The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-06-29

{Jeblp'ees to rtoo fQou1inson OF She Brlnsh
crown. This colony is vancouver's Island
which was made over to the Hudson's Bay
Company in ls49, but of which it is the
intention of her Majesty's governmcnt tc
advise the repurchase, at the expiration Of
the Company's present trading license ON
the date above mentioned. This repur-
chase will be Effected in pursuance of the
recommendation of Committee of the
House Of the Honse of Commons, which
reported "that it will be proper to termi.
nate the connection of the Hudson's Bay
Company with Vancouver's Island as soon
as IL can be conveniently done, as the best
means of favoring the development of the
great natural resources of that important
colony" There can be no doubt that Par
lament will sanction this step; and we
therefore take this early opportunity of
directing the attention of Intending em
grants to this new and profitable field for
set lement. Vancouver's Island is long
and narrow island on the west coast Of
North America, extending in direction
from S. (. 4S dea. "a min., to n. ". 90
deg. 8 min N. lat. and between 1872 deg.
and l29 deg. w. long. In length it meas
ures about 250 miles, and in breadth from
40 to so miles. It's climate very much re-
senbles the climate Of England, though
PERHAPS in winter it is not so cold, while
in Summer il is somewhat hotter The
island is very thickly wooded, chiefly with
oak and fir of magnificent growth, and
beech and maple in less abundance. A
mong the woods are intcrspersed extensive
plots of prairie ground of the most fertile
character. The soil is excellent, capable
of producing all the crops that can be
grown In this country; the yield OF wheat
is from twenty five to forty bushels per acre,
and the crops of potatoes, oats and barley.
are equally good. The mineral wealth of
the island is enorm Jus; besides, iron, cop
per and gold, there is abundance of excel
lent coal, "very like the West Riding of
Yorkshire COAL" says the Hon. G. w.
Fitzwilliam, in his evidence before the Par
liamentaiy Committee. And in addition
to these internal riches, the surrounding
waters teen with fish in such enormous
quantities that mo one who has seen them,
says the authority, scan possible credit the
| value and extent of the fisheries" The
island is inhabited by a mild and inoffen.
| sve race of Indians, who show great
| disposition to work, aud Notwithstanding
their fish diet, display considerable inteli-
| gence and capablity Of improvement. In
| proof of their pacific character, we may
mention that though they number cigh-
| teen or twenty thousand, the few white
men (some 200 or 300) on the island,
shave never had much trouble from them,"
| according to the statement of Mr. Cooper,
who has resided there for six years. And
TO terminate this enumeration of the ad-
vantages Of the colony, it possesses one of
the finest harbors in the world, bssssislsss
Hon. Elicc says, in evidence before the
committee I'll think it should not only
| be on the ordinary system of English col
onies, but that it should be the principal
station of our naval purposes. 1t is the
only good harbor to the northwest OF San
Francisco, as far north rs Sitka, the Rus
sian settlement. There is coal enough in
the island for our whole navy. The eli
mate is wholesome, very like that of Eng
land. The coast abounds with fish Cf
every description. In short, there is every
advantage in the island Of Vancouver to
make it one Of the first colonies and best
settlements of England" 1t will doubt
less create surprise that country so high
" favonred should not ere this have been
colonized and turned 10 account. But two
causes have combined to turn away the
tide of emigration rom its coasts; first It's
proximity to California, and, secondly, 1t:
administration by the Hudson Bay Com
pany. Distant only three days journey
from San Francisco, the attraction of the
god-felds led many to remain there IN
, stead of continuing their voyage; while
Others. who were anxious TO escape from
t c lawlessness and turmoil of the diggins
. were deferred from removing to Vancouv
n cr's Island by the fact that it was under tn
f government of trading company, who's
o interest it was to discourage indcpender
!. settlers and to hamper private enterprise -
n But now that the gold fever has somewha
i subs ded, and men have learned 10y har
J.. experience that nugget hunting is at be'
!. precarious trade, there can he no dout
IS that, as soon as it is taken under the do
is minion of the Crown, Vancouver's Islam
= will be rapidly peoplcd.
4 "Tbere are hundreds OF persons" sa.
= Mr.. Cooper, "in California, who wou
4 gladly settle in Vancouver's Island it
Or were British colony" Aud, indeed,
L. is not surprising that men should be an
n ious to exchange the wild excitement
of gold seeking for the quieter pursuits of Q
,h dinary commerce and agriculture, and
at substitute for the uncertain protection OF
e. Vipiance Committee the reliable safegua
of of British government. But whether Va
IS couver's Island be peopled by emigrar
from this country or 10y fugitives from u
ifornia and the Western States, her p'
We gress must be rapid and her prosperity
lst cure. Not only does she' offer the b'
lr. station for the Pacific feet, but the wi
six lers of the North Pacific would find
I'd moro convenient to winter in her harb
is than at the Sandwich Islands, or oven.
Francisco. The inhabitants Of WashiI
nj ton territory on the mainland would co
of TO her markets for supplies, and la'
TO trade would at once be established with
Ity, Russian territories at Sitka and furt
- north.
Ia With the four staple commodities
do. timber corn, coal, fish, she could sup
sell the whole Pacific. For furnishing the