Alberta
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Alberta. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a Province of northwest Canada, east of British Columbia and west of Saskatchewan. It has an area of 253,540 square miles. Pop. about 500,000. The chief cities are Calgary, (pop. about 5,700), and Edmonton (pop. about 5,400). The latter is the capital. The constitution under which the Province is governed was established in 1905. The executive power is nominally in the hands of the Lieutenant-Governor, but actually is carried on by the Executive Council or Cabinet of the Legislature. The legislative power is vested in the assembly elected by universal suffrage. Women have the right to vote. Alberta is of great importance agriculturally. The production of fall wheat in 1919 was about 616,000 bushels; of spring wheat, about 26,000,000 bushels; oats, about 27,000,000 bushels; barley, about 10,000,000; rye, about 1,300,000. Dairy products in 1918 were valued at $27,- 500,000. There were in the same year 1,317 manufacturing establishments with a capital of $63,215,444, and the value of products, $71,669,423. The live stock 120° A 119° 118° C 117° B 116° E 115° D 114° F G Loon Island ؟ Buffalo L. Burnt Lakes R Buffalo L 10 20 30 40 50 River Railways thus Provincial Electoral Districts B Chipewyan Wabis kaw Shown in Blue Lake Cadotte Otter L Trout Mt. R. Loon Long L. AC 2 E Trout R Manitou L Loon L. Peace Calotte L. Lakes Whitemind Hills near L Trout Lake Peace Peace River River Landing BEAVER Shoal L. P 56 1. R. Vabiskaw Dunvegan Wabiskaw Lakes Whitefish GRA ER Sandy L. Aake RD Egy L Round L. Pelican L. Little S. Heart BIRCH HILES Whitefish L. 3 Little Pelican Mt. Winagami Puskwaskau R Grouard Beaverlodge Saskatoon L Lake Martin Mt. River Smoky Prairiesser Slave High Prairie Lake Sawridge Rock Island East Prairie R. Bear L. Howard L. West Prairie R. Beaverlodge R. Lesser Slave. Puskwaskau L. Otauwan R 55 Calling Red Willow R. Smoky Wapiti Aroquois Cr R. R. Snipe Lake House Mt. Goose L Allan R. 52 Goose iftpile allace Mt. Saulteux NA Nose Cr. Deer Mt. Coutts R EARW Akuinu R. Pembina R. Losegun Cutbank R Holmes Crossing 4 Freeman Stocks Pakwatamau R R Waskahigan R NOR. Simonette Porcupine Christmas Cr. Rossingtonos Bluff Edi Pembina Hazle Suniebend Copton Smoky ko Shoal L ton Athabaska Marsh-head On A Pibroch Shec Cr・ Mellowdaleo Little Halfway Muskeg R. 54 Campsico Paddle River Jeffrey Whitecourt R Smoky Eastburg o Mosside eunnford Manola Hay Creek Waugh Greenequrt Glenister Lawton Heaton Moor Way Fairydelabre E ybrook D Belvedere Baptiste M Dunstable LaCalmetta R. N Sulphur ayerthrop Roydale Wnd Horse Lac las la Independ edora Rich Valley o Nonne ince Egg Lake B Paddle Rosevear Thornton Peers N • Excelsio Lorinville Glenford ALEXIS SLA Cardiff Noves Chip Lake SpRayo Dus Medicine Yates o St. Anne Onoway Villene Cert Per Namao o 5 NOR Carvelo ay Plat 05080 Bisser Mackay Lodge Stovaintora Duffield Rosentha Kood outhedmonto Stoney To Leaman POEDMO Embarras yo Edson YAN Hay R. O Mewassino Cabe Wast Fk. McLeod Jasper Forest Highvale Brighthank Tomahawko Gramina R mpleton CORO Beaumont Burtonsvilleo Pokehasset melonht!! Palmar o Leduc Roeky Rapids Rainbow Mto. Jasper House Stones Corners Thorsby ConjuringoSaron ( 53 Jasper L. Ho Patience Gwynne D Pembina Blondheim Odin Fisher Home Bounje Moose Pigeon L. Millet Henry House SW+Yeuford Wetaskiwmo Miette Mts Reserve Modeste aris Usona Hobem Buck L R.Mt. I.Ro Southesh Brazeau R Little Brazeau R Springdale o South Br Canoe Park Menaik. Athabas Bluff Center Buckhorn Ponokad o Mt. 6 Rimbeyo Lochinvar Dalhousie Wittenburg Forshee Earlville Saskatchewan R. Jowalta Valley Cy Lockharto C Rocky Mountain Lesttowita Bentley Chirwello House Snake L. Wiesville