The Washington times., 1901-08-25
CANADA'S POPULATION.

| many Canadians VIII recall how disap-
pointing were the census returns of 1891
Out 1t must be confessed that the returns
OF th,s year are little less So Although
some portions of the western territories
nave not yet sent in their exact popula-
| ton. the results will not probably be va
| ried much. The total figures are given at
5.sSs,sS3. showing an increase during the
decade of 505.s44 souls, or slightly less
| than loiz per cent On the face OF II this
is less rapid increase than during the
| last decade. when it was l52 per cent.
and much less rapid increase than the
decade from ISL to 1881, when 1t was II. 81
per cent OF the maritime provinces.
Prince Edward Island has not done much
| better than old Ireland. as her popula-
ton has actually decreased by $500 souls.
! or just about the per cent of Ireland.
Considering the great mineral and forest
| resources of Nova Scotia, that province
has done little better Most counties. ex-
cept those in the Cape Breton district.
show a decrease, while the total increase
is but s.72o or less than per cent Ibis
is less OF an absolute increase than DIR
ing decade 1ss1-1s9l The old city OF Hail.
fax has at last touched the 10000 mark,
but only shows an increase OF 1900 odd.
three maritime provinces as 1t shows a
growth from 32l .263 to 33l. 0e3. or more
than per cent. st. John. the chief city,
has added about 1850. and has now al
most exactly the same number OF people
as Halifax. the former having 4o.7l. ard
the latter 40,7s7. These two cities have al
ways been great rivals. not only for Gov
eminent favors. but in all matters per-
tanning to transportation and ocean ser
vice. Halifax has more wealth, but st.
John has more snap and enterprise. The
chief increases In New Brunswick will be
found in the northern counties. which are
largely settled by people of French ex-
traction.
As for Ontario and Quebec, IT cannot be
said that they have added much glory to
their past records. Quebec does the better
of the two, not only absolutely but in per-
centage. Her increase is given at l32, 439,
or little over per cent. This is about
last decade. Ontario has grown but So $751;
or about 2k per cent This is the poorest
record in the census history of Ontario.
The natural increase of these two prov
inces alone should at least have been IA
per cent-what the native increase was In
the United States from 1880 to 1890.
The province of Manitoba shows an in
crease Of 93,95S, CO more absolutely than
all the maritime provinces and Ontario
put together. The percentage of growth
Is slightly over 81 per cent, about the same
as Its neighbor. North Dakota. The city
of Winnipeg has about doubled its popu-
lation, and is unquestionably the great
industrial and financial centre of the
western country. The Northwest Terri
tories have grown from 6S. 799 to 1856 or
more than 100 per cent. British Columbia
however. bids fair to be the banner prov
ince in all-around development. She has
increased her population from 9S,176 to
Montreal is, of course the industrial. a
well as the commercial metropolis of the
Dominion. She gives very good account
OF herself by an increase of 1865 and
now stands at 266. s26 Next comes To-
ronto with growth of rs, 751, and total
figure of 207.9n. Quebec shows a moder-
ate increase of 5.744. but Ottawa, the capt.
tai. has grown the most of any city in
Ontario. She now stands at 50 &C., with
IN increase to her credit of 157fS. As was
20 be expected, Sydney has grown faster
han any other city in Canada. unless 1t
De the newborn Dawson. From little |
hamlet of 2,427 in 1891 Sydney has become |
| substantial town of 990S. with more |
han fourfold increase In the West, |
vancouver has grown from 1900 to %, 1876; |
victoria from 1854 to 20,S21, and Calgary |
las jumped from 1876 to 2,142. As the |
seat of empire moves westward, these |
roung cities and towns will continue to !
grow and flourish. |
There is another peculiar feature about |
his census The number of families has |
increased relatively much faster than the
number of people. The former shows a
'rowth of l2l,eiS, which at five persons to
| fimily would call for general in
rease in the population of COS. &c., This.
low ever, is more than 100000 in excess of |
he census returns. This is specially true
4 Ontario, where the increase of families
s re corded as 37,01. and that of the whole
opLlation but 1851 The number of
dwellings, In the entire country has in
reased by l2s,o66, and it is clear tfatf,ne
eople are becoming better housed