IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / O o Y fe v: •iio^ ml'?! C/j % 1.0 I.I '-IIIIIM IIM *"° IIIIU III 2.2 «40 nil 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" - ► V] 7] /^^ '^C*^ 0> // /A w ^ y Photographic Sciences Corporation iV «- 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^9) V ;v n^ •SJ ^ %' 4 "%^ 6^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. E D D D D El Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurte et/ou peiiicul6e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes giographlques en couleur Coloured Ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reiid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reiiure serr^e peut causer de i'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ li se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, iorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 film^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppiimentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le nteiileur exemplaire qu'ii iui a 6t4 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibiiographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6thode normaie de fiimage sont indiquAs ci-desvous. I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or 5oxe( Pages ddcolordes, tachet^es ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualit^ in§gale de {'impression Includes supplementary materia Comprend du materiel suppiementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages damaged/ r~7| Pages restored and/or laminated/ r~pr Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ r^ Showthrough/ n~| Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ 1 s 1 V d e b ri r( n Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refiimed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6X6 fiimdes d nouveau de fagon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est fllmA au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X V 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quaSity possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -—^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grAce A la g*n«rosit6 de: La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les imagos suivantes ont M reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet« de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec js conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sont film6s en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont fiim6s en commengant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre filmds d des taux de rdduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. t 2 3 6 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, INFORMATION REGARDING ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, RESOURCES, &c. Pakibhed hj anthorlt; tt (he ProHaeial (.•rernmat. «-» -^^tf* CHARLOTTETOWN: #BINTED AT THB ITBIIALD OFFICE, QUBIN STRIIST 1883. ■• PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Prince Edward Island, the smallest of the Pro- vinces of the Dominion of Canada, is situated in the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Strait of Northumberland, which variea from nine to thirty miles in width. This Island was discovered by Sebastian Cabot, on St. John's Day, 24th June, 1497, who called it the Island of St. John. This name it bore until 1799, when, out of compliment to the Duke of Kent, the father of Queen. Victoria, at that time Commander of the Forces in Halifax, it was changed, by an Act of the Colonial Legislature, to that of Prince Edward Island. In shape it takes the form of an irregular crescent, con- cave towards the north, measuring in length 150 miles, and being deeply indented, at many points, by large bays and inletd, varies in width from four to thirty miles. It contains an area of 2,133 square miles, equal to 1,365,400 acres, and its population, at the last census (1881) was 108,891. Seen from the water, the appearance of Prince Edward Island is exceedingly prepossessing. On approaching the coast, the country affords a charm- ing picture of cultivation and well wooded land,. 2 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. with villages nnd cleared farms dotted along the shores, and by the sides of the bays and rivers. The Island is, generally speaking, level, but rises here and there to an elevation, never exceeding 500 feet above the sea. The conformation of the Island is food, and the scenery very much resemV)les that of Ingland, while thickly scattered, flourishing home- .steads indicate a degree of prosperity rarely met ■\vith in a new country. Communication with the Mainland is maintained, during the period of ordinary navigation, by a line of steamers connectinj^ daily with ports in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and thus with the various railway systems of Canada and the United States. Freight and passenger steamers connect weekly with Quebec and Montreal to the north, and ^rith Halifax and Boston to the south. The follow- ing table gives the distances from some of the principal cities of Canada, and the length of time at present required to make the journey : — CHAP.LOTTETOWN TO MILES. HOURS. Halifax, Nova Scotia 160 .12 St. John, New Brunswick 200 12 Quebec 600 38 Montreal 800 48 Ottawa 960 53 Boston, Massachusetts 600 32 New York 860 40 The adoption of a shorter route to New Bruns- wick, via Capes Traverse and Tormentine, and the opening of a through line to Boston, via the new