Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-07
Canadian Government Appoints
Commission to Investigate
Plans to Extend Trade
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOMINION
Chief Aim of the Commission Will Be
to Solve the Transportation Problem
Has a Wide scope-canadian Pa
cifc Undertakes Gigantic Irrigation
Scheme.


government has appointed commits
sion of experts whose duty Will be to
investigate and PROFOUND scheme BY
which the industrial and commercial!
development of the Dominion can best
be attained. The chief aim of this
commission will be to solve the trans
portation problem, as far as possible,
and to devise some comprehensive
plan whereby the trade and commerce
of Canada may be more vigorously pro-
NOTED and her natural products afford
ed easier and cheaper means of egress
enues, to the markets OF the world.
Three OF the most prominent bust
ness men in Canada, probably the best
opponents of the transportation ques.
ton optainable, have been appointed
Of their commission is wide. They
are expected to determine for the peo-
Pile of this country how, at the least
ooss, the west can be brought nearer
the east. and the whole country closer
to the great markets of Europe. The
transportation question has become q
matter of the first magnitude in the
consideration OF Canadian public men,
and the most forward and clearly de-
fined policy of the present government
is now in the direction Of the dis
eovery and opening of trade avenues
thru Canadian territory exclusively.
This policy in future is to be agrees
sivc as well as progressive, for publss
sentiment is in its favor.
The government declares that Can
adas agricultural exports can COM
,nand the prices over seas to which
their natural excellence entities them
only when they cease to be COMPOUNDED
and confused with other products, and
to preserve a separate identity they
must, the government asserts. go thru
Canadian channels. This announcad
policy comprehends the transportation
possibilities from place OF production
TO Canadian seaports, from place OF
production to the western ports OF Lake
Superior, from the latter ports to ocean
ports in Canada. then to Europe; from
place of production thru all-Canadian
territory to ports on the Pacific.
The commission will inquire into con-
ditions of original shipment and the
of Improvement in the con-
diton OF the storage requirements OF
lake, river and ocean ports, togethe.
with the harbor facilities OF the inlanl
lakes and rivers, and the ocean ports
OF the Atlantic and Pacific. The in
quiry is also to extend to the condi-
tons Of navigation Of the ST. Lawrence
route, and generally any Improvement,
CT other matter affecting
the more economical and satisfactory
uses of any Canadian channel of trans
portation by land or by water. This
may be considered pretty large under
taking, but it is not all.
The order appointing the commissi ~
does not limit the investigation to the
existing and known routes and faci!i-
ties, but the commissioners are en-
to discover and report upon
newer and better routes. They will al
so consider competition by the United
States railways and vessels, investigate
the diversion OF Canadian products TO
eastern American outlets, such as New
York. Boston, Portland and other Uni.
ted States ports The most economical
methods of competitors are to be stud:
led and reported upon.
Irrigation Project.
Irrigation works of vast proportions
and embracing the reclamation of mil
lions of acres OF semi-arid lands in the
Canadian northwest, are about to be
undertaken by the Canadian Pacific
railway authorities. This enterprise
which will render fertile tract OF land
about $50 miles long by fifty miles wide.
involves the expenditure OF an inn
morse sum of money, but the com
nany is satisfied that the returns will
more than reccup the money Com
petent engineers anG experts from the
United States nave been investigating
he matter and as result The gigantic
irrigation works are to be established
without delay.
The land is situated alongside the
main line Of the Canadian Pacific rail :
way, extending eastward from Calgary,
and consists Of about 100000 acres.
The cost of irrigating arid lands has
been estimated at $3.50 an acre and thu
total outlay Will amount to over $10,-
mn non