Weekly commercial herald., 1885-11-13

THE completion Of the Canadian
Pacific railway is another conspicuous
advance in railway construction on
this continent. The new line adds
more than three thousand miles to the
total of railway lines. givingth North
American continent over 100000
miles, something more than twice that
OF Europe, and more than all the rest
Of the world combined. OF this enor.
nous total, this country has something
like four-ffths, thereby placing it
immeasurably in advance of all other
countries. Europe has less than co.
900 miles and Europe and the United
Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland
together have less than 10000.
Just what will be the advantages of
the new Pacific road through Canada
remain to be discovered. There is, of
course, the shortening Of the distance
between the oceans, which may make
a difference in the through traffic; but
this class of patronage will not sup
port the road. There must be local
traffic, and one of no inconsiderable
dimensions, to make the earnings at
all commensurate with expenditures.
According to a correspondent Of the
Times who covers the situation with
great completeness, there is a large
portion of the country which the road
traverses which is absolutely valueless.
On the Pacific coast there is country
of some value in which there may be
found an area of something more than
100000 square miles which is suitable
for agricultural purposes, and which is
made up Of widely-separated districts.
Coal, timber, and good grazing lands
are to be found, but not in very great
abundance. The mineral resources of
the Pacific coast region of the Domin-
ion are not extensive, and DO not
amount annually to million. From
eastern Canada, the line penetrates few
regions of value.
"There is" says the correspondent,
"a stretch of a thousand miles east Of
Winnipeg from which no agricultural
traffic will be derived, and from which,
indeed, little local tlatfic OF any de-
scripton must eminate." West of
Winnipeg there is level stretch of
prairie, some seven hundred miles in
width and which is suitable for graz
ing and agricultural purposes. This
makes a scant showing for local sup
port. There are still other drawbacks
The fall of snow over portions of the
line is excessive, and must necessarily
greatly impede the movement of
trains. Reports of the snowing-in of
portions of The road, last winter, show
that the difficulties originating from
this scource are of the most obstinate
character. The snow is said to have
settled into the cuts and to have be
come at once AS solid as sand, and as
difficult of removal. Along much OF
the distance in the winter season, in
tense cold prevails, which is often
marked by the thermometer as low as
40 degrees.
Our patriotic neighbors felicitate
themselves that they at least have a
road which, if it lacks contiguous
facilities for remunerative patronage,
will be of use in transporting British
troops across the continent on their
way between England and Asia More
especially would this be truein case OF
war between Russia and the mother
country. Every patriotic Canadian,
as he views the barren regions which
lie along the new road and figures no
dividends on the stock of the enter
prise, still hopefully concludes that the
road has not been built in vain, so long
as it may be factor in settling the
long-pending difficulties between the
bull and the bear. Dividends liquida'
ted in patriotic hopes are attenuated,
but, still, they are better than none of
any other kind.-Chicago Times.