Bridge across the St. John River, will, by another season, greatly lessen the distance to the Upper PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 3 ProvinceH and the United States. It will then be possible to reach Boston from Charlottetown in 24 hours. There is direct telegraphic communication by submarine cable, and telegraph oflices are established in all the principal towns and villages, and along the line of railway. Mails are despatched daily to the Mainland, and weekly to Great Britain, while advantage is taken of intervening opportunities via New York. There are excellent postal facilities throughout the Province— post offices being estab- lished at intervals of three or four miles, and of which there are 265, or one for every four hundred inhabitants. A line of Railway traverses the Island fr m Tignish, the western terminus, to Souris, the east- ern, with branches to Charlottetown, Georgetown and Cape Traverse, a total length of 210 miles. Ordinary navigation generii^lly closes about the middle of December, and re-opens about the middle of April. During this time communication is carried on with the Mainland by a steamer specially constructed for winter navigation. The various efforts in this direction can so far, however, be re- garded as experimental only, and although its prac- ticability has been demonstrated, yet the difficulties attending it have not been fully surmounted. This service is supplemented by boats which cross to New Brunswick at the nearest points, a distance of nine miles. With the completion of the Branch Railway to Cape Traverse on the Island, and that to Cape Tormentine in New Brunswick, there is no doubt that a permanent ferry will be established between these two points, and that navigation during winter 4 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. will, ere long, be accomplished with but little difficulty. The climate of Prince Edward luland la remark- ably healthy. The cold is certainly more severe, and lasts for a longer period than in England, but the atmosphere iu dry and salubrious, and the sum- mer is of such brightness and beauty as amply to compensate for the winter. The weather generally becomes unsteady in the early part of November, and sometimes sharp frosts, with showers of snow, take place about the middle of tbe month, the frost gradually increasing 'until the ground resists the plough, which is ordinarily about the second week in December. The cold then increases rapidly, and the ground is covered with snow. During the months of January and February the weather is usually steady, with the thermometer occasionally from 10 to 15 degrees below zero, of Fahrenheit. March, as in England, is a windy month, and is throughout very changeable. During the latter part of this month the snow rapidly melts, and the ice becomes rotten and dangerous for travel, and wholly disappears about the middle of April. Strong southerly winds now set in, and the last vestiges of frost speedily vanish. The spring is short, and in the beginning of June the summer bursts forth, and from this time till the end of Sep- tember, the climate resembles that of the southern coast of England. The thermometer, however, during calm weather, indicates a greater degree of heat, but the sea breeze seldom fails to lower the temperature, so that little inconvenience thence arises. About the middle of September the autumn commences. The cold is neither so great in winter, nor the heat so intense in summer as in the western PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Provinces of the Dominion, while the laland in almost entirely tree IVoui tho.so fogs to which the neighboring ProvinccH nro Huhjoct. This exemption is iiccounted for hy the fact that tho watoiH which wash the shores of tlie Island do not come in imme- diate contact with those of a different temperatfire, and that Cape Rreton and Newfoundland, hoth of which are high and mountainous, Iving between it and the Atlantic, arrest the fogs, which would otherwise he driven from the Banks to the Island. The following table is compiled from the Ofticial Meterological Register nt Charlottetown, kejjt by Mr. Cundall, an officer of tii lepartnient : — llighofcit toinpernlu. o LoAvost tcmporatu lo Mean of all hight'st teinpei-a- tures Moan of all lowest tem]»ora- tures Amount of rain ( inches) — Amount of snow (inchoK).... Total precipitation Number of fogs ob.sorved.... Number of thunders Number of lightnings Number of gales 18. 87.5* 1.^:9. M.IM) 4l»G5l 47.50 :jc.oi 32.4(57 03.(50 41.71 13 7 8 21 32.21) 25.127 170.0C 42.018 1(5 9 14 lt» 1^-a. 1881. H(;.HO 85.70 -11.30 -15.00 4S.o3 48 02 32.47 32.99 24.245 29.119 ito.io 147.75 38.5S5 43.894 19 21 18 11 23 14 19 10 1882. 85.40 -14.20 47.10 31.G5 2(5.73:? 