Prince Edward Island: Information regarding its climate, soil, resources, &c

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D E EDWARD IS j l\L\ L'i

INFORMATION

"!I.G \KDI\G T n

CLIMATE, SOIL

RESOURCES,

Published by author!1* > <TO¥cnuiient,

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D RINCE EDWARD IS

INFORMATION

REGARDING ITS

CLIMATE, SOIL,

RESQ

Published by authority ofTKe^ Provincial Government.

CHAELOTTETOWN: PRINTED AT THE HERALD OFFICE, QUEEN STREET,

1883.



>r



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND,

Prince Edward Island, the smallest of the Pro¬ vinces of the Dominion of Canada, is situated in the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Strait of Northumberland, which varies from nine to thirty miles in width. This Island was discovered by Sebastian Cabot, on St. John's Day, 24th June, 1497, who called it the Island of St. John. This name it bore until 1799, when, out of compliment to the Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria, at that time Commander of the Forces in Halifax, it was changed, by an Act of the Colonial Legislature, to that of Prince Edward Island. In shape it takes the form of an irregular crescent, con¬ cave towards the north, measuring in length ]50 miles, and being deeply indented, at many points, by large bays and inlets, varies in width from four to thirty miles. It contains an area of 2,133 square miles, equal to 1,365,400 acres, and its population, at the last census (1881) was 108,891.

Seen from the water, the appearance of Prince Edward Island is exceedingly prepossessing. On approaching the coast, the country affords a charm¬ ing picture of cultivation and well wooded land,



2 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

with villages and cleared farms dotted along the

shores, and by the sides of the bays and rivers. The Island is, generally speaking, level, but rises here and there to an elevation, never exceeding 500 feet above the sea. The conformation of the Island is

good, and the scenery very much resembles that of

England, while thickly scattered, flourishing home¬ steads indicate a degree of prosperity rarely met with in a new country.

Communication with the Mainland is maintained, during the period of ordinary navigation, by a line of steamers connecting daily with ports in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and thus with the various railway systems of Canada and the United States. Freight and passenger steamers connect

weekly with Quebec and Montreal to the north, and with Halifax and Boston to the south. The follow¬

ing table gives the distances from some of the

principal cities of Canada, and the length of time at

present required to make the journey:—

CHARLOTTETOWN TO MILES. HOURS.

Halifax, Nova Scotia 160 12

St. John, New Brunswick 200 12

Quebec 600 38 Montreal 800 48 Ottawa 960 53

Boston, Massachusetts 600 32 New York 850 40

The adoption of a shorter route to New Bruns¬

wick, via Capes Traverse and Tormentine, and the

opening of a through line to Boston, via the new

Bridge across the St. John River, will, by another

season, greatly lessen the distance to the Upper

1L_



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 3

Provinces and the United States. It will then be

possible to reach Boston from Charlottetown in 24 hours.

There is direct telegraphic communication by submarine cable, and telegraph offices are established in all the principal towns and villages, and along the line of railway. Mails are despatched daily to the Mainland, and weekly to Great Britain, while advantage is taken of intervening opportunities via New York. There are excellent postal facilities throughout the Province—post offices being estab¬ lished at intervals of three or four miles, and of which there are 265, or one for every four hundred inhabitants.

A line of Railway traverses the Island from

Tignish, the western terminus, to Souris, the east¬

ern, with branches to Charlottetown, Georgetown and Cape Traverse, a total length of 210 miles.

Ordinary navigation generally closes about the middle of December, and re-opens about the middle of April. During this time communication is carried on with the Mainland by a steamer specially constructed for winter navigation. The various efforts in this direction can so far, however, be re¬

garded as experimental only, and although its prac¬ ticability has been demonstrated, yet the difficulties

attending it have not been fully surmounted. This service is supplemented by boats which cross to New Brunswick at the nearest points, a distance of nine miles. With the completion of the Branch Railway to Cape Traverse on the Island, and that to Cape Tormentine in New Brunswick, there is no doubt that a permanent ferry will be established between these two points, and that navigation during winter



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

will, ere long, be accomplished with but little

difficulty.

The climate of Prince Edward Island is remark¬

ably healthy. The cold is certainly more severe, and lasts for a longer period than in England, but the atmosphere is dry and salubrious, and the sum¬ mer is of such brightness and beauty as amply to

compensate for the winter. The weather generally becomes unsteady in the early part of November, and sometimes sharp frosts, with showers of snow, take place about the middle of the month, the frost

gradually increasing until the ground resists the

plough, which is ordinarily about the second week in December. The cold then increases rapidly, and the ground is covered with snow. During the months of January and February the weather is

usually steady, with the thermometer occasionally from 10 to 15 degrees below zero, of Fahrenheit.

March, as in England, is a windy month, and is

throughout very changeable. During the latter

part of this month the snow rapidly melts, and the ice becomes rotten and dangerous for travel, and

wholly disappears about the middle of April. Strong southerly winds now set in, and the last

vestiges of frost speedily vanish. The spring is

short, and in the beginning of June the summer bursts forth, and from this time till the end of Sep¬ tember, the climate resembles that of the southern coast of England. The thermometer, however, during calm weather, indicates a greater degree of

heat, but the sea breeze seldom fails to lower the

temperature, so that little inconvenience thence arises. About the middle of September the autumn commences. The cold is neither so great in winter, nor the heat so intense in summer as in the western



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Provinces of the Dominion, while the Island is almost entirely free from those fogs to which the

neighboring Provinces are subject. This exemption is accounted for by the fact that the waters which Avash the shores of the Island do not come in imme¬ diate contact with those of a different temperature, and that Cape Breton and Newfoundland, both of which are high and mountainous, lying between it and the Atlantic, arrest the fogs, which would otherwise be driven from the Banks to the Island.

