New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
CAYADA,s VIEW GREAT RALLKAY

Some time ago the Grand Trunk Railway
Company. sharing the general belief of Cana
dams that as regards the opening up of new
territory 70 the uses Of civilization the TWEEN
ueth century belongs to them, as undoubtedly
the nineteenth century belonged to the United
States. came before the Ottawa Parliament with
a proposal TO continue its present line. which
now ends at North Bay. to Winnipeg. and
thence across the continent TO the Pacific 1t
asked for this purpose q subsidy Of about
Sl5,360O0O. The scheme was not only q prac-
neal one, with good prospect Of realizing ample
returns IN due time. but il also seemed to be a
natural order Of railway development in the
Dominion.
At this point, however, Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and the Liberal administration Of which he is
the head took UP the whole problem of Cana
dian railway development, with reference not
only 10 the immediate, but also 10 the compare
lively remote future. Inspired by the wonder
full Development OF the Canadian Northwest in
recent years, development in large part due
10 settlers from the northern and adjacent re-
gions Of the United States Sir Wilfr1d made q
proposal whose magnitude indicates the large
ness or the dream OF the statesmen now direct
ing the destnies of the northern portion of the
American continent This proposal now TO be
carried into effect. was that in consideration of
q subsidy, which at the usual rate Der mile will
cost Canada ID round numbers $3.50 600 900 the
Grand Trunk should 20 five hundred miles IN
the northward Of its present western terminus
and not only carry its line TO the Pacific Coast
but also extend IL through the northern regions
/ or ontario and Quebec 10 Quebec City and
thence TO MOncton, New Brunswick This will
give Canada another great transcontinental rail-
way, and by its twenty-three branches already
planned open up the great northern region
around Hudson Bay and thence TO the Pacific
Coast
The chief feature Of this stupendous railway
scheme lies IN the immense importance II gives
10 the Grand Trunk Railway Company in the
process OF opening up the northern regions of
canada BY agreement between the railway
and the Dominion Government IN relation m
preferred and common stock the new c-o.s
Trunk and Pacific Railway COMPANY is Drac+i
| cally dependency Of the Grand Trunk Rail-
/ way Company. and the twenty-three branch
lines are to be built by still another corDoration
/ 10 ne known as the Grand Trunk Pacific Branch
Lines Company. and this in It's turn IS 10 be sinh
slolary TO the Grand Trunk and Pacific Railway
Company, IL follows that Canada is now follow
/ ing. as to It's railway Development a policy Of
/ Indignation as compared with what NAV be called
the disintegrating policy Of the United States
government In other words IL Is merging into
! practically one control the new lines upon which
4 II relies as pioneers Of Canadian advance In
! the still unsettled regions Of the continent to
/ the north.
Ihls also is natural and. under all the cir
/ euhlstances. probably is inevitable No rail
road company al present cares to take the euor-
nous rlsks as to the future that are inseparabe
rom Such scheme, unless upon some such
terms as those which the Grand Trunk Railway
company has accepted. The enterprise is Ger
fanny a costly one and the results nv no means
Oeyond Doubt The Mail and Empire" of To-
Fohio' even goes so far as to call II "a gigantic
government blunder." Manifestly the building
of another transcontinenfal route that win n q
great extent In the east parallel the Inter-
COLONIAL Hallway and remove the time when thu