cd
pnt near eee eee ie ae
THE TUNNEL QUESTION BEFORE THE COMMONS. Summary of Mr. Davies’ Speech
Vr. Cockburn’s Contentions.
SCE OF THE EXAMINER |]
/sPECIAL CORRESPONDED ~ On Wednesday list Mr. Davies moved for “‘all correspondence, telegrams, letters, reports, estimates and other documents relating to the surveys for and construction and cost of a submarine tunne: between Prince Edward Island and the mainland.
in making the motion Mr. Davies laid the taland’s case before the House in a clear, comorehensive and forcible manner, wholly unmixed with any attempt to make party capital. As he said, “] ain not eoncerned in bandying party recriminations; I aim more concerned in coming down to practi- eal work.” Todo Mr. Davies justice his speech would have to be published in full. The Island’s case is one with which all o.
your readers are conversant, and it lost nothing by being presented to the high
court of parliament by a gentlemi whe, | think I may be allowed to say, ts now, at least, the ablest counsel at the [sland bar. He commenced with the history of the union of the Island with the Dominion and of the compact then entered into for con. tinuous communication. He regretted that ic seemed almost impossible to make par- liament understand the real position of the
Jsland. An impression prevailed that the Island had been, in some way, favored in its treatment, but the facts
were directly the contrary. He showed the inaccuracy of the popular belief that the General Government had built the Island railway, aud refuted the assump ions so fre
quently heard that the Island was a drag on the Dominion. “If,” ssid Mr. D.vies,
“the Prov.nce of Prince Eiward I-<land is highly unproductive and sterile, it would be madness on the part of the Dominion to sanction the expenditure of any large sums of money; but if, on the contrary, that Is
land isa rich, progressive and prosperous country, or a country which, under normal coaditions, ought to be prosperous, then the matter presents a different aspect. |
want toshow that so far as Prince Edward Island is concerned it is not behind any other province of the Dominion in prosper- ity and progress.” Mr. Davies then show- ed the injustice of the statement that the Island contributed only $160,000 annually in customs duties. That was the total amount paid at Island custom houses, but the actual amount contributed by the peo- ple was in the neighborhood of $575,000.
The average duty per head paid by the people of Canada was $4 69, and estimat- ing the population of P. E. Island at 125,- 000, the customs duties would amount to
$575,000. In the same way the Blue B.oks credited the Island with only $887,- 000 for exports, while in 1872 cur exports were $1,894,174. It was incredibie that the Island should be exporting one million dollars worth less than 20 years
ago. Mr. Davies cont nued, ‘It is not necessary for me to call the attention of those hon. gentlemen who know the fer- tility of the soil of Prince Edward Island and the salubrity of its climate, to these figures; because they know that in a country such as that Island, where almost
every acre is settled and under cultivatiou,
and where there are no paupers, all the people belong to the conauming class. Lut ior those who do not know this, it is neces- sary for meto state a few facts. Mr.
Davies here quoted some fignres from the census of 1881, as to the area under culti- vation and the products of the soil, and then continued—‘* All of which gves to show that so far from being inferior in pro- ductive power andin the other qualities which go to make a province valuable to the Dominion, the province of Prirea Ed- ward Island stands superior to the general average of the rest of the Dominion. I do uot mean to say that there may not be parts of the Dominion richer, but that taking the Island as a whole, its soil, its climate and the condition of its people. the distribution of wealth is as equal there as in other parts of the Dominion; and although we have no very wealthy men, the general average of wealth among the people is up to the general average of the Domin- ion everywhere. Of actual poverty there is none, and it would be impossible for an honest man, with such a climate and _ soil, to be an absolute pauper. Surrounded with the vast wealth of the sea arvund its shores, with a good soil, an equable climate, and reasonable means of bringing produce to market, there is no reason why there should be any poverty at all; and if there is poverty, or depression, or want, it is owing to an abnormal condition of affsirs.