The following table is compiled from the Official Meterological Register at Charlottetown, kept__^ Mr. Cundall, an officer of the department:—/^VAL ^s

Highest temperature Lowest temperature Mean of all highest tempera¬

tures Mean, of all lowest tempera¬

tures Amount of rain (inches).... Amountof snow (inches).... Total precipitation Number of fogs observed.... Number of thunders Number of lightnings Number of gales

/vj 1878. 1879. 1880. 18#D

87.50 83.90 86.80 85.TO -13.80 -17.90 -11.30 -15.0(r

49.65 47.50 48.33 48.02

36.01 32.29 32.47' 32.99 32.467 25.127 24.245 29.119

93.60 170.06 146.10 147.75 41.71 42.018 38.585 43.894

13 16 19 21 7 9 18 11 8 14 23 14

21 19 19 16

m o m

,85.40

P& rK,

47.19

31.65 26.733 212.90 48.023

8 9

11 24

Charlottetown, the seat of Government, is plea¬ santly situated upon a point of rising ground, at the confluence of the York, Elliott and Hillsborough Rivers. It contains about 13,000 inhabitants, and is well laid out with wide streets, which intersect at right angles. Its affairs are managed by a Corpor-




ation, consisting of a Mayor and ten Councillors. The harbor is large, deep and well sheltered, and is said by Admiral Bayfield (a standard authority) to

be, in every respect, one of the finest harbors in the world. It is the principal port of shipment.

Summerside, the capital of Prince County, is situated upon Bedeque Bay, 40 miles west of Char¬ lottetown. It is a town of about 3,000 inhabitants, and does a large trade in shipbuilding and exporta¬ tion of produce, &c. It has a fine harbor.

Alberton, to the westward of the Island, is distant 40 miles from Summerside, and is situate upon Cascumpec Bay, which is largely frequented by fishing vessels that come in to trans-ship their fish and secure supplies, and occasionally for shelter.

Georgetown, 30 miles east of Charlottetown, is the capital of King's County. It has a magnificent harbor, which remains open nearly the whole year.

Souris, 60 miles east of Charlottetown, is the out¬ let for the exports of a large portion of King's County. It also possesses a fine harbor, which has, of late, been considerably improved.

Other rising villages there are, such as Kensing¬ ton, Montague, Cardigan, Crapaud, Tignish, Mount Stewart, Hunter River, Breadalbane, &c.

Prince Edward Island is noted for the fertility of its soil, and it may confidently be asserted that, with the exception of a few bogs and swamps composed

.of a soft, spongy turf, or a deep layer of wet, black mould, the whole Island consists of highly valuable cultivable land. The soil, which is we'll watered with numerous springs and rivers, is formed for the most part of a rich layer of vegetable matter above




a bright loam, resting upon a stiff clay and sand¬ stone ; the land, in its natural state, being covered with timber and shrub of every variety. All kinds of grain and vegetables grown in England ripen here in great perfection. The principal crops raised are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and turnips, of which oats and potatoes are exported in immense

quantities. Mr. J. P. Sheldon, Professor of Agri¬ culture at the Wilts and Hants Agricultural College, Downton, near Salisbury, who visited the Island in 1880, thus writes of it:—" In some respects this is. one of the most beautiful Provinces of the Dominion, and it has probably the largest proportion of culti¬ vable land. The soil, generally, is a red sandy loam, of one character throughout, but differing in

quality. On the whole, the grass land of the Island and the character of the sward, consisting as it does of indigenous clovers and a variety of the finer

grasses, reminded me strongly of some portions of Old England. The people, too, are more English in appearance than those of any other of the Pro¬

vinces, with the exception of New Brunswick. This is probably owing to a cooler climate, and the

contiguity of the sea. Prince Edward Island is covered with a soil that is easy to cultivate, sound and healthy, capable of giving excellent crops of roots, grain and grass—an honest soil that will not fail to respond to the skill of the husbandman. The Island grows very good wheat, and probably better oats than most other parts of the Dominion. Of the former the crops are from 18 to 30 bushels, and of the latter 25 to 70 bushels per acre. Barley, too, makes a very nice crop. Wheat, at the time of my visit, was worth 4s. per bushel of 60 lbs., oats Is. 9d. per bushel of 34 lbs., and barley 2s. 6d. to 3s. per




bushel of 48 lbs. The Island is noted for its large crops of excellent potatoes, which not uncommonly foot up to 250 bushels an acre of fine handsome tubers. Swedes make a fine crop, not uncommonly reaching 750 bushels per acre of sound and solid bulbs."

The following table gives the yield per acre, and the prices.

BUSHELS.

VALUE.

DECIMAL. STERLING.

Wheat 18 to 30 11.25 to |1.50 5s. 2d. to 6s. 3d. Oats 40 to 60 0.36 to 0.40 Is. 6d. to Is. 8d.

Barley 30 to 45 0.65 to 0.70 2s. 8d. to 2s. lid. Potatoes 250 0.18 to 0.30 9d. to Is. 3d.

Turnips ] 500 to 800 0.14 to 0.20 7d. to lOd.

