as Mr. Whitney proposed in the case of the Desert, by the sale of reserved lots on more favourably situated portions of the railway. But this is an enterprise for future generations. We see no objection to commencing it now, as it will cost Government nothing; but more than a lifetime will probably elapse from its commencement to its completion. The establishment of railway communication from New York to San Francisco would be, if practicable, an immense advantage to both of those cities; but the city that is to be the terminus of the British American line on the Pacific Ocean is yet to be built. And yet the Pacific coast of British America may soon become as valuable as California. That vast mountainchain which extends, under various names, from the Straits of Magellan almost to Behring's Straits, and the countries between it and the Pacific, are in almost every part peculiarly rich in minerals. Coal has been found in various places near the coast, from the Straits of Magellan to Vancouver's Island. Chilé, Peru, and Bolivia are well known to be rich in metals; the mines of Mexico and California are proverbial, and we have spoken of the gold in Queen Charlotte's Island. So far as explored, this line of coast, and the adjacent islands, appear to be the richest mineral district in the world, with the exception, perhaps, of Australia; and we know not of any reason to suppose that the British dominions in that region are poorer than the States to the South. Meanwhile, the business of the present generation is to develope the resources of countries already known and partly colonised; and these, in British America, are immense. The soil is mostly good; the climate in summer is warmer than in this country; it is colder than ours in winter; but a severe winter is a drawback that never prevented any country from prospering. Even in the Hudson's Bay territory, to the northwest of Lake Superior, wheat and Indian corn ripen, and cattle thrive. The country is well supplied with the means of sending its produce to market by means of the many navigable rivers and lakes by which it is intersected, in ad * Probably a misprint for fire-clay. dition to the vast navigation of the St. Lawrence and the great lakes. Of that great requisite of modern civilization, coal-Canada itself is nearly destitute; but New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, contain abundance of coal. Various parts of British America are uncommonly rich in iron. On this subject we cannot do better than quote from the "Official Illustrated Exhibition Catalogue": "The iron ores of Nova Scotia are of great richness and purity. Several of the specimens above mentioned, yield upwards of seventy per cent., and are entirely free from sulphur and all other impurities. They are, moreover, very abundant, and situated in the midst of vast native forests, capable of supplying charcoal to any extent, at a very cheap rate. The principal mines are within four or five miles of ship navigation; and in juxtaposition with the ores are found coal, lime, marble, freestone, fine clay,* timber, water-power, and every requisite for the manufacture of iron on a large scale. The great value of these ores consists in their being essentially of a steely nature. Not only does the iron produce steel of first-rate excellence, but large quantities of steel of very superior quality have been made direct from the ores. These mines have been opened, and a small establishment of works put in operation during the past year. The mode of reduction adopted is what is called the Catalan process, by means of which the ores are directly converted into bar-iron, with charcoal fuel." Canada, also, in many places, contains thick beds of rich iron ore; and the country to the north of Lakes Huron and Superior abounds in copper, and also contains silver and lead. Slates abound in Canada and Nova Scotia, whence, after supplying the home demand, they may perhaps hereafter constitute a lucrative article of export to the United States, where we believe they are rare. The copper and silver mines of Lake Superior have of late attracted much attention in Canada: but as yet we believe that the mines of British America have been worked to only a very limited extent, except in Nova Scotia, where coals, grindstones, and gypsum are regularly Sir John Richardson has lately published his opinion that the Hudson's Bay territory also contains great mineral wealth. worked for export to the United States. We have already spoken of the valuable iron mines of Nova Scotia. It is not less rich in coal. "In the island of Cape Breton alone, which forms a part of the province, it has been calculated, and with care, that there are 120 square miles of land containing workable seams of coal; nine of which, at least, are ascertained to be distinct and unconnected with each other, ranging from 3 to 11 feet in thickness; one of them being submitted to analysis, was found to contain not so much as one per cent. of extraneous matter. *** The thickness of the seams in certain other localities, is reported to exceed these very considerably." Newfoundland, also, contains coal and iron districts, which have never been properly explored, but are known to be very extensive. Timber abounds in that island, of good quality, and large enough for ship-building purposes, though smaller than that felled in the forests of Canada; and much of the land is fertile, being well adapted especially for grazing. The winter is severe, although the surrounding ocean makes it milder there than on the opposite coast on the south of the St. Lawrence; and