112 REPORT 1851. 



ance, and one upon which it must be admitted there are no data for the formation of 

 any definite plan. All authorities, however, concur in viewing this barrier as much 

 less formidable on the British than on the United States territory. 



Mr. Isbister is said to have found the rivers Athabasca and Saskachawau flowing 

 through alluvial formation, and that in their vicinity the Rocky Mountain chain had 

 lost its identity, and was reduced to inconsiderable elevations of from 600 to 700 feet. 



Having crossed the Rocky Mountains, either by ascending to the summit upon the 

 lateral spurs, or passing through by a tunnel, as circumstances might determine, the 

 line would take the direction of Frazer's River to the Pacific Ocean. 



The numerous and spacious harbours in the vicinity of Vancouver's Island, together 

 with a rare combination of maritime advantages and an abundant supply of coal, 

 point to this spot as the site of the future capital of the West. 



At first sight the selection of this line may appear a very formidable undertaking, 

 and doubtless it will require both energy and skill. The operation being rather an 

 extensive one, the most judicious plan would be to cut up the distance into sections 

 by ascertaining and fixing the points at which the principal obstacles, such as rivers 

 and mountain ranges, would be crossed most easily. These sections would then be 

 treated as integral lines, although forming portions of the whole, and thus the ope- 

 ration would become much more manageable. 



Nearly the whole range of country through which the proposed line would pass 

 is admirably adapted for the purpose of affording numerous points at which to form 

 small settlements and to commence the work at several places at the same time, in 

 consequence of the existing facilities for water communication, and the many small 

 settlements already in existence. 



To construct an extensive railway, beginning at one end and working continuously 

 to the other, would entail much additional expense and render the progress very slow. 



The abundant supply of building materials which are found along the whole course 

 of this line, the rich agricultural and mineral districts, affording employment to the 

 various classes of emigrants, and also being the shortest possible route from Europe 

 to China across the great American continent, seem to point to this district as the 

 natural position of a land communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 



In reference to the various and almost boundless resources of the territory under 

 consideration, better authority cannot be desired than that furnished by the cele- 

 brated report of the Earl of Durham upon the affairs of British North America. 



But however great the resources of any country may be, without the means of in- 

 ternal communication these resources must remain undeveloped. So intimately 

 does the prosperity of any country depend upon the introduction of roads, that this 

 one class of improvements has always been held as an unerring criterion of the de- 

 gree of civilization and prosperity to which it has attained. 



With respect to the ways and means by which this gigantic project is to be carried 

 out, it has been stated that the construction of the first portion, amounting to about 

 700 miles, has been guaranteed by the Imperial Government ; and in reference to 

 the remaining portion, the varied circumstances of the territory passed through — 

 dense primseval forests of the best timber, rich mineral districts, already partially 

 occupied, and extensive tracts of agricultural and grazing land, alternating along the 

 proposed route, — clearly indicate the varied resources by which the road must be 

 constructed. 



Those portions passing through the primaeval forests of timber of superior quality, 

 must be paid for by the timber upon the ground, and also the land when cleared, 

 and that not by cutting down the timber in the first instance, but by merely cutting 

 a passage for the railway, and opening out an extensive traffic in timber, superseding 

 altogether the present laborious, unmechanical, barbarous system of " lumbering," 

 which destroys a great proportion of the limber, and damages to a considerable ex- 

 tent the remaining quantity. 



The mineral and agricultural districts must in the same manner be made to pay 

 for the construction of the line passing through them. 



The breadth of land necessary for this purpose can only be ascertained by a care- 

 ful examination of the several localities, comparing the difficulties of construction 

 with the remunerative character and capabilities of the particular district. 