In addition to the natural fertility-of the soil, the

great facility for obtaining manure may be set down as one of its principal advantages. In most of the

bays and rivers are found extensive deposits of mussel mud, formed by decayed oyster, clam and mussel shells. These deposits vary from live to

twenty feet in depth, and their surface is often several feet below low water level. Machines

placed upon the ice, and worked by horse power, are used for raising this manure. Procured in this

way, in large quantities, and possessing great fer¬

tilizing qualities, it has vastly improved the agricul¬ tural status of the Island. An eminent authority, Dr. J. W. Dawson, F. R. S., C. M. G., Principal, and Vice Chancellor of McGill University, Montreal, says: "The great wealth of Prince Edward Island consists in its fertile soil, and the preservation of



""—--• "———


this in a productive state is an object of imperative importance. The ordinary soil of the Island is a

bright, red loam, passing into stiff clay on the one

hand, and sandy loam on the other. Naturally, it contains all the mineral requisites for cultivated

crops, while its abounding in peroxide of iron enables it rapidly to digest organic manures, and also to retain well their ammoniacal products. The chief natural manures afforded by the Island, and which may be used in addition to the farm manures to increase the fertility of the soil, or restore it when exhausted, are (1) Mussel Mud, or oyster shell mud of the bays. Experience has proved this to be of the greatest Value. (2) Peat and Marsh Mud and Swamp Soil. These afford organic matters to the run out soil, at a very cheap rate. (3). Sea¬

weed, which can be obtained in large quantities on

many parts nf the shores, and is of great manurial

value, whether fresh or composted. (4). Fish Offal. The heads and bones of cod are more especially of much practical importance. (5). Limestone. The brown earthy limestones of the Island are of much value in affording a supply of this material, as well as small quantities of phosphates and alkalies. Where manures require to be purchased from abroad, those that will be found to produce the greatest effects are those capable of affording phosphates and

alkalies, more especially bone earth, super-phos¬ phates of lime and guano; but when fish offal and seaweed can be procured in sufficient quantity, or

good dressings of the oyster deposit are applied, these fereign aids may well be dispensed with, at least for many years." Of this deposit Professor Sheldon speaks as follows : " The Island possesses one advantage which is unique and immensely

\




valuable. I refer now to its thick beds of ' mussel mud' or '

oyster mud,' which are found in all the

bays and river mouths. The deposit, which is com¬

monly many feet thick, consists of the organic remains of countless generations of oysters, mussels, clams, and other bi-valves of the ocean, and of crustaceous animals generally. The shells are gen¬ erally more or less intact, embedded in a dense

deposit of mud-like stuff, which is found to be a fer¬ tilizer of singular value and potency. The supply of it is said to be almost inexhaustible, and it is indeed a mine of great wealth to the Island. A

good dressing of it restores fertility in a striking manner to the poorest soils—clover grows after it

quite luxuriously, and, as it were, indigenously—by its aid heavy crops of turnips and potatoes are raised, and, indeed, it may be regarded as a manure of great value, and applicable to any kind of crop. Nor is it soon exhausted, for the shells in it decay year by year, throwing off a film of fertilizing matter."

Of late years very considerable improvements have been made in raising farm stock. The horses of the Island enjoy a high reputation, much' atten¬ tion having been bestowed upon their breeding. In late Exhibitions, open to the whole Dominion, held in Montreal and Halifax, a large share of the honors and prizes for horses was awarded to this Province. For sheep, also, it is especially suited, the mutton being of" a very fine flavor. Swine are also kept in large numbers, Island pork being well and favorably known in Dominion and American markets. The Provincial Government maintains a Stock Farm, on which pure bred Stock is raised and distributed through the country. Professor Sheldon




writes thus: "For sheep, particularly, the Island

appears to be well adapted, for the soil is light, dry, and sound, growing a thick-set, tender, and nutritious

herbage. For cattle, too, it is suitable, though, perhaps, less so than for sheep. For horses the

Island has been famous for a long time, and American bu}-ers pick up most of those there are for sale. It is not improbable, in fact, that, taking them for all in all, the horses of the Island are

superior to those of any other Province; it seems to be, in a sense, the Arabia of Canada. The sheep, as a rule, are fairly good, but open to improvement."

The following table shows the principal farm

productions of 1880, compared with those of 1870, as extracted from the census:—

ARTICLES. 1871 1881 INCREASE DECREASE

269,392 3,120,576

176,441 75,109

1,325 3,375,726

395,358

546,986 3,538,219

119,368 90,458

3,169 6,042,191 1,198,407

42,572 15,247

143,791 1,688,690

196,273 25,098

1,367 10,209

552,083 514,682 30,088 34,843

277,594 418,363

57,073 15,349

1,844 2,666,465

803,049

Bus. Tim'y&Clov'r Seed 11,864 68,349

981,939 155,223

3,383 75,442

706,751 41,050

Lbs of Maple Sugar.... Lbs. of Tobacco Lbs of Hops Lbs of Wool Yards home-made cloth 428,313 86,369 Yards home-made Linen Bus. Apples, Grapes, &c.




Prince Edward Island is, without doubt, the best

fishing station in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but the habits and feelings of the inhabitants are so decid¬ edly agricultural, that the fisheries have not re¬ ceived from them the attention which they deserve. They consist chiefly of mackerel, lobsters, herring, cod, hake and oysters, while salmon, bass, shad, halibut and trout, are caught in limited quantities. Their value may be appreciated from the fact that, during 1882, there were taken from the sea 16,000,- 000 lbs. weight of fish food, and 107,250 lbs. from the running waters, besides 5,500,000 of edible fish used as bait. In other words, there were taken, at the lowest calculation, far food, 8,000,000 of mack¬ erel, 6,000,000 of herring, and 10,000,000 of cod and hake, 3,000,000 of oysters, and of lobsters 22,000,000, besides other fish. The present annual value of the oyster fishery is $150,000, and this most valuable industry is capable of vast develop¬ ment. The export of lobsters for 1882 was 100,522 cases, containing 4,825,104 lbs.

