^^ ^% S)^J^ -^^nO ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) fe // /. % y % 1.0 I.I ■^|2» Hi: I lifi iiilio 2.2 IL25 II 1.4 6" IM 1.6 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 iV iV ^^ <^ LV ^'*,"^,^ !«>. ;\ k '«*'■ ?^^ ) *'. ^ CIHM Microfiche Series (l\/lonographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographles) Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Itistitut Canadian de microreproductions historiques \ S ^ •i I Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, whirh may alter any of the images in the reproduction, o'. which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked bolow. D n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauree et/ou pellicul6e □ Cover title missing/ Le D D n titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Caites geographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations e i couleur □ Bound witi) other material/ Relie avec d'autres documents D n 7 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion song interior margin/ La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge interieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appesr within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II SP peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ete filmees. Additional comments:/ Pages 19-20 are missing. Commentaires supplementaires: This Item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Oe document est filme au taux de reduction mdique ci-dessous. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplairc qu'il 'yi a et6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-£tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduita, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methode normale de fitmage sont indinues ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couliaur I yl Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages rsstaurees et/ou pellicultes L/ I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ _ — I Pages decolorees, tachetees ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages detachees 0Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Qualite inegale de I'imp iprtssion □ Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue □ Includes index(es)/ Comprend un (des) index Title on header taken from:/ Le titre de ren-t£te provient: issue/ de la livraison □ Title page of Page de titre □ Caption of issue/ Titre de depart de la li □ Masthead/ Generique (per vraison iodiques) de la livraison » (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely inc. ded in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the msthod: L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grace d la Q^nirosixi de: British Columbia Archives and Recoras Service. Les images suivantes ont 4t« reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet* de lexempiaire film*, et en conformit* evec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverrure en papier est imprim«e sont film«s en rommencant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commen^ant par la premi*re page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee symboles suivants apparaitra sur le derniAre image de chsque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ♦• signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre film*8 A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* i partir de I'angle sup*rieur gauche, de gauche * droite, at de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n*cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 22 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 971-5 G72-/ IX! '•'I » v. Ql id • ,♦-■ ♦:. y * > i ■ -«< ►-, * ♦. » 4 i •xx^>>>ii^^ » 4 m M la V It-.*' i5! BEING A Series of Articles -ON The Political Situation IN THIS PROVINCE, VtCTORIA, H. C. "Tun Colonist" Sii;am Prkssks, .894. ■>■> l',.*l I'.'i 8 A3 REPRINTED FROM THE "COLONIST" i l| i»i^ ::^>o^»^ ^ <2yyazt/uvest COUectiorv if A POLITICAL REVIEW. iff The Conditions which Entered Into the Admin- istration of the Affairs of the Province. Effect upon the Development during Recent Years —True Standard of Success. Wo. 1. In reviewing the policy of a governmen^ extending over a period of years, we must take into account all the conditions nhioh have efifeoted the country during such time. The success or failure of an administration muse be judged not so much according to any fixed standard of policy, as according to the degree of conformity with conditions aa they present themselves. Systems everywhere depend upon the in- dividual character and ability of men en- trusted with their carrying out. This has been strikingly illustrated so often in history that examples are unneces- sary. If we take, for instance, the relations of France and Great Britain with their American colonies, extending over a period during which New France and New England formed the major divisions of the North American continent, we find that events shaped themselves very largely as the home authorities understood and acted upon Colonial needs. Under the enlightened policy of Colbert, New France grew and prospered. When the fatuous in- fluence of MadAnie Pcmpadour ruled the French Court, it famished instead of flour- ishing. The wise and vigorous policy of Pitt strengthened and extended British power in America, while the " crass " policy of North proved as disastrous as the admin- istration of Pitt had been succsssful. The secret of success in every instance was the adaptation of policy to the demands of the times as conditions were developed and were varied. Coming to British Columbia, the history of the Province since confederation is divided into two distinct periods, the one prior and the other subsequent to the con- struotion of the C.P.R. The former period was governed by conditions materially dif- ferent from those existing now. Without railway communication progress wag neces- sarily very slow, and Government was confined to a narrow groove. In a long wait for the anticipated new order of things it settled down to one main con- sideration, viz : the equilibrium of revenue and expenditure. With a limited popula- tion and limited trade and industry, revenue depended to a large extent upon Dominion subsidies and land sales. Gut of this state ef afi'dkirs grew the British Columbia land policy, or «n otner words, tnv selling of lands in large tracts. For this •' evil," the Government as a whole, dating it back to ORIOIN OF LAND SALES. I^oubtleea if the government had all th«. -p.. u.d ..;.. ,„ :x Z-Ttr ' "■*' policy w» «i,..oid.bi. -h.,!, •"'"' • effsot ,.„ <,b,.,„j J '»■»• t did '.".» Md 0.„oUJ.,i<,. o, „„ d . " l«^8.1j.du..h. l.ol,,h.,„„ Jllf '* -."