The Portland daily press., 1880-12-24
THE WINTER PORT.
sir Charles Topper to the Halifax Cham
Der of Commerce.

In long letter to the Halifax Chamber of
Commerce, published in the Halifax Chronicle
of Tuesday, and received here yesterday, the
Canadian minister says that the late govern
ment, in 1877, authorized a special rate over
the line between Riviere du Loup and Hall
fax OF 30 cents per quarter, on two trial cargoes
OF grain only, as an experiment. Upon con.
sultation with the officers of his department
Sir Charles Upper found that the actual cost
of transport over the Tntercolonial Railway of
through grain would be covered by a rate of
s6s cents per quarter from Riviere du Loup to
Halifax, and with view CT encouraging
European trade with the port of Halifax that
rate was at once established The line of the
Grand Trunk Railway from Point Lewis to
Riviere du Loup was also acquired by the
government and relaid with steel rails. This
was accomplished in August, 1872 since which
time this line has formed part of the Inter-
colonial Railway system. When this was
done an appeal was made for a pro rata grain
tariff over the whole line, which was readily
granted, and after careful consideration a
rate was fixed at cents per quarter from
Quebec to Halifax, which was afterwards
reduced to a round figure of so cents
The rate was pronounced by shipowners and
others to be quite satisfac tory, and certain to
secure the traffic, but up to the present time
no grain has passed over that road for ship.
ment to Europe. Other tests are now being
tried in order that correct conclusion NAV be
arrived at as to the prospects of this traffic,
when conducted with the aid of an elevator
and other facilities at Halifax.
with view OF relieving the general mer-
chandise wharf at Halifax of the timber trade,
the minister caused additional wharfage to be
provided; and for the better accommodation of
general traffic he increased the warehouse
capacity to large extent Also, to induce
ocean steamers to call at Halifax, he effected
the removal of a rock-barrier from the coal
berths, SO as to enable the largest vessel to ap-
proach with safety for coaling purposes. Be-
SldeS all this, arrangements were made under
ms direction for the most rapid transmission
OF freight over the Intercolonial Railway, ar
rangements with which the Messrs. Allan ex-
pressed themselves 80 highly satisfied that, in
their opinion, the Canadian route via the
Grand Trunk, the Intercolonial and the port
OF Halifax would, with the aid of the arrange
ments nffootoa with Tie Allan steamers, hold
the European traffic against all competition
IN view OF the expressions on the part of the
MesSrs. Allan alluded to above the surprise of
the minister was great on being informed that
the steamers of The company were carrying
Canadian freight past the port of Halifax to
an American port He had, in several inter-
views, urged upon Sir Hugh Allan the neces-
slty OF his cooperation in assisting to secure
this trade for Canada, and to make the trial a
success. Subsequent to one of these inter-
views, Sir Hugh Allan made proposition in
writing, to the effect that if the government
would carry the terminus of the Intercolonial
Railway to Dartmouth, his firm would acquire
property at that place and build wharves and
elevators sufficient to accommodate large
traffic. But inasmuch as this offer was ac-
by conditions as appeared to the
minister Objectionable, it was not concurred
in, and Sir Hugh Allan subsequently re-
1uested that the matter should be deferred
am instructed to add that no exertlon will
be spared to effect SO desirable an object as to
make Halifax the winter port of Canada.