IMPORTANCE OF CENTRAL BRITISH AMERICA. 419 
people as Canada now possesses, and-leading directly towards the 
Jowest and by far the most facile pass in the Rocky Mountains.* 
Apart from the advantages which Central British America affords as 
@ railroad route over any portion of the United States, the direction 
and magnitude of its navigable lakes and rivers are of the utmost 
importance. These border on, or directly traverse, the Fertile Belt, 
and thus afford a splendid means of access by steamer from Red 
River to within 200 miles of the Rocky Mountains.+ 
munication, whether in the form ofa stage road or ultimately of a railway, by the growth of a 
local population. But the favourable comparison does not rest here, The mountain region, 
which offers such a difficult barrier to communication between the Pacific and the valley of the 
Blississippi, possesses peculiarities in British America which are in themselves of a very striking 
eharacter, and quite sufficient to establish the line of route, cutting diagonally the 50th, 5ist, 52nd, 
and 68rd parallels, as far superior in point of physical conformation to any other lines of route 
which have been explored in British America of the United States. 
* Table of comparison between the different passes in the Rocky Mountains, in the United 
Siates and in British territory, north of latitude 38° ;— 
United States— Altitude of Pass.—Feet, 
Surveyed Route between the 38th and 39th parallels of latitude ...........sssese0ces0es ssenaebelee . 10,032 
Route between the 41st and 42nd parallels............ eee 
Route between the 47th and 49th parallels ..........ccccccocsssecsooens 
British territory— 
Wananaski Pass, from the South Saskatchewan to the Kootanie River ..,.. pCO000000045000 seeee 5,985 
Wicking Horse Pass, from the South Saskatchewan to the Columbia............. goenoned goeacionod 5,420 
Vermilion Pass, from the South Saskatchewan to the Kootanie River .... sense 4,944 
* Old Columbia Trail,” or Leather Pass, from the Athabasca to the TShaeereailic Gemmding 
emigrant route—probably below ............. REE chdecaesoaecausdeuac tee AB erOreeeG « 4,500 
The breadih of country forming a continuous mountain region is far greater in the United 
States than in British America. The United States is crossed by three great systems of moun- 
tains, extending generally from north to south. The first system, beginning with the Sierra 
Madre, and terminating in the Black Hills of Nebraska territory, is partially gorged by the Rio 
Grande, completely cut through by the North Platte and the Sweet Water Rivers, and turned by 
the Missouri. It does not extend into British America. The total breadth of muuntainous 
country, in the proper acceptation of the term, within the limits of the United States, varies 
from 500 to 900 miles. In British Columbia, the greatest length is not more than 330 miles from 
the Leather Portage to the Pacific; and the actual distance, in an air line, from the Leather 
Portage to the extremity of Belhoula Inlet, the possible terminus of a route, does not exceed 
400 miles. 
+ The successive links in a road and steam navigation across the Continent through British 
America may be as follow :— 
1. Road from Fort William to the northern indent of Rainy Lake, via the MATAWAN 
UUVEN I) scree csansevesoetecsaneucanaddoasamcavnucausiludueseucvcseseteaexsenk av slecaaomeneebcwine cogs atenece a. 200 
2. Steam from the northern indent of Rainy Lake to the Falls opposite Fort Frances 49 
%, Steam from Fort Frances to the north-west corner 0? Shoal Lake (Lake of the 
WiOOdS)) secccsnsseasseeens aeaaee astentenectaneise Meche tseoese cgusnabancay REED AG RE Sener are oe oeeree seccseee’ 180 
370 
4, Road from Shoal Lake to Fort Garry........scsccccssssesseses Naweeee Seeusaeanneramatnranaesesavanss 90 
5. Steam from Fort Garry to the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan .. a .. 280 
6. Steam from Grand Rapids to Edmonton ..............ss0sceeseseseeeeeeree Laduchtuuvineeseees eee §=—900 
7, Edmonton to the Frazer, vid Midtte or Leather Pass, by Road . POSER CEEOL LEREEED aire) 
Total distance from Lake Superior to Frazer River— Road, 580; Steam, 1150...... 1730 
. If an inclined plane or a short canal were constructed at the Grand Falls of the Saskate 