«d ,. ,b. ,.,„.,., „.,r„7™!; •" centa have sold at 9^ P^"^ fe. setters and could be buff :tS!T ways were built. These l«n^! u *''" becan^e revenue produoL a^d h u "'^^ ever since Th«Vni- ? ^"""^ ^"^^ «" poasible ly hive b!r ^ "'"' '''" '^- --ewhiLtrOot^^enrh^dt"" Bue in British Columbia. llwas th ' T the choice in thi. ivov. '*noe was between selling . ^ ■tagnation. The m.„ ^ ^^ '""'''' »r toholdinordltoTairwh"'''^'^'''-'* -u'd bring popu.atiotldcapUal'i'r' a speoulat on founder? «„ . ''*?"«'• It was ^"ture and invlfd ° "C ''*'"' '» »be -ould undertaken! "r""' *"'"' "''"^ purchasers it proved" a . """"^ °^ ''"' '-ait and eventually a JrZ ?' '^•^■■°"» •"ent. and it i, a uS- "'^'' disappoint- Province d d not Zl ''' '"•'''^y 'f 'be gain than tosTje si V'*"" »'- tban that therLnot tod "'""• ''"''''' the Opposition Jhot of ^ -^ ""^'"ber of posed to the land ;o i ; rir-'''^ "P" '-bo has not partioU/d as Lr ''r'-'""-^ '-ould permit and ?„ "' ^"' ""^a^a ^-therfin the o;truauL?:H"t'''^^« ''"^'"' afforded. We call ^ .?'"'' '^'^ P''''<'y really a necessity '^^"^'"'"^ •■'-«» ^"E OLD AND THE NEW. antlTalVt;: "pr"«;- -». tbat -bichma^edes^r,^,:3°J'^,^^P-ent. "e^. In the oldrelnlr °''^*°*^'be -tu- of governing waTZ 7"^ '"'^^^■ '"eet while waiting! he "f "« ^''''' ment to arrive tV„ . '* "^ '^^''^^'^P- tbe legislative pioneers o7r''-''°^'""' '^'''''b badattempted^Ts:c'it^^"'"•"''^^ were confederation «„h •, ^ mastered «o- They p^^d^hewVjr^ '"«•'"■ ""d until they bore ^reir i •''■""' ''"'"S^' the Province with 1^. '^'S'tia.ate fruits ^"oeourr;rrwrirrsr"^--- backs, has succeeded so we T"^ '^"'''■ " due to those li„n ' ^"^ *" bonor ^beylaidtherunSrsTr-^^- wealth so surely and well nn ""-"mon- -ees of revenue and exp ndTu""' ''^ ''*'■ ««* 0^ debt. Judged b!'*' ""'^ ^^P^ Poetical government' hey fn^'"' ''^ «tood the needs and oWltlLl?^'^"' ---oe and adapted the^r Z^lt^^^ '8 lands or bought did ao hen railways pital. It was ';; faith in the k than many "any of the and tedious e disappoint- '•day if the b better bar- '*• Further member of ''OWedly op. jorernment 8 bis means ■•nces much 1 the policy •'ut it was eras, that present, 1 and the 1 deaider- "D« ends dfe\elop- "8 which Columbia nastered oegetia- i things, te fruits s of in- was ob- antime. the conditions as they found them and as they were likely to develop. With the completion of the C. P. R. came what was practically a ndw era, and a new population with aims, it is true, somewhat similar that was to make a fortune in a new country, but with a set of ideas moulded under conditions of old and settled com- munities. There was at once the comming- ling of the old and the new, and it would be strange if peifect harmony should prevail and assimilatioB be complete. The newer and more aggressive element demanded much and the transition was necessarily attended by some conflict of ideas. A BASIS OF JUDGMENT. Henceforward the policy of the Govern- ment was not to be a waiting or inactive one, but one of development in line with the opening up of the country, the result of railway communication, and the present ad- ministration, which is the legitimate suc- cessor of the Government then in power, is to be judged b; the methods pursued in grappling with the problen.s presenting themselves. If it c*n be shown that it has failed to comprehend the needs of the country, to understand the altered requirements of a new order of things and to adapt its measures and its methods so as to ensure progress and the development of great natural re- sources, then it is for the electors to con- sider whether the reins of power should not be entrusted to another set of men, who, though untried and whose capacity for gov- ernment is an unknown quantity, promise to do better. If, on the other hand, it can be shown that the present Government has kept fully abreast and well in advance of the rtquirements of the Province, that its administration has been coin- cident with progress on every hand, that the population has largely in- creased, the revenue expanded, the credit of the Province been raised to a high rank compared with that of other provinces and countries, that railway and mining develop- ment has been substantial and rapid, that extraordinary educational facilities have been provided, that social and industrial rights have been carefully guarded, that our political institntions are free and un- trammelled, and the moral and political tone of the country is pure and healthy, then it is clear that it is worthy of the confidence of the country, and it is the bounden duty of the electorate, making due allowance for what is human an' fallible in all govern- ments, to return it , j ^wer. 'erhaps ' draw- honor that nmon- le bftl- kept 'rd of nder- their es to ib7b M n THE PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENT. Condition of the Country Seven Years Ago as Compared with its Present Status. The Government Entitled to Credit for a Policy of Wise Expenditure in Development. Bfo. a. We have drawn the broad line of de- marcation between the old and new regimes in British Columbia at the time of the com- pletionof theC.P.R., and we may, there- fore, take 1887 as the starting point of the new era of development in this Province. The Government of the day was con- fronted with a series of important problems forced on it by conditions somewhat new and yet all the physical diffiaulties to sur- mount which a country of vast extent, rug- ged exterior and rich but varied and widely distributed resource could present, were present. First of all, to use a mining metaphor, it was an expensive claim, very inaccessible, into which the main tunnel of theC.P.R. had been run. There were development works to establish, numerous shafts to sink and many cross cuts and drifts to make. Then there were the social, educational and political needs of a large body of workers to look after, all necessitating much energy, large administrative ability and immense expenditure. It was an undertaking fraught with many difficulties and great responsi- bilities. We have now arrived at a period of stock-taking and general reckoning up, when the directorate has to render an account of its stewardship to the stockholders. A bal- ance sheet has now to be presented prior to the election of officers. Have results jus- tified renewed confidence in and the re-elec ticn of the management ? That is, we take it, the question now to decide. THE COCNTRY AS IT WAS. Throwing metaphor aside, let us look at the country at that time. Practically speak- ing, there was no city of Vancouver, or at least was not a year or two previous. Bur- rard Inlet was surrounded by forest. West- minster was a small town. The Westminster district, with the exception of a few settled tracts, was populated by straggling settlers and intersected but by one main trunk road. The glory of Cariboo was departing. Lil- looet and Yale had cattle ranches at long intervals, and a few incipient mining camps, rich in prospect but circumscribed by lack of opportunity. Kamloops was the one town of the interior, a trading post. The rich valleys of the Okanagan were yet regions for discovery and were but little known, and travellers wondered at what they saw and were interviewed as one might now be returning from the Peace river coun- try. Their possibilities were little under- ENT. A.go as olicy of D account of lers. A bal. ted prior to reaalts jus- I the re-elec- '■ is, we take ■AS. I US look at ically speak- •uver, or at 'ious. Bur- rest. West- Vestminater few settled iog settlers trunk road, rting. Lit- ranches at ient mining cumscribed 9ps was the ading post. 