Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — QUEBEC'S OLD WALLS. [ARTICLE]

QUEBEC'S OLD WALLS.

The Famous Old Cltudel Fast Falling Into Decay, The old walls of tho Citadel at Quebec are famous, and are among tho most interesting historical monuments of the continent; A report is current that in p'aces they liavo fallen into decay, and that Borne of the secret underground passages connecting tho fortress with tho city have tumbled in and become lilted up and absolutely useless. Beforj tho withdrawal of British troop* from Canada twenty years ago companies of the Koyal Engineers were engaged in keeping the citadel in perfect repair. That the recent alarm created by the neglect into which the offcrtress has fallen is not exaggerated lfl-*hown by th >■ annual report of the Dspartiuent of the Militia and Defense, recently submitted to Parliament. It is recomnuncied in this document that a body of engineers and artificers be constantly employed to keep the old walls in ord;r. Un'ess this is done Quebec s elaborate system of fortifications, that has for so many years past proved one cf the principal attractions for tourists, will speedily crumble into a mass of ruins. The money spent upon those works in the past is simply incredible. Woodon fortifications were erected there by the French colonists, and so heavy was the expenditure, together with what was boodled by Bigot, the intendant and his associates, that Louis XIV. is reported to have asked whether tho fortifications of Quebec were built of gold. The present walls, which replace those first erected by the royal engineers, date back to 18i3, and were carried out according to plans submitted to and approved by the Duke of Wellington at a cost of some $25,000,003.