or hunt (for they are both hunters and traders) to Red River, disposing of it to the merchants in Winnipeg, but I do not imagine that more than one-third of their trade thus finds its way into the market.  These free men are nearly all French half-breeds, and are mostly outfitted by the Company.  It has frequently occurred that a very considerable trade has been carried on with alcohol, brought by free men from the Settlement of Red River; and distributed to Indians and others in the Upper Saskatchewan.  This trade has been productive of the very worst consequences, but the law prohibiting the sale or possession of liquor is now widely known throughout the Western, territory, and its beneficial effects have already been experienced.

I feel convinced that if the proper means are taken the suppression of the liquor traffic of the West can be easily accomplished.

A very important subject is that which has reference to the communication between the Upper Saskatchewan and Missouri Rivers.

Fort Benton on the Missouri has of late become a place of very considerable importance as a post for the supply of the mining districts of Montana.  Its geographical position is favourable.  Standing at the head of the navigation of the Missouri, it commands:  the trade of Idaho and Montana.-’A steamboat, without breaking bulk, can go from New Orleans to Benton, a distance of 4000 miles.  Speaking from the recollection of information obtained at Omaha three years ago, it takes about thirty days to ascend the river from that town to Benton, the distance being about 2000 miles.  Only boats drawing two or three feet of water can perform the journey, as there are many shoals and shifting sands to obstruct heavier vessels.  It has been estimated that between thirty or forty steamboats reached Benton during the course of last summer.  The season, for purposes of navigation, may be reckoned as having a duration of about four months.  Let us now travel north of the American boundary-line, and see what effect Benton is likely to produce upon the trade of the Saskatchewan.  Edmonton lies N.N.W. from Benton about 370 miles.  Carlton about the same distance north-east.  From both Carlton and Edmonton to Fort Benton the country presents no obstacle whatever to the passage of loaded carts or waggons, but the road from Edmonton is free from Blackfeet during the summer months, and is better provided with wood and water.  For the first time in the history of the Saskatchewan, carts passed safely from Edmonton to Benton during the course of last summer.  These carts, ten in number, started from Edmonton in the month of May, bringing furs, robes, etc., to the Missouri.  They returned in the month of June with a cargo consisting of flour and alcohol.

The furs and robes realized good prices, and altogether the journey was so successful as to hold out high inducements to other persons to attempt it during the coming summer.  Already the merchants of Benton are bidding high for the possession of the trade of the Upper Saskatchewan, and estimates have been received by missionaries offering to deliver goods at Edmonton for 7 (American currency) per 100 lbs., all risks being insured.  In fact it has only been on account of the absence of a frontier custom house that importations of bonded goods have not already been made via Benton.