Idaho County free press., 1923-05-31

eiety. Washington. d. C.)
There has been talk again of New
foundland joining Canada. To many
residents of the United States prob
ably this discussion raised a point on
which they had somewhat hazy ideas
that there are two distinct British
realms, not one, In the portion of North
America above the Canadian border.
Probably the fact that Newfoundland
has insisted on standing alone while
all the other British possessions of
North America have united to form
the Dominion of Canada Is largely
due to sentiment-the pride that New
foundlanders have always had In be-
Ing able to boast that theirs is 1.-THE
senior British colony" the first Of the
children Of the motherland to make
its home beyond the seas.
Newfoundland had its settlements
as early as the Seventeenth century
and was full-fiedged British colony
with governor when Canada was
New France, South Africa was In the
hands Of the Dutch, and not single
white settler had landed In Australia.
The island has geographical posi-
ton of great Importance. for 1t largely
blocks the broad gulf into which the
st. Lawrence river widens, and which
forms Canada's front door from Eu-
rope. Moreover Newfoundland Is the
closest part of North America to the
British Isles, being only 1,640 miles
from Ireland. 1t is natural that the
first transatlantic cable should have
been laid to the shores of Newfound-
land in 1858, and that out Of IL cables
now crossing the north Atlantic IL first
touch American soil either on New
fOundland or its neighboring islets.
And when In 1919 alrplanes finally con-
quered the Atlantic 1t was from New
foundland that both the American and
the British machines took off.
Newfoundland has an area of more
than $1,000 square miles, and is there
fore practically half the size Of Great
Britain. Excepting only Cuba, which
barely exceeds it In size, II is the larg-
est island of the western hemisphere
outside polar waters. With its cliffs
Of brown stone rising 200 to 300 feet,
broken here and there by deep fjords
and bays, Newfoundland has bleak |
and barren appearance which bellies |
conditions in many parts of the rolling, |
timbered interior. Along a number of |
the streams are fertile valleys In |
which agriculture and stock raising |
flourish.
Fish tho Chief Industry.
In late years mining, stock raising,
the manufacture Of wood-pulp and
newsprint paper, and number Of
other industries have been developed
In Newfoundland, but throughout its
sere than 400 years OF hstsry the
central story Of the island might be
told ia one word: fish. Boston and
Massachusetts, have felt deeply in
debted to their sacred cod" but af-
ter all that important creature came
from the Newfoundland bank, and
however valuable 1t has been to New
England, 1t has meant much more to
and through New
foundland to Great Britain.
good case could even be made
for the cod as a claimant for place
on the British cost-ofarms for that
Iowly fsh In way laid the founda-
tion of the worldwide British empire.
Before the discovery of Newfoundland
Britishers were of little Importance as
,eafarers. The great wealth OF COD
ssh which John Cabot's finding Of the
sland disclosed Immediately drew the
men of the British Isles out OF their
The next year after the discovery
4o9-a fleet of Devon fishermen
.rossed the Atlantic and returned load
NJ down with fish and from that time
m for centuries the annual crossing
md recrossing of the Atlantic TOOK
,lace The British kings looked upon
he VOYAGES Of thousands of men to
md from Newfoundland as the best
ind of training for seamen and de-
IherateIy discouraged the settlement
q the island In order to perpetuate
he fishing from British base. Great !
britain quickly became a seafaring
alton: the navy grew; and with its
rovth the British empire spread L
round the world. =
The Newfoundland Of today mas
overnment i'm general somewhat like 8
bat Of Canada. 1t is not crown u
oIony but a self governing, responsible 0
,lony with governor general appoint r
a by the British king, premier anu :
parIiament OF two houses =
Ira educational system Is unique 6
either the central government nor Z