Map of Ontario
QUEBEC.Kwe-bek´.
One of the most important of the Canadian Provinces. Earliest settlement made by Europeans, in 1541; first permanent settlement made by the French on the present site of the city of Quebec, 1608. Country occupied by the French until 1759, when, through the victory of Gen. Wolfe, it fell into the hands of the English.
Area, census of 1881, 188,688 square miles. Total amount of land occupied, 12,625,877 acres; improved, 6,410,264 acres, of which 4,147,984 were under crop, 2,207,422 in pasture, and 54,858 in gardens and orchards. Population, 1,359,027: male, 678,175; female, 680,852.
While the climate is similar to that of Ontario, it is colder in winter, and warmer in summer. At Montreal the winters are very severe, the temperature often ranging from zero to 10° and even 30° below it, and in summer it is frequently 90° in the shade.
Public affairs are administered by a Lieutenant Governor, assisted by an Executive Council, a Legislative Council of 24 members, and a Legislative Assembly of 65 members. The Province sends 24 members to the Dominion Senate. Quebec is the capital; population, 62,446. Montreal the commercial metropolis of the Province, and also of the Dominion; population, 140,747.
The surface of the country is varied, consisting of extensive forests, large rivers, lakes and prairies, and bold, rocky heights. The Province abounds in numerous minerals.
Agricultural products for 1881: wheat, 2,019,004 bushels; barley, 1,751,539 bushels; oats, 19,990,205 bushels; rye, 430,242 bushels; peas and beans, 4,170,456 bushels; buckwheat, 2,041,670 bushels; corn, 888,169 bushels; potatoes, 14,873,287 bushels; turnips, 1,572,476 bushels; hay, 1,612,104 tons; grass and clover seed, 119,306 bushels; tobacco, 2,356,581 pounds; hops, 218,542 pounds.
This Province produces three times as much maple sugar as all the others combined; total amount produced 1881, 15,687,835 pounds; amount of honey produced, 559,024 pounds; apples, 777,557 bushels; grapes, 158,031 pounds. Value of fur product, $163,310. Butter produced on farms, 1881, 30,630,397 pounds; cheese, 559,278 pounds; wool, 2,730,544 pounds; cloth and flannel, 2,958,180 yards; flax and hemp, 865,310 pounds; linen, 1,120,301 yards.
Farm animals in the Province, 1881: horses, 273,852; oxen, 49,237; milch cows and other cattle, 900,096; sheep, 889,833; swine, 329,199.
Public instruction is under a Superintendent of Education. School pop., 209,623. Number of elementary public schools, 4,404; pupils, 170,858; colleges, 44; academies, 246; special schools, 18; normal, 3; model, 333.
The forests are extensive, and the lumbering and shipbuilding interests are large. Timber product, 1881: pine, 5,495,183 cu. ft.; oak, 59,587 cu. ft.; tamarack, 2,707,745 cu. ft.; birch and maple, 2,784,395 cu. ft.; all other timber, 14,612,669 cu. ft. Number of logs produced, 13,582,407; masts and spars, 104,248.
There are in the Province 293 steam vessels; tonnage, 132,097: 757 sailing vessels; tonnage, 110,356. The fisheries furnish employment to 14,744 men; there are 146 vessels and 6,761 boats engaged in this industry. Products of the fisheries, 1881: cod, 462,388 quintals; herring, 130,354 barrels; mackerel, 10,725 barrels; sardines, 4,360 barrels; canned lobsters, 517,734 pounds; all other fish, 101,861 barrels; fish oil, 263,374 barrels.
The prevailing religion is Roman Catholic. The number adhering to that faith is 1,170,718, or about seven-eighths of the entire population. Number of churches in the Province, 1,280, of which 712 are Roman Catholic. Number of hospitals, 29; orphanages, 11. There are 1,911 miles of railway.
Map of Quebec
NOVA SCOTIA.No´va Sko´she-a.
A Province of the Dominion of Canada, created in 1784; became part of the Dominion, 1867. Area, 20,907 square miles. Population, 1881, 440,572. Executive authority vested in Lieutenant Governor and Executive Council; legislative, in Legislative Council and House of Assembly.
