REVIEWS — OVERLAND ROUTE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 207 



River between its junction with Lake Huron and Lake Nippissing ; and, lastly, 

 the most desirable point of connection with the existing railway system of Canada 

 either at Ottawa, at Peterboro, or at Barrie — all of which points are directly 

 connected with the Grand Trunk Railway by means of the branch lines running 

 southerly to it. On the location of the ' territorial road,' which could only be 

 done on a careful survey of the country, the next step would be the determina- 

 tion of station points from whence to lay out colonization roads to the right and 

 left, wherever the soil was favourable for setttlement. Upon the colonization 

 roads the townships would next be projected. 



" So soon as any section of the road was finally located, together with its 

 branches, the introduction of settlers might commence. The road should be 

 cleared through the wooded districts to a width of two chains, or 150 feet in 

 order chiefly to preserve the telegraph when erected from being injured by trees 

 falling. The clearing would at once give employment to settlers, and with sub- 

 sequent work in improving the road, greatly aid them in paying for their land 

 and in supporting their families until their farms produced sufficient crops. 

 Throughout the open prairie country, which is more than one-third the whole 

 distance, the trouble and expense of clearing would be avoided ; but as the 

 great natural obstacles which isolate the interior, and prevent the possibility of 

 establishing a continuous telegraphic communication through the country are 

 the wooded and broken districts at both extremities, it becomes indispensable to 

 force a way of communication through them. This is doubtless a work of con- 

 siderable labour and corresponding expenditure, but without it no satisfactory 

 progress can be made. This preliminary step is especially requisite to the east 

 of the Red River valley, so that settlers might obtain access to the central plains ; 

 and in view of the construction of a continuous line of telegraph at an early 

 day, to be followed by a waggon-road as soon as circumstances would allow, 

 the ' territorial line ' should be cleared through the western division likewise," 



" To begin at one end of the road, and gradually extend the settlements north- 

 ward and westward, would perhaps be too tedious an operation, in view of the 

 importance of opening an early connection with the interior. It would, there- 

 fore, doubtless be advisable to begin at several intermediate points accessible by 

 water from Lakes Huron and Superior, and proceed with simultaneous opera- 

 tions. On referring to the map, it appears that such points exist at distances 

 ranging from 50 miles to 90 miles apart; and from these, as bases, the clearing 

 of the road could proceed in both directions at the same time, while settlements 

 could be formed wherever the soil proved favourable. In due time the clearings, 

 penetrating the forest to the right and left along the line of road previously 

 located, would pierce the country from one end to the other ; and the same 

 being accomplished in a similar liianner in the western division, a continuous 

 line of electric telegraph might then be constructed. 



" The extreme importance of the telegraphic communication extending from 

 colony to colony across the country; even during the earliest stages of settle- 

 ment, is too apparent to need comment ; and being constructed on the precise 

 line of the intended waggon-road and of the ultimate railway, it would always 

 be in the position where its services would be called into requisition. 



