IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 4< A // ^ >4 :/. V ^ >vi:? 1^ 1.0 1.1 laaiZS |2.5 lit U^i S9.2 ■u KiSI 1.4 IJ4 ^ w ^«>' ^x^ ^ /. PholDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WI«STIt,N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 172-4503 ^1>^ V <> '^ . signifia 'A SUiVRE", le symboia ▼ signifia "FIN". IMspa, piataa, charts, etc., may be filmad at dif/arant reduction ratios. Thoaa too large to be ertireiy included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to rfght and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre film6s A des taux da reduction diff^rants. Lcrsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul ciichA, il est filmA A partir da I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'imagea nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 VW^" '■ wmmmm '1 * mmmmimmmm i\r^;.,Ljm: ^i,.«*^::'^r^ jt ../*.> ir " J. I *• '. V r ♦ * • * V * ' ' + .ft A< I -t * ■- .a » : ^ a *?■ ^ 1» ^. - ,Mtfnv,4 ! * I. 'B ^;-^ ^■-'^////, v. mwo Mil!))' - ,# ■% i X / I MMhM PRELIMINARY REPORT ON IIIK I'KOJKCrKO NORTH-WEST RAILWAY F ( ; A N A I ) A , \\\ni A DKSCIUI'TION' OK TIIIO lO.NTKVT. I'irV.Slr.M, I'KATCHllS. SOIN \\\) fliOPCSKD TO 111; CO.N.^TiaCTKP. SiiiDWiNd TriK nii'dHTwrr. ot- t;ii; ■y, VALLKV OF THE IIIVER SAUGEEN ,- -/ AS A KIi;i,I) FOiC COA'.MKUCH AND KAIfAVAY KNTKfn'UIi^K. AND TUB (Hii':A'r iii:xi-:i' lis. i.orAi.. rif.iviMiAi., Axi) oniKKWisK. \Miirii wnri.D hksi'i.t krom tiik i-MAiii.i,si!Mi:.ST ok tiif: I'ROI'OSKD M.NK OP COMMCNICATJO.N. SANDFOIII) FLEMING, 5Sn5inftr. M'^^y m TOKONTO: BLAOKIUIRN'S CITY STEAM PRE8S, 03, YoxfiE Stkkkt, 1857. ;,(!!■ DIIIKCTORS. prcailitnt : .1. i;. ilOlUNSON, Msc.. ■f icc-prtsilJcnt : JOHN nifCl^AN, Ks(.»., (MIAKL1-:S AhLKN, Kscj., i HON. WM. CAYI.KV, M. 1'. P., cm. JACKSON, Ks(,.., M.IM'., WM. CLARKE, K.s.j., M. P. P., ALEX. McNABB, Esq., JOHN HUTCHISON, Esq., JOHN HAURINC.TON, Esq., HON. J. H. CAMERON, M. P. P. JOHN G. lUtWES, E.SU., M. P.P. OEORCE DUCIJAN, Esq., JAMES i'.EAT'i'V, Esq., MARCUS ROSSIN, Esq., W. F. MEUDELL, Esq., JOHN EWART, Esq. '. I', p. l* (Janai)a Nokth-VVkst Uau.wav, TuiioNTO, JJccrnihc); LSoO. In laying belbro (he imlilic tho following lleport ou llio i»n)jocto(l North-Wostllailway, (lio Dircclors \\)ii[ that is scarcely iieccssiiry ibr them to say any- Ihing additional to what is therein exjiressed, in order to show the vast importance of tlui conlem- l)lated undertaking. At a meeting in July hisl, (iioy nominated Mr. Fleming to examine (he country, in'eliminary to more minute surveys, — to collect as nuich inCormatiou reg.irding its features and cai)a- bilitics as circumstances would admit, ami to rejtort generally ou the merits of the project : the results of his ciKiuiries as herein given are most satisfactory and encouraging. The Report enters very fully into the merits of the enterprise, describes the nature and extent of a rich district only very partially known, and idustrates from undoul)ted evidence the great benefits which the construction of the work would confer on the country it is intended to serve, as well as on the Provincial lino of Railway, and the City of Toronto. To the first it would form an outlet for its productions at all seasons, enhance the value to a marvelous extent of every acre of land, and hasten the full developement of its natural resources — to the second it would be a feeder of no small value — and to the last it would add another IV. \ F i :» f= i back coimtrv, havin;;^ a riili vir^Mii soil, ^roator in extent than tlu' (.(unities of ^'(^rI<, Ontario, l^oel, and Siniooe, and in [nirt, jit least, Car more fertile; it wonid draw an additional si ream of through trallic to the City and its lljirhonr, and resnit in even j»'rcater advantaj;es to Toronto than have proceeded from the construction of th(; Northern Kailway. Fully impressed with the belief that the establish- nu3nt of th«' proposed avenue ^i' commerce would confer substantial and lasting" benefits on the City of Toronto anil on the whole extent of country it would intersect ami accommodate from Guelph North- westerly ; and convinced that the true and perhaps the only way to bring- the undertaking to a successful issue is for the various Municipal bodies interested, (o promote its initiation by liberal subsci'i[)tions or guarantees; the Provisional Directors, desirous thai the matter should be fairly and fully placed before them, have much satisfaction in submitting the lie- port of the Engineer to their consideration. The valuable corresj^ondence on the local benefits of Railways, as well as the various articles on the growth and trade of the ureat North-west in reference to prospective through traiH(*, to which Mr. Fleming alludes, arc so extremely interesting and im})ortant that they are given in full in Appendices. ,IOHN BEVERLEY ROBINSON, PresideiU. CANADA NORTll-WKST IIAII.WAY. 'taut To the Presidaif osed to be served by the contemplated work, I beg- to submit the following results of recent enquiries, and a tour through the townships of the extensive district in ([ucstion to your consideration. I ' ' ^ (lEOORAPIIICAL POSITION AND EXTENT OF COUNTRY. I fe It will much facilitate our conception of the rela- tive geographi(;al position and extent of the series of large river valleys through which the North-West Railway would either actually pass, or render tribu- tary to its maintenance, if we allow ourselves to suppose an air line to be drawn from Goderich on Ljike Huron, to Collingwood Harbour on the Geor- gian Bay. Let another air line be conceived to run ])arallel to the one first mentioned, from the Town of Stratford, to Bradford on the Holland River. The direction of these imaginary lines is north-easterly, and an air line from Guel})h to the mouth of the river Saugeen, would cut them very nearly at right angles, and have consequently a general north-wes- terly direction. Each of these imaginary hues is very nearly 90 miles in length, and the two first indicate the extreme width between railways in actual "operation, namely, the Northern Railway, (Ontario, Simcoe and Huron,) from Toronto to Bradford and CoUingwood, and the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway from Stratford to Goderich. It thus appears that the spanning of a distance of about 'JU s«te «' .^ miles from Guclph nortli-wcstorly, and (in a, line nearly o(jni-distant IVoui existing- railways, is all thai is required to connect Lake Huron at a point, or points, named in the charter, with Lake Ontario at Toronto, via the Grand Trunk from Guelph to the last named city and port. With a view to illustrate still more minutely the imi)osing area of country your railway is destined to serve, we may imagine a circle to be described, luiving its centre in the Township of Normanby, an(l with a radius of about 45 miles ; its circumference? will be found to iiass from Goderich very nearly along the line of the Goderich Railway to Stratford, from Stratford along the Grand Trunk througJi i^crlin to Gaelph and Acton, and thence curving through the Townships of Erin, Caledon, Albion, Adjala, Tossorontio and STUinidale, it will pass along the Northern Railway to its terminus at Colling- wood Harbour on the Georgian Bay. It will then follow the line of coast to Owen Sound, traverse the Indian Peninsula to Saugeen, and finally reach Goderich, its starting point, after swee[>ing the coast of Lake Huron. This circle contains an area of 6000 square miles, and it is well worthy of note that no similar circle, having more ih^iW one-nh'tli pa^-t of the land area just