Manitoba And The Great North-West: The Field For Investment; The Home Of The Emigrant, Being A Full And Complete History of the Country…To Which Has Been Added The Educational & Religious History Of Manitoba & The North-West, by George M.Grant…Also Montana And The Bow River District Compared For Grazing Purposes, by Alexander Begg…Sketch Of The Rise And Progress Of Winnipeg, by J.C.McLagan…

Guelph, Ont.: The World Publishing Company, 1882. First Edition of this encyclopedic propagandistic work on Manitoba and the north-west, including chapters on geography, climate, wheat, cereals and root crops, water supply, stock raising, timber supply, minerals, flora and fauna, cities and settlements, Winnipeg, native races, North-West Mounted Police, railroads, advice to immigrants, settlers and travellers, &c. Macoun, a naturalist, was invited by Sandford Fleming, chief engineer of the Pacific Railway, to take part in a survey of its projected route westward. During the course of five separate surveys conducted between 1872 and 1881, he examined the agricultural potential of various western regions and incorrectly concluded that all of the northwest was ideally suited for agriculture, even the arid plains of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. It was on the basis of his evaluation that the CPR was re-routed across the southern prairies. Peel 1081. 8vo. pp. 1 p.l., xxii, [17]-687, [1]blank, [3]ads. with half-title. 3 tinted lithographs incl. folding frontis. birds-eye view of Winnipeg & birds-eye view of Emerson, coloured lithographed diagram, 2 large colour lithographed maps of Canada & the North-West Territory & Manitoba, large folding lithographed street map of Winnipeg, & 13 full-page illus. original black & gilt-stamped cloth, rebacked with spine mounted, endpapers preserved (inner hinges strengthened, few map tears no loss)