In railroads the province has made great progress during the past 15 years. In 1878 there were 3,528 m. of road in operation, with about 1000 additional in. either tinder charter or in process of construction. Chief among these were the Canada Southern; the western division of the Grand Trunk; and the Great Western. 'There arc also a number of canals. the principal of which are the Welland, 28 m. long, from Port Dal housie to Port Colborne; and the Rideau, from Kingston to Ottawa, 126 miles.
The school system affords all children free education, and is tinder the general man agement of a chief superintendent. Besides the common schools, the law provides for the establishment and maintenance of classical and English high schools for both sexes; and collegiate institutes. In 1873 there were 4,562 common schools; 1C8 high schools; 265 academics and private schools; 170 Roman separate schools; 3 normal schools, and 16 colleges and universities. The total amount expended for educational purposes during the same year was $3,258,125. The public and private libraries in 1873 numbered 4,182, with about 755,302 volumes. The number of newspapers and periodi cals published in the province is about 250, among which are 23 daily newspapers, 212 weeklies, and 16 monthlies. The prevailing religious denomination is the Methodist, which in 1871 had 1924 edifices, and 462,264 adherents. Among the other denomiaa
dons were: Baptist, 279 churches; Episcopal, 511; Presbyterian, 697; and Roman Catholic, 293. The M. E. church in Canada and the British M. E. church each have a bishop. The Anglicans have three dioceses—Toronto, Ontario, and Huron. The Roman Catholics have an archbishop at Toronto, and bishops at London, Hamilton, Kingston, and Ottawa.
' The provincial governmentis administered lit a lieutenant-governor, appointed by ahe-governor-general of the Deminion for five yenta, assisted by an executive council of five members, which includes an attorney-general, commissioner of agriculture, secretary, registrar, treasurer, commmissioner of crown lauds, and commissioner of public works. The legislative assembly has only one house of 82 elective members. Voting is by bal lot, and the right of suffrage is conferred on all male British subjects 21 years of age, possessed of some property qualification. The judicial power is vested in a court of error and appeal, a court of queen's bench, a court of common pleas, a court of chin eery, and minor courts. In the dominion parliament the province of Ontario is repre sented by 24 senators and 88 members of the house of commons. See CANADA, ante.