The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-28
CANADIAN FAITH
IN NEW RAILWAY
Grand Trunk Pacific Line, an
Americans Project, Sup
ported by All.
An Al-Canadian Transcontinental
Road, It Will Open Vast
Domain.
BY w. w. Jermane.

F- BY w. w. Jermane.
Winnipeg, June 2S.-From Montreal
to Winnipeg, the Canadian country is
predicting that great things will come
from the building of the Grand Trunk
Pacific railway. Even along the line Of
the Canadian Pacific road, which stout
1y opposed the new enterprise for the
reason that it promised to bring into
existence a formidable rival for trans.
continental business, people believe that
in an enterprise that promises more
substantial returns to the country as a
whole. Besides which, there is the APP
peal to patriotism which is made by
the idea Of a transcontinental line
wholly within Canadian territory.
| Altogether, the country believes in
the new enterprise, and would today, If
try quite as enthusiastically as it did
when that ministry brought ON the gem
eral elections in the fall Of 1904, and
was returned to office by an unprece-
denied majority, on the railroad issue.
Chief Topic in Every City.
A party Of Washington correspond
as far west as Vancouver and Victoria
before starting back to the east. Every
where the members of this party have
met the leading men Of the country-at
Toronto, at Montreal, at Ottawa, at
Fort William, at Port Arthur and now
at Winnipeg, and everywhere one of
the chief topics Of conversation has
been this Grand Trunk Pacific enter,
prise, regarding the Importance Of
ing Canadian, opinion that the United
States is not well informed, :
At Montreal, the correspondents were
entertained for an hour in the board
room Of the Grand Trunk system, and
saw good deal Of Mr.. Hays, vice presi-
dent and general manager Of the COM
pany, it's brains. and moving spirit, and
culiar degree for the Grand Trunk Pa
cifc sch enc. The general statement
that he had first to convert the Grand
| Trunk directorate to that scheme, and
afterwards the Canadian government,
congresses within small compass an I'M
! dertaking, the success Of which has
stamped Mr.. Hays as one Of the great
est railway men of his time, for there
was stiff opposition, first within the
directorate, and afterwards within the
liberal ministry, and even after the
ministry, had become convinced Of the
wisdom Of the undertaking, there was
the opposition conservative party to be
dealt with, and finally there came on a.
general election, resulting in the great
est victory ever won by the Canadian
liberals.
The compliment to Mr.. Hays is all the
greater when it is remembered that his
Grand Trunk Pacific scheme was the
only issue in the campaign, .-
Gigantic Undertaking. &c.;
The Grand Trunk Pacific scheme ia
one OF the greatest ever undertaken by
railroads on the American continent,
and it will involve the expenditure of
half as much money as the building of
the Panama canal. No wonder it looms
large to the people Of a nation of 6,OOO,.
OOO persons, even if it may seem small
to nation Of 90,OOO,OOO.
For 1900 miles, covering the entire
eastern half OF the road, from Monctou
, to Winnipeg, it will be government.
built and owned.
The western half, from Winnipeg to
built by the Grand Trunk people, un
der another corporate name. This new
company will operate the entire system
the government guaranteeing the bonds
OF the western half, and leasing it's owr
half to the Grand Trunk Pacific cor
poratlen for fifty years. -,
/ on Inc = Canadian AL government owns ant
| RAILWAY
+ which connects Quebec and Montrea
=. with Halifax. This road does not pay
but as 1t was built for purely polit
, lcal purpose, namely, that of unitin,
g widely separated parts of the Dominion
! 1t must be termed success.
;, Why New Road Is Building.
y The Grand Trunk Pacific road wa
born because Mr.. Hays, who, by tn
>. way, is an American, felt the need TO
;, a western connection for the Gran,
Trunk, and because the Ottawa govern
: ment felt that the industrial and polit
y lcal interests of the country demande,
u another all-rail route to the west. Th
o o government and the railway compan
got together, and the former laid be
fore parliament measure providing 70
the construction by the government O
the eastern section and the lending o
Q government. credit to the railway Com
Q pany to build the western section
J. The engineers have been in the feel
b for over two years, and, altho the loca
q tion is not definitely known by tn
It public except at certain points, it
o asserted that between Winnipeg an
: the Atlantic the grade will not excee
Q sixteen feet in the mile, and betwee
) Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan rive
l. mile. The crossing Of the mountain
D thru the Peace river pass will be made
70 it is said, on lower gradients than ar
2 enjoyed by any other transcontinents
K railway.
Branch to Be Built First.
The actual work will begin first o
a branch line which will connect tn
main line with the towns of Fort Wi
: liam and Port Arthur, on the mort
= shore of Lake Superior, thus giving tn
q company a base of supplies from whic
it can work Independently Of rival raj
l. way lines. The first part of the Gran
Trunk Pacific to be in operation wi
70 probably be. the line between Fort Wi
IS liam and Winnipeg, tho work is expec
y ed to begin this summer from Winnipe
II west thru the agricultural country.
II Between the Atlantic coast and VIII
tr nipeg the new railway will for the mos
y part traverse forests that were scarcel
is explored till its engineers entered then
f Much of this region, however, has
fertile soil and will support large az
h ricultural population later on, when th
le forests are out Of the way.
K West of Winnipeg the Grand Trun
n Pacific will traverse, till the Rock
Continued on I'd Page. 9th Column,