Ontario

Ontario, the western part of Canada proper, has an area of 181,800 square miles. It is fringed by lakes on the south and west. A chain of hills extends from near Kingston to the shores of Georgian Bay, opening into Lake Huron; elsewhere the surface is gently undulating. The chief rivers are the Ottawa, which divides the province from Quebec, and the St. Lawrence, whose upper course separates Ontario from New York State. Lake St. Clair lies between it and Michigan; and among inland lakes the chief are Lakes Simcoe, Muskoka, Nipissing, and Tamagomingue. Both agriculture and manufactures are in a flourishing condition. All varieties of grain are grown, as well as fruit and vegetables; and cattle are reared and pastured. Iron, copper, lead, and building stone abound, as also marble, gypsum, and other minerals; while gold and silver are obtained in the north-west. There are very prolific petroleum wells in the south-west, salt wells on the shores of Lake Huron, and immense deposits of nickel at Sudbury. Water-power is largely used for manufactures, which include railway stock and implements, cotton and woollen goods, iron and hardware, paper, and agricultural tools and machines. Internal communication is well provided for by more than 5,000 miles of railway, an extensive canal system, and the lakes. The schools under the Minister of Education are supported by a property tax, and are free to all. Protestant Dissenters, especially Methodists, form the bulk of the population. Toronto is the largest town, the only others of any size being Hamilton and London.