The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-28
THE QUESTION OF CANADA.
Should the United sStn;ee Confer Special
Priviiezcs on Hostile u ,iIwny-.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir' Tho stool
| In trade OF the Canadian Pacific Hallway Com
pany consists largely Of assertion, aggression
and arrogance attempting Herewith to con
ceal its nakedness. or the poverty, present ant
prospective. OF its local traffic. As was stated
In previous letter. II compelled to confne III
business to Canadian traffic. 1t could not earn
operating expenses, rentals upon Its leased
lines. and interest upon It's bonds.
Its financial success. II not solvcncy. Is abso.
lutely dependent upon the privilege granted II
by the Government OF the United States undo
the bonding system. OF divorting American
traffic to Its lines. To substant'rto tho truth
OF the above statement I propose to examine
by sections the present and prospective sources
| OF traffic along Its limos. which are located
within the Dominion between Halifax and
| Vancouver. Its Pacific terminus. aggregating
| 1000 miles
Section No. I extends from Vancouver
through British Columbia to Damn Hot
Springs. distance OF 55l miles. British Co.
lumbia has an area Of nearly 400. 900 square
miles or eight times tho state of New York.
The population OF British Columbia in 1871
was $4,000; in 1901 $1,000. The population OF
Washington Territory tnow STATED In 1870 we q
23.0OO: in 1900, $4,000. Tho area OF British
Columbia is nearly six times that OF the ad-
joining State OF Washington.
In 1901. about l.O0O.000 tons OF coal
were mincd upon the Island OF Vancouver
Eight hundred thousa nd tons of 1t were shipped
by vessel to tho United States. chiefly to san
francisco. and 10000 tons to various ports in
the Pacific Ocean. leaving 1S5.U0U tons for
home consumption in towns along the coast
and by steam vessels which sail from British
Columbian ports. Therefore this coal did not
contribute to the traffic OF the Canadian Pacific
Railway.
As British Columbia is n heavily wooded
country and has only one inhabitant TO four
square miles it will be long time before there
Is any coal ira tflc from tho Pacific coast to tho
interior. The Agricultural resources OF tho
province nre very limited and will never sup
port large population. So long ns Canada
remains n British dependency the min eral re-
sources OF the province will remain undeve!-
oped. This section OF tho railway crosses tho
Rocky Mountains. and tho cost OF operation Is
thereby very much increased. The increase in
population OF the province has been very slow.
and the outlook for an increase in the near
future is far from hopeful.
Section No. . extends from Banff Hot
Springs to Winnipeg, distance OF 0.!2 miles
The area of this section. incliling Manitoba
and the five organized territories OF Canada.
is about 100000 square miles. or sixteen times
1901. was 2OS000, or ono person to four
square miles. The population OF the United
States per square mile. including Alaska. is
eighty-eight tim that OF this section. which.
outside OF Ontario. is tho best agricultural
section in the Dominion. 1t must not DO for
gotten that Manitoba was settled by n wealthy
English colony: and crops of wheat were grown
there long before any settlement had been
made in Minnesota Or Dnkotn,,
a colony OF twenty-five Wcl-to-do families
settled near Fort Garry now Winnipegl in
ISL. Other colonies soon followed from Eng
In 1921 no loss than 30 bushels wore sow r, by
crop; In 1877 s, Paul had oniy, three families
Of the Territory q Minnesota now
OF st. Paul and Minneapolis is
Greater than that of all Cnnn'in vest Onta-
OF the
she remains, a Dependency OF u European
sources OF tho Dominion are enthusiastically |
very great. but without u marked increase in |
vii not contribute tralilc to Canadian railways.
Tho Cannd i'm Government has been for some
Years naying cash bonus to emgrants
dominion west of tho Province, of Ontario. SO
hat the Government rays cash bonus to mid
ciilc Hallway Company.
me company ny must must still hold about 20 600.
JOO urIeS Oi lne lluuS granted 10 IL ~ u bonus
ranches, Ill within this fertile bolt. ills
and rs s IS q a"on bc both o s1ts Of tho
sold npon c9sy terms Mt low price and
Jet less thnn 100000 acres. or ono two-hun-
lredth pNrt.was sold in the year 1891.
The company operates 200 miles Of branch
ines II this scstior. making total with tho
s 'rn RH @" | con to ' sho.s
production md accumulation OF wealth is very
United One hundred and ilfty-two thousand
l1A INl,, 4 to-
nce of Manitoba and $1,000 in the livo organ
zed territories, 4 r,ortion Q! the traffic OF
nd the Great Northern railways. Coal is nov now
n NJ near BanfI Hot SprinGS and Ignite in
Section No 3 extends from Winnpeg to
,Hdbury. in Ontario; a distance OF 9Sl
ocated upon the shores OF" OF Likes s;'s su,
no rivers WHEN How into them. The se sn tire
ection is absolutely worthless 40 an ag icmI-
ural country The, mineral resources ,ure
lant until tho Canadians have permanent
roe access to our markets or sufficient popu-
he long winter in this section ami the
eep SHOWS aid ennormously to the operating
nis section was 4 serious financial mistak e.
ut perhaps II political necessity. Sir Charles
uDrer unon the floor OF Parliament declared
oba win Sault Ste. Ma 10 and 81. Paul ns before
no emigrant trains lett ST. Paul and Minne-
polls they were deserted ana emigrants
rought from Europe at the expense Of III,
OF Canada We're lost forever In the {
nited States. From present indications it is
lalniy e\id ent that this section Ia be prarti-
ally abandoned for through traffic. Its con n
ruction was a great waste OF NJ oney. and its {
peration Is serious burden to the company
Section Mp: 4 extends from Sudbury to I
ttawa. distance. of 1913 miles. through
sparsely settled settle =. rocky; hiIy. rough t
al possibilities In this section are OF /
value. but like those OF Sec
on No. must lilo dormant for the present. c
hero Is little local traffic along this section. n
rom OTTAWA to Vancouver upon tho Pacific a I
stance o. 275O miles; there is only one town /
city lMinninegl with a population exceed
It'll u population exceeding 1000
Section No. b eNtonds from Ottawa along
9 north shore OF the Ottawa and st. l.
,wrenco rivers via Montreal. 10 Quebec n
flo RAJ way Is compelled t. compete for
. traffic, OF this section with tho Grand
runk Hallway. which operates II line on tile
nth shore OF the Ottawa and st. Lawrence u
ID also with vessels upon tho rivers. 1t was :,
'ligcd to purchase this line OF railway from "
Q province OF Quebec and seyera! other b