mentioned, can be described in any part of the settled portion of the l^rovince of Canada, within whose limits there has as yet been less expenditure of money in the construction of public works of any kind. If we assume that round the south-eastern semi-circumferenco of this great circle, the existiu'^ railways by which it is bounded will serve a strip of country from 20 to 25 miles wide, there v/ill still remain nearly two million acres yet unsupplied by railway service, and it is through the heart of this extensive tract of land that legislative ft 8 authority has boen obtained to construct the North- Wost Kaihvay of (\T,uaila. Th(> names of tho Municipalities which may be benefited to a urenter or less degree by the projected link of connnunication are subjoined, together with their area. They are divided into two columns to distinguisli tliose which may reasonably be supposed to deriA e benefit in the first degree from those whose expectations, from their position or other causes, may l)e thouglit limited to advantages of the second degree. ?. %i t:l MlINKJIPAblTIES BENEFITED IN THE FIBST DEGREE. Area. County of IJnuc, Township of Saugeen, 46,434 acres. " " " " Elderslie, 55,775 " " " " Bruce, 67,176 " " " " Greenock, 58,686 " •' " " Culross, 58,095 " " '• " Arran, 54,833 " " " " Brant, 70,900 " " " " Kincardine, 60,556 " " " '' Carriek, 59,525 " " Grey, " Derby, 40,000 '' " " " Sullivan, 74,000 " " " " Bentinck, 70,662 " " " " Egremont, 76,292 " " " *' Sydenham, 79,000 '' " " " Glenelg, 68,969 " " " " Normanby, 70,000 <' " " '* Proton, 76,800 " " " " Holland, 77,345 " " Wellingt'n" Minto, 74,000 " " " '' Luther, 90,000 *' " " " Maryboro' 56,771 *' " " " Pilkington, 28,000 " " " " Garrafraxa, 94,000 " " " '' Eramosa, , 43,600 " " " " Guelph, 42,000 « •" " " Nichol, 28,000 " rounty of Wollinpton Township of P«^ol, 74,890 acres. .\rthur, 65,048 " Perth, '' Wallace, 47,000 " Indian Peninsula, " .\niabol, 70,000 ," " " Koppd, 88,000 - " '• .Mbeniarl, (>S,000 " " " Kastnor, :)7,000 " " " Lindsay, (;(),000 " St. Kdniands, .")4,000 " Total, 2,21S,252 acres. MT^XiriPALlTlKS KRNKFlTEl) IN TUB SECOND 1)K(}KEE. An-n. County of Bruco, Town.ship of Kinloss, 44,583 acres. " Huron, 58,261 " " <}rey, " Artemesia, 70,000 " '* '* " Melauethon, 76,800 " " " " Euphrasia, '72,000 '' " " " St. Vincent "65,000 " " Wellin^t'n" Amaranth, 68,200 " " " " Krin, 70,400 " '' Waterloo, " Woolwich, 58,000 '• " Huron, " Turnbury, 84,640 " To these Municipalities may be added the Town of Guelph and the City of Toronto, both of wJiich wouhl doubtless be very s])ecially benefited. GEOi.OGICAL AND GENERA!. FEATURES. Before noticing the external featui-es of the sur- face, vegetation and soil, it will be well perhaps to glance at the Geological structure of the country, which in this portion of tlie province is characterised by very marked outlines. The surface on the east- ern shore of Lake Huron is comparatively low and 10 t H H gradually msccmuIs as we rccodo oashvard, in a vast slo[)0 witli occasional depressions, which give rise lo ))road riA^er valleys ; the slope terminates in a ])old (\scarpment facing the Georgian J5ay and the low L'ind through which the river Nottawasaga flows. In the Townships of Melancthon, Osprey, and Col- liiigwood, the slope; exceeds the height of 1000 feet, ;ind its elevated edge from thence northerly through the Townships of Euphrasia, Sydenham, and Keppel. ;nid along the eastern side of the Indian Peninsula lo Cabhot's-head, is found to attain elevations gra- dually diminishing as we proceed northward from 800 to about 300 feet. In this bold escarpment the Hudsoii River Group, and the Medina Sandstone Series, of the lower Silurian formation, find an out- crop, and over these the Niagara and Clinton groujis of the upper Silurian compose its summit. It is distinctly traced as a continuation of the Flamboro' lieights through the Townships of Esquesing, Caledoii, Mono and Mulmur. Throughout its entire length, from Mulmur to Owen Sound and Cabbot's-head, it presents a rugged outline, being indented by dee]) narrow bays, forming the a alley beds of various streams on the one hand, or arms of the Georgian Bay on the other ; of these streams we may enumer- ate several branches of the Nottawasaga in Mono, Mulmur and IMelancthon, the Beaver River in Eu- phrasia, and the Big-Head River in St. Vincent, un- til we arrive at Owen Sound, where the indentations assume the character of navigable inlets of the Lake, and as such, Owen Sound, Colpoy's Bay, and Mel- ville Sound, are capacious sheltered anchorages of no small value. It wMll, from the above, be evident, that a vertical section drawn across the country from east to west, wiU give the general appearance of a wedge, having its u ■■'■\ point rcstinj^ on the eastern shore of the main Lake, iind tlie thickest part on the high eastern escar})- ment ahove described. On the upper surface of tliis wedge, the provincial geologists find under the soil three sections or grou})s of rocky strata, of nearly equal superiicial extent, and constituting the whole range of the upper Silurian Ibrniation; the upper or eastern section is known as the Niagara and Clinton groups, and extends from the escarpment to a Une not yet precisely defined, but running through the Townships of Garrafnixa, parts of Luther, Arthur, Egremont, Glenelg, and Hol- land, east of the Owen Sound Road, and from thence striking north-westerly through Derby and Amabel to the coast of Lake Huron, near Chief's Point. West of this line the Gypsiferous Rocks are known to exist for a breadth of from two to three Townshii»s, being a northerly continuation of the same strata. so profitably Avorked on the Grand River. Aithougli no Gypsum has as yet been found, there are several indications of its presence, and it is quite probable that as soon as the improvements of the locality require the making of excavations, beds of it may be found in many places. This Group constitutes the middle section ^f the surface of tlie wedg«i above alluded to, and on the lower or western section, the Corniferous Limestone, known also as the Onondaga Salt Grouj), is found expo- sed. The division line between the Gypsiferous and the Corniferous Rocks is believed to strike nearly due north, along or about the WH'stern sides of lEowick, Carrick, and Brant, and from thence north-westerly to the Lake shore below Saugeen. In the description of the soil, the relation which the agricultural importance of the various Townshijjs bears to the rock groups on which they rest, will be 12 I I . ■* I observed, jiiul as a remarkable iustaiiee, it may now be noticed, that while the (Jypriferous and Cor- niferous Rocks underlie the most fertile portion of the whole countr}^, the Niagara and (Hinton (iroups on the other hand, here constitute a hijili rugged table land, with many surface rock exposures, and wide areas of land, but poorly adapted lor agricul- tural purposes ; so well does this rule hold, that the division line between the Niagara (Jroup and the Gypsiferous llocks may be taken as an arbitrary ; extracts, which I have been permitted to make from a Report fur- nished to the Railway Connnissioners in the spring of 1854, by Fred. Cumberland, l^sq, then Chief Engineer of the Northern Railway, that I cannot do better than avail myself of it : " Owen Sound is so well known, and its outline and position so w^ell defined by the charts of Captain Bayfield and otliers, that it seems unnecessary to enter very minutely into a description of its general character. Situated on the w^est side of the Geor- 16 ginn T5.