Resources.—The wild grasses are most nutritious, as has been demonstrated by the thousands of cattle sold from the different ranches all in first-class condition for the market.
The grain raised in Alberta at present is largely required to supply local requirements. The surplus finds a market in British Columbia, the Orient, and to some extent in eastern Canada. Winter wheat is successfully grown in Alberta, more especially in the southern parts, and the area under crop is rapidly increasing. The growing of winter wheat has revolutionized conditions.
The cool temperature in summer, with the grasses and pure cool mountain streams mentioned, makes Alberta one of the best countries to be found for cheese and butter-making, and it is rapidly becoming as noted for such industries as for its ranches.
There is a local lumber supply at Edmonton and other points, but the finer grades are obtained from British Columbia.
The province is opened up by the Canadian Pacific Railway and its branches from Calgary to Edmonton, Macleod and to the great ranching country around Medicine Hat, which, owing to its climate, permits cattle to graze without shelter throughout the whole winter.
Alberta has a border line of 30 townships which front upon the American Republic. The province contains 170,000,000 acres of arable lands. Of this immense tract scarcely one million acres have been tilled. It has no waste country. In its southwest corner (near Montana) there is a rich oil field. Its coal fields extend all over the province; vast deposits of coal are found all along the foothills. Medicine Hat, one of its largest towns, is famous for its natural-gas wells. The largest zinc smelter in the world is at Frank, Alberta. Its greatest wealth, however, will always be in agriculture. The northern part of this province is in the same degree of latitude as Scotland, and the southern part of the province the same as a part of Germany. North Alberta is watered by portions of two great river systems, the Peace River and the Athabasca River. The markets of the agricultural products of Alberta will, it Is likely, ultimately be to the west and to the Orient what they are now to the mining districts of British Columbia. Her coal will go to the east, to the plains of Saskatchewan and the prairies of Manitoba, but her agricultural products will seek a nearer market. It is over 2,000 miles to Montreal, and only 600 to Victoria, B. C. The soil of from one to three feet of black vegetable mould with but little of sand or gravel is of almost inexhaustible fertility.
Education. Common schools are established with liberal government assistance wherever £he number of children of school age warrants. High schools are established at several central points, and arrangements are well under way for opening a well equipped provincial university. The opportunities for primary (common school) education are excellent, and when the university opens for actual work the facilities for the professional training of the teachers, a most important consideration, will be all that can be desired.
Albert Edward Nyanza (ni-anfza), a lake in Africa, about 50 miles southwest of Lake Albert and connected with the latter lake by the Semliki River. This lake was discovered by Stanley in 1876, and was again visited by him in 1889 while on his Emin Pasha relief expedition; but it is still somewhat veiled in uncertainty. It is probably much smaller than its northern companion. Several small salt lakes are in its vicinity. Its old name was Muta Nzige. Stanley says of this lake: "No rivers of any great importance feed the Albert Edward Nyanza, though there are several which are from 20 to 50 feet wide and two feet deep. The river-like arms of the lake, now narrowing and now broadening, swarm with egrets, ducks, geese, ibis, heron, storks, pelicans, snipes, kingfishers and other water-birds." ("Nyanza" means "lake".)
Albert Nyanza, a large lake in east Central Africa. Its surface is 2,720 feet above the level of the sea. On its western coast are the Blue Mountains, rising 7,000 feet higher, and on the east steep cliffs rise almost as high. The White Nile, flowing from Lake Victoria, enters Lake Albert and issues from it near its northernmost point. Sir Samuel Baker was the first European who explored it in 1864. Area about 2,000 square miles.
Albert, Prince Consort, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and husband of the late Queen Victoria of England, was born near Coburg, August 26, 1819. He married Victoria in 1840; soon after was made field-marshal in the British Army; and in 1857 received the title of prince consort. He acquired great influence in public affairs as the prudent and trusted adviser of the queen, and became popular throughout England. He died December 14, 1861.
Albigenses (al-bt-jen'sez), a French religious sect, so named from the town oi Alby, where a council was held in 1176 which condemned their doctrines. They taught the doctrines of the Manichaeans that there are two opposing principles, one good and the other evil. They also rejected the Old Testament. The sect practically died out about 1227.
Albino (l-be'nd), a person or animal whose skin and hair are perfectly white. The white negroes of West Africa were first called by this name by the Portuguese, but it is now applied to persons of any race who