The following statistics compare the fisheries of 1880 with those of 1870 :—

Vessels and boats employed Men do Quintals of cod, haddock, hake and

pollock caught ' Barrels of herring and gasperattx Barrels of mackerel Barrels of other fish Barrels of oysters Lbs. of canned lobsters

1S70

1,183 1 646

15,649 16,831 16,047

6,711

1880

2,729 5,792

26,392 22,457 91,792

706 175,408

3,275,316

INCREASE

1,546 4,146

10,743 5,626

75.745

3,268,605




But little has been attempted towards developing the coal of the Island. Its proximity to the exten¬ sive coal fields of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and the depth at which its deposits exist render

mining unprofitable for the present at least. Upon the subject of peat as fuel, Dr. Dawson says : " The

question of fuel is likely, from the rapid disap¬ pearance of the forests, to be a matter of extreme

importance in Prince Edward Island. The cheap¬ ness of coal in Nova Scotia, along with the easy transport by Avater to most parts of the Island, and the convenient inland transportation, must prevent any serious difficulty; but it is worthy of considera¬ tion whether measures should not be taken by the Government for the protection of the remainder of the forests, and whether the time has not come for the utilization of the large deposits of peat existing in some parts of the Province. The importance of this subject may be inferred from the following calculations by Dr. Harrington, as to the quantity! of peat in the three great turbaries, noticg^koaerOy^, a previous heading:

Lennox Island Bog, 20,200 tons at $4, Squirrel Creek,... 500,000 tons at Black Bank, 1,777,248 tons at

2,297,448

,00t&6t>G 08,992^

-1%

" Dr. Harrington has made comparative trials of the peat with that in use in Canada, which show that the quality, in the case of the largest of the three deposits, is excellent, and as the facilities for its extraction and shipment, especially at the Black

Bank, are all that could be desired, there can be no doubt that the three deposits above, without




mentioning others, are capable of supplying a very large quantity of good fuel.''

The manufactures of Prince Edward Island are

limited, but have rapidly developed of late. They consist of Butter, Cheese, Starch and Soap Factories, Tanneries, Grist, Saw and Woolen Mills, Factories for canning and preserving Meat and Fish, Carriage Factories, &c. By the census of 1881 the figures of Island industries were as follows :—-

Capital invested $2,000,000 Number of hands employed... 5,767 Yearly wages, over $800,000 Value of products $3,500,000

In 1882 two cheese factories were put in opera¬ tion, and one creamery, for the manufacture of butter and cheese. The production of that year was about 2,000 boxes of cheese, valued at $12,000, or £2,400 stg. This year the number of cheese factories has increased to four, and the owners expect to place in the market about 5,000 boxes. The quality is pronounced excellent, and it meets with a ready sale in the adjoining Provinces, as well as entirely taking the place of the imported article at home. The value of this year's operations is estimated at $28,000, or £5,600 stg. This year the number of starch factories has increased to nine, and it is anticipated that the manufacture will reach some 2,000 tons, valued at £12 stg. per ton, equal to $120,000. When it is remembered that these factories are all less than three years in exist¬ ence, the results must be adjudged as highly satis¬ factory.




A

Prince Edward Island existed as a separate Gov¬ ernment from the 1st May, 1769, to 1st July, 1873, when it became a Province of the Dominion of Canada. It was not, however, until the 7th July, 1773, that the General Assembly met, under Walter

Patterson, its first Governor. Responsible Govern¬ ment was conceded in 1851, since which time the Executive has been distinctly recognized as respon¬ sible to the Legislature. The Government is ad¬ ministered by a Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Dominion Government, assisted by an Executive Council of nine members of the Legislature. The other branches are the Legislative Council of thir¬ teen members, and the House of Assembly of thirty members. The system of Government is the same as in the other Provinces of the Dominion, except that the Legislative Council is eleclive. The Island is divided into three ounties, each of which elects four Councillors (Charlottetown returning one

additional) and ten representatives to the Lower House. There is no property qualification for members of the Legislative Council; for its electors the qualifications are full age, and the occupation of

property to the value of $325. The property quali¬ fication of a member of the House of Assembly is the possession of freehold or leasehold estate to the value of $163, over and above all encumbrances. The qualifications of electors for the Lower House are full age, a residence of twelve months, and the

performance of two days labor on the roads, or the

payment of seventy-five cents commutation money. The Island is represented in the Dominion Parlia¬ ment by four Senators, and six members of the House of Commons. The qualifications of electors for the Commons are the same as those for the House of Assembly.




The Revenue, which amounted in 1882 to $233,- 465, or £47,971 stg., is derived from subsidy allowed by the Dominion Government, moneys arising from sale of Government lands, fees, &c.

(the Provincial Government levies no taxation), and is applied to Education, the Administration of

Justice, the maintenance of the Public Works and

Buildings, and of the Executive Government.

The Courts consist of—

(1.) Court of Chancery, of which the Lieutenant Governor is ex-officio Chancellor, and the judi¬ cial powers of which are exercised by a Master of the Rolls and Vice Chancellor.

(2.) Court of Divorce, of which the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Executive Coun¬ cil are Judges.

(3.) Supreme Court, presided over by a Chief Justice and two Assistant Judges.

(4.) County Courts, of which there is one in each

County, presided over by a Judge.

(5.) Court of Probate of Wills, with one Judge.

(6.) Stipendiary Magistrates and Justices of the Peace.

The administration of the Educational interests of the Province is vested in a Board of Education, a Chief Superintendent and Inspectors. Each Dis¬

trict, of which there are 445, has a local Board of

Trustees, elected annually by the ratepayers. By the report of the Superintendent for 1882, it appears that there were then 425 public schools, viz.,




one College and Normal School, thirteen High Schools, twenty-six Advanced Schools, and three hundred and eighty-five Primary Schools. The salaries of the teachers are paid from the Provincial

Treasury, but may be supplemented by local assess¬

ment, in which case the Treasury pays a further

equal amount. The Government subsidy varies, according to grade, from $180 to $450 for male

teachers, and from $130 to $380 for female teachers. The amount paid for Education for the year 1882 was $97,411,77, over £20,000 sterling, being nearly 42 per cent, of the revenue.

For more than half a century what was known as the "Land Question" was, to use a phrase that has become historical,

" a fruitful source of discontent."

