204 REVIEWS — OVERLAND ROUTE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



equal sized lots bounded by straight lines independent of the natural 

 features of the country, with roads left at regular intervals which 

 may be improved as they are wanted, but which are liable to pass 

 through swamps or over steep hills and which have no reference to 

 any particular place to be reached by them. Mr. Fleming contends 

 that in laying out for occupation a country which is as yet a wilder- 

 ness, it is of great importance to consider well the natural features 

 of the country, the parts best fitted for immediate occupation and its 

 relations with other neighbouring or connected countries, and to open 

 roads and lay out lots in reference to these circumstances. He divides 

 the roads required into three classes — the great leading roads, which 

 ought to become railways, and which he would call "Territorial 

 Roads ;" the gravel or stone road, going through important parts of 

 the country, and around which the first settlements would be made, 

 which he proposes to name " Colonization Roads ;" and the earth 

 roads, formed by a mere clearing of the forest, offering access to farms, 

 but not needing any special efforts for their improvement, which may be 

 denominated " Concession Roads." The following extract shews how 

 these several kinds of roads should be formed : — 



" In pre-arranging a system of internal communications for a new territory, it 

 would be necessary lo take a prospective view of the character of the traffic 

 which might exist when, after a lapse of years, the district becomes populated. 

 In this we might be guided by drawing a comparison between the natural ad- 

 vantages of soil, climate, and position of the section of the country to be colo- 

 nized, with those of any similar section which has become occupied, and, to 

 to some extent, developed. In this manner we could form some idea of the 

 nature of the future commerce of the country, and consequently of all the 

 classes of roads which would ultimately be required to accommodate it. The 

 leading direction which traffic may seek, or the direction which, in a na- 

 tional or political sense, it may appear expedient to guide it, would prescribe 

 the general direction of the main line of road through the territory, and the 

 other consideration would determine its character. This is the first thing to be 

 established, as upon it the direction and character of all minor lines mainly 

 depend. 



" Assuming the tract of country to be colonized is such as to justify us in the 

 belief that in due time a railway may be constructed through it, the first step 

 would be to lay out a ' Territorial Road ' between the more important points in 

 the general direction of traffic previously determined. The territorial road 

 ought to be located with the utmost care, and in all that relates to curvatures 

 and levels, the best railvcay location in an engineering aspect alone which the 

 country traversed could aflford. In this respect there would doubtless be less 

 than usual difficulty, as there would be neither right-of-way obstacles to guard 



