Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-20

The proposed new line to the Kettle riv-
er will make a southern outlet to the
Boundary creek district, whose rich de-
posts of copper gold and silver have at
tracted the eyes of shrewd capitalists as
showing mineral wealth equal to- if not
exceeding the famous country surround
ing Butte, Mont. For the mastery of the
situation in this country, the Canadian
Pacific is straning every influence that
an influential corporation knows so we'll
how to command and apply. The appi-
cants have shown themselves capable OK
putting up an exceedingly strong case
which ali but won for them last session
against the Canadian Pacific railroad in
parliament, where for many years the in
tluence of the latter was invaria bly, para
mount. Even the ministry itself gave. on
the whole, support to the Kettle River
bill, although the matter not being or.
OF government policy, the ministry was
not called upon to give its unanimous in
fluence as body either way.
Mr.. Corbin's syndicate asks no subsidy
and has received none on any of the roads
which 1t has constructed in Canadian ter
rltory, and offers the means of carrying
the ores of the Boundary creek country
across the boundary for treatment at re;,-
sonable rates and with all due guarantee
for the protection of Canadian interests.
But it is just here that the Canadian Pa
cific railroad steps in with the argument
that it is prepared and, indeed, engage
ed III tins very same undertaking and
that the people of British Columbia want
no trespassing on Canadian territory by
American companies and that, in short,
the interests of Canada would be best sub
served by keeping trade within her own
borders instead of diverting it into Amer
lean channels
The argument is one that carries some
weight, although the minister of railways
has expressed himself as satisfied that
the fullest provision may be made for
Canadian protection and to guard against
handing valuable franchises to American
capitalists to the hurt and prejudice of
Canadian trade. Minister Blair, however,
is fully convinced of the wisdom of Sc
curing to the Grand Trunk system means
of access to British Columbia with an op-
portunlty of its thereby affording compe-
tlton against the Canadian Pacific road
to the cities of eastern Canada.
The Canadian Pacific railroad is alive
to the importance of the interests which
the contest involves for it and promises
should the application be sustained
through the influence of the American
ns-continental lines, to make it hot for
the latter by invading their own territory.
The gold discoveries in the Yukon were
the cause of host of applications last
year for the chartering of railways from
points on the coast and from British Col
umbla to Dawson. Through the special
provision which the administration made
for the building of a line by way of the
Stlcheen river these were all ordered to
stand over last session, but since the de-
1eat OF the government in the senate and
the dropping of the scheme. other con-
cessions are coming forward with offers
to bald If allowed by the federal authori
ties to do So In all, some five or six
charters are sought. generally understood
TO be promoted by American concerns.