212.90 48.023 8 9 11 24 Charlottetown, the seat of Government, is plea- santly situated upon a point of rising ground, at the confluence of the York, Elliott and Hillsborough Rivers. It contains about 18,000 inhabitants, and is well laid out with wide streets, which intersect at right angles. Its aifairs are managed by a Corpor- 6 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. ation, consieting of a Mayor and ten Councillors. Th6 harbor is large, deep and well sheltered, and is said by Admiral Bayfield (a standard authority) to be, in every respect, one of the finest harbors 11 the world. It is the principal port of shipment. Summerside, the capital of Prince County, is situated upon Bedeque Bay, 40 miles west of Char- lottetown. It is a town of about 3,000 inhabitants, and does a large trade in shipbuilding and exporta- tion of produce, &c. It has a fine harbor. Alberton, to the westward of the Island, is distant 40 miles from Summerside, and is situftte upon Cascumpec Bay, which is largely frequented by fishing vessels that come in to trans-ship their fish and secure supplies, and occasionally for shelter. Georgetown, 30 miles east of Cbarlottetown, is the capital of King's County. It has a magnificent harbor, which remains open nearly the whole year. Souris, 60 miles east of Cbarlottetown, is the out- let for the exports of a large portion of King's County. It also possesses a fine harbor, which has, of late, been considerably improved. Other rising villages there are, such as Kensing- ton, Montague, Cardigan, Crapaud, Tignish, Mount Stewart, Hunter River, Breadalbane, &c. Prince Edward Island is noted for the fertility of its soil, and it may confidently be asserted that, with the exception of a few bogs and swamps composed of a soft, spongy turf, or a deep layer of wet, black mould, the whole Island consists of highly valuable cultivable land. The soil, which is well watered with numerous springs and rivers, is formed for the most part of a rich layer of vegetable matter above PRINCE EDWAED ISLAND. ' a bright loam, resting upon a stiflf clay and sand- . stone ; the land, in its natural state, being covered , with timber and shrub of every variety. All kinds of grain and vegetables grovv^n in England ripen here in great perfection. The principal crops raised are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and turnips, of which oats and potatoes are exported in immense quantities. Mr. J. P. Sheldon, Professor of Agrit culture at the Wilts and Hants Agricultural College, Downton, near Salisbury, who visited the Island in .^ 1880, thus writes of it : — " In some respects this is one of the most beautiful Provinces of the Dominion, and it has probably the largest proportion of culti- vable land. The soil, generally, is a red sandy loam, of one character throughout, but differing in quality. On the whole, the grass land of the Island and the character of the sward, consisting as it does of indigenous clovers and a variety of the finer grasses, reminded me strongly of some portions of Old England. The people, too, are more English in appearance than those of any other of the Pro* vinces, with the exception of New Brunswick. This is probably owing to a cooler climate^ and the ' contiguity of the sea. Prince Edward Island is covered with a soil that is easy to cultivate, sound and healthy, capable of giving excellent crops of roots, grain and grass — an honest soil that will not fail to respond to the skill of the husbandman. Thw Island grows very good wheat, and probably better - oats than most other parts of the Dominion. Of '^' the former the crops are from 18 to 30 bushels, and * of the latter 25 to 70 bushels per acre. Barley, too, makes a very nice crop. Wheat, at the time of my visit, was worth 4s. per bushel of 60 lbs., oats Is. 9d. per bushel of 34 lbs., and barley 2h. 6d. to 3s. per 8 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. ■! I bushel of 48 lbs. The Island is noted for its large crops of excellent potatoes, which not uncommonly foot up to 250 bushels an acre of fine handsome tubers. Swedes make a fine crop, not uncommonly reaching 750 bushels per acre of sound and solid bulbs." The following table gives the yield per acre, and the prices. BUSHELS. VALUE. DECIMAL. STERLING. Wheat 18 to 30 $1.25 to 11.50 58. 2d. to 6s. 3d. Oats 40 to 60 0.36 to 0.40 Is. 6d. to Is. 8d. Barley 30 to 45 0.65 to 0.70 2s. 8d. to 2». lid. Potatoes 250 0.18 to 0.30 9d. to Is. 8d. Turnips 500 to 800 0.14 to 0.20 7d. to lOd. Ip addition to the natural fertility of the soil, the great facility for obtaining manure may be set down as one of its principal advantages. In most of the bays and rivers are found extensive deposits of mussel mud, formed by decayed oyster, clam and mussel shells. These deposits vary from five to twenty feet in depth, and their surface is often several feet below low water level. Machines placed upon the ice, and worked by horse power, are used for raising this manure. Procured in this way, in large quantities, and possessing great fer- tilizing qualities, it has vastly improved the agricul- tural status of the Island. An eminent authority, Dr. J. W. Dawson, F. R. S., C. M. G., Principal, and Vice Chancellor of McGill University, Montreal, says : *' The great wealth of Prince Edward Island nsists in its fertile soil, and the preservation of '-1 J I J.'- PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 9 this in a productive state is an object of imperative importance. The ordinary soil of the Island is a bright, red loam, passing into stiff clay on the one hand, and sandy loam on the other. Naturally, it contains all the mineral requisites for cultivated crops, while its abounding in peroxide of iron enables it rapidly to digest organic manures, and also to retain well their ammoniacal products. The chief natural manures afforded by the Island, and which may be used in addition to the farm manures to increase the fertility of the soil^ or restore it when exhausted, are (1) Mussel Mud, or oyster shell mud of the bays. Experience has proved this to be of the greatest value. (2). Peat and Marsh Mud and StmmjJ Soil. These afford organic matters to the run out soil, at a very cheap