Now, happily, it is possible to write of our beautiful Island with merely a passing reference to this griev¬ ance, and to say that it no longer exists. Absentee

proprietorship has been abolished, and the Local

Government, having purchased the interests of the

landlords, have taken their place, not, however, for the purpose of exacting the annual rent from the

tenants, but with the object of making them owners of the soil which they have redeemed from the wilderness. Of this immense advantage by far the

great majority of the tenants have availed them¬

selves, to such an extent, indeed, that at the close of 1882, of the 142,011 acres remaining unsold of the 843,981 owned by the Government, only 75,000 acres represented land held by parties who had not

yet purchased. The remaining 67,000 acres may be set down as the available uncultivated and vacant Government land. These consist of forest lands of medium quality, the very best having, of course,

2



J8 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

been taken up by the tenants in the first instance, and their price averages about one dollar per acre. Parties desiring to settle upon them are allowed eighteen years to pay for their holdings, the first

eight years free, the purchase money then to bear interest at five per cent., and to be payable in ten annual instalments; the only other conditions are that the settler shall, within two years, erect build¬

ings to the value of $65. and clear and cultivate an acre of ground yearly for the first eight years.

Although there is apparently little room for new settlers, yet Prince Edward Island is a desirable field for a certain class of emigrants who, in search of a ready-made farm, where they may have the social comforts of life within their reach, are pre¬ pared to pay a higher price rather than go westward. Such farms can be obtained in the Island, and vari¬ ous circumstances have contributed to place them in the market. The desire for change, and to see the world on a larger scale than afforded them at home, has led many of the youth to the great North West, and to the busier life in the large cities of the United States. The adoption of other pursuits has also deprived the farmer of the assistance of his sons, and, having himself acquired a competency, he is often anxious to sell and to remove into town. Others again have been unfortunate, and are bur¬ dened with debts, of which they desire to relieve themselves and start afresh. The price of such land varies much according to its quality, situation, and buildings, but, with good buildings, a farm of 100 acres can be obtained from $20 to $35 (£4 to

£7) an acre. Facilities for travel and transportation are excellent, the roads are good, and few farmers are as much as six miles from a shipping place for

Y



~T

^^.^^.^^ .,..»-.«^ »^^m«Bmm«»aaB!.MgB«Mmi


their surplus produce. All the necessaries of life can be had at very low rates. Labor-saving machines of the most approved kind can be purchased or hired without any difficulty, the competition in this branch being so keen.

The following table contains interesting stat¬ istics :—

Number of owners of Land 16,663 " occupiers of Land 13,629 " acres of Land occupied... 1,126,653 « "

improved 596,731 u Horses owned 31,335 " Horned Cattle owned 90,722 " Sheep owned 166,496 " Swine owned 40,181 " Vessels owned 267

" Tanneries 36 " Carding Mills 25

r

" Grist and Saw Mills 280 " Limekilns 176 " Cloth Factories 9 "

Printing Offices 12 "

Shipyards 20

The volume of exports from the Province is very large, and few, even of the residents of the Island, are aware of the quantities of products annually shipped to other countries, and of the sum of money returned to the people therefor. The following tables, which have been compiled from the Customs Returns, show their value for the year ended 30th September, 1883, to have been about three millions of dollars, more than double that of the year 1871 :—

X



EXPORTS

From, Prince Edward Island for year ended 30th September, 1883, and their value.

to o

ARTICLES.

Oats.... Barley.

Potatoes Turnips Other Vegetables- Starch

Hay Timothy.

Pork Beef and Mutton. Preserved Meats.. Lard and Tallow.

Lobsters Mackerel... Oysters Dried Fish.

QUANTITY.

1,525,000 bushels 11,000 "

1,345,000 "

33,000 "

2,140,000 lbs.

380 tons 1,000 bushels

18,100 bbls.

DECIMAL.

$610,000 8,000

336,500 6,600 5,400

64,500

5,500 2,000

272,500 16,500

104,000 17,000

470,000 200,000 30,000 17,000

618,000

413,000

7,500

410,000

STERLING.

£127,000

85,000

1,540

84,250

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Other Pish. Pish Oil

Poultry and Game. Eggs

Butter and Cheese. Horses Horned Cattle Sheep Swine

Hides and Skins. Leather

Wool Woolen Cloth.

Lumber and Brick Carriages, and Agricultural Implements., Shipping Miscellaneous

1,225,000 doz.

1,536 1,776

12,539 180

57,295 lbs.

32,000 1,000

3,000 220,000

750,000

170,000 60,000 40,000

1,000

66,000 24,000

14,500 12,500

223,000 30,000

271,000

90,000

— 27,000 12,000 10,000

128,000 10,000

$3,000,000

154,000

45,820 hj 6,165 W i—i

!25 o a

55,650 tel o 3

18,500 i> -sa o

5,550 h-1 2,465

SLAND.

2,050 26,300

2,150

£616,440

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COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE VALUE OP THE EXPORTS OF THE PRODUCTS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND FOR THE YEARS

ENDED RESPECTIVELY, 31ST DECEMBER, 1871, AND 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1883.

ARTICLES.

Oats Barley Wheat : Flour and Meal.... Potatoes Turnips Other Vegetables. Starch Hay Seed Pork Beef and Mutton. Preserved Meat.. Lard and Tallow. Preserved Fish... Mackerel Oysters Dried Fish

1871.

QUANTITIES.

1,229,174 bushels 28,030 "

31 "

355,048 25,870

338 tons 678 bus.

9,490 bbls.

VALUE.

$511,635 18,665

55 9,900

99,844 4,560

277

5,392 790

125,600 4,130

5,334 11,770

147,085 12,683 57,181

1882-3.

QUANTITIES.

1,525,000 bushels 11,000 "

Oatmeal 1,345,000

33,000

2,140,000 lbs. 380 tons

1,000 bus.

18,100 bbls.

VALUE.

