76 ItOADS AND RAILWAYS. 



CODROY VALLEYS. 



From St. George's Eay the line passes within a mile of the 

 villages on the coast, and, at Crabb's Brook, runs behind the 

 Angiiille range of moimtains down the Codroy Valleys to Cape 

 Kay, and thence a distance of nine miles, to Port-au-Basqiie. 

 The Anguille hills are too high and steej) fur ordinary tillage, 

 but contain the finest, sheep and cattle runs, where immense 

 flocks and herds might Ije fed. The Codroy Valleys have long 

 been celebrated for their fertility and are partially settled. They 

 contain at least seventy thousand acres, much of it fit for settle- 

 ment. They are well wooded with spruce, Ijalsani, fir, yellow 

 and white birch, and tamarack. The islands and flats of the 

 lower part of Great Codroy River yield a luxuriant growth of 

 wild grass, aftbrding an ample su^jply of good fodder i'or cattle. 

 The cattle and sheep reaied on the small farms here jsroduce ex- 

 cellent beef and mutton, and the grass, grain and root-crops 

 testify to the excellence of the soil on which tliey are grown. 

 The dairy produce is of the best description. 



MKSTERX NEWrOUNDLANW. 



If we take the whole tract of country fiom tlie Humliei A'alley 

 (inclusive) to Cape Ray, through which the line passes, Ave have 

 Avhat will undouljtedly be one day the garden of Western Xew- 

 foundland. A])ait from its niineral treasures and forest wealth, 

 the agricultural ca])abilities of this region are such that it should 

 .sujiply all the markets of the island and also be able to export 

 largely to otlit-r countries. 



POKT-AL'X-BASQUE. 



From Cape Ray to Port-aux-Basijue the line passes over nine 

 miles of rocky barrens, but the valleys cutting the barrens con- 

 tain good farming and jjastui-e land and are partly taken up and 

 settled. Sheeji ranching could be carried on here with advan- 

 tage. This port, which forms the terminiis, is large, safe au<l 

 commodious, the largest steamers being aide to enter at all 

 periods of the tide. It is the nearest winter port to the Do- 

 minion of Canada. Once tlie railway is conqdeted connections 



