I have come to Ottawa to get a “close-up” of the government of Canada, and to see for myself if the city deserves its name, the “Washington of the North.” Ottawa gives one an impression of vigour, youth, and energy. It seems up to the minute, and not hanging on the coat-tails of the past like Quebec. It has some of the English flavour of Halifax, but is more modern. Like Washington, it is built on plans that, as they are developed, will emphasize its natural beauties. Ottawa is becoming a centre of intellectual life as well as of political activity. The city is attracting people of wealth and leisure who find it a pleasant place of residence for all or a part of the year. The government service includes men and women of unusual attainments, who are less likely to lose their places on account of politics than those holding similar offices in the United States. Ottawa is also becoming the headquarters for scientific and other organizations, and is developing rapidly as an educational centre. Washington has the Potomac, but this capital is on the banks of two rivers, the Ottawa and the Rideau. Its site was chosen only after a bitter struggle between rival cities. Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto each wanted the honour, but in 1859 all gracefully accepted the arbitration of Queen Victoria, who chose Ottawa. It was then a town of less than ten thousand people. It now has more than one hundred thousand. It lies in the province of Ontario, but is separated from Quebec only by the Ottawa River. In contrast with our national capital, Ottawa is an important city in its own right aside from the presence of the Dominion government. It is one of the chief lumber centres of all Canada, and besides saw mills and paper mills, has a match factory that is among the largest in the world. These industries are run by water-power. Ottawa is at the head of navigation of the Ottawa River, which here is broken by the Chaudière Falls. When Champlain saw these falls the tumbling waters presented a beautiful spectacle. Now they are reduced and obscured by mills and power stations. There is about two million horse-power available within fifty miles, one twentieth of which is developed. Many of the industries based on the water-powers and the lumber of the Ottawa district are in Hull, across the river. Hull has about thirty thousand people, nearly all French Canadians. Its population is temporarily increased each evening, as streams of Ottawans cross the bridges from the bone dry province of Ontario to the beer and wine cafés of the adjoining territory.