Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 15 January 1859, CO 60:4, no. 2737, 62.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Douglas outlines the importance of establishing lighthouses in strategic places along Vancouver Island. He recommends Race Rocks and Esquimalt Harbour as the most important locations to start with. Douglas seeks financial aid in building these lighthouses.
The minutes decide to forward the request to the Board of Trade and wait for their reply.
No. 76
I beg you will allow me to solicit your earnest attention to a
subject which is of the highest importance to the progress and prosperity
of the Colonies of Vancouver's Island and British Columbia.
2. I allude to the necessity which
which exists for the early
construction of Light Houses upon some of the salient points
of the approaches to the Harbours and Anchorages of these Colonies.
which exists for the early
construction of Light Houses upon some of the salient points
of the approaches to the Harbours and Anchorages of these Colonies.
3. At the present moment, however, I will only mention
two positions which are of the first importance, and which
the experience of every succeeding day renders more and more
evident should be properly lighted at the earliest possible period.
4. The first of these is the Race Rocks, situated in the
Strait of Fuca, between 2 and 3 miles from the main land of
Vancouver's Island, and about 12 miles from the Harbour of
Esquimalt. These
These Rocks or Rocky Islets may be viewed as the
turning point in the Strait for Ships bound to Vancouver's
Island, or to the Gulf of Georgia. They form a most dangerous
cluster, and the making them out is not only an object
anxiously sought, but it is one of essential help in the
determination of position. They are mostly above water, and
the largest of them would be found an admirable situation
for placing a Light House. It has some considerable elevation
above high water mark, and the materials for building can be
found in abundance close to the spot. The Light at this position
should be one of the first
first order.
These Rocks or Rocky Islets may be viewed as the
turning point in the Strait for Ships bound to Vancouver's
Island, or to the Gulf of Georgia. They form a most dangerous
cluster, and the making them out is not only an object
anxiously sought, but it is one of essential help in the
determination of position. They are mostly above water, and
the largest of them would be found an admirable situation
for placing a Light House. It has some considerable elevation
above high water mark, and the materials for building can be
found in abundance close to the spot. The Light at this position
should be one of the first
first order.
5. The next spot upon which I would urge the
establishment of a Light House is the Fisgard Rocks at the
entrance of Esquimalt Harbour; a harbour whose growing
importance can scarely be overestimated. It is capacious and
secure. Her Majesty's Ships always resort to it; the Admiralty
and Military Buildings are also there, and it is the Harbour
to which all Vessels of large size must come, and consequently
it must be the great Depot of the Ocean Traffic. The entrance
being narrow, the back ground composed of high hills exhibiting
no remarkable leading marks, and the coast line adjacent
adjacent being
rugged and full of indentations the Harbour of Esquimalt presents
no characteristic features to guide the Mariner to its tranquil
security. During the day the entrance is difficult enough to find
to those possessing no previous knowledge of the locality, but
at night the difficulties of distinguishing it are so great
that the attempt to enter the Harbour is never made except by
those whose long acquaintance with the Coast has rendered them
intimately familiar with every peculiarity. The establishment
of a Light upon Fisgard Rocks, would at once unmistakably point
point
out the position of the Harbour, and would render access to it,
or exit from it safe and easy at all times.
adjacent being
rugged and full of indentations the Harbour of Esquimalt presents
no characteristic features to guide the Mariner to its tranquil
security. During the day the entrance is difficult enough to find
to those possessing no previous knowledge of the locality, but
at night the difficulties of distinguishing it are so great
that the attempt to enter the Harbour is never made except by
those whose long acquaintance with the Coast has rendered them
intimately familiar with every peculiarity. The establishment
of a Light upon Fisgard Rocks, would at once unmistakably point
point
out the position of the Harbour, and would render access to it,
or exit from it safe and easy at all times.
6. The navigation of the Strait of Fuca, and of the
inland waters leading from it, is attended with no small
amount of danger without the valuable assistance of Lights.
