The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-25
VICTORIA'S PRIDE.
She Commentaries the Finding
of Royal Bay.
THE THIRD CITY IN CANADA.


Victoria Tfrsea
This number OF the Tsu<s ccmussmoraene
the centenary Of the finding cf ROYAL bay
by the Sraniards. who in July, i79d. named
our harbor Puerto de Cordoba. The vessel
Was seized English slcop, the Princess
Real. = the expedition that Of Elisa Ths
whole coast was then being explored In
hope OF finding the Northwest passage,
thar great hope Of three hundred years. q
commercial highway around the world ey
sea- But the time was not ycs
come. 50 for half q century, the
country was occupied by the Hudson
bay Company rs game preserve. and the
Indians prepared for the approach OF set
tiement But in isal SIR James simpson,
inspecting this part of the compxny's do
minsons. had the wisdom 60 see that the
southeast end of Vancouver island was the
most valuable section of the whole coast
above California and proposed 10 tbs
directors in London an establishment here
as future base OF operations, because the
Columbia valley Was being ovsrrun with set
Element which destroyed the fur trade.
Whaiers might be induced to winter there
also. and Russian Alaska could be supplied
with grain. In 1857 the steamer Beaver
had found her way into Victoria harbos,
then Camosun bay. In Ist2 James Doug
las, after careful survey. selected this as
the site oi the proposed settlement. and
In 1873 the Beaver conveyed an expedition
to the place where, or the fash of March,
the erection OF Fort csmosun was begun.
When Great Britain relinquishea Oregon
Camosan became Fort Victoria. the CON-
pany's base oi operations on the Coast A
large fur trade was developed and the
island was leased from the crown for the
foundation Of q colony. little village
grew up under the walls OF the fort, Of not
80 people, laid out rs a town In Iss2. an
arrangement In log houses and mud, whlch.
ms the menace of the Indians grew less,
waxed very independent and fond Of poli-
tics, until At last. in 1858. it became the
capital Of a real crown colony, with SIR
James Douglas as governor.
Fabulous quantities had been found Of
both coal and iron. Gold. also. had been
seen aud even worked in many places.
Hopes. expectations and rumors filed the
air with promise OF great things 10 come.
and then with the rush of . tidal wave q
population was hurled headiong into the
quiet settlement, and the first mad gold
fever was begun. The population under
canvas here that winter has been estimated
at from 1900 10 $1,000: hotels.
wharves. stores. places of amuse-
ment. etc. rose Like magic, and
when in 1859 the wave had rolled
back Of the disappointed from the Fraser
gold field. there remainea . town OF 1880
people. while 3.ooo more were exploring
and mining in the interior. The Fraser
river excitement has been followed by the
Cariboc. Leech river. Omineca. Ssickeen.
Cassiar. kootensy and Yukon gold levers,
and these have all in turn added 10 the
commerce OF Victoria, and aided In ne az
ploration and settlement OF the CO untry.
union OF the island with the new main
land colony, followed in 1871 by the FEEDER
alton Of Canada, has opened the dyes OF oil
men 10 great reality. There was yet 20
be further and greater federation, and
Victoria was not to be . mere trading post.
nor yet an abortive settlement, nor WAS its
destiny TO supply vhalers. Russian fur
traders. or even gold miners. IL was des-
tined to become great and splendid city.
With the gold levers began the organixa-
ton Of the city. The first newspapers
were started in 1855. In 1853 the police
force. land Office and courts of justice we're
organized, and their officers appointed. In
1850 the government buildings and James
Bay bridge were built, four church bodies.
a hospital and several secret societies were
organized.
The city was incorporated in 1867. and
the wonderful organism oft has kept pace
with a steady and rapid growth in the rate
OF which Victoria Is the third town Ia Can
ada. The market to nppeAse . growing
appetite for fuel, food and water. together
with the needfui drainage. the arteries of
the streets. the cellular tissue OF houses,
the nerves OF the telegraph and telephone.
the sight OF gas and electric light. tho brain
tissue supplied by our unusually good
book stores and library. the ears
of the newspapers, the tongue of
members OF parliament, the public press,
and the lungs OF recreation, and the max
ing and using Of the human blood. have
all been ~ healthy and perfect ~ could be
desired IL the schools and churches and
good behavior OF the city are an indication
OF its moai condition there Is little fear for
il, for victorix Is as orderly as sn English
country village.
Victoria ranks ~ fifth port in the 10
mfnion. The exports for the year 1859
were as follows: