284 CRUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



laid across the continent to aid in the rapid transport of this 

 wealth to the seaboard. If the increase in the area of land 

 opened annually to cultivation continues as at present, a few 

 years will show such a volume of grain to be transported that 

 the new outlets will be unable to give free exit to it, and a new 

 lane by which it can be taken to the European markets must be 

 found. 



The route by rail to the port of Churchill, on the western side 

 of Hudson bay, and from thence to Europe in ships, is the 

 shortest, and is likely to prove the best, of all those outside the 

 present routes by rail to the headwaters of the St. Lawrence 

 navigation. 



Ships go wherever cargoes can be obtained, and all that is 

 needed to open Hudson bay for ordinary commercial navigation 

 is a line of rails to carry freight to one of its ports. At present 

 the Hudson's Bay Company and the Revillon Eur Company 

 have ships going annually to the bay, and a greater amount of 

 freight would attract more steamers. 



As stated in the historical summary, the London merchants 

 opened communication with northern Russia by ships trading 

 in the White sea in the days of Queen Elizabeth. Spurred on 

 by the success attending this adventure to the northeast, a few 

 years later they sent vessels to the northwest, in the hopes of 

 opening up a similar trade, and of discovering a short and safe 

 passage to the rich markets of China and India. 



Hudson's voyage in 1610 resulted in the discovery of Hud- 

 son bay, and in the knowledge that no great opportunities existed 

 there for extensive commerce, owing to the lack of civilized 

 natives. James and Fox completed the exploration of the bay, 

 without coming in contact with any of the natives residing on 

 its shores. 



The formation of the Hudson's Bay Company was due to the 

 knowledge of the Erench fur traders, that a profitable trade 