*iy. (he Sound ichmmNvs Ukmico sdiitli-wcsterly in (l('[»lli altonl IS miles, heiii^' iiiiu' iiiil<\s wiUo ut its (MitraiHc, (will) (in I'miIiohis ujilcr.) gradiinlly diinin- isiiing ill widlli and d('i»tli of \vjd(;r uidil jit tho head it rot'civcs the (iair.dV.'ixu ami I'oltawatoniie rivers, streams ol" ronsidcral)!!^ counncicial value, but umiavit;al)le heyoiul tlie Town ol' S^'deldlam. '•The lands on ))oth sides of the Soinid are hij^h and i)re('ii)itous, yet at a point which 1 shall here- after denote, there is an opportunity tor railway approach witliont dillicidly. As will ])e jileaned from the forele, there cjin he no douht us to the liieili- ties .'in'oi'ded hy this lociilitv tor the eonnection of Vidlwiiy jind vvntei- trnllie. Tluj ordy disMdvnntaues to \vhi(th the Sound is suhject, may he bri(>tly stated: 1st. Ji(un<»- landdoekcd, with winds ran«^in<2; from north to iiorth-e;ist. Ami 12(1. The terraced forma- tion of its hottom, which, without givineninsula, would greatly lessen the value of your ent(n'i)rise as a successfnl through route. If it were ])ossihle then to construct an artificial harbour of suilicient capacity and safety on the Main Lake, it would, without doubt, be of the utmost conse- (pience : in conjunction with the p6rt of Owen Sound, the Railway would have two outlets on the waters of Lake Huron, so situated in relation to ea(^h other and the iiiterv(Miing i)enuisula, that during very stormy weather vessels would always have a choice. If the wind happened to blow from either 18 nislorlv or wcstcM'lv cliroctioiis, inic or oIImt oI' \\w li.'irhoiii's would \h) in slioltor, jiik! hnvo siiioolh w.'ilcr Mpprojidlics. Dmiiiu oidiiuirv wcatlior Iho n(l()i)tiou ol" tlio wosttM'ii port would ('onsid(M'ji))Iy simitlily tlu^ ii;ivi,L!;i(ioii of Iho Ljikc, socMiij;iliMt V(»s- sols woidd h.'ivo oid\' ii coiiliiinons sti'niiiiit coiirHe I'roiii (ho Slr.'iils ol' Mnckliinw ;md St. Mnvy tollioir (Icslinutiou !iud.«!ivo;i distaiuM* of '")() miles over llu^ oilier vonio by Isle of (,'oves, CahoCs Head, and (he Gooruian llav to Owen Sound. r am fortiuiately in a position to show how and where an arliiicial harbour can be eonstructed on the main Lake of a most cajiaeious and unexeej)- tional eliaraeter, at a veiy considerable cost, it is true, but without any unusual enj^im^eriuji; dillicultics; and if at any i)oint on a coast so destitute ol' shelter for lijO miles, it l)e possible to proride sucli a neces- sary convenience to a i)artol'lh(i province so rapidly arallel to the shore, forming an extensive natural hreakwater, on which to construct works of farther shelter to piers run out from the land. "In a word, all the elements exist for the formation of the most unob- 10 jo(!ti()n;vl)l(^ luirbour ou any oC 11m( «>,i'onl lakers; not only would it (Jiijoy llu! a(lvaiilMfiay, will be greatly dindnished on the completion of those liight-liouses about to be erected by the Govornment at various well selected points. "' Saugeen. — This River from its contracted area of deep water, its unsheltered entrance, its being sul>- ject to freshets, and the sliifting bar at its mouth, is in(?apable of l)eing made a safe Harbour. 15ut Chtuitry Island, a little to the soutli of its entrance, about 2000 feet in h^ngth, and with reefs running parallel to the shore from ])oth nortii and south ends, to the total extent of one mile and a half, forms a natural Breakwater, the only (me between St. Clair and Cape Kurd. Between this Island and the Main, is embraced a large area of water, (^a])al)lc of being made the finest Ilarbour on the Lakes, accessible at a)^ times by one or other of its entrances, to vessels whether steaming or sailing. '* I should beg to suggest, that break-waters be D 22 erected on the aforementioned reels to the north and south of (ho Ishind to the extent ol'ahout 1400 feet, thus dofonding' from the Lake a hirger portion of the main laiui, and to complete the security, piers run off from the main shore, the north one 2700 feet in length, from a little south of the River's entrance ; the southern one about 3400 feet long from oppo- site the south end of the Island ; which would leave two entrances of about 1000 feet wide, and form a Harbour, which, for facility of entrance, departure, security, or depth, would be unequalled by any Port in the American Inland waters. " There are other arguments in favor of con- structing a Harbour at this place, besides those con- nected with railway enterprise, namely, as a refuge in bad weather, there being nothing of the kind on this coast of Lake Huron." Although I think it scarcely necessary to adduce farther proof of the importance and practicablity of Saugeen Harbour, it may be added, that the Govern- ment with wise discrimination and foresight, has commenced its construction on a large and proper scale ; and with this object ultimately in view, the sum of £7000 has been judiciously expended during the past season in extending the Breakwater. SAUGEEN VALLEY. I am now prepared to show, from personal inspec- tion of a large portion of this extensive region, that it embraces as fertile, salubrious, and attractive Townships as are to be found in any other part of Canada. And in connection with the description of this little known expanse of country, I shall Jo beg your attention to a few remarks on its settle- ment, which were suggested during a recent tour through the Valley of the Saugeeii River, and over the dividing ridges which separate its waters from those passing into Lake Huron by the Beaver, Big-head, and Maitland Rivers, and into Lake Erie by the Irvin and Grand Rivers. — [These remarks will be found in Appendix A.] The Saugeen River takes its rise in the elevated plateau constituting the seven Townships of Hol- land, Glenelg, Artemesia, Osprey, Proton, Egremont jind Melancthon. The same plnteau gives rise to the Beaver and Big-head Rivers flowing northward into Nottawasaga Bay, and to the L'vin and other tributaries of the Grand River, which i)ursue i con- trary course and finally discharge into Lak^ Erie. A few miles west of Durham in tlie Townships of Bentinc^k, the Saugeen proper is joined by a tributary from Glenelg, called the Rocky Saugeen, and near the dividing lines of the Counties of Grey and Bruce and the Tow^nships of Carrick and Brant, it receives considerable accessions to its volume from a tributary named the South Branch of the Saugeen, draining the Townships of Normai4>y and Egremont, and portions of Minto, Arthur, Proton, and Luther. The course of the Saugeen lies for a few miles near- ly due-west in Brant, it then bends south to the northerly town-line of Carrick, and again north to the village of Walkerton ; here it crosses the Durham road and pursues a winding northerly direction, un- til it receives an additional tributary, the Tees- water, in Elderslie, not far from the easterly corner of the Township of Bruce. The Tees-water drains parts of the Townships of Kiuloss and Carrick, and the whole of Culross and Greenock. From Ben- tinck, Brant, Sullivan, Eldeislie, and Arran, the 24 I Saiij^een r(>ceiv(\«; n vory considemblo number of small streams, and continuina' in a gononil direction northwards to the village oi* its own name, at the loot of the Indian Peninsula it linallv Hows into ft-' Lake Huron. The total length of this river, inclu- ding the Tees-w.'iter, the Rocky Saugeen, and the South Branch, is not less than 180 miles; the Township wholly drained hy the main river or its nliluents, are Elderslie, Hrant, Bciitinck, Glenelg, Egremont, Normanby, (Jarrick, Culross, and