The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-06-27
SHORTEN ROUTE TO EUROPE
THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST IN
TERESTED IN INVESTIGA.
TONS AS TO THIS PLAN.
Hudson Bay Route May Be Utilized
As a Means of Direct Com
munication.

OTTAWA, June 27-Interest has
i&tely revived both in eastern and
western Canada. in the question of uti-
llzlng the Hudson bay route as a means
If communication between western
Canada and Europe
This is no new project Railways to
Hudson bay from Winnipeg, Regina,
Calgary and other points in the north
west have been planned ever since
western Canada began to assume an
important place in the DEVELOPMENT of
the country. The tremendous pessibil-
tiles of the Hudson bay route were re-
allied by western public men and
western Wheat-grOWers years ago. and
attempt after attempt has been made
to secure the construction of a rail
way from the heart of the wheat belt
to the shores of Hudson bay.
Serious difficulties, however, have
stood in the way. The building of such
Z line would need very large capital.
and possibly for the first year or two
the profits might not be sufficient to
cover expenses. Then there is the vital
point as to the navigation of Hudson
straits. No two authorities agree as
to the period Hudson straits can be
safely naVigated each season. The Do
mlnlon government sent an expedition
to Hudson bay ten or twelve years 20
to investigate this and other import
ant matters affecting the commercial
possibilities of the route, and three or
four years later sent a second eXpedi-
ton for the same purpose. Voluminous
reports were made by the scientists
connected with these expeditions, but
nothing like a final judgment could be
dfaWh from them as to the period of
navigability of Hudson straits, though
the evidence of most of the sea can
tains frequenting these waters tended
10 show that the straits are navgable.
TOR properly constructed vessels, for
from four to six months of each YEAR
when would be amply sufficient to
meet the commercial needs of the
northwest, especially 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 honed
that the question of whether Hudson
straits furnish a commercially practi-
cable route from the Canadian north
west to Great Britain and F,urone will
be finally determined. If as expected.
the report of this commission is IA
Vorable, it is practically certain that
one or more railways will be at once
pushed forward from Winnipeg and
other western centers to the shores
of Hudson bay.
Given sufficiently long period Of
navigation through the straits. it is
hardly necessary to point out the ire
'iioii'iouo possibilities OF the Hudson
bay route. A mere glance at the man
VIII show that it is shorter by MANY
hundred miles than any other route
from western Canada-and the west
ern states alsO-to Europe. With a
railway connecting Winnipeg with Fort
Churchill, for instance, and a line of
steamers running from there to Glas
gov or Liverpool, Canadian wheat
could be laid down in Great Britain at
a price absolutely impossible by anv
other route. And not only would Ca
madam wheat seek this channel. but
inevitably the entire grain product of
western America available for export
10 Europe, United States as we'll as
Canadian, would gravitate toward this
cheapest route.