The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBOR
INTERESTING STATISTICS ABOUT
THE DOMINION OF CANADA.
Marvellous Development of n Great
Land, and Greater Possibilities
Loyal to the Queen.

In these times of political unrest-of
wars and rumors of wars" among the
powers that be, Ii is pleasant TO contem-
plate a peace-loving, though great and
growing people whose territory joins our
northern frontier line a distance of $500
miles. The area of Canada is ~3,655,000
square miles; which is 1900 square miles
larger than the territory of the United
States. including Alaska, but not newly
acquired possessions; and only $4,000
square miles less than the whole CONT
nent of Europe. Lord Strathcond, high
commissioner for Canada in London, Eng
land, estimated that without any over
crowding there is room for 1000, 0OO,0 900
people in Canada. This is about equal to
the population of European Russia. whose
area is only a little more than one-half
that of Canada, and it is only a little
more than one-third the population
Of India, whose area is almost
one-third less than that Of the
Dominion. 1t would give Canada only a
trife more density than our own country;
and we know that we have boundless
room to spare.
But vast area counts for little if they
do not yield literally to mans wants. That
the immense territory is not a barren
waste can be shown from the census re-
ports of the various Industrial departments
of the Dominion. 1t must be borne in mind,
however, that her resources are largely un-
developed, her strength unknown. The gold
fields of British Columbia and Nova Scotia
are discoveries of the latter half of this
century; while the marvellous deposits of
Yukon Territory were unknown before the
last decade. Every year valuable discover
les. not only In Yukon. but in Ontario and
elsewhere, are being added to those al
ready under development. Just recently
a rich strike was made at Rat Portage,
Ontario, an unsupported field until within
a very few years. The gold output of the
Dominion in 1898 was over $l3, 900, 900. In
1899 it was several millions more. The
year book. which is not yet out, will give
the exact amount.
The developed coal areas of Canada are
estimated at 81, 200 square miles. Manitoba
has $4,000 square miles. Northwest Terri
tories $4,000. and among various valuable
tracts are those known as the Rocky
mountain Pacific coast areas. In the meas
ures of Nova Scotia alone, it is claimed,
there are 1000, DOC. 900 tons of coal. 1t would
seem that, severe as the winters are, the
fuel supply is ample, especially with the
vast forests of pine and poplar and other
woods. But gold and coal are only two
of the useful minerals found in great
abundance. The Laurentian hills, the great
watershed between the Hudson bay and ST.
Lawrence river systems, are the store
houses of inexhaustible supplies of iron
ore Of unsurpassed quality; and of silver,
copper, lead. marble, granite and almost
all known minerals. These mountains are
the repositories of comparatively a small
part of the Dominion's mineral wealth.
GREAT FARMING REGION.
The great wheat belt of North America
extends into Canada more thar a thousand
miles north of the boundary line. TIL
Pease river region, which reaches to the
sixtieth parallel, has, for a quarter of a
century, been renowned for the excellence
of its wheat, which was awarded a prem
ium at the Centennial Exposition at Phil.
adelphia, in 1876. Since then the marvellous
fertility of Manitoba's alluvial soil has beer
demonstrated by the great abundance anC
superior quality of her various crops. HeI
wheat crop, in the last years, has averaged
nearly twenty-eight bushels to the acre
and has never fallen below fourteen
bushels per acre. Last year the average
was between seventeen and eighteen
bushels. In the Northwest Territories the
average was larger. The harvests were
plentiful while the laborers were few
Train loads of harvesters were imported
from Ontario and the States. Harvesters
excursions over all the chief railway line.
were daily occurances. Some years much
of the crop is lost for want OF adequat,
labor supply. Early in the century Lore
Selkirk estimated that the valley of tn,
Red river alone would maintain a popula
ton of 5000 600. At that time the immens.
area stretching from the Red river vale,
to the Rocky mountains, and from tn,
boundary line on the south to the Arctit
circle on the north, was an unknown guam
tity. 1t was considered a waste howlint
wilderness and a desert land. Now it il
known, not only in the Peace and Atha
basca river regions, but generally, tina
this immense domain has a more mex
haustible fertile soil than that of Mani
toba, and a milder climate. 1t is a Ian,
of waving meadows and wheat fields
where potatoes and cabbage and most o
the common vegetables thrive; and who's
innumerable lakes and rivers are Stoke,
with excellent fish. Much of this region
is marshy but capable of drainage b,
ditching, which will no doubt be done ex
tensiyely when necessary.
The sea and fresh water fisheries o
Canada are among her most importsnt i'm
dustries, the exports from this sourc
amounting in 1898 to &c. $40, 6Sl. The tota
exports of the Dominion in 1898 amounte,
to s16i. Is, 25S, which was s23, s29. so in exces
of imports for the same year.
, These few facts concerning our next-doo
neighbor on the north are the merest hin
of the inexhaustible natural resources o
this vast realm. No lane is richer in sceni
beauty. The sublime sweep of her hound