IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 125 1^. ilM llll|^ 1^ lilllio U IIIIII.6 ^J -y /A // ,^ ^ V CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. n Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. G Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'i! lui a dtd possible fie se procurer. 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The follov^ing diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches troo grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul cliche sont film^es d partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'image^ ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la m6thode : 1 2 3 4 5 6 •XHIE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY -.JF- • Remarks on its Present Condition and the necessity for an Immediate Change of Location. '■:. :'■.<' '../K A Letter addressed to the Hon. Sir Charles Tapper, K.C.M.G., . . Minister of Raihuays and Canals, , V- BY f »• ilCTOIT BTJRIlO"WS, of "Winnipeg. OTTAWA : ^.x, CITIZKN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING Co., SPARKS ST. vWv// 1880, I ts::b CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY Remarks on its Present Condition and the necessity for an Imnfiediate Change of Location. [K,^£r7;.ji^ i Letter addressed to the IIo/i. Sir Charles Tuppen K.C.M.C, Miftister of Railways and Canals. — BY - - ACTOU BTjnnOXVS, of "Winnipeg. -<-«-»- OTTAWA : CITIZEN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANV, SPARKS STREET. 1 880. TKsnc '^ It' The Canadian Pacific Railway Telegraph. To the Hon. the Minister of Railways and Canals : Sin, — The iinportanco of a thoronglily cHi ncnt .systr-rii of tt'lcj^rapiiic service? in coinioction with the Canadian Pacilic Kailway, respectini,' which wo hainistration, to the fact that the contracts for the construction of the lino were let during recess, and without the authority of Parliament ; or to the still more extniordinary featnif^, that the route was determined on, and at least the portion of the lin j west of Selkirk coustructed beforv? a tinal locution of the railway had been made. My ol>servations comi)el nie to say that the route chosen for its erection was and is unsuitalde ; that the cost of its erection was excessive ; that the ainiual subsidy now paid for its maintenance is too high ; that the fre(juency with which it is oat of working order rentiers it comparatively useless ; that the tariti'of i-ates charged by the lessee is exoibitant, and that before it caw become eflective it.s route recjuires to be changed from the present location noi th of Lake Manitoba, so as to run along the route of the 100 miles of railway now iu constraccion west of Winnipeg. THE ROUTE. The lowness and wet natnm of t\w land between Selkirk and faving- sfcone, render.^ it totally unfit for the route of a telegraph line. In the Commons, last year, Mr. Kirk[»atrick vej-y well explain*^il its disatl vantages. Speaking of an interview witii the P>ishoi> of Ptupert's Land, he said : — "n(' asked liiin some questions abont the country, and the Bishop said it was very wt I. and tiiat the eotintry tliroii}:;li wliii h the raiboad was going to cross was all under Wii r lie (iMr. Kiikp;itri( k ) .'-aid it kiuIiI be diitinrrii)t man, who wt-iit over this cciititry with a vi^ w. of takiiij,' u mih-coiitnut (Vdiii Sifton. Ward k (Jo., c'otifrac toiH from Snu. pointid with iron, and they eouhi not tind hottom with it * • * He u>ked the lioiioraldc inemhers from Manitolia to tell tJie Hoiim- w etlit-r it was not there (uriently reported that the land was helovv water, and wliether it was not authoritatively liorne out liy tiic report on the tahle of the Mouse. To sh<»w the character of this rei)()rt, Mr. KlcUiinfi; Haid, on pap' :'.;». that, for ahoiit l(> iiiile^ up to tlie Narrows of I^ake Manitcdia, the h vel was jreiier.illy low. He had shown th m that it was helovv the lake level, and he asked the iloiise to look into it, and see whether this report was correct." — Debates. 1878, pui/es T)?