Le Lacoinbe o Canyon ANSylvan Lake Harris Brooksler Blackfald R Cache L. Hills Evarts Deer Thomps R Stauffer Burnt Craigo Solheima E Valley D Sheep 0 Athabaska 52 dastoll Penhold R Hill End L Dickson Innisfail Kinbas Mountain House Red Lodge Keenhill ROCKY MOUNTA North R Clearwater Bowden Milnerton James Moun Netook urlewo Eagle Hillo Murray Valley Westward Olds Hunterville B Columbia Harmattano ١٥٠ Red Deer Bergen Didsbury Neapolis Panther R. E Three Hills Elkton 7 10. Kansan Sunnyslope Ben vermouth Carstairs Noelton nechills Yoho Ao Tapscoto Cremona Jackville o Columbia Wo Hawkeve Stephen Dogpound o gan Adams Crossfield Rosebud Field COCHRAN Golden Park Castle Mi Lake llecillewaet NTIONSSA o Glacier G A GRA Leanchoil sive anff Exshaw Airdrie Radnor Simons Valley MOR Oz Albert Canon a Seeb Bawback Mitford Cochrane Beddington Reserve PA 51 Jumping Pound Keith Datbil Shuswan • Revelstoke Canmore R hanaski Cheadleo Langlion River Trowhead Lake Shepar Sicamous Hidnapore -Bennett Bennett - Namaka PARK Cibo Priddis Kootenay Davisburg De Winton Grierson Rive Millarville o Sandstone Glenvie Mable Black Diamond O Trout Lake ladys Dinton kot Enderby Lineham 8 Aldersyde Upper Lake Tongue High River River Or Arrow Gerrard Frankburg N Okanagan Hearnleigh Lake Cayley L Little Vernon Pekisko Okanagan Landing Nukus ardeau NANOONLawrence Long L. PAR Parkland Kootena • Stavei Kootenay S 50 G Now Oxleyin Claresholmo Slocan MACARESHELIO Lower Kaslo Lake Cut Bank Round Up man Springpointo Arrow RY Sparwood 1 NORTH EDMONTON H Steele RE 9 2 SOUTH EDMONTON Lundbre Procter Lake Chokio Lake Frocket 3 CALGARY NORTH Cranbrooko Pinchero Nelson Pincher CrP Ewelme River 4 CALGY SOUTH Fishburn o Dry Borko Sirdar Junc. 5 LETHBRIDGE CITY Kootenay Movie CAR Yarrow Landing Wynndel Greenwoodo CA Cardétone Dald Trail 19° Loity Boundary Curzon U .. N E D S A 119° B 117° 118 C Longitude 115 West F from 114° 116° D Greenwich Copyright, L. L. Poates Eng. Co 1921 113° H 112° J 111° K L Eagle Nest L. Pierre au Calumet L. Sandy L. Old Fort Mt Big Moose L. Muskeg R. Moose By McKay Gull L. ひ Red Clearwater THIONWOOL R McMurray A WILLS River Gordon Island L. L Gregoire L. Gipsy L. ATHA B Litile Rocka Old House Watchusk L House Grizztey Athabaska Village Cowpar L. RS Sharp Point L. Pelica Clatto B Buffalo WATERWAY Christina L. て Winefred L . Ipiatik L. GREAT Heart L. 7 Prim Lee La Riche Lake Plamondonville A L Mission Trading Post 000 Lac La Biche Beaver L. Pinehurst Athabaska Landing Cold R BEAVER Punk Pine Lake Cold Lake Whitdfish Lake R Durlingville Whitefish L. I.R. A Moose CT L. Bonny ville Therien Boyne Lake o Smoky L Rife Muirel J.. Worth ban Lake waillette Clarkville Flat Lake. Gurneyville Edwand Radway Centre Cork age Pine Wahstao R St. Paul St Edouard I.R Saddle Lake Sunland Pakay Shandro Saadet Caskeyville Redwater Eastgate Cookville A Stry oScotlordo Lamont Soda Lake Musidora askatchewan Northern Andrew Desjarlais Lafond B no Greenlawn Peno Brosseau Hopkin Battenburg Skaroo Wostok Whitford Len Park Valley Bruederheim Zawale Duvernayo New Sunnon 1.R. Fort Saskatshewan Hilliar Chipman Hairy Hill Laruke Ethelwyn Naughton Reguis Dewberry Hilliard Ben (Lake Amoureu Uncas Tring Agricola Coppice Hill Mundare Plain Lake Glen Maughan Wellsdale Chailey Andressan Ross Creek o Raith Irwinville Lake Geneva Beaver Lakeo Vegreville Greenwarth Campbell Bexhill Ministik - Haight Birch Innisfree Claysmore o Deville Logan Borszczow Seamstow Wealthy Lavoy Ranfurly Wake Islay Staplehurst Inland Bathgatelo Kitsool Borradale Vermilion Mantille Hin Tofield Ryley Martins - Minburn Liedminste 0 Bardoo O NEK Sarepta Ulster Holden Gilpin Earlie ising S Poe Magin Lindville Lundemo, Kingmano Round Hill Bruce Viking Saulteux MeDonaldville Wildmere Fulemeadow