The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-22
The Georgian Bay Route.

Mr.. Hill went on to express the view
that the greatest. boon from a CONNER,
cial standpoint that could be conferred
on the Dominion would be the consum-
nation of the much talked of Georgian
bay route; that is, the utilization of
st. Lawrence for the establishment Of
a great, permanent highway from the
Gulf Of st. Lawrence clear up to Fort
William, Port Arthur, Duluth and other
points on the upper lakes.
Mature said Mr.. Hill, "did
about all she could for you when she
pierced the continent with the st. Law
renee, the Ottawa, and the lakes, and to
utilize the great boon you must do your
have a CO continuous Tin aan 'V Waterway sUV y'e Of, say say,
twenty-four feet from Quebec or Mon
treal clear up to the head Of Lake
Superior. Just think what it would
mean to you if you had that great en-
terprise completed. You could send
all your wheat from the head, Of Super
ior> to Quebec for 3 cents a bushel. With
a 6 or 7-cent rate from the p~rairies to
the lakes, the cost of transporting your
grain to Liverpool and other British
ports could be reduced and would be re-
dueed to ethe minimum. You know, of
course, that the Liverpool markets rule
the price Of your wheat; indeed, they
govern, OF at least affect ours as well.
If you had the Georgian bay route es-
tablished you would control the situa-
ytien, on the continent and force the
UNITED States, to use your great chan
nell lean think of no enterprise that
would so advance the interests Of the
Dominion. Roughly speaking. the cost
work might be, completed in five years.
| But the cost is trifing compared with
the advantage Of such a. cheap water
:. WIswould undertake to use the Gulf
of Mexico as a. much more profitable
outlet for your products than you now
have AS you know, it is all down hill,
and with the RICH tkind of grades your
products could be sent to British and
other markets at a very low cost, but,
as T said before. your best highway is
via the Georgian bay ~route.'
AS to Eastern Opposition.
A suggestion about the development
of tfopposition' in certain eastern Can
adam quarters to his "invasion of west
ern Canada and diversion of trade -
was made. Mr.. Hill laughed uncon,
cernedly. r,,.
"Why," he said, "there's absolutely
nothing to it. We have nc intention
whatever or eastern CANADA
ana under no circumstances can we di
vert trade. The tariff effectively pre-
vents any diversion, even if that were
a possible aim. Now what we want is
to provide a system Of railways in you1
country; that is our sole aim. We vii
undoubtedly prove a greater feeder fol
the Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk
Pacific. and they will no doubt be glat
to handle what we feed them.
"1"With a line Ct our own to Chica
goland with our connection we will, Of
course, be an active competitor fo1
freight from eastern to western Canada
ana. we hope TO get a good share of it
But SO far from that being any injury
to2zthe country, it will be a distinct adj
vantage: If we. are able2tot carry it a,
Just rates" y" No. added Mr. Hill
Tathere. is nothing whatever to b.
alarmed at, and am not losing sleel
over any criticisms on that account
We know from what origin they spring
The people need our system, and judg
ing by. the. nature of the encouragement
we are receiving on all hands the peopl
want it and are unanimously in favo
Of having it, i