Mr. Davies referred to the Northern Light and tothe Stanley, and expressed the opinion—with all deference to Mr. Welsh—that, in heavy ice, no boat that can be built is capable of keeping up communi- cation for six or eight weeks in winter. Senator Howlan’s subway was an experi- ment, to which he did not feel himself justified in asking the Government to com mit itself. Of late, however, scientific in- ventions had worked a revolution in the cost of tunnelling, and now the question to be considered was the probable cust of con- structing a tunnel, un ler the new cundition of affairs and with the new machinery. Here Mr. Davies referred to the financial basis upon which P. E. Island was ad- mitted in the union, being, as he said, on the anticipation that $58,000,000 would be sufficient to complete the Intercolonial, con- struct the C. P. R. and enlarge the canals. But instead of that amount the Government have expended $148,000,000, or $90,000, - 000 more. Recognizing the hardship of the Island’s position, some years ago, par- liament granted the Island $20,000 a ysar extra subsidy, but that was not a fair or sufficient equivalent, and common justice demanded that the basisshould be readjusted. ta addition to this there had been paid and were being raised railway subsidies in aid of constructing local lines, to the amount of $12,687,437, all within the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Bruns- wick and British Columbia. Besides that, there had been expended on building roads, outside of the Intercolonial and C. P. R, $20,107,248, or altogether $32.794,685 he Intercolonial cost $46,908,000, the C, P. R. (in money) $62,000,000, and the canals $34,000,000; the subsidy to the Short Line Railway to St. John was equivalent to @ present payment of $2,687,- 393, and the Marine Railway subsidy $2,-
~~ a ee a la
THE DAILY EXAMINER, _/
a
¥ ean
ee
atin
ed
ee Led
ti LLL
343,000. railways and canals, Marine Railway,
which r. E Isl end
ypreciable extent.
” Mr. Dat ies then cited the promise of Sr John Ma donald to Senate Howlan, to submit the tunnel for the favorable eousid- eration of Parliament, provided the cust was found to be be within a reasonable amount, and also Sir Charles Tupper’s tel- evram promising all possible aid to the tun- e desired to know whether theee promises would be ¢ wrried out by the Gov- ernment. After quoting Sir Doug! is Fox's estimate of the cost, Mr. Davies proceeded to say, “Su far as T am concerned, | be- lieve that nothing short of the largest tun- nel will be of practical benetit to the peo- ple. I take it that if a small tunnel could be built through which the mails could be carried in a toy ear, it would be of no ben-
So that the total expenditure on including Chignecto $180,733,311, in not share to any
was
did
nel, and
efit to the people of the island { nless you can give & tunnel through which freight cara can pass, carrying produce
from the Island to our natural iwarkets, the United States, | do not tuink a tunnel would be of very greac value tu our people, certainly not one tithe of the imporvance It otherwise would be. To give the House aome idea as to how the people of Prince Edward Island are handicapped, | will give in example, I suppose It 18 generally eon
esded, in no part of the Dumutoa cen rear crops be grown as well aud perfectly as 1) the Island, and | suppose that in no par
of the Dominion can the potatoes begin t
compare with those of the Island, Owlug to our natural disadvantages and the fact that we are driven to export our pota'ves during three or four weeks in the fall of the year and thus overcock the market, we are obliged to accept only one-half what the farmers in the adjvioing province of Nova Scotia receive. 1 tind that ia 1881 there were grown on the Is'!and 6,042,191 bushels of potatoes, the average price paid to the Island farmer being 22} cents per bushel. That price will not pay for grow- ing potatoes. At the same tne farmers in the neighboring province of Nova Seotia were receiving an average price uf 44 cents per bushel. Why wasthat/ It was because the Island farmers had to ship i!] their potatues during the short period between the time when the potatoes were dug from the ground and the close of navi- gation, while the farmer's of King’s, N. 5, were able to ship their crop tothe market of the United States according to the demand nireceive the higher price of 44 cts a bushel I speak within the hearing of mycolleagues, who are inore practical men in this matter than I am, and | say that if the farmers of Prince Edward Island ceuld, by the con-
struction of a tunnel, or otherwise, be placed within access of the mar- kets where they could obtain 44
cents a bushel, instead of exporting six million bushels they would expurt twelve to fifteen million bushels. 1 have talked to hundreds of farmers on the Island on this subject, and there is but one answer to the question on this point. There is hardly any object, nothing but necessity drives our farmers to sow, dig, cultivate and ex- port potatoes for a price of 22 cents a bushel and fre juently less. They would not do it if they could grow anything else. if this communication can bs had under the words of the terms of the Union, if the Dominion can furnish us with continusus communication with the In-ercolonial R il- aud tbe railway systeia of Canada, you will give us prosperity beyond anything that prevailed in that part of the Dominion be- fore.
