Item
Standard
Jan 16/1867
Criticism of attack on St. Andrews as "dead place." Praise for beauty and esp. business, esp. railway potential. .
In our last issue we pointed out briefly, the advantages which this Port possessed for shipbuilding, and also referred to its favorable position for prosecuting the Deep-Sea Fishery, and in this day and number, state some of the groundless objections made by interested parties against our Town and glance at its situation and prospects. Anyone who has travelled through the Province and mingled much in society must frequently have heard remarks about St. Andrews of a character not very complimentary. It has been described as a "finished town," "was finished twenty years ago," "the dullest place in the world," and "the last place that a man would care about investing his money in." Such statements have been repeated again and again with such pertinacity by persons whose interests lay in other directions, that many of our own people have gone abroad to seek what they supposed could not be obtained at home. That such assertions are utterly groundless any one at all acquainted with this place, will readily perceive, and we embrace this opportunity of disabusing the public mind of all such groundless opinions. As far as situation is concerned, St. Andrews is one of the most beautiful places in the Province. Built upon a gently sloping hill, washed upon the one side by the waters of the St. Croix, and on the other by the Passamaquoddy Bay, it presents a pleasing appearance. Approached from the country, we have one of the most beautiful prospects possible; at our feet lies the Town with its churches, schools, business establishments, and pretty suburban residences; across the river lie the possessions of Uncle Sam, and before us studding the Bay, Deer Island, with an increasing and enterprising population, while away to the east are the flourishing villages of St. George, L'Etang, etc. Of all places with which we are acquainted where persons are desirous of finding a healthful and pleasant place of residence, with the combined advantages of town and country, we know of none that compare with St. Andrews. But it is as a business place that we would especially speak just now. Its harbor is open all the year round, which gives it a decided advantage of St. Stephen, Calais, and other places on the St. Croix. The New Brunswick Railway brings it into direct communication with some of the richest parts of the Province, and when the Houlton branch is completed, will throw open to us the trade of Aroostook country. Sooner or later we must and will have railway communication with Canada, when the trade of the great West, seeking the nearest outlets to the ocean, will increase the importance of this Port a thousand-fold. Once confederated, and the Intercolonial built, either by the central or southern route, St. Andrews will at once take her proper position as one of the principal seaports of the Confederacy, and second only to Saint John. Property will immediately rise in value, and the holders of it will suddenly find themselves wealthy. A few may smile at us now, but the day is coming, when these changes will be realized. Some are of the opinion that the business heretofore done here will be diverted to St. Stephen, and that the first sound of the whistle upon that branch railway, will be the death knell of the trade of this town. We do not happen to think so; we are not jealous of St. Stephen, but rejoice in her prosperity, and hope her star will never decline; but nature has decreed that she can never supplant St. Andrews.
It must be confessed that there was a time when very little business was done here, but happily things have taken a decided turn for the better. According to returns recently published in our columns, our Railway receipts are steadily increasing, the duties collected at our Port are largely in excess of former years, our citizens are improving in their circumstances, a large number of vessels are owned here, and our traders are doing a good and profitable business. But while there are evident signs of improvement, much, very much more may be accomplished, if our businessmen will only fully realize the importance of the hours. We are about entering upon a new era in colonial history, and a brilliant future is opening up before us; and with our many facilities, much of prosperity can be claimed by us. To those who have a dollar to spare, we would say spend it in public improvement—invest it in something that will increase the importance of the town. Push forward the Deep-Sea Wharf scheme, sink minor differences as to place or site, but build it somewhere, and at once.
Could not an effort be made to obtain the provincial Dredging machine to improve the state of the entrance to the inner harbor? Cannot something be done to promote direct steam communication with Saint John? Would not a steamer plying tri-weekly between this place and Saint John bring a great deal of the Saint John upcountry trade through this town, and would not the enterprise pay? And if it would, could not such a scheme be carried through? We should not let the trade of the country be in the hands of the Americans or an American boat do our work.
We have often wondered why some enterprising man of means did not go into the West India trade. Here are some twenty small traders all buying the goods in St. Stephen or Saint John; and if merchants in those places with higher rents to pay, and longer voyages to make, can afford to sell to our traders at such a rate that they can make a profit on what they retail, surely, a wholesale dealer here, where taxes are light, rents low, and other expenses moderate, could do better, with the retailer, and yet make a larger profit, than the merchants of Saint John or St. Stephen can.
We have said enough for the present, but may resume the subject at some other time, trusting that our suggestions may be acted upon without delay.
Andrew Wetmore 1867-70
Premier of New Brunswick
Confederation Party 1867
Standard
Jan 23/1867
Need for decent Town Hall, 60 x 50 feet or so. Details and implied inconveniences of present setup.
Standard
Jan 30/1867
Need a bank. "Having no bank we have no paper currency, and our merchants buying in paper, and selling for silver, are the losers."
It looks like, on average, St. Andrews receives two or three ships per day.
Standard
April 17/1867
"Immorality of the most startling description is said to be spreading by means of an organized secret society throughout the United States." No details—nothing. What was it? Nothing ever mentioned again, as far as I could see.
