The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-22
THEIR HOPE Is RECIPROCITY.
Lower Canadian Provinces Want Free
Trade-Mexican Soldiers Hate Diaz.


Trade-Mexican Soldiers Hate Diaz.
w. G. Scovil, merchant at st. John,
n. B., is making trip along the Coast.
and is at the Grand hotel. In an inter-
view with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES reporter
last night he said:
We are just now trying to get st. John made
the winter port for the Canadian transatlantic
steamers. These steamers now all 60 to Hail
fax, and the Canadian Pacific railroad hauls the
grain right past St. John to that port. The rail-
road is owned by the Dominion government,
which has always favored Halifax by making
extremely low rates, because that city seems to
have the best pull. We are trying TO get ele-
vators established, so that the grain business
may come to ST. John.
Our province is practically stationary, for
very few immigrants come to il, and the old
settlers are moving to all part of the continent,
but chiefly to the Western states o: the Union
/ have met people from St John at nearly every
city have visited.
What we want is free trade with the states
used to be a Liberal-Conservatiye, but / have
come to the conclusion that we want rseiproc-
1ty, and have become astraight Liberal. We are
closer to the states than to the upper provinces
OF Canada, and would naturally trade here.
Now that the states admit lumber free If it is to
be manufactured IN this country, it is carried
across from the lower provinces, paying an ex-
port duty of 81, sawed over here and then
shipped back again. We could send a great
quantity of lime from the st. John river, for
many Americans are coming over there and
building kilns, but they have to pay duty on
lime imported to the states, If we had free
trade we could buy farm implements, cotton
and clothing from the states and could sell
lime, lumber, eggs and other produce in return
At present we have TO buy our implements and
clothing from the upper provinces, and can sell
them little in return except fish. Even the
supporters of the present government in the
upper provinces express surprise that the lower
provinces support it, because they admit that
cur interests are the other way. The govern
ment is holding conferences in Washington
City with your government. but l do not be-
lieve they really want reciprocity; it is only a
blind. They won the last election in our Sec
ton by raising the loyalty Cry; when that cry is
raised it covers up everything else believe
mans first duty is loyalty to himself.
l made trip into Mexico before started up
here and visited one of their barracks. The
soldiers seem to hate their government and
believe they would mutny and join CARA at
the first opportunity. l talked to one OF them
who could speak English and l found they
had none OF the loyalty you find in an English
man or American; they curse their govern
ment. The reason seems to be that, when
a man is convicted OF crime for which he
would be sent TO the penitentiary for year in
this country, they send him into the army for
five years. The consequence is that it is re-
garded a punishment to be soldier That
trouble with Cara is not over yet.
One thing notice out here is that rents are
very high. I have store in St. John with sixty
feet front in the best part of the town, and pay
$500 year for it. / could not get as good a
store here Tor less than 5000 year.
Mr.. Scovil will spend several weeks on
the Sound and in the British Columbia
cities