Referring to the cost of the tunnel, Mr. Davies admitted that it was large and that it required careful consideration and strong arguments tv ask the Louse to commit it- self to the expenditure of $11,000,000, but the scheme should be judged on its merits, and not classed as a wildcat one because foolish expenditnres had been undertaken before which had resulted in no goud. He asked for a tunnel not only on its merits, but he demanded thit the House would look with fair and reasonable eyes on the compact made with the Island, and which he was sure the people of Canada did not desire to ignore. He would not ask for the construction of a cl eap tunnel, for the only tunnel which could confer on P. E Island bencfits commensurate with its cost was that one which would admit of the passage of freight cars so that the exports could be carried to their best markets. The House should consider the disadvantage under which the Island labored because of its isolation and the fact that the National Policy bore ten times more heavily on the [sland than on other parts of the Dominion, because the Island did not derive any of the incidental advantages that other parts of the Domimioa did from the N. P. In the great cities where manufacturers congregate, there are some compensating advantages given to the people for the great disadvan- tages which it is alleged the National Pol- icy caue, but in Piixe Edward Island, while we are ubliged to contribu e 4s much per head of the population as elsewhere, we receive nothing in the world in return, and for our produce we get only one-half as much as is paid for the same produce in the adjvining province. We have a com- pact which entitles us to be placed in con- tinual communication with these other provinces, and although I do not want to ask unreasonable or improper favours for Prince Edward Island, or unreasonab!e or improper expenditure in this critical fiaan- cial period of the history of the Dominion, I ask fair-play and justice and the applica- tion of tas: principles t ‘Nhe compact you have entered into with the province of Prince Edward Island.”
When Mr. Davies sat down Mr. Ralph Richardson Cockburn, M. P., for Centre Toronto, arose. I am not going to inflict upon your readers even a summary of Cockburn’s rhodomontade—suflice it to say that he brought the Island into debt about $600,000 a year. He estimated the cst of she tunnel at $16,000,000. Said he: ‘* There may be a few odd chickens, a few dozen eggs and bags of potatoes left 0. the Island which could not be crossed at that particular time, but there could not be a great many, as the number of pas- — carried ov ice-boats when the Stanley was not running during the wint vf 1889-90 was about 70, and they pela. on of their own pockets in solid money $61.46 and the amount received f +r freight on the the ice-boats during the winter of 1888 90 very nearly reached the sum of $10. The total revenue got from the ice-boats was $171.46, not more, and We are soberly ask- — ae eee that interest.”
0 necessity for any mor i- mens. When Mr. Patiene aa tora it was six o'clock and the Speaker left the chalr, W.C.D
Geor, @
PROVINGIAL LEGISLATORE,
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
Se
THurspay, Jaly 2.
The bill to incorporate the minister and trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Bonshaw was read a second time and pass- ed in Comniittee.
The bill to incorporate the Searltown Hall Company was read a third time and passed. ‘
Mr. Bentley asked the Commissioner of Crown Lands {to lay onthe table of the House a statement showing the number of tenants on each township who are still in arrears for their lands, and the> amount of the said arrears,
Hon. Mr. MeMiuilan said that furnish the information required.
Mr. H. ©. Macdunald asked the Leader of the Government if the report of the en- gineer engaged to survey the Hillsborough bad been received, and to lay on the table the plans, specifications and other informa- tion relating to the same.