Capital, Halifax; pop., 36,100. Capital of Cape Breton Island, Sydney. Soil generally fertile. Principal products are wheat, rye, oats, barley, potatoes and Indian corn. Grain product, 1880, 5,570,444 bushels; potatoes, 6,961,016 bushels; hay, 414,046 tons. Timber product, 1881, 3,144,323 cubic feet. Fisheries employ 755 vessels, 13,214 boats and 26,900 men; latest reports give 715,781 quintals of cod, haddock and hake; other fish, 301,756 barrels; lobsters, 3,841,467 lbs.; fish oil, 275,352 gallons.
There is a good system of common schools, organized In 1864. Annual expenditure for educational purposes, about $700,000. Miles of railway, 500; many short canals.
NEW BRUNSWICK.
Settled by French, 1639, and formed with Nova Scotia part of Arcadia. First British settlers came from Scotland, 1764. Province created 1784; became part of the Dominion, 1867.
Government vested in a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive, a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly. Area, 27,174 square miles. Population, 321,233. Capital, Fredericton; pop., 6,218.
Climate subject to extremes; temperature in winter, 30°; in summer, 95°. Soil exceedingly fertile. In 1881, acres in crops, 849,678; in pasture, 392,169. Products: grain, 5,490,896 bushels; potatoes, 6,961,016; hay, 414,046 tons. In 1881, wool product, 760,531 pounds. The number of horses in 1881 was 52,975; oxen, 8,812; horned cattle, 203,748; sheep, 221,163; swine, 53,087.
There is a good system of non-sectarian free schools in the Province. Telegraphic and railway communication throughout the Province. Number miles of railway, 1,148.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
A Province of the Dominion of Canada, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. First settled by the French, who ceded it to Great Britain in 1758. Province created 1768; admitted into the Dominion, 1873. Area, 27,174 square miles. Total land occupied, 1,126,653 acres; improved, 596,731 acres; under crops, 467,211 acres.
Climate milder than that of the adjoining continent. All ordinary cereals may be cultivated. Grain product, 1881: 4,301,110 bu.; potatoes, 6,042,191 bu.; turnips, 1,198,407 bu.; butter, 1,688,690 pounds; cheese, 196,273 pounds. Farm animals, 328,734.
Population, 108,891: male, 54,729; female, 54,162. Capital, Charlottetown; population, 11,485.
The government is vested in a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive and a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly.
The fisheries are very valuable. Products, 1881: cod, 18,736 quintals; herring, 21,501 bbls; mackerel, 91,792 bbls; canned lobsters, 3,275,316 lbs; oysters, 175,408 bbls; fish oil, 8,139 gals.
The Province owns 11 steam vessels, and 224 sailing vessels, with a tonnage of 45,237. Timber product, 1881, 910,200 cu. ft.
Number of churches, 231. Free school system introduced 1853. School population, 22,711. Number of district schools, 355; grammar, 15; high, 46; colleges, 3. Number of miles of railway, 200.
Map of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
MANITOBA.Man-i-to´ba.
A Province of the Dominion of Canada, formerly known as the Red River Settlement, and also Assiniboia; admitted into the Confederation in 1870. Area, 123,200 square miles. Population, 65,954. The climate is healthful and cold; average summer temperature, 65°; winter, 3° below zero.
Government is in the hands of a Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Governor General of the Dominion, with an Executive Council of 6 members and a Legislative Assembly. Manitoba sends 3 Senators to the Dominion Senate. Capital, Winnipeg; pop., 7,985.
Surface level. Land occupied, 2,384,337 acres; improved, 250,416 acres; under crops, 230,264 acres. Principal crop, wheat; latest reported product, 1,033,673 bu.; oats, 1,270,268 bu.; barley, 253,604 bu. Farm animals, 1881: horses, 16,739; oxen, 12,269; milch cows and other cattle, 48,012. Butter made on farms, 957,152 lbs.; cheese, 19,613 lbs. Timber produced, 895,445 cu. ft.
The Canadian Pacific Railway has 670 miles in the Province. There are 4 colleges and 5 boarding schools. No. of churches, 88.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.
This large possession was purchased by the Dominion from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1870. In 1882 a portion of it was subdivided into four districts: Assiniboia, 95,000 square miles; Saskatchewan, 114,000 square miles; Alberta, 100,000 square miles; Athabasca, 122,000 square miles.
Area of the Territories, 2,665,252 square miles. Total land occupied, 314,107 acres, of which 28,833 acres are improved. Furs from this country are found in every market of the world; value of the product for 1881, $428,177. Timber product, 109,873 cu. ft.
