Author: Oliver, John (1856-1927).
Title: Geographical Location of British Columbia on the Continent of North America... . [Promotional Brochure Extolling the Virtues of, and Opportunities to Be Found in, the Canadian Province].
Description: [Victoria, B.C.]: [Government of British Columbia], circa [1927]. [1927]. - Duodecimo (12mo), 7-1/2 inches high by 5-3/8 inches wide. Softcover, printed stapled self-wraps, illustrated with a map and a lengthy title on the cover page. There is minor soiling to the cover pages and a couple of tiny chips to that of the front cover. This unusual brochure consists of 16 large folded pages each measuring 7 inch high by 21-1/2 inch wide each extolling the virtues of the province and listing relevant statistics such as the "Climate of British Columbia", a "Comparative Geographical Study", "Manufacturing Siting", "Education in British Columbia", "Stock-Raising and Grazing", "Land!, Choice Land! Lands Especially Selected to Insure Successful Farming", "Our Forest Heritage", "Water-Power in British Columbia", "The Big Game in British Columbia" (with itineraries for hunting grizzly and black bears), "Mining in British Columbia", and so on, all illustrated with charts and diagrams. There is some occasional light soiling, else very good.

The lengthy subtitle proclaims: "California, Oregon & Washington with a total area of 317,612 square miles, situated to the west of the Rocky Mountains and paralleling the Pacific Ocean, form the western seaboard lands of the United States of America. Immediately north of these three States lies British Columbia with an area of 372,630 square miles also paralleling the Pacific Ocean and forming the western seaboard of the Dominion of Canada. From the United States - a few hours, or from the British Isles - six days of comfortable conditions of present day ocean traveling, and you arrive in CANADA. -- Your Country of Great Future. Over Canadian Soil from Montreal you travel by fast trains four days and four nights the 3210 miles of inspiring panorama which lead your to British Columbia - Land of Grandeur Unsurpassed - Your Home. Our Government Departments at Victoria, British Columbia are Designed and Desire to Help You - gladly giving reliable advice and most up to date information upon any phase of Development of The Natural Resources of Our Province."

Although no date is listed, John Oliver, British Columbia's premier moved to B.C. from Ontario in 1877. In his introductory essay, he informs us that "British Columbia has been my home since I came as a boy to seek my fortune fifty years ago", thus dating this work as having been published some time circa 1927.

Born in Ontario, the Canadian politician John Oliver (1856-1927) moved to British Columbia with his family in 1877 and took up a farm in the Delta. Involved in local politics, he was elected to the province's legislature in 1900, becoming leader of the opposition. Although he lost his seat in 1909, he was re-elected in 1916 when the Liberal party enjoyed an overwhelming win. Oliver was first appointed minister of agriculture and railway and following Harlan Brewster's death in 1918, Oliver followed him as B.C.'s 19th premier. Not an innovative politician, Oliver was nonetheless regarded as a plain spoken man of considerable integrity and often referred to as "Honest John". He governed the province through the difficult times following the first world war and the subsequent stagnation experienced in the 1920's. Oliver was instrumental in efforts to develop fruit cultivation in the Okanagan Valley, in order to help the struggling Pacific Great Eastern Railway and to secure freight-rate concessions from the federal government. The village of Oliver, B.C. and Mount John Oliver are named in his honor. Very good .

Keywords: CANADIANA; GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ON THE CONTINENT OF NORTH AMERICA; JOHN OLIVER; PREMIER; PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE; CANADA; CANADIAN WEST; ROCKY MOUNTAINS; PACIFIC OCEAN; TWENTIETH CENTURY; 20TH CENTURY; FOLDING; CHARTS; GRAPHS; DOMINION O

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