The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-17
TO TAP THE K0OTENAI
TaIkED-oF EXTENSIONS OF THE
CANADIAN PACIFIC.
Hon. A. G.. Blair. Canadian Minister
of Railways, In seattle From u
Trip Through the Terrftory-The
Crows Nest Pass Road Through
the Hope Mountains, and Possibly
to yancouver-heen Competition
for the Business of the New Min
ing Districts.

when the Northern Pacific overland
train. west bound. pulled in yesterday
afternoon there was attached 70 Il the pri-
yafe car OF the Canadian government
which had been picked up at Spokane.
Just at present the car Is in the seryiee
OF the Hon. A. c. Blair, Canadian PINS
ter OF railways and canals. Besidee tue
distinguished commissioner thereAwsF IN
the car Lieut.. Col DaHvlIle. VI. II. aon
Kings county. " B. and Mr.. Blars ~
waite secretary. Mr. J. f. W. Curriy
This morning the party ,. sa hiss.
Blair will go aboard the Caph dtn light
house tender. ouadra an3fesve sfor VIC
~, lea g Iat as nat ~ az HuntingSo
junction. when 1t wafEoe tar1ed over TO
the Canadian Pacific. t'ron Huntington
function. II vii be seA 70 Vancouver.
where Mr.. Blair and tie members of his
PARTY VIII join Il as sopn as the Victoria
visit Is eompleted.4
This IS the nrst time that the present
mlnistsr Of railroads and canals has ever
visited Seattle. and 10 Post-inte.llgencer
rspresehtatIve who called shortly after
the car sas sldetracked at Yes,er way and
Railroad avenue. he said that from the
rlimpses obtained as he entered the city.
Seattle Impressed him as being A thriving
and busy city He inquired about mat
ters OF a business nature generally. ana
ton things had improved everywhere. To
an employe OF the Canadian customs
service who called. and who was present
al the time the interview took place. Mr..
Blair iaughlngly said that he knew OF the
effect on business before an election. but
that the Canadians did not make as much
OF an election as the Americans did: the
Canadians hurried things up and got
through with their elections.
n y z~faf n
said that his tour was one OF general in
spection. but that he had been paying
particular attention to the proposed
building OF a railroad through Crows
Nest pass. from Lithbridge TO Nelson. In
the Kootenai country. When asked about
a possible extension Of the same line to
the coast. Mr.. Blair said that he was not
prepared to talk.
II Is well-known fact. however. that
Canadian Pacific engineers have been
beating around through the Hope mount
aims. looking for a possible pass by which
the line from Nelson might be extended
through the mountains, by way Of Pen
Teton. at the end OF a projected line
south from okanogan landing. BY build
ing these lines a great shortening would
be accomplished In the Canadian Pacific
general business. and particularly that
part OF the business going to the mines of
the Kootensi and Okanogan countries.
After chatting pleasantly for half an
hour. Mr.. Blair excused himself saying
that he wished very much TO devote such
hours OF daylight as remained to viewing
the city. the beauties of which he had
often heard spoken OF.
The Canadian minister OF railroads and
canals Is a distinguished looking man.
His hair and beard are snowy white. and
both are well kept. the latter being cut
IN a manner particularly fitting his fine
face, He was attired with that neatness
that frequently characterizes elderly gen
tlcmen. and in any sort OF a crowd he
would be looked q twice
Should the project OF building the road
through Crows Nest pass mateTialize and
the extension be made through the Hope
mountains 70 Vancouver. the business
competition in connection with the now
rapidly growing cities and new towns in
tho mining districts OF British Columbia
viii be exciting. a great deal of that ter
ritory Is tributary In a business way TO
Spokane. and while that city Is the l0gi-
cal market, The Canadians claim that
they are DESTROYS Of obtaining q part OF
the business for themselves