Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-29

TuE RAILWAY From NEW WEST.
MGNSTER SOUTH.
( British Columbian.l

MuSSTE8 SOUTH.
British Columbian.
4 great deal Of dissatisfaction has
bssn produced in this city and district
by Sir Alexander's statements respect
ING the proposed railway across the
boundary line. Sir Alexander did not
say that the bills incorporating these
companies would be disallowed, but he
ceftaiuly left the impression that they
would. The Canadian Pacific Railway
syndic ,te. he said, had strongly urged
their disallowance on the ground that
these railways would take away traffic
from the Canadian Pacific Railway, and
be had found the same opinion prevail
ing at Victoria. According to Sir Alex
ander the government are bound to pro-
tsct the interests Of the Canadian Pa
cific In preference to the interests of the
country. There has been an opinion
generally entertained that the privileges
and m0nOp0lies conceded to the q. r. X.
syndicate by law are quite sufficient.
We are not aware that any law exists
whose 6nActments would take away tho
moral right of British Columbia to char
Ter railways Ia any direction she thinks
proper, aud the interference of the fed
sral government on behalf of the syn
dicate and against the interests of this
province will certainly ne.t with Wig
orous protest. The opinion OF Victoria
cannot alter the circumstances and
facts; neither can 1t interfere with the
determination of the people interested
70 protect their rights. Sir Alexander
epeht 70 know that Victoria opinion on
matten Of commerce shifts about with
Ne greatest facility as her own indi-
ydual interests suggest. Victoria hss
long hsld tho key to tho whole CON-
msrcs Of this province, and has grown
wealthy on the tribute paid her by all
the world beside; and she looks with
suapioi0n upon any movement which
might open up communication between
me mainland aud the outer world 20 as
% divert trade from her harbor. Opin-
Ions from that quarter are worse than
ussless-they are mischieyous and mis-
lsadinR.
Let the proposed railroad scheme rest
up0n its own bottom, and let the peo-
pie Of the mainland, who are the pro-
jectora OF the scheme, DO held c0mpe-
tent TO pron0un0e upon its utility. For
many years the people Of Victoria have
been demanding the construction of
railway from that city to Nanaimo.
Nobody else wanted 1t. The people of
Nanaimo are opposed to IL. Ths peo-
pie on the mainland had no interest in
Il whatever. But the Provincial Gov
eminent have oeded about 100000
acrss Of the public lands to aid in the
construction OF that railway, and there
has been no protest from the mainland.
We have surely been generous towards
an undertaking for which we cared not
farthing, and had right 10 expect gen.
orous treatment from Victoria in return.
We propose to build railway to the
southern boundary In the interests of
commerce. We ask NO subsidy from
either the Dominion or the Provincial
Government. Not foot Of public land
= sought even for riQht-of-way. But
The people of Victoria can discern no
advantage to themselves In the scheme,
and they advise sir Alexander Campbell
70 diaallow u because IL may interfere
With the @. p. Il. What do the people
Of Victoria care for the q. p. R.f Il Ia
~ long since their leading newspaper
Md, IN eject, that unless the G. y. X.
nade Ito terminus at Victoria (which
vuala be impoesible) Il need not ex-
eeee any patronage from that QuArtsr--
- people Of Victoria would look to the
N4thefn Pacific for their traffic But
Gthetr opinions have changed. The
VI. +. must b protected and sncour-
~ and no other line Of railway must
= permitted on the mainland. The
ssieSfsf even goes % far ~ TO represent
- pomotsr1 Of the boundary railway
onds0sd with Sir Alsxandsr's state
asak It says:
Upon rsdootion, the remarks of the
nanister Of justice meet with tho ap-
evval Of even the promoters Of the billa
= Quostion. The Domiuion govern
Int have acted wisely In disallowing
eharters which would have worked .
oeoided injury 10 the province" Nov,
lh0 told the Coiesisf such stud So
~ from being satisfied. both the Board
= Trade and the promoters Of the rail-
vy Are etyy much dissatie6ed with the
Salsment OF the minister Of Justice.
- Coiomisf entirely misreprcsents the
~ and makes deductions which ve
~ 0tis6ed Il cannot defend. Let us
mm from Il in what way the proposed
maway would iniure this province. A
Ne interests Of tho @. p. II. We arc
@optnion that that they would not be
solosaoualy Affected by the boundary
mlvay. Through traffic from the east
~! necessarily come over the G. p. r.,
snd the proposed road would simply ts-
eos local line, developing that part
tns country, and affordinQ facilities
M eAfhc which do not now exist. We
ofare 70 say that - tendency will be
ma1eass the y. p. r. trafi1c instead
0mtnishing Il; for il no road 10 built
. sas boundary no trafio from that
Soa will ever and its way 70 the O. 2.
= engineers arc now surveying rail-
iins from the boundary line, on the
s9imu side, 70 connect with the
nnssioan railways. II NO connection
MOVED on this aide Of the boundary,
s1.e from this aide will aasuredly 60
n % over the American railways. In
neerssts Of tho syndicate. therefore,
~ tnterests OF the region through
ssseo The road would pass. and In jos
% hEitisA Columbia aud her rights,
- The federal government 70 give
measure its aneant.