The Portland daily press., 1889-07-03

which we cannot here stop to specify, must
be taken into consideration in determining
the temperature of a given portion Of the
earth's surface, and its adaptability to the
culture Of the cereals, roots and vegetables
that go to support human life. / may be
has very much to do with it.
A condition which most sensibly affects
climate, and is most rarely taken into con-
sideration, is altitude, that is, the heighth
of the given lands and waters above the
level of the sea.
The waters of Lake Superior, among the
very highest fresh waters of Canada, are
GOO feet only above tide water.
These waters of Lake Superior are rarely,
If ever, to any considerable extent frozen
over. The immense body Of waters, known
as Hudson's Bay, 1,CC0 miles long and GOO
miles wide thrust down into the centre of
Canada, and which in ordinary comprehen-
sion, being connected with the waters Of
the Artic Ocean, are deemed to be wholly
frozen over for great part OF the year,
averages three or four degrees higher tenn
perature than the waters on the southwest
ern shores Of Lake Superior. This higher
temperature is perhaps due to the fact that
Hudson's Bay is tide-water. And we must
remember that ON the Southwestern shores
of Lake superior lie Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota of our Northwest.
Do we claim any States more flourishing,
any land more fruitful, or an part Of the
United States which has made greater
progress than
THE GREAT NORTHWEST,
to which the Star of Empire takes its way !?
These upper cold and sterile regions re-
quire nothing either to be carried to them or
brought from them. They have scarcely
entered into our calculations as a portion Of
the peopled globe. Yet, let me give you
another statistical fact.
Cast your eyes in imagination on the map,
and you will observe a strait connecting the
chain of lakes below with Lake Superior.
Our government has dug a small canal for
the purpose OF navigation, obliterating the
falls of st. Mary.
1t was not thought Of much significance
when built. Its navigation would only sup
ply the frozen regions of the North and the
shores of Lake Superior, the vessels to pass
through it carrying up tools, such as the
settlers wanted, some necessaries mayhap,
and other supplies, ana bringing back per-
haps some furs and a little lumber-almost a
doubtful experiment at best. But let us see
how much is needed in that sterile country
of the far Northwest; In 1888 that canal car
ried north and brought south articles and
productions which are most needful for the
support of the human race, including 25,-
100000 bushels of wheat, 6,4l1, ,423 tons OF
freight. while the Suez canal, over which the
greatest nations of Europe and Africa have
QudllOllCu, duQ WHlCu 10 lCu ny IllO COmLlClCC
of two hemispheres, carried 6,640,S30 tons,
but took IL months to do 1t in, while the
little canal of the Falls of st. Mary had but
seven in which to do nearly an equal amount.
The lands Of Canada not fertilel She has
quite one-quarter more land fitted for wheat
cultivation than has the whole United States.
The average production OF wheat per acre In
the United States in the year 1887 was little
over II bushels, while in the same year, in
Manitoba, where we hardly realize there is
aught to support life, the yield was 12,500,-
900 bushels, at an average OF q bushels to
the acre. 1t may be safely said, for L will
trouble you with few more statistics, that
leaving out the
WORKOUT WHEAT LANDS
of the United States, Canada has twice the
extent of unworn-out lands, which produce
an average of more than twice the number
of bushels to the acre than are produced by
the average lands of the United States, and
on some lands wheat has been raised in the
largest producing quantities for 20 years in
succession without fertilizer.
You may ask, and will turn aside from
the threads of my discussion, "Why should
the lands be better wheat-producing Ian ds
than those of the United States?" Because
its climate is colder in the winter and hotter
in the summer. The dry cold air of winter
freezes the ground to given and perman-
emily frozen depth, destroying all insect life
unfavorable to the growth of vegetation. In
the growing season the hot sun pours down
upon and warns the ground to given depth
the rootlets of the wheat penetrate toward q
line of frost which continually exudes moist
ure, and the two hours longer day in the
summer, warming the growing plant that
never feels the need of moisture from refresh
ing showers. gives a crop Of wheat in abund-
ance unequalled in the world"
III have not already convinced You Of the
resources of Canada, will add that she has
more timber of herself and the United States,
of every possible description, thas they can
need in 100 years. She has more iron and
coal in her borders than any other country
per than any other country, If not all others.
The northern shores of Lake Superior are
more capable of the production of that metal
than the southern.
have brought to your attention the re-
sources of Canada, not with that particular
ity of detail that might we'll do, because
time forblds, and my only object is to con-
vince you of the startling fact of the increas-
ing power of the Northwest of Canada as it
joins upon us, and to bring further to your
attention that the
INCREASE OF OUR OWN COUNTRY.
in power and strength by the enterprise of
| its inhabitants, from the fecundity in pro-
ducton Of children, with all the adjuncts
and accompaniments for reduction of un-
occupied and unexplored territory, proceeds
| from the Middle and Northwestern States,
| not only to the Northwestern parts of onr
| own country but to Canada.
The political effect of this great increase OF
| national power has suddenly developed itself
| by the admission of four new States into the
| Union in addition to Iowa, Wisconsin Mich
| igan and Minnesota, to which the nation
| will soon look as great factor in the direc-
| tion of its political affairs, all of which are
| on the very northwesternmost part of ouI
/ territory. And as we have fixed line at the
| North, the sreat tide of emigration which i:
| still flowing to the Northwest, still flows evel
| into Canada, where the settlers find a con.
| genial climate and coDgenial people.
Comparing the progress Uf our other Terri
| tories lying in more temperate climes with
| that of the bleak Northwest the results
| reached are exceedingly interesting and strik.
ing, demanding all patriots careful study
| of the future.
| In 1S4S the United st ates became possessed
| of a very large tract of country by conquest
| and purchase from Mexico. From that ter
| ritory since that time we have only part ol
| Colorado and Nevada and Califordia, the lat
ter being the most considerable State; Col
orado having climate which would seem
almost at first glance, from its temperature
| to be uninhabitable, especially with the ae
compartments of droughts and billiards.
| Nevada is hardly more than a respectable
| agricultural county in New England in pop
1 uAaeAuns anu ohC CdulO w DO OtdtO oimPll
| from her silver mines, as California substan
| TALLY did from her gold mines. The rest o
this magnificent Mexican territory, bles
with the most healthy and congenial climate
| and largely, as it turned out, with a fertil,
| soil, with plains on which cattle feed ant
| roam to the number of millions, and
| MINES OF FABULOUS WEALTH.
From all that territory, which seems al
most paradise. never single State ha
come to increase our national power. VIII,
| not? Because the rule is a universal on
| that climate which ab0unds in genial skies
| warmth that enervates, at the same time PRO
duces q vegetable and animal creation mos
luxuriantly, whether on the eastern shore
of the Pacific or the western shores of tn,
| Atlantic ocean, does nOtiprOduce men ant
women who make the energetic life blood o
the nation. Human experience has beer
that the climate that allows man to ge
enough for his personal comfort without an,
considerable exertion, also makes that maj
pause at that point, and lie will make scare
further exertion.
That rule is not confined to any race 0
color or condition of men.
| We are accustomed to say that our South
ern States have not increased because o
slavery but our Southern Territories hav
not increased, and we took great care t
keep slavery out of them. They have ever
advantage, but the imperative law is tina
no men are fit for anything but those VIII
must work in order to eat and be warm.
1 IL r,;I ka hot