Victoria

Victoria, British Columbia, the capital and second city of the province, is on the southeastern end of Vancouver Island. It is the terminus of the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific railroads and is served by coast steamers and trans-Pacific boat lines. Victoria is 80 miles north of Seattle, Wash., and 85 miles southwest of Vancouver.

BUILDINGS, PARKS AND INSTITUTIONS

Victoria has grown rapidly in commercial and industrial importance, and many of its business blocks are modern in every detail. The parliament buildings and Canadian Pacific Railway's Empress Hotel are noteworthy.

The city contains many beautiful parks, but the Beacon Hill Park, facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca and affording a view of the Olympian Range, is the most attractive. Other interesting features are the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Dominion Astronomical Observatory where is located one of the largest telescopes. The most conspicuous churches are St. Andrew's Cathedral, and St. John's Anglican Cathedral, Metropolitan Methodist, St. Andrew's, First Presbyterian, Christian Science Temple, etc.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Victoria has a commodious natural harbor that is open all year and contains, besides ample wharfage and storage space, a large dry dock and shipbuilding plants. Forest, mine, farm and fishery products are the principal items of trade.

The factories of the city are constantly increasing in number; they produce canned fish, paints, cement, bricks and tile, machinery, furniture, canned fruits and jams, boats, brass ware, soap, tents and awnings, and many other commodities.

HISTORY

In 1846 a post of the Hudson's Bay Company was erected where Victoria now stands. A town was laid out in 1852, and after the discovery of gold on the British Columbia mainland six years later its growth increased. It secured a city charter in 1862 and became the provincial capital in 1868. In 1911 the population was 31,600, but this had increased to 50,000 by 1921.

Rev 2003-02-14