560 Out North Land. 



40° N., and the distance from the meridian of Greenwich (London) 

 on that parallel to the 95th meridian, which passes some twenty- 

 three miles east of Winnipeg, and about the same distance west of 

 St. Paul, Minn., and the whole distance between the two points by 

 great circle measurement is over five thousand miles ; while from 

 the same meridian, viz., that of Greenwich to the 95th on the 54th 

 parallel, which passes just north of Prince Albert, and intersects the 

 North Saskatchewan, the whole distance by the same measurement 

 is only three thousand eight hundred and seventy miles, or one 

 thousand one hundred and thirty miles less. But these direct line 

 distances do not represent all the gain of the Hudson's Bay route 

 For instance, the distance between Prince Albert and Liverpool, ma- 

 Hudson's Bay, provided there was a railway between the former 

 point and Churchill, by a line of rail and water communication, 

 would be but three thousand six hundred miles, while that between 

 Prince Albert and Liverpool, via Canadian Pacific Railway, provided 

 a direct rail were laid between the former point and Winnipeg, 

 would be over five thousand one hundred miles. This represents a 

 gain of over fifteen hundred miles in favour of the Hudson's Bay 

 route. This apparent disagreement is explained in this way: 1. 

 Travelling latitudinally across the continent north of the equator, 

 especially in high latitudes, distance is saved by going north of a 

 direct east or west course. For instance, suppose a navigator took 

 his departure in latitude 45° N., on the east coast of North America, 

 and wished to reach a point on the west coast of Europe in precisely 

 the same latitude, his course would by no means be due east. For 

 the first half of his voyage his course would be considerably north 

 of east, and for the last half considerably south of east. This is 

 rendered necessary owing to the shape of the earth, and is the key 

 to the explanation as to why there is so much gain in the distance 

 between the North-West and Liverpool, via Hudson's Strait. 

 Leaving Churchill and passing out through the Bay and Strait the 

 course is considerably north of east, and will continue so until 

 Greenland is breasted, when it will trend south of east, and thus 

 the greatest possible advantage of the shape of the earth is utilized 

 The extraordinary length of the days or of the period of day- 