the summer is warm enough to ripen oats, barley, and even wheat. This island is larger than Ireland, which it is said greatly to resemble in general character, even to the existence of extensive though shallow peat bogs, and of many large lakes, which will hereafter afford an easy communication through the interior. The fisheries of Newfoundland, it is well known, are the most valuable in the world; and, unfortunately, though it is the oldest of all our colonies, and the nearest to the mother country, Newfoundland has been generally regarded as a mere fishing-station-its agriculture has been neglected, and its mines unopened. Its capital is situated on the eastern coast, near the great fisheries, but in the worst climate of the island, and far from the coal mines, the rich natural meadows, and the valuable forests of the interior and the western coast. Were it possible that now, three hun dred years after the death of Columbus, an extensive maritime region could be discovered, within a week's steaming of Ireland, possessing the finest fisheries in the world, magnificent forests, valuable mines of coal and iron, a fertile soil, and a climate capable of ripening whatever will ripen in the British Islands; and were this region annexed as a colony to the British crown-what a number of land companies, what a rush of colonists there would be, and how greatly, we should all exclaim, would the resources of the empire be enlarged ! Yet this description applies, without a word of exaggeration, to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. It is surprising in what a haphazard way the world is colonised. Hundreds of thousands of emigrants have been sailing, for the last generation, past the shores of those colonies, on their way to Canada and the United States; yet Canada is superior to Nova Scotia in nothing but the warmth of its climate during summer, while Nova Scotia far excels Canada in the value of its mines and its fisheries, besides being nearer its markets than Canada and the inland parts of the United States, which have to send their produce down a long river navigation for shipment; and it has the great advantage of having its ports open during winter, when those of Canada are sealed by ice. New England got the start of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, before the American Revolution, for, at that time, they were scarcely peopled, while New England was already a comparatively old and wealthy country. Like Upper Canada, they were colonised by loyalist refugees from the United States; but, unfortunately, they have been unlike that province in attracting but little attention from the mother country. We may hope, however, that this state of things will be changed when the Halifax and Quebec Railway is opened, as well as the continuation of the United States coast line which is projected through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; for then the stream of travel and traffic will flow not past but through those provinces, and their capabilities will become known to the public of Britain and America. *Nova Scotia; its Condition and Resources: in a Series of Six Letters." By Joseph Outram, of Glasgow. 1850. The object of this pamphlet, which we regret has not attracted more attention, is to bring the great though neglected resources of Nova Scotia before the public of Britain. as Mr. Whitney proposed in the case of the Desert, by the sale of reserved lots on more favourably situated portions of the railway. But this is an enterprise for future generations. We see no objection to commencing it now, as it will cost Government nothing; but more than a lifetime will probably elapse from its commencement to its completion. The establishment of railway communication from New York to San Francisco would be, if practicable, an immense advantage to both of those cities; but the city that is to be the terminus of the British American line on the Pacific Ocean is yet to be built. And yet the Pacific coast of British America may soon become as valuable as California. That vast mountainchain which extends, under various names, from the Straits of Magellan almost to Behring's Straits, and the countries between it and the Pacific, are in almost every part peculiarly rich in minerals. Coal has been found in various places near the coast, from the Straits of Magellan to Vancouver's Island. Chilé, Peru, and Bolivia are well known to be rich in metals; the mines of Mexico and California are proverbial, and we have spoken of the gold in Queen Charlotte's Island. So far as explored, this line of coast, and the adjacent islands, appear to be the richest mineral district in the world, with the exception, perhaps, of Australia; and we know not of any reason to suppose that the British dominions in that region are poorer than the States to the South. Meanwhile, the business of the present generation is to develope the resources of countries already known and partly colonised; and these, in British America, are immense. The soil is mostly good; the climate in summer is warmer than in this country; it is colder than ours in winter; but a severe winter is a drawback that never prevented any country from prospering. Even in the Hudson's Bay territory, to the northwest of Lake Superior, wheat and Indian corn ripen, and cattle thrive. The country is well supplied with the means of sending its produce to market by means of the many navigable rivers and lakes by which it is intersected, in ad * Probably a misprint for fire-clay. dition to the vast navigation of the St. Lawrence and the great lakes. Of