$610,000 8,000

1.500 336,500

6,600 5,400

64,500 5,500 2,000

272,500 16,500

104,000 17,000

470,000 200,000 30,000 17,000

to to

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Other Fish Fish Oil Poultry Eggs Butter Cheese Horses Cattle Sheep : Swine Hides and Skins Leather Wool Woolen Cloth Lumber and Brick Carriages, Agricultural Implements, &c. Tobacco Shipping Sundry

178,451 lbs. 66 lbs.

422 523

5,292 368

40,746 lbs.

25,032 2,061 1,440

88,313 26,930

12 39,530 12,210 17,200 1,105

11,700 1,000

13,120

10,903 586 915

210,000 1,587

$1,478,645

81,235 lbs. 97,225 lbs. 1,536 1,776

12,539 180

57,295 lbs.

32,000 1,000 3,000

220,000 17,500 12,500

170,000 60,000 40,000

1,000 66,000 24,000 14,500 12,500 12,000 10,000 2,000

128,000 6,500

$3,000,000

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MARKET PRICES AT THE FOUR SEASONS.

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Beef, small, tf'ft... Beef, quarter, <f*ft. Mutton, P- ft Lamb, «<- ft Pork, small, ̂ ft Pork, carcase, ̂ ft.. Turkeys each Geese each Duekseaeh Fowls each Chickens per pair.. Butter, fresh, f"b.. Butter, salt, & ft E?gs per dozen Flours 100 ft Oatmeal & 100 ft Oats per bush Hay <P100 ft.' Potatoes V bush. Turnips V bush..

EASTER.

Decimal.

5 to 12c. 4 to 9c. 5 to 9c. 5 to 8c.

10 to 12c. 6 to 8c.

1.00 to 1.25 50 to 60c 30 to 40c, 20 to 25c. 24 to 27c, 24 to 26e, IB to 18c.

2.90 to 3.00 3.00 to 3.50 40 to 42c '45 to50e. 25 to 30c. 16 to 20c.

Sterling.

2dto6d 2d to 4d 2d to 4d 2d to 4d 5d to 6d 3d to 4d 4s. 2d to 5s. 2d

2s. Id to 2s. 6d Is. 3d to Is. 8d

lOd to Is. Is. to Is. Id Is. to Is. Id

8d to 9d 12s. to 12s. fid

12s. 6d to 14s. 7d is. 8d to Is 9d ' Is. lOd to 2-i.

Is. to is. 3d 8d to lOd

FIRST JULY.

Decimal.

7 to 14c. 6 to 10c. 8 to 12c. 10 to 12c.

1.00 to 1.75 35 to 45c. 30 to 4 ic. 25 to HftC. 30 to 50c. 18 to 20c. 12 to 14c, 3.00 to 3 25 3.25 to 3.50 42 to 44c 40 to 45c. 20 to 2"ic.

16c,

Sterling-.

Sdto7d 3d to 5d 4d to 6d 5d to 6d

4s. 2d to 7s, 3d is. 5d to Is. lOd is. 3d to is. 8d

Is to Is. 5d Is. 3d to 2s. id

9d to lOd 6d to 7d

12s. 6d to 13s. 6d 13s. 6d to 14s 7d Is. 9d to Is. lOd Is. fcd to Is. lOd

lOd to Is. 8d

FIRST OCTOBER.

Decimal. Sterling.

6 to 12c. 3d to 6d 5 to 8c. 2d to 4d 5 to 10c. 2dto5d 5 to 9c. 2d to 4d 10 to 12c. 5d to 6d G to 8c. 3d to 4d 65 to 85c. 2s. 8d to 3s. 6d

50 to 68c. 2s. Id to 2s. 9d 30 to 3oe. Is. 3d to IS. 5d 25 to 30c. Is. to Is. 3d 35 to 50c. Is. 5d to 2s. Id 19 to 25c. 9d to Is 20 to 22c. lOd to lid 21 to 22(1. lOd to lid

3.66 to 3.25 i'2s. 6d to i3s. 6d 3t to 40c, 40 to 50c. 25 to 30c.

Is. 6d to Is. 8d Is. 8d to 'is. Id

Is. to Is. 3d

CHRISTMAS.

Decimal.

5 to 12c. 3 to 8c. 3 to 9c. 3 to 8c.

10 to 12c. 6 to 7c.

70 to 1.25 40 to 70c. 25 to 35c. 20 to 25c. 30 to Site. 22 to 27c. 20 to 22c. 23 to 27c.

3.00 to 3 25 2 75 to 3.00 32 to 40c. 50 to 6'!c. 18 to 25c. 14 to 20e.

Sterling.

2dto6d Id to 4d Id to 4d Id to 4d 5d to6d

3d 2s. lid to 5s. 2d Is. 8d to 2s. lid

Is. to Is. 5d lOd to Is.

Is. 3d to 2s. id lid to Is. Id lOd to lid

lid to Is. Id 12s. 6d to 13s. 6d Us. 5d to 12s. 6d

Is. 4dtols. 8d 2s. Id to 2s. 6d

9d to Is. 7d to lOd

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MAEKET PBICES— (Continued.)

ARTICLES. DOLLARS.

Flour (imported) per bbl. of 196 lbs. Wheaten Bread per lb. Tea do. Coffee do. Sugar do. Sugar (white refined) do. Molasses per gallon Rice per lb. Barley do. Tobacco do. Vinegar per gallon Coal per ton Grey Cottons per yard White Cottons do. Tweed (Scotch) do. Tweed (Canadian) do. Horses Cows Sheep

$6.00 4c.

30 to 40c. 40 to 50c.

8 to 9c. 10 to 12c. 50 to 60c.

5c. 4c.

30c. 50c.

$2.60 to 3.50 6 to 16c. 7 to 16c.

$1.00 to 3.00 75c. to 2.50

O.OO to 250.00 $25.00

$3.25

POUNDS.

£1

Is. 3d to Is. Is. 8d to 2s.

5dto 2s. Id to 2s.

Is. Is.

