The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11


far into the suburbs and around the
shores of the bays. She has no SUPER
ior on that point on either the Pacific
or Atlantic coast, even on the contin-
ent
The system comprises about one hun
dred miles of beautiful drives, and
many of them are lined with very
handsome suburban residences, sur
rounded with lawns and parks, en-
closed by high fences in which are
luxuriant tropical flowers. The air was
full of floral perfume wherever we went
and the eye was satisfied with the
wealth or roses, among the most gor
geous We have ever seen. Such nicely
trimmed hedges. such neatly painted
garden gates. "all so English. you
KNOW" were truly delightful to be-
hold. Cabs are cheap and the drives
about the city are as much famed for
the picturesque scenes they lead to. as
they are for the perfect road-beds.
The business avenues have q SUBJ
stantial appearance and all the streets
are wide and evidently well kept. The
city has many public buildings and
large commercial houses that carry on
all extensive trade. The government
buildings, five in number, overlooking
James bay, are built in Swiss style, and
occupy prettily adorned public
square. In front of them Is a granite
shaft erected to the memory of Sir
James Douglas. the first governor of
the colony. The ivy-covered cottages
for the workmen and the stately church
ediflces also We're notable features of
the city. There is, too, a populous
Chinatown, said to number 10000, also
many Songhish Indians. There Is a
VOC Inn, nf l,tt t,,tl, oil
The Chinese quarters are always in
teresting to visitors: their little quaint
and smoke-stained, and dingy looking
stores, and curiosity shops, crowded
with relics to tempt the tourist, were
in every nook and street corner.
BRITISH FORETHOUGHT.
An electric railway system of fifteen
miles. connects the outside wharf with
the business part of the city and sub
urbs and a branch line reaches Esqui-
malt. the British naval station three
miles north of the city. Here Is a fine
harbor with several iron-clads sta
toned in 1t, also an extensive
dry-dock, hewn out of the solid
rock and capacious enough to
receive the largest vessels. 1t is 400
feet long, IS feet wide and 26 feet deep.
with an entrance of 80 feet. and cost
ry worth the admiration and attention
of an American who, too seldom sees
such things so we'll executed In his own
country. Extensive fortifications are
projected by the imperial and dominion
governments and are to be defended
by heavy armament at a cost of over
$1,O0O,0OO. The shore is granite bound
with frowning head lands and very pic
turesque coves. heavily wooded.
-
eight square miles. The population in
1891 was q, ,9S1 and there Is probably no
more self-contained city Of It's size in
the world, for 1t has its own orchards
and pastures, forests and coal fields,
while Its numerous manufactures are
as varied as those of many cities many
times it's size. The salmon furnishes
one of the material sources of it's finan-
cial growth. 100000 cases of salmon
have been shipped in one year USS9)
from the Frazer river alone. The hand
some public buildings and fine resi-
dences with their well kept gardens,
are evidence of the wealth and prosper
ity of the citizens and also the richness
of the soil. The scenery Is grand. All the
upper end of the sound and Fuca straits
are dominated by Mount Baker, an
extinct volcano. with its ever snow clad
top conspicuous in the distance, rising
TO the height of lO,Sl0 feet. Victoria Is
noted for its delightful climate, in sum-
mer always cool and pleasant. in VIM
ter the mercury rarely falls below 16
degrees above zero. Victoria Is pleas
ant. though quaint, and we shall stop
here on our return trip to learn more
of its characteristics.
SAILING NORTHWARD.
At Victoria our complement of pas
sengers was augmented by some Of the
most eminent of American citizens.
Captain Carroll says, probably the
most distinguished company the Queen
has ever taken to the Glacier fields of
Alaska" Among them We're vice.
| President Stevenson and family, Judge