Item
Beacon
Jan 7/1897
Harvey and woods will be the new Algonquin managers.
Rural Cemetery Burial
Mary Bignall
Age 82
Wife of William Bignall
Lot in B
Jan 13, 1897
Beacon
Jan 14/1897
Digby's new summer hotel is an assured fact. The company has purchased a site on the hill overlooking the Gut 200 or 400 feet.
Beacon
Jan 21/1897
Minister's Island. A Few Facts in Connection with the Early History of the island.
One of the oldest and most respected residents of the parish of St. Andrews is Mr. Marshall Andrews, who shares the ownership of Minister's Island with his son and Sir William Van Horne. In his younger days, Mr. Andrews was a man of commanding height and as strong as a lion. His weight of 84 years has bowed his figure and robbed him of much of his youthful strength, but his intellect is as clear as ever it was, and he can discourse most interestingly on events of bygone days.
In talking with the Beacon, concerning the early history of Minister's Island, on Thursday last, Mr. Andrews says the island was originally granted by the crown to Capt. Samuel Osburn, commander of the British gunboat Arethusa in return for services performed by him in protecting the lives and property of the loyalist refugees. Subsequently, Mr. Andrews's grandfather, Rev. Samuel Andrews, the first rector of St. Andrews, purchased it from Capt. Osburn for £500. Rector Andrews, as most people acquainted with the history of St. Andrews know, had been in charge of an Anglican church in Connecticut, at the time of the United States rebellion. Being strongly attached to the crown, he bade farewell to his Connecticut home and removed with other Royalists to New Brunswick. The coat of arms he brought with him from his Connecticut church now adorns the walls of All Saints Church and there is not sufficient wealth in the whole of Connecticut to buy that precious heirloom from its present owners.
It was soon after he arrived here that Rector Andrews purchased Minister's Island. The deed of purchase, also the grant from the Crown to Capt. Osburn, are still in the possession of his grandson. The purchaser of the island was not permitted to enter into full possession of the island for some time, as another family, named Hanson, had squatted upon it and refused to leave. Captain Osburn undertook to scare Hanson away by erecting a target on the bank in front of his house and firing at it with his big guns. The balls tore through the trees and whistled around the Hanson domicile, but they did not cause the occupants to abandon the place. To employ a latter-day vulgarism Hanson was "on to the racket" and whenever Capt. Osburn began target practice, he removed himself and his family to the Indian encampment farther down the island, and remained there until the Captain got through with his fun, when he returned home. Finding that he could not be scared, Rector Andrews succeeded in getting him to vacate by giving him £100. The oft-repeated story that the Rector bought the squatter off with a hogshead of rum is pronounced by Mr. Marshall Andrews to be untrue. Over forty years ago, while walking through the island forest with his father, Mr. Marshall Andrews observed that many of the large trees were torn and mutilated. He wondered at the cause, when his father told him of Captain Osburn's' pranks. Since then the story has been corroborated by the finding of large cannon balls at the foot of the cliff near where the Hanson homestead stood. On the death of the rector the island was bequeathed to his son, the father of the present occupant. He was Sheriff of Charlotte County for a great many years. As his official duties compelled him to spend a great part of his time on the mainland, Sheriff Andrews decided to sell half of the island. Rev. Mr. Cassilis obtained possession of this half, and subsequently it fell into the hands of William Douglass, a study Scotchman. He was unable to satisfy the indebtedness against the property, and it reverted to the original owner, who passed it down to his son. With the later history of the island most people in this section are familiar.
In the early days, the island was a favorite hunting ground. It abounded in game of all kinds, and at certain seasons of the year the wild fowl were so plentiful that they could be killed with clubs. The abundance of game in the vicinity attracted many Indians. On the island there were two large encampments of the savages, and the clam shell mounds that they left behind them are to be seen to this day. Occasionally stone hatchets and other implements of offence and defense are found. Some years ago, the island was visited by a local antiquarian, who has since made a name for himself. On a rock in front of the Indian encampment he found a number of characters, which he claimed were placed there by the Indians. Mr. Andres, who saw these characters and who was instructed afterward to have the stone removed to the university museum in Fredericton, declares, however, that the characters had no significance whatever, and that they were caused by the iron teeth of his harrow and not by Indians. Be this as it may, the visiting professor was able to work up quite an interesting narrative.
Mr. Andrews further informed the Beacon that the old colored woman, who died in the Alms House last week, was the daughter of a slave owned by his grandfather on this maternal side, Rev. Richard Clark, who came here with the loyalists and was the first rector of Gagetown. He brought with him two slaves Jerry Cole and wife. Polly, lately deceased, was one of the fruits of this union. She was brought up by a daughter of Rev. Mr. Clark, who resided in St. Stephen. She was about 95 years of age.
Beacon
Jan 28/1897
The mosquito must go. It has been discovered that malarial fevers are largely, if not altogether, caused by the bites of this insect.
Beacon
Jan 28/1897
The Algonquin Hotel Company is looking forward to '97 as the "banner year." The Company has already begun advertising in the south and west.
Beacon
Feb 4, 1897
John Hanson and Minister's Island
To the Editor of the Beacon,
In your issue of 21st ult., you publish an account of the early history of the so-called Minister's Island, as given by Mr. M. J. C. Andrews. You mention one Hanson as being the earliest occupant.
Now who was this Hanson and when and by what means did he come in possession of it?
His father was among the early settlers of Massachusetts. At Deerfield the younger members of the family were massacred by the Indians and his mother taken as a hostage to Canada, while the father and eldest son, —this same John Hanson—were serving in the Provincial Army. Having thus been left alone in the world, the father and son fought seven years side by side in the French and Indian war. When a truce was made for a few months, his father started to Canada with 100 pounds to ransom the mother but was massacred by the Indians on Lake Champlain. When the war broke out this John Hanson entered the regular service and fought at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, etc. Then when the expedition under Wolfe was fitted out to take Quebec, he again volunteered in that regiment of Provincialists, and was one of the first who scaled the Heights of Abraham. After the fall of Quebec, when peace was made, this regiment was disbanded at Salem, Mass. Again when the Revolutionary war broke, after the battle of Lexington, we find him drafted into the rebel service. But his loyal British blood was sufficient for the emergency and starting with two comrades from Salem, in the night in an open whaleboat, eventually arrived at the now Island of Campobello, then to St. Andrews at a time when there were only three log huts in the place. He then made application and received a location ticket to take up land in recognition of his fourteen years' service as a British soldier. This gave him authority to choose his own site, and he chose what is now called Minister's Island, settling at the southern point near where Sir William Van Horne's residence now is, cleared land, erected buildings and planted an orchard, the relics of which could be recognized until within a few years. After a lapse of about ten years, when peace was proclaimed, other Loyalists and refugees commenced to settle around St. Andrews and vicinity among the rest one Andrews, who was supposed to look after the spiritual interests of these people; but like Ahab of old he had an evil eye on his neighbor's vineyard—the Hanson homestead.
