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Si
M
UyiTllR
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
Sir FRANCIS BOND HEAD
K« G. H., kc. &C. &C.
AS TO nAXXi ROADS
IN I :P1>EU CANADA,
AND THK
MEANS OF CONSTRUCTING THEiVI
WITHOUT THE AID OP
FOREIGN CAPITAL.
BY JAMES BUCHANAN, ESQ.
HIS MAJESTY'S CONSUL AT NEW- YORK.
TORONTO:
PRINTED AT THE PATRIOT-OmCH,
OIIBWETT'I BVILSINOt,
/
y^^
,"'%
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD, K. G. II.
LIEUT. GOVEUNOIl OF THE PIIOVINCE OF
UPPER CANADA.
&LC. diC. &LC,
Sir :
I need not inform Your Excellency of
the hithcrto„ dormant state of the public mind,
in the Province committed to your charge. —
The fact is lamentably too apparent, that the
Province, with its vast capabilities, is far be-
hind the adjoining States. To review the va-
rious causes, to whicli such are assigned, is
not my present object, but to bring before Your
Excellency the consideration of measures in
which the sure prosperity of the Province is
included ; and I the more confidently address
Your Excellency, inasmuch as you have assu-
med the responsibility for the promotion of the
best interests of the Province, not only to our
Gracious Sovereign, who leels so deep an inter-
est in the Province, but also to the people. A
trial of your Administration you very justly have
demanded before you are to be judged ; and
inasmuch as the people have returned a House
of Representatives, with a large majority avow-
edly disposed to act in accordance with Your
Excellency's policy ; and although various con-
curring circumstances of a highly favorable na-
Inrr, liavp nri^oii to nuiiunlo (ho C"ommuni(v at
lfiri:;p, in favor of iiilfnial iniprovcrnrnts, yet,
I sh;ill \*c siMioni; lliosc; to award to Y our I'^xcol-
Inncy, (lie honor and the ii;lory which I t'ocl con-
fident \a now adainal.dc, by the adoption ot'
th.)S(» nM\i>nr('< Aviliiin tho means of the I'rov-
ince. 'J'o call forth the public str(Mii;th is my
ol)ie('( ; y(>(, should the l*rovince remain dis-
tracted and derid to the vast advantages within
reach — on Y our Excellency, I feel, shouUI in
iilvo maimer rest tin; reproach. I write thus
freely, as I ha\ o doriv<Ml t<iffnt snlisfaction from
iiearinp; from some of those displeased with
Voiir l-'xcelbncy'r) Administration, that they
Mould <'o-()peral(? heart and hand as to all the
threat measures of improvement, if ])laccd un-
tler the (control of men of inte»i;rity, and free
irom (dl jobbini:; w hicli has heretofore so widely
prevailed in the Public expenditure of the Tro-
> ince. One obstacle alone seems to damp tho
spirit of the people, iiamely ; want of Capital,
w iiile the dread of borrowini^, as thereby crea-
ting an annual drain out of the Province, o( the
Interest on such loans, seems to liave damped
(heir hope. To meet this diiliculty is the object
of this Address; but before 1 come to the de-
velopment of my plans, 1 grieve to say, 1 have
found some leading characters, Avho, though,
loud declaimers in favor of Improvement, and
lamenting the want of public spirit, yet, are the
veriest croakers; and so selfish, ihat though
they would gain live pounds by certain expen-
diture, yet, as others would gain ten pounds,
their hearts would not be in the measure. —
Others seqm unwilling to cliCrish a chicken
wbicli does not proceed from their own egg,
and still a more formidable party, can only
see advantage to the Province, if the Rail-
way or other improvements pass by, or near their
lands; public utility being out of the rpiestion.