Hon. Peters said that the engineer’s re- port had been received and would be sub- mitted.
The bill respecting public lands was read a third time and passed.
Mr H.C. McDonald moved the second reading of the bill relating to marriage cer- tifieates.
House weut into committee, Mr. Mc- Wiliams in the chair, and the bill was re- ported agreed to.
Hon. Me. Peters submitted the following resolution :
Resolved, that it is advisable to introduce a b'll Sautl crizing the Government fof P.ince Edward Island to raise by dc bentures a sum not exceeding the sum of $185,600,
He said that after investigation it had been found that $185,000 were required to plaxe the Province on a fair basis. What is to be done in respect to that debt’? Thee ways may be adopted. (1) Issue deben- tures. (2) Draw capital at O:tawa. (3) Raise the amount by taxation. The two latter are impracticable. The policy of drift is not possible. The only practicable course to be taken is to pledge the credit of the province and raise the money by debe: - tures. The exact amount of which t e province was short on the 24th april las was $176,000 In respectto this balance the old duty bonds—-s merely nom nai asset —were not counted. Thee, the Provincial Building must be put in «rder, mat te permanently improved. This would eo: t about $10,000. It may not be necess.ry tu raise the whole amouut at the saime time. We propose to raise the money in such a way asto avoid paying interest at te banks. A hundred thousand dollars may have to be raise’ immediately. The rest will not be needed for sume time to come, The Leader of the Opposition moved the adjournment of the debate.
Fripay, July 3. Mr. Bell moved the second reading of the bill to incorporate the Cape Traverse Hali Company, and the bill was agreed to in Committee. Mr. Farquharson presented a_ bill en- titled an act to amend ana act incorporating the members and trustees of Zion Church. Hon. Mr. Peters presenied “a bill to amend an act for the incorporation of the Charlottetown Cemetery Company. Mr, Bentley moved the third reading of the bill incorporating the Presbyterian Church of Tryon and Bonshaw. ‘The bill was read and passed,
Mr. H. C. Macdonald moved the third reading of the bill relating to marriage certificates. The bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. A. McLean gives notice that he will t>-morrow or at an early date ask the Com- missioner of Public Works if it is the inten- tion of the Government to open a short road from Macdonald’s Mills, Valleyfield, tu Montague Bridge, as petitioned for sume time ago; also, if it is the intention of the Government to widen a part of the road leading from Valleyfield to McRae’s Mills, Brown’s Creek ; also, if it is the intention of the Government to comply with the prayer of a petition from R. Mackay and others, asking for special grant for a road leading from County Line to Green Marsh.
Mr. McLean replied that the petition would be considered and the matter inves- tigated.
House went into committee to further consider the County Courts Amendment Act, 1878. The bill was reported agreed to with an amendment.
Dr. Jenkins moved that the City Bill be referred back to committee for the purpose of considering an amendment tu the effect that all who are entitled to vote for the Mayor and Council shall be entitled to vote at the pleiscite election, provided that he is not in a:rvars for taxes ior more than two years.
_ House went into committee. Gordon ia the chair.
House took recess.
Supreme Court.
he would
Hon. D.
The Queen on prosecution of W. W. Wellner vs. Richard Thorne, Chas. Thorne and Terrace McAtiee, indictment for malicious injury to propert y- No bill.
The Queen vs. Mary Ann Todd, indict- ment for larceny. No bill.
The Queen ys. John Joy, indictment for assisting a prisoner to escape. No bill.
The Queen vs. Mari Cumming, indict- ment for housebreaking and larceny. True bill. Arraigned, pleaded guilty.
The Queen ys. Henry McEwen, indict- ment for larceny. True bill.
The Queen vs. Laura MeNevin, indict- ment for larceny. True bill.
The Queen vs. William Mahar, indict- —_ for housebreaking with intent. True
ill.
The Queen va, Norman Valley, indict- ment for housebreaking with intent. True bill, Pleaded not guilty and said he would be ready for trial on Monday.