that great requisite of modern civilization, coal-Canada itself is nearly destitute; but New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, contain abundance of coal. Various parts of British America are uncommonly rich in iron. On this subject we cannot do better than quote from the "Official Illustrated Exhibition Catalogue": Several "The iron ores of Nova Scotia are of great richness and purity. of the specimens above mentioned, yield upwards of seventy per cent., and are entirely free from sulphur and all other impurities. They are, moreover, very abundant, and situated in the midst of vast native forests, capable of supplying charcoal to any extent, at a very cheap rate. The principal mines are within four or five miles of ship navigation; and in juxtaposition with the ores are found coal, lime, marble, freestone, fine clay,* timber, water-power, and every requisite for the manufacture of iron on a large scale. The great value of these ores consists in their being essentially of a steely nature. Not only does the iron produce steel of first-rate excellence, but large quantities of steel of very superior quality have been made direct from the ores. These mines have been opened, and a small establishment of works put in operation during the past year. The mode of reduction adopted is what is called the Catalan process, by means of which the ores are directly converted into bar-iron, with charcoal fuel." Canada, also, in many places, contains thick beds of rich iron ore; and the country to the north of Lakes Huron and Superior abounds in copper, and also contains silver and lead. Slates abound in Canada and Nova Scotia, whence, after supplying the home demand, they may perhaps hereafter constitute a lucrative article of export to the United States, where we believe they are rare. The copper and silver mines of Lake Superior have of late attracted much attention in Canada: but as yet we believe that the mines of British America have been worked to only a very limited extent, except in Nova Scotia, where coals, grindstones, and gypsum are regularly Sir John Richardson has lately published his opinion that the Hudson's Bay territory also contains great mineral wealth. worked for export to the United States. We have already spoken of the valuable iron mines of Nova Scotia. It is not less rich in coal. "In the island of Cape Breton alone, which forms a part of the province, it has been calculated, and with care, that there are 120 square miles of land containing workable seams of coal; nine of which, at least, are ascertained to be distinct and unconnected with each other, ranging from 3 to 11 feet in thickness; one of them being submitted to analysis, was found to contain not so much as one per cent. of extraneous matter. *** The thickness of the seams in certain other localities, is reported to exceed these very consider ably." Newfoundland, also, contains coal and iron districts, which have never been properly explored, but are known to be very extensive. Timber abounds in that island, of good quality, and large enough for ship-building purposes, though smaller than that felled in the forests of Canada; and much of the land is fertile, being well adapted especially for grazing. The winter is severe, although the surrounding ocean makes it milder there than on the opposite coast on the south of the St. Lawrence; and the summer is warm enough to ripen oats, barley, and even wheat. This island is larger than Ireland, which it is said greatly to resemble in general character, even to the existence of extensive though shallow peat bogs, and of many large lakes, which will hereafter afford an easy communication through the interior. The fisheries of Newfoundland, it is well known, are the most valuable in the world; and, unfortunately, though it is the oldest of all our colonies, and the nearest to the mother country, Newfoundland has been generally regarded as a mere fishing-station-its agriculture has been neglected, and its mines unopened. Its capital is situated on the eastern coast, near the great fisheries, but in the worst climate of the island, and far from the coal mines, the rich natural meadows, and the valuable forests of the interior and the western coast. Were it possible that now, three hun dred years after the death of Columbus, an extensive maritime region could be discovered, within a week's steaming of Ireland, possessing the finest fisheries in the world, magnificent forests, valuable mines of coal and iron, a fertile soil, and a climate capable of ripening whatever will ripen in the British Islands; and were this region annexed as a colony to the British crown-what a number of land companies, what a rush of colonists there would be, and how greatly, we should all exclaim, would the resources of the empire be enlarged ! Yet this description applies, without a word of exaggeration, to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. It is surprising in what a haphazard way the world is colonised. Hundreds of thousands of emigrants have been sailing, for the last generation, past the shores of those colonies, on their way to Canada and the United States; yet Canada is superior to Nova Scotia in nothing but the warmth of its climate during summer, while Nova Scotia far excels Canada in the value of its mines and its fisheries, besides being nearer its markets than Canada and the inland parts of the United States, which have to send their produce down a long river navigation for shipment; and it has the great advantage of having its ports open during winter, when those of Canada are sealed