The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-02
RAILROAD SYSTEM OF NORTHERN
MINNESOTA.
Route from the Atlantic to the
Pacific
From the London Morning Post, April 20.

The author of 1.-THE United States and its
Future" has devoted this volume to the con-
sideration of variety of subjects that have re-
Gently occupied and must still, for some time
at least, occupy a large share of public atten.
ton. Mr. Rawlings brings to the discussion
of the topics with which he deals an extent of
local knowledge and general information that
imparts peculiar value to this seasonable work
and gives weight and authority to the conclu-
sion at which he has arrived. Those who de.
sire to become thoroughly acquainted with the
British North American provinces as they
were and as they are and who desire to form
an estimate of the great future that awaits
them, would do well to take Mr.. Rawlings as
their guide, and travel with him onward
through this interesting history. After the
proposed confederation of the provinces the
subject next in importance which the author
treats of is the formation of direct commune
cation by means of the iron highway between
the Atlantic and Pacific. 1t is one that for
many years has engaged the attention of va
events are not unlikely to lead to practical is
sue. The Confederation, when formed,
will no doubt take the first step in this
great undertaking by completing the vast
intercolonial line, thus at once uniting
Nova Scotia TO the Canadian Provinces.
By means of the Grand Trunk Railway and
its connections one-half the passage across the
and through line opened which at all seasons
of the year will draw the products of the West
through British territory TO the sea. The au-
thor regards the construction of the line to
British Columbia altogether within the bound
aries of the Canadas as being out of the cues
ton Existing natural and physical features
present, in his opinion, insuperable obstacles
to such a project; independently of which
there Is, he remarks. no population which
could maintain the cost of such a road, and no
such population could be hoped for, owing to
the nature OF the soil over which the line
should pass. The most practicable and least
expensive mode of completing the route would
be to make certain existing or contemplated
lines south of the boundary line available. In
support of this opinion MIR. Rawlings quotes
the report of Captain Palsser, made in 1860.
in which he stated tina, the difficulty of direct
communication between Canada and the Sas.
katchewan country, as compared with the
comparatively easy route through the United
States by st. Paul, renders it very unlikely
that the great work OF constructing q road
across the continent could be solely the result
of British enterprise. When asked by the
Duke of Newcastle to state his opinion in ref
ererce to the direct continuation of O railway
through British territory, Captain Palisser re-
LIED: "As line OF communication with the
Red River and the Saskatchewan prairies. the
canal route from Lake Superior to Lake Win
by large outlay of capital, would, 1 consider,
be always too arduous and expensive o route of
transport for emigrants and never could be
used for the introduction of stock, both
from the broken nature of the coun-
try passed through, and also from the
very small extent of available pasture.
I therefore cannot recommend the Imperial
Government to countenance or lend support to
any scheme for constructing, or, it may be said,
forcing q thoroughfare by this line of route,
either by land or water, as there would be no
immediate advantage commensurate with the
required sacrifice of capital; nor can I advise
such heavy expenditure Is would necessarily
attend the construction of any exclusively Brit
ish line of road between Canada and the Red
River settlement" With respect to the fitness
of settlement of the district traversed by the
canal route. Capt. Palisser stated that there
were only very few isolated spots where agri-
culture could be carried on, and that only by
the discoverer.
A system of railways Is already built, or now
under contract and construction on United