Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/403

 1899.] America. — Newfoundland. [395

disturbance. Canada desired access to the Yukon by sea, and it was proposed that the United States should lease a free port on the Lynn Canal to Canada, while still retaining all territorial sovereign rights.

The more recent discovery of gold in United States territory at Cape Nome, on the western coast of Alaska, near Nortorn Sound, was diverting the attention of miners from the Klondyke at the close of the year.

British Columbia passed repressive measures against the Japanese, and excluded aliens from the placer mines at Atlin. In June the Dominion authorities passed an order in council, at the request of the Imperial Government, disallowing these laws.

London was brought this year within ten days of Vancouver by the imperial limited train running between Montreal and the Pacific Coast, on the Canadian Pacific Eailway, in 100 hours with eighty stoppages.

Loyal Canada sent to the Transvaal war a large number of Volunteers, who distinguished themselves in action for effi- ciency and bravery.

In Manitoba the crops were the heaviest known for years. The wheat yield was nearly 40,000,000 of bushels, with an average yield of twenty and a half bushels per acre. There were immense crops of oats, barley, rye, flax and peas, all harvested in fine condition. More immigration from Eastern Canada and the United States than in any recent year was noted.

III. NEWFOUNDLAND.

The session of the Legislature closed on July 19. The Governor, at that time, said in his speech that the im- provement in the economic condition of the colony con- tinued, and that the good markets abroad for fishery products stimulated activity. Mining was active ; a slight increase had been made in the duties, thus equalising revenue and expenditure. No legislation had been asked for or enacted respecting the modus vivendi expiring that year. The Budget showed a deficit of $33,000 for the past year, with an estimated surplus for the current year of $30,000. An impost of 10 per cent, was to be levied upon existing duties.

The Bait Act was strictly enforced. The number of French fishermen along the treaty coast was less than ever before, and their lobster catch was a failure, owing to the scarcity of lobsters.

Mr. Morine, Minister of Finance, resigned in November, and was succeeded by Mr. W. J. S. Donnelly.

The total catch of hair seals for the season was announced in May as being 273,000, against 241,000 in the previous year.

Large developments in the production of coal, iron, and petroleum were going forward on the west coast of the island.