The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-07-30
FIRST SHIP RAILWAY IN AMERICA.



Coinpistsd-Cs0sds's subsidy system.
What will be the only ship railway In
North America IL rapidly approaching
completion. Il Is destined to convey
vessels over the istliinus OF ChiKnect0, 4
narrow strip VI land which joirs tho
province Of Hora Scotia and New Bruils-
wick, distance VI seventeen miles.
The first project was the Baic vcrte
canal scheme, by which 1t was proposed
to make cut between the gulf Of st.
Lawrence and the bay Of Fundy through
this isthumus and 70 avoid the long de-
tour round Cape Breton and Nova Scotia,
which all American fishing schooners
and vessels trading between Prince Ed
ward Island aud the gull ports On the
one side and st. John. Portland, Boston
and New York on the other wereobliged
10 make
The immense expense Ut this under.
taking rendered It impracticable, and
other means Of transport across the neck
Of land between The gulf Of St. Lawrence
and the bay Of Fundy had 10 be sought.
The Chignecto Marine Transport railway
aims at a solution Of the problem and il
has reached stage Of progress which
insures its completion. The roadbed IA
ballasted and ready for track lay ing, and
the docks at either end are in progress
Of construction. The steel for the frack
is the heaviest ever made and weighs 4 10
pounds TO the yard. There will be a
double track, upon which the cradle con-
tanning the vessel under transport will
he placed The locomotives two ~
which will he used In dra wing the vasse,
across the isthuus. are built on the same
principle as ordinary engines. but of
much greater weight and mower.
The vessels 10 lie TRANSPORTED will Ia
hoisied by hydr aulic mower from tho
basin to the track. and |, I, estimated
that with this power and the roadb.ad \,
good condition a shin of ordinary can.c.
ity will be taken from the bav III Eundv
and placsd i'm the pulf of 6, Iaw,anca
in two and "A half hours thouob . COZ
Of ten miles an hour is ob,ainable-
During the coming year tl,. tbiuner,o
Marine TRANSPORT railway sboula he In
active operation. and a saving ON each
trip will be effected Of 800 n,jles I,
would, however. be more prudent Ia Ga y
that the COMPANY will lie ready 10 handle
whatever business ofers ,,ec.uss I, IA +.
matter Of pure ejaculation AS tn the o. rn.
inys Of the enterprise.
The tariff for lifting and hauling yes
sells over the railwa, " ia Ire fiftv cents
per ton for cargo and twcptv.five cents
per ton for hull, SO ,ha, vessel Of 0O0
tons would nav $3.50 for transnort.,ion
The permanent success of The scheme is
looked upon as highly proLl-ms,ic for
the class II schoopers engaged in This
trade al pre,ent urc totally nr.,,le =,
bear any such charges. and the nrosrec,s
| OF traffic in sljps between Lake On.
tario. ST. John and Boston. which some
people have alleged would socrue. are
altogether TOO VISIONARY TO warrsn, such
an EXPENDITURE
The promo,ers however. will no, he
the losers. In Canada the advocates al
such schemes form an i,pportaut mar, al
the industrial community. and II has
come To i,e one OF the moa imroyta,,
industries-,he erection Of public work,
with British capiiL se,.,red bv tbs
promise OF Dominion subsidies The
country Ia fun %, such en,.rnris.s IN
the province of New Brunswick alone
there are three railways which have
been thrown aside when the promoters.
had sucked the profits dry. This marin,
railway company obtained INCORPORATION
from parliament in 1852 and the same
wear WAS Granted a suh.idv -, s,.o ooI