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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^ *i \'«^T '/' \ , V-.- w St' ■X f ) ^m> / r5 c lip Dtfu Hov^^ WRITTEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RESOLUTION OFTHE CITY COUNCIL I ' Mt ^^,. • B.Y •• W!^ R LETT,kC^ity Clerk 34. .■■KM .LfS' MmFWW^M'-^ PRESSOF ASWOOOBLRN O T TA WA B lU l|/f^J«^^|B^, I 9 I D K o m u «» 3 O z ,y}^#»; K ^ THE CITY OF OTTAWA I — AND — ITS SURROUNDINGS. "UY WILLIAM PITTMAN LETT, »l«llt|f*l(l*m*«|tMt(l|u*«lt*t,,**|,Mt.M,,Mt,Mt,M|.t OTTAWA, AUGUST, 1884 *tMtltafH,(ii.(«t.t*l»Mltl*t.i i*t*i'S.>t,,(i.,«*k» PRINTED BY A. S. WOODBURN, ELGIN ST. THE CITY OF OTTAWA. -♦•♦- O^HE City of Ottawa, Capital of the Dominion of Canada, 4ly^ is situated on tY.^ bank of the Ottawa, or Grand River, in '^^v the County of Carleton, in the Province of Ontario. It is 1 20 miles from Montreal, the same distance from Kingston* 280 miles from Toronto, and 75 miles from Brockville. It is now easy of access from all points : by the Grand Trunk, the Canadian Pacific, the Canada Atlantic, the SL Lawrence & Ottawa, and the Toronto & Quebec Railways, as also by the fine steamers of the Ottawa River Navigation Company, and by boat on the Rideau Canal, between the city and Lake Ontario. THE OTTAWA RIVER, upon the bold and commanding banks of which Ottawa stands, takes its rise near the 49th parallel of north lati- tude; and after descending through smooth stretches, and many falls of marvellous beauty, a course of four hundred miles, it empties itself into the St. Lawrence at two points of confluence, one above and the other below the Island of Montreal. This noble river, which is the largest of the third class, drains an area of 57,800 square miles. Its principal tributaries are the North River, the Rouge, North and South Petite Nation, Riviere du Lievres, Gatineau, Rideau, Madawaska, Bonnechfere, Coulonge, Petewawa, Black, du Moines, Mattawa and Montreal Rivers. The high and dry position of the ground upon which the city is built, and its admirable system of drainage, by means of a large main sewer, and subsidiiary drains, renders Ottawa one of the most delightful and healthy cities on the American continent. THE TOWN OF BYTOWN, out of which Ottawa has grown, was founded in the year 1827, the period of the commencement of the Rideau Canal, an THE CITY OF OTTAWA Imperial undertaking constructed for military purposes, as an internal means of communication between Quebec and Lake Ontario. From its central position, its natural territorial advan- tages, and the facilities which it affords for fortification, prior to the union of the British North American Provinces, in compliance with colonial reference Ottawa was selected by Her Majesty the Queen as the political capital of Canada. Its solid natural advan- tages must have been powerful and peculiar to ensure success in a competition for metropolitan honors in which Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Kingston were rivals. O iTAWA was incorporated as a city with ten thousand inhabi- tants, in the latter part of the year 1854, the Act of Incorporation coming into operation on the first day of January, 1855. It is divid- ed into five Wards, named respectively, Victoria, Wellington, St. George's, By and Ottawa; and ^ under the Municipal Act of the Province of Ontario, each Ward is represented by three Aldermen elected annually on the first Monday in fhe month of January. The city contains at present about thirty thousand inhabitants, of English, Scotch, French, Irish and German origin. Its annual assessment is about $12,000,000. It is well supplied with mer- cantile establishments of every kind, and its hotel accommodation is ample and excellent. The leading hotels are " The Russell," the "Grand Union," and the "Windsor." The City of Ottawa is the centre of the great lumbering operations of the Ottawa Valley, in the manufacture of square tmiber and sawn lumber. In the prosecution of this important staple trade thousands of men and horses are continually employed, cutting and taking out square timber and saw-logs during the winter months, and nfting up and floating them to the mills and Quebec and United States markets in summer. In the Lumbering Operations of the Ottawa and its tribu taries, in the square timber^department alone, millions of dollars have been invested, apart from the immense expenditure incurred in the purchase of limits, the production of saw-logs, and in the erection of the many vast mills within the limits of the city, and in its immediate vicinity, for the purpose of manufacturing sawn AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. (0 (9 Z 3 QQ -J Z u Z i u o o o -i a z K U h 0) < lumber of every description, including laths and shingles, sash, doors, blinds, and planed boards. Within the limits of the city the chief attractions are the GOVERNMENT GROUNDS, AND THE PARLIAMENT AND DEPARTMENTAL BUILDINGS. Situated on a lofty hill overlooking the Ottawa River, these grounds