188 



REVIEWS. 



[1853. 



Ordario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad. — Report by the Chief Engineer. 

 Hugh Scolie, Toronto, 1853. 



This is a straiglit-forwaid, business-like document, much moic to our 

 fancy than the grandiloquent effusii ins it is sometimes our misfortune to 

 see issued in connection with engineering projects. AVe think Mr. Cum- 

 berland has exercised a wise discretion in giving so simple a statement 

 of facts, and so plain an exposition of his views in connection with the 

 enterprize with which he is chai-ged ; for, undoubtedly, it was origi- 

 nated by persons not honoured with a very large share of piiblic 

 confidence ; and that which, on the part of some, was at first a justi- 

 fi.able suspicion, seemed ultimately to strengtlien into a blind prejudice 

 and opposition, outliving the causes which induced them. Such a 

 -Report, therefore, as that before us, (even apart fi'om its strictly engi- 

 neering, statistical and commercial features) is well timed, for it puts 

 the public in possession of the present condition and management of 

 lie work, and satisfactorily proves that if its earlier couti'oul and 

 government were inefficient, the main objections have been removed, 

 and an independent and vigUant supervision secured for the future. 



In connection with these points, we observe that under the instruc- 

 tions of the Railway Commissioners, Mr. Cumberland, in ccnjunciion 

 with Mr. Keefei', recommended " some alterations, tending principally 

 to the reduction of curvature, and the more substantial and permanent 

 character of the structures ;" that on his assuming the charge of the 

 works, and prior to the granting of Government aid, the original con- 

 tract was set aside and a new agreement, entered into between the 

 Company and the Contractors, whereby "the entire completion of 

 every anticipated requirement, including harbours, depot scivice, aud 

 full equipment of rolling stock, has been secured on equitable terras," — 

 aud, further, that under that agreement '-the whole of Uie Engineering 

 Staff, previously in the service of the Contractors, has been re-organized 

 aud transferred to the service of the Company, and placed under the 

 direct authorily and controul of the Chief Engineer. All contracts 

 will hereafter be made by the Company's Officers, as well for depot, 

 rail and harbour service, as for locomotive power and general rolling 

 stock ; and the whole authority of construction and management be 

 centred in and exercised by the Direction aud its responsible officers, 

 the Chief Engineer being farther amenable to the Railway Commis- 

 sioners for the fulfilment of their regulations." The works are therefore 

 now being carried on under the same system as obtains on others of 

 similar character, and there is no longer any reason for doubting that 

 they will be creditably prosecuted to completion. 



Willi reference to the progress and opening of the line, we see that 

 31 miles of rail have beeu laid, and that 44 miles are on hand ready to 

 1 ly early in the Spriug ; — that the Road will be opened to Newmarket 

 in May, to Bradford in June, and to Barric in July next; and that the 

 whole length to Lake Huron is expected to be ready for traffic in 

 September next 



With regard to the location of the line from Barrie to Lake Huron, 

 Mr. Cumberland (prompted probably by a desire to satisfy, if that bg 

 possible, the different interests competing for it,) appears to have made 

 a very complete examiuation of the counlry, having run no less than 

 five lines of exploration between Lakes Simcoe and Huron, the results 

 of which he details very fully in liis Report. We doubt, however, if 

 his perseverance, and the liberality of the Directors in authorizing 

 f.uch unusually extensive surveys, will be appreciated by any but the 

 sliaicholders and those connected with fhe adopted line ; for, although 

 to an unprejudiced judgment he seems to justify his decisions, he will 

 scarcely escape the sectional opposition always resulting from dis- 

 appointment. 



The recommendation made to cany the line westward to Sydenham 

 and Saugeen, is highly judicious, for undoubtedly with 94 miles 

 already made, this Cimipany by a short extension, can serve the whole 

 of the Owen Sound Tract as efficiently, much sooner, and more profit- 

 ably than it could be served by any other means ; and the more 

 especially, as that Tract can scarcely be said to be yet so advanced or 

 thickly settled as to justify any independent scheme, or offer for years 



to come a remunerative field for a special line. We are, therefore 

 glad to hear, from other sources, that Mr. Cumberland has been in- 

 structed to cairy his proposal into immediate execution. 



