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-l[)u]m'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. {73}
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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 25deg;
at Sitka, about 44deg; 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.
Salaries Territor'l Officers.
Governor $3,000
District Judge 3,000
Clerk of Dist. Court
& ex-officio Sec. & Treas. 2,500
Dist. Attorney 2,500
Marshal and Surveyor General 2,600
Col. of Customs 2,500 & fees
3 Deputy Colls. 1,500
1 Deputy Col. 1,200
2 Inspectors, per day 3
[Illustration]
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. {75}
[Illustration]
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