ring into the possibilities of the Hudson Bay and Arctic regions,
Inspector J. D. Moodie was engaging in his explorations, and his
reports, with those of Starnes, Beyts, Pelletier, Howard, French,
Sellers, Rowley and others, are being consulted anew in view of the
project of railways to the great bays of the North. Some of these famous
patrols we shall discuss later.

But speaking of railways it is interesting to find statements from that
observant officer, Superintendent Constantine, who despite the fact that
his health had been undermined by the hardships of the Yukon was still
on duty in the Peace and Athabasca regions. In 1907 he discusses the
development of the Peace River country from an agricultural standpoint.
He covers very carefully the great areas that include the Grande
Prairie, Spirit River, Fort Vermilion and the rest and makes careful
analysis of their agricultural capabilities. He sees great
possibilities, but places forcibly in his report the absolute need of
railway communication with the eastern centres before much can be
expected. His forecast has proven correct in every particular. These
regions now have railway and river transportation and are prospering
accordingly. One wonders now why extracts from the reports of these men
on the ground were not put before the people in general instead of being
allowed to suffer from being buried alive in the departments of
Government. All through these official reports from the Mounted Police
officers and men, we find statements and suggestions that might have
influenced the progress of the country greatly had they been given wider
publicity throughout the years.

The Yukon country was undergoing a good many changes. The mad rush of
miners into the Mining areas had dwindled away and big companies with
new hydraulic processes were crowding out the individual miners and
causing them to seek new fields for exploitation. But the vultures and
vampires of human society were slow in letting go their victims, and the
Mounted Police had to be constantly on the watch to prevent the unwary
and the foolish from being caught in their dens. That reliable officer,
Inspector Wroughton, who was in command at Dawson City in 1907, says,
"Dance-halls and their accompanying evils have been more or less
accountable for a good deal of the existing crime. But for these
institutions the wanton and the sneak-thief and the confidence man and
woman would find their opportunities seriously