Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-25

the land is owned by landlords. ~On Prince
Edwards Island, the French, who were the
earlist white settlers, were expelled by the
English over hundred years ago, and the
land was divided among such English fami-
lies as had court influence at home. Much
of it remains still in possession of the de.
scendants of these fortunate few who live on
the income thus derived. Whether the site
of st. John is owned by landlords in a manner
precisely similar we do not know, but at any
is fatal impeachment to the growth and pros
perity of the city. There are two roomy
PUBLIC PARKS ...-s-
or squares" near the heart of the city,
which must be of great utility, and the we'll
worn walks testify that they are fully appre-
ciated by the public. The city is supplied
with water from reservoir some miles dis
tant, but the quality is indifferent. On ac-
count of the latter fact or some other one,
the
LIQUOR SHOPS AND BARS
of st. John are almost innumerable; their
signs stare one in the face at nearly every
corner, on every street, lane and alley, and
in every clearinghouse and otel,-inti-
mating a deplorable restitution of Maine
Law, and the location of the liquor-sellers'
paradise. At the southern point of the town
are the barracks, with several big black guns
sin port pointing seward; but they are
harmless: when Great Britain yielded up its
sovereignty over New Brunswick to New
by mutual consent left the armament that has
always been held in readiness to repel an in
vasion of the harbor of St. John. The bar
racks and military weapons and stores are
still held by the British, their title being kept
good by the presence of half dozen British
half-pay soldiers. From the barracks, and
rude fort, which are rapidly growing rusty, a
good view is obtained of the
HIGHLANDS OF Nova ScoTIA,
across the Bay Of Fundy. A mile or two from
the barracks, out into the bay, as break-wa-
ter to the harbor, stands Partridge Island, on
which is lighthouse. A Portlander would
not admit that St. John has much of a harbor,
and probably most sailors would readily agree
with him. Tides one way or the other are
continually rushing into it, and southerly
storm must handle it roughly. The finest
work of art in the city is the
SUSPENSION BRIDGE,
that spans the st. John river about two miles
above the city, uniting what is called Port
land Heights with Carleton. The bridge is
500 feet long, and at high tide is IS feet from
the water. The banks of the river at this
point are perpendicular, and of solid lime
stone, forming the most desirable natural
abutments possible. 1t was built by Maine
gentleman. The writer was indebted to Hon.
Hiram Knowlton of the executive council of
Maine for his visit to this magnificent struc-
ture, and visit to St. John is not complete
without it. The hotels of the town are nu-
merous, and like nearly everything else, far
behind the times. There is one exception,
however, the "Victoria," a new hotel, will
compare favorably with the best one in
Maine. 1t built in anticipation of the
completion of the Z. & N. A. Railway, and is
almost the only ''modern improvement" visi-
BILE in the city of st. John.
But railroad communication daily with the
irrepressible Yankee nation, will start the
ideas of our down-east friends, if anything
will.