'U were yet but little d at what i one might river coun- ttle under- stood, or at least by few. At most there was but a general notion of their possible importance. The grea^ triangular district of Kootenay was a lone land, a wilderness, accessible only over long, circuitous moun- tain trails and inland water stretches by canoe. It was regarded as a mineralized area of indefinite value, about which some curiosity had been excited owing to the tales of prospectors, but the rich argentifer- ous lodes that have since been disclosed were then not dream ad of. Going north the great Chilcotin plateau, yet isolated, with its millions of acres of fer- tile valleys, had only been traversed by ex- plorers seeking gold or a possible railway route. In fact, what was known about the greater part of British Columbia at the time to which we refer, was little more than was known many years before, through traders, prospectors and explorers, and the greater part of our knowledc;e was referrable to notes of those infrequent travellers. We are speaking now of the ken of the general public, and this will scarcely be denied. Individually, many of the old British Co- lumbians had travelled over a good deal of the Province, and to these intrepid pioneers we are indebted for a great de»l of our present knowledge. Such a description in outline nf a Province might read as a story of Ir. , j^o, but when it applies to a period compu. s-sd within a de- jade, it emphasizes what people engrossed with current events forget about the accom- plishments of a few years, what politicians of a day, ephemeral aeekers after notoriety, seek to ignore, beclouding public issues with the by.play of a single session of Parliament, for that is what it amounts to. If electors were to be deceived by representations such as these gentlemen place before them, they would commit the blunder of generals who burned bridges that had safely carried their armies across and then found themselves a prey to the enemy. TUK ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF TO DAT. '•For my monument, look around you," was the simple inscription placed on the commemorative tablet in honor of the architect Wren, whose remains rested be- neath the great monumental pile, the crea- tion of his own genius. To note what has been accomplished during the last seven or eight years in British Columbia we have simply to look around us. We are not so foolish as to say that the present Govern- ment did all this. Progress in this Province was due to a combination of circumstances, ulterior as well as internal. Governmente in these matters are only entitled to credit to the extent to which their efforts con- tribute to advancement. But as we pointed out in a previous article, results are very largely itfluenced by the policy of the men in power.whereby opportunities *re takenad- vantage of or disregarded as the case may be. It is true that British Columbia is to day suffering a severe depression in common with the world, but that her lot is not so bad as that of many other countries is be- cause, as was the case of the Dominion as a whole, her policy while liberal and pro- gressive, has been careful and conservative, and thus the credit of the Province has been conserved. The extremes in this matter are well exemplified in the United States, the South American Republic and the Australian Colonies, where complete coUupse has been brought about by reckless expenditure of public monies on public works and in many other ways. But while revenue has been expanding, trade increasing, assessed value doubling up and credit strengthening, if the Government is not to be credited with some share of the praise due to such a state of affairs, at least the cry that the country is going to the dogs, as the result of misgovernment, can- not be accepted except as a political calumny perpetrated by men who for selfish purposes have olaced party ends above patr-otism. ••the ror.inv op avprofkiatigis-." Of late an endeavor has been made to off- set the apparent effects of expenditure in development works, in roads and bridges, in if public building., to meet the requirements of the various growing communities, in edu- oatlonal facilities and the like, by the hue and cry that the eppropriations for these purposes are attempts to bribe the electors with their own money. Of course, this is a hackneyed expression which has been worn threadbare In many a political contest the world over, and for which the opposition are no moreentitled to originality of thought than the parrot is which glibly screams in every quarter of the Anglicised globe, " Polly wants a cracker." Take Vancouver, where such a large amount of money was required for eduoa- tlonal purposes and for public buildings, did Mr. Cotton ever raise his voice in parlia- ment and say that his city was not entitled to It? and that the money should not have been spent ? Did Mr. Brown oppose a sub- sidy to the bridge ovar the Fraser at New Westminster? Did he say It wa^ a wrong thing to bribe the people with their own money in this way ? Did Mr. Semlin object to the moneys spent In Ydle ? Dj the peo- ple in Kootenay say that the expenditure there was In excess of their requlremeats for trails, wagon roads and railways ? Have Messrs. MoKenz'e and Keith complained that N»naimo and district got more than It was entitled to and the improvement was lavianly buying up support there? Ex amine their whole contention and you will find that the detailsof their charges are lack- |DR. and their speech is In the general- ities in which demagogues the world over love to declaim. It has. however, been charged that the Government wasted money voted for specific purposes, that it has been frittered away. This was a favorite theme and especially did Mr. Beaven, Mr. Brown 6 and Mr. Kitchen love to dwell upon it. Now, then, we are pleased to come down to particulars and challenge the Opposition to show where in this Province for the last seven years the Government has spent more in any important respect on any particular public service than was required of it. The campaign Is still young and the Opposition has ample opportunity to