26 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



colony is diversified by mountain, lake and river, and is of extraordi- 

 nary fertility, producing in abundance cereals, vegetables and fruit. 

 The rich gold-valley of the Fraser River is a good pastural region, 

 and with irrigation would be excellent for agriculture. There are large 

 forest districts through the province, the timber of which is very valu- 

 able. The Douglas pine yields spars from 90 to 100 feet long, and 

 20 to 24 feet in diameter. Often a tree 300 feet long without knot or 

 blemish is found. At Burrard Inlet, 9 miles from New Westminster, 

 there are pine trees from 27 to 30 feet in diameter. The natural resour- 

 ces are very valuable. Gold is found on the Fraser and Thompson rivers 

 and in the Cariboo district, while the yield of the province for the past 

 thirteen years is valued at nearly $28,000,000. There are also valuable 

 silver and copper mines. There are extensive and valuable coal beds, 

 easy of access. The fisheries are valuable, and one of the chief industries. 

 The climate is mild, and cattle can stay on the plains and among the hills 

 during the winter without housing. Winter lasts from November till 

 March ; but snow seldom remains long on the ground. Wheat, barley, 

 potatoes, turnips, apples, pears, &c., grow luxuriantly. The province, too, 

 is rich in fur-bearing animals, among these being black, brown and griz- 

 zly bears, lynx, marten, fox and beaver. The chief rivers are the Fraser, 

 which pursues a rapid course between steep and rocky banks, until, ap- 

 proaching the sea, it presents a fertile and richly wooded valley from fifty 

 to sixty miles in length. The Fraser is 700 miles long. The Thompson sur- 

 passes the latter in richness of scenery ; and it flows through one of the 

 most beautiful countries in the world. Steamers ascend the Fraser for 100 

 miles ; and beyond the terminus a government gravel road begins, and 

 extends up the river for 450 miles. Burrard Inlet is an excellent harbour, 

 and Port Moody, one of its inlets, will be the terminus of the Canada Paci- 

 fic Railway. Public affairs are in the hands of a lieutenant-governor and 

 an executive of five members ; a legislative assembly of twenty-five 

 members, elected every four years. Victoria, the capital, has a popu- 

 lation of 5,925. The colony was first established in 1858. A large 

 number of Chinese, attracted by railway building, have settled in the pro- 

 vince. Some came direct from China, others from California and other 

 parts of the American Pacific coast. The Canada Pacific railway in 

 course of construction, is intended to connect British Columbia with the 

 eastern provinces. There are large areas of first-rate agricultural lands 

 in the hands of the government, which makes the province suitable for 

 immigration, and large districts of timber. 