10s. lOd to 14s. 3d to 3d to

4s. 2d to 12s. 3s. Id to 10s. £12 10 to 52

13s.

5s. 2d 8d Id 4d 6d 6d 2d 2d 3d Id 6d 8d 8d 6d 5d 10 £5 6d

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The population of the Island was, in 1881, 108,- 891, as compared with 94,021 in 1871. The follow¬ ing abstract shows their religion and nationality:—

Roman Catholics 47,115 Presbyterians 33,835 Methodists 13,485 Church of England 7,192 Baptists 6,236 Various 1,028

108,891 Scotch 48,933 Irish 25,415 English 21,404 French 10,751 Indians 281 Others 2,107

108,891 -

The people are contented and prosperous, and the- farmers, though few of them can be called wealthy, constitute the most independent portion of the popu¬ lation. The amount to the credit of depositors in the Dominion Savings Bank on the 31st October, 1883. was 11,413,411, more than £290,000 stg., or $12,98, equal to £2 13s. 4d. stg., for every man, woman and child in the Province. The amount on deposit in the five other Banks doing business, as well as the capital invested in commercial ventures, which is very considerable, must also be taken into account. The Province not only has no debt, but has a balance to its credit at Ottawa of over $800,000. Here it may be remarked that Queen's County enjoys the distinction of being the largest constituency repre¬ sented in the Dominion Parliament.

JK




Our remarks upon Prince Edward Island would be incomplete did we neglect to speak of the many attractions which it presents as a watering place. We have thus far had to do with stern facts and figures, and in the hope of avoiding the fulsome eulogy which often renders remarks upon this sub-

J Y~ Jec^ repulsive> liberty has been taken with some observations by a writer who does not allow his pen to indulge in such extravagance. Its sum¬ mer climate is delightful, free alike from chill¬ ing fogs and excessive heat. The landscape is sufficiently undulating to relieve it from the monotony of the prairies, while the bays and winding estuaries to be seen on every hand, with their silvery waters and varied banks, together with the dark and bright green foliage of the evergreen and deciduous trees, and the rich verdure of the meadows, make up a scenery which, if not grand, is at least beautiful and quietly picturesque. Sur¬ rounded by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, whose waters are almost as saline as those of the ocean itself, it enjoys all the ozone and coolness of the sea-breeze,

y~ and the advantages that can only be derived from sea-bathing. These, with the opportunities for healthful exercise or quiet rest, and the facilities for innocent mirth removed from the immoral ten¬ dencies and other evils of large and expensive establishments render it a most desirable retreat. Hotel accommodation has improved vastly of late, and visitors find no difficulty in securing summer quarters at very moderate rates. Sportsmen have ample opportunity for indulging their passion ; the rivers team with trout, while very many enjoy going out in the bays with the boats mackerel fishing. Game there is also in abundance, such




as wild geese, brant, duck, partridge, plover, wood¬

cock, snipe, hares, &c.

Being of such limited area, and its inhabitants

entirely devoted to domestic pursuits, it is not sur¬

prising that but little is known abroad regarding Prince Edward Island. However, the popular be¬ lief which at one time existed in the Old Country, that Canadians were black, and attired themselves after the fashion of our first parents, has been

abandoned, and, instead of being described as a

rascally heap of sand, rock and swamp, occupied only as a military station, and producing nothing but

potatoes, the Island has been aptly termed the Garden of British North America. Its inhabitants enjoy all

the social advantages of older countries, and not a

few of them have risen to honorable positions in the

learned professions. The Bar of the Island com¬

pares favorably with any in the Dominion ; the

Press is controlled by men of ability and enterprise; in the Army and Navy her sons have distinguished themselves; in the Government of the Dominion

they have assisted with their counsel; the fine arts

have not been overlooked — witness the fact of a

native being lately selected to paint the great memorial picture of the Fathers of Confederation; the ministry of the Church has enlisted bishops and

clergy from her colleges, and within the last year an Islander has been called to the exalted position of incumbent of one ©f the four arch-dioceses ofj

Canada.




In the opening days of October of the present

year, and since the greater part of this pamphlet was in type, the Annual Dominion Exhibition was held in St. John, New Brunswick. The people of

f that Province took advantage of the occasion to

"Y~ celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the

landing of the Loyalist refugees, and their settle¬ ment in New Brunswick, and spared no pains tc render the Exhibition, as it undoubtedly was, the best and most successful ever held in the Maritime

Provinces, and fully equal to that in Montreal in

1880. Owing to some misunderstanding, it was not

until a late date that Prince Edward Island decided

to take any part in the affair, but upon some modi¬

fications being made in the details of the Prize List, a very fair exhibit of horses, cattle, sheep, fish, roots,

grains and dairy produce was forwarded, and con¬

tributed in a great measure to the success of the

enterprise, although by no means exhaustive of the

Island's resources in these several classes. The

difficulty and risk attending the transport of live ^~ stock by water, were drawbacks to a first-class repre¬

sentation, and, as a consequence, many fine animals

remained at home. The newspapers, at the time, contained lengthy notices of the Exhibition, but no

official report has yet come to hand. Some idea of

the position which the Island took, may be had from

a summary of the prizes obtained — in Horses

there were 42 entries, and 39 prizes were taken— in Cattle, 21 entries, and 17 prizes taken, and in

Sheep, 60 entries, and 43 prizes taken. The total

amount of prizes offered for horses, cattle and sheep, in the classes wherein the Island competed, was

$2045, and her stock secured $101(5 thereof, or about one-half. In farm and dairy produce, the results

were highly satisfactory, and in the fisheries class,




a large number of prizes was received. A very handsome exhibit of factory cloth was shown from the Tryon Woolen Mills, which was awarded a bronze medal, and attracted much attention, being purchased on the ground by a large business estab¬ lishment in New Brunswick. In this Exhibition, Prince Edward Island had to compete with the productions of every Province of the Dominion. Ontario and Quebec have long been noted for their high class agriculture and excellent stock, while from the prairie lands of Manitoba, it was anticipated that grains and roots would be brought which would eclipse anything raised in the Lower Provinces. Without any desire to detract from the character of their exhibits, it is exceedingly grati¬ fying to know that the excellence of the Island products was fully established.