prove Its case. The challenge is broad enough in all con- tclenoe. We half suspect, however, what the Oppo- sition have been driving «t, although they have never had the courage to put it in that way. What they deMre to say Is that had the various minor works on roads and trails, etc., been let out at contract by tender in- stead of by day labor there would have been a great sav'ng. There Is no other con- clusion to be arrived at. This may or may not be true. The question Is, which is the proper principle to adopt, contract or day labor? Hive the Opposition ever formu- lated the policy in the Houae that the prin- ciple of d*y labor In carrying out these pub- lie works wab a wrong one, that every job should be let by contract to the lowest tenderer ? The issue then resolves itself into this : Did the Government pay too much wages for the work that was done ? It devolves upon those who say otherwise to advance the proof. Members of the present Government assert that they have been the true friends of the workingman. We think it is easy to demonstrate how in a variety of ways this is true, and we are willing to rest the verdict in this particular matter upon whether day labor is or is not an essential plank in the policy of workingmen's organ!- zvtions the world over. Iwell upon it. come doiwn to 9 Oppoiition to noe for the lait ban apent more any particular red of it. The the Opposition rove its case, gh in all con- vhat the Oppo- although they > put it in that ay is thnt had ids and traila, by tender in- e would have no other con- > may or may which is the tract or day 1 ever formu- that the prin- ut these pub- at every jib the lowest esolves itself nent pay too ; was done ? otherwise to i the present ave been the . We think I variety of illing to rest matter upon i an essential nen's organi- A STRIKING EXAMPLE. Expenditure on Works of Development has Made Canada Great. British Columbia's Progress Must be on the Lines of the Dominion. No. 3. The (Jovernment of Canada lent to the (irand Trunk somethincrover $15,000,000, which with interest now amounts to over $25,000,000, the Intercolonial Ritilway cost about $55,000,000, the Prince Ed- ward Island about $3,750,000, the Cana- dian Pacific and Branches about $(Jo, 500,- 000, the Canada Central about $1,525,000, other railways about $7,000,000; which up to end of 1892 amounted to $155,775, 000; the Canals have cost over $70,000, 000; Public Works $60,000,000, total $275,775,000. Of thi9 3um$l!>j,000,000is credited or rather debited to Capital ac- count since Confederation. When we add to this vast sum what was spent for steamship subsidies and in other ways intended to develop the latent resources of half a continent and for the purpose, as one writer expressed it, of overcoming th j physical barriers to com- munication and of welding a series of dis- connected provinces into a compact whole, we can best appreciate the wisdom of a policy of expenditure which, though ii brought the gross debt of Can- ada from $!»3,OOO,O0O in 1867, to $2!»5, 000,000 in 1892, and the net debt from $76,000,000 to $241,000,000 in the same time, or in other words was trebled in twtmty-five years ; on the other hand it trebled the assets, and advanced the cre- dit of the country, so that while the debt trebled the amount of interest only about doubled and the net rate of interest was reduced from 4.51 to 2.93. THE I,E(iITIMATE CONSEQIEXC'E.S The consequence of this was an expan- sion of trade, which, for its steady and substantial character, is unrivalled by comparison. The total tr*de in 1807 was $130,000,000, in 1892 it was $240,000,000, and to- day the trade of Canada has over- topped its record *and this despite the fact that universal depression has reigned for a recent period during which the trade of nearly every other country has seriously diminished. Revenue rose from $14,000,000 in 1868 to $37,000,000 in 1892. Canada in that time has spann«d the 8 continent with a railway and provided a net-work of railways for the people. She has created the most gigantic system of canals m the world ; and she has estab- lished steamship lines, diverting trade of the world through her territory and open- ing up vast possibilities for her future in this respect. All of this has been accomplished as the result of a wise and statesmanlike and far-seeing policy of public expendi- ture. Canada has sown liberally that she might reap plentifully. Her public debt, now that she has practically completed those great public works of necessity, has reached a point of equilibrium from which it will recede while her sources of revenue will expand more and more rapidly as the problem of development works itself out more and more fully. THE MORAL APPLIED TO B, C. The circumstances which affected Can- ada in H large way affect British Colum- bia in a proportionately smaller way only that the physical conditions-of natural barriers to development-are inore pronounced in the latter case British Columbia has, comparatively speaking, a harder problem of success to solve, and therefore the moral of the con- ditions and events out of which were evolved great results in Canada, applies with greater force in this Province. In proportion to our means and popu- lations, British Colnmbia has a greater task in order to meet the requirements of development than Canada had. The ex tensive area of country, the long distances intervening between settlements, the rugged exterior of the Province and the many other well known obstacles to sur- mount m the way of communication, all reader LJie expenditure of largo sums of money absolutely necessary to effect the desired ends-settlement, intercommuni- cation and devalopment of industry If It were not known that the Province was abundant in resoiirces from end to end the Government would not be justified in entering npcn a policy of opening it up liut, our great, varied riches conceded to reach and develop them, we must have railways, roads, bridges, schools and all other facilities which modern reouire- ments demand. We must stop or go ahead. To go ahead means money. WE WANT RAILWAYS. Above all the necessity of this new country is railways. In a country where railway construction is difficult, popula- tion small, home tra' a limited, and re- turns largely in the future, capital will not unaided undertake what we have not sufficient faith to undertake ourselves In no conncry has investment in railways proved fairly remunerative. Experience extending over a number of years has proved this. Only India and Germany withdense populations, can earn overSper cent, m capital, the average being 3| per cent. There are thirteencountries earning over the average and eleven less than the average. What, then, may be expected m British Columbia i In the United Kingdom the interest on railway capital has