After vainly endeavoring to get possession of it by fair means or foul, he resorted to stratagem. A Capt. Osborne now appears on the scene as an ally of Andrews. An invitation from him was given to Hanson and Andrews to dine with him on board his sloop-of-war. As a matter of course in those days, and in such company, champagne flowed freely. Hanson was sent home unconscious. A few days afterwards a document was produced signed and witnessed conveying all Hanson's right and title of the island to Osborne in consideration of the sum of 20 pounds. Shortly afterwards it was reconveyed to Andrews, but Hanson's wife and family refused to be driven off as they had not been consulted in the matter, the document being legal without the wife's signature. Then came Osborne's "target practice" in operation until life was made so intolerable that Hanson and his family had to evacuate, or remain at the peril of their lives, there being no courts of law to appeal to at that early date. Thus it was that Capt. Osborne afforded "protection" to the Loyalists and Refugees. On leaving his home with tears in his eyes he exclaimed: "Deerfield Massacre, Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the bloody Plains of Abraham are nothing to this. I thought I could trust my parson."
When his sad case was represented to the Government, he was permitted to take up land on Bocabec river where he ended his days. Some of his descendants are still to be found there, as well as all over the continent.
The writer could fill a volume of information connected with the same subject, but will not further trespass on your valuable space at present.
I am, Sir, yours very truly,
R. B. Hanson
Bocabec, Feb. 1st, 97.
Beacon
Feb 11/1897
Sir William's Conservatory
Montreal Star. At the entrance of Sir William Van Horne's conservatory is an exceptionally large and splendidly flowered specimen of the orchid plant, and amongst those which surround it is a rare variety, whose polysyllabic name is descriptive of the curious resemblance borne by the flower to the body, neck and head of a swan. But the foliage plants are not the least attraction of this conservatory. Amongst the palms a cocos weddeliana is probably not excelled on this continent, and near it is a magnificent specimen of the Livingstonia, whose spread may reach twelve feet, and its height no less.
Beacon
Feb. 18/1897
The Queen hotel, Fredericton, is now known as "Government House." Lt. Gov. McClelan having his quarters there while the legislature is in session. . . . Everyone who has ever patronized the Queen knows that it is one of the best kept and most comfortable hotels in Canada, and that its cuisine is not excelled anywhere. The great run of guests that it has had ever since it was opened under its present management shows that the travelling public knows a good thing when they see it.
Minister's Island
On Monday, M. J. C. Andrews, brought to the Beacon office the original grant from George III to Capt. Samuel Osborne, of Chamcook Island, now known as Minister's Island. This grant, which is quite a formidable document, is dated 26th August 1785, and gives Capt. Osborne complete possession of the entire island. No reference is made to any others who claimed rights thereon. Endorsed on the back is the receipt from Capt. Osborne's attorney to Rev. Samuel Andrews, grandfather of one of the present occupants of the island. this receipt is in the following terms:
St. Andrews, 23rd Feb. 1788.
Received of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Andrews, Missionary of the parish, of St. Andrews, the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, current money of the Province of New Brunswick, being the full consideration money for the Island within mentioned.
Edw. Buller
Attorney for Samuel Osborne
£250 New Brunswick currency
Witnesses,
Joe Garnett
W. B. Brown
Mr. Andrews is of the opinion that Mr. Hanson must be wrong when he says that his progenitor's home was where Sir William Van Horne's residence now stands. One of the first considerations with a settler was the question of water, and as there was no spring within half a mile of the site of Sir William's residence it is hardly likely that John Hanson made his home where his descendant says he did. In reference to the charge that Hanson was made drunken by Capt. Osborne and Rev. Mr. Andrews, for the purpose of securing possession of the property occupied by him. Mr. Andrews thinks this would be hardly like an act that would be countenanced by an officer of the British navy and a minister of the gospel.
Beacon
Feb. 25/1897
The Dead of 1897
Details on the life and death of Mr. M. J. C. Andrews, of Minister's Island.
By the death of Mr. M. J. C. Andrews, of Minister's Island, another link which bound us to the past has been severed. Mr. Andrews was a native of St. Andrews, having been born here 85 years ago (1812). His father, the late E. Shelton Andrews, was for many years the respected Sheriff of this County. His grandfather, Rev. Samuel Andrews, was the first rector of the parish of St. Andrews, having come here with the Loyalists from Connecticut. The reverend gentleman obtained possession of Minister's Island from the grantee of the crown in 1788 and since then it has been in the control of the Andrews family for the greater part of the time. The late Marshall Andrews was a splendid specimen of physical manhood, and in his early life had a local renown for his athletic prowess. Of late years he has been suffering from heart trouble, which for many weeks prior to his death prevented him from sleeping upon his bed. On Monday afternoon, he drove into town to have a chat with the editor of the Beacon. Though complaining of his heart, his voice was strong and his memory appeared to be as sound as ever it was. On Tuesday, while walking in his farmyard he was seized with a spasm in his heart, and was only able to drag himself into his barn, where he laid for some time before he was discovered. The excitement thus caused aggravated the trouble from which he was suffering, and he never recovered from it, passing away peacefully just before midnight on Wednesday. He remained rational until the last moment, one of his latest requests being that a contribution be sent for him to the Indian famine fund. The deceased was twice married and leaves a widow and ten children surviving him. His sons now living are Capt. Fred Andrews, who some years ago retired from the sea on account of failing eyesight, and who is now ill in Boston; Capt. Marshall Andrews, now in command of the ship Robert S. Besnard; Edward L. Andrews, who is part owner and occupier of Minister's Island, and Sheldon Andrews who resides in the province of Manitoba. His six daughters are Mrs. J. L. Lockie, of Toronto, Mrs. Henry Maxwell, of St. Stephen, Mrs. James Mowatt, of St. Croix parish, Mrs. Dr. Clark, of Kingston, Mrs. F. A. Stevenson, of St. Andrews, and Mrs. Fred Mowatt, of Boston. The late Mr. Andrews was a warden of All Saints Church for many years and was deservedly esteemed for his manliness and integrity of character. His death, though not unexpected, was a sad blow to his family and friends. The funeral of the deceased took place from All Saints Church on Sunday afternoon last, the Rev. Canon Ketchum conducted an impressive ceremony in the church, Rev. E. W. Simmonson taking the services at the grave. The cortege was a very long one.
William McKinley
25th President of the United States (March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901)
Nickname: "Idol of Ohio"
Born: January 29, 1843, in Niles, OhioNiles, Ohio Died: September 14, 1901, in Buffalo, New York
Beacon
March 4, 1897
Rumor that CPR plan to erect another elevator in Saint John.
Beacon
April 29, 1897
Death of Dr. S. T. Gove
Dr. Samuel Tilley Gove, the oldest practising physician in the province, and one of the oldest residents of St. Andrews, breathed his last on Thursday morning last. Though the deceased gentleman had been in poor health for a year or more, he had of late been about the streets, and there were general remarks about his improved condition. But this improvement was not of long duration, for about a fortnight ago he was compelled to take to his room. He gradually grew worse, and about 11 o'clock on Thursday morning quietly fell asleep.
