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.

These facts speak for themselves.

Without doubt, if the natural outlet to the trade of the Saskatchewan,
namely the River Saskatchewan itself, remains in its present neglected
state, the trade of the Western territory will seek a new source, a