CHAPTER IX. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Roads Unknown to Early Settlers Selfish Policy of Mother 

 Country Fences and Chimneys Prohibited Eeform Be- 

 gins in 1813 First Road in 1825 Road Grant in 1832 -r 

 Road Building Leads to Discovery of Minerals Geological 

 Survey Visions of Railways Looming up Sir William 

 Whiteway's Scheme First Railway Contract in 1881 

 First Sod Cut In the Hands of a Receiver Change of 

 Government and Railway Extension Sir William Again 

 at the Helm A New Survey Northern and Western 

 Railway Railway Extension Means More Common Roads 

 Mails by Railway Route of Railway Newfoundland 

 no Longer an Island. 



jN no other country whose discovery dates 

 back as far as Newfoundland has the mate- 

 rial and social advancement of the people 

 been so seriously retarded by the want of roads. The 

 original settlement of the island took place entirely in 

 connection with the fisheries. The gathering of the 

 abundant and valuable harvest from the tempestuous 

 sea was the only industry attempted or contemplated. 

 Around the rock-bound coast, in little secluded coves 

 and harbors, the fishermen (chiefly from England, 



(68) 



