TRAVEL. RAILROADS. 177 



support the weight of a horse and sleigh. This is certainly 

 feasible, and would shorten the passage considerably, 

 and probably also abutments might be made in mid- 

 channel. 



Even in summer the island is somewhat out of the 

 beaten track. The only steamers that ply between the 

 island and the mainland are owned by a company who 

 run their boats to suit I don't know who, unless it be 

 themselves they certainly do not endeavour to suit the 

 public. The travelling public therefore stay away, and 

 the island, which is admirably suited from climatic and 

 other reasons for a summer resort, loses those dollars with 

 which travellers pave their way. It is not sufficiently 

 known, and its resources are not therefore developed as 

 they might be. 



The second bribe given to Prince Edward Island to 

 induce her to cast in her fortunes with the Dominion was 

 a railway. The other maritime provinces and British 

 Columbia were also "railwayed" into confederation, and 

 the same process is being now applied to the recalcitrant 

 province of Newfoundland. 



The process of " railwaying " a province into confedera- 

 tion is briefly this. Send agents into the coveted province 

 to raise an agitation for a railroad. ijtauare the press and 

 foster this agitation by every possible means. Get a 

 railway bill passed in the local legislature, keeping the 

 cost quietly in the background. This can be accomplished 

 by liberal promises, a few substantial gifts, and an order 

 or two of St. Michael and St. George. Money seems 

 plentiful at first, and the railroad progresses. Everything 

 goes smoothly until one morning the province finds that 