The Government of the United States have already acted very
promptly and liberally in lighting their portion of the
Strait. They have placed a Light of the First order upon
Tatooch Island, at the entrance of the Strait, and Vessels
from seaward are now enabled to continue their course up
up the
Strait at all times. This Light has a range of 20 Miles, and
if a Light of the First order were placed on the Race Rocks,
as I now submit, and a Light of an inferior order upon
Fisgard Rocks, a Vessel running up Fuca Strait would scarcely
lose sight of the Tatooch Light before she would discern the
Race Light, after rounding which she would perceive the Fisgard
Light, and thus be enabled to proceed into Esquimalt Harbour
without a check, and by such means, valuable time would be
saved and considerable risk avoided.
up the
Strait at all times. This Light has a range of 20 Miles, and
if a Light of the First order were placed on the Race Rocks,
as I now submit, and a Light of an inferior order upon
Fisgard Rocks, a Vessel running up Fuca Strait would scarcely
lose sight of the Tatooch Light before she would discern the
Race Light, after rounding which she would perceive the Fisgard
Light, and thus be enabled to proceed into Esquimalt Harbour
without a check, and by such means, valuable time would be
saved and considerable risk avoided.
7. The United States Government have
have also placed Lights
upon two other points in the Strait of Fuca, Dungeness near
the entrance to Puget Sound, and upon Smith's Island, near
to the southern termination of the Rosario Strait. The Light at Tatooch Island is, undoubtedly, of equal advantage to the
British Possessions in this quarter of the globe, as to those
of the United States, the other Lights are also useful, and I therefore
conceive that we are in honor bound to reciprocate the benefit.
have also placed Lights
upon two other points in the Strait of Fuca, Dungeness near
the entrance to Puget Sound, and upon Smith's Island, near
to the southern termination of the Rosario Strait. The Light at Tatooch Island is, undoubtedly, of equal advantage to the
British Possessions in this quarter of the globe, as to those
of the United States, the other Lights are also useful, and I therefore
conceive that we are in honor bound to reciprocate the benefit.
8. I am not aware of any funds that may be appropriated
for these objects, nor do I know to what Department of State
I should properly apply for assistance: the infant state of
of the
two Colonies precludes the possibility of their being able to
help themselves, and the matter being one which it is manifest
must materially affect their future development. I trust you
will pardon me in bringing it before you and in earnestly
soliciting your aid towards the accomplishment of the desired object.
of the
two Colonies precludes the possibility of their being able to
help themselves, and the matter being one which it is manifest
must materially affect their future development. I trust you
will pardon me in bringing it before you and in earnestly
soliciting your aid towards the accomplishment of the desired object.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Copy to Bd of Trade requesting to be informed whether the Lords of the Cee would wish to offer any further observations (see their Letter 2588/59—not yet acted upon) upon this subject. Perhaps this occasion might be made use of to say that this Dt cannot possibly apply to Parlt for a grant of money for these necessary public works; nor has the Colony the means either of paying for them. Under these
circes
Sir E. Lytton would enquire whether their Lordships cannot
include the required Light houses within "the class of
Imperial Lights" & give the Colony some assistance out of
the funds placed at their disposals by Parlt for such services?
Copy to Bd of Trade requesting to be informed whether the Lords of the Cee would wish to offer any further observations (see their Letter 2588/59—not yet acted upon) upon this subject. Perhaps this occasion might be made use of to say that this Dt cannot possibly apply to Parlt for a grant of money for these necessary public works; nor has the Colony the means either of paying for them. Under these
circes
Sir E. Lytton would enquire whether their Lordships cannot
include the required Light houses within "the class of
Imperial Lights" & give the Colony some assistance out of
the funds placed at their disposals by Parlt for such services?
ABd
18 March
I think so; we ought surely to follow the example of the
United States in this matter. The issue was also
brought to notice by the Admiralty report on the Straits
the other day.
Acknowledge.
EBL
M 19
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to J. Booth, Board of Trade, 31 March 1859,
forwarding copy of the despatch for consideration.