Julia, the reason that there is little pre twentith century non-Gaelic, non-Acadian songs from Cape Breton is simple. When you disqualify Gaelic and French you remove the native tongue of so many people living on Cape Breton at that time that not a lot is left. Many people at that time didn't even speak English so it is unlikely that they would sing or compose in a strange language. Industrialzation of Cape Breton after the turn of the century increased the usage of English but before that rural communities flourished fine without it.