Evidence of Hon. WILLIAM CHRISTIE, ex-member of the N.W Navigable "The Hudson Bay Co. have now a steamer on the Distances of Mackenzie River, which last year (1887) ran from Fort Waters. Simpson to the sea, and down the Peel River." The distances on the Mackenzie River and Lakes to the mouth 100 miles (say) down Slave River from Fort Smith 250 miles across Gt. Slave Lake to Head of 203 miles from Head of Mackenzie, i.e., Fort Provi. 1,387 miles, total distance navigable for light draught steamers from Fort Smith on Slave River to Mouth of Mackenzie. Evidence of Right Rev. ISIDORE CLUT, Bishop of Arendale, The Mackenzie is the finest river in the world for its length, its depth, and its size in summer. Steamers leaving Fort Smith cross the Great Slave Lake, and can descend as far as the Arctic Ocean. They can also ascend the Peel River. Evidence of GEO. W. DAWSON, LL.D. It is a little difficult to separate the basin of the Mackenzie from the waters of the Yukon when you get west of the mountains, because these rivers interlock with each other in all directions. through the country last summer I formed the opinion that a large portion of that country would be eventually settled. In passing Navigable Rivers in the The Mackenzie rivers interlocked by streams. and Yukon The Yukon. country will be Mackenzie eventually settled. A cart-trail between the Mackenzie. Evidence of WILLIAM J. MCLEAN, Chief Trader of the Hudson Bay Co. I cannot speak of depth of water at the mouth of Mackenzie River, but believe that sea-going steamers would ascend its whole length. Evidence of DONALD McIVOR. The Mackenzie is extensively wooded on the banks, has excellent harbours, and would be navigable for five months the in year by steamers of ordinary size. “ Financial Times,” July 30th, 1897. "By the treaty of Washington of 1871, the Yukon, the Porcupine (flowing into it from the east) and the Stikine were internationalised for navigation purposes at the suggestion of Sir Donald Smith, the present Canadian High Commissioner." A Distance between Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers. R. G. McCONNELL, 1888-89. The navigable waters of the Mackenzie are sepaYukon and the rated from those on the Yukon in lat. 679 20 N. by a distance of about 60 miles only. A cart trail was staked out some years ago by the Hudson's Bay Company across the interval separating these rivers, with the intention of supplying the Mackenzie River district with goods by way of the Yukon River; but the project fell through, and the road was never built. The Mackenzie River 11 feet in depth. Important unexplored Tribu. tories of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie River and Tributaries. WM. OGILVIE, 1887-88. Capt. Bell, of the steamer "Wrigley," stated that the shallowest water found by him in any part of the Mackenzie was 11 feet. From all the evidence I (Ogilvie) could gather vessels drawing from 8 to 10 feet of water would find no difficulty in navigation as far as Great Slave Lake. A short distance above the Ramparts (near Fort Good Hope) a river flows into the Mackenzie from the west. It appeared to be 200 yards wide at its mouth. All I could learn about it at the Fort was that it came from far up in the mountains. 6 miles above Sans Sault Rapids and 328 miles from Fort Macpherson, on the Mackenzie, Carcagou River comes in from the west. It is a large river, being not less than 400 yards wide at its mouth. it might prove An Indian with me (Ogilvie) stated that this stream A river which was very large and very long, the Indians having advantageous ascended it for great distances through the mountains. It appeared to run parallel to the Mackenzie for some distance, then, turning sharply to the west, to enter the mountains. This river seems to be the largest tributary of the Mackenzie below the Liard. G. M. DAWSON, 1887. The Mackenzie drains an area of 677,400 square miles. See Section 11 for distances, to explore. B The Porcupine, Rat and Bell Rivers. Extracts from the Report of Mr. WILLIAM OGILVIE, 1887-88. Writing of the excellence of his two Peterborough Canoes, Mr. Ogilvie writes : In the Spring of 1888, they (the Canoes) descended the latter river (the Porcupine) . to the mouth of Bell's River, and up it to McDougall's Pass. They were then carried over the Pass to Poplar River, and were used in going down the latter to the Peel River, and thence up Mackenzie River, 1,400 miles. R. G. McCONNELL, 1887. The Rat River for some miles from the Peel River Rat River. winds through a flat alluvial plain then enters a lake K The Headwaters of the Porcupine river only 30 region as the current is uniform and easy. After this the mountains are reached. The Porcupine River rises only 30 miles from the Yukon, describes a great curve and joins the Yukon 150 miles from the miles further down. At its most easterly point it approaches within 30 miles of the Mackenzie (and naturally much nearer the Peel River). Its length is 500 miles. Yukon. The Bell River. From the River to the Short route across from the mouth of the Mackenzie to the Porcupine. Arctic Region rivers navi The Bell River is through alluvial and quartzite country. Its upper part has not been explored. At the Fort (La Pierre's House) it is a small, sluggish stream, of 40 to 50 yards wide; banks low, and alluvial with wooded banks. Its length from La Pierre's House to the Porcupine is about 30 miles, with no rapids and navigable throughout. The Indians take seven days to do the heavy portageboats, &c., from Fort Macpherson to La Pierre's Houseexactly 50 miles. (This is the cross-country, portage. By way of the McDonald Pass the journey can be done almost the whole way by the waters of the Rat and Bell Rivers and a lake in the Pass). Evidence of the Hon. WM. CHRISTIE, late Inspecting Chief Factor of the Hudson Bay Co. For the trade on the Yukon we (the Hudson Bay Co.) used to take the goods down the Mackenzie and across the mountains to the Porcupine, thence down the Yukon. It is only a short distance across from the waters of the Mackenzie River. Peel's River (Fort Macpherson) is the lowest post on the Mackenzie (near the mouth). See Section 11 for distances. R. G. McCONNELL, 1888-89. The Rat and Porcupine (which includes the Bell) gable from 3 to Rivers could easily be navigated for three or four months of the year by small steamers from La Pierre House down to the junction of the Porcupine and Yukon Rivers. 4 months each year. R. G. McCONNELL, 1888-89. This river-the Porcupine-rises within 30 miles of the Pelly-Yukon River, Lat. 65° 30' N., and after describing a huge curve of about 500 miles joins the Yukon about 150 miles further down from the point nearest its head waters. From the Bell River to the Yukon short ripples are met with but no rapids or other obstructions which would prevent the navigation of the stream by small steamers. The distance, by river, from La Pierre's House to Fort Yukon, where the Porcupine joins the Yukon, is 290 miles. See Section 11 for distances. Bell and Rat Rivers, and McDougal's Pass. WM. OGILVIE, 1887-88. About five miles above La Pierre's House, in an air line, but much more than that by the river, the Rat River joins from the East (this river flows into the Peel) the country around abounds with game. There are two routes-one for winter, and the other for summer travel-between La Pierre's House on the Bell River, and Fort Macpherson on the Peel. The distance between is said to be nearly 80 miles, and is done in three days. All the trading outfit for La Pierre's and Rampart House (on the Lower Porcupine) has to be brought this way in the winter months on dog sleighs, and the furs and meat received for it has to be taken to Fort Macpherson in the same way. From there the furs are sent out by the Mackenzie River. Shallow draught steamers drawing not more than 2 feet 8 inches can navigate any place in the Bell and Porcupine Rivers. A country abounding with game. An old route still used from the mouth of the Mackenzie to the Yukon. |