incessant watchfulness of Mr. Arthur Newbery, assistant provincial secretary, become the center of culture and beauty... It is one mass 
     
     of variegated bloom. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The city is steadily adopting the improvements of the age. It is lighted with electricity and connected by telephone with the other 
     
     principal towns on the Island. This fall (1888) it will be supplied with an abundance of pure water, from a spring in the valley west 
     
     of St.Dunstan's College, about 2 1/2 miles out in the suburbs... 
     
    
   
   
    
     A New City (sic) building just completed is another acquisition to the city. This building affords accommodation for the City Council 
     
     chamber, the Mayor's Offices the Stipendiary Magistrates Court room, water Commissioners, Police and other offices. The steam fire 
     
     engines are housed in a roomy apartment... 
     
    
   
   
    
     There are also two excellently appointed and thoroughly equipped hospitals, named the Charlottetown and RE. Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Market House which is on a line with the Dominion and other public institutions on Queen Square, is a large wooden building 
     
     and on Tuesday and Friday is capitally supplied with all the creature comforts — flesh, fish and fowl —— an abundance of excellent 
     
     vegetables and fruits which can be procured at extremely low prices. The City Hall is over the Market place and is capable of holding 
     
     a large number — twelve hundred or more persons. There is also a well furnished opera house, with a seating capacity of one thousand 
     
     on, Prince Street. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The churches are numerous and well attended. With few exceptions, can the school accommodations of Charlottetown be excelled... 
     
     Within the last five years some exceedingly handsome private residences have been erected and the number at present under 
     
     construction goes to show the taste and prosperity of the inhabitants... The businessmen are noted for their integrity and their places 
     
     of business plainly indicate that they are no ways lacking in energy and determination to succeed. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Across from the city is Southport, reached by a ferry steamer which crosses every half hour from here. 
     
     In addition to the railway, which connected Charlottetown to other communities, steam boats were a further means of travel. "We must also mention 
     
    
   
   
    
     that the P.E.Island Steam Navigation Co.'s boats plying between Summerside and Point du Chene, and Charlottetown and Pictou, are excellently 
     
     fitted up for the comfort of the travelling public, and the officers and men proverbial for their kindness and attention to passengers..."