CHAPTER LIV. 



The Question of Immigration. 



the exodus from the countries of europe — canada getting 

 ready to receive a population — political and commer- 

 cial union — millions in the old world yet to come to 

 the new — british columbia as a field for immigration 

 — the north-west. 



SfHE vast volume of immigration from the old settled coun- 

 tries of Europe to the American Continent has, within the 

 last half century, constituted an exodus which is one of the 

 ^F most remarkable features of modern history. However 

 the flood tide of this exodus has not yet been reached. The rapid 

 progress in the settlement and material development of the United 

 States during the past forty years left no room for the consideration 

 of any other portion of the continent. All eyes were turned towards 

 that country, and, with some considerable exceptions, during the 

 past three or four years nearly the whole of the immigration to 

 this continent found its way to that country. Canada, until 1867, 

 attracted but little or no attention. A large proportion of the popu- 

 lation of Canada at that date had been forced into the country from 

 the United States, owing to the wars between that nation and Great 

 Britain ; but, when Confederation was accomplished, and the Inter- 

 colonial Railway commenced, a new era was inaugurated. Canada 

 began to attract some small attention abroad, and people in the old 

 country began to consider it as a field for settlement. Again, in 

 1870, when the North- West Territories were attached to the 

 Dominion, and after British Columbia became a member of the 

 Canadian Union, the beginning of another and a greater era was 

 marked. Until then the Dominion did not promise any great future, 