Ureeu: ock, nine Townships in all, and containing an aren of 595,000 acres. The T(nviiships partially drained by the Saugeen or its atlhients, are Arran, Sullivan. Ilolhuid, Euphrasia, Artemesia, Osprey, Proton. Luther, Arthur, Minto, Howick, 'J'urnbury, Kinloss, Bruce, and vSaugeen, comprising an area of about 850,000 acres, and giving a total area of about 1)45,000 acres, ar nearly 1 500 square miles within the water-shed of this river. Of the Townships above-named as being partially drained by the Sau- geen, we find the remaining portions of IJruce, Kin- loss, Turnbury, Howick, and Minto, give rise to short and unimportant streams falling directly into Lake Huron at numerals ])oints along the coast, or by the Maitland at (loderich ; on the other hand, Sullivan and Arran are partially drained by tin; Sable, (north) which enters l^ake Huron in the new Townships of Amabel;'^' portions of Holland, Euphra- sia, Artemesia, and Osprey, (contribute to the Geor- gian Bay through the Big-head, Beaver, Pretty, and Mad Rivers, while parts of Proton, Luther, and Arthur are drained by the summit waters of the m lifi ■'Tlicvo arc vahiabln falls near th(> mouth of tho Sable (north), where it is contemplated ereetinu' mills and makinti' its entrau(;e available for Harbour ])urposcs. Hi' la! on Grand River, whicli Hows southerly into Lake Erie. The physical features of tlie Valley of Saugeen, are well marked and somewhat peeuliar ; west of the dividing!,' line l)etween (irey and Bruce, the main River Hows in a deep broad bed, with hilly banks, rising to a gently undulating plateau on either side, tliis ])lateau being cut liere and there with various brancli streams, and sloping gently west and south- west to the Townships on tlie shore of Lake Huron, and in the contrarv direction ascendini'' to the broken covuitry along the eastern water- shed. In the Townships partially drained by the Saugeen, particularly those to the south (»f the valley, the surface of the country consists of a succession of low narrow ridges with wide phiteau flats between etich ; the ridges increase in i"elative elevation jis they recede from the valley until the sunnnit is at- tained, they then descend by similar but somewhat less easy steps from plateau to plateau, until the val- lies of the Maitland on the one hand, and of the Grand River on the other tire attained. The nature of the water-shed east of the Saugeen valley, diflers in some important particulars ; the character of the country is rocky, the surface in many parts is abrupt, stony, and broken. The Townships which send part of their drainage to the Georgian Bay, exhibit even at the surface, immerous rocik exposures. The term, Rocky Saugeen, applies well to the genend Icjitures of the country, near the road leading from Owen Sound to Durham, when compared with the rich plateau valley of the main River. In describing more in detail the physical features of the Saugeen Valle3% I shall start at tlie outlet of the river and proceed against the general direc- tion of the stream, making here and there a traverse of rj few miles into the* surroimding country, and 26 I Up the vallies of a few of its more important tri- butary creeks. At the immediate mouth of the river, the soil is sandy and poor, as is generally found skirting the coast of Lake Huron, but within a mile or so it (changes to drift clay, with here and there low sand ridges, which diminish in frequency imtil they dis- appear altogether at the distance of throe or four miles from the Lake. The banks of the river at the bridge about five miles inland from its mouth, have been deeply excavated for the purpose of forming approaches to that substjintial work, and they ex- pose a great depth of the rich drift clay. Following the Elora road from the bridge to Paisley, we pass through heavily timbered clay land, supporting beach, maple, elm, jmd birch, in the greatest a- bundance and luxuriance ; nearly half way between these two points, the very broad valley of a creek rising in Sullivan is traversed, the depth to which this creek had cut a ravine through the drift clay, showed the great thickness of that deposit, whii^h did not appear to be less than from 90 to 120 feet. Boulders were almost entirely absent, a few of small dimensions in the bed of the creek, showed that obey were not generally distributed in the clay. Here as well as at very many other parts of the valley, the fertility of the virgin soil w^as well shown, by abundant crops of turnips of very large size, notwithstanding the unusually dry season. Near Paisley a road strikes olf to the village of Lockerby, a new settlement situated on the north branch of the Saugeen, which takes its* rise in Holland, and flows along the southerly end of Sullivan and Elderslie to its intersection with the main River. Lockevby offers advantageous positions for mills, with the certain prospect of abundance of material to sustain 27 them, as the improvomeni of the fertile rountry around pi'ogresses. Paish;y h the site of a town at the conlluenec of tlie Tees-water with the main Saugecn; here as well as at Lockerby mills arc ererted, there are also several stores and other build- in<'s. The Saugeen at this point is an imposing river, with high abrupt banks on one side, and broad rich Hats rising to similar banks on the other. Indeed, high banks and wide spreading flats alternfitely on either side of the river, is a common feature. The timber covering the flnts is of enormous growth ; Elm tiees may frequently be seen from 60 to 70 feet high, without a branch, and three feet in diameter 10 feet from the ground. 151ack Birch of unusual size, and black cherry are frequently to be met with three feet in diameter, and they generally preserve their thick- ness without brjinchiis to a great height. The Tccs-wfiter bears the very inappropriate name of Mud Uiver, and is also called the west branch of the Saugeen ; it runs through Greenock and Culross, but derives various tributaries from Kinloss and Carrick, which take their rise in small lakes, swamps, and beaver meadows. Between Paisley and the village of Walkerton, on the Durham road, indeed, between the Saugeen bridge, near the mouth of the river and the latter village, a distance of about 30 miles, it would be difficult to find ten acres of una- vailable land, on the travelled road ; here and there at wide intervals, a few patches of wet or of lightish soil may be discovered, but there are no swamps, properly speaking, unless one or two swales bearing a mixture of cedar and hardwood timber can be cal- led such, and it is ([uite probable that most farmers would prefer having a portion of this kind of tim- bered land for future fencing purposes. The country is very heavily timbered with Beach and Maple 28 of lie hirgosi jL'Towili, lUittoiiwood, Black Biicii, and iiia^iiiliccni Elms ; vc3ry littlo lloinlo(k,Piiio, or any rt'sinous tioos wcno oIksovvchI, iiuloed, (he Ibrcsl Indy deserves the name of heavy hardwood land. Tlie River and streams generally (low ov(n' «rravelly heds with hen^ and there ont-crops of limestone, ex- cellent for hnildinji; pnrposes; a considerable (|uantity lay exposed on the road side abont tlie middle ol" Ih'ant in the ronph (brm and convcn'ted into lime. It was proenred on the river bank near by. Cor the erection ol* a stone tavern, and according to the in- iurmation obtained, it is not only (bnnd without dilliculty on the main Hi ver, but also at jnany points along its branches ; we were told of a lemarkable (3xposure along the banks of the Tees-water, about \ 2 miles south of Paisley, at a i)lace called Pi nckerton's Mills. The stone is of a light warm grey coloni-. and is detached with great ease from its bed, in layers varying from six to sixteen inches in thickness, witli a good s(piare fracture, admirtibly adapted (or build- ing good common work, as is well exhibited in sev- eral comfortable dwelliniis throuuh various narts ol' the country. The Saugeen at Walkerton, is a river of no com- mon beauty ; on the one side a uniform hill bank, (it cannot be called a cliff })ank,) rises with a rapid slope to the height of about 200 feet, and beneath is a wide ri(;h flat through which the clear waters of the River flow over its light gravelly bed. The op- posite bank is more varied in outline, but rises to a similar height, froin which the great plateau of heavy and rich drift clay stretches away for many miles in long easy undulations, sharpened at inter- vals bv the vallies of the numerous streams whicjh water the Townships. The great line of road lead- ing easterly from Durham to Greenock, Huron and 20 Kincjirclino, crosses {\\v Sini;j;c(Mi ;il tliis villnpo; iionr llio iut('rs(M;(i()n, IIk- i-ivcr has hcoii djumiKMl, aiul iillonls a snpd'ahiiiKlancc ol* water-powor ; mills aro licif' crcotod, Invenis. ohurchcs. and (l\volliii«;s arc s|>i'iii;iiiii:' up aromid, and lliroiiu'li the (Mitcrjjrisc and (MKM'Liv (»!' ils loundcr. ihc villa^'o is fast assmidiiu' imporlanci!. 'rakiiii:' Walkcrton as a ('(Mitre, and m.-ikinp,* radiatiii,^' tra^('rs('s nortlnirly tliron^h Brunt lo l'ild(M"sli(\ wcslerlv to (Jrecnock ami Kin('ardin(\ souiii.'i'ly and casl(^rly ilu'ongh Currick, Norma jd)v, and Bcidinck, it would l)e('()in(,^ a ])roblom of somo dillnMdty lo i'lwd n tract of land (Mpial in (n'cry rospiK'l jn lliat c(»nij»rohcndod within the limits of these Townships. The load h^adin^' (lii'e(Mly south I'rom Walkerton, tra,V(U'scs a, country of astonishing luxu- riance ol' V(>geta,tion ; it is (piite imp(»ssible to form a correct idea ot" the charactei" of the hush and of the nature of the soil in this neighboui]u)o(l, without a, [Kii-souMl inspection; here you se(; Elm trees, I'our Wh'A, diameter m'.ii" the groiuid. rising t,o an altitude of 70 feet, without a, hrancli, iuid l)("!aring their thick- ness w(;ll to that hei<'iil. lUack Birch and Cherrv, with their singular harks, uTowing here in u'reat ahuu- dance, and with truid,'ivilv timbered, Ibrgcttin;;- the liut Ih.-it (he nhnndjiiice and dinien- .si(Uis of \('«it'luhie j^rowlli they (h-plore is tln^ sureirt indiciition of the enduring I'ertili'.y of the soil and tile juijipljitioii of cliniiite to lii<' })nrposes of tiicir own toil ami indiisiiy. in sonic ])arty of the TowMiships oJ' IJrunt iind Carriek, a lilth^ l^inc Jind Hendoek nia}' be found cither in sNvaics or elothing narrow low sand and gravel ridges. \\ iiieli oecasion- allv exist in the nciuiil)ourhood of the water eourses. In Eldorslie, the 'fownship lying to (he north of Brant, and only partially watered by the 8augeen. there ai'e S(»inc considerable swamps, forming tbe sourees of the sev«Mal small streams which join the main river, or ))ass o\er tin) northern water-shed and How into liie S;iblc. (Jreenoek, innnediately west of Brant, resembles it in the richness of its soil, but is nol so W(dl draiiuid, and possesses an ex- tensive swamp about the centre of tJie Township ; this swamj) grows ainnnlanee of l^iue, and in a country wiiere hardwood land ]>icdominates. will soon be of iu(,'ak'ula])le value for building and fenc- ing purposes, already the absence of Pine is felt in many places. In (anick, the Township south of Brant, and Cidross and Kinloss. soutJi of (jireenock, several dry swami)s occur, but of no great extent, and in most case.'- available for farming purposes. The timber in th(;se elevated swamps, consists of Cethir, Ta.marack, liirch. Beech, a little Hemlock and Pine, with liere and there Bjilsam and Spruce. In Howick and Minto, Townships which are more ele- vated and constitute the southern w^ater-shed of the Valley, swamps are nu)re numerous; they arc found ill long jlaty, Ih'Iwccii low iIiIl;''^, uliicli sccin In divide tlio wnicrs (jl'tlio S:iii!:('(!;i IVoiii lliosc llowiiiu ill a southerly direclicMi. Il is ;i Itict wril woiiliy (d* iiotico, iluii llic f'hivjitcd |M\vii,-lii|is in wliirh these (lividini; ridg(\s iUTi Ion rid, do iiol, with llw ((xeeption |,>erha))S of Proton and Luther. ((iul;iin niiy eonside- r,'il)]e extent of uii;iviiilMl)!e swMinns. Tliev nuiv in l^'eneral ])eel;issed ms diT sw;iiii|is. in which Iwirdwood is .'issoeiiited witJi IJlack Ash. T;iniar;iek nnd Cedar. The pjissage from (he Sauiiccii \ alley to that of the (irand Hiver is reniarkahlN' L:radual. and would scarcely he perceived )»y ;i ir.MM'lh-r in th(^ hush without the assistance ol' I lie l.aiLi' \islas nllbrded by the new niad(^ Ehn-a road, which Ixdn^uf cut out in a, direct line, enables the low ridues with their broad but shallow intervoninu \allies to he recouni/ed by the unassisted vyv ; tlu'se hi'oad v.dlies are easily distinguished rising gradually ste[) by ste]) as you recede i'roin the main Jliver, and as Calling similarly in the opposite direction after the watcn'-shed is passed. SETTLERS AND (XLNDITIOX ()K SKTTLE- MEXT. The class of settlers already in occiij)ation of the Saugeen Valley, consists lor tin* nio-t part of far- mers who have had many y(3ars experience in older townships, and who were induced, since the time when the country was surveyed and ottered for sale about four or five years ago h\' the (u)vernnient, to purchase tracts of land for themselves eras the future homesteads of their children. In many cases these farmers are, lor the second time, converting by their :V2 l.'ihoni's IhcM'iulc Ibi'csl iiilo plouiilnid liclds. Tln>\' were pc'*li;i|»s IIk^ otirly s('ltl(>rs oI" (iI)\\ iislii,«s, when' artcr V(*iir,s of foil, tiicv <'liio\('(| 1 lie pusscssioli (it* iiood clt'iircMl I'jii'Uis. 1)111 V, illi ;i liii-^cr Diiiiilv oCsous i;ro\viii)i" up .'iroiiiid thciii,, Jiiid rorcscciii'i' llic dilli- ciiHy of |>ro\ idiii;;' I'oi' the iiidi\idii.Ml Wiiiils of (.mcIi. wlici'c cvri'N'' jK'i'o w.'is oiTiihicd ;iiid hiuii in v;dii<\ tlicy doionuiiK'd to iuonc iiilo llic iMMMiiilly oju'ikmI coiiiilrv jiiid scciiro ;i sidlicicMicy oi' iwv.'a — the pio- (•(HhIs of llici Side ol' llicii' old Iioiii(»st(;iids (!liiil)liii,'i' lliom lu )>Jiy lor tlio l.-uids uiid providi^ (Vir llicir ikm'cs- sitics during' 1li<' lii'st two oi- tlirco \'(»;ii's until cnips bo r.'iistMl. X(?Mi"ly Jill llic iowii.sliips in tiic S.-iiijicoii W'diey \\ii\o JKMMi sold l)y the ( iovcrniiiciit under lU'liinl ,s«dtloin(jnt I'o.^id.'itlons, by which .'icIumI oc(Mi[)nli(»M or cullividiou ol'lho soil is implicil ; with Iheso con- ditions of sah; carried out so Car as i»ra(;lical)lc in accordance witJi their ;ieuei'al spirit and inteidion. verv bcueliciid I'osults liave wnerallv ])oeu produced. It is a, mode oI* si.'ttleinent ol»jeete(| to loi- some reasons, hut 1 couf(;ss it appears Irauuhl with many Ijoncfits — it is a ^iuaraiitoe to the pioneers on their first euteriuii' the ])ush that befoi'i^ lonu' thev will have iiei^hboui's — that their iieigiibours Avill clear the laud and liav(^ an e(|ually direct iulerest in the improvement of the settlement as tiiems(dves ; and it is natural to suppose that Ihey nuis^ all watch with j^reatcr concern the ])ro^ress of the tov nslu|> in whi lie, than if tin* owners of the soil were a,l a distance, the holders of extensive trucks simply as an investment and without the slightest intention of improving or oc('upyin•» s(Mii('('isiu liMs |»r(Klii((«l ovil results or nitluM' iK!