The New York herald., 1877-02-28
Trouble Between Canada and British Co.
lumbia on the Railway Question.
TALK ABOUT SEPARATION.
History Of The Enterprise as Related by His
Excellency Governor General Dnfftrin.
LORD CARNARVON ON THE SITUATION.

OTTAWA, February, 1871
The longer fingers in this beautiful capital OF
the Dominion and interminges with the public men
who gathered here the apparent becomes the
fact that important differences exist between the par
ties In and out OF power which are giving the govern
mcnt no little concern. Prominent among these are
the questions connected with the tariff and the build
ing oi the Canada Pacific Railway With the hrst do
not propose deal in the present letter. but around
the cluster many acts and considerations
that are the people OF the tnied States
1t should be said justice TO tho Canadians OF the
Pacific slope who hoped to be benefited by this great
under taking, shat while they dsanected and dis
appointed they dsoyal; that while some pro-
vincla legislator in British Columbia may 20 so far as
TO Introduce resolution in local body conveying
threat of hnrng ut secession from the Dominion,
no OF reproach against the Imperial government
its noble representative here the Governor General,
is over likely to DO heard on Canadian soil.
WHAT THE coLUMBIANs
The gravamen Of the complaint OF tho representa-
tives OF British Columbia Is that the Dominion govern
have fulfilled their pledges in constructing
within certain timo and along a certain route that
shall be- commercially beneficial 10 tho people OF the
Western coast, the line Of tho Pacific Railway. They
also say that 1t is tho state OF uncertainty into which
they plunged by the failure Of two treaties and tho
want of confidence they have IN the toad fde inen-
oil tue present TO construct the
line ALL which naturally contribute to the contnu-
ancc oil the opposition. When they satisfied that
main I,ne will be built as it shall have been
selected located the other points at issue between
Canada and Columbia would meet with early settlo-
True, they say vexed at the prospect Of
another years delay which has been announced by the
Governor General, but that will not cause US TO
take leap the dark'' II the despatch Of Lord
Carnarvon the Secretary State for the Dominion,
restore the confidence OF our people.
DOMINION GOVERNMENT
meanwhile has been steadily in the direction Of prog.
ress, aud, recognizing the difficulties OF the situation
The Ministry Eavo sought in u spirit OF compromise to
compensate the British Columblans for their disap-
pointmenL During the year 1876 close upon
5000 900 was expended on surveys IN the Province
alone, and tins year further large sum VIII be pro-
vidcd for the prosecution OF the work. II conceded
by the citizens OF British Columbia that the disribu-
o these survey moneys IN their midst has greatly
sti,n ulated commerce and industry The amount
thus expended, according 10 the statement OF Minis
ter Cartwright is about So O0O O0O and the work is TO
be pressed forward with all the expedition OF which
The resources oil the country and The engineering prob
lens remaining yet unsolvcd Will admit
LORD CARSAkvoN,
IN referring 10 the sui Jec. makes several salient sug
gestlons dc observes:-"Aiier much and anxious
consideration ana with every sympathy for the
Of disappoln ,mcnt nnder which the people Of
British Columbia are laborng cannot avoid
the conclusion that the objections which
ernmcnt have been coucncd in more severe and exag-
gerated language than fair estimate oil the pccui
cmbarras and the difficulties oi the would
seem TO justify he says further that the uture sue
Of the Railway is so largely dependent upon
proper approach TO the sea bong selected thai ~
would be obviously improper iog the Canadian govern
ment TO be hurried iDIo IA premature decision ny un-
timely pressure Before the spring OF 1878 the Honor
able secretary OF State believes that many points
surrounded with doubt viii have become more clearly
defined
LORD DrFFERIN
II will, doubtless, be remembered that during the
summer OF 1876 the Governor General ana suite made
m oicia Visit to British Columbia the object being