- (t>n/ 573. Mr. l)iil)e, tdHciiiUv n^poiting to the Dopa'tinent with refcroiice to rli j country hetwecMi Solkirk iiiid the Narrows of Lake Manitoba, saitl :, — •' Th(! niar. ))er -Tnle \k'v annun«, Mr. Fuller getting a lump snui of $1."3,0UU per year. In defence of the high rates paid for construction it may be urged that the lowest available tenders were acc(!|)led, but this position is not tenalde, for it is not. doing t;ie late Government an injustice to say that they should not have awarded the contracts at such figures, in face of the fact that, making due allowance for the e.\tra exjtense involved in carting iu wire, provisions itc for men, even then the cost was far in excess ot what has been paid by companies in Canada and the United States for their lines. For the price paid, a first-class line in every respect should have been built, but it is of the cheapest and most useless description, the poles, along the greater portion of the route, Iteiug miserable attenuated ]>oplar. First-cluss wood should have been used and ti:'> contractors cotiipelled to transport it for sonu^ distance when it was not to oe had near at hand. The amount paid for maintenanco is generally considered to be excessive, even were the line in constant opera- tion. The Eiigineei-m-Chief infornis me that the contractors are only paid for the time the line is iu working order, but as the Department does not appear to have any definite information on this point, nor can it well be ex- |>ected to when the dilficulty of ol)taining it i.s considered, the probability is that very little is dedaoced from the aggregate subsidy to cover the time when communication is interrupted. A USELESS LINK. In 1875, vi'hile defending his action v reference to the construction of the line, Mr. Mackenzie said : — '• Hi) felt from the fu'st that it was absolutely indisponsible to have teloj^rapliic com- tnunication with the various points on Ihe line, in order to proseente a successful Hiirvey. and in order to eondiKc to the settleUK'nt of the North-West Territories, as well AH to lay out the line upon whiek the road should ultimately be built." " Indispensable" or not, the fact is that this communication has not been had, except at rare intervals, as will be seen by tl;o subjoined examples. iJpeaking from personal observation in Winnipeg, from early iu May until Mo|)toml»('C, T Clin sny posii^ivoly tliiit diiriiii; tlio t^roater porfion of tluit titrif tliM liiK! WHS not woi-kinir. In July it was down for tliri'o wtn-ks. Lat(* iu August, Lit'ut. Col. W. <)s))orMo Sn>itli, ''. M.ii., ln-intr orih-rcil to tii" Nortli- Wost on Militia Uusincss, liunded in to tlio Winnipt^j/ olHi e a ttdcijiikm to l.i(Mit.-( Jov. Laird, at iMittlcf'oid. Ool. Suiiili riMuaiiied in WmnipcLj nine da}s after this, but up to tl>e dato of liis departure; it had Immmi inipossiltltj to },((it it thro»nj;h. An ollicial tclciijauk handed in to the Uuttleford ollrce hy Col. Smith al>o\it S«5pteinl»<'r .''Dch., was siniihiily delayed. When the llev. D. M. (roriion, of (HtaWa, came east on his way frou) the Pacilic, he found it impossil.h; to s(m><1 a ni(;ssaohlt, ahont. iv fortniijikt later. On (>etol)er Ith, Mr, Carsciiih'a, ag^^nt of Messrs. Oerrie k Co., of Winnii^n;, telegraphed his Hrtit that he wo\dd leave Iwittleford that day. Ke drove? to Winnipeij, (JoO niiits. with ids eiikrt traii», aiiivini' two duvH ))efo»e his n^'ssaye^ These cases are- but i\ fevr antonj.,' n»any. They are, howevei-, sullicient to show that tlif; lin<> cannot be dependeepartment of tJje Interior, which probably had iM'casion to use it mon; fr('(iUimtly than anv ot' the othyr Departn)ents, c;in, it is s;jiid, furnisii numerous examples of iuconvenience cxpeiicnced in ct)n- secpience of beinif unablt! to secure counnunication. Mr. E. W. Jarvis, <;iviiii^ evidence L>eforc tlie Senate Committee pre~ viously veferred to, teytitied :- " Q. Do yon Uiidw that tlieve has been any (iifficulty in k( cpiuir up th(! line froir* Selkirk to Noitlirote ? A. V<'S ; there has lnu;n great (litRciilty iu keeping it up. A year or tvvo j-go tiie line was down tor two or tia'ee inniitiis. " (j. Do you 1-itow why tin; line was liown ? A. Yes ; (In- [Mrles had hcxinstiirk up in the huovv and frozen moss, aod wlieii the snow melted tluy fell. Tiie contractor could not g Chroimden b;; the W(iy, doscri|>tive of Iiis recent tiip through the North- West, in speaking of his arrival at Humboldt telegraph station, Siiys ; — " It was lutfort! seven o'clock; and the people iir chai-jjje had just gfit up. A young lan presented herself at th'- door, and to o\u' iMuiuiry as to whet! 