north-easterly, north of which all the waters of Alberta flow
toward the Arctic Sea. In northern Alberta, on the northern
slope, gathering its tributaries from rills in the Rocky
Mountains, the river Athabasca runs north and empties into
Lake Athabasca near 58 deg. N. North of 56 deg. N. flows through and
from the Rocky Mountains the Peace river. After descending
north-eastward to within a few miles of Lake Athabasca, it
is met by a stream emerging from that lake. The united river
carrying down the waters of the Athabasca slope is called
the Slave river, which, passing through Great Slave Lake,
emerges as the great Mackenzie river, which falls into the
Arctic Sea. Alberta thus gives rise to the two great rivers
Saskatchewan and Mackenzie. While a number of fresh-water,
or in some cases brackish, lakes each less than 100 sq. m.
in extent are situated in Alberta, two of more considerable
size are found. These are Lake Athabasca, 3085 sq. m. in
extent, of which a part is in the province of Saskatchewan,
and the other Lesser Slave Lake some 600 sq. m. in area.
Climate.--As Alberta extends for 750 m. from north to
south---as great a distance as from Land's End in England
to the north of the Shetland Isles--it is natural that the
climate should vary considerably between parallels of 40 deg.
and 60 deg. N.. and also between 110 deg. and 120 deg. W. It is also
further influenced by the different altitudes above the
sea of the several parts of the province. Dividing the
province into three equal parts of 250 m. each from north to
south, these may be called (A) the south, (B) the centre,
(C) the north. The following data may be considered:--
CLIMATIC TABLE
Climate Places Above the Sea Mean Winter Temp
(A) Moderate and Medicine Hat, 2171 ft. 14.3 deg. F.
changeable lat. 50 deg. N.
Calgary, lat. 51 deg. 3432 " 15.4 deg. "
Banff, lat. 51 1/2 deg. 4515 " 15.9 deg. "
(B) Steady Edmonton, lat. 53 1/2 deg. 2210 " 10.3 deg. "
(C) Severe Fort Chipewyan, lat. 600 " 7.2 deg. "
lat. 59 deg. N.
Climate (A) allows, in what is a great ranching district,
cattle and horses to run at large through the whole
winter. Through the mountain passes come at times dry winds
from the Pacific coast, which lick up the snow in a few
hours. These winds are known as Chinook winds. While
elevating the temperature they bring more moisture into
the air and produce a change not entirely desirable.
Climate (B) is the steady winter climate of Edmonton
district. This while averaging a lower temperature than
(A) is not so subject to change; it retains the snow for
sleighing, which is a boon to the farmer. This climate
is much less influenced by the Pacific winds than (A).
Climate (C), that of Fort Chipewyan, having a mean winter
temperature of 22.6 deg. lower than Calgary, is a decidedly
sub-arctic climate. It is the region in winter of constant
ice and snow, but its lower altitude gives it a summer
climate with a mean temperature of only 1.6 deg. less than
Calgary, and 1.8 deg. less than Edmonton. It will thus be seen
that the agricultural capabilities of the Athabasca and Peace
river districts, not yet fully known, are full of promise.
Fauna.--The three climatic regions of Alberta have naturally
a varying fauna. The south and central region was the land
of the bison, its grasses affording a great pasture ground
for tens of thousands of ``buffaloes.'' They were destroyed
by whites and Indians in 1870-1882 on the approach of the
Canadian Pacific railway. Grizzly, black and cinnamon bears
are, found in the mountains and wooded districts. The
coyote or small wolf, here and there the grey wolf, the fox
and the mountain lion (panther) occur. The moose and red
deer are found in the wooded regions, and the jumping deer
and antelope on the prairies. Wild sheep and goats live
in the Rocky Mountains. The lynx, wolverine, porcupine,
skunk, hare, squirrel and mouse are met. The gopher is a
resident of the dry plains. District (C) is the fur-trader's
paradise. The buffalo is replaced by the mountain buffaloes,
of which a few survive. The musk-ox comes in thousands
every year to the great northern lakes, while the mink,
marten, beaver, otter, ermine and musk-rat are sought by the
fur-trader. Fort Chipewyan was long known in Hudson's Bay
Company history as the great depot of the Mackenzie river
district. Northern Alberta and the region farther north
is the nesting-ground of the migratory birds. Here vast
numbers of ducks, geese, swans and pelicans resort every
year. Cranes, partridges and varieties of singing birds
abound. The eagle, hawk, owl and crow are plentiful. Mosquitoes
and flies are everywhere, and the wasp and wild bee also. In
the rivers and lakes pike, pickerel, white fish and sturgeon
supply food for the natives, and the brook trout is found in
the small mountain streams. The turtle and frog also appear.
Flora.--In central and northern Alberta the opening spring
brings in the prairie anemone, the avens and other early
flowers. The advancing summer introduces many flowers of the
sunflower family, until in August the plains are one blaze of
yellow and purple. The southern part of Alberta is covered
by a short grass, very nutritive, but drying up in the middle
of summer until the whole prairie is brown and unattractive.
