THE FAR NORTH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 19

THE FAR NORTH

DEVELOPMENT WORK CANADIAN TASK That Canada extends from the international boundary to the North Pole is realised every summer when the annual expedition of Canadian Government officials is en route to the islands of the Dominion's Arctic Archipelago, part of the North-West Territories, which, together with the Yukon Territory, is a region of 1.309,682 square miles, a continent in itself, writes James Montague in the “San Francisco Chronicle.” The population of this great area is less than 10.000 made up of nearly 5000 Eskimos, 4000 Indians, and a thousand whites. This year's expedition will visit the posts in the Farthest North, where members of the Mounted Police are stationed. The farthest north police post is Bache Peninsula, Ellesmere Island. about 700 miles south of the North Pole. Officers and men that have been at these posts for a year or more wall be relieved. While the ship is calling at the police posts scientists will be landed at different points to make a survey of native and wild life, to study plant life, mineral resources, and other features of scientific interest. Doctors at the medical posts wall be relieved, and supplies landed at all Government posts to last a year, and at some to last two years in case ice conditions do not allow the ship to call next year. Eighteen ports will be visited by the expedition, a call wall be made at Godhaven, Greenland, and before the ship comes back to port in Montreal it wail have covered 12,000 miles. Mineral Developement. The importance of the occupation of the Arctic by the Dominion is seen in the mineral development alone that has flourished in recent years. Early in 1930 rich finds of radium-bearing ore were located in the North-west Territories, and after two summers of prospecting, during which rich silver was also discovered in large quantities nearly 4000 mining claims had been staked in the region, of which more than half centred about Great Bear Lake. Coal and oil have been found throughout the region, the latter especially near Norman, on the Mackenzie River. Copper, lead zinc, nickel, and gold have been found. The administration of the Northwest Territories comes under a commissioner, deputy comipisioner, and five councillors appointed by the Government. In recent years communication with the region has been speeded up, there being now a number ol radio stations in the territory able to communicate wdth one another, as well as with Ottawa. Aeroplanes have made it possible for more frequent mail deliveries into the region, and have been largely responsible for the development of all industries, since fur, supplies, machinery, and minerals are now 7 “flown” in and out to a large extent. Every year sees more development in the Canadian Arctic, there being available an abundance of untapped water power for mining and associated industries. Nor has the Government failed to see the signs that Its occupation of the Arctic may soon bear fruit when transatlantic aviation makes this northern region of still greater importance.