Quebec

the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. It is situated on a narrow promontory between the St. Lawrence and the St. Charles rivers. A fort was built here as early as 1535 by Jacques Cartier. During the French and Indian War it was captured by Wolfe in 1759 and remained in the hands of the British. In 1823 fortifications of enormous strength were constructed around the brow of the promontory, inclosing a space of about forty acres, making Quebec one of the most strongly fortified places in the New World. It is called the "Gibraltar of America." The city was founded by Champlain in 1608. The population in 1901 was 68,840. A strip of land, lying at the water's edge on both sides of the promontory and at the confluence of the rivers, is known as the Lower Town. It contains the banks, wholesale houses, office buildings, and wharves. It is the busy part of the city. On market days the country people come in their sloops and primitive steamboats from every direction with loads of garden produce, dairy products, and meats. French peasant costumes, like those worn three centuries ago, are still to be seen; but the introduction of readymade clothing robs the markets of their former picturesque appearance. Timber yards or booms line the shores of the St. Lawrence for several miles up river. An immense amount of timber is brought down from the Ottawa and other tributaries of the St. Lawrence and stored here until it is taken on board ships for European ports. A colony of Irish inhabit this section, which is known locally as the "coves." They make a living largely by stowing lumber and handling timber. The corresponding shore of the St. Charles is occupied by the French. A portion of this quarter is known as St. Roch. It is characterized by crooked, narrow streets, and sharp-roofed buildings with massive chimneys at the gable ends. It is to all appearances a bit of France dropped down into the New World. Quebec is the most picturesque city in America. The public buildings, cloisters, churches, and convents are all situated in the Upper Town. The cathedral dates from 1647. Laval College, a French institution, named for the first Catholic bishop of Canada, is situated here. The vicinity of the plateau outside of the city proper is covered with handsome residences commanding magnificent views. The local House of Parliament, the Plains of Abraham, and Wolfe's Monument are objects of interest. The surrounding country abounds in resorts and is full of interesting streams, lakes, and waterfalls. See Montreal; St. Lawrence; Saguenay