rate. (3). Sea* iceedy which can be obtained in large quantities on many parts of the shores, and is of great manurial value, whether fresh or composted. (4). Fish Offal. The heads and bones of ",od are more especially of much practical importance. (5). Limestone. The brown earthv limestones of the Island are of much value in affording a supply of this material, as well as small quantities of phosphates and alkalies. Where manures require to be purchased from abroad, those that will be found to produce the greatest effects are those capable of affording phosphates and alkalies, more especially bone earth, super-phos- phates of lime and guano; but- when ;ish offal and seaweed can be procured in sufficient quantity, or good dressings of the oyster deposit are applied, these foreign aids may well be dispensed with, at least for many years." Of this deposit Professor Sheldon speaks as follows : " The Island possesses one advantage which is unique and immensely 10 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 'i valuable. I refer now to its thick beds of ' mussel mud* or * oyster mud/ which are found in all the bays and river mouths. Tlie deposit, which is com- monly many feet thick, consists of the organic remains of countless generations of oysters, mussels, clams, and other bi-valves of the ocean, and of crustaceoua animals generally. The shells are gen- erally more or less intact, embedded in a dense deposit of mud-like stuff, which is found to be a fer- tilizer of singular value and potency. The supply of it is said to be almost inexhaustible, and it is indeed a mine of great wealth to the Island. A good dressing of it restores fertility in a striking manner to the poorest soils — clover grows after it quite luxuriously, and, as it were, indigenously — by its aid heavy crops of turnips and potatoes are raised, and, indeed, it may be regarded as a manure of great value, and applicable to any kind of crop. Nor is it soon exhausted, for the shells in it dec .y year by year, throwing off a film of fertilizing matter." Of late years very considerable improvements have been made in raising farm stock. The horses of the Island enjoy a high reputation, much atten- tion having been bestowed upon their breeding. In late Exhibitions, open to the whole Dominion, held in Montreal and Halifax, a large share of the honors and prizes for horses was awarded to this Province. For sheep, also, it is especially suited, the mutton being of a very fine flavor. Swine are also kept in large numbers, Island pork being well ' and favorably known in Dominion and American markets. The Provincial Government maintains a Stock Farm, on which pure bred Stock is raised and distributed through the country. Professor Sheldon ; • ,r. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, 11 writes thus: "For sheep, particularly, the Island appears to be well adapted, for the soil is light, dry, and sound, growing a thick-set, tender, and nutritious herbage. For cattle, too, it is suitable, though, perhaps, less so than for sheep. For horses the Island has been famous for a long time, and American buyers pick up most of those there are for sale. It is not improbable, in fact, that, taking them for all in all, the horses of the Island are superior to those of any other Province ; it seems to be, in a sense, the Arabia of Canada. The sheep, as a rule, are fairly good, but open to improvement." The following table shows the principal farm productions of 1880, compared with those of 1870, an extracted from the census : — ARTICLES. 1871 1881 INCEEASE DECREASE Bushels Wheat 269,392 3,120,576 176,441 75,109 1,325 3,375,726 395,358 546,986 3,538,219 119,368 90,458 3,169 6,042,191 1,198,407 42,572 15,247 143,791 1,688,690 196,273 25,098 1,367 10,209 552,083 514,682 30,088 34,843 277,694 418,363 Bushels Oats Bushels Barlev 67,073 Bushels Buckwheat ..... 15,349 1,844 2,666,465 803,049 Bushels Peas & Beans... Bushels Potatoes Bushels TurniDS Bushels other roots ' Bus. TimV&Clov'r Seed Tons of Hav 11,864 68,349 981,939 155,223 3,383 75,442 706,751 41,050 Ijbs. of Butter libs of Cheese Xibs. of MaDle Suijar .... libs, of Tobacco Xibs. of Hops Lbs. of Wool Yai'ds home-made cloth 428,313 86,369 Yards home-made Linen Bus. Apples, Grapes, &c. 12 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Prince Edward Island is, without doubt, the best fishing station in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but the habits and feelings of the inhabitants are so decid- edly agricultural, that the fisheries have not re- ceived from them the attention which they deserve. They consist chiefly of mackerel, lobsters, herring, cod, hake and oysters, while salmon, bass, shad, halibut and trout, are caught in limited quantities. Their value may be appreciated from the fact that, during 1882, there were taken from the sea 16,000,- 000 lbs. weight of fish food, and 107,260 lbs. from the running waters, besides 6,600,000 of edible fish used as bait. In other words, there were taken, at the lowest calculation, for food, 8,000,000 of mack- erel, 6,000,000 of herring, and 10,000,000 of cod and hake, 3,000,000 of oysters, and of lobsters 22,000,000, besides other fish. The present annual value of the oyster fishery is ^160,000, and this most valuable industry is capable of vast develop- ment. Tb e export of lobsters for 1882 was 100,522 cases, containing 4,826,104 lbs. The following statistics compare the fisheries of 1880 with those of 1870 :— Vessels and boate emplojed