The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-12

TORONTO, Sept. IA, 1850.
Proposed Railroad bet,ceex Lakes Ontario and Hs-
ROW. Great Westea Ratlroad from HamtLtos to
Sa~dUich. opposite Detroit.
There seems to be no end to the discussion rela-
tive TO a railroad between Toronto and Lake HUI
ron, TO touch at Lake Simcoe and as little proba-
billty OF its having a satisfactory termination. /
believe have before stated, that the cost of this
undertaking has been estimated at .e5OO, 900, of
which Messrs. Wood " Co., of Portland, who are
willing to contract to complete il in ten years. have
agreed TO take stock to the amount of E35O, 900,
provided the city of Toronto will take il to the ex.
tent Of fl090 900, and the county of Simcoe the re.
naming G50, 900, to be secured by their municipal
bodies. This the latter has consented to do con-
tingent, however, upon the Corporation of Toronto
performing their part.
This body has had under its consideration, for
some time, bill to guarantee the prescribed sum,
if stock is taken up to that amounts but it is &C
companed with such stringent conditions, that the
object of Its trainers is, evidently, to defeat the
measure altogether; and in this dilemma, propo-
stion has been made to substitute bonus of .E2j,-
600, for which the city is to be assessed, and de-
bentures TO be issued, payable in twenty years.
Yet, strange to say, so unpopular is the under
| taking at Toronto, that one Of the aldermen has
deemed it necessary to call meeting of his con-
stituents, to ascertain their views upon the sub
| ject; which was convened last Saturday evening,
| when quite a rich scene was enacted The alder
man was charged with selfish views Ia calling
what was termed clandestine meeting" al
though he had hand bills struck off at his own ex-
pense, which were posted up in different parts ofthe
city, and with selfish motives in being the advo-
| cate Of measure, which in the Importance OF its
ulteror results il is impossible at present to appre
| ciae IN connection with the great West--and
which must cause the value OF property in Toronto
rapidly to advance, and would benefit every class
| OF the community.
| was very much amused the other dav, with
the reason given by gardener on Tany street,
about half mile from the Lake shore, for
trymen who at pre- sent buy their seeds of him, could
pass his door, and purchase them in the heart ofhe
| city! Much on a par with this sort of reasoning,
was an argument used by one of the speakers at
the meeting, who said, IL the produce OF the West
was brought by railroadto Toronto, il would thence
be shipped TO Montreal Only conceive person
IN New FORK Directing to the Erie Canal, or either
| OF The railroads whose terminus is in that city,
| upon the principle, that the mineral and agricul-
| tural wealth, which by this means is concentrated
| there, might be subsequently, shipped to Europe,
Yet it is by such absurd and narrowminded ar
| euments, that great public undertaking is met
| here, by persons who would never be heard OF
beyond their domestic sphere, did they not in this
way make themselves conspicuous; and who bring
| TO these meetings others, ignorant and as pre-
| JUDGED as themselves, with whose aid they swamp
| them
| Just so il was on the present occasions the indi-
! vdual alluded TO, moved that 'the meeting had
no objection to railroads. but were opposed TO the
\ Council having anything TO do with the formation
of railroads." and the Chairman finding the faction
| which was present would carry the motion, with
| two or three gentlemen OF enlarged views, who
| had attended, wisely determined TO absquatuate
| by side door, and turning off the gas, left the
main body, as they, supposed, in as complete ply.
| sicsl darkness as that IN which their benighted
minds enveloped. They had overlooked, how
| ever, two glimmerng candles which were on the
| table OF the Secretary, who was captured in his
attempt to escape, brought back to his place, and
compelled to record the resolution as carried
On Monday night the corporation met; but as
| they appeared determined to have "the b-the
whole bil-and nothing but the bill, decision
was not pressed by the friends of the railroad.
j regret TO add, that the few persons Of capital
here, whe can spare portion of il from the calls
OF business or the Accommodations of office, do not
exhibit sufficient interest with reference to a
subject Of vital importance-even to themselves;
and | do not think The required amount of
stock could be taken up here, even if the
poreiion were disposed to guarantee its pay
ment on upobjeotionablc terms. Indeed, il was
stated at the meeting that E20, 900 had been that
day subscribed towards the Quebec and Halifax
railroad, which would be of no possible benefit to
Toronto.
A very different feeling prevails at Hamilton and
its vicinity, with reference to what is called the
Great Western railroad, from that city to Sand
wich, opposite Detroit, distance Of about one
hundred and eighty miles and which must sur
mount Ridge OF lend OF about three hundred feet
IN height, in the vicinity OF that place As the cor
poration there have agreed to issue debentures to
the extent Of el00,0 and there has been pub
lie meeting at Gait, about twenty miles from Ham-
ton, which has voted 81, 900 for branch TO con-
meet with the main trunk, of ten miles in length.
IL IL much TO be regretted. however, that the re-
stn'atives OF Hamilton prevented the passage of
bill, during the last session of the Legislature
granting charter 10 an American company which
stand ready 70 open a railroad from some point on
the Niagara river, nearly opposite Buffalo, which,
sweeping round within twenty miles of Hamilton
branch line, which they possess the ability to com
plete, and which, subsequently, would pursue the
same course 10 Sandwich, which ia contemplated
by the Great Western company, through, probably,
the best settled and most fertile portion Of West
em Canada.
Here again, however the same sectional lea
lonsy and local feeling intervened which is every
where 20 inimica TO the general Improvement and
advanoe ment Of Canada. The French influence
In the House which determines almost every ques-
ton there, was brought TO bear upon this, and the
bill was lost, from the fear that produce and ira
yellers would find their way across the line to New
York, instead Of through Hamilton or to Lake On
tario, and thence to Montreal and Quebec, for |
getting, at the same time, that the railroad would
offer TO a numerous agricultural population the |
choice OF two markets instead Of one, and that |
even were the productions Of their lands carried to
Hamilton, yet, IL New York appeared to be the |
best market, they would be carried TO Oswego, |
and ultimately find their way thither.
AMERfcUs.
TORONTO, Sept. q, 1850.
Great Fdr at Nragard-Rsfuru of the Gopeyro,