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7ADA.” 
249 
The progress of British North America was greatly assisted 
by the federation of the colonies, carried out between 1867 and 
1873. "The two Canadas, New Brunswick, and 7p2 
Nova Scotia formed themselves into the new ‘“ Dominion ” 
'“ Dominion of Canada ” in the first-named year ; of Canada, 
the North-Western "Territory, once the property of the Hudson’s 
Bay Company, joined them in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, 
and Prince Edward Island in 1873. "The remote fishing colony 
of Newfoundland has preferred not to cast in its lot with the 
rest, though in its dealings with its aggressive French neigh- 
bours * it would be greatly helped by being able to speak with 
the same voice as its greater sisters. The “ Dominion ” is 
now a federal government, with a governor-general, a Senate 
appointed for life, and a House of Representatives. "The 
individual provinces still retain for local purposes their 
provincial assemblies, and enjoy complete home rule under 
the central government. 
Since the federation, the most important landmark in the 
history of the colonies is undoubtedly the building of the 
Canadian Pacific Railway between 1881 and 
4 x . The 
1885. Since it was finished, the development of Canadian- 
Manitoba and the other regions of the “ Great Pacific 
, x 3 Railway. 
Lone Land” has been very rapid. Nine new 
provinces now exist in this once uninhabited region, with a 
rapidly growing population of over 300,000 souls, "They are 
mainly devoted to ranching and corn-growing, unlike the 
districts further east, where the lumber trade is still the great 
industry. "The Canadian Pacific has an imperial as well as a 
solonial importance, since it provides a quick route to the 
extreme east, passing entirely through British territory. About 
1100 miles is saved in passing frorh Liverpool to Japan or 
Northern China, if the route by Halifax, Montreal, and 
Vancouver is taken rather than that by the Suez Canal and 
Singapore, 
See p. 219,