for beauty of situation are unsurpassed, if equalled, in America. "THE LOVER'S WALK," about half a mile in length, around the face of the cliff, shaded by trees of great beauty, is one of the most delightful retreats imaginable ; and the Parliament and Departmental buildings, east and west, are marvels of architectural grace and perfection. The general style of architecture of these buildings is a modified 1 2th century Gothic. The principal material used in their con- struction is a hard, cream-coloured sandstone, from the adjacent Township of Nepean. The dressings, stairs, gablets, pinnacles, &c., are of Ohio free-stone, whilst a pleasing variety is given to the whole by the relieving arches of red Potsdam sandstone, over the window and door openings. The roofs are of Vermont slate, of a dark colour, variagated by light green bands. The marble was obtained at Arnprior, and the timber used, excepting the oak, at various localities in the Ottawa Valley. These magni- ficent piles of architecture cost between five and six millions of dollars. In the central building are the Senate Chamber and House OF Commons, both beautifully finished inside. The roof of glass above each, through which the light is admitted, is supported by numerous marble columns, of elegant design and high polish. The grounds around the Parliament Buildings are artistically and elegantly laid out, and constantly maintained in a flourishing condition by steady attention, and the judicious use of an unfailing supply of water. THE CITY OF OTTAWA Not the least interesting place on Government Hill is the PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY, which is located in a circular building on the north, or river side of the Parliament buildings ; and contains a vast number of books- of every kind arranged with great regularity and catalogued and indexed in the most thorough and convenient manner. In the interior a statue of Her Majesty the Queen stands in the centre of the circle, which gives an interesting and beautiful finish to the elegant design of the structure, comporting well with the air of regularity and compactness visible in the distribution and position, of the books. THE PATENT OFFICE, also, will well repay a visit. In this department is kept models of all the patents which have been granted. The list of the patents issued is long and varied ; and if they continue to increase in the future as they have multiplied during the past few years,, additional room will shortly be required for the proper disposition and custody of those important and interesting evidences of the inventive talent of the country. In the corridors of the Parliament buildings may be seen large-sized portraits of many of the old members of the Canadian Legislatures, including members who have passed away; and. who, during their lives, had made themselves conspicuous in the annals of their country. To those who are acquainted with the past and present history of Canada, those silent evidences of the stirring political events of the past must prove peculiarl3s interesting. THE DEPARTMENTAL BUILDINGS, east and west, are occupied as offices by the officials of the civil service, and hitherto have furnished sufficient room. Recently, however, the necessary accommodation for the work and storing of official documents has not been available ; and a new block of Departmental Buildings is now in process of erection on the south side of Wellington street, immediately opposite the government grounds. It is expected that this massive block, when completed AND ITS SURROUNDINGS will furnish ample accommodation for the rapidly increasing exigencies of the public service. In addition to its necessity and convenience this fine range of buildings, when finished, will have a strikingly ornamental effect from the Government Hill, and impart a massive and uniform finish to the appearance of that part of Wellington street, which will have a fine effect from the approach at Dufferin bridge. Another object of great national value and deep scientific interest is the Government o u S a M Q X u 2 X u I- w kl '1 GEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, in which may be found, technically arranged, classified and labelled, all the rich, abundant and varied mineral productions of the Dominion, comprising a vast collection of great diversity and attraction. In addition to the very complete and comprehensive aggregation of mineral products in this Museum, there is also a large assortment of native fossils and curious specimens of organic remains ; together with a vast variety of aboriginal curiositie appertaining to the past and present history and illustrative of the manners and customs of several tribes of the North American Indians. In addition also to the admirable display of our national resources already mentioned, many fine and valuable zoological and ornithological specimens have recently been added to the Natural History department, which will materially enhance the pleasure and interest of a visit to the Museum. To the general non-scientific, as well as to the scientific visitor, the Natural History branch, when expanded into larger proportions, will prove exceedingly interesting. This attractive feature of the Museum is becoming more prominently conspicuous every day, under the hands of a thoroughly skilled taxidermist. THE FISHERIES EXHIBIT in Vic!