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IlAViVG devoted tho last tlircc months to a rocoiuioissaiico ol llio several routes for the proposed Intercoloriial Kaihvay, I have i,reparod the loUowing remarks. They are not based vipou an actual survey, hut ....mvIv upon an examination of the ground at most of the dilheuU pon.ts, and ;.!s.. upon information obtained from records existinf? in the provnices ; and Iron, consultations with Messrs. Wightnmn, Wilkinson, and Kamsay, n.tell.|ivnt engineers residin- in New Urunswiek, who assisted Major «obmson m makmg hi.s^■aluable™.^ev; and, lastly, from my own experience lu loeatm,!.- and eonstructino- such works in the Uidted Slates, the Canadas, and the lower pro- vinces, extending over a period of 18 years, the last 11 >-ears of wlu.h I have occupied the position of Engii.eer-in-Chief for three d.rterent railways in the state of Maine, New-Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, amomitni- m lenjilh to about :i'25 miles. I offer then these siigsestions. which, under the further light derived from instrumental surveys, may be considerably modilied, ami shall proceed to describe, as concisely as possible, the principal features oi the nuun ln.es that have been severally proposed, statin- the facts, without g.vm- any opi- nion as to the line to be preferred. Since the date of Major Robinson's " report," that portion of the line from Quebec to Riviere du Loup, and the section from Hahlax to Iruro, making tojrether 170 miles, have been completed. leavn,g 470 miles yet to be constructed. Of this distance, the section from Truro to Bay \ erte. 6J miles, h common to all ^AWz«..S- but from this spot three Imes have been proposed, which are severally depicted upon the accompanyu.g niap whicJi having been carefully compiled under the orders of the ProvmcialGovern. ment, is generally very reliable.* The first of these roi:tes-No. 1, " North Shore Route,- represented bv the li.ie black line, was surveyed under the orders of Major Robmso.., and particularly recommeadcd by him in his admirable '< report. It is quite practicable, is 470 miles in length, fro.n Truro to Rivitre du Loup and w.ll cost, according to my estimate, about i;8,300 sterling prr mile, or a total, .sa> of £4,000,000 sterling. ^ autl.oritios, at.d i8 op.-., to the insiKation of thos,, •''^^:' ;, ';;;'',,, ',, „.l,icl. l.avi,,,' Im.u limposc'i. , ' '■ . 'J'lio second roulf, No. 2. '• Ckmkal Li.vk," sliowii by a yellow line, is 418 miles in lonj^tli, from Truro to Hivitrc dii Loup, of which 396 miles only is 1() he constriicled, which, at the nhove rale, will cost ,£3,286,800 hlerliiijjf, and is, I have reason 1o believe, (|uite practicable. The third route, " No. .1 " doited red on the map, is jjroposcd to ho carried alonir ihe European and North Ainericnn Hallway, westward across the St. John liiver lo the inlerseelion Avilli the St. Andrew's and Quebec Kailway, and thence, l)y an exlension of lliat road, xip the valley of the St. .Tohn, and by the 'J'eiiiiscouata or S(inatooc lakes, to Hiviere du Loup ; the total (lislaace is .');]2 miles, of which ihere will be recjuired 355 miles of ncin vorli, which, at the above rate, wilhunount to £2,940,600 sterling. To this, however, nuist be added ,€3,000 per mile for improvements on 75 miles of the St. Andrew's and Quebec Eailway (originally cheaply built) to bring it np to the same standard as the other roads, making i)3,171,590 for this route. K E C A I' I T U L A T I X . Norlli Slioro Koute, -170 inllo3 .£3,901,000 sterling. Central " SOO '• 3,2S6,SU0 N'o. ?, " 355 " .€2,91<;,50() Add Impi-oveiiicnts oi> 75 " 225,000 £3,171,500 " Having given this short synopsis, I now propose to describe more at length the three lines, poiuling out the general features of the country, their advantages and disadvantages, Avith remarks upon the respective estimated cost, as well as the construction and time of completion ; also upon the population and local tratfic to be expected upon each. TRIRO TO RAY VERTE, {Coiinnvn to all ihe Lines.) On this Section two lines have been proposed, — one crossing Cobe(initI Mountain at Folly Lake, the other at Earl Town ; the first was surveyed in 1847 by George Wightman, C. E., and is