varied in thirty-five years from 3 7 per cent, to 4.1 per cent., aid that with a population of 3o,000,000. There is only one course open in order to secure and advance railways, and that IS to assume burdens of debt and look for indirect returns in the increase of revenue and population. From all parts of the Province come demands for expenditure in every form No member of rarliament. Opposition or supporter, has ever opposed the (^vern- ment for expenditure in his own district. '', intereommuni- ^i industry. Jf he Province was •om end to end, ofc be justified in 'f opening it up. hes conceded, to ', we must have schools and all lodeni retjuire- ad. ley. VAYS. of this new . country where fticult, popula- mited, and re- e, capital will it we have not ike ourselves, snt in railways '. Experience of years has and Germany, 3arn over 5 per 3 being 3^ per ntries earning less than the be expected the United kilway capital ars from 3.7 d that with >pen in order iys, and that bt and look increase of Jvince come every form, pjioeition or the Govern- iwn district. On the other hand, each representative has complained that his particular district has been unjustly dealt with. Yet, when the aggregate of expenditure comes to be considered, those in Opposi- tion assert that the country is going to the dogs because revenue does not keep pace with expenditure. No one with reason and common sense can maintain that at the present stage such a thing is possible. The Govern- ment borrowed money with the assent of Parliament, and the country depends on works of development. Thi oney has been expended and is being expended for the purposes for which it was voted and intended and the country is benefiting by it. WE WITNESS THE RESULT.S. We have the direct and unmistakable results of it in two particular instances,. Take West Kootenay and Yale. Five years ago West Kootenay was a wilderness, when Nelson and Kaslo and all the rest of the aspiring towns there were unknown and unthought of. There was practically no communication into it. To-day we find six or seven well established lines of communication, with several more imme- diately in prospect. We find a number of budding and promising towns and a rapidly growing and sturdy population of about 10,000, numerous mining camps, large quantities of ore being shipped and all the evidences of a growing community, with prospects of being second to none in importance in the Province. Such pro- gress is phenomenal even in the West, and was not possible without large ex- penditures from the Provuicial Treasury, which is reaping in return substantial revenues from that district. Had the Government stopped to consider the bal- ancing of revenue and expenditure West Kootenay would have been, compara- tively speaking, a wilderness to-day. a In Yale we find a similar illustration of this policy of expenditure. Without the Shuswap & ( )kanagan railway it would have been still entered by stage coaches. As It is, the people of British Columbia point with pride to the valley of the Okanagan, just now through railway and steamboat facilities entering upon a period of great development. When we consider the stimulating effects of railways in these districts and in regard to Vancouver, Victoria, West- minster and Nanaimo during the past five or six years, we may easily judge of what the projected enterprises in regard to Chilliwack, Delta, Nicola, Cariboo, and so on, will produce. The Government, of course, cannot proceed to do everything at once. It has evidenced the willingness to do all it can and as fast as it can. Thero is the mean between undue and lavish exptaditure and parsimony to observe, and this it has carefully endeavored to do. THE REQLIREMENTS OF THE COl'NTRV. There have been besides railways and roads and brif'ges to build many other wants to take into consideration, judicial administration, hospitals, asylums ar,d the promotion of the agricultural inter- ests in various ways, Tuining, etc., and the administration of public service, be- sides the duty of educating the young, in which the Province has expended very large amounts. The conservation, protection and pro- motion of all these i-terests the Govern- ment has endeavored to consider and still keep the revenue and expenditure within reasonable bounds. With all this the debt has not much exceeded the limits of that of one nr two of the leading cities of the Province. If the Government and the people have faith in the future of this Piovince, they "'U8t stake on its future. Jt must follow out a liberal and judicious policy of de- velopment anc' truat to the results of such a policy in makiner the Province richer and greater in return. We are all here because we are sanguine of the future If we do not believe that what is neces- sary to accomplish our hopes is feasib'e and possibly then we had better organize a general exodus. If the people of the Province are not 10 to be inspired by the example and success 1 * . ^°'"'"'"" "' ^"^ying out the greatest system of public works in propor- tion to the population the world ever knew, and in the face of tremendous financial and physical difficulties, then there is but one of two conclusions to arrive at; either that the Province is not worthy of the effort or that ti.e people are not worthy of the Province )le and success King out the >rk8 in propor- e world ever f tremendous iculties, then ionclusions to rovince is not at the people tice. A HELPING HAND. How the Era of Hard Times has been Tided Over and Depression Reheved By Expenditure in Needed Pubhc Works— Bright Prospects of Immediate Revival. IVo. 4. We have indicated some of the condi- tions which affected the development of this Province. We have shown, and it is contended very conclusively, that the policy pursued was in harmony with the expanding elements in our Provincial growth and the only successful policy possible to pursue. Looking over the controvercial issues of policies for the past seven or eight years, we find that until very recently the (Jovernment of British Columbia has been blamed more particularly for not going ahead fast enough. Its course has been described by those now seeking to take the lead in public affairs as " tardy." It has been even designated as the repre- sentative of " Mossbackism. " Now, however, since the tide of specu- lation has been turned or held back, and we have been swept by the tail end of the comet of hard times, the " evil '' in- fluences of which have been severely felt in nearly every country in the world, we find these aspiring poli .ciaus endeavor- ing to get astride of the same comet's tail and swing into power, crying that the Government have been too lavish and are bankrupting the Province. The endeavors of such men who, professing to be in favor of development, condemn the spending of money, would