The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-30
PRINCE ALBERT DISTRICT.
A New Country Recently Connected with
tho World by Rail.

A Now Country Recently Connected With
the World by Rail.
A new era was inaugurated in the history
of Prince Albert and district in October
last, when the last spike was driven In the
railway which was to give the place connec-
ton with the outside world. The peoplehad
been 80 long isolated from the rest of
the dominion tina the occasion was made
one of general rejoicing. Here a commu-
nifty of several thousand people had ex-
listed for years. 300 miles distant from the
nearest railway, and it may be imagined
that the advent Of the iron horse was VOL
coined in a most enthusiastic manner. The
long cherished. hopes of the settlers were
now being realized. The distance from
Winnipeg TO Prince Albert by rail is 6Of
miles. The route is from Winnipeg to Re
gina on the main line of the Canadian Pa
cife. Oars are changed at Regina to the
Prince Albert branch of the Canadian
Pacific, the length of the latter road from
Regina to Prince Albert being 247 miles.
Construction on the Prince Albert branch
was commenced in 1885, when about twenty
miles were completed from Regina north
ward. The road was then known AZ the
Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Prince Albert
railway. Nothing further was o on the
road for some years and the portion
constructed was not operated. Dur
ing the meeting of the dominion parlia-
ment in the winter of 1855 additional
assistance was granted to this railway, with
the object of securing its speedy compile
ton. The Prince Albert people, through
their representative in parliament and in
~kbar r,,vo had cuoho1 tho mnttar vorv
earnestly, and it was agreed that a special
effort should be made to open the district
to railway communication. Arrangements
we're made by which the Canadian Pacific
company would control and operate the
railway after completion, and construction
was pushed vigorously during the summer
of 1889, rails being laid that season as far
as the crossing of the South saskatchewan
river at Saskatoon. During the winter of
1eS9-9O material was prepared for a bridge
across the river, and the following summer
the road was completed and opened to
Prince Albert in October last. Since then
it has been regularly operated as a branch
of the Canadian Pacific system.
Prince Albert has now its first railway,
but it will not stop at this. The Manitoba
d Northwestern, which is now completed
219 miles in a northwesterly direction from
Winnipeg, (the North-W Western reaches
Winnipeg over the main line of the Cana
dian Pacific from Portage la Prairie), has
its objective point at Prince Albert. This
road runs through q very rich country for
its entire distance. both completed and
projected. Prince Albert people look for
ward with confidence to the time when the
Northwestern will give them a second out
let. But what is most enchanting to the
Prince Albert people is the prospect of a
road to Hudson bay. The geographical po-
sition of the town marks it as q likely
starting point for n railroad to the great in
land sea. Tho Prince Albert branch of the
Canadian Pacific is looked upon az
likely to become a link in Il railway to
Hudson bay. Prince Albert is now
the nearest point to the bay reached
by rail by several hundred miles. This is a
forcible argument to start with. in addition
to the fact that it il On q line with any rail
way which may DO constructed in tho future
from any point in the territories south of
the Saskatchewan to Hudson bay. In the
event of the Winnipeg 4 Hudson Bay rail-
way being built (Which we all believe to be
Il certainty in time) Prince Albert could be
connected with the latter road by a direct
line running e~asterly through the rich Car
rot river country. A road from Prince Al
bert running in an easterly direction to
connect with tho Winnipeg IL Hudson Bay
railway would run through n country which
is regarded by some explorers and Others
as without exception the very richest and
finest agricultural aud stock region in Can
ada. Prof. Macoun, botaniat, ETC., speaks
very highly Of the wonderful fertility of
the soil through this region.
Prince Albert Is reached by railway from
Winnipeg to Regina, and thence by the