Asbestos decreased in average value from $33.09 per ton in 1910 to $29.58 as a result of over-production; the iron-ore industry continued to decline in the districts of St. Maurice and Drummond and nothing took the place of these old-time areas though ironores were known to exist in large deposits, high in iron, at Bay St. Paul, Seven Island, St. Jerome, St. Lin and other pointscarrying in some cases large amounts of titanium; the Report of the Government Survey in the Lake Chibougamou region was made public in January and proved very unfavourable in the sense that while the presence of gold was encouraging and iron was present in large quantities with plenty of lead and zinc-blende yet the distance from civilization made development for the present impossible, and the investigators did not deem the mineral deposits so far discovered as justifying the proposed building of a Government railway into the region. Peter McKenzie of Montreal, the original explorer of the Chibougamou, persisted in his opinion of its resources and on Jan. 18th told the press from personal knowledge that: "The district is not only exceedingly rich in minerals but a great part of it is also suitable for settlement purposes. There are also vast forests of spruce trees available for pulp manufacturing." He quoted A. P. Low and John Hardman as to the minerals and declared that development would go on with or without Government aid. The Canadian Mining Journal in April appeared to think conditions still favourable: "The Report agrees that the rock formation is all that could be desired, in fact, equally favourable in every way to the formation which extends across northern Ontario to Labrador coast. The practical mining man knows that had the party which made the Report spent their time on a plot of fifty square miles their conclusions could only be taken as an outline of the geological formation and in no way final as to the mining possibilities of the area." This certainly had been the case at Cobalt in early examinations of the region. Great interest was taken in the Temiskaming section running into the Province from Ontario and to the press on May 23rd Hon. C. R. Devlin, Minister of Colonization, Mines and Fisheries, said: "Reports from the district are decidedly favourable and a greater number of claims have been staked out during the past three months than in any corresponding period in the Province of Quebec's history. Charters have been secured from the Government for the construction of a railway in the Abitibi district and correspondence is now passing between the Government and capitalists towards the realizing of the projects." It may be added here that during the Legislative Session and under the auspices of Mr. Devlin a Mining measure was passed. It reduced the mining licenses to a yearly rental of 50 cents an acre instead of $1. It provided for the issue of miners' certificates which entitled the holder to stake out claims to a maximum of 200 acres on lands the mineral rights of which belonged to the Crown. After staking and registering a claim this could be held for six months without any disbursement. At the expiration of six months a mining license was to be taken out and work to the extent of 25 days a year for each 40 acres was exacted. This mining license was renewable, yearly, on proof that the working conditions had been fulfilled. If preferred, a patent could be obtained by buying the claim outright at the rate of $20 or $10 an acre, according to its distance from a railway, and in this case all the money paid as rental for mining licenses would be deducted from the purchase price. The vast, unknown, and newly-acquired Territory of Ungava was an interesting portion of Quebec's expansion during the year. Its iron-ore possibilities were thought to be very great and although coal, oil, and natural gas were not supposed to be available there were considerable water-powers in the region-the Falls at Hamilton Inlet being reported as larger than Niagara and possessing 9,000,000 horse-power according to one estimate. There had been alleged gold discoveries in the region but no proofs of actual resources in that respect were produced. According to an exploration party sent out some years before this by Senator W. C. Edwards, Agricultural prospects were poor, timber resources were large and valuable with great quantities of pulpwood, water powers were splendid and Hamilton Inlet available for Atlantic shipping during a considerable portion of the year. It seems very probable that history will repeat itself in this region and that now unknown resources and riches will unfold themselves for the use of the people in what the year 1911 made the largest Province of Canada. As to general resources the appointment of Mr. J. P. Pelletier as Quebec's Agent-General in London caused some new light to be thrown upon conditions. To the Canadian Gazette of Nov. 16 Mr. Pelletier described Quebec as having been somewhat overlooked by British capitalists. Yet out of Canada's 25,000,000 of known horse-power in its great lakes and rivers Quebec was said by him to own 17,000,000; pulpwood was everywhere in its 150,000 square miles of Forest area; it was rich in minerals with much scope for investment in asbestos, mica, cobalt, iron, copper, etc. Of the Temiskaming country he said much to Canada on Dec. 30th. It was very rich in farming land with, already, 6,000 families in settlement; the Government had built an excellent 100mile road into the region and would within two years build a railway connecting it with Montreal and the sea; Government mining engineers