RAINY RIVER AND THUNDER BAY

Interesting Letter from C.T. Krafft

Eagle River, Ont., 30 June 1900

[Welland Tribune, 6 July 1900]

Dear Sir-As I had so many requests from friends before leaving to be sure, and write them and tell of my journey and what kind of country the Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts are, I ask permission to trespass on your valuable space in the Tribune, knowing by so doing all can get the desired information at once. Thanking you in advance, I will proceed.

I left Stevensville May 16^th per M.C.R., changed to C.P.R. at Welland, arrived in Toronto at 11.10 same day, had to lay over in Toronto till 5.40 p.m., to catch train for Owen Sound, arriving at the latter point at 12.50 a.m. Here I took in the town till 11 a.m.

Owen Sound is a busy place and finely situated with a good harbor, and everyone seems contented and busy.

At 11 o’clock I embarked on S.S. Alberta for Port Arthur. Passing up Lake Huron we passed several islands not mentioned in the geography. We arrived at the Soo the next morning at 9; the rapids here are grand but not navigable, so we go through the canal. A fine view of both the American and Canadian Soo can be had. Arrived at Port Arthur the next morning after leaving the Soo. Before coming in the harbor at Port Arthur, the sight that confronts a stranger is something long to be remembered. Great mountains rise out of the water seven miles from the harbor to a height of 1,400 feet, nearly perpendicular solid rock on either side, only a narrow channel, through which we pass.

Arriving at Port Arthur, one’s first impression is a tumble-down, rickety, half-built place, where no law or order exists, but on investigation one finds a town of 2,500 population, all making money and employment in the mines, the woods and construction work on the O.& R. R. Ry., also the P.A.D. and W. Ry. The former is constructed to a point 40 miles west of the town, the latter to the border crossing into Minnesota. Let me say here that my first impressions as to law and order were not far amiss, for the hotels, 12 in number, and 5 of these without a license, run night and day, Sundays included, without any interference; their front door is open always. How long would one of these houses keep open, and that, without license in Welland? This would be a good field for temperance people to do some work, or, better, perhaps, a good eastern license inspector.

Going on to Fort William we find a good town of 3500, good harbor, boats landing daily, and hundreds of men employed in unloading and loading cars. The C.P.R has three very fine elevators here, also a group of them a mile west; these are round and made of steel.

Going on west we pass several small places-Wabigoon, Dryden, (here is the government farm, and it looks to be quite a farming vicinity), Eagle River, (will say more about this latter place later on), till we reach Rat Portage, a fine place, but all you hear is gold; some very rich finds just south of the town lately.

Here we took a steamer down Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake to Rainy River, about 90 miles; now we go east down Rainy River some 80 miles to Fort Frances, a small place, some 300 population, but on account of the low water and the Rainy River railway not being completed the price of everything is out of sight. A merchant could make a fortune here if he could transport his goods, but for this there are no facilities at present. There are numerous well-tilled farms here, and thousands to acres to homestead; the land is easily cleared in places, other places plenty of good timber; but on account of the drought this season things are not looking favorable. There has not been any rain all summer to speak of, and this dry weather seems to be general throughout the whole west from Port Arthur to Winnipeg. I travelled through several townships around Fort Francis and north. I homesteaded 160 acres and bought another 160, in Burriss township. The land cannot be discounted for farming. The Government is building good roads where required, employing only settlers, thereby giving them an opportunity to earn some money till they get returns from their farms. Anyone wishing to engage in tilling the soil, here is the place to come.

Now I return to Port Arthur, and as they took a suspected case of smallpox out of the hotel I am stopping at, the place with all its occupants were quarantined for 14 days, 18 lodgers at the time. Passed the time reading, smoking, etc., there being no other cases being developed, we were liberated. Several patients have died here and at Fort William, but the disease is getting pretty well stamped out now.

I was about to return to Fort Francis, when I heard that the Indians, some 3,000 strong, had risen up against the whites there, and the settlers have asked for troops. The governor of Minnesota has promised to have troops there by Tuesday, but I understand the Canadian Government has taken no steps as yet. This changed my plans somewhat, so I accepted a position as operator with the C.P.R., and am working at Eagle River, 272 miles west of Fort William and 60 miles north of Fort Francis; this is a small place, as are all the places from Fort William to Rat Portage, but it is a very busy place as regards railroad work. Engines take water and coal here, and trains are made up here for both east and west. There is a staff here night and day. The scenery here is fine. A picturesque river runs 500 yards from the station, with a falls and rapids in it close by. There are lots of fish, and other game is plentiful and Indians galore. One of them brought in a bear yesterday. Blueberries are selling here 12 quarts for 25 cents and very plentiful. There is no farming land here, the soil is white clay and half stone. I think in time it will all turn into stone. Land can be had here from Government for 50 cents per acre; it is covered with a thick growth of small spruce, hemlock and poplar. It is the same kind of land nearly all the way along the C.P.R., from Fort William to Rat Portage, except Wabigoon and Dryden. The climate is very peculiar; in day time it is very hot, last Sunday 103 in the shade, while at night an overcoat is comfortable. Last night we had a white frost that touched tomatoes, beans and other tender plants.

Altogether it is a romantic, healthy place. Lots of work for laborers at good wages and plenty of land for the asking. I will close for this time, if I have not already taken up too much space.

Yours truly.
C.T. Krafft