Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-09

1Sss 40 IS1 100 $1,000 1898 az a
1900 5s5,4is 1903. 1aSo 1905
The pack for 1905 is estimated upon the
basis of returns received up to date and
you will notice that, as on previous inaugu-
ration years 1897 and 1901, it was nearly
double any of the intervening years
l called attention to this fact last fall in
letter from Bellingham, Wash, and gave
an explanation furnished me by DIR. David
Starr Jordan, president of Stanford Uni
versity, who Is wise and learned concerning
everything that pertains to fish, birds and
beasts. His theory is that salmon comes
back to its native stream to spawn when
it is four years old. Until 1t reaches that
age 1t keeps away from the spawning
ground, where the traps are set. DR.. Jor-
dan believes that many years ago plague
prevailed among the salmon, which killed
many of them off for three successive
years, but the fourth year, the plague hav-
ing abated, the normal number came to the
spawning grounds. Four years later their
progeny came back and were caught in the
traps, and they have been coming at in
tervals of four years ever since; while dur
ing the three years between times only
half as many fish have come to maturity
because their ancestors were so reduced
by the plague. This explanation may not
be satisfactory to everybody. but it is the
best l can give The rule prevails along
the entire coast from Columbia river to
the Arctic sea, and it would scarcely be
reasonable to claim that the fish Of his
British majesty's waters offer themselves
the Inauguration of a President of the
United States.
Nearly ali the salmon pack of British
Columbia goes to England. The remainder
excepting what Is needed for home con-
sumption, is sold IN Australia and New
Zealand
Farming Profitable.
There Is a good deal of agriculture and
horticulture in British Columbia, although
such statement may seem surprising. In
the valley and delta of the Frazer river the
soil Is rich, the climate is mild and for
crops which are not injured by heavy
rainfall farming Is very profitable. The
soil from which timber has been cleared is
particularly rich and productive. because 1t
contains the deposits Of the decayed vege-
tation of ages, and 1t produces remarkable
crops. AS many as sixty-two bushels Of
wheat, ITO bushels of oats and five tons of
hay per acre are often taken from former
timber lands here, and experienced farmers
will tell you that they would rather have
fifty acres of that sort than 100 acres Of
prairie land. The climate is also favorable
for fruit and In certain sections of British
Columbia apples, pears, cherries, plums,
currants and other fruits of the temperate
zone are raised with great success. This
is good hop country also, and no crop pays
bigger profits. Back from the river there
are a good many cattle which are con-
sumed by the local markets.
Vancouver, however, Is more Of mercan-
Quitting point and source OF supplies for
the entire coast north Of the international
boundary. and GO per cent of the merchan-
disc that goes to Alaska and the Klondike
Is furnished by the Vancouver merchants.
This accounts for the many large wholesale
and jobbing houses. and for the bank clear
ings, which average sixty million dollars a
year. The increase In the value Of prop
erty has been quite as rapid as that Of
population.
In 1886 Vancouver had only 1000 inhabi-
tants and the total of its assessable prop
erty was less than million dollars. In
1896 the population had increased to 1900
and the property valuation to fifteen mil
lions In 1904 the population was 3s.414 and
the taxable property sl9.564. sos, while this
year the population Is estimated at 1900
and the taxable property at $21.oOO.OOO. In
1881 British Columbia had 36.247 population
In 1891 1t had 9S,173 and in 1901 the official
census reported 17S,657.
Vancsuver's Foreign Trade.
Vancouver has very large foreign trade.
Its imports are about six millions a year
and Its exports about seven millions. not
counting several times that amount which
passes through the city in bond. 1t is the
headquarters of steamship lines to Japan,
China, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia New
Zealand and other British colonies in the
south Pacific, and to the ports Of Alaska
There are daily sailings to ports of British
Columbia and the Pacific coast. The EN-
press steamers to China and Japan are ia
nous, and until the recent additions to the
feet of the Pacific Mail company they were
the finest and fastest ships on the Pacific
ocean. They still command a large and
fiattering patronage, and many business
men who VISIT China and Japan every year
will go by no other route. The steamers
to Australia and other British colonies in
the southern seas are equally fine and fast,
and they sail every four weeks.
There has recently been a considerable In
crease In the exports of manufactured mer-
chandise to Australia. The other day the
steamer Aorangi carried 1900 tons of agri-
cultural machinery from the factories at
Hamilton. Ont, and a large shipment of
wagons, carriages and similar freight all
made In Canada. This is notable incl
dent because until now the manufacturers
In the United States have had practically
monopoly of the Australian market.
The Return Cargoes.