East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-02-17
AMERICAN CONSUL TELLS OF CANADA

George N. lift, American consul at
Chatham, Ont, is now In Idaho on a
visit and speaks entertainingly of the
Canadian people and of the close rela-
tons between that country and the
United States. The following highly
interesting interview is from the
Boise Statesman:
Chatham is a very comfortable lit
tie city TO live in, said Mr.. lift. 1t is
Just about Boises size and really re-
minds me quite little of Boise. It's
a good business town. up-to-date and
progressive and very much of an
American city. 1t is only 40 miles
from Detroit and there are trains al
most every hour of the day. The re-
suit is that Detroit bears about the
same relation to Chatham and other
towns OF the ontario peninsula that
Salt Lake does TO southeastern Idaho
or Spokane to the panhandle coun-
try.
Canadians perhaps live little more
leisurely and take life little easier
than do we Americans, but on the
whole 1 have found them my kind of
people. Ny welcome in Chatham was
most cordial and my residence there
has been very pleasant
The people of the whole province of
Ontario are very closely akin to the
people OF the United States. The kim
ship is one of blood relationship as
well as OF common origin, speech and
culture and identical business pursuits.
The province was first settled by peo-
pie from the 13 colonies which formed
the original United States of Ameri
ca.
Americans Who Emigrated.
During and Immediately after the
revolutionary war, 10000 people who
remained loyel to Great Britain moved
10 ontario. This is chapter of
American history that we do not Of
ten refer to because in very many in
stances these loyalists were driven out
of the colonies with unnecessary
harshness. their property confiscated
and their liberty threatened should
they ever return.
The bitterness of those days has
long since passed away and, while
perhaps scant Justice has been done
these exiles, we can today recognize
the fact that they were men of char
acter and reputation. representing
many of the best families of the old
colonies who made enormous sacri-
fices for principle when they went to
Canada and 1t is due their memories
today to accord them place and recog-
milton as among the great and respon-
sible founders of states.
With the passing of the wartime
bitterness. the ties of blood reassert-
ed themselves. Population. educa-
tion and industry have grown along
similar lines and today. the people of
the United States and of Canada, eX-
cept for the allegiance they owe, are
to all intents and purposes one peo-
pie.
Americans In Canada.
Industrially Canada is just enter
ing upon an era of expansion, and in
that expansion the United States Is
playing a very important part. In
fact the chief contributing cause to
the building up of Canadian indus
tries and the development of Canadi-
an natural resources has been United
States capital. Americans have beer
crowding into the Canadian north.
west. Manitoba, Alberta and Saskat-
chewan, for several years past. Last
year some $4,000 crossed the border
TO make homes in the great wheat
belt. They took with them household
effects, farm implements, stock, etc.
worth probably s10,000,0O0. Thi!
~ -, h. ,,,E
grafton of the two preceding years.
This movement from the United
States to Canada began in 1898, wheT
1900 persons crossed the border
and since that time it increased stead
lily until 1903 when 49,500 American!
went to the Canadian northwest. II
1904 the number was $4,000 and las
year shows still greater falling off.
Our Exports to Canada.
Last year (the year ending Jun'
80, 1905) the United States sent t.
Canada products valued at s166, 900,
900. a fraction more than 81 per cen
OF the total imports of the Dominion
OF Canada and practically IL per cen
Of the total exports of the United
States.
At the custom house at Chatham
the imports during the same perioC
were 31,1l4,396, and Of this total
31,007,5S6 came from the United
States. Chatham is not a large city
but large as these figures are, they d.
not represent anything like the entir'
volume OF imports, for many of tn,
retailers buy from the importers a
the larger centers of trade, who's
goods are entered at other ports.
American Capital in Canada.
There are in Canada 1872 manufac
turing plants which are branch con
Germs of large American manufactur
ing institutions. l think those are tn
correct figures. There are many othe
Industrial concerns in which substan
TALLY all the capital is from the Unite'
States.
Much American money Is also in
vested in almost every branch of tn
material progress of the Dominion
An electric railway from Chatham t
Wallaceburg, 20 miles. built last sum
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