EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC. 127 



new province on tlio Pacific. Within a period of Iburteou years from the outrance of 

 British Colunibia into the Dominion, we have a record of eighteen overhmd jonrueys, 

 most of which were undertaken in connection with the establishmeut of the national 

 railway. 



(1) Sir Hedor Langevms risil lo Brilisli Columbia, 18*71. 



A journey was made to British Columbia by Sir Hector Laugcvin. It does not 

 strictly come withiu the list of Canadian overland expeditions, inasmuch as it was made 

 by railway through the United States to San Francisco, thence by steamboat to Vic- 

 toria. It is chiefly remarkable as the first journey undertaken by a Canadian minister 

 to the newly acquired western province of the Dominion. In the summer of 18V1 

 the Minister of Public Works, visited the Pacific coast on behalf of the Government,, 

 with th(^ view of acquiring some information concerning the new province, especially 

 in relation to the Pacific Railway and its western terminus. His duty was to enquire 

 into the requirements of the western province, and personally to ascertain what public 

 works WM're imperative. To fulfil the mission assigned him, he visited Victoria, New "West- 

 minster, and extended his observations by proceeding to Yale, Lyftou, Cariboo, and other 

 localities in the interior of the country. He also made an examination of Bule Inlet, Bur- 

 rard Inlet, Barclay Sound, Nanaimo, and other j)oiijts on the coast. Sir Hector Langevin 

 on his return to Ottawa, issued a volume containing an account of his journey and obser- 

 servatious, in which was included much valuable statistical information. 



(2) Expedition of Mr. Saiidford Fleming, 1872. 



Early in 1871 the writer of this paper was appointed eugineer-in-chief of the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway. At that time but limited knowledge had been obtained of the 

 immense extent of territory to be explored ; and the opinions, which were current regarding 

 it, were not in favor of the possibility of constructing a railway. In 1863 the Home 

 Government presented to Parliament " the journals, detailed reports, and observations 

 relative to the explorations by Captain Palliser of that portion of British North America 

 which lies between Lake Superior and the Pacific Ocean, during the years 1857, '58, '59 

 and '60." In these documents the opinion had been strongly expressed that the impedi- 

 ments to railway construction were insuperable.' 



On January 24th, 1871, the Legislative Council of British Columbia unani- 

 mously passed an address to the Queen, praying Her Majesty to admit British Colum- 

 bia into the Dominion of Canada upon the terms previously arranged. One of the 

 essential conditions was the establishment of a railway " to connect the sea-board of 



' Keport of the Jlinister of Public Works lo tlio Canadian Parliament, 1S7;>, p. 53 . " It is but ten years since 

 tliat Captain Palliser, in liis report to the Imperial Government, declared the utter impossibility of findinj; any 



communication throuj;!! Canadian territory ïliis deliberate and forcibly expressed opinion, the 



result of four years labour in the field, of a man of eminence, aided by assistants of equal culture, ability and 

 energy, may, with propriety, be quoted to show the formidable difliculties to be overcome in the Pacific Eailway 

 line. I 'iHiculties which, until the last three years, have been held to be insuperable, aud the solution of which 

 calls for unremitting labour and thought." 



