The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-06-28
.POMP BRINGS WANT.
ISLAND sUCCUMBs TO ELABoR-
ATE GOVERNMENT.
Prince Edward to Be Annexed with
Brunswick Because Of Conditions
Costly Running Machinery
Proves Oficials' Downfall.

Ottawa, Ont.-While on the one hand
the government is creating provinces
In the northwest territories, the gov
eminent papers are now clamoring for
the welding of two of the lower prov
lnces into one.
1t is suggested that Prince Edward
island and New Brunswick be Joined.
The direct cause of this proposal is the
hint of secession on the part Of the
island province; the indirect cause, the
terrific ice barriers that divide Prince
Edward island from the mainland dur
Ing the greater part of the winter.
This winter things have been par
ticularly serious. Hundreds OF tons OF
merchandise and provisions have been
lying on the mainland side of the
straits of Northumberland for weeks
and weeks, awaiting transportation to
the island. Those travellers adventure
some enough to risk travel from the
island to the mainland during the ice
blockade took about IL hours to cover
a trip which in summertime takes but
four.
The situation was so bad that the
people of the island came to the con-
clusion that 1t was about time to ar
range for communication with the
mainland under the sea II they could
not enjoy 1t over the sea. So they noti-
fed the dominion government that
they we're going to ask for assistance
In making tunnel under the straits.
This in itself was not so bad, but
when II was unofiicially intimated by
the government that such aid might be
refused, the important people OF the
little island province began to talk
about secession, and now the govern
ment organs are talking annexation.
There are certainly some arguments
In favor of the proposed plan. The
island, though beautiful in summer, is
poor. Her hard times are due to her
unfortunate situation and to the fac,
that her only income is derived from
agriculture. She has a population OF
only 100000 souls, but little larger
than that Of Ottawa, and yet she car
ries on a provincial government with
as much pomp, as much fuss and as
many salaried dependents as the en-
tire province of Ontario, which has 9
population of 2,l82,00
1t Is estimated that the legislative
machinery of the island costs about
100000 a year. They have the regu
lation legislature and the regulation
lieutenant governor with the golt
braid across his breast and the cooked
hat. This lieutenant governor gets 6
salary Of $1,000 alone. Since the min
lister Of finance and the auditor gen
eral have been figuring out the thing
they have come to the conclusion tina
II Prince Edward island would abolish
Its toy legislature and allow itself Il
be merged with the province Of New
Brunswick 1t would save enough
money annually to pay the interes
necessary on the debt that will hav'
to be incurred in building tunnel un
der the straits.
i Naturally this suggestion has pu
the Prince Edward island people b!
the ears and they are talking NOR,
about secession than ever before.
Is Known that since the census of 1879
and the census Of 1901 the populac
has dwindled by 5000, and 1t is no
likely that 1t will be increased in tn,
future. Therefore. 1t looks very mucl
as if they will have to allow them
, selves being annexed or do without tn
, tunnel.