reported good mineral prospects as good, perhaps, as in the Ontario adjoining country of Cobalt fame. To the same journal on Dec. 2nd Mr. C. R. Devlin was most optimistic as to what he called New Quebec: "There we have a territory as extensive and comparatively untouched as New Ontario, while the Counties of Gaspé, Bonaventure, Temiscouata, and others on the south shore of the River St. Lawrence are also calling out for capital and labour. Then there is the splendid Lake St. John district. In the Temiskaming area of Northern Quebec (adjoining the Cobalt and Porcupine areas of Ontario), where two years ago there was scarcely a living soul except a sportsman or a prospector, there are already flourishing villages, accessible by good roads, to good markets. As we improve transportation facilities land here is being quickly taken up. Portions of these rich areas are already reached by railway via Toronto and the C.P.R. will soon have an important line in operation on our side of the boundary. The district is rich in fertile soil, is well wooded, and has an abundance of rivers and lakes. We are only beginning to realize the possibilities of our wealth in minerals and water-powers." Miscellaneous facts as to Quebec may be tabulated as follows: Production of Fisheries, 1910-11. Mutual Fire Companies-Amount of Policies (1910). Total Imports in 1910-11.. Total Exports in 1910-11. Railway Mileage in 1911. $1,692,475 $90,000,000 $37,274,484 $141,370,494 $123,725,620 3,884 310 46 $257,520,633 $2,503,807,021 $2,591,500 $18,310,723 $11,340,323 42,914 Of general conditions in the Province Sir Lomer Gouin said at the close of the year: "It was only in 1911 that Quebec fully entered into her own so far as her dairy produce was concerned. Her output of cheese was larger in the year just past than ever before, while the nearness to perfection in quality is indicated by the fact that Quebec-made cheese in 1911 shared the highest prices paid on the Canadian market. The raising of beef has assumed great importance in the Eastern Townships, and market gardening, especially in the vicinity of the City of Montreal, is yearly becoming more profitable. The apple crop of the Montreal district and of the Eastern Townships is also a source of considerable revenue to the proprietors of orchards. Bacon, as well as fruit interests, show a satisfactory annual advance and there is a gratifying improvement in the breeds of horses and cattle. Enormous pulp and paper plants are springing up in different parts of the Province, as a direct result of the timber and pulpwood policy of the present Administration." *NOTE.-Toronto Globe, Jan. 1, 1912. Government and Political Conditions in 1911 There were no changes in the Government of Quebec during the year except that the Lieut.-Governor, Sir C. A. P. Pelletier, who had been associated with the politics and Bench of the Province for over 40 years, died and, on May 5th, was succeeded by Sir Francois Charles Stanislas Langelier, Chief Justice of the Superior Court since 1906. Sir Lomer Gouin maintained the even course of his administration during 1911, pressing forward reforms and improvements in the School system, meeting the occasional fiery attacks of his Nationalist critics with equanimity, sharing in the Liberal campaign for Reciprocity, perhaps more as a follower of Sir W. Laurier than as an enthusiast regarding the project itself. The Provincial Legislature of Quebec and that of Alberta were, in fact, the only ones in Canada which did not put their opinions on record. Of the result, on Sept. 25th, Sir Lomer Gouin said, in succinct words: "Sir Wilfrid Laurier was defeated by sentiment and will be restored to power by reason." Speaking in the Legislature on Mch. 17th the Premier stated that Technical schools would be established throughout the Province whenever the population of a town warranted such action and defended the new Montreal School as promising many benefits with 300 scholars already assured. In the early Session he was in Europe and, on July 7th, told the Montreal press that there would be no Provincial election during this year. He was enthusiastic about the Coronation: "It was the most magnificent sight that I could imagine. The august character of the ceremony, the beauty of the hymns and music, the enormous crowds and the brilliant costumes, will remain imprinted on my memory as forming the grandest sight I ever witnessed. And the perfect order in which everything was arranged was the most remarkable aspect of the entire celebration. It was a splendid demonstration of the English sense of order and method." On July 28 it was announced that an Agent-General for the Province in London would be appointed at once in order to make Quebec better known and to interest British capital in its resources and development. On Aug. 7th the Hon. J. M. Pantaléon Pelletier, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, was appointed to the position. A large deputation, representing the Montreal Board of Trade and Chambre de Commerce, the Building Exchange and the Chambers of Commerce at Sherbrooke, Sorel, St. John's, Quebec, Lévis, Granby, Marieville, Rouville, Lachute, St. Jerome, Fraserville and Rimouski, met Sir Lomer Gouin on November 3rd and presented a Memorial asking for the abolition or reduction of the Tax on Commercial Corporations. In reply he pointed out that the Government was frequently being asked for new or increased grants and as frequently for reduced taxation in specific directions. "How can we increase our expen diture and also reduce our sources of revenue? It is not the best |