1 nrod not warn V'oiir F.xcollcncy as tosrriitinii:-
ini^ tho motivf's ol'all who profess an interest in
any particMilnr lincotrail way or public measure;
hap[)ily lor tlin INovirjco you view vicn as they
orr, not as tliry should hr, and place in the
<:rncihlo of your <liscriiniiKitinpf mind, the mo-
tives oliTUMi's approval or disapproval. 1 shall
l)o mucli di''a|)poiiitod if it will not he gener-
ally known, thai Vour Excellency's approval is
not to ho had upon any other terms than such
as all honorahlc men will approve, and that
every proposition »m(I fd»iorM'mn, ludeKs the
public interest upliold it. will (ind a determined
opposition from Vour Excellency. — One word
more as prefatory : — I doubt not Your Excel-
lency will keep th(; great interests of the Prov-
ince in view — not the advantaijes of one section
above .nnother, while the adoption of that line
which will draw most trallic along with it, and
more largely promote the general interests of
the Empire, will assuredly be sanctioned, with
due regard to expenditure.
The first and paramount consideration, is to
have respect to the astonishing spread of popu-
lation towards the West, so as to draw the vast
trade which must arise, through the Province,
before finding other channels to the Ocean.
Toronto and Hamilton are two prominent
outlets, which tend more to British interests
than the line cootcmplated to terminate at Black
liock. Three lines are in view, to draw the trade
of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior towards
Toronto; one by a direct line to Saugeng or
Goderich, on Lake Huron ; and the third to Pen-
etanguishine. The second great project is from
the Uiver St. Clair, by Chatham, London, Brant-
ford, to Hamilton ; another from London to Sar-
nia on the River St. Clair. The following are
the distances with which I have been furnished ;
tlmii^Ii ihry runy Jiot be strictly acriirato, yot
tlioy aio sdllifit'iilly .->o, to <lraw attention to tin;
rrlali\o a«hantnii;L\s ofoaclu V>y thr line iliroct
iVoni Loiidnii to Siiniia, the ccnlre ot' the Prov-
ince it is alk':;«.'il is o|»('ne(l, llie ili^lancc to tlio
liiver St. Clair ^i\ty niiU's ^iiorter than l)y way
oC ( iialiiani : and the entire country state«l to
he ont* plain, a»Iniir;ihly adapted to a rail-way ;
that pur-nini( tlnU lino across to the St. Joseph,
in Michigan, t!i<? distance heinj;- ahout'llTt) niilcH,
then crosjj th.; J^ak<! to MilwaUee, to whi.iU
tSieauHMs would run to (Mrnni:;o, and (roni 31il-
Avake(; due West to (.'assvdie in the WiseonKJii
Territory, and there meet the iMississip|)i, thut*
openinji; a (;onnnunication from the ^lissisjbippi
to i\ew York as I'ollowy : —
Milm.
From Onssvillo to Milwjikco by Rail-way, 100
Milwakpo to St. Jofecplj, by Sti'iim, ... 70
St. .l<isopli to Ilivcr St. Cl'iir nt Sarnia, by <|.}-q
llail-way, ^ "'
Sarnia to Ilamiiton, llail-wny, . . .
Toronto to Uswet^o, by Sli;am,
0^we^o to Albany, Rail-way, ....
New Vork, Sieam, 150
l.'^O
Ilouri.
7
7
IG
11
li
t)
12
Miles from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, 74
From Detroit to Sarnia a daily conveyance by Steam,
clistancelO miles.
As also from Chicago to Milwakee — distant about 35 m's.
These observations, as far as from London to
the Mississippi, I derived from a truly intelligent
pjentleman residing in Michigan — but I mention
them lor investigation, as notwithstandinjr the
astonisliing changes which Steam has cflccted
of late years ; yet, the line which appears of so
dazzling a character, that I really tremble at
drawing attention to it. I admit the various con-
ilicting interests as to routes, imposes a respon.
ht
;t
y
»ibiiity of fcarrul txtcnt, juu! one ^vllicli \\\\\ re-
(lound to \\io, i^lori/ or irjnont/i of \,,nr llxcclLn'
cifs . idminislralii)n, uliiU" ;it llic same liino, 1
<l(HMn it ol iiMpnrlaiKur to aMCfrlaiii tlic views of
flic (Jiti/t'iis of Micliifjfaii, if nvprcsscd lliroii«rIi
tln'ir Lci^islaliiiT. as I am Iriily anxious to ini-
prt'ss upon llic liiliiil)i(:iiits of tlic W Csl, tliat
tlu'y wilMiiul cv«Mv farilily alloidccl in passiii*;
and re-passiiig to tlic Atlantic llironu;li tlio Pro-
vince of Upper Canada, so as toclicrish a kind-
ly lordini:;, as sucli i-; tho trnc intercut, and inva-
riably promote-^ tli(? weallli of that country,
whose KuU'S and Laws foster huv.li liberal sen-
timents. 1 now come to what is deemed the
most important consideration, namely : — •• How
arc the iunds to be raiseil f'"
Four plans are submitted, and uliib* I take
the liberty to express my opinion l"r(?cly .t!»<^'roon,
1 dare not deny tluj same riidit to others, but
with this proviso: — that those who coixlemn,
shall be required to exhibit a better or more
practicable. Our fault-tindinp; i^'Mitry are very
numerous, and their vanity leads them to sustain
each other in decrying down measures without
building up.
