NEW BRUNSWICK 



4145 



NEW BRUNSWICK 



page. Of the average annual production of 

 minerals in New Brunswick ($1,000,000), coal 

 represents from fifteen to twenty per cent. A 

 strange coal-like substance called albertite (be- 

 cause it was discovered in Albert County) was 

 formerly of importance, but the only known 

 - of supply are now exhausted or are too 

 small to be of commercial value. Albertite is 

 jet black, soft and brittle, and burns readily. 

 It is undoubtedly related both to coal and to 

 petroleum. It was formerly used in the manu- 

 facture of artificial gas and also of oil. 



Of the other minerals which are known to 

 exist the most valuable are iron, nickel, man- 

 ganese, antimony and salt. Gypsum, plum- 

 bago, granite, limestone and brick clay are 

 abundant, and freestone, which is in great de- 

 mand for grindstones and for building, occurs 

 chiefly in the eastern counties along the Gulf 

 of Saint Lawrence. In 1911 natural gas was 

 discovered near Moncton in Albert County, and 

 this field is now one of the three great sources 

 of supply in Canada. 



Trade and Manufactures. One industry, lum- 

 bering, is dependent to a large degree on the 

 rivers, but most of the commerce and manufac- 

 tures are the result of railway expansion. New 

 Brunswick now has about 2,000 miles of rail- 

 way in operation, and is served by the Inter- 

 colonial, the National Transcontinental, the 

 Canadian Pacific and a number of local lines. 

 Its long coast line and excellent harbors have 

 also been strong factors in commercial devel- 

 opment. Saint John, the chief port, has all of 

 the foreign trade and a considerable part of the 

 coastwise traffic, but some of the latter is 

 shared by Moncton, Chatham, Dalhousie and 

 ports. The foreign trade of New Bruns- 

 wick amounts in round numbers to $50,000,000 

 of uhirh one-third is imports and two- 

 exports. 



The chief article of export, which is also the 

 most important among manufactures, is lum- 

 Log and lumber products constitute 

 ."lightly mnrr than one-third of the value of 

 all manufactures about 115,000,000 out of $40,- 

 000,000. Wood pulp is a product of ever- 

 increasing importance, and should continue to 

 increase in value, for the supply of spruce is 

 large, if not inexhaustible. Cotton goods, car 

 i . wood pulp, iron and steel 

 t., bread and confectionery rank in the 

 named. New Brunswick has over 1,200 

 manufacturing establishments, employing at 

 least 25,000 m- salaries and wages 



amounting to $10.000,000 a year. 



COAT OF ARMS 



Government. The government of New 

 Brunswick is like that of the other provinces of 

 the Dominion. The chief executive is the lieu- 

 ten-mt-governor, who is appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor-General in Council for a five-year term. 

 His salary is 

 $9,000 a year. 

 The lieutenant- 

 governor appoints 

 the executive 

 council or cabi- 

 ne t, which is 

 composed of 

 members of the 

 legislative assem- 

 bly. As in all 

 the provinces the 

 cabinet or minis- 

 try is responsible 

 to the assembly and holds office only so long 

 as it commands the confidence of a majority of 

 the members. The ministry is composed of 

 the premier, provincial secretary and treasurer, 

 attorney-general, and the ministers of agricul- 

 ture, lands and mines, and public works. In 

 actual practice the premier usually holds one of 

 the other portfolios as well as the presidency of 

 the council. The legislative assembly, com- 

 posed of forty-seven members, is elected for 

 five years, but it may be dissolved sooner by 

 the lieutenant-governor. There was formerly 

 also an upper house, the legislative council, 

 whose fifteen members were appointed for life, 

 but this was abolished in 1892. 



Local government is carried on by county 

 councils, consisting of two councilors elected 

 biennially by each parish (the county is di- 

 vided into parishes, as in Quebec, not into 

 townships, as in Ontario). Unlike other prov- 

 inces there is no well-developed municipal sys- 

 tem. Cities may be incorporated by special act 

 of the legislature, and then elect their own 

 mayors and aldermen. 



The Courts. There are three classes of courts 

 in the province. The local courts are presided 

 over by police magistrates and justices of the 

 peace, whose jurisdiction i limited to cases 

 involving debts not over $80. The county 

 judges, six in number, appointed by the Do- 

 minion government, have jurisdiction in suits 

 for debts or damages up to $400, in actions 

 for tort to $200, and in suit* for penalties on 

 sheriff's bonds to any amount. The supreme 

 court is composed of seven judges, appointed 

 by the Governor-General, and each of its mem- 

 bers may act as a trial judge. This court hag 