Dr. S. T. Gove was a son of the late Jeremiah Gove, of Gagetown, and the only brother of Collector Gove, of the St. Andrews Customs House. Born at Gagetown, Queen's Co., in the year 1813, he removed to Saint John with his father and family four years later. His preliminary education he obtained at the Madras school, St. John. After finishing his education, and taking a course at Guy's Hospital, he entered the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, London, when Sir Astley Cooper presided over that famed institution. He obtained his medical degree from that college in 1833, and from that date to within a few months ago was in active practice. He first practised in Gagetown, afterwards at Sussex and St. George, and about the year 1839 came to St. Andrews, where he has since remained.
During the 58 years he resided here, he held many positions of public trust and discharged them all faithfully and creditably. He took a leading part in the movement to unite At. Andrews with Quebec by rail and was the last surviving director in Class A block of the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway Company. During the existence of the Charlote County Bank at. St. Andrews he was one of the leading directors. On one occasion he told the writer that he was entrusted with a large sum of money to take to Saint John to liquidate engagements at the Bank of New Brunswick, when the late Tomas E. Milledge, of St. John, was a presiding director. He rode all the way to Saint John by horse, accompanied by a guard. During the time of the Irish famine, when typhus fever was carrying off scores of immigrants at St. Andrews, he performed a herculean work amongst the sick. He was the first physician to prescribe milk in cases of fever, and the correctness of his judgment in this matter was amply proven by the ready manner with which the medical profession followed his lead. He had charge of the quarantine station in St. Andrews at the period referred to. He was also surgeon of the troops during the Fenian raid. When Confederation was entered into, he made an inspection of the marine hospitals of New Brunswick for the government and submitted an exhaustive report thereon. He also filled for many years the positions of Coroner, Jail physician, physician of Alms House and Marine Hospital, and chairman of the Charlotte County Board of Health. At the time of his death, he was meteorological observer for the port of St. Andrews. He was closely identified with Free Masonry the greater part of his life, having been made a Mason in Edinburgh when he was 21 years old. He was the last charter member of St. Marks' Lodge, F and A. M. of St. Andrews.
His wife (who was a Miss Fairweather, of Sussex) survives him, also one son, Dr. Harry Gove. Mrs. Gove has been an invalid for many years and is now in a very critical condition of health.
His funeral took place on Sunday afternoon and was held under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity. The Arbutus brought down a large delegation of the brethren from St. Stephen, including Grandmaster Whitlock, Henry Graham, R. W. Whitlock, C. C. Whitlock, Walter Inches, R. W. Grimmer, W. S. A. Douglass, James Vroom, E. G. Vroom, George J. Clarke, M. E. McGowan, C. O. Barker, Jas McKenzie, A. I. Teed, Fred L. Ham, John C. Henry, S. Wheelock. The visitors united with the members of the St. Marks Lodge, making quite a long procession of the order. The outside friends of the deceased made the cortege nearly a quarter of a mile in length. The body was first taken to All Saints Church, where Rev. Canon Ketchum conducted an impressive service, the choir rendering "Art Thou Weary," "Lead Kindly Light," "Forever with the Lord," and the Nunc Dimittis. At the grave a short service was conducted by Canon Ketchum, after which the burial rite of the Masonic body were performed in an effective manner by Grand Master Whitlock. James Clinch led the singing at the grave with his cornet. Many persons were at the cemetery to witness the last rites over the departed.
The deceased in his will names his son, Dr. Harry Gove, James A. Shirley and T. R. Wren as his executors. He leaves an estate valued at about $15,000.
Beacon
March 11/1897
Sir William Van Horne has bought nearly all the stock and farming utensils belonging to the late Marshal Andrews.
Sir William Van Horne favoured St. Andrews with a visit on Thursday last. He was accompanied by Supt. Timmerman and Hon. John Costigan. The special train bearing them here was in charge of Conductor Swift, who proved just as good as his name, landing his passengers in St. Andrews in one hour and twenty-five minutes after leaving Vanceboro. Sir William and party visited Minister's Island, where the former arranged a plan of campaign for the Spring in connection with his summer estate. We are pleased to hear that Sir William is in the enjoyment of excellent health.
The CPR Railway
Have Done a good Business at Saint John
Supt. Timmerman Says the Railway May Make St. Andrews a Coal Storage Depot. He talks on other topics Interestingly
Supt. Timmerman, of the CPR, favored the Beacon with a call on Thursday afternoon. In the brief conversation the Beacon had with him it was learned that the CPR were greatly pleased with the results of their freight experiments at Saint John this winter. "So great has been the rush of freight," said Mr. Timmerman, "that at some periods we have had as many as 750 loaded cars on the siding between Saint John and McAdam. We have done about four times the amount of traffic that we did the previous winter, and I might say that this could have been doubled had the required steamships been available. The business of the month of December, and of January, too, exceeded the entire business of last winter, so that you can readily see how traffic has increased. Saint John needs more wharf space, but this winter we have experienced no trouble from that source. Everything has moved along smoothly."
The Beacon suggested that the time was near at hand when the CPR should be considering the advisability of utilizing the port of St. Andrews in conjunction with Saint John, but on this point the genial superintendent did not commit himself, contenting himself with the remark that he understood there was a good site for a deep water wharf on the eastern side of Indian Point park, and that the present was a good time to strike the governments for raid.
Asked about the prospects of the coal business returning to St. Andrews, Mr. Timmerman said that the experiences of the past few months had rather opened his eyes to the necessity of having a reserve store of coal, and he thought it not improbable that three or four thousand tons would be stored at St. Andrews. He promised that he would confer with Mr. Sutherland, freight agent, with respect to quoting a low rate on up-country lumber from this port, and he also before bidding the Beacon goodbye held out the hope that the coming summer resort season would be a good one. He could give no assurance however, that the CPR would carry out its idea of erecting another summer hotel here.
Valuations for 1897
Van Horne's real estate now assessed at $13,000. Land Company at 25,000. Robert Gardiner at 3,800. Angus Kennedy at 5,000. Algonquin Hotel at 25,000. Donald Smith not on list this year either. Must have sold. Shaughnessy at 150.
The hotel keepers of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, who tried the experiment of closing their houses when liquor fines were imposed upon them, have been compelled to reopen them again.
Beacon
March 18/1897
Algonquin: applications coming in earlier than usual. Additional private baths to be installed.
Beacon
March 28, 1897
"There's a divinity which shapes our ends rough, hew them how we will." It was a country editor who placed the comma as above.
Beacon
April 1/1897
Sir William Van Horne will add to his summer residence, Minister's Island, a studio and billiard room.
Thomas McCracken has exchanged his residence alongside the St. Andrews foundry for the Cookson farm, a few miles out of town on the shore road. He will remove from town in a few days. Miss Cookson is now in possession of her new home.
Algonquin Hotel
The Algonquin Hotel, as will be noted by the advertisement on the fourth page, will open about July 1st under the Management of Messrs. Harvey and Wood, of Ericson Hotel, Boston, and Kushaqua Lodge, Adirondacks.
The staff of the hotel for '97 will include:—Harvey and Wood, managers; Mr. Fraser, late of the Oakland Heights, Asherville, NC, chief clerk; Miss Abbie Todd, late of the Oceanside, Magnolia, Mss, housekeeper; Joseph Shay, Hotel Ericson, Boston, head-waiter; J. W. Mason, billiard marker; Charles S. Small, engineer.
