548 Our North Land. 



knolls or cliffs which form the margin of their excavated t bounds, 

 are woods, generally of poplar, except in the northern and western 

 fir fringe. On approaching the mountains their snow caps look like 

 huge tents encamped along the rolling prairie. Up to this great 

 camp, of which a length of one hundred and fifty miles is sometimes 

 visible, the river valleys wind in trenches, looking like the covered 

 ways by which siege works zig-zag up to a besieged city. On a 

 nearer view the camp line changes to ruined marble palaces, and 

 through their tremendous walls and giant woods you will soon be 

 dashing on the train for a winter basking on the warm Pacific coast. 



" You have a country whose value it would be insanity to ques- 

 tion, and which, to judge from the emigration taking place from the 

 older Provinces, will be indissolubly linked with them. It must 

 support a vast population. If we may calculate from the progress 

 we have already made in comparison with our neighbours we shall 

 have no reason to fear comparison with them on the new areas now 

 open to us. Exclusive of Newfoundland, we have now four million 

 four hundred thousand people, and these, with the exception of the 

 comparatively small numbers as yet in this Province, are restricted 

 to the old area. Yet for the last ten years our increase has been 

 over 18 per cent., whereas during the same period all the New 

 England States taken together have shown an increase of only 

 15 per cent. In the last thirty years in Ohio the increase has 

 been 61 per cent. — Ontario has been during that space of time 

 101 per cent, of increase, while Quebec has increased 52 per 

 cent. Manitoba in ten years has increased 289 per cent., a greater 

 rate than any hitherto attained, and, to judge from this year's 

 experience, is likely to increase to an even more wonderful degree 

 during the following decade. 



" Statistics are at all times wearisome, but are not these full of 

 hope ? Are they not facts giving just ground for that pride in our 

 progress which is conspicuous among our people, and ample reason 

 for our belief that the future may be allowed to take care of itself? 

 They who pour out prophecies of change, prescribing medicines for 

 a sound body, are wasting their gifts and their time. It is among 

 strangers that we hear such theories propounded by destiny men. 



