Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-06

roads, haYe joined in issuing circular
giving the maximum dimension of box
cars which they will receive as follows:
Length, 35 feet; height, IL feet 6 inches;
width, If height is not more than II feet
from the top of the rail, the maximum will
be 10 feet. If height is over II feet, and
not over twelve feet six inches from top
OF rail-, maximum wealth will be nine feet
SIX inches. Cars that exceed these dimen-
slons IN any particular will not be re-
celved by the lines west of the Missouri
river. Agricultural implements, ETC., must
not measure over 1900 cubic feet.
The Suspension of Woric on the Rocky
Mountain Section of the Canadian Pa
cifc.
TORONTO, Ont, Special, Nov. 2.-The an
nouncement that work on the Rocky noun
tain section of the Canadian Pacific railway
would be suspended for two years, owing
to difficulties in selecting a pass, has
created not little excitement here. Com
ing SO soon after the publication of Man
ager Van Horne's confident prediction
that the line would be completed from
Lake Superior to the Pacific within two
years people hardly knew what to make
of it. When the charter CT the
Canadian Pacific company was be-
fore parliament in 1881 one strong
ground of opposition to its passage was,
that the subsidy for the line across the
prairies was SO heavy, as compared with
that for the rest Of the work, that it would
pay the company to abandon the work
after they had laid the rails across the
plains and pocketed the bonus. Since
then every movement of the company has
been closely watched, and the slightest re-
Taxation in the work and change of policy
has revived the most gloomy predictions
IN the newspapers which oppose the gov
ernment's policy. Many well-informed
men, when spoken to to day. seemed to
feel that the suspension of the work for
two years just at the point where serious
difficulties first appear meant the aban-
donment foretold by the opponents of the
government.
This is one of those matters in which
the company's statements. even if they
were made, would receive but little atten-
ton. In order to obtain the best possible
opinion on the subject, an interview was
had with the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie,
leader of the late government. MIR. Mac
and held the portfolio of public works
and railways. 1t was under his direction
that the survey of the route, as originally
planned, was made. There is no man
better informed on the relative merits of
the several routes than Mr.. Mackenzie.
His line was by the way of the Yellowhead
Pass, considerable distance north Of the
Kicking Horse pass, toward which the line
as built by the company has been directed.
The present line," Mr.. Mackenzie said,
sis claimed to be some fifty miles shorter
than that projected under my admins
tration, but whereas the grades by the
northern pass were nowhere more than
fifty feet TO the mile, those by the COM
pany's line are 116 feet at some places.
Our object was to have as level road as
possible so as to command through trade
but there is room for difference of opin-
ion as to whether it would not be better to
save the distance even at the expense of
the heavier grade"
SIS there possible route by the Kick
ngHorse Pass?
Eyes, that was clearly shown by the re-
ports presented to parliament last session.
Our surveys of that part were not very ex-
haustive, because a cursory survey was
enough to prove to US that the grades
were too steep for US to encounter if we
held to our policy of level road. 1 can
not speak definitely, therefore, as to the
exact difficulties which have made the sus-
pension of the work necessary"
"Do you believe this report about the
suspension"
Il have no doubt that it has been sus-
pended, but not for two years, as the dis
patches state. There would be no object
in that, that can see.'
''Is there nothing in the ola fears that
the work would be abandoned after the
prairie section was completely"
''No; 1 think the company has clearly
shown that it intends to 60 ahead and
build the road. They have begun work
between the Nepiiou and Pique rivers, in
the country north of Lake Superior, and
that is one of the most difficult pieces of
construction Oh the line. Although the
distance between the two points in
straight line is only eighty miles, the road
has to make such curve that so per cent
is added to the distance, making in all 120
miles. If they proposed abandoning the
work, I should think they would have done
it before putting large force of men on
that section.
docs not the discharge of over 1000
men show that the suspension will be for a
considerable timer"
81 doubt whether that is quite accurate
ly stated. don't see why they should
have so many men there just now. While
the line was being built across the prairie
the work would be principally that of
shoyeling, and large force of men would
be needed. Bat now that they have got
into the mountains dynamite will take
the place of hand labor. 1t is very prob
able that many shovelers were dis
charged recently, and that now those who
continued the work toward the
summit of the mountains have been or
dered to quit work, too. l hardly think
SO many as 1908 men have been discharged
as the direct result of this suspension of
work alone"
slow does this affect Manager Van
Horne's prophecy"
ut will lengthen the time By just 80
long as it takes to make more minute
surveys and settle the dispute among the
engineers. Bat, even had this not occur
red, think his statement was little san
guine. It will be good work if they finish
in four years after resuming operations -
Lumber DfIerentidIs.