^oria Hall, O'Connor street, is possessed of many and varied attractijns. It contains preserved specimens in natural form, colour and size, admirably executed, of all the fishes indigenous s THE CITY OF OTTAWA. to the waters of the Dominion of Canada, embracing each species, from the white whale down to the smelt and the mudpout The collection also includes a splendid display of stuffed and preserved specimens of the many fish-eating birds of Canada, from the bald eagle down to the kingfisher, together with several specimens of fish-destroying animals, comprising seals of various kinds, otters, minks and fishers. This exhibit is of especial importance and value, shewing, as it does, the nature, extent and localization of the food-supplying fishes of the Dominion. For months past it has been visited daily by hundreds of people from all parts of Canada and the United States and has proved as great an attraction here as it was last year at the great exhibition of the fish products of the world in London, England. A feature of special ii>terest in the rooms of the Exhibit, the large collection of primitive hooks, lines and other implements of rude construction, used by the aborigines of British Columbia in the capture of fish of various kinds. When contrasted with the nets, lines, hooks, artificial baits and other highly finished artistic appliances for taking fish, on exhibition in the same department, some idea may be formed of the difficulties encountered by the savage and untutored natives of the country in the art of supplying themselves with food. Objects of peculiar attraction in the Fisheries Exhibit are the white whale, the giant salmon and immense lake trout, the sharks, the horse mackerel or tunny, the large sturgeons, mas- kinonge, pike and the varied and complete collection of trout and lake whitefish. A mention of the attractions of the Exhibit would not be complete without a reference to the machinery and appliances for the hatching of fish to be seen there. The various stages of the interesting process of artificially producing fish, from the first deposit of the ova to the development of the live fish, can be observed ; and the sight is an exceedingly instructive and in- teresting one. Those who visit the City of Ottawa should not fail to see the Geological Museum and the Fisheries Exhibit. Tourists may 1 1 II AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. )Ut be Ifor |he rst be lin- Ihe lay travel far without witnessing sights of such attractive and intrinsic merit. MAJOR'S HILL PARK, situated on the banks of Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River, in the centre of the city, is a delightful place of summer resort. It is covered by many fine trees, some of which are the old forest trees, and all of the others have been planted by the Corporatioa It is well laid out in winding walks and avenues, and profusely planted with flowers and shrubs of great variety and beauty. This beautiful place of recreation is largely made use of in hot weather by the citizens of Ottawa. Its dry and elevated position and cooling shade lenders it peculiarly conducive to enjoyment and health. THE RIDEAU FALLS, situated about one mile eastward from the centre c f the city, on the direct line of the Street Railway, formed by the dividing branches of the Rideau River, are exceedingly beautiful cascades. The waters of the Rideau fall into the Ottawa at two points of confluence, occasioned by a large island which divides the stream about eight hundred yards from the latter. During the period of high water in Spring, these falls, tumbling perpendicularly down a rocky descent of between forty and fifty feet, are singularly ^rand and picturesque in appearance. THE CHAUDIERE FALLS, spanned by an iron suspension bridge, which was completed in the year 1844, is a cataract of great depth and volume ; the greater part of the water of the river rushing with concentrated force through a comparatively narrow channel. The view of this magnificent waterfall from the suspension bridge, always interest- ing, during the spring freshet is grand beyond conception. From the perpetually ascending clouds of spray it has derived its French name Grande Chaudiere, or the " Big Kettle." Travellers who have seen this beautiful cataract in its most turbulent aspect, have pronounced it second only to Niagara. lO THE CITY OF OTTAWA THE WATER WORKS Pump House is well worthy of inspection. It is situated in Victoria Ward, at the west end of the city. The gigantic pumps are driven by water power, and are of great strength and capacity. The hydrants supply effective streams at great