Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-10
FOR A HUDSON BAY RAILWAY.

Dream of Canadians Now Likely to
Become a Reality.
The statement a few days ago that
the Canadian government has equipped
a party which will begin at once the
exploration Of the vast wilderness ly-
ing north Of the Great Lakes seems to
indicate that the project for Hud-
son Bay railway, which has been a
dream for many years, may become
reality in the near future. Little Is
known Of the character of the coun-
try between the lakes and James
bay, but what has been heard from
hunters and Indian guides leads to the
belief that the section is wealthy, with
deposits of coal and ore, with great
forests, and with land suitable for agri-
culture.
The task of surveying these exten-
sive tracts will be stupendous one,
and the Canadian government does not
expect that the labors of the survey
ing party will be completed within
two years.
Although Canadians realized the
wealth of the Hudson Bay country, and
talked about a railroad for 1t for more
than twenty years, they finally were
forced to stand aside and watch Amer
lean capital do the business. The 1rst
step was taken something over year
ago. when q road was built north from
SauIt Ste. Marie into the forests IN
the Moose River country, chiefly to
carry pulp to the mills at the 800"
While it is by no means certain that
this road will ever get as far north as
James Bay, it is headed that way.
From the 800" to Moose Factory,
the southernmost point of James Bay,
is distance of about 500 miles. The
Moose river, from its headwaters at
Brunswick Post, seventy miles north
of, the Canadian Pacific line, Is 425
miles long, and the road would follow
its course for the most part, not much
allowance being made for deviations.
The upper stretches Of the river run
for considerable distances through
muskeg. or swampy land, and for a
long stretch the surrounding country
though heavily timbered, is compare.
lively level.
It would not offer any more diff.
fcult problems Of engineering in rail
road building than have been solved
satisfactorily in the pineries and
swamp lands in northern Minnesota
and Wisconsin.
It is not certain that the stories OF
the vast mineral wealth Of the Moose
river country are justified, for little
prospecting has been done. But aside
from the timber, rich farming cotln-
try undoubtedly could be opened along
the valley Of that river by railroad.
Men who have travelled through from
the American line to James Bay re-
port abundant evidence Of the rich fer
tility Of the soil.
With a railroad, that section, now a
desolate waste, would become one of
the richest agricultural sections of Can
ada. The argument made against its
agricultural development Is that short
seasons would make diversified agricul-
not thrive.
Those familiar with the country,
however, report that the season along
the Moose river Is not SO much shorter
than that of Manitoba, one of the
greatest wheat belts Of the world. Fif-
ty miles south of James Bay the eli
mate Is not affected by the changes of
the sea- Every Hudson Bay post has
its garden patch, where all kinds of
vegetables are raised.
The development of these rich farm
ing lands would, it is thought, be big
investment for any road. The Moose
river drops 1000 feet in 425 miles, and,
being a constant succession of rapids.
offers wonderful opportunities for man.
ufacturing through the development VI
its water power.