The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-18
THE ROYAL HIGHWAY
British Seamen Sent to Van
couver on Canadian Pacific
THE UNION PACIFIC EXTENSION.
Charles L. Colby on the Future Of Puget
sound-The Decline Of North
srn Pacific Stock.

VANCOUVER, B. c., Dec. I.-fSpecial. lit Is
now as good as decided that the imperial gov
eminent of Great Britain will adopt for all time
TO come, the Halifax-Vaneouyer route for trans
porting troops to re-rnan the warships OF the
Pacific squadron. The official report upon the
subject is being prepared by Commander Pol
lard of the Il. NJ. S. Tyne, the troop ship which
brought out TO Halifax from Eng and the relief
crews OF the Champion aud Pheasant. These
latter ships are now lying in the harbor await
ing their men
Commander Pollard, 1t may be said, is vet
ersn in the service, and is well qualified TO
speak in an authoritative way about the service.
When he was given charge OF the experimental
trip, the naval sub-department OF the war office
had in view the fact that from previous ex-
perienee he would be able TO give reliable
opinion as to the more preferable route In
conversation with representative of the POST
INTRLLIGENcER, he said:
/ must say prefer the Halifax-Yancouver
route for relieving the crews of ships belonging
to the Pacific squadron. Our old route WAS Dy
way OF Panama, which is not only much
greater distance OIL but the trips to and fro are
accompanied by greater degree OF danger.
"You are satisfied the experimental trip has
been a success was asked, and the naval COM
mander replied unhesitatingly:
Yes. The run from Portsmouth to Halifax
occupied only about twelve days. On arrival at
Halifax the relief crews were afforded excellent
trains, ana from Halifax on the Atlantic to
Vancouver on the Pacific the run IS only six or
seven days ut the outside. Tho ships TO be re-
lleyeu have only comparatively short distance
TO go from EsquiGalt to Vancouver, and con-
sequently lose much less time than via Panama.
You have taken relief crews for the Pacific
squadron in the Tyne via Panama?
Yes. The distance to Panama is l2.000 miles,
whereas to Halifax IL is only $500 or so. The
ships to be relieved have in the one case only 70
sail short distance, whereas by the Panama
route they have to go $500 miles aud the same
distance returning. This takes a great deal OF
time as Compared with the HalifaXF Vancouver
route, 1t takes the Tyne thirty-fve days 10 go
from Portsmouth to Panama. whereas to Hall
fax it only take us twelve days. The ships to
DE relieved by the Panama route will waste just
twenty-five days, which together with the SIXTY
Panama and return makes total of eighty-five
days. The Halitax-Vancouver route will only
take thirty-four days at the outside.
And how about expenses? Will the Halifax
route save any money over the Panama route?
No, the saving in money will not amount to
much, but the difference in time and distance
is very considerable and of course, saving in
time means a certain saving in money, so that
this Will be an important factor when the gov
vernment comes to decide. The success of the
trip has depended to large extent on the Cana
dian Pacific Railway Company, and the fact
that they have carried out their part of the pro-
gramme SO well will go far towards turning the
attention OF the war department to the new
route.