Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-04-03
The British Stronghold on Vancouver.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
90 snnu

The English government has established eX.
tensive naval station two miles east OF the city
nearer the channel through which all shipping
must pass, which is called Esquimalt. in reality
part of Victoria The largest dry dock ON tie
American continent is here located, extensive and
massive forts are in process of construction, 9th
err Notifications are contemplated, the whCle sys-
tenn, when completed, rendering the strait OF
Georgia practically imprePnabe, while securely
up the island side Of the strait lies the port OF
Nanaimo with its great coal mines, only 20 miles
by water or rail from Victoria. Opposite
Nanaimo, on the shore of the mainland is the
city of Vancouver with its extensive Nharves and
warehouses docking capacity for several lines OF
steamships which sail regularly for San Fran
cisco Mexico, South American ports, Japan,
China, Hawaiian and FIjian islands, Australia,
and in summer, every ten days 10 Alaska, win
any number OF war vessels lying in the harOor at
all times one may look on this outlined picture
and easily discover what would be the probable
result if a spike should ever be drawn by a hos
tile hand, that secured rail on any part Of the
system of the Canadian Pacific. The extreme
Puget sound port, within the United States, Is
not above $50 miles from the naval station OF
Esquimalt, which is 40 miles south Of the interna
| tional boundary line.
The islands east Of the naval station all belong
| TO tho United States, which was considered, at
| the time the king of Belgium rendered his decis
/ ion, a great concession to our government. The
| islands are of no more importance than islands
In the Connecticut river, which are inhabited but
! when cakes of ice, of unusual size, are seen ap-
| preaching the peaceful owners are obliged to flee
| for safety to the woods of New Hampshire or
| Vermont How long would islands in Puget
| Sound from three to ten miles across, be desir
able homes with fleet Of a dozen British gun:
| boats whisking 200 pound shell about the ears OF
| the inhabitants! There is not even a windmill or
a "scarecrow' on the whole coast OF Puget
sound to intimidate a tramp II he desired TO take
possession. All these results and conditions have
| grown from the ignorance and Incidence OF the
| men who were intrusted with the settlement OF
our claims in the Northwest boundary ques-
ton" 1t is farce to call such culpable conduct
| diplomacy The idea that any man or number
| of men can understand what are the equa0le
| rights of nations In a vast extent or territory
| covered with mountains and inland seas, navlga-
| BILE rivers, and protected natural harbors, by
| looking at a series of imperfect maps, is prepos
| ferrous. This stupidity is equaled only by jury
| of ~ men who after sitting in court for week
listening to the evidence in a very important case
the exhausting and exhaustive arguments Of
counsel, pro aud con, the explanation by the
learned judge of all poinls of law bearing on
either side, then retiring in great solemnity to
their appointed room, taking smoke, talking
the matter over for an hour, then agreeing to
toss up cent, seal up the verdict and go to
Prof Goodwin Smith lately sent a letter to the
editor of the London Quarterly Review giving his
reason forthe animus of illfeeng continually bub-
bling up between England and the Uuited States,
like the latent fires in FESTIVE volcano, assign
| ing TO Canada, in the many menacing attitudes
she assumes, particularly regarding the fisheries,
the SEALS and in the construction or the Paclhc
railroad, and the very extraordinary measures
for its protection at the western terminus, the
/ principal source of these international disagree.
ments. This letter brought out a verg spitefu
rejoinder from the press of Winnipeg, showing
plainly that Prof Smiths castigation of the Do
mlnlOu government was meflleu ana correctly hD
piled. This system of railroads. extending from
Halifax TO Vancouver with nearly 1000 miles OF
branches and leased lines, has cost Sl74OOOO 600
besides S5 600 600 for equipment, and no man VINO
knowns anything of the history OF railroads OF
the American continent would believe, for one
moment, that such an outlay would ever hav,
. been made for investment only, by so shrewd anC
careful people as the capitalists of Canada.
British Columbia extends from the 10th parable
to the 60th north latitude, and from the crest o.
e the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, includ
i | ing Vancouver island its area is $4,000 square
miles II is a diversified country with hug
: ranges of mountains fruitful valleys very eX
tenuve forests OF incalcua6le value, and splendid
} waterways. Mines OF gold and silver are foun'
in many parts of the territory, and are nov
} operated by English and American capital Wit
the exception OF the Fraser river valley this vas
: area is nearly all in state of nature The fish
cries exceed those of Oregon in value, and ar
: under government control The climate, except
! ing the ranges of the Selkirk and r )cky Mour
tains, is favorable for grazing and cultiyatin
4 the soil as New England. The population
4 present is confined to Victoria Vancouver, Wes
>, minister, the valley of Fraser, railway help, an
perhaps 100 small towns, In all about 10000 pee
l. pie. The nationality is made up of Canadians
a English, Scotch Irish, Americans numbers {
It each being in the order named) small percentaP
e being from Continental Europe; the balance al
n Chinese, Japanese and Cree Indians. The EN-
=, grants to this new country have come TO sta
;, and carve out Of their homes In the wilderness
II The sentiment of the populace is intensely Ems
fish, and as loyal in its devotion to the motht
country as any class of emigrants is to the Unite
+. States.
- i have been thus explicit in giving the partic
lars of the physical and so al conditions Of tn
= rough and uncouth giant nat my readers ma
n form some proper idea { the influence this tru
y we may reasonably expect 1t TO have becon
l. three or four millions. Vancouver will sure
Is stand third If not second In commercial impoI
H. ance, political prestige and population of all u
e cities on the coast by the middle of the twentle
~ century.
Stimulated by the consciousness of an /