The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-07-22
VOL. X-NO. l6.



The following extracts, on this subject,
from prominent Eastern Journals, are illus
tations of the discussions which are every
where developing public opinion in the
Northern States, in favor of this route.
The following is from the Springfield Re-
publican:
While the people and the Congress Of the
United States are talking about railroad
to the Pacific, quarreling over its location,
and devising grand schemes of pundering in
connection with it, England and Canada are
actively engaged in the undertaking and with
the advantage of having shorter route and
aportiOn Of their line completed. The idea
is entirely new to US but if our readers
will take q railroad map, and see what
commencement of this work the Grand
Trunk Railway forms, its practicability will
be evidenced at once. The Grand Trunk
road has one terminus at Portland, the deep.
est port on the Atlantic scaboard. The 9th.
er eastern terminus is at Quebec, Montreal
being in fact the principal point of shipping
and trade. The road thus runs west eight
hundred and fifty m,ies, passing through
Toronto, TO the town OF Stratiord. From
this point it is proposed to push it to Van
c0uver on the Pacific shore, distance Of
three thousand miles more Thus the En-
g!ish are $50 miles On the way IRON he
Atlantic to the Pacific, and are taking steps
for the further progress of the work. We,
in the meantime, are doing nothing towards
int hap Ia h.
trade between Asiatic and European ports.
The Journal de I Empre, of Paris, gives
the details OF the movement in its present
aspect. 1t seems that great expedition is
about to start from London, TO be command
cd by Col Elliot, Of the Royal Engineers,
and composed Of company of sixty engi-
neers and II troupe Of forty men, under COM
maud of Capt Haig. At Vancouver these
will be joined by one hundred men wno are
to act as pioneers, selected from the most
experienced and hardy servants Of the Hud-
sons Bay Company. Then the expedition
will make its surveys for the completion Of
the road.
At Sarnia, situated at the foot OF Lake
Huron, and the opposite end of the river 1T.
Clair from Detroit, the Grand Trunk Road
is intended to take up for the benefit of Can
ada trade which, in 1855, amounted to
sixty millions sterling trade which former
ly went by Buffalo, and the withdrawal Of
which has caused the ruin Of the Ontario
and st. Lawrence lines Of steamers already.
In short, it is intended that the products OF
large sweep OF our own western country,
the undeveloped resources Of the vast re-
gions of British North America, and the
European trade with Asia shall pass over
this road, with important Atlantic termini
both on British and American soil. The
plan seems to be very comprehensive and
complete, and TO possess topical advantages
and relations that will make Canada pow
erful competitor with America in the race
Of empire. 1t will make Of Canada q new
realm The enthusiastic French writer to
whom we have alluded, thinks that Sarnia
will soon take the place Of Buffalo, and
Montreal that of New York "b!otting
out, commercially, both these places from
the high position they now occupy as ira
ding cities" This will not be, though
doubtless both may be interfered with in
their growth, and take new relations
to the trade fthe country, the other to that
OF the world.
Now, docs it not seem important to do
something for our own Pacific project
Here is an exigency. The world wants and
needs this road; the British capitalists and
the British Government have the land on
which 10 build it, and a short and practica-
BILE route, with $50 miles Of it completed
Can any one doubt that this immense enter
prise will be pushed forward when the stake
played for is 30 great, and the facilities Of
the game are so apparent,
In commenting upon this the Buffalo Er
press says:
There are other facts connected with the
Pacific Railroad enterprize which have not
been alluded TO in the above, and which go
still further towards developing the line Of
policy adopted by the British Government
on this subject The Grand Trunk Kali
way has already been under the protection
Of the Imperial Government, and has re-
oeived grant Of several millions OF pounds
sterling in consideration Of extending its
line from Q1ebec to Halifax, distance OF
five hundred miles through trac, Of eoun-
try which is altogether vauess for CONNER
cial purposes a. vet. This lipe is now un-
der contract, and will be completed in the
course OF few years, and the Grand Trunk
will then present an uninterrupted line OF
continuous rail from Halifax 20 Port Salnia
"A distance Of over thir,sn buodred mites
of the finest road in the world. There can
be no doubt Of the intention Of the British
Government, 10 make this line grand mill
tary Gordon road, running through the whole
of the northern possessions 90 this continent
via the north shore Of Lake sGperiOr to
Puyets Sound, and at the same tims. by
grants OF lands 10 actual settlers and by the
removal Of all restrictions upon emigration,
to cause the tide Of population to keep pace