indicate some policy of nebulous inflation whereby by a paper fiat they would create money and capital to build up a country without pledging the country's credit for it. Their position is anomalous and pre- posterous. LIBKKAL WHILE CON.SERVATIVE. The truth is, the Government of British Columbia has been liberal, while con- servative. It has made mistakes. What (Jovernment has not '! Even the "heaven- born financier'' who rules tiie editorial columns of the News-Advertiser, and aspires to be the next Premier, will ad- mit the possibility of oven the greatest of men, among whom he modestly classes himself, making mistakes. The (Jovern- ment has spent money where it deemed it necessary, and held back where the 12 burdens of the Province would have been unduly increased. Had it listened to all the demands for expenditure from all (]UHrters, it would have truly bank- rupted its resources. Now that hard times are upon us, and the necessity for retrenchment in every line of business is necessary, the wisdom of conservatism in public undertakings in the past is appar- ent. The result is that while business men have been liauling in sail on all sides, the Government, with unimpaired credit, is able to go ahead, and thus ma- terially ease the financial stringency by carrying on needful public works. During the past two years had it not been for these public works the suttering experi- enced would have been greatly aug- mented. THE KESl'LTS OF EXCESS. The results of a contrary policy have been strikingly illustrated in the United States, Australia and South America. While times were good the Government in those countries spent money lavishly. When depression set in, their financial resources and credit being crippled, the cessation of payments brought about a general collapse, and the Governments were unable to lend a helping hand, hav- ing already depleted their reserve forces. At the close of the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1893, there was a deficit of $44,- 888,296. This gave a monthly deficit of $6,412,830. If the expenditure goes on exceeding the revenue at this rate to the end of June, there will be a deficit of over $72,000,000. The spectacle of Coxey's army marching on to Washing- ton is unique in history, and exemplifies a condition of aflairs brought about by disregaid of the lessons of history and tiuj principles of stable governmenr. Coxey's aimy may be, and undoubtedly is,'^ a "crank" movement, doomed to dismal failure except as a finger-post in United States history and a monument to hard times, but it is a legitimate political pro- duct. The Argentine Republic failures were the beginning uf the great monetary depression. The Australian collapse set It in full tide, and the American so- called " silver (luestion " was its culmina- tion. STEMMED THE TIDE OF DEPRESSION. These things all reacted on British Col- umbia, depending as it did largely on foreign capital, and a very marked pro- gress has been temporarily checked ; but the remarkable fact is here to be noted that British Columbia, outside of the Dominion of Canada, South Africa and New Zealand, is about the only Province or country— to speak of it in that respect —which has been able during a period of extreme depression to carry on public works in a greater degree even than be- fore, without impairing its credit or straining its finances. Since the comple- tion of the C.P.R. there has never been such activity in railway construction or so many public works of benefit and necessity as at present in progress, or within the past two years. The wisdom of the Government lias been shown in not having lost its head during good times, and being able during bad times to carry on uninterruptedly a sjstem of wise expenditure. It is during such times as these, when the ordinary avenues of expenditure for private and business purposes are closed up and economies everywhere are effected, th^ta wise and liberal priicy of expenditure is necessary to offset the harddhips of labor and tide over the financial difficulties op- pressing rich and poor alike. It is not in onr case either, a.-? it was m the Province of Quebec, when the Government set the unemployed at work in the old capitol to post in United iment to hard e political pro- public failures ;reat monetary n collapse set American so- is its culroitia- )EPRESSION. >n British Col- id largely on marked pro- jhecked ; but to be noted tside of the li Africa and >nly Province 1 that respect g a period of y on public 7en than be- s credit or ! the comple- 3 never been struction or benetit and progress, or jrnment lias ost its head able during irruptedly a It is during le ordinary private and id up and icted, that a leiiditure is ps of labor iculties op- It is not in le Fiovince lent set the I capitol to pull down the walls and build them up again in order to supply work. We have unfortunately our unemployed, but in one way or other we bave been able to provide them with means of subsistence without resort in any impoitant degree to charity methods. The works carried on by the Province now and in the past have been necessary and useful works, such as would have been justified at any time and all the more welcome now. It was Sir Leonard Tilley we think who, after inaugurating the National Policy, advised the people of Canada to clap on all sail for the i^ext seven years, because in the cycle of events hard times would come again. His prescience proba- bly was better than his advice. During the boom times our Government did not clap on all sail, but on the other hand, it was said, was over conservative and slow. Had it done so we would not to-day have been in the position to branch out in ex- penditure when most needed. SHiNS OF RETURNING I'ROSI'ERITV. Already we see the unmistakable signs of a return of great prosperity in this Province. For some years the lumber industry, which has struggled along against heavy odds, is reviving. The Hastings Mills, one of the leading export mills in the Province, has already char- ters ahead sufficient to keep it employed for the rest of the year and is now in full blast. Victoria, for the first time in its history, is loading lumber for foreign markets. Other mills are starting up and the prospecs are excellent. Kootenay has millions of dollars worth of ore in sight, and the Nelson Tribune, we think it was, prophesied that $12,000,- 000 worth of silver would go out in 1894. By the end of the year it vviil have three systems of railway, tapping its marvel- lously rich metalliferous lodes. One of the largest hydraulic mining propositions in America is materializing in Cariboo, where half a million dollars is being spent by one company, who look for $1,000,000 as the first season's clean- up. On the Fraser, on the Thompson, in the Big Bend country and in many other