described in Captain Henderson'.s Report. The mountain is about 12 miles across, and will cost, say ^60,000 sterling more than the same distance on ordinary plain country. The grades on either side of the mountain will be about 60 to 65 feet to the mile. There will be six river-bridges of 100 to 150 feet span, besides brook crossings ; tIIow line, 1 396 miles e£3,286,80(> posed 1o bo vard across nd Quebec of tlie St. Loup ; tlie ijes ol" nein f. To tiii.s. 75 miles of ill) to brinf^- 00 for this ibc more nt intry, their c estimated 3 upon the ; Cobe(initI iirveyed in lenderson'.H ay <£60,000 The grades ile. There crossings ; hut no difficulties as regards foundations, and stonL' is abun laiit. Witli the exception of this mountain, the line vill not l)e heavy, probably •M').{)[){) yards of earthwork 1o the mile, cuts of 30 and embankments of IS fod widu at formation level. The other route makes a r/(7«//>- to the eastward, and is about 11 miles longer than the former, hut will probiihly not cost ninn! lor .grading and masonry, owing to an easier crossing of the Cobequid. The grades will be easy, except upon the north side of the mountain, from Karl Town to Tatamagouehe, where there will be about 7 or 8 miles of r)9 to (JO li-i't per mile, down a straight valley. Th? former of these routes has steeper grades in general, and wiil be entirely inland ; the lait(n- will be more k'vel, ])robably within 30 li-i'l to the mile, excepting the 60 feet grade on the descent of the mountain at Karl Town. It will also touch ui)on navigable water at Wallace, liiver Philip, Pugwash, and come within five miles of Tatamagouehe ; and through IIk-sc ports, connect with Prince Kdward Island. The jjresent population to be accommodated is 80,000 on Prince Kdward Island, and 10,000 in Nova Scotia, which are increasing in a compound ratio of 2^ per cent, annually. The (Mstern route passes within 30 miles of Pictou coal mines, and, when that branch is made, the coal traffic and the traffic of some 50.000 additional inhabitants will come upon the road between the junction of the branch and Halifax. By carrying the road the western route (Folly Lake) the traflic of tiiis population will be lost to the road. The eastern route also brings several of tlic northern harbours into connection Avith Halifax, and will encourage tlic fbnnation of a population, that would, in a few years, command, by their shipping, a considerable portion of the fisheries of the gulf, and of the trade of the far west in heavy articles. These advantages will be lost by taking the western route. The space between Bay Verte and the Kiiropean and North American Railway near Shediac is common to either of these lines, and contain no difficulties. THE SEVERAL ROUTES FROM BAl^ VERTE TO RIVIKRK DU LOUP. Proceeding onwards towards Quebec, several routes have been examined with more or less care, which may be described in the following order :— 1> ]\orth Shore Route, the line recommended by lATajor Robinson, runnin<- bv Bay Chaleur and the Metapeiliac ; designated on the map by the r-"- j ! aBn^.B y ,fe:/ ^ line l.lack Jiiic Tliis route crosses the iMiramiclii. and tliroiigh u low valley to tlie Nepisiiiuit ; thence down that river to IJathurst ; thence along the .•oast of liay Chaleur to the Kesli^muche, to 12 miles above Caniphelton ; f hence across a mounlain-nini^e by the valley ofthe Metapediac ; and thence up tbeSt. Lawrence to Hivicre du Loup, where it meets the Grand Trunk of Canada. Rcmnr/ts.— The line, as drawn between Shediac and the Miramichi, crosses the heads ofthe streams llowins toward the Gulf, and runs across swells of ground betAvecn Hhmu. Uy moving the eastern part of it (Shediac to the '• Oxbow" of Sahnon Eiver) 4 or o miles more to the southward, on tiie table land at tlie heads of tlie said streams, it would probably occupy more level ground. From the Oxbow to Indian Town on tlie Miramichi, the general charac- ter olthe country is that of a low table hnul ; and it is not probable tliat any material dilliculties exist on that part. Immediately on passing Indian T.nvn, there is a ridge of some 300 feet in height, which, according to Major Hobinson's report, may be turned by making a detour to the westward. Proceeding