NORTHWEST TERRITORIES. The desig nation for the sparsely inhabited region of Can ada which includes the organized territories of Assiniboia, with a land area of 90,340 square miles; Alberta, about 100,000 square miles; and Saskatchewan, 114,000 square miles; and the unorganized territories of Athabasca, about 251,300 square miles of land area; Mackenzie, about 563,200 square miles; Ungava, about 456. 000 square miles; and Franklin, about 3011,1100 square miles. The term 'Northwest Territories' probably referred originally to the region over which the Northwest Company exercised author ity, the territorial limits of which do not seem to have ever been dearly defined. An Imperial act of 1868 enabled the Crow n to accept of the Hudson's Bay Company the surrender of the lands known as Rupert's Land. the limits of which were also for admission into the Do minion. An act of 1869 provided that Rupert's Land and the Northwest Territories be admitted as a part of Canada under the name of the North west Territories. In 1870 Manitoba was made a province, under which in 1876 Keewatin was made a district. Manitoba was slightly enlarged in 1881, and in 1898 the Yukon Territory was estab lished. In 1882 the districts of Assiniboia, Sas katchewan, Alberta, and Athabasca were formed, and in 1895 the remaining portion was divided into the districts of Ungava, Mackenzie. and Franklin. Of the Northwest Territories, a portion of the southwest belongs to the greater interior American Plain, and is less broken than the region farther north. much of it being prairie. North of this prairie region lies an immense wooded area. As the inhospitable Arctic regions are approached the forest growth becomes very scanty or disappears (•ntirely. so that there is a very considerable area of barren land where little is found save lichens and mosses. The northern portion of the Northwest Territories is mainly a broken plain draining into the Arctic Sea. The greater part of the Northwest Territories is characterized by short summers and long and very severe winters. For a fuller statement of physical conditions, see CANADA.
A large variety of minerals is known to ex ist, bituminous coal and lignite hieing very abun dant in southern Alberta. Coal is mined in considerable quantities in the foothills of that region. In the southwest the soil is generally very fertile, and the climatic conditions are such that hardy crops can he profitably grown. This
region is practically all comprehended in the districts of Assiniboia. Alberta. and Saskatche wan. In the census. of 1901 it was found that 0.569,061 acres of this region, o• 3.50 per cent. of the land surface, is oceunied as farms and lots. Of the 22.813 farms of five acres and over, 04.08 per cent. were between 100 and 201 acres each. Over 93 per cent. of the farmers owned the farms they occupied. Over 24 per cent. of the farm land was in an improved state. Hay in respect to acreage, 155.87(1 acres in 1801, 831,157 in 1901. The acreage of wheat increased during the same period front 113.811 in 1801 to 530,274 in 1901. and oats gained from 61,637 acres to 259.552. In the latter year there were 22,897 acres in barley, 0925 acres in potatoes, and 15,095 in forage (Tops for win ter feeding. Small fruits are successfully raised. but the climatic conditions are not favorable for orchards. The increase in the live stock was equally marked, as is seen in the following table: The prairie land affords excellent facilities for pasturage. Only.the three southernmost districts have the advantage of railroad transportation. Settlements are being made in the territories of Alberta, Assiniboia, and Saskatchewan. and the total population of this area increased from 66, 7!19 in 1891 to 158,940 in 1901. of whom a little over one-sixth are in Saskatchewan. and the re mainder about evenly divided between Alberta and Assiniboia. In Ungava, and Mac kenzie there are large areas as yet unvisited by white man. The population of this region, together with Athabasca and Keewatin, increased from 32.168 in 1801 to 52,709 in 1901. There is a scattered Indian population in the Northwest Territories and Keewatin, amounting in 1900 to 27,057, besides about half that number of half breeds. The Northwest Territories are under the administration of a Lieutenant-Governor, ap pointed by the Governor or Council of the Do minion. Ile has an exeentive council of three members. There is a Legislative Assembly of 31 members. (1nl• Alberta, Assinihoia, and Saskatchewan have a form of local government with representation in the legislature. The Ter ritorial Government meets at Fen• a more detailed statement concerning settlements• etc.. see under titles of the separate districts. Consult Blanchard, The Diseorery and Con quest of the Vorthwest (Chicago, 1880).