432 



MANITOBA. 



MARYLAND. 



land, 48,044; for Weaver, 2,045; for Bidwell, 

 3,062 ; Union Labor, 336. Four congressmen 

 were elected, all Republicans. 



The working of the new ballot law gave gen- 

 eral satisfaction. The cost to the State of the 

 official ballots was about $11,000; the amount 

 estimated by the Secretary and appropriated by 

 the Legislature for the purpose was $7.500. 



MANITOBA AND THE NORTHWEST 

 TERRITORIES. The progress of these Terri- 

 tories in accessions of population and in develop- 

 ment of industries has been so rapid that it is 

 difficult to waylay the statistics. According to 

 the census returns of 1891, Manitoba had in- 

 creased her population during the previous dec- 

 ade at the rate of 144-95 per cent. ; the Terri- 

 tories, at the rate of 75-33. During the same 

 period British Columbia's increase was at the 

 rate of 97'36 per cent. But since the census was 

 taken, or assumed to have been taken, in the 

 spring of 1891, there has been a rapid and con- 

 tinuous influx of population into Manitoba and 

 the Territories. These new arrivals are almost 

 invariably agriculturists. A large proportion of 

 them are from Europe and the eastern provinces 

 of the Dominion ; but it is an indubitable fact 

 that the largest proportion are from the adjacent 

 States. All are making for the vast cereal re- 

 gion of the " Great Fertile Belt " of Canada. It 

 is not possible to say even yet, with anything 

 approaching accuracy, what is the real available 

 extent of that fertile belt ; but it is certain that 

 cereal crops, and even good sound wheat, can be 

 successfully grown in the Peace river and Mac- 

 kenzie river regions, as far north even as the 

 arctic circle. Wheat is the prime demand of 

 the host of immigrants pouring into the Cana- 

 dian Northwest Territories, but it is not the only 

 crop that receives attention. Other cereals pro- 

 duce good results, as do also root crops, which in 

 quality and productiveness can not be surpassed. 

 Cattle ranching has become a prominent indus- 

 try, especially in the Territory of Alberta, where 

 flocks and herds have already attained large pro- 

 portions. The resources of this region are not 

 confined to agricultural products. Its mineral 

 wealth abounds especially in the article of coal, 

 a matter of great moment in a country in which 

 fuel wood is rare. Bituminous coal abounds near 

 the eastern flank of the Rocky mountains, from 

 the United States boundary to the Arctic Sea. 

 Deposits of it are being worked at Sethbridge, 

 and rich deposits of anthracite have been exposed 

 near Banff and elsewhere. 



The Northwest Mounted Police comprise a 

 force which has no parallel in America. In one 

 sense they comprise a thoroughly and rigidly 

 drilled body of light cavalry ; but they are also 

 the equivalents of mounted infantry. They are 

 in the truest sense policemen, and are an exceed- 

 ingly active and efficient force, which probably 

 will grow to much larger proportions. The cav- 

 alry equipment was essential in such an immense 

 plain and prairie country, where the very peo- 

 ple who had especially to be kept in order the 

 numerous tribes of aborigines, that is were al- 

 ready skillful horsemen. The Mounted Police 

 force has proved a signal success. 



The Canadian Pacific Railway, with its many 

 ramifications, must also, so far as can be judged 

 from appearances, be counted a success ; and it 



seems more especially to pertain to the great 

 Northwest. Its published returns of traffic from 

 week to week indicate a steady increase, although 

 it is unequal to the traffic of certain rival lines 

 so far as the eastern provinces are concerned. 

 The projected line from Winnipeg to Churchill, 

 on Hudson's Bay, seems to be in a state of sus- 

 pension. 



MARYLAND, a Middle Atlantic State, one of 

 the original thirteen, ratified the Constitution 

 April 28, 1788 ; area, 12.210 square miles. The 

 population, according to each decennial census, 

 was 319,728 in 1790; 341,548 in 1800; 380,546 

 in 1810; 407,350 in 1820; 447,040 in 1830; 470,- 

 019 in 1840 ; 583,034 in 1850 ; 687,049 in 1860 ; 

 780,894 in 1870; 934,945 in 1880; and 1,042,390 

 in 1890. Capital, Annapolis. 



Government. The following were the State 

 officers during the year : Governor, Frank Brown, 

 Democrat ; Secretary of State, E. W. Le Compte ; 

 Attorney-General, John P. Poe ; Comptroller, 

 Marion D. Smith ; Treasurer, Spencer C. Jones ; 

 Insurance Commissioner, J. F. C. Talbott; State 

 Tax Commissioner, Frank T. Shaw ; Adjutant- 

 General, H. Kyd Douglas ; Chief Justice, Rich- 

 ard H. Alvey ; Superintendent of Public Instruc- 

 tion, E. B. Prettyman. 



Finances. The State debt amounts to $10,- 

 721,642.52. As an offset to this, the State holds 

 bonds and stocks to the amount of $6,845,676.- 

 85, on which the interest or dividends are prompt- 

 ly paid. The net debt therefore is $3,875,965.07. 



Valuations. The following comparative 

 table gives the taxable basis in each county of 

 Maryland and the city of Baltimore for the years 



1891 and 1892. This is the assessed value of real 

 and personal property. The total increase of 



1892 over 1891 is $5,134,451, of which Baltimore 

 County alone contributes $1.079,179, and Balti- 

 more city, $763,560. 



The reassessment bills passed by the Legisla- 

 ture were vetoed by Gov. Brown, 'in November 

 he issued to the people a call for their views 

 upon the best methods for framing a new meas- 

 ure, declaring that it was clearly the duty of the 

 next Assembly to enact a law upon the subject. 

 This proposition met with mueh opposition, and 



