Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-12-19

| SION III Aic1tTaZ lSIatlu III Dan II Iau
cisco harbor has to do with the oper-
alton Of the railroad through the
Mont Gems Tunnel San Juan can
never be the terminus OF any rail-
road, nor can the communication be-
tween the mainland and Victoria be
in any way affected by It's coming IN
TO the possession of the United
States. San Juan ls situated consid-
erably south OF the boundary pos
sessions on tie mainland; conse-
quently any one casting a glance at
the map can see that San Juan Island
could never be any impeachment to
the construction OF railroads III Brit.
ish Columbia or the Dominion. The
principal thing accomplished IN the
preservation OF national pride and
dignity by having the award in favor
OF the United States and in accord
ancc with their construction OF the
treaty.
SAN JUAN ISLAND.
San Juan Island and tho arbitra-
tion OF the questions involved has
caused the use OF more printers ink
than could be purchased with the
proceeds of Its sale to the highest
bidder. II is only fit for hog ranch,
tor which it has been used, aud there
is no possible inducement for settlers
to occupy it, Tor if they raised any
produce by cultivation they would
! In toV fvn Int m 10
their labor profitable. The steamers
that ply around Puget Sound to Vic
toria never think of calling at San
Juan, There was no induccment tor
them TO lay to, even when it was
inhabited by joint American and
British garrison, and now that the
British have abandoned the island
there seems 10 be no greater nccessi-
ty tor our troops remaining stationed
there than there is Tor squad upon
Seal Rock at the entrance TO the
Golden Gate. San Juan Island is
sixteen miles long and few miles IN
width, aud is companion to several
other small, rocky surfaces in the
Gull OF Georgia, aad near the en-
trance to Puget Sound, which latter
islands have been acquired along
with San Juan.
The island Is between the north.
western boundry OF Washington Ter
,itory and Vancouver Island, the
passage between Vancouver and San
Juan being the channel usually taken
by steamers for Fraver River. But
the chiei interest III this region con
sis,s rather in the more important as
poets of Vancouver aud the main
land, and in the seualid Inhabitants
along the ncighboring cost, than IN
the miserable little ridge called San
Juan Islands.
vANCouyTRs ISLAND.
Eancouver's Island, or, more prop.
er!y speaking, Qaadra and Nancous-
er's Island, was first discovered by
Captain Cook, in 177s, who ilnagin-
ed that it was n portion of the main
land. Several years later Captain
Vancouver. while sailing in company
with Captain Quadra, OF the Spanish
fleet, discovered the island, aud it
was chris,cned in honor OF both cap
,ains, Quadra and Vancouver's Is
land. Vancouver Island abounds in
magnificent harbors, and one oil
these. Esquimat, Is equal to any in
the world, being the principal British
naval station on the Pacific. On the
western side OF Vancouver Island is
Moot Sound, which was first nam
ed by Captain Cook King Georges
Sound; but this was atterward
changed to the designation Of the
natives, Nootka. The Indians about
Noetka Sound are curious people,
aud have language which is by ID
means harsh or disagreable, like that
Of many Of the tribes on the south
ern part of the island, of which latter
class arc the Songush tribe, who live
around Victoria, the capital OF Van
couver, and whose language is pain
fully cultural.
The tallest spar ever shipped to
England was cut on Vancouver, and
was exhibited at the great London
exhibition OF 1862.
VICTORIA AND NANAMINo.
Victoria is forty miles south of the
forty ninth parallel, and more than
halt days ride by steamer from the
British possessions in the mainland.
1t is one OF the most beautiful situat
Ell cities on the cost; has a salubrious
climate, and a population Of about
ten thousand. 1t is the headquarters
tor the Hudscn's Bay Company in
this region, and has a beautiful har-
bor, but not of sufficient depth TO
float large steamers. The only other
town on Vancouver is Nanaimo, just
ly celebrated for its coal mines. The
Goa! is of good quality, AMI the best
found OF the coast. aud should this
island ever be annexed to the Unit
ed States, as a large majority OF the
inhabitants desire, it will be found
OF incalculable value.
Upon the banks Of the Nanalmo
River, near the town, are some
astonishing statues callea "Ku.y
num-" OF mammoth size, and carved
out OF wood The work was done
by the Indians. and the wooden
figures represent their idea OF the
Great Spirit. Some OF the finest po
tatoes raised on the continent are
the product OF the soil OF Vancouver
Island.
THE NoorKA INDIANA.
The natives differ greatly from the
Arizona and Plains Indians They
do not care for the beads and tinscl
ornamcnts, but they do care for
knives, iron utensils, looking glasses,
and cloth of every kind. \ blanket
is their only wearing apparel, which
they have substituted tor thciy origin.