APPENDIX. 



425 



a transhipment must be made to another steamer, which can ply 

 the whole way between the falls and the north-west corner of 

 the Lake of the Wood. From this point a road to be made 

 across to the Ked Kiver Settlement. This road would not be 

 more than 100 miles long, the greater part of it, seventy miles 

 at least, would, I know from my own knowledge (see my Keport, 

 No. VII.), be made without any difficulty. 



The following is a rough estimate of the cost of these several 

 works : — 



£ 



Eoad from Point des Meurons (Fort William) to Arrow Lake 1,000 



Tramways over the portages ...... 5,000 



Dams 2,000 



Eoad from the Lake of the Woods to Eed Eiver . . 1,500 



Depots .... * 500 



Engineering and contingencies ..... 1,500 



11,500 



I think it is quite safe to say that the expenses for making 

 the improvements I have suggested would be considerably under 

 12,000Z. sterling. 



The length of the proposed route, and the time it will take to 



perform the journey, will be — 



Length. Hours. 



Carriage Eoads 145 26 



Tramways ....... 3 6 



Boat navigation . . . . . .156 39 



Steam navigation . . . . • .186 18 



Total .... 490 99 



Allowing a rest of eight hours in the twenty-four, the journey 

 may easily be accomplished in less than six days. Mr. Dawson 

 has stated that it will take but " three days, as near as may be," 

 to accomplish the journey by the other route ; but it appears he 

 takes no thought of the necessary delays at the portages, or of 

 the rest necessary both for the travelers and the boatmen, and 

 he proposes to run at night on unlighted and intricate waters. 

 The journey might no doubt be made in five days, if necessary, 

 by the route I propose ; but allowing for accidents and delays, 

 I think it better to calculate on its taking six. 