The country is well watered by numerous large lakes and rivers. There are at least 600,000 square miles fitted for agriculture. One of the most fertile belts is the Saskatchewan, through a portion of which the Canadian Pacific Railway passes.
Public affairs in the hands of a Lieutenant Governor and Council. Capital, Regina. Number of churches, 44. School population, 578.
Population, census of 1881, 56,446: male, 28,113; female, 28,333.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.Ko-lŭm´be-a´.
Colony established 1858; admitted into the Dominion, 1871. Area, including Vancouver's Island, 341,305 square miles. Population, 49,459. Climate milder than that of same latitude on the Atlantic coast. Country traversed by Rocky and Cascade Mountains. Loftiest peak, Mount Browne, 16,000 feet high. Government consists of a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive Council, and a Legislative Assembly, elected by the people. Capital, Victoria; pop., 5,925.
Amount of land occupied, 441,255 acres; improved, 184,885 acres. Grain product, 1881, 559,220 bu.; potatoes, 556,193 bu.; hops, 24,899 lbs. Farm animals, 151,202. Butter made on farms, 343,387 lbs.; cheese, 33,252. Value of fur product, $153,442. Timber product, 2,427,882 cu. ft. There are 406 fisheries. Salmon product, 50,105 bbls.; other fish, 12,767 bbls. Fish oil 237,492 gals.
The mineral wealth of the Province is very great, the chief source being coal. On the mainland and Vancouver's Island large deposits of bituminous coal are found, and on Queen Charlotte's Island a fine grade of anthracite. Gold is found in various localities. In ten years the yield in the Province exceeded $22,000,000.
Map of British Columbia etc.
ALASKA.A-las´-ka.
At the time of its discovery by the Russians, it was called by the natives Alayeska, which has changed through Alaksa and Alashka to its present form. Largest possession of United States; discovered by Vitus Behring, 1741; purchased from Russia, 1867.
Area, 531,409 square miles: Arctic division, 125,245; Yukon, 176,515; Kuskokvim, 114,975; Aleutian, 14,610; Kadiak, 70,884; Southeastern, 28,980. Extreme length, north and south, 1,100 miles; extreme breadth, 800 miles. Yukon, the great highway through the country, navigable in summer about 700 miles; coast line, exclusive of smaller indentations, over 4,000 miles.
Climate of Pacific coast much modified by the Pacific gulf stream and the long days of summer: mean annual temperature of Yukon country, about 25°; at Sitka, about 44°; winter temperature at latter place about that of Washington, D.C. Rainfall copious, and foggy weather common on coasts and islands; Sitka one of rainiest places in the world outside the tropics, the annual precipitation being 65 to 90 inches, and number rainy days 200 to 285.
Sitka is seat of Bishop of Greek church, and headquarters of the Governor, who assumed official control, December, 1884. Pop., 995: white, 163; creole, 219; Thlinket, 613. Other settlements next in importance are Fort St. Nicholas, Cook's Inlet and Fort St. Michael, Norton's Sound. Harbors at Port Clarence, Michaelooski and Captain's Harbor.
Chart of Products of Seal Fisheries by State - headed by Alaska
Number persons employed in fisheries, 6,130; capital invested, $447,000; value of products, $2,661,640; value of seal fisheries, $2,096,500; value general fisheries, $564,640.
Total pop., 33,426; white, 430; creole, 1,756; Innuit, 17,617; Aleut, 2,145; Tinneh, 3,927; Thlinket, 6,763; Hyda, 788.
Aleutian and Sitka districts are the agricultural regions. Most fertile land near Cook's Inlet; good oats, barley and root crops are raised here without much difficulty. Rich grass land in the valley of Yukon, but extreme dampness and want of summer heat prevent the ripening of grain. Timber abundant on mainland; yellow cedar the best, being of great value for boat-building. Edible berries are plentiful.
A fine quality of white marble is found on Lynn Channel; coal, amber and lignite on Aleutian Islands, the best coal being on Cook's Inlet. Gold, silver, copper, cinnabar and iron are found; sulphur is abundant in volcanic districts.
Noted for its fur-bearing animals, the chief of which are beaver, ermine, fox, marten, otter, squirrel and wolf. The main source of revenue is the fur seal, the taking of which is regulated by law. The United States receives a revenue from the company to which the monopoly of the trade is granted. The walrus is of value in furnishing ivory and oil. Whales, cod, herring and halibut abound, and various species of salmon are found.
