The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1906-11-10

ment Of n0ninterference anu neutral.
ity which has only recently been
broken. This IL why Hill has pushed
least . half-doxen extensions OF his
northern lines clear to the border,
where they have been summarily halt.
Cd. but where they have remained
mute menacos to British supremacy
on British soil. The richness OF tho
commercial prize. however. has proved
too powerful temptation and there
arc now unmistakable evidences that
the neutrality treaty IL 1t an end and
that Hill and the Canadian Pacific
have begun = struggle for the lions
shais in British Columbia. Hill IL
pushing his Great Northern extensions
across IT, border in every direction,
ID threatening the Canadian Pacinc's
hold on Vancouver by an alliance with
the Grand Trunk Pacific which ~.il
effect . shorter route than that OF the
Cana.llan Pacific across Canadian aoil
to Vancouver. Hill has also secured
masters hold on many of British
Columbia's greatest mineral deposits.
In what An important light this Is
viewed by the financial world WAS
shown in the four weeks between the
middle Of last July and the middle Of
August, whom the knowledge Of Hills
new mineral possessions In British Co
iumbia sent Great Northern railway
stock up 50 points in the market.
Retaliation has already been begun
by the Canadian Pacific, which has
since bought an entry into Bellingham
and IL threatening Seattle and Spo-
kane With railroad invasion. This
struggle between the two greatest .ail.
way interests in the north for the .ich
tonnage OF the future Pacific and the
British northwests powerfully Illus
trates the folly Of mans trying to put
asunder by political divisions what ma
ture has inseparably Joined.
British Columbia Is no longer solely
rich mineral storehouse. Its agriaul.
tural products. its fruit. its lumber in
dustry. its fisheries and its varied in
dustries are attracting almost 10000
settlers annually. Its possibilities are
scarcely second to those OF the Pacific
northwest. with which 1t is 30 closely
linked. Think Of an empire with gGts-
ways to the shortest oriental routes
with 10000 square miles OF territory
rich in scenery. climate and resources
beyond compare! Think of this terri
tory which 10 three times as large a.
the United Kingdom. . portion Of which
controls 1t! Think Of this empire by
the Pacific. which IL Is times as large
as Novia Scotia, II times as large a.
New Brunswick. which exceeds On.
tario. and which 10 almost twice as
large ~ tho great state of Oregon,
which In tnrn has more than 10000
square miles in excess Of New York
and Pennsylvania combined! Think
Of this great empire with It's unlimited
and uAdsvsiopod resources, but with
. population scarcely more than geo..
900. less than half the population Of
Oregon, which II % thiniy populated
that one lAnguishes with lonesomcness
between habitations!
British Columbia continued to be
crown colony until 1871. when Its com.
handing position upon the Pacific and
the meaninG Of IL geogrophy began to
penetrate tAe craAiums OF Canadian
statesmen and II wss welcomed into
the Canadian co0monwealth. In that
year The total white population did not
exceed s.eee ard the entire population
5000. a1A Il was not until 1885 that
the Arsk train reached Burrand Inlet.
In 1878 he imports were oaly $1,000.
900. ten ysazs latsf they were only g..
00o. ~ greater and In 1888 tAsy had
reached ea.eee. ~. md ten ysars later
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