Pretty Earling Scona Nestor Cummings Battle Moyerton River C Halley Him Meigher Camrose Lake Demay Koperville Phlins Orbindale view Paradise Valle Kinsella gilt Edge Noxvilles A Bittern Lake Quarrel Woodglen o Prague C Tounton Molstad H Mara Junkins Irma Fatvan R Dige Obaton Wavy Bawif Daysland Lake Hawkins Bowtell Heath Angus Ridge Hardisty Wainwright Battl Highland Park Stromeo Denwoodo Ribstone Killano Sedgewick Amish Greenshields Edgertono But Dor Edberg Lougheed Waterglen Edensville Spring Lake- Chauvin G Asker Meeting Norbo Roth Pleasington Rossyth C Wood River Wanda o 0 O Grainlando Bellshill Hughenden 20 Whitebrush Hastings Coulee 이 Harke Wessington Tristra Czar o Metiskow Stainsleig Loveland Flagstaff Monvalo Lamerton Norte Dame de Savoy Provost Haynes Leopoldville Alizo pocksville Red - Willow Foremane Hyter Cairns Vo Bul Puffer Tinchebray Nevis Settler Mayvrille Mayville Lorraine Brownfield Talbot Cadogan Lindsville Ribston Erskine Sounding Fyehill Fountainstown Fowler Williston Gaetha Stewartwyn E Markerville Ewing E Zenith Trenville Big Valley Gough RY. Sullivau Lake CORATION Lake valley Huxley Lake Valley Red HAND Dowling Ghosts Pin Lake Westcott Rawdonvill Sounding Cr OR Cr. RY Carbon Cr Blood Indian Cr. Deer Bullpoun River ACADIA Alkali Rosebud Creek Berry Dorothy Dead Horse L. Fieldholme Strathmore River Cr Thigh Hill Stobart Gleichen Crowfoot Cluny Bassano saskate Lathom • Moosleigh Tide L.RED o Southesk Queenstown Cassils o Brooks Bou Bantry Hicksburg Tilley 00 HAT Reidhill LITILMEDICINE Red Deer L Langevin CAN Cleverville Sufheld Many Island Bowell RY Riv Bow Stair South Dunmore June Carmangay • Sundial Pashley Medicine Hat Irvine Vinnifred Bulls Head Coleridge DO Blayney Iron Spring B River Woolchester Belly Reliance Bow Island Whitlag Grassy Lake a Seven Persons Newburg Granum Burdett Gros Ventre Josephsbur Chin Woodpeker Monarch 0 Purple Springs Little Plume Orton behbridge Coaldale Eagle Butte Elk wate MEDICINE Montana Jun Macleod o Lodge Kipp Whoopup PAC Raymon Stand ORN Etzikom 07 String HAY Coulee Margy Magrath Spring Tyren WARNER Lake Pakowki Sage Verdigris L. Warner CuloN River Milk River Raley Creek E N. Br T A 113° H 112° J 111° K industry is important. The total live stock numbered 3,417,141, including about 330,000 cows, and 735,000 other cattle . Swine numbered about 600,000 and sheep about 330,000. There were valuable mineral deposits. There were mined in 1918 nearly 3,000,000 tons of coal. There are also rich natural gas deposits. The railway mileage in 1918 was 4,444. The trade imports in 1918-1919 were valued at $15,926,379, and the exports at $2,256,186.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a province of Canada. It lies between Saskatchewan and British Columbia . The province extends from the 49th to the 60th parallel of north latitude, and from the 110th to the 120th meridian. The southern boundary and the northern boundary, followed eastward, pass near Paris and St. Petersburg respectively. Were it not that the southwestern corner is cut off by the Rocky Mountains , and thrown into British Columbia, the boundaries would be mathematical. Owing to the convergence of meridians, the width diminishes with regularity to the northward. The total area of land and water is 253,540 square miles, greater than that of North Dakota and Montana combined. SURFACE. The southwest border follows the Rocky Mountains and includes the scenic region of Banff. The country about Banff has mountain streams, sulphur springs, glaciers, and stupendous mountains. It is an attractive region to tourists. The Reindeer or Caribou Hills cross the northern part of the province. The greater part of the province is a vast rolling prairie, not unlike the Great Plains of the