The Queen vs. John O'Conner, indict- — for housebreaking and larceny. No
ill,
Several absent
of this morning,
The applications for examinati i admission to the Bar of W. L. ‘Sthickland and H. C. Shaw were granted.
debtor cases were disposed
MANY prominent men are now bei i off by the ravages of la grippe. _.. consider that by using Campbell's Quinine
ine 43 preventative we can ward off the
attacks of la grippe, we would advi purchase a bottle from your druggiat. raz
Oe —_—— ee
Ce
The Fire Last Night.
W. P. Colwill were destroyed by fire lust night, and some other buildings in the neighborhood were badly scorched, ‘The lire was discovered about twenty mintes to There is a difference of Mr. White, who saw the build-
twelve o'clock, opinion as to where it started . in the employ of R. K. Brace, reflection of the fire on the market ing, and was on the scene before the alarm was sounded, says that both buildirgswereon fire then, that the fire app ared to be burn- ing fiercely in the luf.s of both sta les which were close together. Some others who saw the fire in its early stages are of opinion that it originated 1n Colwill’s build-
ing.
In Mr. I[tobertsou’s stable were four horses, one of which ws the well- known Clydesdale St: lion Trojan. All
were burnt to a crisp. Some hay and straw, Wagons, and a quantity of harness, also came to grief. he fire was so far advanced when discovered that it was Im- possible to save anything. Mr Robertson hid @ two-thirds interest in Tr: jan, and
Creek, « one-third interest. He ws valued at $2,000. The other three hor:
were owned by Mr. W. B, Roberts in, ar were valued at $400. There was no inst = ance. The wagons, harness,etc.,d +teoy d were va'ued at $100; no insarance. Tle stable destroyed having been erected at the same time os
8
Y , r ’ the new warehouses on Kent Street. T! e loss on this building a'one was $600. Ir
was insured for $400, Total loss, $5,100; insurance, $400.
Mr. Colwill’s stable was destroyed, 4a were also several crates of crockery and glassware stored therein. There was ho
insurance on either the building or its
eontents. The building was new. Esti- mated loss, $600.
The fire, which is believed t« be the work of an incendiary, burned fiercely.
Owing to an accident to the main pipe of the waterworks, which was being repaired when the alarm sounded, there was very little pressure on, and the fire was conse- quently not checked as quickly as it would otherwise have been, notwithstanding the plucky manner in which the firemen battled with the flsmes. taken out for the first time since the intro- duction of the waterworks, and took up a
Fortunately there was little or no wind blowing at the time, or we would hkely have a much larger conflagration to chron-
icle to-day. However, it is bad enough as it is. The machinery in Mr, Robertson’s rear
shop was promptly removed, as was also the machinery in the warehouse of Mr, Donald McKenzie adjoining. Both build- ings were damaged somewhat.
LUMBER BY AUCTION,
na dn acta
——ON -— Monday Evening, July 6th.
1 = THOUSAND HEMLOCK ROARDS, e) 5,000 2 inch Plank, 5,000 3 inch Deals, 29,000 2x3 inch Hardwood, Birch, - 12,000 Pine Boards, 40,000 Clear Cedar Shingles. Sale at 6 o’clock, p. m. E. H. NORTON & CO,
Agents.
“ee
jy3—dy
sep TENDERS, addressed to the under- )O signed, and endorsed “ Tender for Coal, Pub- luc BKvidings,” wil be received until THURS. DAY, zird July next. for Coal Supply for all or any of the Dominion Public Buildings.
_ Specification, form of tender, and all necessary information can be obtained at this Department on and after Monday, 29th June.
Persons tendering are notified that tenders will not be considered unless made on the printed oe supplied, and signed with their actual sig- natures.
Each tender must be accompanied by an ac- cepted bank cheque made payahle to the order of the Honorable the Minister of Public Works, equal to five per cent. of the amount of the ten: der, whici will be forfeited if the party decline to enter inte a contract when called npon to do 80, or if he fail to supply the Coal contracted for. If the tender be not accepted the cheque will be returned.