The first and most general plan is, for a ])ri-
vato Company to tub.-«cribe for the stock —
with a fair view to ])rofit contemplating
the vast population, witieli, within a lew
years hr.ve spread to the West, and tlic multi-
tude wiiich are incieasingly bending their
course \Vrstwrxrd, and the immense region
extending along and around the great Lakes,
whose nearest route to the Atlantic will ]iass
through the Province — where is such a fiehl for
speculation as to a Rail-way to be found, hold-
ing forth a prospect of profit more certain—than
any line which old Countries furnish, and may
prove a suflicient inducement, and no doubt
would call forth funds, if in the Province.
it
2(1. TlioProvincj; aj?suuiiripr tlir work in uliol*'
or in pc'ii't upon the ])le!i that llie ^cncriil in-
terest, will thereby be brnrlilnl, and (bat Ibe
return will remunerate the Province as has» been
the case with the State of New V ork.
3d. The authorising the proprietors of lands
and building lots, within such a rani^e of the
road a? renders the Kailway one of advantage
to these lands to contribute — and like all other
improvements, those who are benetited should
contribute, being in all cases the mode adopted
in the City and State of JNew ^'oik, as well as in
other countries, as to general improvements.
And 4lh. Theesiablislilngoral'roviiKiiil Land
Bank, Capital one Million Pounds, w hich should
be authorized to connect with the Hank such
lines of Railway, as to the Legislature, from
time to time upon the application of the Stock-
holders, would appear as calculated to prove
profitable stock, those lines to be prelcrred
where the proprietors of lands within the range
of twelve miles each side became stockholders
to one half of the estimate, or otherwise held
out the greatest advantage.
These four measures I shall advert to as
briefly as I can, to render my views intelligible.
As to the first, such would be most desirable,
were there any hopes that without resorting to
non-residents the necessary funds could be rai-
sed ; as 1 view the remitting of dividends out of
the Province greatly to be deprecated, as tend-
ing to impoverish it, but where other means of
carrying on improvements are not attainable,
such a resource must of necessity be acted on.
On the other hand, on political grounds it may be
sound policy to admit absentees or even aliens to
share in the works of the Province, as thereby a
kindly feeling is cherished, and those aliens be-
come identified with the well being of the E*rov-
jnce. As to the 2nd :
It ii3 tlooply to \tr Inmontrd (hnt many of tlio
works niMlt'rlal\«'ti l»y, or in Mny way aiiled by
flu' lir^i-.laliir(' lia\<* horn so roiidurU'd as to
liilsily tlic cxix'claiion licit! lorlli, wliilo in oilier
<*ast*-j works \ui\r. lni'iUNinstruclcd, tlioiiii;li uii-
i\vv IIk; siipiMvisiou of porsoiis iiaini'(l l»y the
J^r^i'^latiirc, wlirrrhy jol)ljifi<r and promoting
privato interest lia\«; iulnsed a distrufl, bo J!;cn-
eral, tf<at a tlioroui^h cliani^r?, it is rosp(;ct-
lidly 8tat(Ml, must tak<? |>lacte, IxMorc conli-
(lenee can be restoi<'d : llie Welland Canal
tli()nu:l» '^ privatr* work, tlio woi-ks irnardin^ij the
passai:;e into r»tn"lini:lon l>av, tlie llriilj^e on the
12 IMile ('reek, tin; I )<'sjardiiis Canal, the l*ari&
J>rid;i;o, as well a- many ollirr works, as also
the prodiujal misaj)pliearK)n of money on roads,
il" I am to credit various testimonies, and from
what I have neenf/f some of those rel(M*rcd to, I
do not wonder at tiie i!:en(M-al exjiression of dis-
trust as to the misapplieation ol the public mo-
nies, but these statements may have arisen from
other than pure motives, yet f deem it proper
to set IhiMU lorlii as 1 I'ound (hem universal, no
imnorablo mind will feel allJ'eted, "whentW
shoe does not pinch the foot does not wince."