United States , of which it is a geological continuation. The province is drained chiefly by the headwaters of the Mackenzie and the Saskatchewan rivers. The area tributary to Hudson Bay is less than that within the basin of the Mackenzie. The valley of the Milk River is tributary to the Missouri. The western side of the district is mountainous, containing, however, many valleys which broaden out into a prairie region in the east. The foothills, lakes, and streams are well wooded. The prairies are covered with characteristic grasses. CLIMATE AND RAINFALL. The temperature of so vast a region cannot be described in a word. The climate of the southern border is like that which prevails in Montana. The very northern portion approaches within six degrees of the Arctic Circle . Settlers claim that the climate of the southern half of Alberta is modified by chinook winds, and that it is less severe than is the case in Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The lowest and highest temperature at Calgary, which is located centrally, are reported for 1908 by W. T. Finlay, minister of agriculture. The readings are in degrees Fahrenheit. Month. Minimum. Maximum. January. . . . .-8 50 February. . . . .-14 50 March. . . . .-12 56 April. . . . .3 74 May. . . . .25 82 June. . . . .36 82 July. . . . .39 89 August. . . . .34 84 September. . . . .20 84 October. . . . .9 71 November. . . . .-2 68 December. . . . .-20 47 Scientists classify the entire area as semi-arid. Figures from the same source, and running through a series of years show that Calgary, a typical locality, has an annual precipitation of about twenty inches. There may or may not be sufficient snow at times for winter sleighing. The spring time and the harvest season are dry. The greater part of the moisture falls in the growing season of June and July. It is safe to leave sacks of grain unsheltered in the autumn. SUNSHINE. The day is long. Summer daylight appears at three in the morning, thus giving a prolonged day for growing. The great amount of dry, clear weather has led the settlers to adopt the term "Sunny" Alberta. SOIL. Alberta is an agricultural province. It is claimed that there are 100,000,000 acres suitable for farming. In a general way it may be said that the sub-soil is clay overlaid with a black or chocolate loam, remarkably free from stones. Steam plows turn over incredible acreages without obstruction. PRODUCTIVENESS. Both soil and climate are admirably adapted to the production of grain and vegetables. A winter wheat now known as Alberta Red was introduced from the upland district of Kansas and has proved productive. The average yield for the five years, 1903-8, ran from 20 to 29.9 bushels. The yield of spring wheat is quite as heavy. The official report for 1908 places the yield per acre of spring wheat at 22.6 bushels; oats, 43.9 bushels; barley, 25 bushels; flax, 12.5 bushels. STOCK RAISING. Large portions of Alberta are covered with a native growth of grasses that afford excellent summer pasturage, and cure on the stalk for winter feed. Prudent ranchers cut hay and provide winter shelter, but the snows are neither deep nor lasting. Alberta is noted for improved strains of horses. Mr. Lane of Calgary won sixteen first prizes at the Seattle Exposition for heavy draft horses. Dairying is a growing industry. The cry has been raised already that the province must avoid raising wheat exclusively. MINERALS. The mineral resources are undeveloped. There are numerous exposures of coal in the deep river valleys. There is a belief that extensive areas are underlaid by soft coal measures. The statement is made that Alberta has more coal than Pennsylvania ever had. Coal may now be had at from $1.00 to $1.75 per ton at the mines. There