'jr tlie line was •worn working, rcplii.'d that it WHS working to Bafctleford, but that the eivsteru section was tiown. Iter sister, who acts as operator. t»ld lis it was e}?i>eeted to l)c in working order that day or the next, and we left ujessages in tlu; hope that her anticipations might prove true. • Is the line often (h)wn ?' wi; enquired. 'Very otten,' (die replied. Her liusliaud, who has charge of looking aftev it, had only thi.s year liecn home for a &)rt- iiight, Jl is laiiit througli the n'vis4'ral>le, uKirshy nuiwkeg, through whicli it was pro- posed, tnider the promptings of the nndign intluence which has ruled in Nortlr-WestJ matters during recent years, to carry tlie railway, and the poles go (town nt every storm. • * • We croHs»;d the telegraph line about three miles from the station, and for some distance the trail runs alongside of it. Jt is as miseralde a lino as eould well be imagined, and it is certainly not much to be wondered at that it is an exceptional eireumst.auce when it is- in working order. Tlkat it was built at all is an evidence ot ntter folly. The change of the route of tlic railway will render it useless." !\Tr. AI<'X. Taylor, fonucrly (>f Ottawa, tiow in char of tlic tilc;,'ia|)Ti ollii't" at \li\y Lakt's, iwar I'Mmoiitou. in a U-tter to his latluT, puhlisheil iu TiiK (.'iTiZK.v (if tlip Ktli, says : — '* I will ('\|>Iiiiii tliiit line (roiiMr t« yon. Ymi soe ^fr. Siflon IkhI thcrrnitmct tVnm Winnipeg to i'tlly by tip- nortli ot liJ'kc Miiiiiitol)a ; Mr. FiilitT fnmi I'clly to whtn- tin: liiir i-mi-i ii> Imsli, ")i8 tnilcs. If yon nini'inlx'i', iiortli of Lakt- Maiiitolia. alHioiij^h I'ini- ♦iciniKtl liy Mr Fii'iiiiii;,', \vfi-< Mr Mackt-iiKii; s itK'a wlicii Iu; nvus in powrr. Sir .lolin Miinlonald wants it south of tht* lake, tiji; proper plni'c, biH'niiMc itortli of the lake in notliiutc l>ut iiiiisUcir-'. s\vam|)^:, etc., and I h've Ivm told that Mr. Sifton puts in jiolcs, and in the luitridiiic thry have siiuk out .if sii.;ht into tiic inuHke,^s. Xow, wiiat kind oi a pi^Hc woidd lliat !«• to hiiild a railroad? Mr, Fullers end is al\v;iys in workinii order. This snujuier In- sent uicn over it, and put in every second pole new. The tiniher is pnI>liHho(] at P>attlt'for'^, l>euig do onilciit ot^ tlic liiK.'! for its tolci;r;viiliic iit^ws, is jwcnliaily cM|MtMt' of ex|)re.s.sing an oj)ii\ii)U tin its working. Fron» it tin^so extracts ivie taken : — {October 21, 187S.) '• TIjc followiiif,' tcdeiifraTns,'' duted \Vinnip(% Oct. 4t]i, '-were roi/eivcd too late for our last issue. For some time past there has h.-eu a weak spot in the line to the east of the Narrows tlmt luis biitiHed all the cH'orts of the repairers to find, and some days aj.^o Ihe line broke altogether, and the indications are that it isahout the trouhlesouio pltu.e." (November 4, 1«78.) " We are sorry if our readers are tiisappointcd at not findinff telc<,naph'!o despjitchos nnder tliis heading, hut it is no more annoyint,' to them than it is t'> our.selves. Our news rt'iHirts are duly jirepared, hut it is impossible to net them ever the lines. .Just one month aifo we <,'ot a despatch <,dvin,t,^ the result of the e!ecti'.ii::, and it was several days overdue. Sime that time the line has been silent. The fiult lies in the eastern section, or what is known as ' Sifton's contract.' To all en(piiries at the office hta-e, the answiM- has been the .same, ' no news ; line rlown east of I*illy,' or, -line down at the Xar.ows,' or, • leakint,' so badly we can do noti)iu;.r' ; the fault always beini,'' at the east- ern end. That the line should be out of onler occasionally wduld not be surorisiiif^ ; but when it works badly for months, and remains clost;d for weeks iit a time, the n»atter demands in vesti^^ation and con'ection. Since early last sprii»ji^ the. line has not been in i^dod worki'i'.? order, for at the licit of pines it leaked so badly that it was with dilH- eulty it could be work'd, and now all communii ation with the outer vvorld i.