First ad of year appears. Again "magnificent golf course" biggest amenity listed. "No Hay Fever Here" in smaller print bottom left. Artesian well water noted.
Beacon
April 8/1897
Lumber Rates to St. Andrews
The CPR company, after several years' consideration, has at last seen its way clear to quote a rate on lumber to St. Andrews that will give the port a chance to do a coasting business. The rates, which are the same as are quoted to West side Saint John, are as follows:
From Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Grand Falls $2 per m.
From Houlton and Woodstock $1.67 ½
From Hartland $1.87
From Edmunston $2.75
Now that the railway company has shown a disposition to treat us a little more generously, it behooves the businessmen of the place to bestir themselves and take advantage of this generosity. At least one wharf owner, Mr. DeWolfe, has shown himself alive to the opportunities that have been opened up to him. He intends taking steps at once to have rail connection made with the CPR line and his wharf. He thinks he will have no difficulty with the rate quoted in attracting some trade here. We earnestly hope that he will, for the port needs every ounce of trade and every dollar it can receive.
We feel satisfied that Carleton County and Aroostook lumber dealers will find it to their advantage to utilize this port in the shipment of their products. The port is a cheap and handy one and is capable of transacting a great amount of business
There is a lesson in connection with the above matter that St. Andrews people would do well to take to heart, vis., that if favors are wanted from either railway corporation or government, they must ask for them and keep asking. There is no doubt that the present concession from the CPR would not have been obtained (at least for a time) had it not been that the matter was strongly pressed upon Supt. Timmerman by the Beacon on the occasion of his late visit to St. Andrews on March 4th last. This interview was followed by a letter on March 11, in which the mutual advantages that would accrue were clearly set forth. Encouraged by the Beacon's interview, Mr. DeWolfe also penned up a correspondence with the railway people, and the new tariff of rates is the result. Had there been no interviewing, no writing, no agitation whatever, it is altogether likely that considerable time would have elapsed before the railway would have seen the necessity of granting us favored rates. Now that they have done so we should be duly thankful, —and there is not better way of exhibit our thankfulness than by striving to take advantage of those rates.
A Little Early History
Of the Port of St. Andrews and its Subports
Gathered from the first Letter Book of the St. Andrews Custom House
The first letter book of the St. Andrews Custom House is a musty though well-preserved tome of several hundred pages, and contains correspondence from the 12th of June, 1823, to the 23rd of December, 1830. Much of the matter contained therein is of great importance from a historical point of view. We subjoin several of the earliest letters, feeling assured that they will be read at this late day with the keenest interest.
The First Returns
Port of St. Andrews, June 12, 1823.
Honorable Sirs,
We have the honor of transmitting our first returns from this port per the Phoebe, bound to London, being the first opportunity which hath occurred since the date of our accounts. We beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of six boxes containing printed forms, and office books, which were forwarded to us from Saint John on the 9th inst.
We have the honor to be, etc.,
(Signed)
Colin J. Campbell
The Hon'l Commissioners
H. M. Customs, London
Wanted an Increased Staff
(Per the Whitby, 23rd, July)
22nd June 1823
Honorable Sirs,
We have the honor of submitting to the consideration of the Honorable Board a letter which the Waiter and Searcher of this Port has written to us stating the necessity of a boat and hands being allowed to him to enable him to perform the Duties of his Office; and being sensible that he cannot execute the duties required of him unless a boat and hands are allowed, we have herewith enclosed a Plan of this District, by reference to which your Honors will observe that from the vicinity of the United States, the extent of sea-board in this District, the easy access to and from the American shores, and the facility of introducing contraband articles, that every exertion and diligence on the part of the officers at this port will be required to check illegal importation. We, therefore, humbly crave that your honours will be pleased to order that a boat and hands be allowed for the use of this port, and also to allow two tidewaiters to be placed in such parts of the district as may be judged best calculated to prevent smuggling.
At the port of Saint John our Honors have been pleased as we are informed by the Collector of that Port to allow a boat and two boatmen at 1s 6d per day and two tidewaiters at twenty pounds per annum, and 1s 6d per diem each additional, and we humbly hope that on consideration of the particulars above stated your Honors will be satisfied that the introduction of contraband articles will be attended with as little difficulty into this District as any in His Majesty's Colonies in America, and that you will therefore be pleased to put this Port in respect to boat hands and tidewaiters on the same establishment as at St. John, or on such other as to your Honours may appear best calculated to prevent breaches of the las on Trade and Navigation.
(Signed)
Colin Campbell, John Dunn
The Limits of the Port
The Honorable Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, London
Doubts having arisen respecting the limits of the Free Port established at this Port, we are under the necessity of troubling your Honors, to beg that you will be pleased to point out the extent of it, and in order to enable you to ascertain the boundaries thereof, we have caused a plan of the whole District to be made up, which we have the honor of forwarding herewith.
When a free port was first established at St. Andrews, in June, 1821, the whole District of this Port was a part of and under the superintendence of the Collector and Comptroller of the port of St. John. It was considered by them that the Free Port extended throughout the whole District, but it was soon afterwards confined to the Bason in from of the Town of St. Andrews.
It will appear from the remarks on the Plan that the above-mentioned Bason, which is enclosed by a bar at each end and cannot be entered into by vessels of moderate size excepting at half tide and by large vessels at high water, is very ill calculated to accommodate large vessels coming into the Port even in the Summer Season, and as it freezes in the winter, there will be no Free Port for the accommodation of shipping if it is restricted to the Bason. We therefore most respectfully beg leave to suggest that that part of the Bay of Saint Andrews within Clam Head on Deer Island, thence running along the inside of the Island, until it joins the Mascarene shore as marked by a red line on the plan, would afford ample accommodation for all vessels entering and clearing at the Free Port, but should that be considered by your Honors too extensive, we would humbly propose that the port within the black line should be the boundary in which vessels may ride at anchor in safety, and load and unload without danger or inconvenience—and as it is all very near to, and in view of the Custom House, we with great deference, beg leave to represent that, in our opinion, the bounds last mentioned would be sufficient to accommodate vessels resorting to this Free Port. But should your Honours determine otherwise and you will be pleased to mark the limits of the Free Port on the Plan herewith transmitted and return it to us, we will file it carefully in the Custom House and it will in future remain as a permanent guide to all persons concerned.
We have the honour to be, etc,
Signatured not appended.
A Misunderstanding Arises with the West Isles Officer
Port of Saint Andrews, New Brunswick
June 20th, 1823
The Honorable Commissioners,
We are reluctantly under the necessity of troubling your Honors by submitting to your consideration and decision, a misunderstanding which has arisen between us and Mr. Richard E. Armstrong, a gentleman who before the establishment of this Port acted as pro-collector and Comptroller for West Isles under the superintendence of the Col. And Comp. of the port of Saint John, of which West Isles was then an outport.