places, the greatest activity in hy- draulicing is being shown, with prospects of an abundant return. Another good seasoh in canning salmon is anticipated, and as a successful inaugu- ration of the deep sea fishing has been ac- complished, we may look for a stewdy de- velopment of this most important of our resources. In finding a market for our halibut, our fresh salmon and cured fishes ofall kinds, the gordian knot has been cut and henceforward the export of fish will be a large one. There was never a time either in which so much interest has been manifested in our agricultural interests, and now that the element of speculative real estate values has been eliminated, farming seems to have started on a course of legi- timate development that cannot but have an important eftect in building up the country and making it rich ; because any country or Piovmce without the back- bone of agriculture must be for all time handicapped in the import of the neces- saries of life which that industry afl^-ords. With the improvement on freigiit rates the competition in British and Australian coals will be less keenly felt, and conse- quently increased demand for British Col- umbia coal in the American market, which means a substantial revival in that industry, now suttering from a glut in the Coast cities. TAKING TIME BY THE FOREUK'K. In all these respects the outlook is more promising than it ever has been be- fore. There is the promise of legitimate 14 If industries on a large scale taking the place of propositions on paper, which in too many instances have failed to answer the expectations (.f either the promoter or in- vestor. In all these respects, too, the Government has lent a helping hand and given every assis'ance possible. The beneficent result of a policy of ex- penditure in development are being shown and will appear moie fully from year to year. The (iovernnient did not wait for lumber to get better in price, or mines to be developed, or the fisheries to go ahead, or farming produc* to have a surplus, to provide means of communication and pro- ject public woiks. With railways into Kootenay, into the Nicola Valley, into Chilliwack, into the Okanagan Vall«y, into Cariboo and elsewhere, there is a cer- tain prospect of these various districts at- taining tc. a measure of their opportuni- ties. In other words, the Government has not waited for the times to get good to move in these matters. They h^ave, to drop into metaphor, greased the wheels of Fortune's car in order that she may arrive more speedily. When times do get good again, and as we have said the indications are of that being very soon in this Province, all the facilities for tak- ing advantage of the improved condition of things will have been supplied and leady to hand, and the Province will be enabled to enter fully and without delay into an unexampled era of prosperity. In saying what we have so far, it is not with the object of exalting the Govern- ment or any of its members into paragons of wisdom or greatness. We do not wish to exempt them from faults or condone their shortcomings on the one hand, or on the other hand to paint their virtues in hues so bright as to give color to their shadows. We believe them to be neither more nor less human than their fellows, and desire simply to credit them with having pursued a policy-defective it may have been in many minor points -which throushout has had a good, sound busi- ness basis, was f)n the whole well carried out, and is now being rewarded with a large measure of success. When times e have said ng very soon ities for tak- ed condition applied and ince will be ithoiit delay osperity. far, it ia not the CJovern- ito paragons do not wish 31' condone hand, or on ■ virtues in lor to their ' be neither eir fellows, them with tivo it may Its— which ound biisi- j11 carried led with a A STATISTICAL COMPARISON. A Comparison in Figures which Indicates the Progress of Seven Years, And Shows the Province to be Healthy and Vigor- ous and Its Wealth Doubling Up. Xo. 5. Havin.c/ reviewed the policy of the (iov- ernnient extending over a nuu.ber of years, and carefully analyzed the co.uli- tions which have entered into and dictat- ed that policy, let us now briefly and accurately present some of the results. We propose to illustrate by a few ftcr. ui-es of comparison the progress whid, the country has made since 188(5 the period at which for convenience we have drawn the line between the old and new conditions inth is Province. In this we d» not propose to point to the marvellous progress made in particular districts, such asWestKootenay, Okanagan and VVest- minster, or in the cities of the Coast, be- cause that is within the persoial knowl- edge of us all and self-evident, but con- sider the Province as a whole. ■STATISTICS OF EXPAN.SIOX. The aggregate of import and export trade of the Province in 1887 was $6,- P.MoJ ; in i8Lt£ it was §13,070,578. The revenue of the Province in 1886 was $515,282 ; in 1893, $1,019,20(5. The ordinary assets of tiie Provincf in 188(5 were ^780,829 ; in 189;!, $l,4fJ2,7;;4. The aggregate assessment in 'the 'four cities of the Coast in 188(5 was i^lO 750 - 000; in 1893, $4(5,750,000. ' ' ' The population of 1881 was 49,459 ; i« 189.'J (census returns), 98,170. The number of schcjols in ISSr, wa« 'O • in 189.3, Kid. The number of teachers employed in 188(5 was 11(5 ; in 1893, 242. The number of pupils in attendance in 188G was 5,345 ; in 189.3, 11, 49(5. The average attendance in 188*5 was 2,873; in 189.3, 7,111. The expenditure for education in 188(5 was !:«88,521 ; in 189.3, §190,558. The value of our fisheries in 188(5 was $1,974,887 ; in 1893, $4,250,000. The revenue based on Provincial assess- ment in 188(5 was $73,177; in 1893 $211,088. The output of coal in 1887 was 413 - 3(50 tons ; in 1893, 978,294 tons. now THE MOXKV WAS .SPENT. Since the year 188(> there has been ex- pended : 16 $ In hospitals and public institutions, $1500,000 ; in education, $013,000; in roads, streets, bridges and wharves, $1,- 450,34i) ; in works and buildings, $546,- 04!» ; in surveys, $l«i6,(i77. Besides the cost of the administration of justice, civil government and all the rest (if it, in forms of land subsidy or guar- antee, assistance has been granted to the following roads thatareeitherconipletedor under way : The Eaquimalt & Nanaimo, Shuswap & Okanagan, Columbia & Koot- enay, Nelson it Fort Shappard, Nakusp & Slocan, Kaslo & Slocan and Victoria A- .Sidney Railways. The other railways to whioh the Legis- lative Assembly has pledged assistance are the British Columbia Southern, the Chilliwack Railway, the Nicola Valley Railway, the Ashcroft & Cariboo Rail- way; and in this connection the assistance guaranteed to the bridge over the Fraser at Westminster is to be considered. The assistance guaranteed to the