had furnished escorts and convoys for the successive Governors-General
in their official tours over the vast North-West. Before the railway era
this involved long journeys and much extra duty, cheerfully undertaken
and chivalrously as well as skilfully carried out for the comfort of
these distinguished travellers, amongst whom were our present good King
and his much-loved son, the Prince of Wales. In recognition of these
services the Commissioner has received for himself and his men warm
thanks, as well as expressions of high admiration for the courtesies and
services rendered by the Police, as well as for their fine bearing as
soldierly men.

And all these find fitting climax in the fact that His Majesty King
Edward, "First Gentleman of Europe," gave his personal recognition of
all the splendid services rendered to the Empire by the Police by
conferring on the Force the title "Royal." This intimation was made in
the Canada Gazette in 1904 in this manner:

"His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the
title of 'Royal' upon the North-West Mounted Police Force."

Referring to this honour, Commissioner Perry said in his report of that
year:

"The force is deeply sensible of the high honour conferred upon it,
and I trust it will continue by loyalty, integrity and devotion to
duty to merit the great distinction which His Majesty has been so
graciously pleased to bestow upon it."

The Commissioner has always trusted and believed in his men, and he has
not been disappointed.

CHAPTER XIII

MODESTY AND EFFECTIVENESS

"The population of the Territories has doubled in ten years and the
strength of the Force has been reduced by half. Our detachments have
increased from 49 to 79." This was one of the striking and illuminating
statements made by Commissioner Perry in his Annual Report for 1901. The
Commissioner was looking around and ahead and did not intend that the
Government should be left ignorant of the rapid changes which were
taking place. The reduction of the Force was a tribute to the
extraordinary efficiency of its members in establishing peace and order
throughout a vast domain. But it is not fair or human "to ride a willing
horse to death," and with increased population and widening areas to
oversee, the strain being put upon the men in the corps was too great.
In even the organized portions of the Territories there was only an
average of one constable to