On the 20th day of April Mr. Armstrong wrote us a letter a copy of which is marked No. 1 and he delivered to us at the same time a copy of a letter dated the 4th of May, 1822, from the Honorable Board to the Collector and Comp. of the Port of Saint John which is marked No. 2. We then mentioned to him that as he daily expected his Commission from your Honors, we thought it would be best to wait until the arrival of it, to which he appeared to have assented. On the 2nd and 4th of June we received letters from him, copies of which are marked No. 3 and 4 and a copy of an answer, is marked No. 5. On the 14th of June we received another letter to which he replied on the 16th, and have affixed copies Nos. 6 and 7.
We beg leave to remark that Mr. Armstrong had previously cleaned out vessels and granted permits to others, and had asserted, as we are credibly informed, that his office was altogether independent of the officers of this Port, and he on the 22nd of June wrote a letter No. 8 to Warren Hatheway requesting him to give publicity to his appointment, in consequence of which Mr. Hatheway caused an advertisement to be inserted in a newspaper published at Eastport in the United States of America.
Had an officer such as Mr. Armstrong represents himself to be been appointed within this District we are persuaded that your Honors would have been pleased to have given us orders to receive such an officer, and to admit him to the execution of such duties as you were pleased to merit him to exercise within the District, to which we would have paid the most implicit obedience; but as we considered an assumption on the part of Mr. Armstrong to act as pro-collector and Comp. without producing any authority or applying to us for a Deputation to perform the Duties thereof, we conceived ourselves justifiable in resisting his performing that duty until we have the honor of receiving your orders on the subject, but we did not at any time interfere with him in the execution of the duties of Preventive Officer.
As Mr. Armstrong has not thought proper to produce his Commission, and as we have not seen any commissions lately granted by your honours, we are as yet ignorant of the powers which you have vested in the preventive officers at the sub-bays in North America, whether or not they are authorized to act as pro-collectors and Comptrollers without a deputation from the Collectors and Comptrollers within whose District they are appointed and how the Collectors and Comptrollers are responsible for the conduct of such officers.
We have the honor, etc,
(Signed) Colin Campbell, Col.
John Dunn, Comp.
Changes in the Staff
Custom House, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
July 22nd, 1823
The Honorable Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, London
On the 20th instant we received a letter from the President and Commander-in-chief of this Province informing us that on the death of Mr. Parker, Comptroller at the port of St. John, he had appointed Mr. Kelley, the Searcher and Waiter, to the office of Comptroller, had removed Mr. Drury, waiter and searcher at this port to the port of Saint John and had appointed Thomas Murray Hazen to be a waiter and searcher at this port instead of Mr. Drury.
Mr. Hazen arrived here on the 20th, having previously taken the usual Oaths of Office before the president and he has entered upon and is now discharging the duties of Waiter and Searcher at this port.
We have the honor to be, etc,
(No signature)
[Next week we hope to be able to reproduce some further spicy correspondence arising out of the difficulty with the West Isles Officer. This correspondence discloses some interesting historical information relative to the establishment of a Customs port at Campobello.]
The Eastport Land Co. has received plans for a 200-room hotel, which it is expected will be built at Shackford's Head. The plans are drawn by G. A .Schellenger of New York and the house will cost $60,000. It is of modern and handsome design equipped with every convenience and arrangement that is to be found in the leading summer hotels of the most popular resorts. R. H. Stearns, proprietor of Hotel Gerard, New York City, has renewed his offer to invest $5,000 in such a building, and to lease it for a term of ten years at an annual rental equal to 5 percent of the total cost.
A Tramp Printer
He was a tramp printer—as poor as Job's turkey, and as proud and independent as an Indian prince. His breath had about it the perfume of gin and garlic, and his garments savoured of the box car and the barn. All his worldly goods were represented by two weather-worn and sadly wrecked grips, strapped together for the sake of convenience, —pillows by night and companions in arms by day. He looked as if he had floated in with the tide when he struck the Beacon office, but it was soon learned that he had come by rail. At St. Stephen he had ensconced himself in a box car bound to Saint John, but the car was side-tracked at Watt, and he had to hustle out and seek for grub. Somebody let him tackle a wood pile, and by this means he got the cravings of the inner man satisfied and a chance opened up to get to St. Andrews. He made a beeline for the printing office the first thing, and the editor, recognizing in his weather-beaten countenance an old Saint John typo, offered him a chance to lay in a store of provisions. But he wouldn't accept. "I'm as independent as a hog on ice," said he. "I'll work for my grub, or I'll starve. I've been feeding on wind pies and snow pudding for the last six days, and I can get along a day or two longer."
Seeing that he could not be moved, a "stand" was assigned him, and decorated his sun-burned proboscis with a huge pair of spectacles, he went to work. He was coaxed to take a lunch, and finally accepted, by saying it would keep his stomach from rubbing too hard against his backbone. Under the influence of the food and drink he became communicative, and said that after the fire of '77 he left Saint John and struck out for Galveston, Texas. He labored there until he got a little pile together, when he began travelling, and he has been travelling ever since.
He worked the afternoon out, and then having received his wage, hustled off after a store of provender and a "little stimulant." Tuesday morning, he was on the sleepers again with his nose turned in the direction of Saint John.
The Summer Houses
The summer cottages are being taken up very fast. The Smith cottage will be occupied by Charles S. Everett and family, of Saint John. Mrs. Hansard will tenant the Lorimer residence just below. The Tilley dwelling will have the same tenants as last season, Mr. A. R. McDonald, and family, of Montreal. Mr. and Mrs. George R. Hooper, of Montreal, have leased the Grimmer cottage alongside the Algonquin, and it is now being fitted up for them. Mr. R. N. Allen and family, of Boston, who tenanted the elegant summer dwelling alongside the Algonquin, belonging to Mr. Innss, will again occupy it this season.
The Wheelock summer residence is being pushed along rapidly. Plastering began on Monday.
Beacon
April 15/1897
A Little History of the Port of St. Andrews and Its Sub-ports
Gathered from the First Letter Book of the St. Andrews Custom House. The Difficulty with the West Isles officer calls for a long Explanation.
[Despatched by ship Europa, M. Brss, for Bristol]
Custom House
16th Oct. 1823
To the Honorable Commissioners, London
H. Sirs,
By the ship Whitby, on the 23rd July last we transmitted to your Honorable Board copies of a series of correspondence between Mr. Armstrong, the present preventive officer at West Isles, and ourselves, relating on one hand to what he has been pleased to term his supersession by Mr. Dunn and on the other to the assumption of authority by Mr. Armstrong, to which we conceived he was not entitled. This correspondence was accompanied by a representation, setting forth the circumstances as they appeared to us, and particularly requesting the Honorable Board would be pleased to determine whether preventive officers in the out-bays of Free Ports in British America were entitled as officers to act and sign Pro-collector and Comptroller without a deputation from the parties holding these situations; and if so, how far the superior officers were responsible for the acts which under such authority might be done in their names.
A duplicate was despatched by the "Marcator" the 27 August.
On the 20 October we had the honor to receive your letter of the 6th September enclosing a copy of a letter from Mr. Armstrong containing certain charges against us and directing us to reinstate that gentleman as preventive officer forthwith.
Mr. Armstrong having produced his commission as preventive officer it was instantly recognized by us, and although we conclude from the tenor of Your Honorable Board's letter that our despatches before mentioned had not reached your hands, we thought proper to invest Mr. Armstrong with an authority to act pro-Collector and Comptroller at West Isles, reserving the point of right on his part for further discussion, when the orders of your Honorable Board should be received.