Map of Alaska
MEXICO.
A large republic, forming southwestern boundary of the United States. Area, 743,948 square miles; northern frontier, 1,400 miles; southern frontier, 345 miles; seacoast, 6,086 miles. Number of States, 27; Federal District, 1; Territories, 2.
Number cattle ranches, 20,574; value, $501,249,500. Number cattle in Northern Mexico,—area, 300,000 square miles,—1,500,000; goats, 2,500,000; horses, 1,000,000; sheep, 1,000,000.
Map of Mexico
UNITED STATES.
A republic occupying the central portion of North America, together with Alaska, in extreme northwest.
Area land surface, 3,547,000 square miles; greatest length, east and west, about 2,800 miles; average breadth, about 1,200 miles; British American boundary, 3,540 miles; Mexican, 1,550 miles; coast line, exclusive of land indentations, 5,715 miles; lake shore line, 3,450 miles. Number States, 38; Territories, 10.
New York ranks first in population; Pennsylvania, second; Ohio, third; Illinois, fourth. New York City, metropolis of republic; Philadelphia ranks second; Brooklyn, third; Chicago, fourth. Washington, capital; population, 147,293.
Railway mileage, 1830, 23, having increased to 126,718, January, 1886. Increase, 1885, 3,214
Commerce of Pacific Coast.
Map of the United States
Settled by the English at Bristol, 1624; admitted 1820.
Area, 33,040 square miles; extreme length, 300 miles; extreme breadth, 210 miles; shore line over 2,400 miles, including islands; the Penobscot, Androscoggin, Saco, St. Croix, Aroostook and St. John are the most important streams. Number counties, 16.
Temperature of Portland: winter, 23° to 38°; summer, 63° to 69°. Rainfall at Brunswick, 45 inches.
Portland, the metropolis and principal seaport; pop., 31,413. Augusta, the capital; pop., 8,665. Bangor, a port of entry and lumber centre; pop., 16,856. Biddeford, an important manufacturing town; pop, 12,651. Lewiston, principal seat cotton manufactures; pop., 19,083.
Number farms, 64,309; average value per acre, cleared land, $12.87; woodland, $12.66. Hay the most valuable crop, yielding l,214,033 tons in 1883; corn crop, 1884, 1,062,000 bu.: wheat, 629,400 bu.; oats, 2,428,000 bu.; latest reported dairy products, 3,720,783 gallons milk, 14,109,966 lbs. butter and 1,945,095 lbs. cheese.
Lumbering one of chief industries, forests covering over 10,000,000 acres; number saw-mills, 848; total products, $7,933,868.
Fisheries give employment to 11,071 persons, and produce an income of $3,614,178, including oyster fisheries, valued at $37,500.
Chart of Capital Invested in Granite Quarries by State - headed by Maine
Valuable slate quarries from the Kennebec to the Penobscot; granite is obtained in blocks of immense size; latest reported product, 2,203,670 cubic feet; value, $1,175,286. Ranks fifth in buckwheat and copper; eighth in hops and potatoes.
The State has 379 shipbuilding establishments; number new vessels built, 88; boats, 970; total value, $2,909,846.
Pop., 648,936: male, 324,058; female, 324,878; native, 590,053; foreign, 58,883; white, 646,852; colored, 1,451; Chinese, 8; Indians, 625.
State elections, second Monday in September; congressional and presidential, Tuesday after first Monday in November; number Senators, 31; Representatives, 151; sessions biennial, in odd-numbered years, meeting first Wednesday in January; limit of session, none; terms of Senators and Representatives, 2 years each.
Number electoral votes, 6; number voters, 187,323; paupers and Indians not taxed excluded from voting.
Number colleges, 3; system of common, high and normal schools excellent; of 519,669 persons 10 years old and upward, 3.5 per cent. are unable to read; school age, 4-21.
Legal interest rate, 6; by contract, any rate.
Map of Maine
One of the thirteen original States; settled by English Puritans at Dover and Portsmouth, 1623.
Area, 9,335 square miles; length, 180 miles; average breadth, 45 miles; seacoast, 18 miles; best harbor at Portsmouth. Number counties, 10.
Average temperature at Concord, 46°; Hanover,43°; Manchester, 49°; Portsmouth, 46°. Rainfall at Hanover, 40 inches.
