Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/688

* QUEBEC. 602 QUEBEC. still ooutains extensive valuable forest areas, as is the case with the Ujiper Ottawa region. In the highland region to the north the sub-Aretic species of flora prevail, and there are but few varieties, in marlsed distinction from the south- em .section. The best forest land lies south of the watershed, and though not equal in value to the forests of nortiiern and central Ontario, is yet very valuable, and is to-day the great lumbering region of Quebec. The tama- rack and the spruce occupy the wet boggy lands in the southern portion of this region, becoming common also on the drier lands farther north. The Banksian pine flourishes in the sandy and rocky soil, but is inclined to be scrubb_y as com- pared witii the noble proportions it attains far- ther west. It is estimated that one-half the area of the province is still forest or woodland. Arctic flora is well represented along the gulf coast. Agriculture. Farming is the most important oecupatioiiT though cultivation is confined largely to the fertile river valleys. In the cultivated portions the soil is loamy and of great fertility. In the vast stretch of highland north of the Saint Lawrence it varies greatly in richness, much of the region being either swampy or rocky and barren, the barrenness increasing to the northward. The townshii)s adjacent to Ver- mont resemble that State in physical char- acteristics, being better adapted to stock- raising than to farming. Formerly this section produced enormous crops of hay for shipment into the States, but more recently dairying has been given great promi- nence, and the products of the soil are consumed at home. The products of the dairy are now the farmers' greatest source of income. Oats, wheat, and buckwheat are the leading cereals. Potatoes, peas, turnips, and tobacco are each important. Parts of the province are noted for their superior apples and plums, while the hardy varieties of smaller fruits grow every- where. Stock-raising receives great attention. Farming is not yet extensive on the interior lands north of the Saint Lawrence. South of the watershed the summers are sufliciently warm and the soil in many places is sulficiently fertile to guarantee an extensive agricultural develop- ment. This is especially true of the Lake Saint John and the L'p])er Ottawa regions. BU.SIXES.S Interest.s. The navigable Saint Lawrence River has been the determining factor in the development of Quebec. The largest ocean steamers ascend the river as far as Montreal. 500 miles from its mouth. The shipping industry of this port has made it the metropolis of Canada. Here is collected almost the wliole of the interior Canadian product which is destined for foreign shipment, to which are added also large quan- tities of food products from the Xorthern L'nited States. The navigation of this stream has been greatly improved (as has been also that of its north and south tributaries, the Ottawa and the Richelieu) by the construction of canals at points where their courses are interruplcd by rapids. For foreign shipments, see the article on Can.da. The principal export products of Que- bec are lumber, beef, apples, and dairy products — butter and cheese. The construction and maintenance of railroads have been aided by the Dominion, provincial, and municipal governments — the provincial aid averaging $15,000,000 annually. The mileage in 1900 was 3414 — about half" that of Ontario. Most of the lines are south of the Saint Law- rence. The only line running into the northern interior is the one from Quebec to Lake Saint .John. Shipbuilding, which was formerly an im- portant industry, has almost entirely ceased. Logs used to be shipped in the rough to British ports, l)ut now numerous sawmills have been established, and the timber is sawed into lumber before shipment. The presence of tanning barks, notably the hemlock, has given rise to an ex- tensive tanning industry. The spruce is being largely manufactured into wood pulp and Its products. Boots and shoes are made at Montreal and Quebec. Cottons are also manufactured, and there is an increased trade in printed cotton goods. The manufacture of matches, potash, and other chemical products is of some importance. A number of the river rapids have been utilized in the generation of electrical light and power. GovEKNMEXT. A Lieutenant-Governor, ap- pointed by the Governor-General of Canada, is at the head of the Provincial Government, He is assisted by a council of usually six, who are responsible to the legislative bodies — the Council, with 24 members, and the Assembly, with 74 members. The province sends 65 members to the Dominion House of Commons, For the year ending June 30, 1901, the principal sources i>i revenue were received from the sale of timber limits ($1,471,004), Dominion subsidies ($l,-278.- 987), and liquor licenses ($6C1,9G8), wOiich with other revenues aggregated $4,563,432. The total expenditure for the same year was $4,516,258. nf which the largest item was $1,436,510 intercut on the national debt. Finances. The principal sources of revenue are the subsidy from the Dominion Government and income from the sale of forests. The total revenue in 1900-01 was $4,563,432, and total ex- penditures $4,516,251. The gross debt in 1002 was $33,597,659. against which the treasury held assets of $11,364,132, leaving a net debt of .$22,- 233,.527. Population. The population of Quebec in- creased from 1.488.535 in 1891 to 1.04S.89S in 1901. This was a much larger rate of increase than is found in any of the other eastern prov- inces, and was made in spite of a very heavy emigration into the New England States. The gain is accounted for by the unusually large birth rate, the average size of the families being 5.5. The Indians of the province number 10.700, most of whom are well advanced in civilization. Queliec was originally settled by the French, whose descendants still form a large majority of the population. Their race has remained prac- tically intact: it is still French in language, manners, and temperament. This fact is of first importance when the government of the province is considered, and is the predominant factor in almost every phase of its social life. The East- ern Townships received a large number of loyal- ists from the American colonies during the Revolution. CiTiE.s. In 1001 the population of Montreal was 266,800: Quebec, the capital. 68.800; Saint Henri, 21.192; Hull, 13,900; and Sherbrooke, 11,700. Montreal is the largest city in the Dominion, and the large number of racial ele- ments represented give it a cosmopolitan air. The population of Quebec is mostly French.