New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-16
RAILW AY NEWS,

THE CANADIAN LINE TO THE PACIFIC.
sEyrN HUNDRED MILES EXPECTED TO BE N OPERA
TON WITHIN A YFAR-srATEMEST Oh SIR ALEX
AMBER I. CALI.
al can give no detailed information in regard 10
the Canadian Pacific Syndicate" said Sir Alexander
T. Cali, the Canadian Minister at London,
YESTERDAY afternoon. MY position rs an oinclai
forbids my speaking; indeed no pubic Information
has been given in Canada. But formal announce
ment of the members of the syndicate Tor the COM
pletion of the Canadian Pacific Railway Will be
made by the Government in a few DAYS. The amount
of money and laai TO be given TO the syndicate by
the Government will also be made known.
"No. Sir John Macdonald has made no attempt to
Obtain money from tie English Government, as has
been reported rne idea of syndicate is an old one
with him, dating back TO 1873, when the
road was finally turned to Sir Hugh Allan ana
Others for completion. 1t was intended then to
form a syndicatc which should receive from the
Government 900 and 50,0o0,000 acres of
land l can really say nothing about the terms
made with the present syndicate or ITS members.
very ridiculous story has besn published to the
effect that an attempt was to be made 10
borroy money here IN the United States.
1t was started by Mr.. Anderson, | believe,
the member for Glasgow. He wrote something that
gave rise to tie report bat nothing could be further
from the truth. We never wanted TO borrow money
here even if it were easily obtainab!e, which is per
haps doubtful.
"In regard to the political aspects OF the road, Of
course It is directly concerned with British Co
iuubia This is comparatively thinly settled, there
bsiug only about 10000 people tAcre.
but these people are particularly auxiens that
the bargain for tho completion of the
road be fulllled. You know the original
limit for building the road was 1888, Sut can say
this much-tfat the time VIII be extended ten
yca-. When uhe road ~ flushed the province of
British Columbia will become part OF Canada: but
this talk CT orr losing British Columbia and ObAer
provinces besides in the road is not finished ls
absurd. Two hundred and sixty miles OF the road
have b.eu completed and IL rs expected that trains
will he running over zoo miles q; the end Of a rear
Work will be pushed vigorously throughout the
winter; and this brings up the question OF climate.
They say that the road will be blocked by snow
months in the year. Now, the valleys of the
Saskatchewan ard Athabasca are of wonderful fer
tiiity The road runs at coinparatlVey low IeVe.
IL has been surveyed throughout, anu from all we
learn the climate will be no serious obstacle The
snowfall is about the IN other parts OF Can
ada. The rainfall seems good, and the citrate will
certainly be good If not better than that along
tie line of the Northern Pacific. In TACT instead oil
being blocked by snow the road will suffer less than
the Northern even the Union Paolnc, because the
Canada an Pacific crosses the Rocky Mountains at a
very low pass-the Tete JaOne Pass-which is only
5000 .cet height We don't expect any serious
inconvenience from snow or colo.
" he eastern terminus Of the road is at Lake
Nipssing. just northwest OF Ottawa, where 1t con-
meets with other CANADIAN railways, and the western
terminus will be az BurLrds Inlet, at the mouth OF
the Frazer River. For 800 or GOO miles III
the western part of the road 1t will run
through a comparatively unsettled, rather
mountainous, and in places barren country.
1t has been suggested tina; II would be more profit
able for the road stop the eastern side OF the
Rocky MountaiGs In that case 1t would be only
local AMI not through line Ii Is IN the nope ana
expectation OF securing through business and out
bidding more southcrly seaporis Oh the western
gain Tor il the larger plrt Of the great carrying
trade across the Pacific, and expect TO gain this
for the reason that our western terminus will be a
thousand miles further west than San Francisco"