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Lea diagrammas suivants iilustrent la methods. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of Canada, in Provincial Parliament assembled: The Petition of tho unJersii>iied Riite-puyers of the Municipality of the City of Huniilton, HiiMiu.Y Shewetii, — That by the Resolutions adopted by the Railway Conmiittee of your Honorable House, in 1849, the principle of "one Grand Trunk Line" from the Eiistern to the Western extremities of the Province, with requisite subsidiary Branches, was rccoi;nised as tiie '• Railway system of the Province." That of this system it was provided by the Act 14 and 15 Victoria, Cap. 73, Sections 4 t^lG, that tho proposed Great Western Railway, from Burlington Bay to the Detroit River, should form the portion or continu: tion West from Lake Ontario. a- That, under this belief, the citizens of Hamilton Ci.tercd heartily into tho efforts which resulted in its con- struction, and were the first in the Province successfully to take up and introduce Railway enterprise. That in subseijuent legislation this principle was deviated from by the granting of Charters for parallel and competing Lines, and every inducement was given to Municipalities to enter into their construction. That whilst the effect of the construction of competing Lines was felt directly on the traffic of these Lines, the diversion of Trade from Towns and 3Lirkets !:lreacly established operated most injuriously on the enterprises then in progress, and the business already in existence, and to which the Province was in a great measure indebted for its prosperous condition. That in endeavouring io counteract this prejudical effect, and to retain the Trade and Commerce which had found a centre or outlet at the head waters of Lake Ontario, this Municipality, with others similarly situated, was compelled to engage in the construction of further lines, as connecting links, and this at a time when, through the general inflation of prices nil over the continent, the cost of these undertakings was much enhanced. That the City of Hamilton received no assistance from the Municipal Loan Fund Act, bu*^ issued its own Debentures, in furtheranca of such enterprises, to a large amount, as well as for local improvements of a very extensive nature. That whilst the construction of the Grand Trunk Line Westward from Lake Ontario created a competition destructive of the investment of this City in the Line, till then supposed to be a part of the General Provincial scheme, the city of Hamilton, and other ^Nlunicipalities along the Line, have had to bear their share of the Pro- vincial burden created by that Grand Trunk Line, thus being compelled to assist in making good the losses sus- tained by a competition of the most injurious character. That the JMunicipalities which have not borrowed from the Municipal Loan Fund for the furtherance of their, enterprises, have now to bear their share of the burden which that fund has created, and which is now virtually assumed by the Province. Your Petitioners are therefore constniiiieJ, most reluctantly, to bring under the consideration of y orable House the injurious effect which the large indebtedness incurred by Municipalities for Railway e has upon the best interests of the country. our Hon- enterprises That inasmuch aa a continuance of the evils which your Petitioners deplore must most seriously affect the revenue of the Province, your Petitioners would impress on your Honorable Hou.se tho expediency and equity of enacting a measure of relief in the emergency, believing that a proceeding of that nature will have the effect of infusin" a decree of life and energy into public and private enterprise which wovdd soon be felt throughout the country, and amply reimburse the Provincial Treasury in the improvement of tlie revenue. ssibk Petitioners, therefore, pray your Honorable House to pass, as early as possible, an effectual measure ilation to the present indebtedness of the City of Hamilton, and of such other Municipalities as have ■ ' ' ' " " ' ' ^M\n Fund, and thus also aid in bringing to completion the enterprises irred. Your of relief in relation to tiie pre not been already assisted by tho Municipal L , - ... ^...„^ ^ remaining in an unfinislii;d state, that tlic country may reap tho benefit of the expenditure already incurred. And your Petitioners will ever pray. Hamilton, 14th March, 1860. Sib,— / am requested by an influential Committee of thr Inhabitants of this Cit\j to transmit, for the information of the Ratepayers of your Municipality, the accompanyini/ Petition, and to respectfully invite their co-operation, (by Pe- tition to the Legislature) should they desire relief in their Debt for Railway purposes. You will observe, tJiat the Petition, while stating its own grievance, refers to, and prays relief to all of the Municipa- lities interested. I have also to intimate that if is most desirable .that Petitions should be transmitted to Quebec with the least 2y>ssible delay. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most ohcd't serv't, To ^^j5%^ j^^n^c^te^^^