1 lirmly believe the people are loyal and sound,
and 1 tiusta new era has .arisen on the Province,
so that a vii^ilant and faithful accountability
shall be exacted from all as to public expendi-
ture, and that no man, whatever his inlluence
may be with a party in Parliament, shall fniJ
shelter from opon aii<l tu.archliie; invcHtigatiori,
under Your Kxcelleney's administration; no
more bole and corner examinations, and there-
by strike at the root of an evil which pervades
other quarters as well as Canada, Your Excel-
lency introducing a searching inquisitorial sys-
tem, as to the application of public money is of
the first importance, heretolbre the most noisy
dcclaimcrs have been found amongst the most
**
10
u
; :•
rornipt. Ah to tlio Ihird mrasnrr, viz. raising
llie riimis ivom [\iO. l.nicls and town lots adjoin-
ing^, or nioroiniHK'dialcly bent'lited l»y tlie rail-
way, Mliirh ]>lan has appeared in several of the
provineial papers takimjc the e\peneeat L2.')()0
ainilewliich is ample iVoin the faeililies aflbrded,
and spreadinij; tliat sum to an extent of J 2 miles
each side of the rail-way on farms of 200 aeres
within each mile of the 21 in wiiltii, would £rivc
77 i'arms, which would be ."^2,10/., or l.'iO dollars
to each ihrm — hut a2:reeahly to the scale 1 laid
down, of apporticniiiijj accordini; to contiguity
and advantage, those farms within the first mile
were to subscribe /.GO, the second /..'iJ, the third
/.50, the fourth /. l.!, and so decliniiiir I.T) a mile,
this stock to be payable within three years by
six instalments each year, and ihe proprietor of
those lands to be Stockholders of the JAail-road
stock, to the amount of such iheir subscription,
so that such subscription shouhl not be in the
nature of a tax, but otiered to cacli as the means
of acquiring stock on terms truly within the
reach of every man having a yoke of oxen or an
^UAO^ ^ While to such as should tind it inconvenient
to advance the money, it should be loaned at
six per cent., to be a charge on the lands and
shares of slock for the amount advanced, the
plan with the observations iurelation thereto, as
they were put forth in the new spapers before,
I need not now particularize.
As to the fourth :
A Provincial Land Uank, Capital, one Mil-
lion Pounds, this Bank 1 propose to base upon
lands and valuable building lots in towns ; on
grist-mills, saw-mills, or other valuable proper-
ty witliin range of the immediate influence of the
Rail-ways: first, the Uail-way from Toronto to
Lake Huron, and that from Hamilton to the Ri-
ver St. Clair; and after those shall be in opora-
lion in such other lines as may be approved bj
11
the Lrgiblatiiro, anrlpnnclioricd by the f^iout.Co-
vernoflbrtlic time boini;. 1 thcrrlbrc ])ioj)ose that
all tlio |)ro[)rietois ot lands within 12 inilesi shall
have? iho 111:-!. oiU'i' olhcinji; adinillcd Stockhold-
ers to the cvlfMit <){' Olio dollar an acre lor overr
aero ol nmiicnrnhcrod lands, ol nhich ihry arc
bona lidc the propiiclors, and that all resident
iidiahitants on lands within said ranjxos, shall
have the like priviloi:;c orbeconnnj^Sloekholder«j
to the extent of two dollars an acre ; tliat all
tinhscribers to said stock, shall, npon snbseri-
bin<^, pay in ton por cent., tlir\t, should the
amount of stock not he subscribed lor, allow inj];
such reasonable time as the Commissioners
hereinatler to be named shall think proper; the
privilcfije of subscribing; lor the stock shall be
extended to the proprietors of lands within the
Province, that the owners of all building lots in
villages within one mile of tlie Rail-way, which
without reference to the buildings, are valued
at 50/., the owner to be admitted the same as a
farm of 200 acres and entitle the proprietor to
Bubscribe to the same amount. In order to ma-
nifest a liberal feeling, that stock to the amount
of /.r)0,()00 or 200,000 dollars, shall be placed
for one month withii\ the reach of the citizens of
Michigan, based npon similar security, provided
land can be rendered secure as to equal liabili-
ty as lands in the I'rovince, or guaranteed by
the State. That the Mother Bank shall be lo-
cated at Tororito, with brandies at Hamilton,
Dundas, Brantford, l.ondon, provided /.2.').000
stock is subscribed at Hamilton, /.lo,000 at
Dundas, /.1 0,000 at Brantford, /.1 0,000 at Lon-
don,
Tiiat the Stockholders shall annually elect
Directors, in whoin shall be vested the choice
of Directors uf the several Branches, as well ag