Whilst referring to the Northern Terminus of the Road, to which so 

 large a proportion of the Report is devoted, we cannot refrain from 

 expressing onr surprise that so little should have been said as to the 

 Toronto Depots, concerning which so much excitement at present pre- 

 vails. On this point Mr. Cumberland writes with great caution, — 

 indeed, we may say, with a studied mystery (»■ affected indecision. 

 But why assume that to be secret which is known to everybody 7 

 Why play the diplomat when there is nothing to withhold ? Is it 

 that mistaking the opposition of the Corporation for the feeling of the 

 citizens,- he pi rinits himself to be frighted from his propriety ; or 

 docs he pay the commercial men of the City of Toronto so poor a com- 

 pliment as to believe that they desire to see their water frontage for 

 ever lying waste and unproductive, as it is and has been. For our 

 parts, we have known long before his Report was published, that the 

 vacant grounds at the Queen's Wharf, and between Yonge and Bay 

 Streets, were to be appropriated by the Norihern Companj' ; and, un- 

 doubtedlj', if the iuterests of the City as well as of the Railroad are to be 

 consulted, those are the positions best adapted to the purpose. In our 

 opinion it would have become the Chief Engineer better to have 

 spoken out boldly, for although he may entertain a very natural dread 

 of awakening a body which is said to be harmless only when it is 

 asleep, the selection is so judicious as to command a general support 

 far too powerful to be overruled by any adverse corporate decision. 



Appended to the Report are some interesting statistical t ibles, and 

 two excellent maps — one of Canada, and the other of the Counties of 

 York and Simcoe. Indeed, the whole document seems to have been 

 prepared with great care aud completeness, and is well worthy of 

 attentive perusal, especially by those wOio desire to have an insight 

 into the prospective trade aud traffic between the seaboard and the 

 far west, which this line is intended to accommodate, and which marks 

 it therefore as a road peculiarly valuable to Toronto and worthy of its 

 support. 



" Seventh Report of the Board of Works {of Toronto) for 1853." 



This Report, as published in the Toronto newspapers, occupies 

 exactly twenty-seven lines, (including the date aud Chairman's sig- 

 nature,) and recommends an expenditure of £27,108 2s. Od. ; being at 

 the rate of about £1,004 per line! The coincidence is as strange as the 

 standaid of critical admeasurement is novel; but the brevity of the 

 explanatory and the fullness of the financial portions of the document 

 conti-ast so harshly, that we felt bound to search for something in com- 

 mon — some connecting link between tliein — and have to thank the 

 printer's devil for sni:)plying, with sly drollery, that which the authors 

 had certainly evaded or forgotten. 



Although this Report is suggestive of very grave considerations in 

 connection with general corporate administration, we shall, in any 

 observations we may make upon it, confine ourselves strictly within 

 the limit consistent with the specific purposes of this Journal, which 

 certainly extends to all works of public improvement, and especially 

 comprises whatever is connected with the applicatiou of sanitary 

 measures. 



On an examination of the Estimates of the Board of Works, (which 

 at a glance it is evident have neither been prepared or recommended 

 under professional advice,) we perceive th.at an expeudituie is con- 

 templated during the current year of no less a sum than £I7,G44 I. "is. 

 Od., on the item of sewerage alone ! We naturally enquire — " Upon 

 what principle is this large expenditure to be made"? — "has atitj 

 system of sewage been adopted applicable to the whole City, and 

 capable of extension witli its growth ? — and, if so, is it such a system 

 as is wan-anted by the experience of the past, and justified by the 

 results of recent scientific and legislative investigation ?" We arc 

 bound to say that there is evidence in this Report that it is not, and 