The trees in the wooded sections of the province are seen
in clumps and belts on the hill sides. These are largely
deciduous. On the north side of the Saskatchewan river
forests prevail for scores and even hundreds of miles. They
contain the poplar Or aspen (Populus tremuloides), balsam
poplar (Populus balsamifera), and paper or canoe birch
(Fetula papyrifera.) The Coniferae are found northward
and in the mountain valleys. Some of these are: Jack pine
(Pinus Banksiana), Rocky Mountain pine (Pinus flexilis),
black pine (Pinus Murrayana), white spruce (Picea alba),
black spruce (Picea nigra), Engelman's spruce (Picea
Engelmanni), mountain balsam (Abies subalpina), Douglas fir
(Pseudotsuga Douglasii), mountain larch (Larix Lyallis.)
Population.--By the census of 1906 the population
of Alberta was found to be 185,412. It has grown from
73,022 in 1901 (the area of Alberta being then slightly
different). The basis of the population is Canadian, and
the immigration has been chiefly from (1) the British Isles,
(2) United States, (3) continent of Europe (chiefly Austria,
Hungary and Russia). Of the population in 1901, 17,245
had immigrated thither from the three mentioned sources.
The following table shows the percentages of origins:--
1901.
Canadian and native born . . . 54 %
The British Isles . . . . . 6.8%
United States . . . . . . 16.6%
Continent of Europe . . . . 24.4%
Of the Indian and Indian half-breed population there were in
1901, 14,669 of the former and 11,635 of the latter. The Indians
of central Alberta are chiefly plain Crees, a tribe of Algonquin
stock. In southern Alberta are several thousands of Indians on
reserves south and west of Calgary, consisting of the Blackfoots
of Algonquin stock, Sarcees, Piegans and a few Assiniboins.
The chief cities and towns of Alberta are Edmonton (11,167), Calgary
(i1,967), Medicine IIat (3020), Lethbiidge (2948) and Strathcona (2927).
Industries.--- The chief industries of the people are
farming and ranching. Cattle, horses and sheep are largely
reared in the southern prairie region on ranches or smaller
holdings. In this region irrigation is widely used. Red
winter wheat is now produced to a considerable degree. In the
town of Raymond is a large beet sugar manufactory, and in the
vicinity great quantities of beets are grown by irrigation.
In central Alberta coarse grains---oats and barley----and some
wheat are grown, in conjunction with mixed farming. While
washing out the sands of the North Saskatchewan for gold is
still somewhat resorted to, the only real mining in Alberta
is that for coal. Vast beds of coal are found extending for
hundreds of miles, a short distance below the surface of the
plains. The coal belongs to the Cretaceous beds, and while
not so heavy as that of the Coal Measures is of excellent
quality. In the valley of the Bow river, alongside the Canadian
Pacific railway, valuable beds of anthracite coal ale worked, and
the coal is carried by railway as far east as Winnipeg.
The usual coal deposits of Alberta are of bituminous or
semi-bituminous coal. These are largely worked at Lethbridge
in southern Alberta and Edmonton in the centre of the
province. Many other parts of the province have pits for private
use. The Athabasca river region, as well as localities far
north on the Mackenzie river, has decided indications of
petroleum, though it is not yet developed. Natural gas has
been found at several points. The most notable gas discovery
is that at Medicine Hat, which has wells with unlimited
quantities. The gas is excellent, is used for lighting
the town, supplies light and fuel for the people, and a
number of industries are using the gas for manufacturing.
Communications.---For transportation the North Saskatchewan is
to some extent depended on for carrying freight by steamboats,
but railways are widespread in the province. The Canadian
Pacific railway has its main line running from east to west
chiefly between 50 and 51 deg. N. Over this line passesanenormous
trade from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean---the railway
with its ``Empress'' steamers on the Pacific and also on the
Atlantic Ocean claiming to have as its termini Liverpool and
Yokohama. A branch line of the Canadian Pacific railway runs
from Medicine Hat between 49 deg. and 50 deg. N., passing through
the Crow's Nest Pass of the Rocky Mountains and carrying on
trade with British Columbia. Another branch from Calgary runs
southward to Macleod, and to Lethbridge there comes from the
south a branch cf the Great Northern railway of the United
States, connecting with the state of Montana. From Calgary
to Edmontonnorthward runs a line under the control of the
Canadian Pacific railway. From this railway also run, eastward
from Lacombe and Wetaskiwin, branch lines to complete the
system. In 1906 tue new line of the Canadian Northern
railway was opened, connecting Winnipeg, 1000 m. to the
east, along the NUrth Saskatchewan river, with Edmonton.
The Grand Trunk Pacific railway, backed by the Canadian
government, forms a new transcontinental line; the prairie
section from Winnipeg to Edmonton was in 1908 under contract.
Administration, &c.---The local government of Alberta is
carried on by a provincial organization resembling that of
the other Canadian provinces. The capital of the province
is Edmonton, and here reside the lieutenant-governor and
cabinet. The legislature consists of one house---the Legislative
Assembly----of twenty-five members. Responsible government after
the British model is followed, and the revenue is chiefly derived
from grants from the Dominion government. Alberta has a system
of municipal government similar to that of the other provinces.
Education is given by a public-school system, which, while nominally
providing for separate schools for Catholics and Protestants,
