The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-05-09

but very little at school taxes wien it is
explained to them that they are
the cause Of the high taxes.
Pe,nbina, May S. 1854. F.A.WAspwE11.
Hudson's Bay Route.
- Eanes-.n International,
The following is the report of the spe.
cial committee of the Legislative Assem-
bly, of Manitoba, to procure evidence o;
the practicability of the establishment. o,
II system of communication with this
Province via Hudson's Bay. I, was PR.
sented to the House yesterday afternoon:
Your committee beg leave 10 report that
they have met eleven times and have
taken the evidence OF the following Wit
nesses, viz
John Moyes, Winnipeg; c. y. Bell,
Winnipeg; a. Johnston, Winnipeg; Capt.
W. Kennedy, Winnipeg; Capt. d. Hack
land. Headinyly: W. Stevenson, Head
ingly; Capt. Colin Sinclair, ST. Andrews;
d. Macarthur, Winnipeg; Capt. y. Robin
son, Winnipeg; W. Archibald, Winnipeg;
W. Dickson, Lake Francis; Geo. Ear-
grave, High Bluff; C.G.D,ummond, Win.
nipee: Ven. Archdeaeoa Cowlsy, Dyne-
vor: James Ward, st. An,.e; Geo. A.
Baque. c. F.. Winnipeg; and have re
ceived written testimony from many
others.
Many of the gentlemen examined have
| had personal and extended experience
as officers and servants of the Hr,.son'S
Bay Company at their posts en- Eudson's
and Ungaya Bay, and the rivers empty
ing into those bays
I! No evidence has been given that goes
to prove that Hudson's Straits and Ba.
proper ever freeze ever, OF ths, the ice
met With i'll those waters is sufficient 10
prevent navigation ct any time Of tie
year.
That consequently the period Of navi-
CATION :s defined by the time during
which the ports, harbors or roadsteads,
on the shores Of the tsy, can be entered
by vessels Of suitable description for
such navigation.
That from the evidence adGuced it ap-
pears that such ports or harbors are open
ON an average from four and half to FIVE
months in each year to ordinary veasels.
That Hudson's Bay and Straits appear
from all evidence taken TO be singularly
free from obstruction to navigation in the
shape of shoals or reefs; and during the
periods of open water from storms or foss.
That while in the opinion of your COM
mit.ee sufficient evidence exists to prove
the practicablity of q route OF commune
cation with this Province via Hudson's
Bay, your COMMITTEE is glad to perceive
that it is the intention of the Dominion
Government to send an expedition to ex.
anime into the general question OF the
navigation Of Hudson's Bay and Straits
and to obtain such information as will
enable correct charts Of the costs and
harbors to be constructed.
That. considering the paramount i'm
portance to this Province Of such an in
vestigation, your committee advise that
steps be taken by your honorable House
TO secure proper representation Of this
Province upon such expedition.
Your committee has also examined
many persons familiar with the country
between this Province and Hudson's Bav.
and has examined the reports Of engineers
and others charged with the duty of
making technical explorations of such
country, and are Of the opinion that no
engineering difficulties exist which will
prevent the construction of a line or lines
from this Province to the shores of Hud-
sons Bay.
Your committee begs TO draw the at
tention Of your honorable House to the
Immense commercial importance to this
Province of the proposed route Of COM
munication, whether by rail and water or
by rail alone. We find that the area
under cultivation in the States Of Mime
sofa and Dakota, and in this Province, in
1898, aggregated nearly 100000 of
acres. which produced crop Of all kinds
of grain amounting to upwards of sO,Oo0,-
GOO bushels. One railway alone (the st.
F., NJ. & NJ. K. R.) carried southwark
l3,os7, l20 bushels Of wheat and 379,OlO
barrels Of flour during the year ending
the Both of June, 1888, and it is safe to
assume that had the outlet via Hudson's
Bay existed. ut least one-half of this pro-
'luce would have followed that channel to
the seaboard.
Your committee feels justified in az.
suming that this route would be exten.
slvcly availed of by the shippers of this
country and the neighboring States O
America in consequence Of the fnct thai
the distance from Winnipeg to Liverpoo
via Hmlson's Bay is $40 miles less thar
from Winnipeg to Liverpool via Montrea
and the Straits of Belle Isle, and ~
miles nearer than via Montreal and Cap
Race, while it is 1862 miles nearer thai
by why Of New York. BY sea, Churchill
Harbor is 81 miles nearer to Liverpoo
than is Montreal; and III miles neare
than is New York.
Not only is the all-rail route muc
shorter than by any other line, but natur
has provided water way from the hea
of navigation of the Red River to til
foot Of Lake Winnipeg, which can
utilized for over six months in each, yea
thus reducing the length Of railway lin
] to be traversed to within 400 miles, or
less,distance than from Winnipeg to Pc
Arthur.