THE PEOPLE OF THE COAST 171 



in the Arctics and subarctic regions finds a solution. The 

 drifting ice, whether as pan or resistless berg, is almost 

 prohibitive of submarine cables. The immense bays, with 

 their endless indraughts, make land wires out of the 

 question. 



With commendable zeal, and with great success, the 

 Canadians have succeeded in running a wire all the way 

 from Quebec along the north shore of the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence to the Straits. Unfortunately the line ends 

 at Chateau, twenty-eight miles from Battle Harbour, 

 where the terminal Marconi station is situated. 



In winter, residence in Labrador is specially discouraged 

 by lack of communication, and the permanent population, 

 except around the newly established mills, is decreasing 

 steadily. The existing arrangement of one or, at most, 

 two mails carried by dogs is not sufficient to meet the needs 

 of a population of English-speaking people during a whole 

 winter. 



Labrador could easily carry a large and healthy popula- 

 tion if the artificial conditions were improved. The resi- 

 dents on the shore from Red Bay to Quebec show no desire 

 to leave it; yet even for them very little is done to en- 

 courage them to remain. The same applies to the whole 

 north coast of Newfoundland. A telegraph line or a chain 

 of wireless stations is badly needed. Such rudimentary 

 adjuncts of modern civilization will no doubt shortly be 

 afforded them. 



Exclusive of a school grant of $2000, the total appropria- 

 tions for Labrador are under $30,000 per annum. Twenty 

 thousand dollars of this is for the summer mail steamer 

 and the Marconi stations; $2000 is for collecting revenue 