<»;atiN c rcsiills ill lujiiiy piirls of (JuiukIm, il luis not, mikI raimot do yo (o ;iiiv coiisidcrnhhi cxiCMil in the vjiIIcn ol'llic Smu«;('(>ii. N(i ni.'iii ('diild (»iiuriii!illy hold iiioit Ihaii.'i limited iuhhImm' of acres ; iicjirlv ovcrv l\v o(.'cU|)i('(l oilhcr hy iiidi\ idiuils (»r l"ji!iiili(\^, and ii i-ortain area is hoin;^ l)n»n,«ili( niidrr cnltivation aiinii- allv. ill lad the uhipearin.u at lon.u dreary intervals — these I'oads are now ditched, tnrnpiked and dniined — and the forest has disappeared to such a dejiree in some part«, that von mav now travel ahniu: these roaod and conifortahle, and here and there, hut not so fre- (piently as there should h(\ young oreliards are planted out. There is a feature in the (tonditions of setthunent which is telling well for the advancement of this part of Canada — one-fourth of the original purchase •U moiioy of the IjukI is (iloxoted liy (he (Jovcrimiciil ;is it is ('(►llectod to the ooiistniction of roads in llic townships subje( t to the sottlemont r(}1" Bruce. CLIMATK. II geographical position is a most important ele- ment in the success of the (Vjmmerce of a countrv, it has euuallv as much influence on the urowth and ])rosj)erity of the Agriculture. An iuspectiou of the map will show that the coi,utry just described, al- though farthei' north than th it part of Canada south of a line di'awji from Toronto to (JJoderich and which would embrac<.' perha]>s the richest of the oldest settled portions of the Province, it is nevertheless nearly surrounded by large sheets of water open throughout the year. Lak(^ Huron immediately on the Avest, the (Georgian Bay immediately oji the north and north-east, Lake*s Ontario and Erie, at some dis- tance to the south-east and south. The ameliorating influences of these lakes, more especially the north- ern ones, must necessarily be felt to a marked de- gree in the Valley of the Saugeen. ft is in the same latitude as Holland Landing, Rice Lake, Bel- 35 ville, and Kingston, ;iiul jillhough the depth of snow in winter is at present j)erhaps greater than at either of the latter points, yel none of then^ have so large hodies of oj)en water sprt^iding ont to the north, as is the eas(! with the Sjiuiicen conntry, hv the inter- position of whic-h the nortiiern winds ninst in soini^ degree be elevated in t(Mn|)eratin'e and the intensity of tlu! winter's frost soniewliat subdued. Jn estimating iVoni isolated and limited observa- tion the capabilities of diniate. we must have re- course \o seeminiiiv insignificant testimonv, hut it often hajjpens thai apparently fe(d3le proofs when rightly ,"ppreciaie 1 bushels of wheat has been raised to the acre, weigldng Go lbs, to the bushel. 36 It'! (» from a field of 11 {icros in which (lio stnmps of ihr treos previously occupying the ^i-onncl wero all si ill standing. Indian corn, a crop (^isily alVcctod hy s[)ring and fall frosts can he cultivatiHl in great i)er- fection, as much as G!2:j husliels having been taken oil a single acre in the Township of dreenock.'-' The turnip groAVs with the utmost luxuriance on the new soil, and api>ears lo 1)0 very generally cultivated (hrouuhout the whole County of JJruce — a feature in thc^ husbandry of this district which would a]>pear (o I el I well for the agricultural knowledge of the settlers, iiulicating probably a familiarity with '' rotation ol" crop:" a, practice so early learned b}' every selllcM" will not likely be abandoned when the necessity .for growing such large (juantities of this valuable root as a substitute for hay, becomes IcsscuhhI, and i(" p(U'sisted in will be a safe precaution against general dct(>rioration in fertility of soil, and perhaps a j)re- ventative (or diseases of th(^ wheat which already threaten to blight many of the most prosperous parts of Canada West. With regard to the salubritv of the climate it may be added, that thi^ gencial healthy appearance of the inhabitants cainiot but be remarked bv tra- velhM's who have had opportunities of visiting re- ceutly made settlements in other parts of the Provinces — here. I saw no indications of fever and ague, and notwithstanding very many in(iuiri(!s. T did not learn of a single case north of the country drained by the (Jrand Iviver. 'fhe singular immu- nity from this debiiit^ating disease, toocommoidy th(> accompaniment of new settlements, is atti'ibuted to the absence of much swamji land, the pur(^ water of the streams with the rocky and gravelly nature of ^'Lynch's I'rizc Es.say : Agricultural 'I'ranstictiouif, p. U4" 37 their beds. Whatever may be the cause, the freedom from ague cannot be too highly appreciated, and this favourable circumstance alone must tend, in no small degree, to elevate the character of the country and promote its rapid improvement. LOCAL BENEFITS. The direct and indirec^t advantages derived from the construction of Railways through any country, and more especially through a new country, are so many and so diversified, that to enumerate them would take more space than I feel at liberty to occupy. I shall therefore content myself with a reference to those most immediate and apparent. The first construction of a Railway implies the ex- penditure of a large amount of capital, and from whatever source the capital may come, a great proportion thereof i>.iust of necessity be paid out and circulated through the country along the line of work. In a district recently settled, such as the val- ley of the Saugeen, the inhabitants, if they are not poor, yet, having purchased the land and subsisted for several years before their farms could produce a sur- \>l m. must be left generally without a superabundance of V ealth ; nearly the whole original cost of the Rail- way, except the iron and rolling stock, is expended in the immediate locality, and consequently a sum exceeding £30,000 or perhaps £40,000 must be spent in each ten mile section. This, I think, will be acknowledged by the settlers as a great boon, and all must feel its eifects less or more. Such a sum expended in any one of the Townships on 4 ■•t4 38 labour, provisions and various kinds of material, and circulating IVoui ninn to man, must, I think, be allowed as an immediate and substantial benefit. Up to this time the surplus produce of the first farmers has ])cen required by the more recent settlers until the farms of the latter yielded sufiicient for their wants, hence the market has hitherto })een within themselves ; Itut the home market is but a temporary one, and will soon be, if it is not already, terminated. Every year as the cultivated areas become lengthened and widened so also will their produce continually increase, and only by a journey of two or three days at one season of the year, and that too when prices arc generally -^t the minimum, will the farmer be able to dis^ of it. The Railway in operation will create a market throughout its length •it all seasons of the year, and it will place those Townships, which are now isolated so to speak, on nearly the same footing as those along the frontier. Perhaps the best measure of the value of a Rail- way to a new country is the sudden increase which its construction gives to property of all kinds within its influence. This is always found to be the case wherever Railways have been made in Canada, and to a marvellous extent when the country through which they pass had been previously at a distance from a market. I have taken some trouble to obtain authentic and proper datetween Toronto and