The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-27
Railroads |
NEEDS MORE R. RS
Manitoba Folk Think That Canadian
Northwest Development De-
mands the Grand Trunk.
Present Roads Unable to Care for
Growing Traffic Only One
Transcontinental.
Special to The Journal.

special TO Inc journal. '# ~. ...- .-..
Winnipeg, Man., Jan. 27.-Whatever eff
feet the interview with J. j. Hill regard
ing the Grand Trunk-Pacific scheme may
have upon the outside world. 1t is likely
to make little impression here, where
the facts are known. Public opinion here
is opposed to the view that another Ca.
| madam transcontinental would not be
profitable, especially with government as
sistance. Representatives Of both Do
minion and provincial governments have
already. signiied a willingness to grant
| assistance to the scheme, probably limit
ed to a bond guaranty, and the Winnipeg
board Of trade has passed resolutions giN-
ing general support to the Grand Trunk
proposals, only showing hesitation as to
an absolute and unqualified Endorsement
through a fear that the promoters might
ask too much Resistance" as it IS felt
| the desired land grant and subsidy would
be. - ,E G....!
1t is not fact that there are practi
cally two transcontinental lines in Can
ada. There is the Canada Pacific Rail-
road, and Mackenzie and Mann promise to
have the Canadian Northern railroad COM
pleted within six years, while at pres
ent it extends only from Port Arthur to
| the Manitoba boundary on the west. !;
Needs In Southern Manitoba.
| Premier Robin lately said pretty much
| the same as Mr.. Hill-that the existing
country, If they had the rolling stock.
! The fact is that the roadbeds are in a de-
plorable condition and unable to stand
| the strain that can be put upon them
| with the present equipment. Shipments
| from the east are. increasing almost as
| rapidly as the grain crops and it has
been just as difficult for merchants to get
| their goods from Montreal and Toronto
| during the past year as it has been for
the farmers to ship their wheat.
| At the close of navigation the total
amount of wheat in country elevators
and shipped to the lake was only 35,000,-
| 600 bushels, 100000 at least being in
the elevators, which were full. By Jan.
| Z the Canada Pacific railroad refused to
carry any grain to the lake, because there
| was no more accommodation for it there
| The same road refused to ship wheat over
the 500 line in their own cars, but is
sued an order permitting it to be done in
foreign cars, if there were any, which
of course there were not.
| Even If the railroads could have car
ried more wheat to lake ports before the
close Of navigation, the situation would
have been no better, because there were
not the necessary vessels to move it fur
Their, unless the regulations prescribing
American bottoms had been abrogated.
| The only conclusion seems to be that
the United States railroads should be
looked to to relieve the congestion. In
view OF LQlS SITUATION tueTe is d SLEOnS
feeling in favor Of Mr.. Hill or any one
else, who will develop a more complete
network of railroads Governing that part
Of, Manitoba south Of Lake Manitoba and
Winnipeg, especially if they will do so
without asking for a government subsidy.
TO say the least, this would provide re-
lief for the congested wheat traffic, which
1 is. growing worse each year, and which
It, is doubtful If the existing roads will
4 ever be able to cope with.
! Another Proposition. r
The Grand Trunk Pacific is an entirely
II different proposition. The line Will not
even go through the wheat country or
touch Winnipeg, except by branch 100
miles from the north. The line would
cross the junction of the Laurentian and
Huronian ranges, where there are known
to exist almost inexhaustible deposits of
hermatite that yield by analysis over 30
per cent Of metallic iron. There are also
forests of timber that would make suf-
icient charcoal suitable for the smelling
i process. The fishing trade Of Lakes Win
nipeg, Manitoba and Winnipegosis ALREADY
exceeds 100000 annually. Salt and oil
I are found in the same region, and on
reaching the Saskatchewan river the road
would be in the land of coal and gold
which can both be dug out of the river
banks. Cattle and coarse grains are
raised in abundance and a short route like
the proposed Grand Trunk Pacific would
be a great boon to the raisers. If the
road should be built and continued west
of Edmonton, other valuable mineral de-
posits would be ENTHUSIASTICALLY vast
fields Of asphalt of superior quality and
of greater extent than anywhere else
!, The fact is, the whole of Canada, and
! not the west merely, is suffering from a
lack Of the enterprise necessary to a tul
realization of the assets with which ma
ture has endowed the country. = Ayf's