clay subsoil. The valleys of the rivers and the outer
edges of the district are wooded, but the main area is either open prairie or very
lightly covered with bluffs of poplar and brush.

Grande Prairie has been settled within the last eight to ten years. The
main prairie and many choice adjoining spots have long since been taken up.
Settlement, however, continues to pour into the fringes of the district, where the
presence of good soil outweighs the disadvantages of bush and small timber
which must be cleared off before the land can be broken. Extensive settlements
have been made along the Beaverlodge and Red Willow rivers. Excellent land
is found in this section which is one of the most picturesque of Western Canada.
Many large farms are already in full operation with the highest grade stock and
the most modern equipment. There is still a little good land open for home-
steading here but it is fast being taken up.

The Grande Prairie district is reached by a branch line of the Edmonton,
Dunvegan and British Columbia railway from Spirit river running southerly to
within a few miles of Wapiti river and near Flying Shot Lake settlement. About
its terminus has grown up the town of Grande Prairie, which has become the
centre of business for the district whose name it bears. It is a thriving western
town, and contains three elevators, a flour mill, several good stores and hotels,
bank, large two-storey graded school, hospital, churches, immigration hall,
creamery, and other enterprises.

The Dominion Lands and Crown Timber office for Grande Prairie Land
district is located here. Telegraph and telephone connections with Edmonton
and local points are available. A weekly newspaper is published. A board of
trade and an agricultural society take a live interest in furthering the welfare
of town and country.

Lake Saskatoon, 14 miles west of Grande Prairie, is a small village growing
up around the old trading post located on the bank of Saskatoon lake. Its
location is both beautiful and historic. In the heart of the prairie, it commands