TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 727 



2. The Canadian Pacific Uailwaij. By Alexander Begg. 



The author explains the circumstances under which the federation of the 

 British North American provinces was brought about, and gives some account of 

 the acquisition by Canada of the north-west territories and the admission of 

 British Columbia into the Dominion. He points out that the Transcontinental 

 Railway through British territory was the very essence of the agreement between 

 the diflerent parts of Canada to unite under one system of government, and shows 

 as a result of this the building of the Intercolonial and Canadian Pacific Railways, 

 connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He then proceeds to recount how the 

 construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, as a Government work, proved a 

 failure, and that therefore the contract was entered into with the present Canadian 

 Pacific Railway Company for the construction of the road. He next gives an out- 

 line of the progress of construction from the beginning of the work to its comple- 

 tion, and following this a description of the country traversed by the railway, at 

 the same time showing the various sources of traffic upon which the line depends, 

 and is likely to depend in the future, for its revenue. The condition of the north- 

 west territories of Canada before and since the year 1881 is then described, 

 showing that to the railway is due the rapid development which has taken place in 

 so short a time. The author then goes on to say that a large traffic in cattle and 

 grain from the Western States of America is certain to flow through the channel 

 of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the seaboard, and that it will thus be an outlet 

 for the produce, not only of North-western Canada and British Columbia, but also 

 for a large portion of the United States. 



Mr. Begg also demonstrates that the trade which has already commenced 

 between Canada and Australia, China and Japan, via British Columbia, is likely 

 to assume considerable dimensions, and to prove a very important source of revenue 

 to the railway, and that the commerce also between Canada and the Australian 

 Colonies is certain to be largely augmented by the Canadian Pacific connection 

 with the British Columbia coast. In this respect the author points out that 

 Canada is likely to prove a powerful rival to the United States. The imperial 

 aspect of the enterprise is then dealt with, and shows how great an advantage it is 

 to Great Britain to have an independent route through British territory for the 

 protection of her possessions in the East. From a commercial standpoint the 

 author maintains that the mother country cannot but derive very material benefit 

 from this route in her trade relations with the Australian Colonies, China, and 

 Japan. The paper concludes with a number of tables showing the mileage of the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway lines operated by the company, the equipment of the 

 road on December 31, 1885, comparative statements of the earnings, and a com- 

 parison of times and distances by the West to the East. 



3. A new Trade Route between America and Europe. 

 By Hugh Suthekland. 



The settlement and cultivation of the Canadian north-west have directed public 

 attention in that country to the necessity of a new trade route to Europe. It has 

 been found that a railway carriage of 1,800 miles before reaching a seaport is a 

 serious drawback to the prosperity of that region, and places the settler at a great 

 disadvantage in competing with the other wheat -producing countries of the world. 

 With the object of getting on at least terms of equality with those rival countries 

 an agitation was begun a few years ago to open up an outlet through Hudson Bay, 

 and a railway has been projected from Winnipeg and Regina to Port Nelson, at 

 the mouth of the Nelson River, which, when completed, will bring the north-west 

 upwards of 1,000 miles nearer the seaboard than it is at present. 



The Canadian Government, anxious to encourage the enterprise, fitted out an 

 expedition to explore the strait and bay, with the view primarily of determining 

 the practicability of the route for commercial purposes. The first expedition was 

 sent out in 1884, and observing stations were established along the strait. These 



