Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-06
And Prince Edward Is
lands AgainAccessibIe.
Shut Off by Immense Ice F|oes
Since Dec. 20 Last.
Islanders Indignant With Govern.
ment for lnattentlon.

Point Du Chene, n. B., May THE
ice embargo has been lifted from the
straits Of Northumberland, and as a
Result more than 10000 persons, the in
hdDltants of Prince Edward Island. the
smallest province Of the Dominion OF
Canaua, are now united with the out
slce world, from which they have been
practically isolated since December 20
last.
Never before has Prince Edward Is
land been so completely isolated as dur
ing the winter just ended. Ice break
ing steamers have managed to make
occasional passages from Pictou, n S.,
to Georgetown at the easterly end OF
the island, and the mails have been
transported with some degree of regu-
larity over the Cape Tormenine route.
This route is exceedingly dangerous
ard during the past few years passen-
gers Lave been refused transportation
except in cases of grave emergency.
The passage is made across the mar
ro"est Part of the strait in open boats,
fitted with runners. The crews of the
boats drag the frail craft over the ice
hnmmOcks. which in winter assumes
Arctic proportions. and when open wat
er is reached they launch the boats and
row them to the next ice field. Occa-
sionally the boats are caught in a
blizzard and extreme suffering, often
followed by fatalities or serious cases
OF freezing, results.
The ice left Point Du Chene harbor sew
eral days ago. and in a few days started
on a run out of the straits. one portion
being carried by the tide in a westerly
direction into the gulf Of st. Lawrence.
while other great fields moved easterly
towards the straits of Canso and the open
ocean. 1t is expected that the first pas
sage over the route from this place to
Summersidc will be made tomorrow. Dur
ing the past winter the cable connecting
the island with the mainland broke and
It was impossible to make repairs until
The ice went out of the straits. The iso-
lation was complete until the government
established wireless stations at Pictou
and Cape Bear.
All over the islanders are bitter against
the government at ottawa Under tho
terms of the confederation Prince Ed
wards Island entered the Dominion OF
Canada the government agreed to main
tain traffic across the strait in the win
ter The island residents claim that the
government Has liOl uOllt ali IL CDulu VIZ
this respect contending that the steam
ers on tie winter time are not of tho
most modern typ, and that with properly
constructed ice breakers continuous traf-
fc might be maintained between the is
land and the mainland.
There have been threats of secession.
and the provincial officials have appealed
to the British crown to relieve the situa-
ton One OF the projected plans Is the
construction of a submarine tunnel be-
tween Cape Tornentine, n. b., and Cape
Traverse p L. /. At this point the strait
is only about nine miles wide, and engi-
necrs employed by the government have
estimated that n tunnel could lie con-
structed for less than $l0,0O0,ooo. Other
engineers have estimated the cost Of such
a tunnel as high as s4O,000.0O0.
Owing to bountiful harvest season the
islanders did not suffer during the past
winter as they had abundant food and
fodder. Three years ago. however, fod-
der gave out in the winter and stock had
to lie killed to prevent it starving 10
death il being impossible to transport TO
the island enough fodder to supply even
small portion Of the horses and cattle.