The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-09-14
Uanada's Great Future.


getic and hosptable people, tour
of some of the principal cities, and
an actual sight of the buildings,
streets, parks, harbors shipping,
etc. for things seen impress us
differently than things told-one
recalls with a smile the lack of in
formation 50 frequently exhibited by
our northern neighbors and their
great country.
Americans and Canadians ought
to be-and are coming to be-better
acquainted. Nearly one million and
half Canadian citizens are resid-
ents of the United States, and thou
sands of American citizens reside in
the Dominion. But if there remains
yet unlodged from the mind OF an
American visitor to Canada the
thought of annexation thereof, he
will find no encouragement for it
among Canadians. If the average
business man or manufacturer there
takes the time to think of change,
it is of marriage, not annexation,
unless it be to annex us. Last
January the editor Of the BnGdl0
Enquirer grew eloquent over the
outlook and wrote that Gin due time
the two countries will be drawn
together with quiet, unavoidable.
certain force which no power can
successfully resist" But that is
purely American, not Canadian
view. Canada, with all her love
for Americans and American ways,
is loyal to the mother country.
Accommodating the language of the
ancient Roman orator, Canada
would say: Not that we love
America less, but England more.
Maps are made to be studied, but
the map of the North American
continent has been printed in vain
for such as do not know that for
square miles Of territory, Canada is
larger than the United States even
including Alaska, although much
of her possessions has been practi-
cally all unexplored wilderness
until within recent years. But
Saskatchewan, Alberta, Assiniboia,
Columbia and Athabaska are the
provinces now showing, under
developement, resources Of such
latent value that Canada will yet
become wealthier than the mother
country, as she is now larger-and
who can deny that she may become
more populous and as great as a
world power.
Of course in this brief sketch,
suggested by recent visit OF the
editor OF this magazine, it is not
possible to go into an elaborate
presentation of Canada industries,
aud the writer will only add at this
time some of the latest figures as to
population and few other interests
Canada is, as was once said Of some
our Western cities. largely laid out,
but very thinly settled, for $685.
S74 persons-the population accord
ing to the Year Book for I9o5-spread
over 3,745,574 square miles, the
area of Canada, gives but a mere
fraction of over one square mile, as
against 344 persons to the square
mile in the United Kingdom and FL
to the square mile in America. But
it shows the possibilities of the fut-
ure; for with 344 persons to the
square mile in Canada, the popu-
lation would be 1888, S,477455, and
the country would then be no more
crowded than the United Kingdom
is to-day. And the population is
growing in that direction. In 1871
it was 3,4S5, 76I; in 1881, 4, 324, $40;
in 1891, 4,S33, 239; in I9oH 5,37I,-
3I5. But in 1904 it was 5,5aS,3I5.
There is no doubt that Canada's
possibilities, commercially, are So
grea. as to be beyond computation.
What the developement of the Unit
ed States has been, in the eyes of
world during the past fifty years,
Canada's will be during the half
century to come. With hearty good
wishes, we say, so be it. From
Canada on the north. to Cape Horn
on the south, is all America, and
these two points will one day be
connected by railroad and tele-
phone, but neither rails nor wires
will bring us closer together than
unity of interest will allow, and
this exists already, and is the
force, which will accomplish all
the rest.
And if the everywhere evident
marks of fprosperity in the provinces
may be taken as barometer for
the whole Dominion, our Canadian
friends are on the eve of stride
that will be even more marked than