up the North-west Miramichi, the country near the river is quite level. The ground between this river and the Nepisiquit, upon Avliich the line is marked, is a low valley, rising about eighty feet in the centre, and can be passed by grades of 20 feet per mile ; thence there is but little difficulty in following the \e])isiquit and the coast of liay Chaleur up to the I)oint of land upon Avhich Dalhousie stands ; which, if Ibund to be too steep to cross conveniently, may be turned by following the shore. From this place to the mouth ofthe Metapediac, 12 miles above Campbeiton, the line is comparatively level along the margin ofthe Restigouchc ; it then goes up the valley ofthe Metapediac, is continued for about 17 miles on the descent ofthe mountain on the northern side, in both of which places there will bo heavj- work. The remainder is comparatively level ground to Riviere du Loup, The formation ofthe country is such, that this line cannot be deviated lioju to any material extent except between Shediac and the Miramichi. On this section it might, if considered desirable, be carried near the post road connecting with the small harbours along the coast, touching upon Chatham at Miramichi, and upon the head ofthe harbour a few miles above Newcastle, It might cross the river a little above the " Forks," run up the south side of tlie North-west Miramichi, and join Major Robinson's line at the mouth ol the Oi j-ii^ ii u low vulloj ncc along the Ci'inipljclton ; ; ; anil llicMicc Grand Trunk 10 Miraniichi, d runs across if it (8hediac outhward, on obably occupy cneral charac- bable tliat any some 300 feet be turned bv ?ar the river is it, upon Avliich in the centre^ e is but little iileur up to the to he too steep re. From tiiis eiton, the line it then goes up on the descent s there -will bo [ to Riviere du lot be deviated [irainichi. On r the post road upon Chatham ove Newcastle, 10 south side of lie mouth oi the 5 The ndvantaf^es of the N'orth Shore route are. that in a military |">iiit of view it would keep ch'ar of the American boimdary. tint it wdiild loiidi up(»n all the principal harbours, and encourau:e tlie lisheries oftjic (luM; Avhih' at the same time, pass tiirou^h a fair airricnltural counlry. ll^di^■lll- vantajfcs are. that it is Crl miles Ioniser, has 7 J miles additional mnd lo ciui- struct and will probably cost t'60!i,O0() sterling more than the t'enlral lim'. 0« t2* Central Route. — This line (shown by a yellow line) would braiieli from the Knro]iean and North Anu'rican l^lilway at a jmint about 10 mil'-. westward of .Moiiclon. and proceed over a tolerably level country, as slraiu'lil as the ground will permit, to Hoiestown on llie South-west Miramiclii. Thence over a country which lias not been ihlly explored, but is known to contain no material ohstneles. to the Miramiclii lake, about 'M) miles \\(>i of Hoie.stown ; thence a line was surveyed and levelled. l)y order of Major Kobinson, across the valley of the Tobi(|ue lo tbe Kestiyouche. 'I'liis is described in his rCpart (p:il?e 36) as a rallier heavy liiu'. tliouiih tjuile pnic- licablc. At the jmad of Hoston Ikook, or iK)ssil)ly still further south, it iu:iy l)e turned oli'to the westward, cross tli" Wa^ian Portae heavy. The i)ortion of llie country from the Kestigoucli(> to liiviere du Loup has never been [Kojierly exi)lored; and I think it very i)ri)babie. that by ii-oin^r isp the north branch of the Kestigoiielie. thence by (ireen Hiver. aiel (■rossin<,f into the valley of the Squatcuck lakes, gord lir.cs iii;;y I c obtained at less expense, and further removed from the American boun- dary. The advantages of ihe Central route may l)e summed up as follows :— Fir.st. It is 52 miles .sjiortcr than the North Shore road, of which :i2 miles rini on the European and North-American Railway, making tbe road to be constructed less by 74 miles ; the cost per mile being ab«vut the sami'. Second. It will be the most popular in New Hrunswiek ; by i»assii;g tln-ough the centre of tli<' province it will in a considerable degree combine tbe dilferent interests, and by 42 miles of a branch road (dotted on tbe map in red), it may be comiected with the present St. Andrew's and (^ik bee Railway, and this again by the western