British Columbia
a Province year.
Dominion of Canada, bounded on the N.
Dominion of Canada, bounded on the N.
States; and W. by Alaska, the Pacific Rocky Mountains; S. by the United Ocean, and Queen Charlotte's Sound; States; and W. by Alaska, the Pacific Ocean, and Queen Charlotte's Sound; 400,000; capital, Victoria (pop. about 45,000).
Topography. - The coast line is much islands, the Queen Charlotte Islands being the chief after Vancouver. The interior is mountainous, being traversed by the Cascade Mountains near the coast, and by the Rocky Mountains. farther E. There are many lakes, generally long and narrow, and lying in the deep ravines that form a feature of the surface, and are traversed by numerous rivers. Of these, the Fraser, with its 1 BRITISH COLUMBIA tributary, the Thomson, belongs entirely to the Province, as does also the Skeena; while the upper courses of the Peace river and of the Columbia also belong to it. All except the Peace find their way to the Pacific. Its mountain ranges (highest summits: Mount Hooker, 15,- 700 feet, and Mount Brown, 16,000 feet) afford magnificent timber (including the Douglas pine and many other trees); and between the ranges are wide, grassy prairies. The climate is mild in the lower valleys, but severe in the higher levels; it is very healthful.
Mineralogy. It is to its mineral wealth that British Columbia owes its present importance. Gold was discovered in 1857, and was the cause of the establishment of the separate colony. In 1897, the disclosing of the phenomenal gold field in the Klondike region led to great excitement throughout both Canada and the United States. The rapid development of the mines has led to great improvements in smelting operations. The estimated mineral production in 1919 was as follows: gold, 150,- 050 ounces; silver, 3,261,297 ounces; copper, 46,546,815 pounds; lead, 17,804,- 470 pounds; and zinc, 13,649,000 pounds.
Soil. The soil varies from a deep black to a light brown loam. The northern section is exceedingly fertile, and all the Canadian fruits, vegetables, and cereals yield more abundantly than in any other part of the Dominion. In the southern and middle parts, the land is well adapted to pasturage, and, with proper irrigation, to agriculture. In these parts, land 1,700 feet above sea level has produced, under irrigation, 40 bushels of wheat to the acre. The Province contains an abundance of forest land, yielding timber of high commercial value. A noteworthy specimen is the Douglas fir, a tree of great size, often from 150 to 300 feet in height, and celebrated for its straightness. Lumber 90 feet long and 43 inches square has been cut from these trees. At Burrard Inlet are pines measuring 27 and 30 feet in diameter. The Government leases its timber land.
Industries. There were in 1917 1,772 industrial establishments, with a capital of $221,436,100, and 36,242 employees.
The wages paid amounted to $32,882,006, and the value of the completed products amounted to $171,425,616.
Agriculture. The value of the crop production in 1919 was $99,444,308.
There were in the same year 43,717 horses; 246,238 cattle; 44,985 sheep; 44,- 960 swine; and 1,181,021 poultry.
Fisheries. This Province has prob- BRITISH EAST AFRICA ably the richest fisheries in the world, the only obstacle to their rapid development being their remoteness from the Salmon is the consumers. principal catch, and is famous all over the world.
Sturgeon, weighing as much as 500 pounds, are plentiful. Other fish that abound in British Columbia are cod, halibut, anchovies, herring, etc. British Columbia in 1918 contributed over 40 per cent. of the total value of the fisheries of Canada. The value of the plants engaged in the industry was $15,807,- 058. These employed over 20,000 persons. The value of the product was $28,- 329,501. The salmon packed in 1919 was valued at $15,000,000. Of this 75 per cent. exported to Great Britain. were Commerce. The imports in the year 1918-1919 were valued at $63,694,691, and the exports to $77,247,666. There were in 1919 214 bank branches.
Education.- Education is free, nonsectarian and compulsory. There are 419 schools and colleges with an enrolment of 64,570 pupils and employing 2,064 teachers.
Finances. The revenues total about $10,000,000 annually. The chief sources of revenue are Dominion subsidies, timber licenses, taxes of real and personal property, income tax, and succession duties.
Government.-The public affairs of British Columbia are administered by a Lieutenant-Governor, appointed by the Canadian Governor-General in Council, and a ministry of 5 members, and a Legislative Assembly of 49 members, elected for a term not exceeding four years. British Columbia sends 3 members to the Dominion Senate, and 13 to the House of Commons. Justice is dispensed by a chief justice and four assistant justices. History. British Columbia was originally a portion of the Hudson's Bay Territory, and known as New Caledonia. In 1858, it was created a colony; in 1866, the colony of Vancouver Island was united to it; and in 1871, the united colony was admitted to the Dominion of Canada.