Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-29
RAILROADS BUSY IN CANADA
Strong Element in Developing Coun-
try, Says Park.
ONE GRAIN To HAUL Is wEHAT
Irrigation and immigration Are Play.
ing Their Part in the
OF This Northern
Lnnd.

1--WE were all impressed with the activity
of railroad matters in Manitoba, Alberta
and Saskatchewan said W. l.. Park, gen
eraI superintendent Of the Union Pacific.
who returned Saturday from an extensive
trip with other officials Of the operating
and engineering departments or the Union
Pacific over the transcontinental lines In
Canada. There is a great immigration
movement and they are raising wheat 500
miles north Of Edmonton and the railroads
in that section are known at present as
one-crop road as they have no grain to
haul but wheat.
THE Grand Trunk Pacific. a government
road east OF Winnipeg. is being built by
private corporations west with a grade OF
four-tenths Of one-per cent west from the
lakes to Prince Rupert on the Pacific
slope. The immigration is largely from the
United states.
The Canadian Pacific Is building Mt Cal
gary an irrigation ditch $50 miles long to
irrigate 1900 600 acres Of land. This land
was formerly rejected by that company on
account Of the supposed infertility, but has
recently been accepted, The government
relinuuished alternate sections and the land
owned by the Hudson Bay company was
bought by the railroad company, making a
solid body Of land in that section Of 5000
0O acres.
Long Line of Hotels.
THE Canadian Pacifi, is conspicuous
for the interest it is taking in out
side operations, having a line OF
hotels costing from 10000 TO ST.
OOo,OOo. The Alexander hotel and depot
at winnepeg cost 100000 and the En-
press hotel at Victoria cost 100000. The
road is also rectfying the grade in the
Canadian Rockies along the Kicking Horse
river. where the grade is now as per cent
on the west side. REQUIRING four large
mountain engines to push twenty cars a
distance OF eight miles. This district is
being heightened four ana one-half miles
Under the rectification to reduce the grade
to 22 per cent. The work includes two
tunnels close together on opposite sides OF
the river. both a complete circle on the
interior Of the mountain with 10 per cent
curves and a grade Of l6 per cent. The
portals Of each tunnel are close together.
The work will cost $4,000 The con-
templated work will cost about 100000,
or $4,000 a mile.
Business consists largely Of wheat ship
ments with some Aslatic business and a
large passenger traffic. especially in the
summer. The Canadian National park is
twice tho size of Yellowstone park and
very attractive, lying north of the fifty
first parallel The days at this season OF
the year have about eighteen hours OF
daylight. The scenery is very rugged and
most precipltious with many hotels and
Swiss challets scattered through the park.
all owned by the Canadian Pacific.
Herd Of Buffalo.
The Canadian government has at
Bammf a herd Of eighty buffalo. most of
which were brought from the United
States. There are also 200 buffalo further
north and as both herds are increasing in
size 1t may mean the perpetuation Of the
American Bison.
The cities are showing a rapid growth
Regina, the capital ot Saskatchewan in leOC
had LOO people and now has 14,0n. The
government has located here a post Of the
famous northwest mounted police, whc
have charge OF the park. The country IS
effected this year by the depression in the
United States, especially in the colonization
of lands.
They are developing coal fields along
the Grand Trunk Pacific and the govern.
ment as well as the railroads seem very
active in inducing the assisting immigration
by very favorable laws and by giving tc
each settler $500 trees and in other ways
assisting them to- get a foothold.''