ROADS AND RAILWAYS. 51 



opening up new iudiistiie-; for the cni]>loyniont of the increasing 

 l»opuhvtion, for wliose sujiport the fislieries were now inradeqnate. 

 It referred to the mineral wealth and tlie great extent of fertile 

 lands which the Geological Survey of the island had made known ; 

 to the large importations of agricultural produce and live stock, 

 almost all of which could be raised in the country ; to the 

 advantages the island possessed as a grazing country, and the 

 facilities of exporting live stock to England ; and to the benefits 

 that would flow fiom the remunerative employment i'urnished to 

 tlie people by tlie construction of a railway. It concluded by 

 recommending tlie passing of an Act authoiizing a loan of the 

 amount required to construct tlie line within the limits of one 

 million pounds sterling, and in sums not exceeding half a n^illion 

 of dollars in any one year. Tliis report was adopted Ijy the 

 Legisl.iture l)y an overwhelming majority of botli blanches. 

 Railway tVimniissioneis were ajipointed and Engineers were 

 omployL-d in the summer and autumn of 1880 iu making a pre- 

 liminary survey of tlie southern portion of the ])i-o])0.-ed line. 



FIRST RAILWAY CONTRACT. 



A new era was thus initiated. The Colony took a fresh de- 

 paiture in the direction of progress. The long-neglected natural 

 resources of the island were now to be turned to profitable 

 account. The horizon Avidened in the eyes of the people, and 

 confidence in a great i'uture for the country was developed. The 

 funds necessary for the building of a railway were to be raised 

 by a loan on the credit of the colony, and the Ooveinment was 

 to direct and control the work. To t!ii«, howevei.grave objections 

 of a i)olitical character were raised. It was considei'ed by many 

 that the construction of the line would be more economically 

 carried out by a contract, and that the work would prove more 

 satisfactory. When the Legislature met in February, 1881, tin- 

 tender of an American Syndicate for building the railway was 

 accepted. The leading features of the contract were as follows : 

 A line f>r narrow-guage railway (3 feet G in.) to run Irom St. 

 John's to Halls Bay, with branches to Brigus and Harbor Grace : 



