BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



BULGARIA. 



93 



the season of 1898 only 443,085 cases of salmon 

 (approximately) were put up, against 1,015,477 

 cases during 1897, by the British Columbia can- 

 neries. The duty on fish caught on the Ameri- 

 can side in traps (one half cent a pound) was 

 enforced during the season, and led to large busi- 

 ness being done in salmon canning on Puget 

 Sound, where the catch was 244,700 cases. 



Shipping. The Canadian Pacific Railway 

 steamers to the Orient continued to carry full 

 cargoes, and the Australian outgoing traffic in- 

 creased largely. Shipping on the coast during 

 the first part of 1898 was very lively, but after- 

 ward became dull. This, of course, was due to 

 the time that Klondikers selected for going into 

 that country. During the season steamers left 

 almost every day for the Yukon ports. Deep-sea 

 vessels other than the regular mail steamers were 

 few in 1898 compared with other years, owing 

 largely to the smallness of the salmon catch. 



Agriculture. The importance of this interest 

 continued to advance with the larger home mar- 

 kets growing up in the mining and coast towns 

 of the province. The area of land under culti- 

 vation has increased considerably, and in hops, 

 fruit growing, and general farming there has been 

 material progress. The dairy industry, with the 

 improved methods recently introduced, has be- 

 come quite important, and a good market is 

 found for all the butter and cheese produced. Cat- 

 tle raising, from the improved prices prevailing, 

 is increasing, and a ready market within the 

 province readily absorbs all produce placed upon 

 it, besides a large import of mutton from Aus- 

 tralia. Tobacco has been grown with marked 

 success in Okanagan valley. 



Mines and Minerals. The Rossland Miner, 

 in a review of the local work in 1898, says that 

 the year had seen the installation of the heaviest 

 machinery ever operated in British Columbia: 

 " The period has passed when small temporary 

 plants would suffice in operating the mines here, 

 and immense works are being erected. In point 

 of size, the new electrical hoist and gallows frame 

 at the War Eagle is the largest. It will cost, 

 complete, $80,000. The Mascot has a new elec- 

 trical compressor of seven-drill capacity. The 

 Deer Park has put in a seven-drill compressor 

 costing $10,000. The No. 1 has been equipped 

 with a hoist and an outfit costing $5,000, while 

 the Great Western has been similarly equipped. 

 The Nickel Plate has been provided with a com- 

 pressor costing $12,000. The Velvet is contract- 

 ing for a complete new power outfit that will cost 

 $5,000, and the Umatilla group on Sophia moun- 

 tain is putting in power. The Le Roi and the 

 Center Star have each put in complete new hoist- 

 ing plants. The heavy machinery either erected 

 or contracted for in the past year amounts in 

 value to $150,000. Exactly 1,033 men are em- 

 ployed in 28 of the more important properties 

 over Rossland camp. Other properties will em- 

 ploy about 200 men more, which will make the 

 mining pay roll of the camp 1,200 men. On the 

 average of $100 a month, the mines disburse $120,- 

 000 every pay day, or $1,440,000 a year. The in- 

 crease in the pay roll in the past year has been 

 nearly 100 per cent." 



In 1898 the value of British Columbia's pro- 

 duction of coal was $3,407,595; of gold, $2,939,- 

 852; of silver, $3,272,289. 



Chinese- Japanese Legislation. In 1897 the 

 Turner Government passed a measure prohibiting 

 immigration of Japanese or Chinese into the 

 province, and in February, 1899, the Semlin Gov- 

 ernment passed 14 bills granting company char- 

 ters that expressly excluded laborers of either of 



these nationalities. The Imperial Government re- 

 quested the Dominion Government to veto these 

 measures out of consideration for the friendly 

 relations which it was desired to have with 

 Japan, though it was intimated that no objec- 

 tion would be offered to similar legislation affect- 

 ing the Chinese alone. Of course there was a 

 storm in labor circles in British Columbia, and 

 the Government at first threatened to pass the 

 legislation again. But in July Sir Wilfrid Lau- 

 rier gave in Ottawa a fair explanation of the 

 whole matter, which it was generally felt must 

 prevail. He described the difference between the 

 two nationalities, and closed with the following 

 words: " It will not do for us as British subjects 

 only to sing ' God save the Queen,' and boast our 

 British connection at banquets and celebrations; 

 we must also be prepared to make some sacri- 

 fices. I know I do not in this Chamber utter 

 sentiments which are mine alone when I say all 

 should be prepared and ready to make every 

 sacrifice which our imperial connection may de- 

 mand at our hands. If we are to share the glory 

 and participate in the advantages, we must also 

 assume the duties, and be ready for them. These 

 are the reasons which have actuated the Govern- 

 ment in relation to this question." 



The Chinese labor question is one of the great 

 problems of the province, and the feeling is very 

 strong. The position may therefore be briefly 

 defined. At the census of 1881, the year in which 

 taxation was first imposed on Chinese landing in 

 the province, the Chinese population amounted 

 to 5,004 persons, which fell to 4,542 in 1886, and 

 further to 4,444 in 1891. In April, 1896, the local 

 census revealed a further fall to 3,711. During 

 the period 1881 to 1896 the poll tax was $50 a 

 head; and this seemed sufficient for the purpose 

 of preventing a large influx of the Chinese, except 

 for the circumstance that in 1894 and 1895 the 

 arrivals shown by the customs returns were 

 found to have been somewhat more than the 

 departures. In 1896 the Chinese immigrants act 

 amendment act raised the poll tax to $500, and 

 limited the number of Chinese passengers that 

 may be carried by vessels to one for every 200 

 tons burden. This act was to remain in force 

 only until the Asiatic restriction act, 1896, which 

 was reserved for her Majesty's assent, and was 

 afterward vetoed, should come into operation. 

 In 1896 the amount paid by the Chinese as poll 

 tax was $6,350, and in 1897 the sum was $1,200. 



Miscellaneous. The burning of New West- 

 minster evoked wide sympathy, and more than 

 $50,000 came to the relief fund. The city was 

 soon rebuilt, although the losses, after deducting 

 insurance, were nearly half a million dollars. In 

 May it seemed as if the Pacific cable scheme, in 

 which the province naturally took great interest, 

 was in danger of falling through, and the min- 

 istry promptly made an offer in behalf of British 

 Columbia to bear one ninth of the entire cost. 

 The arrangement was ultimately completed. 



BULGARIA, a principality in eastern Eu- 

 rope under the suzerainty of Turkey, formerly 

 a Turkish province. It was created an autono- 

 mous tributary principality by the Treaty of 

 Berlin, signed July 13, 1878. Eastern Roumelia, 

 created an autonomous province under a gov- 

 ernor general nominated by the Sultan, rebelled 

 in 1885 and proclaimed its union with Bulgaria, 

 which was virtually sanctioned by the Sultan 

 when, after a conference of representatives of 

 the signatory powers, he issued a firman on 

 April 6, 1886, confiding the administration to the 

 Prince of Bulgaria, and appointing him Governor 

 General. 