Men do Quintals of cod, haddock, hake and pollock caught Barrels of herring and gasperaux Barrels of mackerel 6311*618 of other fish ,,... Barrels of oysters Lbs. of canned lobsters mo 1,183 1,646 15,649 16,831 16,047 6,111 1880 2,729 5,792 26,392 22,457 91,792 706 175,408 3,275,316 INCREASE 1,546 4,146 10,743 5,626 75.746 3,268,605 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 13 But little has been attempted towards developing the coal of the Island. Its proximity to the exten- sive coal fields of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and the depth at which its deposits exist render mining unprofitable for the present at least. Up^n the subject of peat as fuel, Dr. Dawson says : '^ The question of fuel is likely, from the rapid disap- pearance of the forests, to be a matter oi extreme 'importance in Prince Edward Island. The cheap- ness of coal in Nova Scotia, along with the easy transport by water to most parts of the Island, and the convenient inland transportation, must prevent any serious difficulty ; but it is worthy of considera- tion whether measures should not be taken by the Government for the protection of the remainder of the forests, and whether the time has not come for the utilization of the large deposits of peat existing in some parts of the Province. The importance of this subject may be inferred from the following calculations by Dr. Harrington, as to the quantity of peat in the three great turbaries, noticed under « previous heading : Lennox Island Bog, 20,200 tons at $4, $ 80,800 Squirrel Creek, . . . 500, 000 tons at |4, 2,000,000 Black Bank, 1,777,248 tons at |4, 7,108,992 2,297,448 J9,189,792 " Dr. Harrington has made comparative trials of the peat with that in use in Canada, which show that the quality, in the case of the largest of the three deposits, is excellent, and as the facilities for it« extraction and shipment, especially at the Black Bank, are all that could be desired, there can be no doubt that the three deposits above, without H PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. mentioDing others, are capable of supplying a very large quantity of good fuel.'' ' The manufactures of Prince Edward Island are limited, but have rapidly developed of late. They eonsist of Bntter, Cheese, Starch and Soap Factories, Tanneries, Grist, Saw and Woolen Mills, Factories for canning and preserving Meat and Fish, Carriage Factories, &c. By the census of 1881 the figures of Island industries were as follows : — ■ Capital invested $2,000,000 Number of hands employed.. . 6,767 Yearly wages, over $800^000 Value of products $3,500,000 • In 1882 two cheese factories were put in opera- lion, and one creamery, for the manufacture of l>utter and cheese. The production' of that year was about 2,000 boxes of cheese, valued at $12,000, or £2,400 stg. This year the number of cheese factories has increased to four, and the owners expect to place in the market about 5,000 boxes. The quality is pronounced excellent, and it meets with a ready sale in the adjoining Provinces, as well as entirely taking the place of the imported article at home. The value of this year's operations is estimated at $28,000, or £5,600 stg. This year the number of starch factories has increased to nine, and it is anticipated that the manufacture will reach some 2,000 tons, valued at £12 stg, per ton, equal to $120,060. When it is remembered that these factories are all less than three years in exist- ence, the results must be adjudged as highly satis- factory. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. t 16 Prince Edwurd Island existed as a separate Gov- ernment from the Ist May, 1769, to 1st July, 1873, when it became a Province of the Dominion of Canada. It wfts not, however, until the 7th July, 1773, that the General Assembly met, under Walter Patterson, its first Governor. Responsible Govern- ment was conceded in 1851, since which time the Executive has been distinctly recognized as respon- sible to the Legislature. The Government is ad- ministered by a Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Dominion Government, assisted by an Executive Council of nine members of the Legislature. The other branches are the Legislative Council of thir- teen members, and the House of Assembly of thirty members. The system of Government is the same as in the other Provinces of the Dominion, except that the Legislative Council is elective. The Island is divided into three Counties, each of which elects four Councillors (Charlottetown returning one additional) and ten representatives to the Lower House. There is no property qualification for members of the Legislative Council ; for its electors the qualifications are full age, and the occupation of property to the value of $325. The property quali- fication of a member of the House of Assembly is the possession of freehold or leasehold estate to the value of $1C3, over and above all encumbrances. The qualifications of electors for the Lower House are full age, a residence of twelve months, and the performance of two days labor on the roads, or the payment of seventy-five cents commutation money. The Island is represented in the Dominion Parlia- ment b}'^ four Senators, and six members of the House of Commons. The qualifications of electors for the Commons are the same as those for the House of Assembly. 