The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-06
QUEBEC WILL SEEK
BUSINESS INCREASE
Plans to Quadruple It's Grain
Elevator Facilities as
First Step.
sp q star corssponaent o. rn. sus.

Nv STAG Correspondent OF THE Sun.
orEBEc, Aus. b.-This city Is at
tractive to Americans, chiefly because
It Is un-American IN some respects.
The scenery is magnificent by day or
night, summer and winter. But the city
plan. the stone masonry, the narrow
winding streets up and down and along
the hills OF the high river bank. are all
in keeping with the surroundings.
Quebec has large plans for the devel-
opment Of transportation by land and
water. II has splendid harbor. good
ten months Of the year. and in a mild
season such as last winter II can be
used all the winter by the limited use
Of iceboatS I. The depth Of water at this
point is from As TO so feet. with sener-.
Gus natural provision for docks.
The Transcontinental Railway pro-
Ject OF 1908, planned by Sir wllfrid
Laurier, meant much for Quebec. The
line runs direct from Quebec overland to
Winnipeg. with branch lines down to
Montreal and Toronto. No one but
strong leader like Sir wHfrid could
have won support for such q plan. But
Il went through. and is q part of the
Canadian National system to-day.
The famous Quebec bridge IL only
few miles up the river. and IL part of
the G. N. r. The main span of that.
structure is 1910 feet across; the CEN
tire span of the cantilever scheme Is $40
feet Tho bridge is 165 feet clear of
the river. Trains are running regularly
over the bridge. which has q double
track road. able to take care In safety
Of all the traffic for q generation.
Here at this great inland harbor It
was planned to build docks and termin-
ais for handling the bulk Of trans
atlantic trade coming and going Boz
tho war came along and interfered with.
all public works in Canada, and Sir
Wilfrfd Laurier. who formerly repre-
sented Quebec East In Parliament, now
, sleeps with his fathers and Quebec Is
not represented on the Government side
Of the House at Ottawa. But there Is
hope In Sir Lomer Gouin and In the su-
perior advantages OF Quebec port from
the national viewpoint.
Now that the Canadian National Rail
ways are attaining to position OF
strength. where that system will be com
PEELED to operate to get business in CON-
petition with railways economically
managed. It Is believed Quebec will win
recognition.
At the present time the elevator ca
paclty OF Quebec Is only about 100000
bushels. But II IL the plan to erect sle-
vators In connection with the G. N. II.
that will increase that capacity UP to
1o.eoo.ooO and beyond as necessity re-
quires.
Like all other cities, Quebec has felt
| the sharp increase in the cost of living.
but not to the extent that II is expe-
| rienced In most centres. As in Mon
| treal, the council has sought to keep tax
alton down to the minimum, and has
| succeeded. The tax rate here 10 the
| same as in Montreal. being 1880 mills.
| including school tax, TO Catholics, and
| 20 mills to Protestants, who being In
| smaller number and having control Of
| their own schools. FIX the tax rate them
| selves. But rents and provisions are
moderate, though higher than in pre-war
| days. Z
The population OF Quebec city and sub
| urbs on both sides of the great River
| st. Lawrence is about 10000. The to-
tai assessment OF the city proper is s9I.-
| 1885. Out OF that total $1s,355. 400 Is
| exempt from taxation either as religious
| or Government property. The Federal
| Government holds 's4,s04. 900. the Pro-
vincial Government s3,T36.3o0, Catholic
| Church ss.747.40o and Protestant
| churches $1.066,600.
Water rates are taxed on rental
basis OF one-haif Of per cent on the
| rental value Of property. There Is q
| special tax on business houses and fac
4 tOrlcb "a IL "a PeT SCHb VI thoiF 6coC7pcu
| rental value. This tax yields s105.90s
and the water tax ss2s.1b7, being more
than enough to pay all operating costs
Of the water works department and leave
q balance.
| All vehicles pay a tar, but there II
no tax on movables, which Is part OF
| the Objectionable feature of the general
! property tax in some parts. Henri e
Lavigneur. NJ. p. is Mayor and member
OF Parliament for Quebec Centre.
The wine and beer law, Endorsed by
popular vote early in the year. does not
apply to the city of Quebec. The Scott
! act. q Federal law. is In force by pop
ular vote for two years longer. Under
that plan spirits are sold under restric-
| lions and in moderate quantity. II IL
| uncommon now TO see spirits on exhi-
billion, but that Is TO be seen here in
Quebec. French brandy. Scotch and
Canadian whiskey are TO be had. but not
at the bars; only in bulk or bottle. The
French Canadians are a quiet, law abid-
ing people and they do not run 60 ex-