to markets where their produce might be sold.  Already, in
1877, a provincial University had been established at 
Winnipeg.


Image:
A RED RIVER CART.


 As early as 1879 the premier had taken up with the 
Dominion government the question of "better terms."
Settlement had increased so rapidly that the revenue of 
the province was too small to meet the expense of carrying
on the government. Little success at-tended the efforts 
of Mr. Norquay. In 1881, however, the boundaries of the
province were extended westwards to their present limit
and also eastwards. The eastern territory had been in 
dispute for sometime between the Dominion government and 
Ontario. Finally a board of three arbitrators had decided
in favour of Ontario. In spite of this award, however, 
the Dominion government transferred a portion of the 
territory to Manitoba, thus bringing the two provinces 
into conflict. At one time trouble at Rat Portage 
(Kenora) caused the dispatch of troops from Winnipeg. 
Happily, the. dispute was settled in a friendly way. The 
matter was laid before the Privy Council in England. The 
decision of that body confirmed the award of the arbitrators,
and Manitoba withdrew from the disputed territory.
 The political struggles of the next few years centred 
around the questions of "better terms," "disallowance," 
and "landlock." As early as 1879 it had been decided by the
Dominion government that all railways within Manitoba 
should be built under the authority of the Dominion. When 
the Canadian Pacific Railway Company was organized, one 
of the terms of the contract gave to that company a 
monopoly of railway rights in Manitoba for a period of 
twenty years. Charters granted by the Manitoba government 
for the construction of railways, within the province 
were promptly "disallowed" by the Dominion.  Further, the
land grant to the Canadian Pacific included alternate 
sections for twenty-four miles on .each side of the 
railway. This lock" caused great hardship.  The railway
land was not available for homesteads.  It hindered the 
construction of roads and, moreover, it was free from 
taxation  The struggle with the Dominion government over 
these three questions finally caused the downfall of the 
Norquay administration.



Image:
JOHN NORQUAY.


Up to 1883 party politics had not entered into provincial 
elections in Manitoba. Mr. Norquay, however, was now 
forced by the opposition in the Legislature to join 
forces with the Conservative party.  The election of 
1883 was conducted on party lines and resulted in a 
majority of ten for the government. But public opinion 
was all the time growing stronger. In 1885 "better terms"
were granted by 'the Dominion government. These terms, 
however, did not include control of the public lands of 
the province nor the right to charter local railways. 
In the end Mr. Norquay

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