16 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. The Revenue, which amounted in 1862 to 9283,- 465, or £47,971 stg., is derived ft'om subsidy Allowed by the Dominion Government, moneys arising from sale of Qovernment lands, fees, &c. (the Provincial Government levies no taxation), and is applied to Education, the Administration of Justice, the maintenance of the Public Works and Buildings, and of the Executive Government. The Courts consist of— (1.) Court of Chancery, of which the Lieutenant (}ovemor is ex-oflicio Chancellor, and the judi- cial powers of which are exercised by a Master of the Rolls and Vice Chancellor. (2.) Court of Divorce, of which the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Executive Coun- cil are Judges. (3.) Supreme Court, presided over by a Chief Justice and two Assistant Judges. (4.) County Courts, of which there is one in each County, presided over by a Judge. (5.) Court of Probate of Wills, with one Judge. (6.) Stipendiary Magistrates and Justices of the Peace. The administration of the Educational interests of the Province is vested in a Board of Education, a Chief Superintendent and Inspectors. Each Dis- trict, of which there are 445, has a local Board of Trustees, elected annually by the ratepayers. By the report of the Superintendent for 1882, it appears that there were then 425 public schools, viz., i PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 17 i ; < one College and Normal School, thirteen High Schools, twenty-six Advanced Schools, and three hundred and eighty-five Primary Schools. The salaries of the teachers are paid from the Provincial Treasnry, but may be supplemented by local assess- ment, in which case the Treasury pays a further equal amount. The Government subsidy varies, according to grade, from $180 to $450 for male teachers, and from $130 to $380 for female teachers. The amount paid for Education for the year 1882 was ^97,411,77, over ^20,000 sterling, being nearly 42 per cent, of the revenue. For more than half a century what was known as the "Land Question" was, to use a phrase that has become historical, " a fruitful source of discontent." Now, happily, it is possible to write of our beautiful Island with merely a passing reference to this griev- ance, and to say that it no longer exists. Absentee proprietorship has been abolished, and the Local Government, having purchased the interests of the landlords, have taken their place, not, however, for the purpose of exacting the annual rent from the tenants, but with the object of making them owners of the soil which they have redeemed from the wilderness. Of this immense advantage by far the great majority of the tenants have availed them- selves, to such an extent, indeed, that at the close of 1882, of the 142,011 acres remaining unsolf? of the 843,981 owned by the Government, only 76,000 acres represented land held by parties who had not yet purchased. The remaining 67,000 acres may be set down as the available uncultivated and vacant Government land. These consist of forest lands of medium quality, the very best having, of course. m l-S PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. been taken up by the tenants in the first instance, and their price averages about one dollar per acre. Parties desiring to settle upon them are allowed eighteen years to pay for their holdings, the first eight years free, the purchase money then to bear interest at five per cent., and to be payable in ten annual instalments ; the only other conditions are that the settler shall, within two years, erect build- ings to the value of $65, and clear and cultivate an acre of ground yearly for the first eight years. Although there is apparently little room for new settlers, yet Prince Edward Island is a desirable field for a certain class of emigrants who, in search of a ready-made farm, where they may have the social comfortfl of life within their reach, are pre- pared to pay a higher price rather than go westw '. Such farms can be obtained in the Island, and vari- ous circumstances have contributed to place them in the market. The desire for cha\ige, and to see the world on a larger scale than afforded them at home, has led many of the youth to the great North West, and to the busier life in the large cities of the United States. The adoption of other pursuits has also deprived the farmer of the assistance of his «on«, and, having himself acquired a competency, he is often anxious to sell and to remove into town. Others again have been unfortunate, and are bur- dened with debts, of which they desire to relieve themselves and start afresh. The price of such land varies much according to its quality, situation, and buildings, but, with good buildings, a farm of 100 acres ca» be obtained from $20 to $35 (£4 to £7) an acre. Facilities for travel and transportation are excellent, the roads are good, and few farmers are as much as six miles from a shipping place for PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 19 their surplus produce. All the necessaries of life can be had at very low rates. Labor-saving machines of the most approved kind can be purchased or hired without any difficulty, the competition in this branch being so keen. The following table contains interesting stat- istics : — Number of owners of Land 16,663 occupiers of Land .13,629 acres of Land occupied. . .1,126,653 '' improved 596,731 Horses owned 3 1,335 Horned Cattle owned 90,722 Sheep owned 166,496 Swine owned 40,181 Vessels owned 267 Tanneries 36 Carding Mills 26 Grist and Saw Mills 280 Limekilns 176 Cloth Factories 9 Printing Offices 12 Shipyards 20 