-; <(impletely tihut off. The contiactor gett-- paid for keepiui; the line in onler, and the liovernment should .see that it is properly done. The object of the Government in building it, that qui( k comminiication ini^dit be had between these outlying regions and tli(! seat of jroVrrnuK nt, en occasions of einer^'cmy, is frustrated, and sore inconvetiience is the daily result. 'I'he contractor owes it to himself, as well as to the Government and the public, to see that this state of things no lon<:;er continue, iiut to tlnd out whose and where the fault is, and to apply a piompt and effectuid remedy." {December 2, 1878.> " For the first time this fall, the telegraph line was worked thrmi;,di to Winnipeg on tlie 2(ith. This is one of the longest circuibs on the continent, it being about G.'iO miles by the line from this place to Winnipeg.' ■» ^ 8 (Awju&t 11, 1879.) An article with reference to the non-.airival of money for tlie treaty payments oon> eludes : '' Ah usual, on all occasions of impoi tance, the telegiaph line is not working." {August 11, 1870.) *' Tlie telcgrapTi line pot iato working order yesterday evening for the firs* time in two weeks. We tried to get a despatch in time for to day s i)apei', but couW not." (September 6, 187D.) "Owing to the telegraph line heing -down, we are at a loss to know what Tndiaa outrages are being perpetrated in otir midst, ah well as how matters are progressing in the outer world. Tt ruay be news to our tMstern friends to learn tiiat the Goveruinent pro|>oses to build a line on dry liUulKorJh of Lake Manitobti. to connect with the j)resent line somewhere west of the muskegs. That is a rumour that got into circulation here, no one seemed to know how ; but as we have no notice of it in the eastern press, we fear it is too good to be time," {Novemuf' 3> 1879.) " The telegraph has been out of order for a long time. Mr. Hall recently went «ilong the line as far at; (he South Bnmch, but was unable to communicate with any point further east. Kreighttus report immense districts as being burned over. Tiie line opened a^j far as Pelly on Friday last, but was clesed below." TARIFF OF CHARGES. In liis last annual report, the Engineer-in-Chief very properly refers to the exorl)itant tariff of charges, the contractors deciding their own rates, not snb- j(X!t oO approval Uy the Government. A writer in the Saskatclunvan Ucndd of May 5th, IS TO, very justlv co.iphuned of having had to pay $2.50 for a tr.essage of ten words from Edmonton to Wiunii)eg. Of a more unjust case T have {)ersonal knowledge, having in September been chaiged %'l for a me5- Hage often words from Huinbohlt to Winnipeg, a distance of a little over 400 miles. Not having a copy of the tariff, it is impossible to s[>eak of it in greater dettiil. The two cases cited are sufficient to show that the charges are monstrously excessive ; and that, in order to secure the ado])tion of an equitable rate, it is decidedly necessary that the tariff should be subject to (iovernmeut approval. THE FUTURE OF THE LINE. Tlve necessity of uninterrupted communication with the North- West, while important to the Department over which you preside, and to the Militia, as v/ell as other branches of the public service, is far greater to the Dej)art- ment of the Interior, which, especially in the tran.saction of business relating to its Indian and Mounted Police branches, requires to be in a {)osit:ion to use the wires almost consti.ntly. In addition to the requirernents of the public service in this respect, the interests of the commercial community have to bo taken into consideration. With tlie exception of one or two points on the \ Little S.nskatchewan, tlie settlements in the Territoiies only receive and dis- piitcli :> mail once in tliive weeks. 