extension of the European and North American Railway with St. John. Third. It will run through a block of Crown land between the Tobi(]Ue and Restigoiiche Rivers, of near 1.000 square miles, at least two-thirds oi Little South-west. This line would be 10 miles longer than ilie lormer, but would i)romote the growth of fishing and trading villages at the harbours. The agricultural capabilities of the soil are miuh the same on (>illier line. I 6 wliicli is lit fbr s.'ttlfiucnt, which probably would be filled uj) within 20 years. On otlier parts of the line, also, between the 'I'obique and Sbediac. there is prol)ably an eipial (|uantity of Crown land ; wlu-reas, on the North Shore line, the quantity of Crown land ol -ood (piality is not very large. The disadvauta-es are,— First, 'i'he proposed lino will have a f,-reater a.r.rre-ate length of steep gradients, althou-rh .sw»e jrradients on the North Shore"route will be ecpmlly .steep as on this. Second. It rnns thi'abont 18 miles near Ednionston within a lew miles of the United States boundary. This dimculty, however, may be obviated by further exploration. ]\'0. »■ St- John lUVCr Koute— H i^ proposed by this scheme to carry the road (dotted red) from Truro to the intersection of the European and North American Railway near to Shediac on tlu; same line as in the formi-r ca.se, then fbllow^ that road to St. John, and continue in a line suitable ii)r the extension of the same to its intersection with the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway, tin n follow that Railway to Scotch Corner, its present ter- mination ; thence proceeding up the valley of the St. John to the mouth of the Little Madawaska at Edmonston, thence by the valley of the Madawa,ska and Tamiscouta Lake, and by the Trois Pistoles to the St. Lawrence, and thence up the St. Luwrence to Riviere du Loup. From St. John to the intersection of the St. Andrew's and Quebec Rail- road will be a continuation of the European and North American Railway, for which two different routes have been proposed :— one, which may be called the Northern, or Douglas Valley route, making a detour towards Fredericton, and passing to the north of the Oromocto Lake; the other, which may be called the Southern, route, passing near the village of St. George, and crossing the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway about 15 miles from St'. Andrew's. Which of these routes will be preferred is at present uncertain. The Northern will give a less distance from St. John to Quebec than the Southern, by twelve miles; and will lengthen the distance to Ban- gor, in the United States, 26 miles ; but will have less advantage of the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway, by 30 miles. The advantages of No. 3 (St. John River) route are, that it takes in the railways already constructed, requiring 4 1 miles less new ivork than by the Central, and 115 miles less work than by the North Shore line. The disad- vantages are that it exceeds the length of the North Shore line by 62 miles, and the Central line by 114 miles ; and that from its junction with the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway to Edmonston, 179 miles, it runs near to the United States frontier. within 20 1 Shod inc. 1 thr \ I'.ay\(Mti' _^__ .j,; BiU- Verte t.) Slic.li.ie..... ••.••:••■.••• _... 74 Sl.'.Mliuc tu Iiuliiiiitown, Muamichi Ln^r ■• ■■ .^^, Tiiiliaiilown \'> l!atlmi>t '' "'^ ^j^ ]]iithurstto Dal!loll^io... • •••;•• *.'...'... :!<) l)alliousiotom..ml...t Metai.r'liaL' Kiv or .....••• ' ' . Motape.liac to .Xa-ct Rivor. Wnrncli ..t iho M .U^ ^^ Naget Uivor to UiviOn; ^tago to K.hiu.n*ton * -^. Kdmoiiston to Riviere du Lniip _'_ 41S Deduct road already made ^^ Road to bo made No. .^.-ST. JOHN RIVER ROUTE. Miles. hI;^- ^S.S'Io'^:^-;i;;•of eu;;^;.;"- a;.d ^'j^^^^j^^f^] ] Z Mc^^'slSd'Enrore;.; ' ;;;ci' Nonh 'Am;;!;;,;' Railway to ) ^^,, St jt!mto'i;u;;^;u;:-^st:x;d,w-;Vr;jQu;i;f K^^ii- ^ Along It Aud,•e^v's and Quebec Railway to Woodstock .5 Woodstock to Grand tails .j,, Grand Falls to Edmonstou g^, Edmonstoii to Riviere du Loup f).32 Of this To and 102 miles are already made J-TT Road to be mndo ^7,/. 