We now enclose a triplicate of our despatch before mentioned, to which we respectfully beg leave to call your attention.
The charges preferred by Mr. Armstrong are now before us, and we are directed by your Honorable Board to explain all the circumstances attendant thereon.
The charges are three—first, what has been termed by Mr. Armstrong his "supersession by Mr. Dunn;" secondly, the affair of a certain vessel from Newfoundland said to have been seized by us, and thirdly, the removal of the Custom House to Campobello.
The circumstances out of which the 1st charge arises will be explained by Mr. Dunn in a separate letter, the affair having taken place previous to the arrival of the Collector, but as the sweeping terms of Mr. Armstrong involve all parties, it is necessary we should also reply to them collectively.
Previous to the erection of St. Andrews into a Free Port, it ranked in common with others as an outbay of St. John, from whence it is distant about 75 miles. Mr. Dunn acted as Preventive Officer under your Honorable Board and for the Collector and Comptroller at Saint John under their special deputation. Mr. Armstrong at West Isles acted Pro Col. and Compt. under the authority of the officers at St. John.
When Saint Andrews was separated from Saint John it was rendered wholly independent of that port, and the authority of the officers there with respect to St. Andrews and its out-bays (of which West Isles was one, not being more than 15 miles distant), fell to the ground, and with it Mr. Armstrong's deputation to act for them. He never to our knowledge held any commission or authority from your Honorable Board, and certainly none whatever from the officers of this port. He, therefore, cannot fairly complain of being dispossessed by them.
It was the Act of the legislature not of the officers of this port, that destroyed his authority, yet Mr. Armstrong insists he was deprived by us. How a man can be deprived of what he never possessed we cannot comprehend.
The appointment of a gentleman to act Pro-Col. and Comp. by Mr. Dunn, will as we have before said, be explained by him in his separate letter and we trust that letter together with what we have here advanced, will prove satisfactory to your Honorable Board.
The second charge relates to the "Maria," Grundy, from Newfoundland.
The brig "Maria," Grundy, with a cargo of salt, coals and seal skins, cleared out at St. Johns, Newfoundland, for St. Andrews direct. She was consigned to a foreign subject residing at Lubeck, immediately opposite and contiguous to West Isles. Upon her arrival at the latter place, notwithstanding her papers shewed she had cleared out for St. Andrews direct, Mr. Armstrong thought proper to enter her, and to give his authority for the discharge of her cargo. The greater part of it, as we were expressly informed by the master, was accordingly discharged, not upon British territory, but to a ship lying in American waters, or to Boards for the purpose of being conveyed to the American shore. We were ignorant of the fact until a remedy was beyond our power. It remains for Mr. Armstrong to justify the proceeding. The cargo having thus been got rid of, in the stead of giving the vessel a coasting clearance for this place, which Mr. Armstrong might have done had her proceedings been regular, and had he been in possession of an authority, which he was not, Mr. Armstrong gave her permission to proceed to Magaguadawicke, [sic] a small out-bay close to us and within our sight, there to take in a cargo. She accordingly proceeded thither and took in a cargo of lumber and American produce, which latter can only be imported here, and upon the importation of which a provincial duty is laid. Having done this, she proceeded to West isles to clear out. The Provincial revenue cutter fell in with her, and finding she had a cargo laden here consisting as aforesaid of lumber and American produce, the importation of which can only be legally certified from a Free Port, that for this cargo she had no certificate nor authority from us, that she had not reported it here, and that she was without a Register (Mr. Armstrong having kept all her papers) - detained her. After some discussion, Mr. Armstrong gave up her papers, and as upon enquiry it appeared the foreign produce had been legally imported and the duties paid, the necessary certificates were furnished by us (which we may observe Mr. Armstrong could not furnish since the produce must have been imported here) and the vessel was cleared by us, in our humble opinion, according to law. Such are the facts. How does the matter stand in Mr. Armstrong's statement: He broadly affirms we detained the vessel and produced a long train of disastrous consequence to her owners, merely because she had entered at West Isles. Now Mr. Armstrong must have known this was not the case. She was detained for the reason we have stated not because she had entered at West Isles. We may add, further that had the vessel come here, her inward cargo would have been legally disposed of. She would have had the same facilities in taking in a cargo at Magaguadawike, and her port charges would not have been increased one shilling.
The 3rd charge relates to the removal of the Custom House to Campobello. This act was not done unadvisedly nor in carrying it into execution did we descend so low as Mr. Armstrong intimates. We had not reference to the amount of our fees. We were solely actuated by a desire to facilitate by every means in our power the commercial community by restoring the Custom House to a spot the safest and most favorable for the transaction of official business. It will be seen from Mr. Dunn's letter, that the Custom House was established at Campobello for many years previous to the War, and was only first removed in consequence of that event. When the cause ceased to operate the old order of things were restored, and we cast from us with some share of indignation the motive imputed to us by Mr. Armstrong.
We respectfully beg to enclose an account of all vessels that either laded or discharged any cargoes at West Isles from the 5th January last, in conformity with your orders, and beg leave to observe that the officer stationed at West Isles can only be entitled to a share of the inward fees upon such foreign vessels as entered there, all the said vessels having laden here with lumber and American produce, which latter by law can only be exported and cleared from some Free Port.
As we shall have occasion to address your Honorable Board, in consequence of certain new claims preferred by Mr. Armstrong, and on other matters connected with the duty at West Isles, an opportunity will be afforded to your Honorable Board into possession of the real extent, situation and capability of that place, to which in our humble opinion a degree of importance has been attached by Mr. Armstrong to which it is not entitled, and we hope to be able to convince your Honorable Board that the removal of the office to Campobello was an act calculated to facilitate and promote the trade of this Province, by relieving those resorting to West Isles from the necessity of exposing their lives and property in vain endeavours to approach the rock upon which Mr. Armstrong has thought proper to erect his home.
We have the honor to be with the greatest respect, Honorable Sirs,
Your Most obedient Servants,
Colin Campbell, Collector
John Dunn, Comptroller
To the Commissioners, etc., London
This long epistle by no means settled the difficulty with Mr. Armstrong, for on the 20th December, 1823, a still longer letter with regard to Mr. Armstrong's "assumption of authority" was sent to "The Honorable the Commissioners." Mr. Armstrong wanted vessels bound into the port of St. Andrews to enter and clear at West Isles, his plea being "that vessels would incur much trouble, risk, expense and loss of time, if they were compelled to clear out here (at St. Andrews)." Answering some other pretensions put forward by him the St. Andrews officers remark:
"As to articles of export, the whole of the West Isles does not afford a single article of export except a few fish. . . . The fact is there are not more than three or four persons in the whole district with very limited capital indeed who are engaged in trade or shipping, and we are credibly informed all of them are connected more or less with American merchants and Lübeck and Eastport. . . . It will, therefore, appear plain to your Honorable Board (and a fact well known to us) that vessels taking in their cargoes here, have no other object in going to West Isles, previous to clearing, than that of smuggling on board contraband articles, such as tea, slats, provisions, manufactured tobacco, soap, candles, etc., all of which can be supplied at Eastport and Lubeck 25 percent cheaper that when legally imported here from the mother country, as in corroboration of this we may state the fact that scarcely a single instance has occurred of any of the parties at West Isles having paid any duty under the 3rd Geo. 4 on flour, bread, etc., or of their having imported any tea, salt, provisions, etc.
