No resident in the Far East who has seen one of the yacht-like Empresses, or better still who has travelled by one, can be altogether indifferent to their home port, Vancouver. No man of business can afford to be ignorant of the i importance of this, 3 emporium of the British Empir and no Shanghailander exists who would not be glad to see " closer connection than already exists between that port and this, if only that the many products of the Dominion might be at the disposal of himself and family. For Vancouver has many things that Shanghai would like to buy.
Few cities more admirably placed than the city of Vancouve The natural gateway and outlet of la, it is but Shanghai. equable climate, thanks to "wi ocean currents, its natural production are of a wonderfully varied d and run from lumber to oppe fruit to fish, and from wheat to butter and cheese. Up-to-date respect, there is a good system of lighting by gas and electricity, a plentiful supply of excellent ware all the conveniences of a modern British American city s in Shanghai the continuous improvement in its mercantile and other business premises proves, than anything else, the conti in its future' held" by its citizens.
here is an excellent public school system, the school buiklings be much n after the American th "Continually on the mere so common a phrase in connect with Columbian progress gener as almost lo have become stereotyped with some parts of the North American continent. Her forests are so favoured by a genial climate that they include alder, birch, cedar, cypress, fir, hemlock, maple, oak, pine, spruce, and yew, and exhaustive tests have shown them to be excellent for the varied purposes for which they are suited. Some of the timber growing in the neighbourhood will bear comparison with the biggest trees of California or Oregon. Deposits of coal are being worked both in the Vancouver Island collieries and in those of the Crow's Nest Pass, and both coal and coke continue to be in great demand. Mineral ai, too, is used in considerable quantity but this comes mainly from California, On the whole the mining returns for the past year were not so satisfactory as might have been wished.
Horses run wild, "have become a curse to the country against, which all attempts at preventive legislation ave been futile." The demand for the South African war, however, had its effect even upon the wild horses of British Columbia.
"Farms partially improved or favourable localities may be obtained from $10 to 250 an aere, according to situation and character of land, improvement, &c: and it may be re-ked here that a small farm of from 40 to 100 in extent is sufficient in British Columbia for the riner..... Plenty of good water and good timber are almost always available."
The climate near the coast is decidedly humid with no extremes either of heat a cold. There is long growing season, with a resulting profusion of vegetation. Roots and vegetables flourish, oat ley yield well, fruits are ut, good, and practically indigenous.
With all the advantages thus hinted at, it no wonder that Vans}couver should be bidly advancing. With 30,000 inhabitants she can t be called a big cit; is steady and sub-tourist resort. the for use_on all oceasi rin pro- st duce of all sorts continues to grow fruit export increases ly, and i Il probably continue to grow favour as years rll by, and per-salmon-cate hi is lits Tons upon tons of magnificent fish are brought into the canneries daily, and yet the rivers at the season seem solid with fish that es In a recent report issued by the Vancouver Board of haps in the near future we may find r more frequent connection between ourselves and the W astern city than exists at present. For to the sportsman "Vancouver offers a home whence he can choose his game, from grizzly downwards. and be sure to be guided to the proper Tyade a photograph shows unmistakeable that this wonderful phenomenon is one of the marvels of nature. There is bes des growing up ug deep sea fish for which a prosperous future is expected, the northern stretches of the ocean teem with halibut, herring, cod, and other fish.
Vancouver: is not confined tu one or two kinds of timber as is the case hunting grounds. British Columbia is the home of the big horn, and wild goats—caribou, mule deer, and black tail are dispersed over' the mainland—cougar and elk may be found on Vancouver Island, and mouse on the Yukon. Wild geese and duck of all kinds abound, while the waters teem with fish.
That sounds tempting: enough to the wearied business man, banker, or broker suffering from overwork, worry, or dengue. And in less than three weeks by the Canadian Pacific it is attainable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.