pressure to subdue fires. The supply of water, which is ample, and of the purest description, even without filtration, is taken from the Ottawa River above the Chaudiere Falls, far out in the current ; and by analysis has been proved singularly free from ordinary impurities, which render the water supply in many places unhealthy. CARTIER SQUARE, the property of the Dominion Government, situated near the Rideau Canal, in the centre of the city, is a beautiful piece of ground, containing in a large square about twenty-four acres. On the easterly end of it the Drill Hall, an immense brick building stands. The Hall, as well as the Square, is used by the military organizations of the city for the purposes of drill and parade, and by permission of the Government, for sports and games of various kinds. During the present summer the square has been broken up and levelled, and the improvements which have been com pleted, make it one of the finest public squares in Canada. It has been planted on all sides with two rows of trees, which, after a few years, will afford a pleasant shade to visitors and spectators on. occasions of public display. LANSDOWNE PARK, the property of the Corporation of the City of Ottawa, is in the immediate vicinity of the city. It is picturesquely situated on the banks of the Rideau Canal, and is thus conveniently accessible by water as well as by land. On these fine grounds are held the periodical Exhibitions of the Ontario Agricultural and Arts Association, and the Park is a popular pleasure resort for picnics and other festivities. One of the finest half-mile racing tracks in Canada has recently been constructed on the grounds, which can be advantageously utilized for the display of saddle and carriage horses during the Exhibition. AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. II the the Ible the Irts lies- in tan ige Foremost amongst the interesting and attractive sights within the city limits, and the adjacent city of Hull, are the GIGANTIC SAW-MILLS, all driven by the waters of the Chaudiere Falls, which have been judiciously utilized for manufacturing purposes by the construction of dams and piers at the head of the current. The Mills of Messrs. Bronsons & Weston, John R. Booth,^ Perley & Pattee, and the Young Estate, at the Chaudiere, on the Ontario side, the immense establishment of E. B. Eddy, at Hull, on the Quebec side, and the newly-constructed mill of James MacLaren & Co., at the Rideau Falls, are all wonders of extent and cutting capacity. When in full operation, cutting at night, under the powerful and diffusive blaze of the electric light, these mighty lumber manu- facturing establishments present scenes of bustle, brilliancy, and magnificence unequalled, as evidences of enterprise, in any part of America. The vast piles of lumber by which they are surrounded, notwithstanding the millions of feet shipped every week, furnish ample proof of the extent and importance of this great staple trade. The fine cut-stone Court House and Gaol, and Registry Office of the County of Carleton, are situated on Nicholas street,, in the City of Ottawa, and are an ornament to the locality. THE CITY PUBLIC BUILDINGS are the City Hall (which cost $90,000), Registry Office, Central and Primary School buildings in the different wards ; By, Wellington, Victoria, and Ottawa Ward Market houses, and the Fire Stations, connected by electric telegraph, for fire alarm purposes, with the Central Office at the City Hall. The Collegiate Institute and Model and Normal School buildings are centrally- situated on Cartier Square. The Educational Institutions are all costly, commodious and ornamental structures. There are twenty-six churches, many of which are costly and imposing in architectural design and appearance, in the City of Ottawa. Denominationally described, they are as follows : V V 12 THE CITY OF OTTAWA I Baptist, I Congregational, i Catholic Apostolic, i German Lutheran, 5 Episcopal, 5 Methodist, 5 Presbyterian, and 7 Roman Catholic. The greater number of these churches are of elegant construction. Notably so, the Basilica, Roman Catholic ; St. Andrew's, Knox and Bank street churches, Presbyterian ; the Dominion and Metropolitan, Methodist ; the St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's and St Jean Baptiste, Roman Catholic, and Christ's Church, English. Christ's Church cost $45,000 ; the Dominion Methodist, $50,000 ; St. Andrew's, $60,000 ; Knox Church, $52,000; St. Patrick's, $42,000; Baptist, $30,000; St. Jean Baptiste, $40,000. THE DUFFERIN BRIDGE, so named in honor of Lord Dufferin, a former popular Governor- General of Canada, is a noble iron structure connecting Rideau and Wellington streets : and the Sappers' Bridge, thus designated from having been built by the Royal Sappers and Miners in 1828, in its enlarged and widened form, forms a commodious connecting link between Sparks street, the ** Broadway " of the metropolis, and Rideau street, which runs easterly to the Rideau River. There