pro- motion of the dyking and drainage in Westminster district is in line with the foregoing enterprises and not less im- portant. We (]uote here from the Budget Speech of the Hon. the Finance Minister : "There have been built 110 school houtes at a cost of $174,441 ; 10 jails and lockups, 1120,985 ; 12 court houses, §100,- 692 ; 595,000 acres of land surveyed, $8.3,424 ; 1,200 miles of road, 800 miles of trail, 000 bridges and 5,000 miles of roads and bridges kept in repair, at a cost of $1,531,083, making a total of $2,007,225, or a total expenditure on public works durng this period of over $2,000,000. If we deduct from this $300,000 for repairs, we have still an expenditure of some $1,700,000 on public works, which are now represented by, assets that are fully eqjal to the expendi- ture that has been made on them. We might value the 595,000 acres of land alone at least at one dollar per acre, and this is now open for settlement and is being plotted and mapped so that the immigrant may be thoroughly informed respecting it at the Land Office. But we have to add to these assets the public works that will result from the expendi- ture which has now to be voted, amount- ing to considerably over $400,000. This shows that the funds which we obtained from the loans referred to have been carefully expended in the manner which the country desired and which it expressed its own opinion of through the House at the time these loans were voted on for the purpose of public works." A summary of the results may be placed in tabulated form as follows : SUMMARY FOB SEVEN YEARS. Island. 9 123.989 Mainland. Hospitals i 175,Ufi Education 196 719 R. S. B. &W.. i»f)2.9Jl Wrlis. &Bldg8. 385.896 Survejs 98 930 4I6.U3 457,401? 161 053 67,747 Total. I 299,105 912 862 1,450 .349 546919 166.67 r Total ?i.l49,602 N'KTI'ROVINCIAI- DEBT. 1887 9 419,8,36 1888 497.1,32 1889 606,614 1890 672,5!'6 1891 701,419 18«2 1,033 612 1*93 1,691.7;J2 *1,226 340 13,375,942 REVENUE. J»87 ¥ .ill.ol? 1888 6)8,678 188tf 706.780 1890 835.461 1**!" 959 248 1892 1,020,002 1893 1,012,267 1894 (est) LOSS 691 1895(881) 1,178,149 A FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Gross debt. Total assets . Interest ■■■^H^l'^J * ™7 165 |58,.313 . 1,780,125 1 282 993 1.772 871 1,166,257 l,lif5,314 1.141,736 1,842,4^4 1,492,734 1887.. 18-'8.. 1889.. 1890 i;797,8i!0 1891 1843,l,'-4 1892 2.S76 03ti 1893 3,187,456 89,878 89,878 89.f(78 89.878 118,978 113,068 Value of public buildings is estimated at $1,150,000, of which sites cost in round numbers $100,000, resented by, he expendi- them. We res of land er acre, and iient and is 80 that the y informed !e. But we the public le oxpondi- 5d, aniount- ,000. This ve obtained have been le manner nd which it hrough the were voted irks." 8 may be lows : LBS. l. J9 13 a 17 Total. $ 299.105 912 862 1.450 .349 546919 166.677 10 13,375.942 :nuk. .f 511,517 . . 6 >8.678 . . 706.780 . 835.46i , . 959 248 . 1,020,002 . 1.012,257 . LOSS 691 . 1,178.149 Interest. i 58.313 8»,878 89,878 89,t«78 89.878 118,978 113.068 estimated cost in LEGISLATION MIRRORED, High Hducational Status of the Province— B. C's Municipal System. Efifective Administration of Justice -Sound Sani- tary Measures-^Mining Encouraged by Legislation. IVo. 6. The more material aspects of the Gov- ernment arrive at results ecjual, as compared wi^h our refjuirements, to what has been achieved even in Ontario. As 18 population grows our municipal Bysteiu, established on a broad and firm basis, will expand naturally and easily. There are few respects in which our municipal inatitutioDs are not equal to those ot our most enlightened neighbors. Our civil code contains the best features of modern jurisprudence, and its opera- tions are as successful and as free from useless incumbrances as in any part of the Dominion, It has received the most careful attention of the Government and the Legislature and constant effort has been made to render it useful and work- able. It has been conceded on every hand that the administration of justice, so far as it has been in the power of the Gov- ernment to make it effective, has been wholesome and vigorous. Our criminal code has been brought to a high state of perfection, and the law is administered with a firm hand in the prevention and punishment of crime. When we con- sider the extent of our sea coast, the physical character of the country, the mixture of populations and the contiguity of the American Republic, the success with which our law has been carried out is not only a matter for congratulation, but has earned for us the admiration of our neighbors. CONSERVED UORALS AND HEALTH. Apropos of these reflections, it may be stated, as something not capable of con- tradiction, that British Columbia is essen- tially a Province of law and order, and will compare favorably in this regard with any piovfince in the Dominion or any country in the world. There is no coun- try in which the rights of person and property are more sacred or better safe- guarded, and if it were Siot for the of- fences imported into our criminal calen- dar by aliens and a few of our Indians our record would be unique. In a West-' ern province, which to the Easterner carries with it a significance of what is best un- derstood as the " wild and woclly," this is remarkable. As a people, British Col- umbians are sober, moral and law abiding,., and in no degree, either politically or socially, turbulent. If we accept this maxim as true, that the people are a reHection of the Govern- ment, or the Government a reflection of the people, there is little to condemn in the character of the administration into the history of which have been incorpor- ated conditions such as we have do- scribed. . Scarcely less important in the light of the public weal, arc sanitary consider- ations. As the direct result of dangers, then present and prospective, the Gov- ernment placed on the statute book a Health Act, sound in principle, compre- hensive in scope and drastic in applica- tion. In the face of an emergency, such as confronted the Province two years ago, the Government acted promptly and vigorously and stamped out the infection, and to-day machinery is provided where- by, without extraordinary means, any epidemic may be stayed and the general health conserved by the application of sound sanitary measures. GOOD MINING LAWS. A few years ago, when vein mining be- gan to attract attention, the mining laws, which had had special reference to placer work, required careful revision, and at this task the Government set itself to work. In a new country, without expe- rience in the requirements of quartz de- velopment, legislation must be to some extent experimental, and so it proved in this inatance. Miners themselves, largely of the prospecting class, were very much divided in opinion as to what the law