1 -I mav here state that to connect St. John with Quebec by m(>ans of thl WoVtern eSS of the European and North Amencau adway. and Sle St. Amlrew's and Quebec Railway, the distance would stand thus .- ■K T J 1 1-: K ST I M A r i:. T Imvo arrivcr(iiiiul that will he traversed l>y all these routes, ami hy inirtieulur exaiiii- iiatioiis of the most diHieiilt portions of each ; and luive hern {^nided in my judgment hy the actual costs of the completed liailways throu-^h a similar country in Xew Hruaswick and N'ttva Scotia, the li)rmer of which Avero chielly constructed, as already stated, under my innnediate superintendence. Milcf. S:. Jnhii f.i iiitci'-iociiiiii ofSL Aiulrow'.s iiiiil Qih'1)cc Kailway, ) j,,, SolltlllTM iiolltn i " Alonu' St. Aiiilri'w's aiiii Quobcc Uuilway to Hcotdi (burner. .. . 7'> Scotcli OoiTior to iiitor.seetion of Iiitcrcolniiial at Nortli JSraiicli ) .., of .Miramielii ( 17!) Of which i^ ah'iMily iiciilu T') Leaves to by inii'lc for tlii.s contioction 104 Tliis is upon the supposition of the Central route of Intercolonial Koad heing adopted. Assuming this, and carrying the St. Andrew's and Quehec line acro.s.s the; river St. John, near the Presfinile and Meccarpiiniic rivers, into it at Miramichi, and taking the Sontlu-rn route for the Kin-opean and North Ameri- can iiiuj towards IJangor, we recpiire of new road at the present to complete the whole system within the Provinces, as tbllows : — Jlilo)!. Halifax and Qiiohoc Lir.c, Central Uouto 3i*f» St. Jolm, rid Kurojiean and North American Railway and St. ) Andrew's and (jiieliec ditto, to inlersectioii at Aliraniieiii, V lO-t as i.i)o\o ) From iiiterseetinii to St. Andrew's and (Quebec Railway to Catai-J 1^ Whole new road required to eonipleto systems;] viz., JIalifa.K and (inobce, European and North j ... American, and connect St. Andrew's Hail way | ' *' \vitli tlio Intercolonial J Being only -lo miles longer than the North Shore route alone. The Central route avoids the United States frontier, except ahout 18 ndles near Edmons- ton. It is probable that further explorations may show a line across the mountain, from Jioston IJrook to Trois Pistoles, as already stated, which Avould avoid the frontier entirely, without increasing the distaacc. Note 2. — A modification of the Central line has been spoken of. and is popular in St. .lolin : it is to contimie on the line of the European and North American Kaihvay as far as Sussex Vale, and there turn otF to Boies- town. If this can be done successfully, which I do not doubt, it would branch from the Eurojwan and North American Kailway 38 miles nearer St. ,Iohn, and add .38 miles to the distance going m.sto/// ; the length of Hew road being about the same in both cases. This supplementary line is dotted on the map in red. The distance from St. John to Quebec, vid Sussex, wotdd be about 30 mil(!s shorter than by the Avay of the St. AndrcAv's and Quebec Railway, as will be seen by the following table : — per mil c from of 1Ih« •^roiiml ticulur cxuuii- M {guided in my oii'>li a siniiiar of wliic 1 "wero i|»(>riiit(' lulcncc. Wilcf. '>■'} 02 . . 75 ell) 4^ 17!) 75 I liuvc iipplicd the s:imi' prici' p:'r iiiilf to :iil tin- nt.i Is. hiwiusr tin- (lilliciilt iHirtioiis ot'cMcli, and iiol cdiuiiuiii to ail. arc vrrv siiiiilnr, and \vtiti>(! about baliiiuc racli otlitT ; and wliilc portions of tin- irradihi,' mi the Norlli Shore lino will |jc liLjlifcr tlian on the ("iMitral. \<'t llic cxprnsivf liri«ljifN over llic lnrf;t' rivers — the Miraniichi, Nepisaynit. and Htstiijtinf In - w illi the heavy jjradinj^ of the Metapidiac, \vi:i he a eonsidendile olisct a^'iin^l the dillienlties anticipated on the partially e\|ilore{l Central line at tin \alle\ Mile-. St. .liihn ti> Siis-ii'X \ iilo •'•"' Sussex to IJdii'stiiwii I i liDifstuwii tn liivieio ilii i.iiiiii --^ 104 .".IT Miles. St. Julin to St. Aiiihvw"- iuid Qiiuhuo I{:iil\vjiy 'j-' 'flii'MCO to Scotch Collier • 7-> nraiicli tVoiii Scotcli Coinci- to Ccntial l.iiui ut .Mii;iiiiiclii I j., llivcr i ;Miraiii:clii liivci- to Uivicrt; dii l..