Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-25
THE RUTLAND HERALD
FRIDAY. MAY 10, 1871.
The Resources and Capabilities of
the Dominion OF Canada

the DOnt tn1On Oh Chnaua-
A few days since we called attention
to the population of Canada from which
it appeared that there are about four and
a quarter millions of people not only liv-
ing in the utmost nearness of neighbor-
hood to us but with such contignity of
territory and interlacing of natural COM
munioations and connections between
Canada and the United States that the
geographical unity of the two is more
conspicuous fact than their political sep
aration. 1t was shown in a previous
article that their numbers exceed by more
than half million the population of the
six New England States and being about
equal in number to the great State of
New York.
In view of the increasing agitation of
the annexation policy, it may be well to
consider the resources and capabilities of
the Canadas. In the extent and value of
the industrial and commercial interchang-
ea that are carried on between the New
England States and the other parts of the
United States,I we may find any unfair
measure of the kindred commerce, that
would have existed under natural circum-
stances between those people and our
selves Suoh equal conditions, indeed,
would undoubtedly have given to provin-
ces of Canada a weight in the commerce
of the North American continent, consid-
erably exceeding the weight of the New
England States. The average capabili-
ties of the soil and climate of the Cana
das are not inferior to the capabilities OF
the so;l and climate of New England,
with which they are compared, while
their general resources are greater ana
more varied. The province of Ontario
possesses fertility which no part of New
England can be put in cor parison, and
the peninsula section of it around which
th~ circle of the great lakes is swept,
f,roea itself upon the attention OF any
su1ent of the American map, as among
tn. most favored spots of the whole CONT
u,
where population ought to center with
the fruitfulnesa of Belgium. A large
section OF the Province of Quebec is at
least eonal. in soil and climate, to that OF
our own New England, while it rivals Us
in the possession of water power, which
is furnished by every stream, and while
IL commands easier and cheaper access to
to the markets of the western interior, In
the maritime provinces, the possession OF
abundant coal gives them one of the
prime advantages of industry over the
adjoining American States. In the equal
ity, TO say the least, in all that Is essential
to vigorous developement the provinces
forming the Dominion of Canada, even ii
we exclude the vast territory in the basin
of Lake Winnepeg, which is only waiting
for civiliz ,tion TO enrich it-occupy a
territorial area within which the popula-
ton of New England and New York
mipht be several times multiplied without
increase of compactness. The areas OF
the territory of the provinces of Ontario
and Quebec it is impossible to define with
a degree of exaotness, for the reason that
they have no boundary on the north, ex'
cept the limits of civilized settlements
which the climate of the north imposes,
wherever that may be. For particular
purposes the limits Fof Canadian cultiva-
tion and settlement were marked until 9
vary recent period by the Laurentain
range of bills and the broken spurs that
are thrown across the head of the western
peninsula. This barren, rocky wedge
follows line nearly parallel with the
ST. Lawrence on its northern bank, up to
the vicinity of Montreal, where it strikes
away in a western direction, indicated by
the course of the Ottawa river, which is
the passage of the watershed of the Law
rentain elevation. There is also belt OF
forbidding territory where swamps and
rocks are intermingled from the Ottawa
river to the Georgian Bay.
These forbidding barriers have hither'
to practically formed. in both the Prov
ince of Ontario and Quebec, the north
ern boundary of Canadian cultivation
and settlement, which spres d slowly and
feeby. without the same impetus and
moving causes that characterize the
pioneer movements in the United States
1t has been discovered within a few years
and il now seems to be 81 we'll determined
f.ct that beyond the Lsurentisn belt there
are large tracts of productive territory
capable of well sustaining large popula
tion, even when stripped of the timbe
witch constitutes their first value. Th,
published official reports of surveys mad
within the past few years within those
regions which, when carefully examined
show great inequality in the value o
land, many districts of fertile soil beipe
somewhat curiously intermixed will
sections that are actually or almost in
capable of cultivation. These report,
leave no doubt that on the upper Ottawa
in the basin of the lakes and along the
shores of the Georgian Bay, and even, tc
some extent, on the shore of Lake Super
ior, there are very considerable areas thai
will ultimately give support to hardy
and epterprising population. Large tract,
OF these lands have been set apart by the
provincial authorities as "free gran,
lands" to be donated to actual settlers OF
terms very nearly similar to the terms ol
the homestead law by the United States
and under the announcement of th;s