Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-21
sHoRr OCEAN Rorrn.
A Now Transatlantic steamship Jius
From England to Labrador.

From England to Labrador.
-:=sa .ime ago syndicate of English
capitalists sent corps OF engineers TO
explore the Labrador coast for the pur-
pose Of reporting upon the feasibility OF
adopting for line of steamships the
shortest passage between this country
and Great Britain. The tenor of the
report was such that company is being
formed TO carry out the project. The
desire of the company is not only TO
make an Improbable reduction III the
time of passage between America and
Europe, but also the connection OF lar
off, but interesting country with the
railroad systems of the United States
and Canada, declares the Rdttroad Gu
zettO. t4N
After careful Study the engineers
selected Port Marnham, which is
situated more than 40 miles north of the
Straits Of Belle Isle, as being not only
the most easterly barber upon the
American continent, but forming at the
same time an unequalled terminus for
ocean commerce on the one hand and
railroad traffic on the other. Outside of
| its favorable position as the connecting
linz between Europe and the great west
the surrounding country is rich in
natura! advantages which are expected
to contribute to the success of the steam
ship line.
The whole of the north shore of the
st. Lawrence is characterized, as in
Battle Harbor, by an immense fishing
industry (under the supervision of the
Marine Department OF Canada), sup
porting large fleet of fast sailing
schooners, which in the spring of the
year are engaged in the sealing industry.
The country through which the pro-
posed railroad is situated is character.
lied not only by these many commercial
advantages, but il has a most delightful
climate from June TO September. 1t Is
worthy of notice that the snowfall
along the route and in Labrador is only
one-half of the yearly volume falling
ia the neighborhood OF Quebec: besides
ID is of extraordinary dryness; hence
the value of this climate both in sum
mer and winter may safely be assumed
for invalids seeking pure, dry air.
Striking across southern Labrador
the expedition found that the country
which has hitherto had bad reputation
as being inaccessible for economical rail
road building, was not only practically
level for almost the entire distance, bu
was also admirably adapted for RAILROAD
constructton---so cheap, in fact, that th,
entire railroad would cost little more
than the existing lines over the rolling
prairies of the northwest
The whole of tue route selected fol
the proposed railroad is exceedingly pic
turesque and passes in the vicinity o
numerous lakes, many of which are o
large area but of no great depth. 1t ha
taken, of course, geological age tt
form them, for their existence is du,
not to an upheaval of depression of III,
formation, but simply to the long anC
continued atmospheric corrosion, which
has created some of the prettlest lake
that human eye has ever seen.
The whole of the route is timberet
with fir and spruce and little juniper
The minerals found are peculiar t
laurentian formation, such as plumbago
mica, iron and asbestos, Titaniferou
ores exist in large quantities, but tn
other minerals have not been exhaus
! lively reported upon.
: The eastern terminus Of the steamshi
line will be Milford Haven, which ha
often been spoken of as port q
, destination for Transatlantic passenge
traffic.