The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-28
CANADA AND THE NORTHWEST.
Proposed Erection of FortIflcatIons
on the Pacific Coast.
Commercial Importance of the Ca
madam Pacific Railway.

| MONTREAL, July 26.-Great interest In the
| work of fortifying the Canadian ports on
| the Pacific coast has been aroused. The
| craving dock at Esquimault, on Vancouver
Island, has been completed, the contractors
having just handed it over to the govern
ment, and it is now proposed to fortify Es-
quimault. There is an Insignificant battery
| there at present, but it Is intended to erect a
| frst-class fortress as q set-off to the great
Russian fortress of Petro Polaupska, in the
Northern Pacific. Col 0'Brien and a corps
of imperial engineers from Halifax have
passed through Montreal on their way to
British Columbia. They will survey Esqui-
mault and Victoria Harbor, with other
points covering the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way Company's port at the Pacific, namely,
Vancouver City. Sites for several forts will
be selected Immediately, and the ornaments
will be shipped from England at an early
day.
it will be remembered that the first freight
train sent over the Canadian Pacific Railway
was train of munitions of war sent by the
imperial authorities from Halifax to Port
Moody, B. c., which occupied only eight
days in transit. The British government
having adopted the Canadian Pacific Rail
way as the military route between England
and the East is deeply interested in seeing
that the railway harbor on the Pacific is
properly protected, and 1t Is believed that
millions will be expended in that quarter by
the Imperial and Canadian governments
jointly. The Canadian Minister of Militia,
Sir Adolph E. Caron, has gone to England,
and it is believed his mission has largely to
do with the arrangement of the terms on
which Canada and England will cooperate
on those important military works.
1t is said in well-infOrmed circles that
Canada and ENGLAND will iOinflU qrpQf fbA
works; that England will furnish the arma-
ment, which will be tirst-class, and that
Canada will supply the garrison in times of
peace. 1t is also understood that in cOnnec-
tion with the defenees there will be the most
modern torpedo service in the entrances both
north and south of Vancouver Island. Col.
O'Brien is expected to have his report ready
in the course of two months, and by that
time Sir Adolph Caron will have returned
to Canada and the understanding with the
imperial authorities will be settled.
Sir John Macdonald the Canadian Pre-
mier, is now in British Columbia. Sir
George Stephen, president OF the Canadian
Pacific Railway; Mr. Van Horne, vice presi-
dent of the road, accompanied by the Earl of
Durham, left for the same place on Saturday
night. The movements of these magnates
indicate some important business on the
tapis. 1t is well understood here that the
change of government in England will be a
great gain for Canada and the Canadian Pa
cifie railway. Lord Salisbury and the Con-
servatives as well as Lord Harrington, are
strong believers in Canada and the railway.
Before Lord Salisbury went out of Office
last year, he placed on record rscommenda-
tion of postal subsidy for the Canadian
Pacific railway, for the transportation of
British mails from England to Japan, China
and Australia, and it is now given out that
the Canadian Pacific Company will them
selves place line of steamers on the Allan
tic superior to anything at present running.
Four tea ships are on their way from Japan
to Vancouver, and line of steamers subsi-
died by the governments of England, Cana
da and Australia will be put on between
Vancouver, Asia and Australia, in the hope
of drawing the trade of Asia, via the Cana
dian route. The change of government in
England is also expected to bring about the
adoption of the assisted emigration scheme,
for which the Canadian Pacific railway and
the Canadian government have been work
ing involving the transportation of 100000
families from Britain to the Canadian North
west. All the members Of the Gladstone
favored this scheme except Mr..
Gladstone himself, and the Salisbury gov
ernment will no doubt go in for it strongly.
The railway and landed interests Of Canada
view the change of government in England
with great satisfaction.