Col- lingwood, soliciting information on tlie subject. The answers I have much pleasure in submitting ; they are most satisfactory and conclusive, and coming ,as they do from parties of well known judgment and discernment, who have had the very best opportuni- ties of forming their opinions from observation and experience, are, 1 think, relia])le beyond dispute and of very considera])le value. To these letters (see Appendix) I would beg to refer, us nothing can show more fully the extent to which the inhabitants have felt the benefit of the Railway, nor can better arguments be found in favour of Municipalities aiding works of this kind. If I mistake not, the County of Simcoe was the first Municipality in the Province to extend its credit to any considerable amount towards the establishment of public works, and by boldly vo- ting a subscription of £50,000, it secured for itself the Northern Railway ; by the actual building of which a sum in cash equal to four times the above subscription was expended within the limits of the County, and such is now its general pros})erity that the Warden, in his last address, declares it as his be- lief that " two or throe years hence, the single Town- ship of Nottawasaga, from its greatly increased assessment, will itself pay the interest and the sum necessary for the redemption of the 1^'ifty Thousand lN)unds of Stock the County holds in the Northern Railway ;" and here let it be borne in mind that the above named Township was, before the building of the Railway, one of the most backward, isolated and least valuable, in that section of the country. In showing the extent to Avhich ])r()perty in the Counties of York and Simcof^ has been benefitted 40 by the construction of the Northern Railway, and without being invidious, I will select from the letters I have been favoured with, those of Joseph Hartman, Esq., M. P. P. for North York,''* and of George Lount, Esq., Registrar of the County of Simcoe,t seeing that they contain a greater amount of statistical information than anv of the others — an(l ;in iiutlidrity on tlm .sufijeet : " Iti tlie interior, tlic |Mil)lic ii|)[irctiatloii of lUv rliiriiUc liii.-; Iioon ^rrciitly tit fiiult. l!,v a itcrwliurity o( oonfij^iiratioii, wlii( li cxisits in no (diuT |iail of lilt' fciiiinriitc ialitiidi'H. it niows wiinricr in j;oiti|; iiortli- v.iird ill t!u' iiittrior. It rciiuiri'd ii(,'rs to corivitict! tio! non-nii^^nitory anciciUH that the li(;ut (Ircrouscd towiiids tiic iiorlii, or to discover tliis .ippiiri-ntly sclf-cv idnit law. Here, luiwcver, it is a^riiiii in lixult, and ilio pyrjuiiid luiiMiii;: I'-j,^y|(tian would find loiitirniation of h\s orifrinal |diilo80|)liy. From Kort MassachusuM.s, at tho limit of tho niltivablc portion oi New Mcxiio, at .';7^' north i.ilitudc, to the plains of tin; Sas- katclicwau, at the j'^ind [)arallcl, tho mi'nn tcniponiluro and (ho ciiltivahl'! rapacity steadily increases. t)n the I'latte it is warmer and more cnlti- vuhle than mi the Upper Uio (Jrande : on the Missouri, at Kort J{enton, It Ih .>-nperi(M' to the IMatte ; and on the Sa.skatciiewau tho country is tietler on tho whole llian on the Missouri. Most of this difi'orenco is due lo ditlurence of altitude, yet nearly half of it nniy ho assij^ncd to ex- terior olinnit ; the suceossivo months rapidly j^rew warmer, and the heat of .hily ami Aup:ust equalled that common at Philadelidiia. So far as known on the Fppor Missonri and the Hontli brjinch of the Saskat(dicwan, Ihi.s is tho fair oxprossion of tho (diniato, and, to understand the iniiiroscmont of dimato in Lioin.i:' westward, lot it be remembered that there ire idains l,:i(K) to 2,800 tool above the sea. and between latitudes 47° and .'Jl° north. For correspondinj;- latitudes on tho Atlantic coast, we must take Newfoundland ami the nncnltivat<'d districts north of (.inobec" 11 46 soil. This (;xl(Misivo country is growing in popula- lation and cdninionc with such a stc^ady rapidity, that it is dinicult to conceive the nifignitndc of its productions ;ind the importance of its trade a few years hence : take for example tlu^ State of Wis- consin, hor(h>ring on the western sliores of Lake Michigan; in 1840 she had only 30,000 inhabitants, between that peribd and 18o(), she added to her popuhition '>0,000 on an average every year ; during the last five years she added at tlio rate of 50,000 per annum, being a total increase fi'om 30,000 in 1840, to 600,000 in the short space of 1.5 years. But she is even now but thinly populated. It is calculated that in this state alone there is ample room for a farming and general population of 6,000,000 souls. Wis(?onsin is only one State ; beyond ."nd around, is a vast country rapidly filling uj). Illinois added 450,000 to its population during the last five years. Wisconsin will not long be considered in the West ; she is even now fast becoming a Middle State. Iowa stretches 300 miles beyond the west- erly limits of Wisconsin, and at this distance, on the westerly confines of Iowa, settlements are forming. Minnesota extends 400 miles north and west of Iowa, 200 miles beyond the Selkirk settlement on the Red River, and within a similar distance of the great valley of the Saskatchawan. Minnesota, scarcely eight years old, contained 150,000 inhabitants a year ago, and as a type of the progress of the whole State, we may look with astonishment at the progress of its capital, St. Paul. In 1847, St. Paul had no ex- istence ; in the spring of 1856, it was large enough to support 10 newspapers, five of which were dailies. Such being the rate of progress of the West and the North-west (for be it remembered, the Town of St. Paul is considerably north of the latit'vle of Sau- 47 ;^ceii,) wo may bo [xTfocily siilb in prcdictiiijn', that its cumnioiHie will incrcaHo 100 ikm- (MMit. in tho short apace of six or sovou yoar.s,"'' and in conHoquouco of this increase the avenues of tralhc will require to he doubled, either in capsKjity or in number, with- in a similar j)eriod. It is for Canada then, to take advantage of her peculiarly favourable position, and in anticipating the growing connnerciMl wants of our neighbours as well as our own, to direct tho general course of traOic by many lea(ling streams, over her territory, and thus securing the carrying trade of an extensive and perhaps the very best portion of the North American continent, assume a most impor- tant position, politically as well as conunercially.f EXISTING RAILWAY .S. While it will easily be admitted that the proposed link of communication must prove of important value to the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada in providing for it an outlet on Lake Huron, in opening up a new avenue through which Western traflic will be drawn over its rails, and in contributing no incon- siderable amount of local business, by concentrating and forwarding the products of a section of the Province which, when properly developed, will not *Mr. John B. Jcrvis, a di.stinguiihed American Kngineer, cstimatos that this trade will double in the next six, and (|uad- ruple in the next fifteen years. •j" For the importance of the trade of the West, »cc extnicts from the following articles in Appendix (.' : — The Future of Western C'amida. The Caughnawaga Canal. Our Railway Policy. Avenues of Western Trade. 48 be surpassed by tiny equal extent ol' area in any part of Canatla ; while all this is adnn'tted, it may be urged by those who are fully aware of the advan- tages the Northern Railway has bestowed on Toronto, and who are deeply interested in its suecisss, that the proposed new line will be a rival to the one ter- minating at CoUingwood ; but J think a. little relle(!