Montreal

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the metropolitan city of Canada; on an island of the same name, in the Province of Quebec, at the head of ocean navigation on the St. Lawrence river; 180 miles S. W. of Quebec. The city originally called Ville Marie, derives its present name from Mount Royal, which rises abruptly to a height (at the Obin the river which runs at its base, and servatory) of feet above low water upon the lower slopes and terraces of which a large section of the city is built. The St. Lawrence in front of Montreal averages about 2 miles in width and is crossed at the narrowest point by the Victoria Jubilee Bridge 17% miles in length and 60 feet high in the middle. The river is also crossed by the Lachine bridge of the Canadian Pacific Railway near the city. A fine natural harbor for ocean-going ships has been greatly improved by extensive dredging and gigantic works and improving the wharfage accommodations. The ship channel between Montreal and Quebec has been dredged to a depth of 27 feet at an expense of about $5,500,000. Montreal is the terminus of ocean navigation by the Lachine Rapids about 7 miles above the city, which are navigable downward only by small steamers. These rapids are overcome for inland navigation by the Lachine canal 84 miles in length, with a rise of 45 feet, the first of the extensive system of St. Lawrence canals. Municipal Improvements. The topography of Montreal has facilitated the construction of a fine system of waterworks deficient only in the matter of filtration; the main reservoir with a capacity of 36,500,000 gallons being situated 200 feet above the level of the river and a higher level reservoir 210 feet higher affording a high pressure service available for fire protection to the highest buildings in the city. The supply is obtained from the Ottawa river. The season of navigation extends from May till November. Noteworthy Buildings. The twin towers of the Roman Catholic Church of Notre Dame, the parish church of Montreal, built 1824-1829, constitute the most characteristic landmark of Montreal. The towers are 227 feet high, and one of them contains the largest bell on the continent, the "Gros Bourdon." The church is one of the largest in North America, and will hold 15,000 people. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. James, commenced in 1868, is modelled after St. Peter's at Rome. There are about 100 churches in Montreal, the oldest being Notre Dame de Bonsecours (1771). Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican) is an exquisite example of English church architecture of the Gothic style. Other fine churches are Notre Dame de Lourdes, the Church of the Gesu, and St. James, Methodist. The oldest structures in Montreal are two old towers in front of the Grand Seminary, built in 1694 for protection against the Indians. Among the more noteworthy modern buildings are the Royal Victoria Hospital; the Bank of Montreal; the general general offices of the Grand Trunk Railway; the Windsor Street and Place Viger stations of the Canadian Pacific Railway; the McGill and Laval University buildings. Monuments. The best statues are those of Queen Victoria, in Victoria Square; of Maisonneuve, in Place d'Armes Square. Perhaps the most interesting monument is that of Lord Nelson, near the City Hall, erected in 1809. Business. In 1918 the imports were valued at $197,162,520, and exports $524,- 365,342. Montreal is an important banking center, the oldest and largest bank being the Bank of Montreal, al, found founded in 1817, and since then developed into one of the most important banking institutions of the world. In 1919 the bank clearings were over $6,200,000,000. In the same year the assessed valuation was over $850,000,000. Education. As a seat of learning Montreal occupies a high place. Chief among its educational institutions are MCGILL UNIVERSITY (q. v.); a branch of Laval University, Quebec; the medical faculty of Bishop's College University, Lennoxville; the Seminary of St. Sulpice; St. Mary's College (Jesuit); and the Ville Marie, Sacred Heart, and Hochelaga Convents. The public schools of Montreal are controlled by boards of Roman Catholic and Protestant School Commissioners respectively. History. Ville Marie, afterward called Montreal, was founded by Maisonneuve, May 18, 1642, during the French régime in Canada. The site had previously been visited in 1535 by Jacques Cartier, who founded there a large Indian town called Hochelaga; and in 1603 by Champlain, when it was found that the Indian town had completely disappeared. The early French settlers had much trouble with the Indians, culminating August, 1689, in the massacre at Lachine, 9 miles from Montreal, of 200 settlers and the capture of 200 more by a band of 1,500 Iroquois Indians. On Sept. 8, 1760, Montreal capitulated to General Amherst and the surrender of the city completed the conquest of New France by the English. In 1775 Montreal was captured by the Americans, who sent expeditions under Montgomery and Arnold to capture Quebec and Montreal; and General Carleton in command of the British forces at Montreal had to retreat to Quebec, where the Americans were ultimately defeated. In 1775 the American General Wooster made his headquarters in the Château de Ramergay, which still stands opposite the city hall and which was the official residence of the British governors after the conquest. In this same château, the Commissioners of Congress, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase, and Charles Carroll, in 1776 met and held council under Gen. Benedict Arnold. In 1776 the American forces retreated. Montreal obtained its first city charter in 1833, the first mayor being Jacques Viger. In 1844 the city became the capital of the province of Canada formed in 1841, by the union of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, but Parliament met for the last time in Montreal in 1849; when a mob of English-speaking citizens, enraged at the passing of the "Rebellion Losses Bill," burned down the Parliament Buildings and pelted the Governor-General, Lord Elgin. The fire (which destroyed valuable public records, the parliamentary library, and in fact everything appertaining to Parliament but the mace and the portrait of Queen Victoria) terminated Montreal's brief career as the seat of government. Pop. about 700,000.