The Hudson's Bay Route Supported. 511 



justify a much larger expenditure than would be incurred in such a 

 test. The amount expended would be only a small fraction of the 

 amount which we have spent from time to time in deciding on the 

 practicability of particular routes on the Canadian Pacific Railway 

 and the Intercolonial Railway, and we would then have decided, 

 positively and perhaps, forever, the question of the feasibility of 

 such a scheme. The labours of the committee, no doubt, will be 

 valuable in ascertaining on what points there is no doubt, and as to 

 what other points further enquiry may be necessary ; but the work 

 of the committee will be valueless if the Government do not supple- 

 ment their labours in some such way as I have suggested." 



Mr. Orton said : " The subject before the House is so important 

 that I may be excused for making a few remarks in the way of 

 urging the Government to use every possible means of ascertaining 

 fully the feasibility of the route in question. If the route should 

 be feasible there is no doubt that it will perfectly revolutionize the 

 future prospects of this country. Not only has the Dominion a 

 deep interest in this question, but the British Empire is also inter- 

 ested in its solution. The distance between Yokohama and Liver- 

 pool, by way of Port Moody and the Hudson's Bay Railway route, 

 is one thousand eight hundred and twenty four miles shorter than 

 the route by New York and San Francisco. The route to Melbourne 

 would be two thousand two hundred and fourteen miles shorter by 

 Port Moody and Hudson's Bay than by San Francisco and New 

 York ; and the distance to Hong Kong would be shortened two 

 thousand two hundred and four miles by this route. 



"I hope that the effect of the labours of this committee will be to 

 elicit sufficient information to justify the Government in taking 

 such steps as will result in solving completely, and, if possible, for- 

 ever, the feasibility of that route. I have no doubt the Government 

 would be justified in seeking the assistance of the British Govern- 

 ment in carrying ont the exploration, which may probably require 

 two or three years to accomplish. While there is a diversity of 

 opinion as to whether the Bay is open around the north shore or the 

 south, there seems to be a wide feeling in favour of the view that 

 the Straits themselves are open the whole year. If the navigation 