‘The Department will not be bound to accé pt the lowest or any tender.
By order, EK. F. E. ROY, Secretary. Department of Pub'ic Works, Ottawa, June ich, 1891, 3i—jv3
EXTENSIVE SALE
BY AUCTION.
Horses, Cows, Carriages, Farming Implements, Household Furni- ture, Hay, Oats, ete.
AM instructed by the Executors to the Estate of the late Justice Peters to sell
by Auction, at his late residence, Sidimount ou WEDNESDAY, the 8th day oi July, com. mencing at }} o'clock, a. m, ;—
Horses, Cows, Carriages, Sleighs, Farming
Implements, Hay, Outs, Coal. W Household Farnicare. a. vod and
P. BEATRSTO,
ie june3) Auctioneer.
Plate Glass Insurance. DOMINION PLA
PLATE GLASS INSURANCE CO.
$50,000 Deposit With Dominion Government.
—
NORTON & FENNELL,
AGENTS.
ju24—dy 2w 2aw wy 2w
2,000 Butter Tubs.
CARVELL BROS.
his brother, Mr. John Robertson of Loony |
Silsby steam engine was |
position at the tank at Diwson’s corne, |
es
Tue stables of W, B. Rtobertson and
1 |
{
; oe was comparatively new, |
}
j !
|
|
—
|
Ch’town, May 22, 1891—2aw pat guar
Neen eee - I en
JULY 3.
1891.
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bya Gur caer Our Our
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San
ahi aA) ji.) SBIR im please Y A Ae ii a" i PRTG) HA to the ea 44 Vis ys t. Y ‘oo 44 C3 li FEY La CEPR ,
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us.
——._-
, > > & , . > PS? SS SO SP exh &
i a,
Stock Styles
~—
IS SO Large,
>. Kel
Prices are so Loy
ad > >
LADIES — | Desiring anything in our MANTLE A DEPARTMENT cannot fail 4 be
—
-
/
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°
We draw special ‘ : v *Cla attentio,
fail to secure one.
EER BROS.)
IT PAYS TOE
IY FOR
Xx)
/ 4
their jewelry bills. As a step
in this
fact that the leading Londo | and New York Fashion Magazines V/Z “illustrate the styles now showing }p Only a few remaining of wt
wonderful bargains in Jackets, Den’
~~,
ti
FTER careful study and consideration we have come § the conclusion that by adopting
CONNOLLY'S WHARE, shell be able to save our patrons a
the Cash System we good many dollars @ ) direction we will, frm July Ist, allow twice our usual discount on all goods paid ing
when bought. As our goods will not be marked up, but
seve,al instances actually marked down, goods booked willy charged at marked price. once be convineed that it will be to their decided advantay in Ash and tg buy FOR CASH ONLY.
We trust our
customers will @
Thanking our patrons for ther confidence and patronage bestowed on us in the past, % shall, by careful attention to their interest, aim to merit ie same in the future.
E. W. TAYLOR,
Charlottetown, July 3, 1891.
CAMERON
English Goods!|
Imported Direct and Just Opened.
———{:) ASPINALL’S ENAMEL—Tins and Tinlets.
of shades.
PRICE'S SELF-FITTING CANDLES —Sperm and Pure Was. &
Also in half lengths for Pianos, ete.
ALSO—English Confectionery, Perfumes, Drugs and Patest
A great variety
Medicines, and a full line of Crosse & Blackwell's gov’
AT WATSON’S
Charlottetown, June 27, 1891.
DRUG STORE.
UO Matto: Puri
( \x
) —_
FRANCIS DRAKE? |}
CELEBRATED
ui
Beltast Ginger Ale, Champagne Cider, Lemotil
(IN PINTS AND HALF PINTS:
June 26—dy Im eod
7 103, e
S:
Best in the Market, which a Trial will sa ee ene ,
Just the thing for TEA PARTIES, PION Families and the Trade supplied. Write for prices.
THORNE BRO
Sole Agents for P: E.
j yslant
te.
Pa
an =< a. Gad