The Portland daily press., 1867-05-28
British Colonial Nla,ters.
THE QUESTION OF DEFENsr


very little ofspecial interest. The response oftba
Provincial press to the intelligence received by
cable that the Queen has issued her proclama-
ton creating the "Dominion of Canada" has
not yet reached us. There is no doubt howev-
er' that the approaching consummation of the
scheme, will, despite the oppo-
'i'oh developed in some quarters, give very
Soneral satisfaction. Our Colonial friends
80 soo,i nave their new machinery in opera
'ion ana VIII be in fair way to determine for
themselves whether or no their mncb covatea
whistle Is likely to prove worth what y ill
cost them. The expenses, the burdens and N.
responsibilities as well as the diont;es ana
profits conferred by the new Imnerial char,or
are now to be realized. Already the attention
of the more thoughtful among them ia hai-,,,
drawn to these considerations The ouast;on
of defense naturally assumes great importance
as the period approaches when the Imperial
troops are likely to be Withdrawn. One thing
is very noticeable in the discussions OF this
subject which We find in the Provincial papers
and that is the small degree of confidence
which is felt in the volunteer system The
faith of our negh3ors is in standing armies
Accordingly we meet with many estimates of
the probable cost of maintaining this system
OF defense. One leading man boldly demands
that, in view OF the withdrawal of the Imperial
troops, force of 335,O 900 be conscripted, or re-
quired to fill limited term of service, on the
Prussian principle. Under this comprshsn-
sive scheme, the levies on the separate Colonies
would be as follows:
-Brunsw ck Sh 'no
Lower Canada = 1z,,JOO
upper Cahaaa- 16oUJo
Total $4,000
This would involve the conscription of full
tithe of the entire population of the whole of
British America, including men, women and
children. 1t would probably take nearly half
the male adult population under fifty years of
age, and if the force were under drIn for only
one-quarter OF every year, the establi shment
would involve an expenditure of not less than
$16,500,O 600 per annum. This, considering that
the aggregate revenues of all the Provinces, at
the present rate OF taxation, cannot much ex-
ceed S25,0O0,OO0 year, is a military estimate
which may well startle those who must put
their hands in their pockets to pay the bills.
l GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY.
The Toronto Globe, melted by some sharp
its attack upon the Grand Trunk road and
gives some extracts from the sworn statements
of the employees of the Grand Trunk Comps-
ny at a recent inquest which do not give
very fattering impression of the condition of
the road. An extract or two will show how
severely damaging these statements are:
Alfred Gariepy, engine-driver on the Grand
Trunk Railway sworn saith:
There are many bad rails on the road.
The road is IN reTy bad state and not fit to run
ooer; and the bad rail caused the deatn oi my
fireman. The state OF the
road generally is not good-not in a safe state
Arthur Henry Fox sworn saith:
L am inspector of the progress
Of the cars.* The track is not good
between Richmond and where the aeclaens oc-
Cured. l believe the line Is capable OF being
put in much better condition and to effect
this, a large number of new rails would be re-
quired.
"Thomas Hart, road-master, said:
The road generally Is not In good running Or
der The road is not safe at high rate of
speed about fifteen miles an hour would he
safe for most it. Portions are, not safe at that
Twelve miles per hour would, thank, be q
safe rate for the two or three worst places.
There haze been from 45 to so Casualties on
ma section from the lst Of december last to the
present time. My section is from Sherbrooks
10 Montreal, So miles. This evidence was CIV
en on the Ind day OF March, SO that the 40 or
80 accidents occurred within u period OF W
days upou 81 miles of road-that is, one acci-
dent every two days.I
Question by toreman-Have you during
YOUR thirty-one years of experience on raii-
ways ever had charge of any as bad this?
Ans.-I neper hdce.
THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY.
Friday the 24th was the chief annual holi-
day of our Canadian neighbors, it be-
ing the birthday of her gracious Maj
esty, Queen Victoria. 1t is observed
in much the same manner that the
Fourth of July is with us. Bells are rung, sa-
lutes fired, fireworks blaze in the evening,
and the Queens health is drunk in every i'm
aginable and procurable species of liquor.
aa' LARGE NUGGET.
The Petrolia Sentinel of last week, says.
A letter from the DeLery gold mines, receiv-
ed this morning, announces the finding on the
Gilbert river portion of their property of the
largest nugget of the season, a lump of IS
ounces, which was picked up on Friday last
The yield on the Gilbert of late has been over
W, 900 day, simply from the sluicing of the
debris thrown out during the winter. For the
,compass that has so far been laid open, the
productiveness of these mines, we are assured,
far exceeds IL, richness those developed in any
part OF California and Australia.
We observe that bill has been introduced
INTO the New Brunswick Legislature for the
Incorporation of telegraph company who
contemplate the erection of a line from St.
John to the eastern boundary of this State,
along the route of the Western railway extern
non, and of branches in directions where
deemed advisable.
The official proclamation of Confederation is
postponed till Saturday. the 1st of June
New Brunswick having asked delay to make
some changes in the list of Senators.
The Hon. Darcy McGee has addressed let
ter to the electors of Canada West, in which
he indicates the course necessary for Canada
to pursue in view of her new pos ton under
Confederation. He says the people of Cana
da have reason to look with suspicion on the
Sudden and unaccounted-for acquisition of
Russian America by the United States. which
seems directly an attempt to out-fiank their
fellow-countrymen ON the Pacific. He saws:
TO qualify us for our new duties, we have four
things to attend to- the increase and employ
ment of our people, their armament, educa-
ton and unifcation." m