East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-19

Victoria. b. c.. Jan. l5.-(To the
East oregonian)-A very pleasant
sail of four hours among the islands
and over the smooth waters OF the
straits of Georgia brings the voyag-
sr To Victoria. the legislative capital
of British Columbia, and the chiet
town OF Vancouver Island. with
of about 10000 people.
Victoria dates its existence back 10
about so years ago, when a benevo-
lent corporation known as the Hud-
son Bay company, established trad
ing post here. and added TO their
revenues materially with the proceeds /
OF the abundance of game found in
the woods of this island and the
mainland adjoining.
The discovery of gold in the Carl |
boo district of British Columbia
brought here the motley population
which that metal is always able To
summon from all corners Of the earth
and the trading post was suddenly
transformed into the populous city
or camp of 10000 people. A tenn
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dwelling in tents mostly because
houses could not be built quickly
enough 10 meet the demands OF the
tenants and the very temperate ell
mate found here did not call for very
solid dwelling places anyway.
The collapse of the mining boom
soon left Victoria once more trad
ing post, with. however, materially
increased population, because num-
bers Of the people who came mere
and invested their little capital III
holes in the ground from which the
elusive metal refused to be extracted
were stranded. and remained here
for the very good reason that they
could not get away, to exc out pre-
carious existence hunting. trapping,
fishing and farming because ii soon
developed that the benevolent cor
poration before mentioned. the Hud-
son Bay company. had been dong
their best to verify the assertion OF
the psalmist when ne said in ms
wrath. al men are liars. To protect
their own interests these worthies
had steadily fostered the idea that
| the country was barren and useless
1 for anything but game. when in real
ity parts of it proved to be among
the garden spots of the earth. grow
ing almost anything that was put In
the ground and in the museum here
is found a collection of grains,
grasses. fruits and vegetables not 10
be despised by the agriculturist from
any cline on earth.
Victoria has long been one of the
outposts of the British empire, one OF
the places where the morning drum
beat" is heard. following the sun on
its march around the world. A gar
rison and naval station with usually
one or two men-Of-war in the harboi
is maintained here. the latter is To be
abandoned in the near future; tdcI
which the victorians are inclined tC
take as a personal grievance agains
the empire. They are building theil
hopes, however. on the Dominion gov
ernment taking up the burden whlcf
the empire is laying down, and 1
would seem likely that something o
the kind may be done. as there is
good harbor here, also dry dock
and immense sums nave been spen
and still others planned to be spen
I'm Notifications and defensive works
and as Canada never has contributed
ANYTHING to the maintenance OF IN
British navy although claiming To b'
her most important colony, and shar
ing in its benefits. ii seems reasona
BILE that she should bear the eXpens'
Of her own stations.
Victoria has a railway running lO
miles or so north to the coal mine
and into the woods, and Northern
= Pacific. Great Northern and Canadian
= Pacific trains are ferried from tn
mainland to unload in the city.
,. Quite a large sealing fleet are h
I winter quarters here, refitting 10
|. their cruise in northern waters mex
= spring. At the ocean dock, sea-gotn
vessels find a safe anchorage an
II make their last call on their departur
, for. and their arrival from tri
4 across the sea. On the waterfron
II at the shipyards. fishing vessels ar
being built, and big sawmills are cor
verting Vancouver island timber int
- lumber and big square timber fC
shipment to various parts of III
n, world.
= On the James Bay flats. recent
reclaimed from tidewater. the c.
e. r. is building one of that company
s. famous tourist hotels. Just across II
Oh way is the parliament building,
oil massive stone pile of impressive e
er feet and architectural skill Beac'
lkd Hill park. and Oak Bay, with its tv
lg miles of sandy beach. furnish plea
ure grounds where the Victorians,
= the traveller who finds his way hei
can while away a very pleasant no
day. All these prove that Victor
has emerged very successfully fro
her trading post and mining car
DAYS. and taken her place as one
the pleasant abiding places OF t
Garth C. E. MCCLELLAN.
to Spoiled Her Beauty.