The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-01

Less than a week aeo the Post-Tnts,li-
gencer published under the head OF rail-
road ard industrial notes certain con-
siense1 infcrras tor that rad been sent cut
from Otta va regarding the building Of the
Canadian Pacific extension through
Crows NesE pass, and the contingency OF
its building IN relation 20 the proposed
building ~ a British syndicate OF read
So Hudson bay.
TIE information was no fuller AZ the
time than vas printed in the Post-Intelh-
gencer. and its only purpose was 20 re-
vive a story OF railroad building shat was
regarded al one time as chimericsi and
impractical: almost purp0ssiess as COM
mercial proposition. Sven az present the
connection Of the scheme with the pos
sihe development OF the Kootenay country
seenls 10 be overdrawn. bur now that one
matter has been disposed of the other nat
urally presents itsel% as among the great
railroad projects Of the day.
Benefit To the Northwest.
The benefit TO the Pacific Northwest Of
the building OF the Canadian Pacific
through Crows Nest Pass and across the
Hope mountains with another seaooard
connection OF the system. cahnot be over
estimated, ana the purposes OF the trans
continental roads 10 tap the rich mining
region VIII al contribute TO the general
development OF the country 10 the north
that everlaps the international boundary
The same rich mining district that is
now attracting such attention all over the
world, which has been thus far only iden-
titled with British Columbia enter
prise, Will have its parallel on
the extensions on this side OF
the Great Northern system. Hints of what
the American road purposed doing nave
from time 20 zine been published in the
Post-IntelliSencer as coming out from St.
Paul, and the fact that the Great North
ern has had its engineers and surveyors
ia the mining DISTRICTS OF Washington and
Southern British Columbia leads TO the be-
lief that its building operations viii not
be confined TO the digging of the Cascade
tunnel during the coming year.
With the mining territory being taken
care Of by the Canadian Pacific and the
Great Northern, the proposiuonof the hud-
son bay road presents Itself next, parlicu-
larry in the face Of the Ottawa news,
which said that the big engineering
scheme depended on the building OF the
Crows Nest pass road.
George Mel Brown, of Vancouver. the
general Western passenger agent of the
Canadian Pacific, said yesterday TO rep
resentative OF the Post-lntelligencer that
the Crows Nest pass road was assured.
and also the ultimate building of con-
neetion through the Hope mountains 10
the seaboard.
Mr. Brown also took one OF the maps OF
the Canadian Pacific system and showed
the proposed route of the Hudson bay
road, that he said antedated as an incep-
ton the scheme of the Canadian Pacific.
The Hudson Bay Road.
The Hudson Bay road, while il may be
built with British capital, viii also be I'M
der the management and control of the
Canadian Pacific. It viii start at Winni-
peg and so north along the shores OF Lake
Winnipeg ard follow the course OF Nelson
river 10 its mouth. where there is already
a town on Hudson bay. called York Fac
tory. During the months OF the year
when Hudson strait is open 10 navigation
there is a direct waterway 20 England,
hundreds of miles shorter than the route
now pursued for the delivery Of wheat
from the great fields of Alberta, Assine-
boia and Manitoba
The road would be emphatically a freight
route. and its purpose> besides finding a
quicker market by cheaper carriers from
the point OF delivery on Hudson's bay.
would be to develop the vast territory ~
Ing 20 the north OF the border provinces.
which is represented as being thoroughly
practical as a wheat growing section.
This present waste OF valuable land in
cludes the provinces Of Athabaska, Sas-
katchewan, Keewatin and Northern on
tariO. Athabaska lies east of Northern
British Columbia and north OF Alberta;
the other provinces range east from Ath-
alaska along the line Of The border prov
inces The temperature in all IS equable
and suited to the growth Of hardy cereals
It IS also stated that In the range OF the
more northerly provinces named with
perhaps an exception for parts Of Atha-
baska. the temperature IS lower than in
the border provinces This difference has
never been satisfactorily explained, but
the statement Is backed up by facts
4 Water Line.
Besides the rail route the Hudson bay
road would also enjoy wafer line from
Lake Winnipeg 10 Hudson bay. lines OF
heats a. present being run up Nelson river
from tide water % Lake Winnipeg. In
is general scheme OF development extern
slc1s ~ branch lines already running into
Saskatchewan as far as Prince Albert
and into Alberta as gar north as Edmon-
ton would zap The wheat country which
1t Is intended 20 open NJ.
What IS now an unimo5rt1ns trading
pcsi On Hudson bay, known as York Fac
terry, may Within Few years become an
important sea port. Railroad men. with
the exception - those directly interested
ia tbe scheme are disposed 70 be1ft.Ia tha
Importance 81 she project rs railroad
proposition. bar with the subsidies and
capital behind IL and souc substantial
and productive territory 90 davelsn +ha
building or tho Hudson has road is bv no
means chtUsrical. There IL a great deal
up thas way that VIII interest," investors
besides Wild animal skins and the bones
81 fossils
The next meeting % the general pa~i3a-
ment az Ottawa. wnen the m7tter viii be
PftSt n5ed. WIZ De- " great general inter-
esq The prospect Of buvsng a .ieltet fran,
Ss3i'ie through % York Factory. Hud-
son bay without change u ears IS att~ac-
oFe IN itself. AL aboard fer Hudson ba,-f