Standard
May 8/1867
The Market Wharf is now lighted at night by three new lamps, of modern pattern, in which Albertine oil is used, which gives a clear, bright light, illuminating the whole square and wharf. The lower lamp on the western and southern sides has red stained glass, and serves as a guide to vessels approaching the harbour."
Among other improvements we may mention that the new Steamboat Wharf at Indian
Point is rapidly approaching completion. It is being built in a most substantial manner, of heavy logs, thoroughly fastened, and will last for ages. . . . We understand that a track will be laid from the railway to the end of the wharf, which will be adapted either for horse or steam power. It is said that an omnibus will run to connect with the steamer for the accommodation of passengers.
The Railroad Hotel has been transferred by Capt. Pheasant, who retires from business to Mr. Clark, who informs us that he is prepared to keep the house in such a style as will command success. We learn that persons from Canada and Fredericton have already engaged rooms for the summer in the establishment. Mr. Clark's card will appear in our next issue.
Standard
May 15/1867
Railroad Hotel
Water Street, Market Square
St. Andrews
The subscriber having leased the above Hotel, and thoroughly refitted it, is now prepared to accommodate Permanent and Transient Boarders. Every attention will be paid to secure their comfort. The tables will be supplied with the best the market affords. The rooms are spacious and airy. N. B. Livery Stable in connection.
Michael Clark,
Proprietor
Successor to Edward Pheasant
St. Andrews, May 13, 1867
Standard
May 22/1867
New Wesleyan Church to be dedicated next Sat.
Sir Charles Stanley Monck, 4th Viscount Monck
Governor of British North America (1861 - 1867) and Governor General after Confederation (1867 - 1868)
Appointed Canada's first Governor General: June 1, 1867
Sworn In: July 1, 1867, Ottawa, Ontario
Born: October 10, 1819, Templemore, Ireland
Died: November 29, 1894
Standard
June 5/1867
Uncertainty over funding for Western Extension and its benefit to Saint John, given Intercolonial will connect there. Smith takes exception to these doubts of Hazen's—of course.
Standard
June 19/1867
Ad for US Circus and Menagerie. .
Port thriving. 26 vessels in last week—ships, barques, brigs and schooners.
Act to incorporate Deep Sea Wharf Company and to build a railway from wharf to
New Brunswick Railway has passed Legislature and received GG's approval.
Standard
June 26/1867
1st Standard of July new holiday.
The proposed section of the IC connecting Woodstock to Rivière du Loup is known colloquially as the Frontier Line. This line plus New Brunswick Railway and Western Extension to Saint John would be an alternative to the IC. Other alternatives are along the Saint John River—the Central Route, favoured by Halifax "from interested motives," and the North Shore route, which two-thirds oppose. July 17/1867
MACDONALD, John Alexander
Prime Minister of Canada
Liberal-Conservative 1867.07.01 - 1873.11.05
LG: Major General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle (1804-1883) Born in England. Appointed 1 July 1867 at age 63 until 18 October 1867.
Standard
July 24/1867
New Brunswick Railway continues to show profit—up almost 7,000 over last six months over previous year.
Standard
Aug 7/1867
Description by "tourist" from States of St. Andrews' economic potential, and exhortation for Americans to buy land here while it is still cheap. .
We copy the following from an American paper, and although we cannot agree in all particulars with the "Tourist," yet we give the principal passages of interest in his letter, and have no objection to his friends following the advice tendered in the last paragraph.
The Dominion of Canada being established, the Canadians if they are the quick-sighted and enterprising people we believe them to be, will soon become aware of the advantages to be derived from the Seaports they have become possessed of on the north-western coast of the Bay of Fundy, two of which, Saint John and St. Andrews, and possibly more, are NEVER CLOSED BY ICE. They will not be slow in discovering the benefits which will accrue from forming DEPOTS and establishing agencies for the sale of their great staple produce and manufactures; and as the most desirable part of that coast is not very extensive, it being little over fifty miles from Saint John to St. Andrews, they will select such ports as afford the greatest facilities for communication with the interior, and especially where they can most easily and cheaply obtain wharves, stores, houses and land, etc.
Now, without detracting from the numerous advantages which the commercial capital of the province, Saint John, will afford, when connected by railway, etc., we would venture to assert that St. Andrews has very many and great claims for their consideration, as a central business port, which MUST EVENTUALLY PREVAIL.
In the first place, it is already the ocean terminus of a Railroad extending into the interior towards Quebec, ninety miles, the head of which road can be united with the present Grand Trunk Line, about eighty miles below Quebec, by a line only two hundred and eight miles in extent, as estimated by a survey made.
The town of St. Andrews is beautifully laid out on the almost level end of an undulating tract of land, similar in extent to that on which New York is built, bounded on the west by the deep and broad river St. Croix and on the south and east by the inner
Bay of Passamaquoddy, which forms its outer harbour, of about equal extent to that of the latter city, completely protected from winds, waves and fogs of the Bay of Fundy, by a double range of large Islands, convenient for fishing trade, and abounding in valuable copper ore, leaving four entrances to the Harbor, two of which are large enough for ships of any size, the main passage being two miles wide, and of great depth. Often during the summer, when a strong southerly breeze and thick fog prevail outside, the inner bay and St. Andrews experience sunshine and comparative calm.
