The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-18

tllc DeSC chance IOr 1un. Many an
anxious Ohio politician wishes that the
prohibition question had never been
thought of.
We shall soon receive the report of
the observations made along the Hud.
sons straits by those stationed there
last year to observe the condition of
the straits during the summer months
as bearing upon the practicbility of the
Hudson's Bay route. Much ado was
made by the opponents of the route
over the failure of the Alert on its
first trip, it having been partially dis.
ablel from contact with ice, while
trying to reach the observation sta.
tions. But this forms 10 factor in
the case, rs it would not be necessary,
under other circumstances, to keep so
close to the land. 1t is interesting
however, to note the difference in the
views taken on the subject from q
Winnipeg and q Chicago standpoint.
The Chicago News says:
"No great uneasiness has been
caused in Chicago over the reported
arrival of the Alert at York Factory,
OH the western sllsre of Hudson's Bay.
She left Halifax last may to relieve
certain stations of observation along
Hudson's straits, and also to invests
gate the feasibility of a grain steamer
route from Churchill or Port Nelson
to Europe. Unless the Alert found
that the straits were open to naviga-
ton long enough to allow of outward
and return voyages there would he
little to Justify the building of Il rail.
way to Port Nelson as u new outlet
for Manitoba and the Saskatchewan
valley. Her first attempt to reach
Hudson's Bay was failure, as she
was caught in the ice off Cape Best,
Labrador, about the middle of June,
and there imprisoned for three weeks,
not having reached the nearest station
she was bound to relieve. Early in.
July she returned to st. Johns, New
foundland, disabled. Having reached
her destination on her second trial has
merely established d fact already
known, that the straits are navigable
in August. But this fact is of no con.
sequence to the projectors of the
Hudson Bay route unless they can also
demonstrate that it is open and safe
through the month of September and
the early part of October. Vessels
carrying grain cannot afford to run the
risks taken by exploring steamers.
Neither could any railroad from Win.
nipeg to Port Nelson be made pay on
the freight for shipment by profile.
NAUTICAL route open IL few months at
best"
The Winnipeg Manitoban looks ut
it this way:
"Those who rejoiced so greatly OH
the Alert s misfortunes, while attempt.
ing, in the early summer, to make
audson's straits, us final proof of the
innavigability of those waters, will
now have an opportunity of revising
their nastily.arrivetl.at decision, and
of resolving that they will wait until
out of the woods hereafter before
shouting. Yesterday the Manitoban
was able to announce that the Gov.
eminent steamer had safely arrived
ut York Factory about a month ago
The Alert made the trip from the
entrance Of the straits to York Factory
i'll the surprisingly short space of five
days, eccountering no ice during the
passage.
"When old that the quantity of ice
encountered by the Alert earlier ir
the season was exceptional, and vel
would have proved no insuperable
. obstacle to the advance of the steamer
had her coal supply been adequate ant
had she not sustained damage which
made it advisable that she should re
turn to Newfoundland. those who
dread the opening up of the Hudson.
Bay route affected great scepticism
, They were jubilant over what the,
choose to consider u demonstration q
the impraciticability of that route
They will, Of course, not readily nc
knowledge their mistake. but the,
will none the less know that the evitl
ence of this season has been after al
against, instead of favorable to thei
wishes. At the very date when navi
, CATION is usually considered liable t,
interruption, the Alert was passin,
through an entirely unimpeded strait
''But when the steamer has returned
with IL full report of her own expcr
fence and of the observations thai
have been made ut the stations las
year established. we shall know NOR,
definitely what to think. In the mean
time it is satisfactory to know thai
nothing has SO far occurred to cast ;
doubt OF the faith of those who have
the most perfect confidence in the
practicability of the HWlson's Bay
ROUTE
Communication.
Editor of PIONEER EXPRESS,