of the Mother Bank, for one year, that those
alouo are eligible who may hold stock to tho
i
1-2
amount of /.TfOO, while all bharcs of /.50 sluill
count as one \utt\
That ill acrordauco nitli llio priiiciplcs con-
tended lor by tli(> Duke of Wellini^ton as to tlx;
numerous lines of llail-ro.uls in Kii<i;laiul, an iii-
vestioation by autliori>ccl eoininissioners should
be had, before sanelioned by the rro;islature. I
therefore propose that your i'lxcclh.'ney should
appoint three jnrcntleinen of hii;h standing to act
without any snlary; wliich eoininissioners shall
have full po^ver to decide as to the most elii;ible
line or lines nf Kail way to bo nintle or aided in
the Construction thereof by or iVoiu thelundsof
the Bank, with power lo direct such examina-
tions and purveys as to tliem shfdl seem meet,
and in case of dissent, in such case the decision
to rest Avilli the l/uMitenant Governor lor the
time being, who sladl direct all such further ex-
amination as to his Excellency shall seem meet,
so that the groumis for bucli decision shall be
laid before the Legislature.
That said co' Miissioners shall 1)0 required to
sanction the appointment of all engineers, over-
seers, or oflicers, who may be employed in and
about the const rnclion of said Kail-ways or
works connected thcrew ith, as w ell as the com-
pensation for their respective services; as also
to have pow er at all times to investigate the af-
fairs of the i3nnk.
That the Lieutenant Governor for the time
being, in case of the death or absence I'rom the
Province of a Commissioner, to appoint one in
place of any so dying or removing out of the
country or otherwise displaced.
That no Commissioner shall by himself or
others, either ilirectly or indirectly be concern-
ed in any contract or sale of property, in any
way relating to public works, subject to their
supervision, and that any contract in opposition
to such exclusion, shall be null and void, and
f ;>
13
rcnflor sucli commisBioners incapable of contin-
uing to act as sucli.
1 have thus Iniclly, yet I fear rather obscurely,
set before Vour Kxcelleney, a sketch of the
proposed plans. — I pray Vour Excellency to view
what I have written as raw materials to be cast
into the crucible, to be divested of the dross,
as also to have added whatever may improve
its adaptation to the Province; but as political
Alchyu'ists over run the land ; I look with conti-
dence, while their abilities may be turned to
i^ood account, tliat under the sanction of Your
Kxcellenc}', the two great works shall be forth-
with put in operation. I sliallnot herein advert
to the opening a free transit from the Ocean
through the Province to the people of Michi-
gan, and the vast regions of the West, as I pro-
pose to do so in a separate work, in relation
to the drawing the trade of those new coun-
tries through the natural outlet, and thereby
permitting the St. Lawrence to alfbrd all the
vast advantages which it was designed to fur-
nish. It may be prudent herein to observe as to
the 4th plan, that in the city of New York there
are three Banks connected witli public works —
one the Manhattan, for supplying the City with
water, the other, the Dry Dock Hank, the third,
the Chemical Bank. The best evidence of the
soundness of the connection which F can offer,
is, that the respective stocks of these three Banks
bear the following premium, viz : the Manhat-
tan from 25 to 28 per cent.; the Dry Dock 41
percent., and the Chemical, 19 per cent. These
facts put to ilight all fears as to connecting a
Bank with public works. And 1 run no hazard
in saying, that as sure as population is advancing,
and people are removing to the west, so sure
will the proposed Ilail-ways become most valu-
able Stock. Indeed I hesitate not to avow my
deep conviction, that before two years in ope-
14
ration, the Rail-way Bliarrs will rcdorm the
lands lor tho oulia\ — ami did J say liail' that
period, I woukl not hazard too much. J appeal
to all rellcctitiij; ino!» wliouiil (ak«; the map and
examine it, win m(! is lh< le "-iiich iin unoc( iipicd
field to reap a certain prolit as the j)roj)osed
investment. Nay, I Avill acM, that lielore llie
Rail-way is one y(N'ir finished, the stock will sell
for a premium over the exp<Mjditure, and h.-av**
the Company free, to proceed with other i^icat
undertakings, — ,S(M' the value ol' tli(? Kail way
stock from La Prairie to St. John, although only
opened a few weeks, yet at a premium of Irom
10 to 20 per cent.