We beg leave to say (referring to the location of Mr. Armstrong's house) that in our opinion the site in question is of all other places the most unfit for the purpose being that called Thrum Cap Island. It is nearly surrounded by narrows and ledges, through which the eddies and violence of the tide are such as sufficiently deters at certain periods the approaching of any small craft, and there is no safe anchorage near it. Upon the other hand and upon the same authority, we beg to state that at Campobello, none of these difficulties exist. There is abundance of room of clear beach with good anchorage and a bay in which vessels may ride in safety, in addition to which there is in several places especially the Burial Ground, where the Custom House was formerly kept, a scope of coast in view far greater that can be had elsewhere."
Under date of April 15, 1824, it is noted that Mr. R. E. Armstrong vacated his position at West Isles, and Cavalier Hamilton Jouet was appointed in his stead. But this did not end the trouble with the West Isles office, as subsequent references abundantly show.
Competition between B and A and CPR for Aroostook produce becoming more keen.
A scheme to put a lien of fast steamers on the Atlantic between Milford Haven and Muford? In Cape Breton, which would cross the ocean in four days, has been submitted to the Government by an English syndicate. Assuming the British government mail service grant to be $250,000, and the British admiralty grant to be $125,000, the Milford Haven syndicate are prepared to furnish this fast service for a Canadian subsidy of 350,000 a year instead of the Canadian subsidy of $750,000, which has already been voted by parliament.
The Algonquin Hotel Company has a representative in Philadelphia in the person of Mr. Charles A. Wood, one of the managers, who is busy booking guests for the approaching season.
Among the hotels. (This column began running the previous summer)
The hotel column which appears on the first page of the Beacon this week has received two additions, that of the Inch Arran hotel at Dalhousie, and the Carlisle Hotel, Woodstock.
Dalhousie is one of the most beautiful spots in Canada, with a stretch of bathing beach unequalled in the country. Its patrons,—and they are increasing every year—declare it an ideal summer retreat. The Inch-Arran will open June 15.
The Carlisle hotel, Woodstock, is open the whole year round. Under the management of Mr. Tabor, the hotel has become one of the finest in the province. Located in the very heart of the "garden of New Brunswick," Woodstock possessed many charms as a summer resort.
On the inside page of the paper will be found the advertisement of the Marathon House, Grand Manan. More on this hotel later.
Beacon
April 29, 1897
The members of the Andraeleo Club gave a highly successful performance in St. George on Friday evening last, the proceeds amounting to $50. At the close of the programme the members of the St. Andrews Club were entertained by the St. George gymnastic club. The visitors were delighted with the treatment accorded them.
Work is progressing very favorably upon Mr. Wheelock's summer cottage and its connections. The masons are now plastering the interior and in a few days this work will be finished. A large barn has been erected alongside. Another prominent feature is a windmill pump. The mill has been placed in position by W. H. Donovan, of St. Stephen. He has made an excellent job.
The CPR a few days ago purchased the and Milltown Railroad, known as the Loop line. This would, it was thought by many, be used by the Shore Line as the connecting link when the line in Maine is completed. The purchase of the property by the CPR is significant and may mean that they will eventually secure not only the line in Maine but also the Shore Line to St. Stephen. —Globe.
beacon
May 6/1897
Writers in newspapers all over the province are pleading for better roads. The new Highway Act which goes into force this spring, is designed to meet this long-felt want. The government is taking every means to have the new law complied with. It would be well for critics to withhold their criticisms until the act has been thoroughly tested.
Beacon
May 13, 1897
Escaped from Jail
Robert Pye Opens Bolts and Bars and Secures His Freedom. But is Captured within Sight of his Prison Walls. An Ingenious Prisoner
One of the most ingenious and successful attempts at jailbreaking ever made by a prisoner was carried out by Robert Pye, a prisoner in St. Andrews jail on Saturday afternoon last. By means of some keys and other instruments of his own making, Pye opened the bolts and bars of three massive doors which restrained him, and then having obtained an entrance to the office of the jail, he leaped out of the open window and in a trice was breathing the free air of heaven. Unfortunately for his plans, though the jailer and his wife were both absent at the time, the prisoner's departure was noticed by a little girl, the adopted daughter of the jailer. She gave the alarm, which resulted five minutes later in the recapture and return of this prisoner.
To aid him in his escape, Pye had blackened his features. This deception proved so successful that although the jailer noticed the man on the street, he did not recognize him as the prisoner until the little girl told him. To Jailer Kendrick Pye said that he had been planning his escape all winter. He expressed regret that all his ingenuity and labor have been thrown away.
In order to gain an entrance into the hallway of the jail, the prisoner had to open three doors. The first one was of latticed iron, which was fastened on the outside by a padlock four pounds in weight. The key to open the lock was of peculiar construction, but the prisoner, after several attempts, succeeded in making a hardwood key the exact counterpart of the original. After opening this door, he encountered a wooden door with a steel face, which is secured with a huge bolt outside a few inches from the floor. The only opening in this door is in the middle. It is about two inches square. Through this small aperture, he dropped out a wire which pulled the link of the bolt up in shooting the bolt. Door No. 3 was of iron bars fastened with a lock. This door he unfastened with a key which he had constructed out of the blade of a knife. To obtain an impression of this lock while the other doors were fastened, he had to reach out through the openings in the two doors a distance of about three feet using the handle of a white-wash brush. Sheriff Stuart had no idea that man's ingenuity could secure an opening through three massive doors, but this opinion on that subject has considerably altered since Saturday.
Beacon
May 20/1897
Among the Hotels
Best hotels in province: St. Andrews—Algonquin and Kennedy's; Chamcook, Townsend Cottage; Grand Manan, Marathon House; St. Stephen, Windsor Hotel; Woodstock, Carlisle Hotel; Fred, Queen Hotel; Saint John, Royal Hotel, Dufferin Hotel.
The "mountain retreat" at Chamcook, advertised by Mr. and Mrs. Hans Johnson, is one of the loveliest spots in the world. Behind it, Chamcook Mountain rears its lofty crest, commanding an unexampled view of bay, and river, lake and forest. In front, Passamaquoddy bay is spread before the eye with all its wealth of island and headland, while at its elbow, Chamcook lake, the abiding place of millions of trout and salmon, nestles in the bosom of the eternal hills. It is an ideal summer retreat.
CPR getting ready for summer season. "New sleepers are being laid along nearly the whole of the St. Andrews branch. A new platform has been erected at the station here, and the station building improved inside."
