The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-17

| Cctplldl, dilu possibly Tor the nrSC year
or two the profits might not be suffi-
clent to cover expenses. Then there
Is the vital point as to the naviga-
| bility of Hudson straits. No two au-
thorities agree as to the period Hud-
| son straits can be safely navigated
each season. The Dominion govern
ment sent an expedition to Hudson
vestigate this and other important
matters affecting the commercial pos
slb1lltles of the route, and three or
four years later sent a second expedi-
ton for the same purpose. Volumi-
nous reports were made by the sci
| entists connected with these expedi-
tons, but nothing like "a final judg-
ment could be drawn from them as
to the period of navigability of Hud-
son strains, tho the evidence Of most
| of the sea captains frequenting these
waters tended to show that the straits
are navigable, for properly construct
ed vessels, for from four to six
months. of each year-which would
| be amply sufficient to meet the COM
mercial needs of the northwest, espe-
cially in regard to the shipment Of
| Canadian wheat to Europe.
A third government expedition is
now in Hudson bay, making further
| scientific Investigations, and it is
hoped that the question Of whether
L L. q
! cially practicable route from the Ca
madam northwest to Great Britain and
| Europe, will be finally determined. If,
| as expected, the report of this COM
mission is favorable, it is practically
certain that one or more railways will
| be at once pushed forward from Win
nipeg and other western centers to
the shores of Hudson bay.
Given a sufficiently long period of
navigation thru the straits, it is
hardly necessary to point out the ire
mendous possibilities Of the Hudson
bay route. A mere glance at the
| map will show that it is shorter by
many hundred miles than any other
! route from western Canada-and the
| western states also-to Europe. With
a railway connecting Winnipeg with
| Fort Churchill, for instance, and a
line of steamers running from there
| to Glasgow or Liverpool, Canadian
wheat could be laid down in Great
Britain at price absolutely impos-
sible by any other route. And not
only would Canadian wheat seek this
channel, but inevitably the entire
grain product of western America
available for export to Europe, United
States as we'll as Canadian, would
| gravitate toward this cheapest route.
In this connection the}following re-
port,sFby a consul of the United States
resident in Canada, Is of interest, as
presenting the facts of the case from
an impartial standpoint.
Enthusiastically" he writes to his
government, this line of transporta-
| ton would open up great possibilities
! for the grazing and grain-groWing ter
ritories of the Canadian northwest and
the northwestern states. The coun-
! try tributary to this commercial route
! is vast in extent and com prises per-
haps the largest wleat-groWing tract
on the continent. s5s
1.-THE land drained by the rivers and
lakes which find their outletaon the
west shore of Hudson's bay, includ-
! ing the Red River Of the North and it's
tributaries, exceeds zoe, 100000 acres
either grain-producing or grazing
| land. Fgs:se
"Since the. railway facilities Of the
| northwest territories are utterly in
adequate for removing the products Of
that vast country-and this fact, is
necessarily retarding it's development
and growth-the settlers in that re-
gion are determined. if the Hudsons
bay route is at all practicable, to force
a railway to. it's shores.
"The navigation of this great in
land sea, 1000 miles long and 600
miles wide at its northern part, is of
vast Importance not only to the wes-
tern portion of the Dominion, but to
the northwestern portion of the United
| STATES dS Well Inc Day IN 1LSelI IS a
great source of riches; it abounds in
I all kinds Of fish, altho the industry
will remain undeveloped, as will also
| the oil industry from whales, por-
poises and walruses until it is thor
oily navigated and is thus brought
within the limits of the commercial
| world.
The mineral wealth surrounding
this great sea has never been thoroly
investigated, but may some time prove
to be the greatest of the resources of
Hudson's bay. There is good build
ing stone on all sides, and the forests
Of spruce, tamarack and poplar that
stretch from the western shores of the
bay to Alaska are practically mex
haustible.
Unquestionably the opening UP of
this region by building railway from
| Winnipeg to Hudson's bay, and there
connecting with a line Of commercial
steamers for the ports Of the world,
/ would be of the greatest Importance
! to Canada and the United States, and
! would afford vast field for industrial
! occupations.
It may be added that in a report
made several years ago, after visit
to only a portion Of the bay, DR.. Bell,
4 director Of the Canadian geological
| survey, reported that it's shores
abounded in mineral deposits Of great
! variety, and incalculable richness,
iron, copper, coal, gypsum, ETC., being
found in every direction.