Since writing the foregoing I find that tlirec
Rail-roads are commenced in connection with
a Bank in Georgia, and one in the Missiisijjj.i,
— there, the whole Capital hns to he paid m;
but according to the present plan only 10 per
cent, is recpiired, while all who may have any
funds unoccupied will have a j)laee of de-
posit based upon not oidy ample hut imperisha-
ble security.
It may be well to remark, that the Stock-
holders in the Bank of Upper Canada, and other
Banks had to pay in i^IOO per cent on their
shares, but under the proposed plan ten per cent
is deemed ample, as it is presumed a Cash Ca-
pital of one hmulred thousand pounds with the
deposits which will be drawn thereto on account
of bearing interest — such will he abundant fcr
Banking purposes and having the security of the
Lands which will be more certain than any other
institution furnishes. The confidence in the se-
curity of the Bank will be great, moreover if one
hundred thousand pounds in addition should be
deemed necessary, that sum or more can be bor-
rowed without dilHculty,or a further call made on
the Stockholders : and be it observed, that every
pound expended on the rail-way is creating a
15
furtlier Rocurily to the I^lblic as ihcrcfis^inrr the
value oi'the l^;md as well as a .'-oiireo ofatlvari-
ta^^e so that lor an udvanco oTUmi percent Sub-
scrilxMs, owners oluiij^rolitahh' Lands, hecoine
Stockholders in the two vahiahle measures the
J'>ank and Kail-way, Avhile the Lands and the
l*rovinc(^ are iniproNed in value.
It may be alhM|(r(Hl ihat 1 do not admit, tliose
whohave no lands aimiBrtritdo becomeStockliold- ^^
ers {hhI the advantai;T's ai'o too j:;reat in only re-
(juirini^ ten per cent to be paiil in. My reply is, I
have the prosperity not only of the i*rovince, but
ot the »"csidents and proptiotors ot" Lands exclu-
sively in view, so that they may not be laboring
^ and toilincf tosend th<'ir earnini^s out of tlie Pro-
,1 f y^ce, \vliile it is possible to avoid it, one-fifth if
^1 '
yjlce, \vlnie it is possible to avoid it, one-tilth u
1^ one-fourth ofthc^ Stock of Incorporated Corn-
jmnies of the United States, arc^held by foreign-
^
nine-tenths British Capital, this is sound
{i^licy if it cannot be avoiiled. Canada may
avoid it, may carry into operation her great Works
nd retain the profits.
In conclusion I would venture under the sanc-
tion of your Excellency to call on the several
>^entlemen who have so laudably come forward
A "^ m relation to the proposed railway, to call meet-
jf gs without delay and organize their operations
'■ &o as to give eHect to such of the plans 1 have the
vfionor to submit, as may be deemed practicable.
Under any and every circumstance 1
shall feel honored in afford ing explanations or
yielding aid, not only to my plan, but to such
others as shall etFect what I trust is, and will be
the aim of all, as I am persuaded the desire
of your Excellency is "the prosperity of the
Province."
I have the honor to remain Sir,
Your Excellency's humble serv't.
J. BUCHANAN.