Opis: British Columbia - Degroot Henry

Excerpt from British Columbia: Its Conditions and Prospects, Soil, Climate and Mineral Resources Considered

Having spent the greater part of the past seven months traveling through the interior of British Columbia, in the capacity of newspaper correspondent, the writer has since his return been frequently applied to for information touching that region, by parties desirous of emigrating thither, or by others willing to canvass the inducements for doing so. As a means of answering these inquiries, and embodying the latest authentic intelligence from a quarter which, despite their recent disappointments, has not ceased to interest our people, he has determined to publish a short series of articles on the soil, climate and natural resources of that country, selecting as the medium the columns of our oldest and most widely extended journal. The writer engages in this task the more readily from the fact that he has, hitherto, found little inducement to publish any considerable portion of the copious notes kept while journeying over Vancouver's island and the main land; and for the further reason, that his views as heretofore exhibited are lacking in entireness, several lengthy letters designed for publication having failed of that end through the uncertain modes of transmission incident to the remote localities where they were written.

This purpose, then, of placing before the public the information gleaned during his travels in a summary and consecutive shape, will form the author's excuse should certain of his ideas seem familiar to the reader, or should something of repetition appear in what he may now have to say. It will be his aim, however, to avoid reiterating what is already well known, and to adduce as many new facts in the present writing as he shall have in possession or be able to command. It constitutes no part of his plan to write a formal "Vindication of the Fraser River Mines;" or to frame apologies for the failures that have so frequently attended their working. This is a business to which he has not felt called - a work, the performance of which, in the absence of any disposition or motive on his part, must necessarily be left to others.

Yet it is but just a proper exposition should be given of the causes that led to these failures so continuous, general and disastrous, as to have well nigh destroyed all confidence in the mineral wealth of a country, which, but ten months ago, was, by many, deemed a rival, if not the peer, of California. Candor compels the admission that these untoward results were attributable to the precipitate action of the adventurers themselves, coupled with manifold and all but insuperable obstacles interposed between them and their field of operations, quite as much as to the limited area or non-productive character of the mines. A slight examination of the country to he penetrated, and of the circumstances under which this immigration took place, can hardly fail to confirm this opinion, and impress its justness upon every candid and dispassionate mind. No special pleading should be tolerated in behalf of these mines, nor should any attempts be winked at for glossing over the fearful perils and fatal catastrophies that attended their opening. We have had enough of this - and too much, as the thousands returning empty-handed, and the hundreds who will no more return at all, can testify. Still, it is meet the public be possessed of all the facts, to the end, that being fully advised they may fairly judge and intelligently act for themselves.

It is, moreover, important that the residents of California properly understand the relative postion of their own State and these new communities about being planted on their northern border, and that they fully appreciate the reciprocal advantages likely to arise therefrom in the future. This is a point on which, owing to a perverted sentiment of patriotism, or a narrow feeling of national jealousy, or, perhaps, to the low s

Szczegóły: British Columbia - Degroot Henry

Nazwa: British Columbia Its Conditions and Prospects, Soil, Climate and Mineral Resources Considered (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Degroot Henry
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331875451
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 28
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: British Columbia - Degroot Henry