f the world, the mines being chiefly in
American hands, and the product exported to the United States. Of the
less important minerals, Canada is the world's chief producer of
asbestos and corundum. Copper, lead, silver and all the important metals
are mined in the Rocky Mountain district. From Quebec westwards, vast
regions are still partly, or completely, unexplored.

_Lumber_.--In spite of great improvidence, and of loss by fire, the
forest wealth of Canada is still the greatest in the world. Measures
have been taken, both by the provincial and the federal governments, for
its preservation, and for re-forestation of depleted areas. Certain
provinces prohibit the exportation of logs to the United States, in
order to promote the growth of saw-mills and manufactures of wooden-ware
within the country, and the latter have of late years developed with
great rapidity. The lumber trade of British Columbia has suffered from
lack of an adequate market, but is increasing with the greater demand
from the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. A great development has
also taken place in Ontario and the eastern provinces, through the use
of spruce and other trees, long considered comparatively useless, in the
manufacture of wood-pulp for paper-making.

_Crown Lands_.--Large areas of unoccupied land remain in all the
provinces (except Prince Edward Island). In Manitoba, Saskatchewan,
Alberta, the so-called railway belt of British Columbia and the
territories, these crown lands are chiefly owned by the federal
parliament; in the other provinces, by the local legislatures. So great
is their extent that, in spite of the immigration of recent years, the
Dominion government gives a freehold of 160 acres to every _bona fide_
settler, subject to certain conditions of residence and the erection of
buildings during the first three years. Mining and timber lands are sold
or leased at moderate rates. All crown lands controlled by the provinces
must be paid for, save in certain districts of Ontario, where free
grants are given, but the price charged is low. The Canadian Pacific
railway controls large land areas in the two new provinces; and large
tracts in these provinces are owned by land companies. Both the Dominion
and the provincial governments have set apart certain areas to be
preserved, largely in their wild state, as national parks. Of these the
most extensive are the Rocky Mountains Park at Banff, Alberta, owned by
the Dominion govern