Morris tribune., 1889-05-15
The Greater Half of the Con
tin0nt,

Under the above head Erastus
Winans had an article in the North
American Review in relation to the
extent, the climate, the productions,
commerce and general Importance OF
Canada, which is full of interest,
to the people of the United
States. The writer says 1t is singular
that, in this country, and in this
period of the easy requirement of
general Information, so little is known
Of the greater half of the continent of
North America, included within the
British possessions. 1t shows, for
instance, how little is known even OF
the broadcast gensralities, when the
statement Is received with surprise,
II not incredulity, that, excluding
Alaska, Canada is o larger country
than the United States. Yet such is
the case; for the United States, prior
to the purchase OF Alaska, was in
cluded within S,Os6 900 square milss,
while Canada stretches out to fill
SAC, 1892 square miles. 1t would per-
haps help to convey some conception
Of the magnitude of Canada when
tho statement is made that, in area, it
comprises very nearly forty per cent.
of the entire British empire, the ex-
tent Of which is recalled by the boast
that the sun never sets on British
possessions. A still further rather
startling statement In relation to
Canada is, that, including the great
lakes which enoircle 1t and which
penetrate it, and the river of enorm-
GUS size and length which permeate
1t, In it Is found more than one-half
Of the fresh water of the entire globe.
Such broad generalities as these
may we'll excite the attention OF the
people OF the United States, who, in
view Of the magnificent proportions
Of their own country, have been un-
consciously led to believe that 1t COM
prises all that is worth having on the
continent.
The impression Of magnitude, so
far as Canada is concerned, Is, how
ever, always accompanied by a con-
viction, born of ignorance, that the
Dominion Is a region of frost and
snow; that it is sterile and in
hospitable waste-simply a section of
the North Pole. This conclusion con-
firms the conviction that Canada is OF
little or no use to the United States,
30 rich in resource, so varied In
climate, and so self-contained and in
dependent of the outside world. The
vast number who thus look upon the
northern half of the continent fail to
remember that, by the purchase OF
Alaska, and its subsequent develop
ment, testimony was afforded as to
the exceeding value of regions very
many degrees farther north than the
average of Canada, and that to-day,
so full OF promise is the prospect fol-
this latest acquiremant of the United
States, that no money payment, how
ever large, would have the faintest
hope of acceptance for its cesslon to
another power. It is doubtful if, In
any part of the United States, O
greater return has been realized in
proportion to the capital invested OIL
the effort put forth, than that which
has rewarded the enterprises in the
most northern section of the United
States.
So far as the climate of Canada Is
concerned, it should never be for
gotten that, within the parallels OF
latitude which include the greater
portions of the Dominion, the de-
velopment in the United States has
been the most marked. indeed nc
development in this history of the
world is more rapid than the growth
Of the commerce Of the 6reat Dukes
which to-day act as a barrier, divid-
ing the two countries, but which, un.
der happier conditions, should be the
bond that united them. Reference to
the extent Of this lake commerce
brings out another startling com.
parison, which, creating surprise,
shows after all how little the average
man knows even of his own country,
much less of the regions alongside OF
his own land. This statement is,
that the tonnage and value of pro-
ducts which passed through the
6ault Ste. Marie Canal, compressed
within seven months of the season OF
navigation Of 1883, equalled that
which passed through the Suez Canal
in the entire year. Here, in the
northern part of North America, be-
tween two inland lakes, with only
one shore of these developed, COM
msrce has been created which equals
that between two oceans, whose traffic
Is almost as old as the universe, and
contributions to which are made from
every cline and country of the globe.
Recall, also, the fact that the water
communication Of the lakes is COM
peted with by the most perfectly
equipped railway systems of the age,
while the commerce of Suez is practi-
cally without a competitor. This
development of the States and cities
bordering upon the great lakes, and
the growth and productive forces
which have been set in motion, not
only on the shores of these inland
seas, but on the wide stretches of
country tributary to them, is a testi-
mony to the advantages of northern
climate that it is impossible to ignore.
So magnificent is this growth, SO sig
nificant Is the lesson that 1t teaches,
that, so far as Canada and its climate
is concerned, true appreciation of
her vast value is, from the advantage
OF her location, at length beginning
to dawn upon the minds OF observant
man Tho nloco that ano oIo,,Id