are many other fine ornamental buildings in the City of Ottawa, which may, without invidious discrimination, be mentioned. Amongst them are the Post Office, the several Bank edifices, Stadacona Hall, the French-Canadian Institute, the Russell House, the Grand Union, and the massive brick block recently erected by Mr. McLeod Stewart on the corner of Sparks and Elgin streets. There are, also, at present in course of construction in various parts of the city, many substantial and elegant private residences, which cannot be particularized in a sketch of this description, but which, when completed, will add materially to the house accommodation of Ottawa, which is now rather limited when contrasted with the constantly increasing demand. The journey from Ottawa to Montreal, by the splendid steamers of the Ottawa River Navigation Company, is one of the most delightful trips imaginable. The scenery all along the AND ITS SURROUNDIN(]S 13 hen the route is grand and picturesque in the extreme, embracing woodland, mountain and valley, the beautiful Lake of Two Mountains, the Lachine Rapids, and the celebrated Rapids of the Long Sault, sixteen miles in length, near which is the site of the old fort of palisades, where the heroic young Frenchman, Dulac Desormeau, with his sixteen companions, made their determined and successful stand against the dreaded Iroquois, and nobly sacrificed themselves to the last man in saving Montreal and Quebec from a long preconcerted attack of the enemy. The route from Ottawa to Kingston by the Rideau Canal, passes through a fine, rich, agricultural country, and takes the tourist through the fascinating labyrinth of green islands and surpassingly beautiful scenery of Rideau Lake, many parts of which are almost equal in magnificence to the far-famed and unrivalled scenery of the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence. Amongst the outlying attractions in the vicinity of the City of Ottawa, RIDEAU HALL, the residence of His Excellency the Governor-General, occupies a conspicuous place ; not only on account of its pleasant and commanding site, but also in consequence of its being the stated abode of Her Majesty's Representative. Rideau Hall is situated upon a rising ground in the midst of a beautiful grove of fine, old forest trees, in the village of New Edinburgh. It was built for a private residence by the late Hon. Thomas Mackay, and has been enlarged and improved since it came into the hands of the Canadian Government. The grounds attached to the Vice-regal residence contain about eighty-seven acres, a portion of which is covered by a grove of fine trees. The cost of the place together with the improvements efifected, amounts to about $300,000. Rideau Hall has been occupied by the representatives of Her Majesty since the time of Lord Monck. The occupants immedi- ately prior to the arrival of Lord Lansdowne, were the Marquis of Lome and Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise. The largest and finest cricket ground in the Dominion is on this domain, 14 THE CITY OF OTTAWA vrhich, by permission, also has frequently been used for challenge inter-provincial games of lacrosse. NEW EDINBURGH, built on the south bank of the Ottawa, and running southerly along the easterly side of the Rideau River, is a neat and thriving village of considerable extent, with a population of about 2,000. In it are situated the large grist mills of McKay & Co., together with an extensive saw-mill and cloth factory. It is the easterly terminus of the Ottawa City Street Passenger Railway. The latter fact has added materially towards the building up and prosperity of New Edinburgh. This village contains many fine private residences, and the greater number of the streets have been planted with shade trees, which add much to the beauty of the place. STEWARTON, on the southerly border of the city limits, is a nice little village containing many fine private dwellings. Its southerly limit is the north bank of the Rideau Canal. The central station of the Canada Atlantic Railway, together with the offices and freight storehouses of the line, are located in Stewarton. The village contains now about four hundred inhabitants, many of whom belong to the Civil Service and to the business classes of the city. ROCHESTERVILLE IS a large and prosperous village bounding the westerly limit of the City of Ottawa, on the easterly border of the Township of Nepean. It is growing rapidly, and must have, at present, about four thousand inhabitants. From their close proximity and the natural topographical indications of their position, Stewarton and Rochesterville are both ultimately destined to become included within the limits of the City of Ottawa. VIEWS. Perhaps in no part of Canada, excepting from the Citadel of Quebec, can such a magnificent prospect of rock, river, mountain AND ITS SUKROUNniNCS. »S lit of ip of tbout the and ided itain and waterfall be seen as that from the north-westerly point of the Government Hill. In a grand