REPORT ON TOWNSHIP 49, RANGE 14, WEST OF THE FOURTH MERIDIAN
ACCESSIBILITY AND ROADS
This township is accessible from the village of Bruce situated on the main line of the Canadian National railways in Section 30, township 48-14 which point is but 11 miles from the southwest corner of the township. The town of Vegreville and the village of Lavoy are both within reach, being 14 to 16 miles from the township. Fairly good roads lead to all three points. The main road connecting Vegreville with Bruce passes along the west boundary of the township. One other important and well-travelled road runs north and south 2 miles east of the west boundary. Within the township and along its boundaries there are 32 miles of well-travelled and 20 miles of slightly-travelled roads.
VILLAGE
Bruce is but a small place where there are two elevators, two or three general stores and a post office.
SURFACE AND SURFACE COVERING
The surface of this township is nearly level, with a few areas that are undulating or gently rolling. The general slope of the land 'is toward Vermilion river, but this does not exceed more than 2 or 3 feet per mile. There is practically no valley to the stream, and no flow at the time that the examination of this locality was made. The bed of the river has an average width of about 10 feet, and the depth is 2 or 3 feet. In the northeast quarter of the township and sections 13, 14 and 15 the land is quite level, and the drainage very poor. A very small percentage of this part of the township is being cultivated. Of the whole township 23 per cent is under cultivation, 10 per cent is poplar and willow bush 5 to 12 feet in height, and the remainder is prairie, part of which comprises low lands liable to flooding.
SOIL
The soil of this township is of variable character. One type may be described as clay interspersed with areas of clay loam and, black fine sandy loam with clay subsoil, and the other black fine sandy loam with clay loam areas. The area occupied by the former includes the northeasterly quarter of the township, sections 13 and 14 and parts of sections 1, 11, 15, and 33. The remainder of the township is included in the fine sandy loam class.
SETTLEMENT
The earliest settlement took place about twenty years ago, and has continued somewhat slowly up to the present. There are now about thirty-five families living here. Those in the southeasterly part of the township are mostly of Swedish or Norwegian nationality, while the settlers in the northwesterly part are Canadians. The township forms a part of the municipality of Patricia. From general conditions it would appear that this locality has received fair consideration from the municipality in reference to the construction and maintenance of roads. Many of the residents enjoy the telephone service, which has been installed by the Provincial Government along about 20 miles of road allowances.
CROPS AND STOCK
Wheat and oats are the chief grain crops grown for sale, and oat green feed for fodder. As a rule crops in this district are successfully grown and harvested, although for the past two or three years, drought has caused a partial crop failure. Most of the settlers have a fair amount of stock, and a few have as high as 80 head of cattle and horses. Because of the large amount of vacant land and close proximity to train service dairying is successfully carried on, and cream shipped to the city of Edmonton or taken to the village of Holden where there is a creamery. The latter place is approximately 7 miles west of the township.
HAY LANDS' AND WINTER FEED
Part of the winter feed for stock is obtained from oat green feed, but the greater part is from wild hay cut from the low areas throughout the township and more particularly from the northeast quarter of the township. Besides the above sources of feed supply a limited amount of hay is secured from the Upland prairie.
FUEL
A limited amount of fuel is obtained from small poplar bush when land is being cleared. Nearly all of the settlers, however, use lignite coal which is shipped in from the Edmonton district.
WATER
Good water is obtained from wells 40 to 100 feet deep. Near Vermilion river water has been obtained from wells 20 to 30 feet deep.
POST OFFICES AND SCHOOLS
Most of the settlers get their mail at the village of Bruce. The schools to serve the educational needs of the children within the township are situated in the northeast quarter of section 22, the northeast quarter of section 12-49-15, the northwest quarter of section 35-48-14.
(Sgd.) R. H. KNIGHT,
Dominion Land Surveyor.
