Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-02-13
INTER-OCEAN.
HUDSON A ROUTE.

I'm
HUDSON BAY ROUTE.
Interesting Facts for Northwestern
Wheat Growers.
Hon. Hugh Sutherland, president Of
the Hudson Bay R. +. company, was in
terviewed last week by a reporter Of the
Winnipeg Free Press. He thinks the
road will be built in less than two years.
In regard to the navigabihty of Hudson
straits he says: "Like many other stu.
atoms. a more intimate acquaintance
with the actual nature of the ice in Hud-
sons straits removes nearly all the ter
rors and difficulties supposed to be con-
nected with the navigation Of those wat.
ers. There is nothing surprising in see-
ing ice there during any of the spring
months, or even as late as June Or July.
Muchof the ice coming down from Fox's
channel, is discharged into the ocean
through Hudson's straits, and the period,
as well as the extent of its flow, varies
according to the character Of each par
ticular season. The spring flow mays all
be down by May or June, Or it may be
as late as July ; and the fall flow may set
in, in October, November, or ever as late
as December. But in any case it is not
as terrible as most writers leave one to
imagine, nor as terrible as it sounds.
Heretofore the navigation of Hudeon's
straits has been confined exclusively to
sailing vessels Of small tonnage. The
story that these have at times been beset
in the ice, drifting helplessly ab,.u Ut, sug-
gests terrors which have no existence ex-
cept in the imagination. They have
been detained most probably, as it does
not require very tight ice to hold a sail
ing vessel. But there are no dangers,
and detention is the worst that happens.
Those delays would almost entirely dis.
appear before ocean steamships. I have
already made it clear that a ship is actu.
ally in less danger ofaccident or mishap
Of any kind in ice than out Of it. A
broken propeller blade is the worst in.
Jury that can happen to a ship in going
through Hudson's straits ice; in every
other respect it is as safe as in port. It's
quite a mistaken notion, therefore, to con-
meet with the navigation Of those waters
thoughts Of hardsh,ps and dangers such
as are usually associated with Arctic ex.
rplorations ; the exaggeration isgross and
m~ischievous. There are absolutely no
dangers, no terrors ; and to powerful
steamships I am persuaded there are
also few, if any difficulties during much
the greater portion Of each year. The
same misrepresentation exists as to the
climate. That it is not rigorous or dis.
agreeable as to render life. intolerable,
may be judged from the fact that n Of
the station officers taken up last year
was most importunate in asking to be
allowed to- remain another year, q re.
quest which Capt. Jordan would have
granted, bat for. the earnest protest of
the officer who had been taken up to re-
lieve HIM.
CONTRACT LET.
WINNIPEG, Man., Feb. San arrange.
ment has just been concluded by which
the construction Of the Hudson's Bay
railway from the head of Lake Winni.
peg to Fort Churchill will be affected.
When surveyors were sent over the pro.
posed route last fall their expenses were
borne by Messrs. Grant and McLennan,
the well, known railway contractors, on
condition that they would have the first
opportunity Of rendering bids for the
work. The engineers returned, and their
report being highly satisfactory, this con-
tracing firm was given an opportunity
to bid. 1t made a definite offer to build
the road for a sum much less than it was
originally supposed the line could he
built for. This offer President Suther-
erland cabled to the capitalists in Eng
gland, who have the scheme in hand,
Last night. A cable reply was received
from England today i%nstructing Mr..
Sutherland to have the CONTRACT signed
at once. It is now in course of rapid
preparation, and in a very short time
the signatures Of the contracting parties
wilhbe attached. 1t is understood that
building operations will be commenced
very soon, starting at the head Of Lake
Winnipeg.
A Pointed Lecture.
Dakota siftings.
:. John w. Bennett has been appointed
-selesk of the court for Bottineau county.
:.-11f1et.s an old timer of Ramsey county,
<aadsgoes to the front to start over again.
NJ. Bennett is a man of prominence
/. and ability, and is not going into Botti.
'neaui for his health. He will doubtless
.develop:into an importsnt political fac.
tor in the newer portion of the north.
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