152 ST ANDREWS AND WOODSTOCK RAILWAY. 



whence a branch is to be carried into Maine, while the 

 trunk-line proceeds to the Grand Falls, and finally to the 

 St Lawrence. Some steps have been taken to carry this 

 project into effect by means of funds raised partly in 

 England and partly in the province, and ground had been 

 broken in the neighbourhood of St Andrews a short while 

 before my arrival. This line goes through a thinly 

 peopled, thinly cleared, and, for a large part of the way, 

 a naturally sterile country, which, for many rears, can 

 afford very little intermediate passenger or goods traffic. 

 There can be no doubt, however, that such a railway 

 terminating at St Andrews would tend so much to revive 

 its ancient prosperity as to deserve the most strenuous 

 exertions of those who are interested in the town, in 

 endeavouring to carry it into effect.* 



The peculiarities in the winds at St Andrews exhibit 

 a striking illustration of the benefit of shelter to the 

 land, and of the evil effects which follow the indiscrimi 

 nate clearing which, in most new countries, takes place, 

 and of which I have already spoken when describing the 

 shores of the Bay de Chaleur. A due north wind by 

 compass is sure to bring rain. A N.N.E. wind is the 

 coldest by the thermometer what is called grey cold 

 but it is not the most unpleasant. The due south wind 

 in winter, though not so low in temperature, is the most 

 raw and chilling. It appears to come direct from the 



* A correspondent in New Brunswick writes me, in regard to this 

 line, (dated 30th November 1850,) that &quot; ten miles of the St Andrews 

 railway have been graded the rails are about being laid the company 

 have offered to contract for buildings for a depot, and the grading of 

 fifteen miles more. They have obtained a grant of 10,000 acres of the 

 wild-lands, consequent on the expenditure of 10,000, as stipulated in 

 the act of the General Assembly.&quot; The completion of this, or of any 

 other railway, must be of great benefit to the province, whatever return 

 it may be found to give to the shareholders. 



A new impetus has recently been given to the whole subject of rail 

 ways in the colonies, by the convention held at Portland, and by the 

 rejected &quot; European and North American Railway.&quot; 



