OTTAWA, the capital of the dominion of Canada, is situated 87 m. above the conflu ence of the river Ottawa with the St. Lawrence, 126 in. from Montreal, 95 from Kings ton, and 450 from New York. Originally called Bytown, after col. By, who in 1S27 was commissioned to construct the Rideau canal; it was incorporated as a city, and received the name which it now bears in 1854. At the w. end of the city, the Ottawa rushes over the magnificent cataract known as the Chaudiere falls; and at the me. end there are two other cataracts, over which the Rideau tumbles into the Ottawa. The scenery around Ottawa also is scarcely surpassed by any in Canada. The immense water-power at the city is made use of in several saw-mills, which give Ottawa its principal trade, and issue almost incalculable quantities of sawed timber. A suspension bridge hangs over the Chandiere falls, connecting upper and lower Canada. The city is in communi
cation by steamer on the Ottawa with Montreal; on the Rideah canal with lake Ontario at Kingston; and with the principal points of the province by means of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa and the Canada Central lines. In the year ending June 30, 1874, the imports amounted to £300.000, and the exports to £330,600. In 1858 the queen selected Ottawa as the seat of government of the then province of Canada; and in 1850 was com menced the erection of magnificent parliamentary offices, of which the prince of Wales laid the foundation in September the same year. They are among the finest architec tural structures on the American continent. Pop. '71, 21,545. Ottawa returns two members to the house of commons, and one to the provincial parliament.