The Hudson's Bay Route Supported. 507 



more ways than that of creating an outlet for the North-West. Its 

 mineral wealth and fisheries are valuable. If we have a seaport at 

 Nelson River, I believe it will stimulate the people of the North- 

 West ; and the opening up of a Hudson's Bay route, and the con- 

 struction of a railway from Winnipeg or some other point to 

 Hudson's Bay, would cause farming land in that countiy to advance 

 fifty per cent. There is no country, I believe, in the world which 

 produces grain of a higher quality or a larger number of bushels to 

 the acre than the North- West, and if we are afforded sufficient 

 outlets and cheap freight rates it will come to the front and become 

 one of the most prosperous Provinces of the Dominion. 



" We trust the Dominion Government will give this matter their 

 serious consideration, so that in the near future the problem as to 

 whether Hudson's Bay is navigable or not will be settled, and that 

 by practical tests made by the Dominion Government. We hope 

 the Government will not occupy three or four years in exploring the 

 Bay, because we in the North-West want immediate relief, so much 

 so that the people would be willing to have a direct tax laid on 

 them for the construction of a Hudson's Bay Railway. We have the 

 assurance of gentlemen who have made it their business to make 

 enquiries that there is a company in Liverpool prepared to place on 

 the route a fleet of ten steamers each of three thousand tons burthen. 

 They have no doubt as to the. possibility of navigating Hudson's 

 Bay, and what they want is that a railway should be constructed to 

 the shores of the Bay to carry the grain to the port of shipment. It 

 is well known to hon. members that two charters have been granted 

 by Parliament to companies for the building of that road, and this 

 House has agreed to allow the companies to amalgamate. It is of 

 the utmost importance to the country as a whole that the Govern- 

 ment should endeavour to give the company building that road not 

 only lands — because it has been stated within the last few days that 

 lands will not build railways, and that you cannot always sell the 

 bonds — but also a portion of the money proposed to be voted to the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway Company which would be quite sufficient 

 to build six hundred miles of railway, for it is estimated that the 

 whole road from Winnipeg to Churchill will only cost twenty two 

 million when completed. 