10 give TO tho inhabitants proof oil the good will and
solicitude ol the Dominion government He took
casion TO say speech at Vctorla-and. by the way,
am Informed that there are few public men who can
make better spe, ches than Lord Dunerin-that he
game on no diplomatic mission or as "A messenger, or
charged with any announcement from tue imperial or
Dominion government not 10 make any new promises
the Old, old story and, perhaps, II cannot be better
repeated here than from his own lips:--
By the terms OF the treaty with British Columbia
Canada undertook to secure within two years from
date OF union the simultaneous commencement at
sliher END D! railway which TO the
board OF British Columbia with the railway of
thc Dominion, and that sucn union should be CON-
p'eed within ten years IRON the date OF union IN 1871
THE SITUATION Al THE BEGiNxING
'At that time everything IN Canada was prosper
Gus; ncr finances were nourishiug, the discovery Of
the Great Northwest had iniamed her imagination;
above all hngs railway enterprise IN the ned states,
and generally on tins continent, was being developed
to au astounding extent. Ia iact II had come to be
Considered thai railway could be flung the
Rocky Mountains as readily bayfield, I'm
account, and that the isAorancc which prevailed
@nn reference 10 the mountain ranges ana passes
which nicrvened between the HUDSON Bay
COmpany's Possessions and Western coast In
the United States every track and trail through the
mountains was wayworn and well known, while in
our case the transcontincLt passes and
unlrequented, and III engineering point OF ab
solutey unknown 1t was under these circumstances
that Canada undertook to commence her Pacific Rail-
way IN two years and finish II In en-a ply ysical im
possibility.
STOPPED
career OF Canada SIR Jonn Macdonald resigned office
and Mr.. Mackenzie acceded to power Now II Is as
serted that Mr.. Mackenzie and his political friends
had always been opposed TO many portions OF Canadas
bargain with British Columbia; but believe the Pachc
Raway has no better friend than this gentleman, and
shat no was only opposed 10 the time terms in the
bargain because lie beicved them impossible OF
pshment and AN endeavor TO iuln them would rum
ously increase tho financial expenditure
'Out OF the alteration winch ensued there issued,
under the auspices OF Lord Carnarvon settlement,
wherein the Province agreed TO the Pacific Railway
beng completed in sixteen years from 1874
beng begun as soon a. the surveys shall have been
c0mplecd' instead OF at nxcd date, while tho |
Dominion government undertook to construct once
u railroad IRON Esquimaut to Nanaimo ION vanoou-
ver's Isand, to hurry forward the surveys and 10 |
spend ST. 0OO 900 year IN the prosecution of the work.
The main body Of these terms are Mr. Mackenzs's In
pursuance OF this agreement the Canadian
organized
SERIES SURVEYING PARTIES
upon q most extensive and costly scale. In fact tho
Chef Engineer told me one that the noun
tans were already as fun OF as many theodohtes and
surveyors as they could hold Canada has therefore,
used more than due dIiigcnce in her desire comply
with the Carnarvon terms
"You remember that II Is a matter of tho |
greatest moment, affecting the the entire
scheme and calculated TO affect permanently the
future destiny vi tue people oI Canada, that right
decision should be arrived AT In regard the rghtiu
location Of the Western portion OF the line. and a
Minister would be a tra or to most sacred trust n he
allowed himself 10 DC leased intnidated or caloed
into any precipltate decision such a momentous
point until every possible route had been duly ex
amfned.n
ANOTHER HITCH AND ITS coKsgQUEscRs
Meanwhile more than Two years have passed since
the CANADIAN government undertook commence the
construction of tue Esquimault aud Nanmmo Railway
and there not at present prospect VI being
mcuccd. Mr.. Mack held rcspolsb BILE lor tbc
laches, bot the truth stated by Lord Dulerin
that Mr.. Mackenzie. In accordance with his engage
ncnt introduced bill IN relation TO this railway,
when was passed the House OF Commons by a large
msi0rtty IL won't up TO the Senate was thrown