>iii> 1"^ MTolonial Koad 111(1 Qiiehec line rivers, into it at 1 North Anieri- Mit to compk'to St. I hi, iitai-i "y Jlilc?. lO-t SIS . The Central s near Ednions- lino across the slated, which mcc. spoken of. and ^ European and III off to Boies- it would branch earer St. John, new road bein. There :ire. however, some other lines whic'li ap])ear very feasible, hut have not yet been survey(>d. which, if liiuud practicable, would be an improvement upon those already ilescribcd^ The first of these that has been su'!:?:('f^t''d is a line braiicliin<;' from Koute No. 1. at Inditin Town. [Nliramichi, ruimiiijjr westward, and iiniiiio into the valley of the Eittle South-west Miramielii, touch iu";- on Loufj Lake, at the hetid' of Campbell Hiver. a branch of the Tobitpn" ; thence down that stream, and up the Sissou branch of the siime river, and thence acfuts ii.e country to Eoston Brook, where it will join IJoute No. 2. Thelenjj-thofthis line, from Indian Town to where it meets UoiUe No. IJ at Boston Brook, is 98 miles. Tlu^ distance from Bay Vcrle to the Wajjan Portaj^e by Bonte No. 2 is "226 miles. Between the same points, by way of Indian Town and the route in tiuestion, is 208 miie-s, .showiny dilierence in favour of the latter route of 18 miles. This route has not been explored ; but it looks Aivounvble, and there is reason to think tiiat it runs over a practicabh' country. From a short distance up the Little South-west River to the mouth of Sisson branch, nearly 60 miles, it runs, however, throuj;h a portion of barreii country. It oiif>ht most certainly to bo examined previous to fixing upon the final location of the road. 10 of the Tohiqiio river, and wlutli I think more extended examinations wilf iii;iteiially reduce. Agahi, the; expt-nse of portion of Route No. 3 from St. .l<»Iin to the intersection of tlie St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway, and from Scotch Corner to Grand Falls including the three hridges over the Aroostock and St. John rivers, will be «]Mite as heavy as the Central line. Secorul. The Route No. 2 Irom Boiestown to the head of Two Brooks on liu' north of the T()])i(iue, makes a considerable di-tour to the we.st\v*n-d ; and the jjass throngh tiie top of the rid^o south of the Tobique is 8:U fet>t above that river, where it is (;ros.sed by the line. It is desirable tliatllie line should be more dirert, and the pi-.ss through the mountain at a lower icvel U is quite possible that sueh « pass may exist to the eastward ol'tlie piesent route. j\.s a case in point, it may be stated that extended explorations made by the Ameriijan topo^rajjliical enj,nueers, more to the westward, throuf,d! American torritoiv, hav(> discovered two or three such pisses throuf,'^li tiie san'c mountain-raiiga, along one of winch the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railway is now located. A series of levels taken for 30 or 40 miles eastward front the present line aloni? the top of the mouni:iin-range uould determine this question, and ought to be so taken b-fbre the final location of the rosid. It nin«t lie particularly borne in mind, that this part of the country has never been surveyed at all, and is left bl.mk on the mip. Were a tolerably direct route discovered, the dist.iucc gained mouM probably be from 10 to 15 miles. Third.— A route proceeds from Boston Brook, ou the Restigonehe. directlv .icross the mountain to Trois Pistoles, as shown by the most easterly dotted 'line on the map. This has bt^en partially explored by Mr. Wilkinson, C. E. {vide his report.) If it should be found practicable l(>r a railway, it Avill pi-obably, as compared with the line by Tcniiscouata Lake, have steeper gradients, require heavier works of construction, have less cultivable land upon it, and save but little in distance. Its only recoi'unendation is the greater distance from the frontier of the United States. Fourth.— The intermediate dotted line passing up the north branch of the IRestigouche, thenc- by Avay of Green River and the Squatock Lakes and the east branch of the Trois Pistoles, and gradually descending to the St. Law; once along the northern slope of the mountain to Riviere du Loup, as already mentioned in this Report, appears much more promising, and is I)artieularly recommended to be carcfnUy explored. Fiffl,._The deviation in Nova Scotia by Earl Town. This will add M miles to the length of the road ; but the benefit to be derived will far over- balance the disadvantage, as has been shon-n under the description of Route No. 1. Besides, this line is more k 'ol than that by Folly Lake ; ant' this will give it an advantage in working that will counteract in some measure the etiec!: of difference in length. Sixth.