panoramic spectacle spreads out xind expands before the eye the Chaudiere Falls, the Iron Suspen- sion Bridge and the green islands above on the west ; the great Laurentian chain of mountains — as it were, walling in the green fields and comfortable homesteads of the County of Ottawa — on the north ; and the City of Ottawa on the south and east. Taken as a whole, in wonderfully pleasing scenic effect this view is one of the grandest imaginable. The look-out towards the north from the Dufferin bridge between upper and lower town is of great and varied attraction. When the eye wanders across the waters of the Ottawa river, lingers for a moment on woodland and verdant field, and finally rests with sublime delight upon the sun-tinged summits of the blue ridges of the mountains beyond, the tourist may travel far before he can see a scene more beautiful. The view, however, which eclipses all others in expanse and natural grandeur here, is that which can be enjoyed from the main tower of the Parliament Buildings. From this lofty point, with he aid of a strong field glass, the varied and interesting features f the country for twenty or thirty miles in all directions can be 4)rought within the scope of vision ; and even mountains forty miles northward up the Gatineau River can be distinctly seen. It is not too much to say that this is one of the grandest views in Canada, if not in America. AYLMER. Within eight miles of the City of Ottawa, on the bank of the Duchesne Lake stands Aylmer, the chief lieu of the County of 'Ottawa,the eastern terminus of the boats of the Upper Ottawa Navigation Company, and the western terminus of the North Shore branch of the C. P. R. It has a population of about two thousand, and contains four churches, two telegraph offices, two steam saw-mills, one chair factory, four hotels, and sixteen stores, and a weekly newspaper. It is'surrounded by a district rich in agricultural products as well as iron and phosphates. i6 THE CITY OF OTTAWA THE CITY OF HULL, situated on the north shore of the Ottawa river, opposite the City of Ottawa, is the Capital of the County of Ottawa, in the Province of Quebec. It contains about six thousand inhabitants ;. and participating with Ottawa in the unrivalled water power of the Chaudiere, it is the seat of a great lumber manufacturing interest. Hull contains about fifty stores, several fine private residences and churches, and two telegraph offices. The Canadian Pacific Rail- way passes through it, the City vStation being the last between Montreal and Ottawa. Hull is an older place than Ottawa, having, been quite a village before old By-town was founded. MINERAL SPRINGS. The far-famed Caledonia Springs, about fifty miles from Ottawa, can be reached from here by boat in a few hours. These powerful mineral springs are now celebrated the world over ; and hundreds of invalids, especially those suffering from rheumatism and derangement of the digestive organs, visit them every summer. In connection with the establishment commodious and first-class hotel accommodation can be had. Situated within twelve miles of the City of Ottawa, on the direct line of the Canada Atlantic Railway, are Eastman's Springs, which, so far as mineral waters of great medicinal excellence and variety are concerned, with a little capital and enterprise might be transformed into a health-seeking resort almost equal to Saratoga. The saline, sulphur and gas springs here are unsurpassed for volume and strength, but the most unaccountable thing in connexion with this place, so singularly rich in the medicinal elements of health is, that its great natural advantages and resources hitherto have never been sufficiently utilized and developed. Within four miles of this city, on the Montreal macadamized road, is also a well tested and powerful sulphur spring, which is much resorted to by the people of Ottawa. The famous Borthwick Saline Springs are also within seven miles of the city, in the township of Gloucester. The AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 17 on jized :h is tthin [The ^{u*^ waters of this celebrated mineral spring are largely used by the people of Ottawa and other places and have been found a potent aid to health and constitutional regularity. As a favorite, interesting and attractive route for tourists may be specially mentioned that north-westward up the OTTAW\ RIVER, from the City of Ottawa to the river Mattawa, and thence to the beautiful Lake Nipissing. In no part of Canada can scenery of more varied, attractive and gorgeous beauty be found than along this delightful region. I'he Chaudiere Falls, already mentioned, the _Re moux_ Rapids, and the Duchesne Rapids at Britannia, arc each distinguished by features of wildness and grandeur of the most romantic description. The Duchesne Lake stretches from Britannia to the surpassingly beautiful cataracts at Fitzroy Harbor. Here the waters of the entire river are precipitated over a number of falls, broken by green islands at intervals from shore