The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-10-10
How did he git thar? Angels.
He could never have walked In Il
FOR A HUDSON BAY RAILWAY.

Dream of Canadians Now Likely to
Become 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 a Hud-
son Bay railway, which has been
dream for many years, may become a
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 railroad for 1t for more
than twenty years, they finally were
forced TO stand aside and watch Amer
lean capital do the business. The first
step was taken something over year
ago, when a road was built north from
Sault Ste. Marie into the forests In
the Moose River country, chiefly to
carry pulp to the mills at the $500"
While 1t is by no means certain that
this road will ever get as far north as
James Bay, II is headed that way.
From the 800" to Moose Factory,
the southernmost point of James Bay,
Is a 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
long stretch the surrounding country,
though heavily timbered, is compare.
lively level
Il would not offer any more diff.
ficult problems Of engineering in rail.
road building than have been solved
satisfactorily In the pinerles and
swamp lands In northern Minnesota
and Wisconsin.
II 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 coun-
try undoubtedly could be opened along
the valley Of that river by a 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 railroad, that section, now a
desolate waste, would become one of
the richest agricultural sections Of Can
ada. The argument made against Its
development Is that short |
seasons would make diversified agricul-
ture impossible and that grain would
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. Eff.
ty miles south Of James Bay the ell
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. II Is thought. be a big
Investment for any road. The Moose
river drops 1000 feet In 425 miles. and,
being q constant succession Of rapids,
offers wonderful opportunities for man.
ufaeturins through the development VI
IL water power.