by ice. New England got the start of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, before the American Revolution, for, at that time, they were scarcely peopled, while New England was already a comparatively old and wealthy country. Like Upper Canada, they were colonised by loyalist refugees from the United States; but, unfortunately, they have been unlike that province in attracting but little attention from the mother country. We may hope, however, that this state of things will be changed when the Halifax and Quebec Railway is opened, as well as the continuation of the United States coast line which is projected through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; for then the stream of travel and traffic will flow not past but through those provinces, and their capabilities will become known to the public of Britain and America. "Nova Scotia; its Condition and Resources: in a Series of Six Letters." By Joseph Outram, of Glasgow. 1850. The object of this pamphlet, which we regret has not attracted more attention, is to bring the great though neglected resources of Nova Scotia before the public of Britain. Vast, indeed, are the capabilities, not of those provinces alone, but of all parts of our American Empire; and countless are the swarms of emigrants from the overpeopled* and misgoverned countries of Europe to which it may yet give a home. And the powers of our colonies and the United States to absorb a large emigrant population are greater yet than is commonly supposed; for, contrary to the usual opinion, it is not the best lands that are first brought under cultivation, but the light soils that are most easily laboured; the richest lands are either swampy when in a state of nature, or covered with so dense a forest that the settler cannot attempt to clear them at first, so they remain to reward with their harvests the, industry of future years, when population and capital have increased. Besides, we do not think that the scratching style of half-cultivation usual in new countries is so remunerative as deeper ploughing and better manuring would be. It is true that, where land is cheap, the advantage of growing heavy crops to the acre is not so great as in this country, where it is dear; for, if the usual produce of two acres can be grown on one, the rent of one acre is saved to the farmer, and this saving is greatest where rents are highest. But, though wild land can be had in North America for a trifle, yet the labour of clearing it is equivalent to a considerable outlay. And we are inclined to think that, up to a certain point, produce can be increased with less than a proportionate increase of labour; that less than a double expenditure of labour, for instance, may give a double yield to the acre. But one fact is worth a dozen theories. A recent work on Canada mentions an emigrant from Yorkshire, who began farming in that country without any capital, and after twelve years was in prosperous circumstances; who "much astonished his neighbours by producing from a field of twelve acres a yield of wheat amounting to forty bushels per acre, the land having been previously considered incapable of producing ten bushels per acre." Forty bushels per acre is thought a good crop in this country. The agricultural resources of British America are inexhaustible in extent, but limited in kind, cultivation as yet being nearly confined to the various grain crops; but there is no reason why the farmers of our colonies should not successfully compete with those of Russia in the production of hemp and flax. A plant, also, is found in Canada, called the cottonia, or wild cotton: it grows in the greatest luxuriance over almost the entire country; it has been applied successfully in Canada to the manufacture of hats, being substituted for felt; and it is generally thought that, were it to engage the attention of the maker of English textile fabrics, he might use it to a profitable purpose."§ 66 British America is the finest timberproducing country in the world, with the exception, perhaps, of the Baltic provinces; but we believe that America has the great advantage of being better intersected by streams, down which the timber can be floated, for so bulky an article will not pay for a long land-carriage. We have already spoken of the mines and fisheries of our colonies, and of their inland navigation and their projected railways, which will make British America, to a considerable extent, the highway between Europe and the Western States of the Union. It is not likely that Canada will ever be a great manufacturing country; the neighbouring republic has cheaper supplies of cotton and of coal, and its rivers are not closed for so long during winter: but Nova Scotia, with its great mineral wealth, its excellent commercial position, and its ports open all the year round, may yet be an England of the western hemisphere, in manufactures as well as in commerce. [We will conclude our consideration of this subject next month.] * We do not know of any country which is overpeopled in proportion to its natural resources; but many parts of Europe are overpeopled in proportion to their present means of supporting their population. See "The Past, Present, and Future," mentioned in a former note. This fact has been often noticed by various observers as an exception; Mr. Carey has shown it to be the rule. Even in the eastern parts of the United States, according to him, much firstrate land remains uncleared. "Views of Canada and the Colonists," by James Brown. Second Edition; 1851. "Official Illustrated Exhibition Catalogue." |