The Opelousas courier., 1892-01-09
THE GARDEN OF CANADA
A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF PRINCE
EDWARD ISLAND.
Its Area, Hisaory, Population, Gov
eminent, EDUCATIONAL System, he
limiOnS audA NJ

ernment, EDUCATIONAL System, Re
liSions andaM Manufactures.
Prince Edward Island, the smallest
province of the l1ominion of Canada, is
separated fromSsNew Brunswick and
Nova Scotia by Northumberland Strait,
which varies in width from nine to
thirty miles. TIE island is los miles
long and the extreme width of it is
thirty miles. s.
It's area is 2173 square miles. Its sur
face is in most places fiat, but in parts it
raises to amoderate elevation, it being
nowhere too much broken for agrlcut-
ture. Indeed, the province is sometimes
called the "Garden of Canada" its soil
is so remarkably fertile. Unlike the
neighboring Hiovinces, no valuable
minerals have been found in it. The
climate is milder than that of the near
mainland, and there are non of the fogs
which SO frequently shroud the shores OF
Cape Breton and Nova Scotia.
Champlain claimed to be its discoverer
in 1908. He named it Isle St. John.
When England conquered Nova Scotia a
number Of Acadians sought refuge on
the island, and such was their prosperity
that others followed, and when the Eng
fish took possession of it in 1853 there
was 4100 Acadians there.
In 1868 France ceded the island to
Great Britain and it became a part of
Nova Scotia. In 1870 it was made a
| separate province. The Americans cap
tured its small capital IN 1775, but only
held it for a short time. In 1900 the
name of the province. was changed to
Prince Edward Island, in honor OF
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Queen
Victoria's father. Responsible govern
msnt was introduced in 1851. In 1873
the province joined the Dominion of
Canada. The island is divided into
three counties-namely, Prince in the
northwest, Queens in the middle, and
Kings in the eastern part of it.
The population in 1888 was estimated
at 100, 600. Charlottetown, the cap
ital, lies on the north shore of the Hills
borough River, in Queens County, aud
contains a population of lass people.
The executive power is vested in a Lieu
tenant Governor, who is appointed by
the Governor. General of the Dominion
in Council, and who is assisted by q
council of nine members, whom he APP
points, and who are responsible to the
Legislature, which consists of a Council
of thirteen members and 4 House OF AS
sembly of thirty members. Every male
British subject of full age has the right
of suffrage. A small property quallhea-
ton is required of electors.
The public schools are controlled by a
Board Of Education consisting of eleven
members, who are appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor in Council. Under
them are a visitor for each county and a
Board Of Trustees for each district. In
1874 the whole number of school dis
tricts was 403. Higher education may
be obtained at the Prince Of Wales Col
lege at Charlottetown, which is sup
ported by the province. Aud there i
also in that city st. Dunstau's College
supported by the Roman Catholics, ane
the Wesleyan Methodist Academy.
In 1871 the Roman Catholics nun
bered 40, 765. the Presbyterians %, $40
the Methodists 1851, the Episcopalian.
1920, the Baptist 437I and the othe
denominations 1925.
Most of the inhabitants have been onl
leaseholders, the greater part of til
proprietors being absentees. But tn
Government has adopted the course o.
buying extensively of these proprietors
and selling in small parcels to the ten
ants, thus enabling them to becom
absolute owners. Ia 1872 about one
| third OF the island had been thus resolc
The people are chiefly occupied i
I agriculture. The census of 1871 show
q production of 269, 392 bushels {
wheat, u.s. 100 of buckwheat, 176, A
of barley, 1920, $40 of oats, 1875, ~
of potatoes, 961, 939 pounds of butt
and 155, 524 of cheese.
The manufactures are confined to a
ticles for home consumption and incluc
homespun cloth, bricks, lime and prot
4 ucts of the sawnlills ami grist mills an
~tanneries. Some few ships are bull
Along the north shore of Prince Edwal
'
! Island is one Of the best fishing groun
: in America.
Al railroad traverses the entire lengI
Y of the island. The province is c nnecte
with the mainland by a telegraph
= cable. During the season of navigate
steamers make three trips a wet
j, between Charlottetown and Shediac, NJ
Brunswick and Pictou, Nova Scott
d Navigation is closed by the ice from D
>. cember to May, but this has been to
th certain extent overcome by a powerf
steel steamship called the Stanley, bu
d for the Dominion Government, aud d
re signed especially to plow her way throu;
N ice. It is said she has gone through j
'. Of the thickness OF from two to four Il
at the speed of five miles an hour.
n. Nal and Ngpress.