St. Andrews has an inner Harbor, about a mile by half-a-mile in extent, formed by an island approaching the mainland at each extremity, which Harbor is capable, for a moderate sum of being made an excellent Dock. In this Harbor all the small craft are now loaded, and even vessels of eight hundred and a thousand tons; were it converted into a Dock, ships of any size could be loaded, afloat at the wharves. But there are abundant facilities for building wharves into the out Harbor and river, where ships of war, of nearly four thousand tons have lately swung at anchor close to the shore, during heavy gales, without danger.
as the river St. Croix, a short distance above the parish line, contracts into a small tidal river or rather creek, four or five miles in extent, almost dry at low water, and closed up by ice in winter, there can be no fear of any other town in the neighborhood eventually interfering with St. Andrews as a seaport, although possibly possessing many other equal advantages.
St. Andrews is universally allowed to possess the most healthy and agreeable climate in the province of New Brunswick; it is within about three hours and a half steaming by boat direct from Saint John, and fourteen hours from Portland, Maine. It is the capital of a large and populous county, and from the hills in its rear may be seen the several towns, St. Stephen, SG, St. David, Calais, Eastport, Lubec, Robbinston, Welshpool, and numerous other settlements and villages. The coast of Nova Scotia around Digby, and the distant Atlantic, bound the sea view.
Owing to the want of capital, want of unanimity and enterprise in the inhabitants, arising from causes which we Americans cannot understand, and with which we have no business, real and leasehold property can now be obtained at St. Andrews for a very moderate price. Let us go ahead Yankees and be first in the field, and secure what will very shortly be of inestimable value to our northern friends, and handsome profits may be realized.
Railroad Hotel ad does not appear in this issue.
Standard
Aug 21/1867
Bridge's omnibus now runs daily in connection with Steamer and Railway and is said by travellers to be a great convenience. (This would be C. C. Bridges. See below)
Standard
Aug 28/1867
To show how completely iron steamboats are superseding wooden ones, it may be mentioned that only forty of the latter were built in England last year, while 283 iron steam vessels were built.
Railroad Hotel ad reappears.
Standard
Oct 16/1867
Tomatoes said to have been introduced as food in Canada in Astor House, 1830. Now raised "in almost every garden."
Standard
Oct 30/1867
Captain Osburn's battery underwent inspection on Thursday last by the Adjutant General and Major Jago. The Company went through the exercise with precision, the men acquitting themselves well.
The last excursion for the season by railway from Woodstock Road Station to St. Stephen, will take place on the 6th of November.
28th of November appointed National Day of Thanksgiving in US.
Shipping ice internationally would be a good business for St. Andrews. Boston shipping ice to India.
Standard
Nov 6/1867
Description of consecration of All Saints Church, and of Church itself. Plans furnished and construction superintended by Henry Osburn of New Brunswick Railway. Made of native New Brunswick spruce and pine.
(Over these years since 1864, there has been no mention of a summer tourist business, if you except the travellers from Canada who have booked in advance into the Railroad Hotel—so there was some business, but it is not mentioned more than this once, and hardly more than in passing. There is more mention of local excursions from Woodstock and St. Stephen. Day trippers.)
Standard
Nov 13/1867
32 Ponders mounted at Tipperary. "When a salute is fired from them, it will be heard by the adjoining towns, east and west. Now for a flag!" The town is too poor to afford a proper flag without petitioning the taxpayers to chip in for one. This comes out later.
Standard
Nov 27/1867
We notice that B. R. Stevenson , Esq., M. P. P., has erected the frame of a large building on Water Street adjoining the property of Jas. Boyd, Esq., which will be boarded in this week; it is intended, we believe, for a store and office, the upper part to be finished for a large public hall, and from its central location will be well adapted for the purpose.
[this must be Stevenson 's Hall; check out Jas. Boyd]
Mr. Angus Kennedy is remodeling the house and store near the Railway Station, which will be entirely new with the exception of the outside. The arrangements of the Store and private rooms are such as to reflect credit upon the master workman, Mr. Ben Johnson. The contiguity of the building to the Railway and Steamboat landing, will adapt the house as a good place of business, and when the warehouse in the rear is finished will afford room for storage of goods, etc.
Charles Dickens has checked into a Boston Hotel. Prefers not to have his attention distracted from his business of reading. Low profile.
Standard
Dec 25/1867
Since first publication of Standard in 1833, 8 papers have sprung up in Charlotte
County:
Herald, J. Stubs
Mechanic and Farmer, J. Laskey
Courant, C. Campbell
Advocate, J. G. Lorimer
Patriot, J. G. Lorimer
St. Croix Herald, J. S. Hay
(all above St. Stephen)
Charlotte Gazette, J. MacLaughlin
Provincialist, Patrick Clinch
(above St. Andrews)
Until publication of SC Courier, Standard only one left.