Science in Public Affairs 



in Lake Huron with Lake Ontario, whereby the 

 journey would be shortened by 400 miles. More- 

 over, the gigantic industry at Saulte Sainte Marie, 

 worked entirely by water-power, has its counter- 

 part, on a small scale, in the numberless saw-mills 

 which remind the visitor of Sweden. 



But, essential as is communication by water in 

 Canada, railways play the all-important part in 

 the development of the country to the westward 

 of Lake Superior. The agricultural prosperity of 

 Canada dates from the completion of the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway. The Dominion Government paid, 

 indeed, a heavy price for it in the way of a huge 

 cash subsidy, a gigantic land grant, and a partial 

 exemption from taxation ; but there can be no 

 doubt that progress would have been retarded for 

 many years in its absence. There are now several 

 competitors in the field. The Canadian Northern 

 Railway, which has received subventions from 

 the Government of Manitoba, operates a system 

 which, starting at the international boundary, 

 passes through Winnipeg and runs onwards in 

 a north-westerly direction. It may eventually be 

 carried to the Pacific, but it will no doubt be 

 preceded in point of time by the Grand Trunk 

 Pacific Railway, the second great trans-continental 

 enterprise to be promoted by the Dominion 

 Government. The eastern section, passing through 

 northern Ontario and Quebec, and thence to 

 Moncton in New Brunswick, is to be constructed 

 by the Government and leased to the Company, 

 which will in the meanwhile have made a new 



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