This Pamphlet has been written with a view of describing the soil of the Island, its climate, its pro¬ ductions and its capabilities, and of affording correct information to any who may think of choosing it for a home. Its accuracy may be relied upon, and it will, at least, serve as a record whence to mark the future progress of the Province.

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PRIZES

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Eor the undermentioned Exhibits were awarded to Prince Edward Island at the Dominion Exhi¬

bition, held in St. John, New Brunswick,

October, 1883 :—

HORSES. Thoroughbreds.

Stallion, 4 years old and upwards, Mare, " and foal,

Trotting, Carnage or Boadster. Stallion, 4 years old and upwards,

do. 3 " do. 2 " do. 1 "

Mare, 4 " and foal, do. with foal at foot,

Carriage Gelding, Filly, 3 years old,

do. 2 do. do. 1 do.

Draft, or Agricultural. Stallion, 4 fears old and upwards, 1st & 2d "

do. 2 " 2d " do. 1 " 1st & 3d "

Mare, 4 years old and upwards, and foal, 1st & 2d prizes do. with foal at foot 1st, 2d & 3d "

Filly, 2 years old, 1st " do. 1 year old 1st prize (extra.)

Mare, any age or breed, medal and prize. Clydesdale and English.

Stallion 4 years old and upwards, do. 1 year old

Walking Horse,

1st prize 1st & 2d u

3d a 3d u 3d a 3d cc 1st u 1st C( 3d It 2d i(

1st & 2d £C 2d Ct

1st, 2d & 3d prizes. 1st prize (extra.) 1st prize.




CATTLE. Shortlwrns.

Bull, 1 year old, 3d prize do. 2 do 2d it

Bull Calf, under 1 year, 2d it

Cow, 4 years and upwards, 3d it do. 3 yeftrs, 2d ti

Heifer, 2 years, 2d&3d It

do. 1 year, 1st & 3d it

Bull, 2 years, Ayrshire.

2d a

Bull, 3 years old and upwards, 1st tt do. 1 year 2d tt

Bull Calf, under 1 year, 2d it

Cow, 4 years and upwards, 3d tt do. 3 years, 2d tt

Bull, 3 years and upwards, Grade.

1st a

Fat Cow, 1st & 2d a One Steer, 4 years and under 5, 1st a Pair Steers, 3 years and unde'r 4, 1st it One Steer, 3 years and under 4, 1st it

Shorthorn Grade.

Cow, 5 years and upwards, 1st a do. 3 years and under 5, 2d tt

Heifer, 2 years and under 3 1st & 2d a Heifer Calf,

SHEEP. Leicester.

1st & 2d tt

1st it 1st 2d & 3d tt

2d&3d tt Ewe, 2 shears or over, 2d&3d a

1st & 2d it 1st 2d & 3d tt

Pair of Ewes, any age, Cotswold.

1st & 3d tt

Bam, 2 shears or over, 1st it 1st tt 1st tt

\




Medium Wool, Hampshire, Shropshire, o certified pedigree.

r Her ifordshire Dozens,

Earn, 2 shears or over Earn, shearling,

Ewe, 2 sheara or over, V Ewe, shearling,

Pen of 5 Ewes, any age,

1st & 2d 2d&3d 1st & 2d

1st 2d & 3d 2d&3d 2d&3d 1st & 2d

tt a tt tt tt tt tt

Short Wools, South Downs—certified pedigree. Earn, shearling, Earn Lamb, Ewe, 2 shears or over, Ewe Lamb,

2d 1st 1st 1st

tt tt tt tt

All other Crosses or Grades— -Long Wool.

Earn, 2 shears or over,

1

1st 1st 3d 2d 3d

1st prize & n

it

Ewe, shearling, It Ewe Lamb, It Pen of 5 Ewes, any age, Best Earn, any age or breec

tt ledal

SWINE. Berkshire.

FARM PRODUCE. Potatoes, Compton Surprise,

do. Burbank, Turnips, Purple Top Swedes, Beans, White Field, Windsor,

do. Horse

1st k 2d 2d 2d 3d 1st

Mangel Wurtzel, seed, Beet, Seed, long blood

long 1st 1st 1st

Wheat, White Spring- Oats, White,

2d 2d & 3d

Oats, Black, 1st & 3d Barley, 3d Eed Clover Seed, White do. Alsyke, do.

1st & 2d 1st 1st

lot prize

prize



"34 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

mi pi i/,e 2d '•

'Tweeds—Medium, Milton, Cheviot— Fall or Winter, bronze medal.

highly recommended. •Pot Barley, discretionary prize recommended. 'Butter Firkins, recommended for medal or diploma. •Butter, fresh, 2d & 3d prizes

do. salt, 2d & 3d « do. factory, 1st & 3d "

1st & 2d "

FISHERIES. 2d "

'Codfish, dried, large, 1st "

Herring, pickled, split, 1st " Mackerel, No. 1, 1st & 2d "

do. 2, 1st & 2d '• do. 3, 1st & 2d " do. canned, 1st & 2d "

Lobsters, do. 2d " Salmon, do. 2d " Oysters, do. 1st " Preserved Fish, 1st " Assortment of canned Fish i, medal.

1st prize Fanning Mill, 1st "

1st " Eoot Pulper, 1st " Potato Digger, 2d "

Embroidery on Silk, 2d " •Hemmed Pocket Handkerchiefs, 1st "

\

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<

-Painted Screen, highly commended and recommended for prize.





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Documents

Prince Edward Island: Information regarding its climate, soil, resources, &c