The volume of exports from the Province is very large, and few, even of the residents of the Island, are aware of the quantities of products annually shipped to other countries, and of th'* sum of money returned to the people therefor. The following tables^ which have been compiled from the Customs Returns, show their value for the year ended 30th September, 1883, to have been about three millions of dollars, more than double that of the year 1871 : — 20 i-i CO X 1 as I I PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. H H CO O O *^ (M 00 1^ o o o oo" t— I o of © o o o o o o o o^ O~Q0" CO © o o o © © © © •O CO o CO © o -^ CO CO © © © © © »ft ©^ © © © © © ©© © (M ri © © © © © © © © ©"©"©"t-^ t-© CO tH CO ©© © © © © ©^©^ © © ©^©^ ■^ CO CO i ¥ ;^ 3 3 © © CO © CO © iM •3 13 00 o -SI'S PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 21 :S o in O »ft o o o lA CO >A O tA id o^i oi (S oi o CO S8 © o tti o o o o o o ~ o CO 2 o o o o o o co'o" (M o o o o o o o o o"o"o r-T 1- CO -"f o © o o © ® © © © © ©^© ©^©^©_ ir^ O OO H 5 B % 00 •s iT" CO cc r-IO !0 3 ^ QQQO en ^ CO J8 ds PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. S^ OOOOOOOOOpOOQOQOQOO SOOOOOCQQQOOOOQOOO© " »-r fc ©" i'^ im" ©" ©' ©" i-T ?o" '^ '* w" G3o3qS 5f5;5S^SSSSS2S2 8328 q55S 52S5 ?38 :s SSS -2 838 '3 aaa is 333S2S 2|223s 22S222 8)SS»SS 3S3S 5i aasasa 88888883S«i aaaaaai^is 8888S83SS3 828 UA aiita^aaaa ■'«iO>Q 2288^3^83 aai^isais 22S332§2g aaaaasaaa e4«4 ■F PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 25 It, 33 Ss 3^^3 3^ - 2 ^ «^ c^ ^ © -3 tJ '-' CI f-t (M 5 '*««♦< If ooddlf ooJII . . ^^ Cm O 1 QQ H ScS, Oh oi t, >» d 6 d w n PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. The population of the Island waH, in 1881, 108,- 891, aH compared with 94,()'21 in 1871. The follow- ing abstract ahows their religion and nationality : — Roman Catholics 47,115 PreRbyterians 83,885 MethodiHts 13,486 Church of England 7,102 BaptiBts 6,236 Various 1,028 108,801 Scotch 48,933 Irish 25,415 English 21,404 French 10,751 Indians 281 Others 2,107 108,891 The people are contented and prosperous, and the farmers, though few of them can be called wealthy, constitute the most independent portion of the popu* lation. The amount to the credit of depositors in the Dominion Savings Bank on the 3l8t October, 1883. was ^1,413,411, more than £290,000 stg., or ^12,98, equal to £2 18s. 4d. stg., for every man, woman and child in the Province. The amount on deposit in the five other Banks Joing business, as well as the capital invested in eommercial ventures, which is very considerable; mast also be taken into account. The Provinoe not only has no debt, but has a balance to its credit at Ottawa of over $800,000. Here it may be remarked that Queen's County enjoys the distinction of being the largest constituency repre. sented in the Dominion Parliament. I i PRINCE KDWARD ISLAND. 27 ' Our reinurkH u|K)n PriiKc Edward Inlund would be incomplete did we neglect to speak of the many attractions which it prenentH as a watering place. We have thiiH far had to do with stern facts and figures, and in the hope of avoiding tlie fulsome oniogy which often renders remarks upon this sub- jt '!, repuUive, liberty has been taken witli some observations by a writer who does not allow his pen to indulge in such extravagance. Its sum- mer climate is delightful, free alike from chill- ing fogs and excessive heat. The landscape is sufficiently undiilating to relieve it from the monotony of the prairies, while the bays and winding estuaries to be seen on every hand, with their silvery waters and varied banks, together with the dark and bright green foliage of the evergreen and deciduous trees, and the rich verdure of the meadows, make up a scenery which, if nob grand, is at least beautiful and quietly picturesque. Sur. rounded by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, whose waters are almost as saline as those of the ocean itself, it enjoys all the ozone and coolness of the sea-breeze, and the advantages that can only be derived from sea-bathing. These, with the opportunities for healthful exercise or quiet rest, and the facilities for innocent mirth removed from the immoral ten- dencies and other evils of large and expensive establishments render it a most desirable retreat. Hotel accommodation has improved vastly of late, and visitors find no difficulty in securing summer quarters at very moderate rates. Sportsmen have ample opportunity for indulging their passion; the rivers team with trout, while very many enjoy going out in the bays with the boats mackerel fishing. Game there is also in abundance, such 28 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. i t I rts wild geese, brant, duck, partridge, plover, wood- cock, snipe, hares, &c. Being of such limited area, and its inhabitants entirely devoted to domestic pursuits, it is not sur- prising that but little is known abroad regarding Prince Edward Island. However, the popular be- lief which at one time existed in the Old Country, that Canadians were black, and attired themselves after the fashion of our first parents, has been abandoned, and, instead of being described as a rascally heap of sand, rock and swamp, occupied only as a military station, and producing nothing but potatoes, the Island has been aptly termed the Garden of British North America. Its inhabitants enjoy all the social advantages of older countries, and not a few of them have risen to honorable positions in the learned professions. The Bar of the Island com- pares favorably with any in the Dominion ; the Press is controlled by men of ability and enterprise ; in the Army and Navy her sons have distinguished themselves ; in the Government of the Dominion tl^ey have assisted with their counsel ; the fine arts have not been overlooked — witness the fact of a native being lately selected to paint the great memorial picture of the Fathers of Confederation ; the ministry of the Church has enlisted bishops and clergy from her colleges, and within the last year an Islander has been called to the exalted position of incumbent of one ©f the four arch-dioceses of Canada. