Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
CANADA And THE UNITED STATES

| puted in the wealth of Canada. The re.
source map of Canada recently published
by the Canadian interior department cove
ers large part of the Alberta province.
These remarkable coal fields are describe
ed In a paper. The Coal Fields of Al
berta,' by d. b. Bowling, published in
| Economic Geology No. ], 1907. The
| author divides them into three forma-
tons. the kootenai the Belly river and
the Edmonton. The kootenai measures
so FAR as known at present. exclusive OF
the crows Nest area. 2SS square miles.
and an estimated coal content of 1850
100000 tons. This Is mostly bituminous in
character. a fraction of only io0.00O.0a1
| tons. can be classed as anthracite.
| In the Belly river formation 600
square miles are valuable, and this, with
| four feet of coal, represents the very
coal ranging from hgnitc 10 bitumfnous.
| The Edmonton formation is almost q
continuous coal field Its area in the
foothills is estimated at
Edmonton 300 square miles, and
L,-,o.;o, on the prairies at
| Vn"'Ao"' about 1OSO0 square
miles. and the estimates of total content
based upon exposure is 11.00o.0oe,Ooo
tons. ranging from ignite to Ignite coal.
Settlers are rapidly taking UP these lands
and opening farms and ranches. The Ca
madam and Grand Trunk Pacific railroads
have entered the Alberta coal fields, and
the Canadian Pacific crosses the southern
part OF this vast coal field, the existence
| of which is a revelation that borders
upon the marvellous.
| Probably, writes the correspondent,
II free trade in coal were established
they, the coal mine owners, would cas-
lily reconcile themselves to the situa.
ton. 1t is stated, adds the corre-
Spondent that America particularly de-
sireS the abolition of prohibition and
restrictions on the export of pulp wood.
But this does not lie in the power of
the Ottawa government to concede.
These prohibitions on export are main
tanned by the provinces which possess
timber, and it is doubtful If they would
be withdrawn even in return for the
free admission of Canadian paper into
the American market. At the very
threshold, therefore. Of any negotia-
ton with Washington, Canadian min
listers will have to confess their inabil.
ity to grant that which is manifestly
a great desire.
The products Of American factories,
he adds, now compete vigorously with
those of Canada, while the duties main
tanned by the United States on Cana
dian manufactured goods, on Ca
madam natural products, are almost
prohibitive. Canadian manufacturers,
therefore, maintain that there should
be material modification of American
duties before a fair basis of reel
procity is reached, and that concession
for concession on a limited number Of
articles must fail completely to adjust
the balance between the two countries
20
! Moreover there is strong feeling
to
Dominion should con-
Canadian serve its raw material
n and make its ores. tim
Der pulp wood and water
power the basis Of home industries, en-
ploying workmen in Canada and con-
Stunning Canadian products. And the
correspondent cites the fact that a
great American industry. which is to
add 10000 to the population of Canada,
decided to establish itself at Hamilton,
and week by week there is an increas-
ing tide Of Americans flowing over the
border. 1t was estimated that 25O.00O,-
GOO American dollars were now invest
ed in the Dominion. Financial institu-
tions generally and the great trans
portation lines were unfavorable to
any such disturbance of conditions as
would result from wide measure OF
reciprocity with the United States.
that when Washington goes to Canada
or when Canada goes to Washington. a
treaty of some sort may be negotiated,
but any deep study of the situation
suggests that Canadian ministers are
treading on dangerous ground. The
ground" adds the correspondent,
would be less dangerous if there were
not still a general expectation that
the movement for nter-imperial pref
erences will triumph ultimately"
ha
the letter of its correspondent, refers to
the great changes that are taking place
i'm Canada, and notes the rapidly moving
events in the west. to keep pace with
which it was necessary to revise points
of view frequently. Its readers are re-
minded that men in these regions do not
trouble themselves much with abstract
theories, but are guided by keen per-
ceptions of their practical interests. So
long as a region is purely agricultural
it sets no very high value upon tariffs.
except as a means of inducing its neigh
bors to lower theirs. When Industries
become objects of ambition the general
point of view changes with the displace-
ment of the economical center Of gravity.
A great part Of the west, being still
agricultural, is favorable to loy tariffs,
/ though it does not seem to
Changing be averse to tariffs in them
selves. But the west 10
| "CS1' changing. 1t is setting up
industries, as all communities must do at
a certain stage. The infant industries
are handicapped by the competition Of
| American factories. while they have no
| chance of getting their goods through
the United States tariff walls. American
capital itself is fastening the change OF
sentiment by setting up factories i'm Can
ada. Hence, adds the Times. when
tariff revenue comes to be considered the
United States will be expected to make
considerable concessions in return for
anything that may be desired from Can
| ada.
| President Taft, visiting Eastport, Me-,
in the Mayfower, in a speech there the