are extensive beds of rock salt in the north. Oil fields have been located. The town of Medicine Hat is lighted by natural gas. The gas is so cheap that the attendant reduces the pressure and lets it burn all day rather than be at the expense of relighting. Tar sands have been located on the Athabasca River. There is "asphalt enough to pave the streets of the world." Gold and platinum are found in the sands of the streams flowing from the Rocky Mountains. IRRIGATION. Considerable sections of Alberta have all the rainfall that is desirable, especially as it comes just when needed. Other sections resort to dry farming. Mormons from the state of Utah have developed irrigation works along the St. Mary River above Lethbridge. The "largest irrigation scheme on the continent" has been undertaken by the Canadian Pacific Irrigation and Colonization Company of Calgary. Water is taken from the Bow River. Three million acres are involved. A third irrigation project has been undertaken west of Medicine Hat. HISTORY. Alberta was originally part of the domain of the Hudson Bay Company. Early fur traders reached the country by dog train and canoe. The Red River cart, steamboat, and prairie schooner carried in the baggage and families of various settlers. Alberta was reached by the Canadian Pacific in 1883. The railway managers began a campaign of education, with the result that a tremendous immigration from Great Britain, eastern Canada, and the United States set in. The population was 73,000 in 1901; 185,000 in 1906, and 250,000 in 1907. Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Strathcona are towns of note. The region was given the name of Alberta in 1882 in honor of the visit of Princess Louise Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria, and wife of Marquis of Lorne. Alberta, with its present boundaries, was made a province of the Canadian Dominion in 1905. It is represented duly in the Canadian Parliament. Provincial affairs are managed by a lieutenant-governor appointed by the governor-general of the Dominion, and by a local legislative assembly of twenty-five members. Edmonton is the capital. A system of public schools has been established. A provincial university has been decided upon. The province is now served by three great lines of railway: the Canadian Pacific, the Canadian Northern, and the Grand Trunk Pacific. Every inducement is offered the prospective settler. Emigrant rates are made for settlers and their effects. Animals, if intended to stock a farm, are admitted free of duty up to the extent of practically a carload. Lands are surveyed in townships six miles square, and are subdivided into thirty-six sections. Section lines are official roadways four rods wide. Settlers may take up a quarter section of public land under a Dominion homestead act. Lands are for sale by the railway companies, by private parties, and by the Hudson Bay Company. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: Area, land and water, square miles 253,540 Population (est. 1909) 300,000 Calgary 25,000 Edmonton 20,000 Strathcona 4,000 Members in Canadian senate 4 Representatives 7 Representatives in local house 25 Acres under plow 712,000 Grain Crops-- Wheat, bushels 6,800,000 Oats, bushels 23,000,000 Barley, bushels 4,000,000 Dairy products $800,000 Domestic Animals-- Horses 247,000 Milk cows 110,000 Other cattle 934,000 Sheep 161,000 Swine 116,000 See Canada ; Saskatchewan ; Canadian National Park 2026 Editor's Note: Alberta had just become a province (1905) when this was written. Beneath it lay one of the largest oil deposits on earth — the Athabasca oil sands — whose development made Alberta Canada's energy heartland and, latterly, a flashpoint of climate politics. (Ed: BR 2026-07-09)