- -The deviation of Route No. 1 between Shediac and Miramichi by the coast." has been already noticed. The increase of distance is about 19' miles, and it would probably be more hilly than the interior line. Here conn<;ctions with the harbours would not produce so great an effecc as iiE II liiiations wilT \o. 3 from St. ray, and from [lie Aroostock liead of Two di'toitr to tlie tlie Tobique t is desirable nountain at a the eastward tioiis made by /ard, throuf»^l! ; throu<:;^li tlie St. Lawrence iie present line ion, andoufijht le partieularly rveyed at all, iscovered, the Restigouehe. nnost easterly /tr. Wilkinson, r a lailway, it ), have steeper ultivable land idation is the )rth braiieh of [uatock Lakes I'lidiiig to the iere du Ijoup, mismg', and is is will add 14 will far over- descriptin", of lly Lake ; ant' some measure d Miraniiehi by ce is about 19' or line. Here m effeec as iiE The aetiiai cost ot the Euroiie;ui and X(jrth .\nieri(;iii HiiUvav fVoni St. •John to Shediac, passin-^ over a cftnntry very siuiiiar to th.it traversed bv the Central line, was ;e8,301) sterling per mile. The average cost of tb:* Xova Scotia Kailways, of 98 miies through a more difReuit country generally tliaii the average of either of these lines, was £9,000 sterling per m-le. These railways were completed under Provincial Commissioners, and it may be presumed that a responsible company would execute similar %vork in quite as economical a manner. The estimate contemplates doing the work in a good and substantial manner, and I am perfectly coiijident it is amply sudieient for the purpose. Major Robinson's estimate of .£7,700 sterling per mile, or even less than this, would complete the road with a more eeouomieal kind of Avork than is here contemplated. Wooden bridges, and many other means of economy, well known in the United States, can be adopted, by which the first cost, Avould be materially les.sened, jind the rof»d still be sulliciently etiicient for the present u.se, and can b;; improved as the business increases. The first 40 miles of the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway was princi- pally built under my supervision for ies.-i than il5,000 sterling per mile, and was quite capable of doing a considerable business. Of course, the repairs upon sich a road will bo much greater than upon en? more {lerinanentiv constructed. NOTES UPON CONSTRUCTION .IXD TIME OF COMPLETION. In the event of the adoption of tilt; Central route, it is recommended that so sooii as the location of the line is defined, a common wagon-road should at once b3 constructed along or near the whole length of the proposed railway. Road.^ suitable for the purposes of local traflie are inarle through the forests tho corresponding deviation in Nova Seotia, and would not bo attended with so great an advantage. This lin;' would cross the South-west Aliraiuielii, nc.ir the falls, above Newcastle, wiiere tlie river looks very formidable, owing to broad .shoals ; but tho (piantity of water pissing is very little greater than at Indian Town, the addition boiiig only that of li.iniaby's River, which drains an area of not more than 203 squ;ire miles. From .noasuremcnts taken of the stream in 1847 at Indian Town, it may bo concluded that a clear waterway oi" 800 teet wide by 20 feet deep, will bo (jiiite sullicient ; the remainder of the width may be embuiked. This w^oiiid avoid the ridge between Indian Town and the Little South-w^est, and keej) nearly upon the level of the rivers all the way to Batluirst. If it bo considered more ])roper to follow Routt; No. 1 as marked, the navigable water of the Miramiclii above Newcastle may be reached by a branch of about lO miles in length, and probably this would be the better plan of making that connection. < 12 of New Brunswick, oxc-usivo of the hu-gcr l.nclgcs, 0,. about i:iOO stov. g f J As this road nu.st bo n.pi.lly ....cutod, and of a rather mo,-o sub- "uuial churactor, £:>00 prr n.ilc will uol b. too large a sum to estimate loi , t^^ c