New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-16
Toronto, October 10.


ping cannot hope, for some years AT
least, to rival in the volume OF their
trade the principal ocean terminals OF
the United States, their relative impor-
lance is certain to be greatly increased
during the next decade. Montreal and
Quebec. with new terminal facilities on
a large scale, are preparing for rapid
increase of traffic. Halifax aspires to
become "the New York Of Canada.
Vancouver, on the Pacific Coast, has
high ambitions. Other ports are look
ing for a share in the dawning pros
perity.
The situation on the Atlantic sea-
board is especially interesting. Halifax
bases its claims to greatness upon the
following considerations:
/. Three transcontinental railways
are headed in its direction.
Q. Important, although as yet secret,
developments are in progress which are
believed TO have in view the establish
ment Of the much discussed "All-Red"
steamship system. Halifax would be
tho North Atlantic port Of such line.
8. It is already Csnada's principal
winter port, and is nearer to England
than any other port on the entire At
lantic Coast
L Harbor improvements, estimated
to cost $50, 900, 900, will give Halifax eI-
cellen. terminal facilities.
s. The export and import trade OF
the Dominion is certain to be greatly
increased. and Halifax is the logical
port for handling large proportion of
this traffic.
The National Transcontinental Rail-
way and the Canadian Northern Rail-
wsy, both Of which are nearing compile
ton, will link I'D with the Intercolonial
Railway and thus secure a connection
20 Halifax. The Canadian Pacific Rail-
way connects with the Intercolonial at
st. John, N. B., but is chiefly interested
in developing the New Brunswick port,
considerable rivalry existing between
St. John and Halifax. II is the general
belief in business and political circles
in Canada that the commission which
is now investigating the whole Cana
dian railway situation will report IN
favor of naturalization Of at least the
Grand Trunk Pacific and the Canadian
Northern lines. This would provide two
publicly owned transcontinentsl steam
roads from the Atlantic TO the Pacific.
Such transportation facilities, together
with double tracking. grade reduction
and other proposed improvements on
the Intercolonial, could not help but
stimulate the industrial life Of the rich
maritime provinces, which have already
been bestirred by the opportunities pre-
sented by war conditions.
The larger part Of Canadian freight
in the case Of export wheat more
than so per cent-now reaches the
ocean BY foreign railways and seaports.
Shipments by such non-Canadian routes
are coming into increasing disfavor, and
with the Intercolonial improved the
long land haul TO Halifax should not be
a serious disadvantage, and a greater
proportion Of Canada's products should
be carried by Canadian roads.
Shipping Groups Organizing
British shipping journals have been
busy Of late predicting remarkably IN
teresting developments in the North
Atlantic service" Rumor also has been
active in Canada. Toronto steamship
men, who are watching every move
closely, believe they see such regroup-
ing of interests as will divide the trade
to and from Canadian ports between
two strong shipping organizations. The
Canadian Pacific Railway, with its own
ships and those Of the Allan Line, which
il controls, has some seventy-tlve YES
sells available for the Atlantic and the
Pacific, and undoubtedly would be one
Of these organizations. The Cunard
Line. with the Canadian Northern Rail-
ways feet, which 1t recently acquired,
would likely be the other, or rather
the nucleus of the other, for it is sug-
gested that this line, operated under
the joint control of the British and
Canadian governments and in conJunc-
ton with the publicly owned transconti
mental railways of the Dominion, is
part of the Alfred Route project
which was worked out in considerable
detail two years ago.
II would not be complete surprise
were the Canadian government to an
nounce some such plan in connection
with the statement OF its railway
policy. Under the original plan Hall
fax was a most important point on
the proposed Alfred route between
Great Britain and Asia and Australia
via Canada. IL is also prominently
the Canadian terminal port for the
proposed fast passenger, mail and ex-
press freight line OF steamers be-
tween Ireland and Canada.
Advantages OF Halifax
Halifax occupies peculiarly ad-
vantageous geographical position In re-
lation TO the north Atlantic and coast
wise trade routes. II is $50 miles
nearer to Europe than any other
Canadian or United States port, open
all the year round, and splendidly