Manchester, chief city and manufacturing town, pop., 32,630. Pop. Nashua, 13,397; Concord, 13,843; Dover, 11,687; Portsmouth, 9690
Number farms, 32,181; average value per acre, cleared land, $15; woodland, $32. Hay the most valuable crop, yielding nearly 600,000 tons by last report; corn crop, 1884, 1,286,000 bu., 33 bu. to the acre; wheat, 170,700 bu., 14.6 bu. to the acre; oats, 993,000 bu., 32.4 bu. to the acre.
Chart of Average Annual Product of Barley by State - headed by New Hampshire
Ranks third in manufacture of cotton goods, value, $18,228,573; value woolen goods, $8,113,839; worsted goods, $2,694,232; sawed lumber, $3,842,012; leather, $4,477,350; paper, $1,731,170; boots and shoes, $7,230,804; flouring and grist mill products, $2,542,784; hosiery and knit goods, $2,362,779.
Mica is quarried at Grafton, and is very valuable; soapstone is found at Haverhill, Keene and Francestown; granite of fine quality is quarried at Plymouth, Troy, Roxbury, Concord and elsewhere.
Population, 346,991: male, 170,526; female, 176,465; native, 300,697; foreign, 46,294; white, 346,229; colored, 685; Chinese, 14; Indians, 63.
State, congressional and presidential elections, Tuesday after first Monday in November; number Senators, 24; Representatives, 321; sessions of legislature biennial, in odd-numbered years, meeting first Wednesday in June; limit of session, none; terms of Senators and Representatives, 2 years each.
Number electoral votes, 4; number voters, 105,138. Paupers are excluded from voting.
Dartmouth College, at Hanover, founded 1769; compulsory education law; common schools excellent; school age, 5-15.
Mount Washington, highest point east of the Mississippi excepting two or three peaks in North Carolina; a three-mile railroad extends to the summit.
No asylum for deaf, dumb or blind.
Legal interest, 6; usury forfeits thrice the excess.
Map of New Hampshire
First settled by Massachusetts emigrants near Brattleboro, 1724; admitted 1791,—the first State to join the original thirteen.
Area, 9,565 square miles, a little larger than New Hampshire; length, 150 miles; breadth, 35 to 50 miles. Lake Champlain frontage, over 100 miles; Burlington the chief harbor. Number counties, 14.
Temperature at Burlington: winter, 18° to 33°; summer, 66° to 71°; rainfall, 34 inches. Death rate, only 1.07 per cent. per annum.
Burlington, seat of Vermont lumber trade; pop., 11,365. Montpelier, capital. Rutland, famous for its marble works; pop., 12,149. Pop. of Bennington, 6,333; of Saint Albans, 7,193.
First railroad, 1849, from Bellows Falls to Burlington by way of Rutland; present mileage, 937.
Number farms, 35,522. Average value per acre, cleared land, $15.28; woodland, $17.73. Corn crop, 1884, 1,998,700 bushels; wheat, 364,500 bushels; oats, 3,625,000 bushels. Latest report for hay, 1,148,100 tons; potatoes, 4,708,550 bushels; cheese, 6,121,130 lbs.; butter, 25,245,826 lbs.
Chart of Capital Invested in Limestone and Marble Quarries by State - headed by Vermont
Mineral wealth of great value; manganese, copper pyrites, iron ore, and gold deposits have been found. Black, white, red and variegated marbles are abundant; annual value marble, over $3,000,000, and of slate, about $1,000,000.
Number different industries, 2,874, giving employment to 17,540 persons. Number butter and cheese establishments, 85; flour and grist, 227; furniture, 56; leather tanning, 53; lumber sawing, 688; marble and stone work, 69; wares of tin, sheet-iron and copper, 95.
Ranks fourth in copper, and seventh in hops and buckwheat.
Population: 332,286; male, 166,887; female, 165,399; native, 291,327; foreign, 40,959; white, 331,218; colored, 1,057: Indians, 11.
State elections biennial, first Tuesday in September; congressional and presidential, Tuesday after first Monday in November; number Senators, 30; Representatives, 240; sessions of legislature biennial, in even-numbered years, meeting first Wednesday in October; limit of session, none; terms or Senators and Representatives, 2 years each.
Number electoral votes, 4; number voters, 95,621. Bribers excluded from voting.
Number colleges, 2; school population, 99,463: school age, 5-20.
Legal interest rate, 6; usury forfeits excess of interest.