Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-12-04

SAN YJUAy Nov that the possession of
san Julu and Its sister Islands is secured
TO the United States 1t will he a matter OF
pubIic interest TO know their Importance.
When the great navigator Cook, first sail
el aIonr the North Pc 81: coast of Ameri-
ca, in eager quest of au Arctic water pass
age from Reuriug Strait to Bofiu's Bay,
be passed Vancouver Island under the im-
preston that it formed part OF the main
land To his mIdshIpman, who gave name
to this island, was due the discovery,
twelve years after the death Of his illustrI-
Gus commander, of the insularity of thus
land, ana also Of the existence OF the ten
other islands lying IN the throat Of Juan
de- Fuca Strait and now adjudged to the
United States. Having entered the chan
nel which separates Nancouver's Island
from Washington Territory, before dIscoV
cred by De tuca, but tho ght to be only
an inl, { of the sea, Vancouver landed upon
what was probably the Island Of San Juan,
in Nav. 1871. Tne landscape, upon which
no white man had gazsd till then. was
described by its FIRST European visitors As
comparable TO the most egantly tlnlshed
pleasure grounds, with natural lawns rooed
in luxuriant grass diversified BY an a5und-
ancc of flowers and fruits and studded with
cIumps of noble pines 20 that the explor-
er. we're reminded Of certain delightful
and beloved situations in Old England
It isa remarkable coincidence that these
Islands sustain to the Continent Of North
America the same geographic and climatic
relations as those OF the British Islands to
N~..-1.-vr.,- IlforI hos NOT
inaDtIv been designated The England of
the Pacific" Although made known in
1871. il was only in 1913 that any settle
ment Of civilized man was made upon 1t,
and it, subsequent development has by 10
means been so slow as TO disappoInt the
hores entertained of making Il great
commercial and manufacturing centre on
the shores Of the Great Western Ocean.
When Cook sighted the American coast,
near forty-four degrees, on March I, l718,
he named the visible promontory Cape
Fatterv, in aIusion to the beautiful weather
he then began to experience
The observations Of all travellers and
explorers since this time abundantIy attest
the delicious climate Of this entire section
Of the North Pacific coast and prove that
Captain Naucouver's descriptions, made
more than seventy-fve years ago, were not
c5uLeur a. rose The summers are warmer
and the winters moister and milder than IN
England or ireland. The shores are bath
ed by the warm waters from the China
coast and the Kuro SIwo, or Japan Gulf
Stream, and also swept by the winds, which
together spread a mantle of warmth,
moisture and fertility not only over me
coast, but over al. Oregon, Washington
Territory. Idaho and Western Montana.
The geologic surveys of the islands and
shores OF the waters around San Juan re-
yea abundance of mineral formation, es
peeaIiy coal, copper and magnetic iron
Iae fisheries are unsurpassed IN the quail
y and quantity of their yield, and the
water fowl and game birds are as plentiful
as 40 the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
"7'.e the timber s Of that colossal type SO
Gar cd on the Pacific coast and so unIl-
'-.ri for snip building,
Weaving the secured possession OF San
Juan and the system Of islands now to be
embraced ia the rectied map OF the Unit
Cd States Ia connection with the march OF
eIyl.zltou toward the far Northwest
Pacd, and also in come ton with the
fapd prosecution OF the magnificent traDs-
Continental railway from Like Superior to
Puget Sound, there can be little doubt that
solid advantage has been gained and
Posses on Of great value to the country
aas been preserved Y. Herald.