, 1873-07-16


dobauchery aro n1roady familiar to tho public by
tho disclosures in tho lotters Of Allan to Nc
Mullcn md stnith, Of Chicago. Evosy stop of
this schemo has boon mnrltod by bribery and
corruption, and cvcry proposal in connection
with It's routo and construction haa boon made
in respect to aon,o political oxigonoy Of tho
Ministry, and to such mn oxtont that tho aclemo
ls no longer Canadian Pacific but
Macdonald Pacific achomo, But violation Of
national fatth aud widespread corruption nro
not tho only arguments aganst this Bo1olno.
II constructed aB now proposed 1t muat entail
dobt upon tho Dominion Of $50 100000, in
order to accommodate tho supposed wants Of
Homo $4,000 people, which Is tho population Of
British Columbia, exclusive Of Indians and
ohtne8o. In addition to this lobt, the Dominion
has dobt Of e20, 1000, 600 on tho Intor-Colo-
nial 1sailrond which is to connect ualifax with
Quebec, and e12,oo0,00o OIL oannl enlargement.
THIS debt, In addition to othor liabilities Of tho
Dominion. Ia enormously dlsproportionod to ita
population. Dy its Inst census {t871), Canada
had but 3,57b,677 pooplo, not much moro than
the State Of Pennsylvania and considerably less
than tho State OF Now York. Nor is tho yearly
lncreaBo Of population In tho Dominion
such as to warrant tho assumption Of
such dobt. It was supposed that
tho Inst consua would chow q population
Of ut loast 450o 900, whoreas tho ofieial flguroB
fell 1,000,0u0 under that estimate. Tho increase
In tho last ton yoars in the Dominion has only
boon about 400, 900, a condition Of things which
Is explained by tho fact TINT, during tho i've
years onding In 1870, the number Of 248, ,905 out
Of tho total number Of omigrauts from Europe
by tho st. Iawronco route entorod the United
States.
But, admitting that Canada is able to provide
Tor such debt, what sufficient rcason can
tho projectors OF this particular route
around tho north Bhoro Of Lalso ss,-
perior md through tho storila willerncsBea
Of British Columbia to tho Pacific advance for
ltR construction ? There is aa got no certainty
what tho Canadian Pacific Railroad will roally DO.
Propositions have boon made to run 1t tl,B way
and that way, md still further proposition to
build oaat md wost ends and connect thom by
tho Northern Pacific Road on American soil.
Horo is tho first oloment of indehntonoss It's
cost IL as uncertain AZ its route. No
ono can guarantee 1t, because no estimates
have been matlo. No estimates lavo been made
because no surveys or specifications have boon
mado. Thoro is no population to support tho
road If it were built. Thoro is no market to
supply 1t. great part Of tho road would run
through rocky, atorilo region, capable Of grow
ing nothing hut scr1lbby plno trocH, which are
hardly merchantablo commodities. Tho sparse
settlements Of 1ndinns and hnlf-brocds,
hundreds Of n,ilcs apart, with thoir
1hort season for crop-raiains, conla not develop
n trade, aud tho prospects for tho population of
tl,is yast territory, 30 rs to supply q market,
cannot ba rcnlizol for centuries ut tho prcaont
rato Of increase. If tho projectors OF this sol,ono
aro calculating upon trade with Asia, thon they
nro hypothocating on n marlsot already monopo-
Hzod by tho old ateanlor routes and by American
communications, como of tllom already con-
Btructod, like tho Union Pacific, OF in process Of
construction, like tho Southern aud Northern
Pacific.
whatever light we, may intoa huge
political job which WAS born in corruption, Inns
beon foatercd by intrigue and bribery, has not q
single convincing reason to chow for it's con-
struction, and lns not yet secured dollar Of
Engliah or Canadian capital. It's destiny is to
break itnolf down and to break down tho Mac
donald Government which has boon subsidized
in It's interests. It doos not follow,
however, that because this particular sohomo for
+; building Canadian Pacific Railroad has been
therefore no road should bo built. Thoro ia,
porl,npB, necessity for communication boz
tweon Canada and Alanitoba mud the Bas-
katchowau Valley. Every consideration, both
financial aud Otherwise, points to Chi
cago ind 81. Paul as tho natural route
for communication with that section Of British
Amorica. It Inns tho advantage in expense, dis
; tanco, mud amount Of road already constructed.
It is worth tho while, therefore, OF tho Dominion
authorities to consult and SEQ whether this route
:: ID Aot kuo pressing 6olAtlou u tho GuHuul%1u
Paoiao problem. It is simply wicked to sink
s30, ,000, 900 in moonBhine railroad. Tile whole
! Of british Columbia can bo bought and paid for
, with half TINT sum.
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! NOTES AND OPINION.
Senator Buckingham, Of Connecticut, is tho
ltcst and, probably, tho last, to cover into the