'Hie Ijiii^e trade done I'v inany of the merchants, particnlnily in the Prince xMlieit, Stobai t, IJattleford and Kdnion- ton districts, reijnires that they shonld be in a [josition to use the telei^raph when necessary. Now, this cannot be done except on rare occasions ; and it is no nncomnion thini; for special messengers sent from Prince Albert or Stobart to the telegra))h station at llnmboldt, distances of about 100 miles and 70 miles respectively, to find on arriv.il that the line is not workinj;, and that it is im|:ossil>le to get a message dispatclunl and an answer receiv(;d. The I'apidity with which thf^ settlements are increasing, their growing trade, and the vigorous manner in which several important enterprises are now being pushed, render a discontinuance of the present system an alisoluie necessity, and call for such a change as will give continuity in the i-oute. 'I'he line from Lake Superior to Selkirk appears to give general satisfaction, to be in constant working order, and to carry messages at a reasonai)!^ rate. Public feeling is strongly in favor of a rum )val of the section from Selkirk to Fort Pelly, and its reconstruction from Winni|)eg along the route of the 100 miles of railway now in course of construction, thence to Fort Pjilice, and from there north or noith-Wv'sterly to connect with Mr. Fuller'.'-' section, which is said to b ; generally working. Such a line would me(;t the n'quii'ements of the railway, suit the business of the Government, prove convenient to Winnipeg and a large portion o^ the Province, penetrate the Territories along the line of settlement ami secure the communication which is so much required. It would })ass over a route on which there are no difficulties by muskegs, or, at mo«t, of a very trivial nature, and wliere good wood for pole.s could be comparatively easily obtained. A company, inco'-'[>orated under the general Act of the ^[auitoba Legis- lature, has already in course of c )nstrnction a lino b^'twe mi \Vini\i[) >g and Portage de li Prairie. T lis could bj utilise 1, as thev would doubtless Ije williuiT to remove it to the route of the railwav. and an extension to Fort Ellice, and thence to the Fulliu- contract could 1);; built early in the summei-. The matter is one worthy the earnest consideration of the llovernmiMit, and their decided action is eagerly hoped for by the }>eople of M.mitoba and the Territories. 1 have the honor to be, sir. " Your obedient servant. ACTOX BURKOWS. 187U. .-\C' Ottawa, De 1 <> i Since the foregoing was written the folU)wing facts have been noticed : — srHVF.VORS WITHOUT INSTRUrTIONS. "The Canadian Pacific Railway survey l«irty. 17 men in all. left for Winnipeg 10 on the I'.T'li. They Iny Imro scvorfil (iii\ s tryin.ti to ^'ot a mc^ssnjvo (liroiijili to ,nnd ins- tnictlnlis 1-Mck fVnlM Ott.- \V;i. l.Ilt iiS ll,,. Ill,,' \V;lS(|,,\vil us IHUll, til.'V W(TC lIlPll.lc to. I,) so. 'I'licy Ictt their iiiiili's licif to wiiitor. ' — E.itnouU Saskatchewan Ilei-ail oj Sov. 17, l87l). « curiesjwiiJeuCL' of Oct. 30th, in THE LINE I\ 1877. "A^ the- wnikinir of tlir tcU'jrraph lino from VVinnipr'c: westward continued unsatis- f,i.t(.ry. 1 was iin li.l.'. diirin.i-- tiic pii-t siimnivM-, to nmke the det.Mininution of lon-Mftide ol tiic prill. ip:il p..iii(.s.ssciilial to the ni-.n- e.inv(t .jurviim- out <,f tiir .iucral .Ms(em iiiimmi.atrd hy tho speeial survey.-— AV/^o/V r./' .)/,-. Liuha;/ A'/m //, San- j/or-G'ncral, 1877 . A DKLAYEU Til ANKS(; IVIXO. Owin-.' to tlio lino not KoinL' in woikinLf oidei-, a lolffji-ani to Lieut.- Oovcrnor l.aifd di i not reach Dattiffofd cai'ly cnou^Ii in Novcnilier to have a <]ay of tlianksuiviim ))iochnnK;.l in the Noith-We.^t TfiTitories for the same day as in the othor Pioviiics. •*■ 'sr' ALL ABOARD - FOK NOBTK^WESTEBK CAHADA ! .;■•'..>■■ THE BEST Al-I--nilIl- nOUTES Manitoba and North-WGst TerritoriGS, From the old Provinces of Canada^ are as follows : ? V; v-> V- ^Q DETROIT, --^ " •^■• BY GRAND TRUNK OR GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. » mv* ■- .; -J' ^ ;:' DETROIT TO CHIOAGO, .: : BY THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILWAY. ■'■■<■ 1 . ; , CHICAGO TO ST. PAUL., • , ? - ^ /^^ BY THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE &■■ ST. PAUL RAILWAY, V'^ -'■ . • — OK };v THE — " . '. v' ' *^ ' , - - ' CHICAGO, ST. PAUL 6- MINNEAPOLIS RAILWAY. ,, ST. PAUL TO ST. VINCENT, C,- :-• B Y THE ST. PA UL, MINNEAPOLIS e^• MANITOBA RAIL WA Y. ST. VINCENT TO WINNIPEG, BY THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. *'■.