The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47

North-West Mounted Police

North-West Mounted Police.

On 30th November, 1877, the strength of this force was as follows:—
Commissioner 1
Assistant Commissioner 1
Surgeons 3
Inspectors 6
Sub-Inspectors 13
Constables and sub-Constables 305
Total 329
No. of horses 315

113 men and 133 horses were stationed, with the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, 1 Surgeon, 1 Inspector and 5 Sub-Inspectors at Fort McLeod; 89 men and 55 horses at Fort Walsh; 17 men and 15 horses at Wood Mountain; 6 men and 13 horses at Pinto Horse Butte; 3 men and 5 horses at Milk River; 27 men and 43 horses at Fort Calgary; 23 men and 20 horses at Fort Saskatchewan; 14 men and 6 horses at Battleford; 24 men and 15 horses at Swan River; 7 men and 7 horses at Shoal Lake, and 6 men and 3 horses at Qu'Appelle; 101 men were discharged during the year; 97 men were engaged, and 32 re-engaged for a second term of service: one man was drowned and two: deserted. There are buildings at all the stations but Wood Mountain, Pinto House, Butte, Milk River and Qu'Appelle. Those at Swan River and Battleford were erected by the Public Works Department, the others by the Police themselves The expense for the fiscal year was $389,493, an average of $1,000 a year for man and horse. This is one-third less than the cost of a cavalry soldier in the United States. In September, 1877. an escort of the Police accompanied the Lieutenant Governor to the Blackfoot crossing of the Bow River, to make a treaty with the Blackfeet and other Indians Not a casualty occurred, nor disturbance of any kind. The efforts to prevent liquor being introduced from the United States have been very successful With one exception every attempt to violate the law has boon detected, the liquor seized and, traders fined or Imprisoned. The Customs duties collected at Fort McLeod amounted in the year to $12,104,33, and at Fort Walsh to $10,430.77—total, $22,53-5.40. Much inconvenience having arisen from the married men having their families with them, it has been determined in future not to engage married men for the service. The farm at Swan River was leased in 1877, the lessee agreeing to supply so much of the produce as might be required for the Police on satisfactory terms. The first attempt at farming was made at Fort McLeod in 1877, and the crops were very good. It is to be hoped the oats required for the use of the post will soon be grown there. A portable saw mill has been set at work at Fort McLeod.

So great is the influence acquired by the force by their uniform good conduct and kindness, that in May, 1877, Inspector Walsh with 15 men was able to go into a camp of over 500 lodges and make prisoners of 13 Assinlboines who had been ill-treating the Sauteaux; 11 of them were afterwards released, but the ring-leaders were sentenced to hard labour in gaol, one for six and the other for two months.