Beacon
May 27/1897
The fast Atlantic line is an accomplished fact. A cablegram has been received by the government stating that the contract for the fast Atlantic service signed with Petersen, Tayte and Co., of Newcastle, had been accepted by the Imperial authorities who agree to grant a subsidy of $250,000 a year. The contract was only awaiting the confirmation of the Imperial government and the admiralty subvention. This being now granted the firms will at once proceed to build the fleet. The Montreal Star's Ottawa special states that next month will see the fast Atlantic service instituted with temporary ships.
New Brunswick as a Playground for the Tourist
General ad promoting New Brunswick tourism. "St. Andrews . . . besides claiming first place for scenic attractions and historic associations, has also won a continental reputation through its immunity from hay fever, and other malarial diseases."
Among the Hotels—piece on Eastport hostelries
Beacon
June 3/1897
The Fast Line
Sir Richard Cartwright laid the terms of the Fast Line contract on the table of the house just before adjournment on Friday. Four steamers of 10,000 tons register, and cargo capacity of 1,5000 to 2,000 tons are to be provided; two by May 31, 1899, and the other two by May 1st, 1900. They are to sail between Liverpool and Quebec and Montreal in summer; and the contractors have the option of choosing between Halifax or Saint John in winter, making their choice between the date for the commencement of the service, namely, May 31, 1899. At this date they are to put on two steamers and give a fortnightly service and a weekly service from 1st May 1900. The vessels are to be 527 feet and have a speed of 500 knots a day, or 21 knots an hour, and are to be in every respect equal to the best Atlantic steamers, such as the Lucania or Campania. At least 500 tons cargo capacity must be provided with cold storage. The draught when loaded for sea is to be 25.6. They are to have a capacity for 300 first, 200 second, and 800 steerage passengers; teerage passengers to be carried at a rate of not more than $15 a head. The contractors are to provide a fast tender, constructed like a torpedo boat, to meet the steamers on approach to Canadian ports and act a pilot. The steamers are prohibited from calling at any foreign port or taking another subsidy from any foreign country or municipality This prevents the steamers from going to Portland or elsewhere and is a very important clause.
The subsidy is to be 154,500 pounds from Canada and 41,500 pounds a year from the Imperial government. The penalty for not being ready to sail on the day named is 500 pounds a day for each subsequent day's delay. The company is to deposit 20,000 pounds of which 10,00 pounds is to be cash which they forfeit if not ready to begin service on May 31, 1899, and weekly on May 1, 1900. No discriminating rates are to be charged against Canadian railway route.
The contract covers the usual conveyance of mails. Sir Richard Cartwright gives notice of a resolution ratifying this contract.
The Pendlebury cottage at the lighthouse will be occupied by Mr. Merritt's family from Houlton this season.
At the cottages.
Our cottage population will consist principally of the following families this season: Risford, Emory Hoar of Brookline, Mass. Innes cottage—Mrs. Roger Allen and family, of Boston. Gardiner cottage—Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gardiner, of Boston. Algonquin cottage—Mr. Day and family, of Morristown, NJ. Grimmer cottage—Mr. and Mrs. Hooper, of Montreal. Tilley cottage—Mrs. and Mrs. A. R. MacDonald and family, of Montreal. Lorimer cottage—Mrs. Hansard and the Misses Hansard, of Boston. Smith cottage—Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Everett and family, of Saint John. Robinson cottage—Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglass Hazen of Saint John. Howard cottage—Mrs. Henry Todd and Mrs. McNichol, of St. Stephen. Hartt cottage—Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Hartt and family of Tallahassee, Florida. Pendlebury cottage—Mr. Merritt and family, Houlton, Maine. "Casa Rossa," (Parker cottage)—Donald McMaster, Q.C., and family, Montreal. Covenhoven, Horne. (
Beacon
June 10/1897
CPR stock continues to boom as a result of improved business conditions in Canada. A Montreal despatch says that last week's statement shows an increase of $74,000 over the same week last year. [recession over]
A gang of men are at work at the Steen Lake black granite quarry. The proprietor has some good orders for the stone on-hand.
Wharf Improvements
Mr. DeWolfe, who has been in correspondence with the CPR with regard to the possibilities of trade over his wharf, has received sufficient assurance to justify him in preparing for the extension of the railway track thereto. He has begun to fill in between his wharf and the point on the steamer roadway at which the track will leave the railway grounds. It is expected that within a month rails will be laid.
It is to be hoped that Mr. DeWolfe's enterprise in this matter will meet with its due reward.
It is probable that during this summer a large quantity of coal and other commodities will be landed or shipped from here.
An iron sewer pipe is being laid down on the beach by the Hotel Company in place of the wooden pipe now there. A trap is also being constructed near the hotel to prevent objectionable mater from being carried onto the beach.
Says the Boston correspondent of the Saint John Sun: "It is said that St. Andrews will be thickly populated by Americans during the coming season, and that the summer business will be more lively than ever. A number of local golf enthusiasts are making arrangements to play a few matches here."
Summer Cottages
The handsome summer cottage of T. R. Wheelock, of Boston, should have appeared in last weeks' list of cottages that will be tenanted this season. This dwelling has just been completed and is one of the prettiest and most commodious in town, commanding a splendid outlook of Passamaquoddy Bay. The interior appointments are very comfortable. A large well, situated alongside the house, provides the water therefore. The water is raised by means of a "Dandy" windmill. It is as dandy as its name. A large barn is located alongside the house. The buildings were erected by the well-known contractors, Messrs., Stevenson and McKenzie. They have made a splendid job. W. A Donovan erected the windmill and performed all the plumbing. A. A. Laflin and his workmen did what painting was necessary. The cottage is now ready for occupation. The town authorities have graded the roadway in front of the cottage, so that the surroundings harmonize very prettily.
The Townsend cottage at Chamcook Mountain promises to be a very popular resort. Ms. Thomas Williams and family, of Moncton, will spend a portion of the summer there, and others are negotiating for rooms.
Algonquin anticipates record season—as usual. Engineer Smith to lay pipes for anew fresh water supply for laundry.
Beacon
June 17/1897
Sir William Van Horne made a hurried visit to his summer cottage at St. Andrews on Saturday, accompanied by Supt. Timmerman and H. H. McLean. The party spent an hour here and then took their departure by special.
Commencing July 2, the CPR will run a sleeping car for St. Andrews, leaving Montreal, from Windsor Station, every Friday at 7:50 pm. Returning, it will leave St. Andrews very Monday. The service will be again discontinued after Sept. 6.
The Algonquin Hotel managers will reach St. Andrews on Tuesday next
The scrap iron which has been accumulating around the St. Andrews foundry from time immemorial, is being shipped to Saint John. It is said that the administrators of the estate of the late M. McMonagle will close up the foundry.
Jubilee Celebrations in the colonies. Victoria's sixtieth Anniversary.
Beacon
July 1/1897
All Ready for Rails
The necessary filling to connect the DeWolfe pier with the railway tract has been completed, and all that is now necessary is the laying of rails. In order to enable the rails to be laid to the lower extremity of the wharf, the freight and coal sheds will be moved from their present position.
Since Sir Donald Smith was created Lord Glencoe, St. Andrews can boast of the proud distinction of having a real live lord on its list of taxpayers. There are few communities so well fixed for titles as we are here.
Mr. Wood, the junior member of Harvey and Wood, will likely be the residential manager of the Algonquin this year.