The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-06-16
BRITISH COLUMBIA,
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM HON.
JOHNSON sHeRRlcK,

He DOCS Not Think It Goods Country"
and Will Move on-They Don't Like
Our silver Money. q Dime Only Going
for a Nickle With the Street Cars.
VICTORIA, b. O., May 30.
This city, of about 23,OOO people, is
situated on Vancouvers Island which Is
part of the province of British Co
lumbia. This province is in tbe ex.
treme part of British America which
borders on the Pacific ocean and Alaska
The southern part OF Alaska Is only
few hundred miles from here. They
catch some seal, with good fur, close
here. The salmon fishing and canning
is quite an industry in this country.
The canning industry is carried on
almost exclusively with Cinnamon
labor. Here is where the Chinaman
comes into America; here Is is where
they land, since the States have made
their stringent laws against these
Oriental people. There were 1872 land
ed here last evening; each one of them
paid the Canadian government 800 for
the privilege of landing here. Their
destination is the United States.
They 70 east of here along the Wash
iDgton line and cross over to the Unit
ed States at many places, as the long
line between the States and Canada
can not be we'll guarded. There are
5000 Cinnamon in this city, and many
are today preparing to steal across the
line and Join their relatives and friends
in the United States.
There are 10000 Indians in this prov
ince, most all of them in q wild state,
but not inclined to war with the whites.
We meet here many kinds of the
human family, and different races of
people. All were out last evening on
the streets enjoying their Saturday
evenings "hallOday." And what
varied crowd it was. All hues of COM
plexion, except green and blue. CHINA
people with their native dress, crooked
eyes, salow skin and "pig tail cue"
Indians, with attempted white mans
dress. squaws in delicate pinks OF
womans attire, shaded with mud-as
an Indian never sits down except on the
ground. We see Italians, French, Ger
man, Scotch, United States Americans,
Canadians and the most numerous OF
all, the English, right from their native
island.
This city and Vancouver, just above
here, which is the terminus of the Can
adian Pacific railroad, are the two prin-
cipal cities of British America on the
Pacific coast. What the people do here
for living, or what their principal in
dustries are, is a conundrum for me.
All over this part of the coast nothing
is produced from the soil. They don't
seem to have anything to sell that is
produced here of any consequence.
They export some fish and little lum-
bel (when they can get up enough
enterprise to get it out of the forest)
but not in sufficient quantity to main
tain one-tenth of the population.
This province suddenly sprang into
existence as colony in 1858, conse-
quent on the rumors OF gold discover
les, which never turned out OF much ac-
count. This part of the country was
for long time claimed by the United
States, and at one time came near
causing a war with England. AT the
time the United States conceded some
of this territory to the English, our
people thought we had met with quite
a loss, but 1t would seem to one now
as If our loss was very small, and Eng
lands gain not great. But our gain on
this coast from Mexico, of that vast
territory south of here, with its fertile
valleys and gold and silver hills, made
up ten thousand times for all we lost
up here. The British flag may wave
here, but let the Stars and Stripes
float over the Golden State forever"
This Is far north, and although the
people here say the climate is very
pleasant, and we see many men out
without a coat now; yet can scarcely
keep warm with my heavy overcOat on.
You can not speak with the people of
any community on this coast and for
many miles back who do not try to
make you believe that they occupy
Gods favored place on earth. | hope
they believe what they say, and mean
it all right. II it is comfort for them to
think soft would be folly to be wiser.
From this province the Peace river,
one Of the three principal rivers here,
flows north, mingling its waters with
the great Mackenzie river, which flows
north ward until 1t reaches the ever
frozen waters of the Arctic ocean. In
fancy l see those ice clad hills of
Alaska and imagine how cold the
winds there do blow. These thoughts
alone are sufficient to satisfy my cur
iosity-for that chilly land. | will go
no farther north, but "face about" right
here aud return TO more genial cline.
The people here will only take our
silver at 20 per ceat discount. If the
fare on a street car is cents one must
pay 10 cents in U. S. silver coin. If we
ask for change here for U. s. silver
dollar they will hand you 80 cents in
their silver; and not say one word about
"free coinage" JOHNSON SHERRICB.