New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23

ITS POPULATION, RELIGIONS, AREA AND
RATE OF GROWTH.

s,nce the potcal unIon of Canada Is 10 be discussed
as possibility well informed persons affirming that IL
is no longer clear that the majority OF Canadian Voos
may not favor the change, II IS timely tor tue peopo
OF this country to gather information regarding ,he
area the population and the different elements OF tho
provinces composing the Dominion. The enthusiastic
Canadian is in the habit OF saying that the territory
f. greater than that of the United states, but In no
sense is this true. Some standard WORKS put ,ho
area Of Canada at ZOO 900 square miles and others
at $500 o0O IL is true, but the census report makes
the area Of the United States little over 3,oooooo
square miles. The one statement includes Aiaska
but the other includes two three times as much
territory less inhabited and so far as Is known
less fit for human habitaton. An enormous portion
of the Canadian area is covered with water and the
extent of the land surface, though not even approx
imatcly known must be very much less than mat OF
the United States.
The entire area of the provinces. Quebec. Ontario
Manitoba. New Bruins wick, Nova Scotia and Prince
Edward Island is but 42o644 square miles according
to official statements, but tho area Of Ontario Is ao-
corilng to some publications, about 10000 square
miles larger the figures here included while the
portion Of British North America, In any sense occupied
as yet. IS nowhere officially stated. Even within the
Of the older provinces by far the greater part is
Wilderness, and hardly one-sevcnth appears 10 De oc-
cupied at all For In Ontario the returns OF 1851
showed that 1890, 900 acres were occupied out OF
were occupied out of 1873 694 square miles, and In all
the provinces the area occupied at
that time was not over 100000 acres out
of $50 212, 16o, supposed to be embraced within the
provinces named. But since 1881 there has been
some increase: IN Ontario 81. 75s.795 were oc
cupled in 1856. Of which only 1o,93s.47f were i'm
proved. II the increase has been relatively about
great in the 1887 and 1885, and for the past
eight years the other provinces. stin the occupied
area in all of them would exceed IS 0OO. 900
acres. Eight years ago there were In tho State OF
Illinois alone more land occupied than In all the Do
minion of Canada, and probably there is nov. In
Dakota alone, not yet State. the public land sales
within the past eight years have exceeded 3ooo0oo0
acres, and with the sales Of corporations, probably
exceed the entire present occupied acreage in the Do
minion OF Canada
OF the resources Of the Canadian Provinces. in
timber, in fertile land, in fisheries mining and salt
It is not necessary here speak; they enormous
and little has been done 10 define develop them
that they may greatly exceed any estimate But
resources without men, resources which human en-
ergy and enterprise have failed far TO develop
may not be found OF much practical value for the
future Therefore 1t is to Americans a fact which
needs explanation that the Canadian Provinces have
developed so slowly. For Canada is older than the
rich and powerful STATES composing the Union.
Quebec was founded by Champlan FIVE years before
first huts built Manhattan Island Ontario
settled four years before the Ohio Company
started down the river In fat boats to make its first
settlement In Marietta. But in and west Of Ontario
to the Pacific Ocean the inhabitants Of Canada now
not moro than 1900, 900; in and west of Ohio the
Inhabitants are more than 30,000,000 The entiro
Province Of Quebec has only about the population OF
the city Of NewYork alone. In the absence Of ex-
PLANTATION, liable 10 suppose that this SLOW
Of growth must be due toJnsuperable obstacles
of nature, else to institutions yet rigorous
But Canada is essentially free country and the
institutions and governments have done much to In
vlte and encourage immigrant don, and TO develop
diversified industry In spite OF all these efforts,
there 1000 people from this country living In
Canada in 1881, while there about
1000 900 Canadians living in the United States
fifth Of the entire present population Of Canada has
sought better opportunities in this country about a
housandth part Of the population of the United States
has removed to Canada-and of these have
migrated only because extrahton treaties de-
fectve. The contrast is startling. And yet paper
read BIZ Mr. Blue, Secretary OF the Ontario Board Of
Industry about year ago, showed that this province
would actually have lost population during the previous
seven years but for lmmlgl alton. With 2oe 900 I'm
migrants and the natural increase of $4,000. or
442 900 IN all the province only gained 145 900; the
lamentable truth is that growing men for the
United States" Mr. Blue remarks.
Ontario is nevertheless the most progressive Of the
older provinces, and much the most populous and
acreage in the entire Dominion within its limits
Quebec. the next province In population and area
cultivated, gained In the ten years 1671-16e1 only
1877 500 in population, about twelve per cent in ten
years. The provinces of New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia gained in the ten years only thirteen
cent. The population of the entire Dom Mon in 1881
was 4,324, SO and it is supposed to have since IN
creased 10 5000 900 But the growth of the
United states years ending with 1880 was over
600 900, thirty per cent, and its Increase in
ulatlon since 1880 has been nearly three times the
present population of the Dominion
The elements composing the population OF the Do
minion were officially stated for 1871 follows: OF
French Canadians, 1882 $40: Of Irish, $4,000 of
En- gliSh, 100000; Of Scotch, $4,000; of Germans
and Dutch. 100000, and Of Americans. $4,000. While
the Catholic Church has the largest number Of adher
ens, they less than half the population In 1881
those classed as Roman Catholics numbered 76s $50.
against 2.53656o Of all other denominations. But
nearly thirds OF the Catholic population, l17o716
was enumerated In the single province OF Quebec.
In ontario. where there were nominaly 800 800, II Is
stated that above twOthds of the children of Catholic
families attend the public schools.
Should political union take place, and the several
provinces OF Canada be admitted as States they would
be entitled 70 fourteen Senators Assuming that the
ratio for Representative after the DeXt appOrtlOn-
In this country Will be about 100000, Ontario
would probably be entitled 10 ten eleven Quebec 10
seven, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 10 two each.
Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and British Columbia
TO one each The territory would speedily be
far settled by people from this country in the rapid
development Of which would follow that TIE
population Of Ontario and all the western provinces
oast, would be readily assimated with that OF the
Western States. Probably the maritime provinces
other Eastern States But how far Quebec could re-
tain its present pecullarlties and the privileges now
enjoyed by the Catholic Church would depend upon
| the terms OF union.