to shore. These picturesque water falls are called " Le Chats," from the fact that some old voyageurs to the North-west many years ago, discovered a number of raccoons on the shore when they landed there with their canoes. Chats Sauvage, {angltce, Indian cat), being the French name for raccoon. At the head of the Chats Rapids, the great Chats Lake commences, from two to four miles in width and about thirty miles long — like the Lake of Two Mountains, the Duchesne and other great stretches, being simply an enlarge ment and lateral expansion of the Grand River. These magnificent sheets of water are navigated by the steamers of the Upper Ottawa Navigation Company to Pembroke and beyond. The journey, via the latter thriving town, can also be accomplished by the Canadian Pacific Railway to Lake Nipissing. The frequently recurring rapids and cataracts along this route, the green-wooded banks and flourishing farms, with the blue mountains in the back ground on the north add interest and variety to every mile of the journey. The scenery of the Upper Ottawa must be seen to be understood and appreciated. The i8 THE CITY OF OTTAWA country, on both sides of the river, is dotted over with beautiful lakes — full of fish — from an acre in size to large bodies of water twenty or thirty miles long, which supply the numerous large tributaries of the Ottawa River. In addition to the above, the tourist, as well as the speculator can find, amid ^he matchless scenery and mineral wealth of the (latincaii Valley and Riviere dit Lievres, sufficient to interest them. 'I'he former in the shape of rapid, cataract, lake, mountain and valley. The latter in ir exhaustible deposits of phosphate, plum- bago, iron, mica, asbestos and other valuable minerals. The mineral resources of these parts of the Province of Quebec, so near the City of Ottawa, are singularly rich, varied and abundant ; while the lakes therein are teeming with gray trout, from five to fifty pounds in weight, speckled trout of all sizes, black bass, pike, pickerel, perch, whitefish and other kinds ; and in the forests may be found Moose, Cariboo, Virginian deer, bears and all the fur- bearing animals and birds of the dack and grouse families indi- genous to this part of Canada. Some of the lakes in the Gatineau region, such as the Thirty-one Mile Lake, the Pemachongo, the Kakabonga, and the Whitefish Lake, within easy access to sports- men, are immense sheets of clear water, studded over with green islands from an acre to hundreds of acres in extent stocked with fish in great abundance. Many of the rapids and cascades on the du Lievres and Gatineau present scenes of wild, romantic and weird grandeur, which cannot be imagined unless seen. This is a part of the adjoining Province of Quebec, which, when accessible by means of railway communication, will be largely visited by tourists and sportsmen. Nothing can surpass the wildness and gmndeur of the rapids and chutes on this most turbulent of Ottawa's tributaries, nor can anything be more picturesque and beautiful than the mountains, valleys and lakes to be met with on all sides as the traveller penetrates into the heart of the wilderness. The people of Canada, those who can afford it, travel across oceans and traverse deserts to distant lands in search of the beauties of nature ; while within the boundaries of their own country scenery of unsurpassed magnificence remains AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. If m which, will be surpass lis most more Id lakes Into the Irho can It lands kndaries remains unexplored. Canadians need scarcely wander from home search of scenes worthy of their highest admiration ; for no part of the world is richer in scenery of natural beauty calculated to please the eye and excite the senses than their own land. When the contemplated Gatineau Vallej Colonization Rail way shall have been completed to the River Desert, many scenes of hitherto unrevealed beauty, and mines of wealth of astonishing richness and extent will be brought to light. Around the City of Ottawa on all sides is an exceedingly rich and fertile Agricultural Country. The townships of Nepean Gloucester, Osgoode, Goulbourn, March, Huntly, Fitzroy, North Gower and Beckwith, from the agricultural products of which the Ottawa markets are supplied, are proverbial for containing within their borders as large an acreage of fine, fertile soil as any in the Province of Ontario. The steady and unchanging excellence of the Ottawa markets has enabled the farmers in the townships mentioned to become independent and easy in their circumstances The markets of the city are abundantly supplied with the various necessaries of life, which meet with a remunerative and ready sale. In consequence of the attention for some years past given to market-gardening a large daily supply of fruits and vegetables in season is brought in for sale. Butchers' meat of every description, of the best quality, can always be found in each of the city markets ; and . X wisdom