The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-05-18
From the :. L. Bulletin, April 81
Another Annexation scheme.

Inc VtibiGc ullnO on the L 3ciilC CsiSt WIS pre-
pared for the reports which came by telegraph
today. of negotiations for the purchase of British
Columbia and Vancouver Island. After the ac
QUESTION of Observation-Disclosures, which left the
British possessions on this coast wedgcd in the
territory of the United States and deprived OF
most of their value To any government but ours,
it was n very natural thought that negotiations
would soon follow for Obtaining them, and that
Great Britain would not be very 10th to part with
them. They are desirable To US for the sake OF
giving unity u our Pacific territory and filling a
break in our domestic commerce. while England
cannot help regarding them as Il source of ankle
~ and expense. No other foreign territory could
be SO naturally and easily Joined TO tie United
States. There are 40 repugnancc OF race, no
clashing Of interests. On the contrary, Il very
cordial feeling and close business relation draw
the States OF the Pacific and British Columbia
together. The population of the latter are as
cosmopolitan as our own. Englishmen predomi-
nate numerically, but Americans are among the
largest property-owners. At one time the coun-
try was largely colonized from California, and to
American prOspectors and traders more than 10
English the territory owed the greatest Industrial
and commercial impetus it ever received. The
reiux of the tide OF mining adventure lessened
the proportion of Americans in the total pOpula-
ton, but it is still second only to the English
element, and the relations between the kindred
races are of the most cordial and friendly charac-
ter. The port statistics of Victoria for 1865
show that the imports from England were only
$3.50, 5S4 while those from San Francisco and
other American ports on the Pacific We're 81 ,6S7,-
YO3. The principal foreign exports were also TO
American ports, those to San Francisco alone
being S2+4 734. The British tonnage of the
port was only - vessels of 7,O59 tons; while
The American tonnage was 325 vessels. of 1873
tons, taking the clcarances for our guide.
Besides the favorable influence in favor of
Americans caused by social and commercial init
macy. the political contrast has been in our favor.
The people of British Columbia-and we use that
term 10 include both Vancouver Island and British
Columbia Ieople-have been very heavily taxed
and shamcfully mis-governed. The home Gov
ernmcnt does not understand their wants and has
certainly not promoted their interests. Its recent
policy has nearly destroyed the prosperity of
Victoria, which, next to San Francisco, was for
merly the handsomest and most thrifty city on
this coast. Under an American territorial gov
ernmcnt Victoria would revive, and its renewed
prosperity would increase the of San
Francisco, while all British Columbia would feel
the healthy impulse. Our English ncighbors
have themselves revolved these considerations,
and have frequently discussed, with no untriendly
feeling, the subject of annexation to the great
Republic. We have no doubt a large majority
of them would hail the cession of their territory
to the United States with satisfaction.
Should the cession talked of ever he made, the
Republic would gain Nancouvcr's Island, 275
miles long by 40 or 80 miles broad, containing
an area of about l., 900 900 acres and British
Columbia proper, about $50 miles broad by $50
long, and comprising an area Including Queen
Charlotte's Island) of say 100000 square miles,
which is considerably larger than the area of
California. The coast line of British Columbia
is about $50 miles long. With this acquisition,
the United States would have on the Pacific an
unbrokcn coast line of 2,235 miles, not including
inlets and curyatures. As a mining and agri-
cultural territory it is incomparably superior to
the Russian territory. The climate, though Sc
we're in the winter, is delightful in the summer.
The forest afford the best spar timber in the
world next to Sweden, whose forests are remote and
partly exhausted. The shore line is deeply in
denied with bays and estuaries, affording remark
able facilities for shipbuilding and trading. There
are already numerous settlements. The mineral
region is almost co-eXtensive with the territory, and
although only the placer mines have been worked
to any extent, the annual Weld of gold Is esti-
mated as high as So 800 600. The white popu-
lation, which was probably as high as 5O,000 or
90 900 at the period of the greatest mining eX-
element, is now estimated at from $4,000 to
20 900, and may not exceed the former figures.
The Indian population is about Is 900 on Van
couvcr Island and $4,000 on the main land.
Victoria, the principal town of the island, as of
the now united colonies, once had Il population
of 81, 900 or 80, 900, which has been reduced by
the decay of the mining excitement and the effects
of British missrulc to about 1000. L~angley's
Pacific Coast Directory speaks of it as being,
next 10 San Francisco, the most important sea-
port ON this coast. The same work thus alludes
to the town and island
1.-The harbor is safe and easy Of access to vessels
drawing IL or Is feet of water, at all times but
vessels over that draught require the highest
spring tides. This deficiency is made up, however,
by the adjacent harbor of Esquimalt, which can
DC entered mt all seasons of the year, and where
the vessels of the British North Pacific Squad
ron lie. Victoria is a free port, and the increase
of steam communication with the American Ter
ritories has already attracted an equal increase of
business. The island is rich in minerals, gold,
iron and coal. Its extensive coal fields,
a long distance on the cast side of the
island and the main land, give it an especial in
tercst and Importance To San Francisco. The
town is we'll laid out with suburban scenery and
drives. For eight months in the year the climate
cannot be surpassed, and as a summer resort for
tourists and invalids, it is nnexceptionable. The
town contains many handsome buildings and sub
S%tantial wharves, and it's municipal affairs are
by a Council and Mayor"
Nanailno is situated about 80 miles north of
Victoria, and is said by the authority above
quoted to be the only point in the interior of Van
couvcr island which has assumed the pretensIOns
Of a town. 1t has a splendid bay opening from
The Gulf Of Georgia, which is well buoyed, and
capablc of admitting the largest class man-of-
war. Il is only 80 miles from Buzzard Inlet,
which is rapidly coming into prominency for its
hyperion lumber. Ii is Il fine agricultural dis
riot the principal interest, however, is coal, the
Company coal mine being located here.
Westminster, the present capital of the
United Colonies Of Vancouver Island and British
Columbia. is situated on Frazer river about 20
niles above the entrance proper, and is the only
of entry in the colony. Its population is
at / 200. The magnitude and COM
nercial Importance of the Frazer is second only
the Columbia on the northwest coast of Amer
ca, if we except the kvichpak in the Russian
and at some future time will give much
10 New Westminster The town
o~ntains a number Of excellent buildings, wharves,
nd private residences.
Yale is a small town at the head of navigation
N the Frazer, and does Il good business receiving
nd forwarding goods tie the mines. The most
mining towns are Barkerviile. Cam