The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-22
Letter From New Brunswick.
Correspondence q &c Democratic Advocate.

sAIisnvRY. April 9Th, 1876,
Nesas, Editors. Your correspondent hav-
ing spent the winterin Prince Edward Island,
saw many things novel to4l person living two
thousand miles south. Prince Edwards Island
is about one hundred and fifty miles in length,
varying from ten to forty miles in width. 1t
has u population OF over 100, 900. The Island
is one of the five Provinces that form the
Dominion of Canada. 1t has its local gov
ernmentat Charlottetown,a city of about H..
OO0inhabtants. government buildings are
well constructed, and creditable to the Island.
Its public affairs are well managed, no chance
to pilier in this miniature government The
city is pleasantly located, and does heavy
business; Il has many churches, the church
of England being the leading or government
denomination the low and the very high
Then comes the Scotch Presbyterian with
Its kinks for churches next the Methodist,
who have very fine church, and one of the
finest choirs Of vocal music, no instrumental
music being allowed, the singers are seated
back of the preacher, a good place to have
attentive listeners Then comes the Baptist,
who nre quite numerous A revival was
going on and | was witness to baptizing
OF several in the church, the thermometer 20
degrees below zero big tank below the
pulpit platform five or more feet deep, con
tanned all the water necessary, with Just
enough ice to give JUNCTION to the minds of the
converts. Several Of the ungodly were heard
to say, like PLATE, that they would wait till a
more convenient season these comprise most
OF the Protestant denominations. The Cath.
olics who are about twothirds of the popula
ton of the Island, have very large church,
whilst the Bishops palace is the finest struc.
ture on the Island,
A narrow gauge railroad of over $50 miles,
connects all of the principal towns with the
capitol. Summerside, pleasant little town
with It's Island Park Hotel, is delightful
summer resort. 1'gnish, Alberton, George
town and Souris are the largest towns, and
their stores have mn immense trade in the
summer months The principal business of
the Island ; farming, ship building and ira
ding. Some stores in the little town Of Sum
merside would do no discredit TO those ia our
largest cities, Oats, wheat, barley, potatoes
and grass are the principle crops, 81, 0OO, 900
bushels Of oats is the est mated yearly crop
black, white, norway and hulless, weigh from
10 to 80 pounds per bushel. The shipping
interest is immense, over sixty large vessels
are built yearly; many of them are sold in
England, or as they say, sent home, others
very wealthy, in some yards YOU will see from
two to four large vessels costing from $50, 900
TO 100000, building at the same time by one
man or firm, and doing It all by the most
primitive ways. At one yard where gen.
tleman was building three large vessels.
saw four pair of sawyers saw logs by hand,
one man standing above and one below, one
pair saving in log from 20 to % feet long.
three cuts in day. which would give two
planks, the result Of days labor. These
eight men cost at least 10 dollars per day,
and when the gentleman was solicited 10
put in MILL which would cut more III two
hours than eight men would in week, he
said he did not know about it, he had made
money in the old way, and he would wait and
see how those who bought mills prospered.
From what your correspondent saw he is sat.
ished that 1900 dollar mill can be saved in
bhilding 1000 ton vessel The climate on
the Island is delightful in summer; they have
no spring or fall, the balance is winter. The
past winter came on with vengeance. No.
vember ID, the day we arrived on the Island.
we had salute of first class snow storm,
taking grim comfort in 80 hours stay on the
ears from Summerside to Charlottetown, some
80 miles. The little railroad whilst il Is of
great value to the Island is still in It's infancy
aud is very weak in power to fight the snow;
outside OF its four Baldwin's engines, the
others the Scotch engines, are worse than
nothing, they are so deceiving, giving ont as
soon as they sight snowbank. Through the
energy of the employees, the road has never
been showed up more than ten DAYS at time,
II one was obliged to travel, team would be
the safest, as then ifyou were delayed, near
bay or river you could take the ice, and il it was
not below zero it would be enjoyable especi.
ally If it was GLIDE or glore. Shippers suffer.
ed from the freezing IN Of their vessels loaded
with oats, caused by farmers being unable TO
thresh their oats out early, rs the season is
so short, they have not time, consequently
there is much loss to farmers and shippers.
This state of affairs is undergoing u change,
since the importation Of one Of Westminster
dry steam engines and gain separators.
1t has not only become popular with the
farmers, as it saves time and money and gives
them chance to get into market what they
have TO sell, but also with ship owners and
shippers who especially favor it, for lift comes
into general use they will not have their YES.
sells and cargoes frozen in, as 100 dry steam
engines and separators would thresh all the
grain shipped before navigation closes; while
some engines would be applied for other uses.
hEdAaif AHt ~ htsltnlnsttf urY steam
engines and mills which are scattered over
every section of the Island which were nut nm
this winter, with snow varying in depth from 1
to 10 feet, and thermometer varying from zero
tn 80 below, are rapidly making great CHANGES
in ship building interest. On March "a we
started to cross the Northumberland Strait.
which from Cape Trayers on the Island 10
Cape Tormentine on the New Brunswick coast
is miles across These straits are filled nj
all times from December to March with float.
ing fields Of ice, in many instances, acres in
size. Waited till Sunday, (which BY the way
they call a fine day to cross and started. The
crossing is made in common boat. some l5
feet long, made as light as possible, with
runners on bottom, so as to haul il on the
ice. Each boat has its captain, and 3 men,
with places for passengers; each man is har.
messed to the boat by means of strap over the
shoulders and breast so in case the ice is had
he can only go through the length of strap;
1t does not save from complete wetting. bnt
saves from drowning This Sunday was un.
fortunately not one Of the good days. We
LEFT board ice, that is, ice that always stays nm
each shore, at 0 o'clock in the morning. two
boats and 20 passengers. and found no ice beres
but thin ice, which in salt water means very
stuff. Now passengers are taken
across at $3.50 piece, from So to $40 for
baggage if in much bulk, aud they are re.
quired to pull, haul and shove the boat ALONG
to work same as boatmen; while if detained
4 week waiting as your correspondent was, il
means from so to $50, besides hard work IN
get over. The first man that took bath cot
the laugh, but before noon the laugh was
general, as there were but few who had NOT
had the pleasure of taking wistful look.
with chin just over the gunwale of the boat,
AT p. m. we were scarcely miles from
shore, the wind starting up, our captains con. |
suited, and decided to turn the boats hacl |
for the same shore. We started with tho
pleasant news that it looked very bad, and I'M.
less We worked very heard we must STAY ont
that night. II had the desired affect. Sncb
showing and hauling with boat hooks never
wish to participate in again. At q. 40 wa |
struck board ice, completely exhausted, with
the whole thing to be done over again. Tues. |
day we took another prospecting tour ON the
gulf out hours and gave up. "Wednesday |
We started again, came over in fine Shane.
much open water and struck large berus Of
Ice with pinnacles higher thau church sieep.
les, then fiat fields Of ice, then lanes of water
NJ l. 4 4