REVIEWS — OVERLAND ROUTE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 2G5 



against nor local interests to serve, and consequently no undue influences to 

 twist or warp the intended line out of the most advantageous location. The 

 main artery of traflBc for the future service of the country might thus be deter- 

 mined upon under the most favourable circumstances. 



" It would next be necessary to select, at proper intervals, the most suitable 

 points for stations and villages ; and from these, as diverging points, ' Coloni- 

 zation Roads ' might then be laid out to the right and left, with as much care 

 as the location of gravel or macadamized roads generally requires. These colo- 

 nization roads thus laid out and adapted to the peculiar features of the locality, 

 avoiding steep hills, ravines, lakes, or unnecessary river crossings, might form 

 centre or governing lines upon which the townships may be projected ; these 

 townships to be sub-divided in the usual way into blocks of farm lots, with con- 

 cession roads between, drawn so as to unite with the colonization roads." 



Mr. Fleming having made a calculation as to the amount of timher 

 required for fuel and repairs in a country where, for some time at 

 least, wood must be looked to as the main supply of fuel, proposes as 

 the easiest plan to reserve a sufficient space on each side of the terri- 

 torial road for the necessary supplies, and this, he ingeniously con- 

 tends, would in a great degree guard the railway, which is as speedily 

 as possible to occupy the territorial road, from the evil of snow drifts. 

 He points out other advantages arising from this kind of reserve along 

 the line of road, and shows that, the principal stations being chosen 

 with reference to fitness for settlement, and made the centres of colo- 

 nization roads, around which the blocks for farming purposes, with 

 concession roads giving access to them, would be laid out, no serious 

 inconvenience could arise from the sides of the territorial road not 

 being immediately occupied. It remains for us to give in his own 

 words, Mr. Fleming's ideas as to the modes in v(fhich the work of 

 forming a highway to the Pacific should be carried forward, and the 

 time which may be expected to be required for its completion ; the 

 latter, of course, depending much on the number of settlers that can 

 be introduced into a country which, independently of its own great 

 advantages, will by means of this work afford them great assistance 

 in overcoming the first difficulties of a new settlement. The follow- 

 ing is our author's summary of the points he has endeavoured to es- 

 tablish : — 



" 1st. That the project of a highway to the Pacific is as old as the first settle- 

 ment in Canada, and that recent events show its increasing importance. 



" 2nd. That a continuous line of railway, with electric telegraph, is bettor 

 calculated to meet the permanent wants of the country and serve the interests 



Vol. VII. o 



