, 1877-11-10


thing threatens the security of the Brit,
ISL lion forthwith large fleet is sent to
the north Pacific to watch British inter
rsts there. This fleet requires an
immense amount OF supplies, and spends
large sums OF money wherever they stop.
Esquimault is their headquarters. There
they get their supplies, and in Victoria
the men spend their money, All this
would be lost hy annexation, and this
money alone has contributed materially
to the growth Of Victoria.
over above and superior to all these
reasons why annexation should be I'm
popular to many, exists the tact that to
many the keen strit
and personal rivalry incident to all.
Yankee enterprise, however it might de
vcIope the resources Of the country, is
what they most dread.
Seattle claims about the same populn
tion us Victoria, yet the latter appears to
be much the larger and wcallhier place.
1t probably ranks IN wealth next to
Portland OF any place in the Northwest
Its wealth is superior to any place in this
Territory. The most commcnluble
thing about tho place is the sc'viceabe
and substantial way the streets Of the
city, as well AS numerous roads leading
thercfrom are graded aud macatamlzcu
They being the most substantial and
seryiccable as well us beautiful of any.
thing of the kind we have seen on this
)ast.
We understand that the region around
New Westminster, on the mainland, is
equally distinguished this way; some
ing in which both sections are far
ahead Of the Sound.
But few cheap poor buildings are being
erected. The growth n present is slow,
steady and substantial. The newer
portion of the town contains many very
fine buildings. aid great numbers of
beautiful and convenient residences are
found along the splendid drives in the
subcrbS. The place contains more sub.
stantial buildings OF brick and stone,
than any other place OF its size on this
const; yet ON the other hand, in the older
portions ut the city, in what should be
its most valuable business centre, II has,
oftentmes along side some of its most
important business houses, "a greater num-
Der OF old tumbled down rookeries than
in any other place we ever were in. On
inquiry we found that these disgracGful
rookcries were mostly owned by wealthy
men. That many were opposed to hav-
ing them removed, because in the winter
season, when the miners returned to
spend tlieir earnings from the mines,
nearly every rookcry found its tenant,
and that they not only brought to their
landlords II fair rental, but were the
means of keeping many miners and their
money there, who might otherwise go
elsewhere. That they wanted just such
kind of structures because then they
could procure Indian women to live with
them for the winter, who would be turn
ed loose in the spring; thereby, as they
reasoned, the respectable portion of
female society would be shielded from
the violent passions Of class OF men
who never were accustomed to restrain
themselves.
What shameful commentary thought
we, this was upon the strict, stern and
impartial administration Of justice, of
which our friends in that province boast
So much.
Such low dens always will degrade
men to the level of theil environment
viii bring together all those social sur
roundings that cause men to Commit
crimes. Then II they are not crimes OF
violence, or that affect the property of
the wealthy, they are to be encouraged
and protected by such system because
torsoo,h they may chance to bring few
more dollars to their merchants. We
have heard the same false, and degrading
system OF reasoning here on the Sound,
and have seen the ruin it occnsioned.
We have also seen the wonderful moral
improvement us well rs financial pros.
perity ola community when everything