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 29 of Id the opening day8 of October of the prenent year, aud since the greater part of this pamphlet was in type, the Annual Dominion Exhibition was held in St. John, New Brunswick. The people of that Province took advantage of the occasion to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Loyalist refugees, and their settle- ment in New Brunswick, and spared no pains tc render the Exhibition, as it undoubtedly was, the best and most successful ever held in the Maritime Provinces, and fully equal to that in Montreal in 1880. Owing to some misunderstanding, it was not until a late date that Prince Edward Island decided to take any part in the affair, but upon some modi- fications being made in the details of the Prize List, a very fair exhibit of horses, cattle, sheep, fish, roots, grains and dairy produce was forwarded, and con- tributed in a great measure to the success of the enterprise, although by no means exhaustive of the Island's resources in these ."several classes. The difficulty and risk attending the transport of live stock by water, were drawbacks to a first-class repre- sentation, and, as a consequence, many fine animals remained at home. The newspapers, at the time, contained lengthy notices of the Exhibition, but no official report has yet come to hand. Some idea of the position which the Island took, may be had from a summary of the prizes obtained — in Horses there were 42 entries, and 39 prizes were taken — in Cattle, 21 entries, and 17 ; r'zes taken, and in Sheep, 00 entries, and 43 prizes taken. The total amount of prizes offered for horses, cattle and sheep, in the classes wherein the Island competed, was $2045, and her stock iecured |1016 thereof, or about one-half In farm and dairy produce, the results were highly satisfactory, and in the fisheries class, I « 30 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. a large number of prizes was received. A very handsome exhibit of factory cloth was shown from the Tryon Woolen Mills, which was awarded a bronze medal, and attracted much attention, being purchased on the ground by a large business estab- lishment in New Brunswick. In this Exhibition, Prince Edward Island had to compete with the productions of every Province of the Dominion. Ontario and Quebec have long been noted for their high class agriculture and excellent stock, while from the prairie lands of Manitoba, it was anticipated that grains and roots would be brought which would eclipse anything raised in the Lower Provinces. Without any desire to detract from the character of their exhibits, it is exceedingly grati- fying to know that the excellence of the Island products was fully established. This Pamphlet has been written with a view of describing the soil of the Island, its climate, its pro- ductions and its capabilities, and of affording clbrrect information to any who may think of choosing it for a home. Its accuracy may be relied upon, and it will, at least, serve as a record whence to mark the future progress of the Province. PRIZES ^nnce Kdward Island at the Dominion Exhi- held in St. John, New Brunswick biti October, 1883 :- Stalli HORSES. Thoroughbreds. Jiamon, 4 years old and upwaixJs, and ibal. Stalli ^hon, 4 years old and upwards, ;, do. 2 do. 1 ^^7- 4 '. and foal, do. with foaJ at foot, Carriage Gelding, I'illy, 3 years old, do. 2 do. do. 1 do. u Ist 1st & 2d 3d 3d 3d 3d Ist 1st 3d 2d Ist & 2d 2d Ist & 2d 2d do ' 2 ^"'^ " ^""^ "P'^^"^^' do." 1 ;rvxi:Kr"''-"^'^-' : ^'^. -^1%, 2 years old, do. 1 year old Mai-e, any age or breed, prize <( u a a prizes l8t, 2d k 3d " Q.„i,. , ^^y^^sdale and English Stallion 4 yeai^ old and upwards, ^ do. 1 year old . ' Walking Horse, ...\" Ist " Ist prize (extra.) medal and prize. Ist, wd & 3d prizes. 1st prize (extra,) let prize. 82 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. CATTLK. Sfi/jrthorns. Ball, 1 year old, 3d prize do. 2 do 2d (< Bull Calf, under I year, 2d (( Cow, 4 years and upwards, 3d i< do. 3 years, 2d a Heifer, 2 years, 2d & 3d 11 do. 1 year, 1st & M a Bull, 2 yearn, 2d (( Aijrshire. Bull, 3 yearH old and upwards, Lst u do. 1 year 2d ii Bull Calf, under 1 year, 2d « Cow, 4 yeit, and uj) wards, 3d a do. 3 yeai .' 2d u Bull, 3 years ?ii ] ipwai^ds, lst u Grade. Fat Cow, lst & 2d 11 One Steer, 4 years and under 5, 1st u Pair Steers, 3 years and under 4, 1st 11 One Steer, 3 years and under 4, 1st (( Shorthoni Grade. Cow, 5 years and upwards, lst a do. 3 years and under 5, 2d « Heifer, 2 yeai-8 and under 3, 1st & 2d « Heifer Calf, lst & 2d a SHEEP. Leicester. Earn, 2 shears or over, 1st (( Earn, shearling, 1st 2d & 3d (I RaraLamb, 2d&3d (f Ewe, 2 shears or over, 2d&3d <( Ewe, shearling, lst & 2d (( Ewe Lamb, lst 2d & 3d (< Pair of Ewes, any age, lst & 3d (( Cotswold. Ram, 2 shears or over, 1st (( Earn Lamb, lst