of Her Majesty the Queen in its selection as the Seat of Governuient. The rise and progress of Ottawa, if slow compared with the spasmodic, and not alwayshealthy advance of other places, has been sure, certain and permanent, and altogether free from features of an ephemeral character. In its agricultural surroundings, and in its internal capacities for large manufacturing industries, Ottawa has been singularly fortunate ; and no one possessing any foresight can now entertain a doubt that it is destined to become ultimately one of the most important cities in the Dominion. Its outskirts on all sides, are bordered by fine flourishing villages, which will, doubtless, in a short time become incorporated within its limits, adding materially to its size, wealth and population. When the decision of Her Majesty, by the advice of the Imperial Government, made Ottawa the Capital of Canada, the St. Lawrence and Ottawa, between here and Prescott, was the only line of Railway terminating within the limits of the City. Ottawa had then but few over ten thousand inhabitants ; and its trade was comparatively insignificant con»rasted with what it is to- day. Within the city Hmits are now located the termini of four Railroads, which are doing a prosperous carrying trade, not only in passengers and ordinary freight, but also in the transportation of sawn lumber and other manufactured timber to the Montreal, Quebec and United States markets. As stated elsewhere, the City of Ottawa has now a population of about 30,000, which number, judging by present prospects, will certainly be more than doubled during the next ten years. In addition to its natural advantages, being the seat of the Federal Government, gives to the City of Ottawa a prestige, and invests it with a degree of importance which it could not have otherwise attained. The residence here of Her Majesty's Representative, and the annual additions to the population during the winter Sessions of AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 21 of the gS: and )t have md the tions of the Legislature, impart a lively attraction to society and give a briskness to the local trade of a highly beneficial character During the present summer Ottawa has been visited by a larger number of tourists from Europe and the United States than in any previous season, many of whom have visited the most interesting spots in the Ottawa Valley, and have expressed themselves both surprised and delighted with what they saw. Amongst the distinguished visitors of the present year, the members of the BRITISH ASSOCIATION will do much towards circulating valuable and correct information in the Old Country respecting Canada, its present condition, its resources, its institutions, and its future prospects, so plainly foreshadowed to every unprejudiced mind. A visit from such a learned and pre-eminently well-informed body of experienced and scientific men cannot fail to result most advantageously to this country. On the return home of the members of this standard association, their deliberate and unprejudiced opinions will prove especially valuable in counteracting many false impressions of this country prevalent in the old land. It is to be sincerely hoped that the visit of the members of the British Association to the City of Ottawa may be of such an agreeable nature that they shall be enabled to carry away with jhem none other than the most pleasant recollections of our city and its people. THE COUNTY OF CARLETON, in the centre of which Ottawa is situated, is, perhaps, financially speaking, the most independent municipality in the Dominion. The greater portion of the land comprised within the boundaries of the Metropolitan County is of the richest and most fertile description. It has an area of 415,291 acres, with a population of about 50,000. It is traversed by many fine macadamized roads, and the various railways coming into Ottawa pass through irr 32 THE CITY OF OTTAWA it. Surrounded by such tracts of lands as above described, rich in all the elements of agricultural prosperity, the City of Ottawa has a specially favorable location. In dealing with the question of its future as a city, it is not an easy matter to exaggerate. Its march must be onward and its destiny is assured. In a brief sketch of this description it has been found impossible to enumerate many of the minor attractions or particularize many of the fine establishments and buildings, mercantile and otherwise, within the limits of the City of Ottawa, consequently much that is worthy of notice has been unavoidably omitted. Visitors to the city will not fail to discover what has been thus necessarily passed over ; and doubtless from the marks of enterprise and progress visible on every hand they will be enabled to form a reasonable estimate of its unmistakable future. d, rich Dttawa lestion i. Its found »ns or dings, ttawa, idably at has marks ill be "uture. '( '■Ma ,» w '="'' HAU, OTTAWA. 1 ^•^-^^^^^ ''^^^;. f ^^rC^ ' --1 1..=, " Bl ^¥^ ^^^^^h' '^ H