- tion will show that such an opinicm need not be entertained. Certainl}^ the w.'iy business of the one cannot in the slightest degree be interfered with by the other, seehig that they will be situated about 40 or oO miles apart, besides being separated by an imposing pliysical barrier, stretching midway tlu'ough the country. If they object on account of the through business, and if they are not prepared to admit that the Northern Railway, IVeed from present temporaiy^ embarrassment and fjiirly established as a through route, (wiiich hitherto has only been par- tially attempted,) will, before the present project can possibly be completed, be in a position to fear no rival — they must at least allow that the Saugeen territory is too important {liield to remain long with- out Railway service, and if its traflic be not secured by a Railway forming a junction with the Grand Trunk, or controlled by Toronto interests, let it be remembered there are other interests not less strong, at points equally inviting. The Great AVes- tern Railway has a branch under construction to Berlin, with a charter oi' extension to Saugeen. The Buffalo 9nd Lake Huron Railway is in ope;ation to Stratford, with Legislative authority to extend from thence Northward to the same point. And I cannot see that a Saugeen Railway, built under the control of eitiier of these interests, would be less a rival to the Northern line than would the one under consid- eration. 49 Without instituting comparisons l)etweon the advantuges of the j)roj)osecl new route, and othei* Canadian tlivough clianneis, I presume sufficient hns been advanced to sliow tliat there are abundant pros- pects of business for all. Ah'eatly there are at lejist a dozen Railways in operation leading from the inte- rior of the West to Lake Michigan ports ; otheio are under construction and in contemplation, while across (>anada there are only two open i'or traffic and two under construction. These Western lines will all bring traffic into the channel of (Canadian ones, and although there may probably ])e a generous rivalry in the man- agement of the latter, sufficient to induce each to put forth its best elforts to insure economy to the several companies, and accommodation to the ])ublic, I think it is very evident, in view of all the circumstances, that there need he no apprehension of want of busi- ness to the full capacity of this, as well as ultimately to all other Cr^nadian Railwavs yet constructed or seriously contemplated, and on the broad principle that the united interests of the many are stronger than the few, 1 think it may fairly be assumed that the establishment of several Canadian channels of com- merce will, with greater certainty of success, be the means of attracting and directing a leading American traffic across our Province, than otherwise. RECAPITULATION. In drawing these observations to a close it may be well to recapitulate very briefly what I have endeavored to establish as the result of my enquiries. 1st. A large extent of country remains to be served by a work such as you have in hand, and in 50 no part of Canada is there a wider or more legiti- mate field for Railway enterprise. 2d. The great natural o])st[icles to tlie easy con- nection of the Saugeen territory with Toronto have been overcome by the construction of the Grand Trunk to Guelph, from whence North-Westerly the features of the surface are such as will admit the building of a Road with easy grades at an ordinary cost. 3d. The Harbours at the proposed Lake Huron Termini, may be considered unexceptionable. 4th. The country to be served possesses in rich abundance all the elements of agricultural prosperity. 5th. It is occupied by a very superior class of experienced and intelligent settlers. 6th. The climate is favourable to vegetation, and has been found to be extremely salubrious. Ague, the curse of many new settlements, is not generally known. 7th. The construction of the RaihVay Avould pro- duce immediate local benefits to a marvellous extent, and lead to the rapid developement of the resources of the country. 8th. The through business, view'cd in prospective, may ))e considered as linuted only by the capacity of the Railway to transact it, and the tonnage of floating connections, which a constantly increasing Western traffic must create on Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron. 9th. While it could not interfere to any apprecia- ble extent with the way business of existing Rail- ways, it would at the same time prove an important feeder to the Grand Trunk Railway. 51 (X)NCLUSION. 'laving', I trust, satisfactorily established the above ])oints, wo are now in a position to take into consideration the very business like question — will the lload pay ? If I have succeeded in showing that the agricul- f lu'al importance of the country to be served is such us to yield a more than ordinary amount of way business; if it ])e allowed that the prospective through tralfii; is, luinianly speaking, almost without limit, then with proper management it must follow that the Road will be fully occupied; and, if fully occupied, it is apparent tliat this Railway, constructed through a country singularly free from any conside- rable physi(^al obstacles, find hence capable of being cheaply built, can scarcely fail to produce a direct revenue. But in this case as in many others, it is through the aiM^ompanying and consequent advan- tages of the undertaking, that positive good, and profitable results are to ])e chiefly looked for. I think it has been sliown that the Townships along its route, and lor many miles on either side, will be benefitted immensely in the cir lation of a large amount of capital during its construction, in giving them an outlet at all seasons of the year ; and, as already shown, every pound expended on the Road will increase the actual value of the property it represents, ten-fold. It will in this way re-im- burse every ^lunicipality North-Westerly front Guelph, and if they were in a position to do so, they would be justly warranted in building the entire Road at their own cost. It will benefit the City of Toronto in a like manner. It will contribute very materially to her prosperity, in drawing an additional stream of commerce to her 52 wharves, in adding two and a half million acres to her agricultural back country ; and in this latter respect, its importance can scarcely bo over-rated. Perhaps few Townships are better known in Toronto for their fertility and their productions, than Scar- borough, Markhani, Vaughan, and Chinguacousy. — In a short time, some of those I have named as just emerging from the wilderness, in the valley of the Haugeen, will equal, if they do not surpass, them in all that constitutes n^ricultural wealth— of such are the Townships of Avian, Elderslie, Brant, Normanby, f.'arrick, Greenock, r>ruce, and indeed I might add (ho whole tract of country stretching from the first \u)v of Townships in the County of Grey, westerly lo Lake Huron. The greater part of this rich terri- tory is occupied by the valley of the River Saugeen. •ind I do not hesitate to say, that the time is not tin- distant wluMi its wheat will be as widely and as i'iivourably known amongst tlio buyers in Canada, as liiat iirown in the Genesee Valley is familiar lo and prized by Ameri(^an millers;. h will be admitted that, if lln' agi-icultural Towii- sliips of the Counties of York and Simcoe have greatly contributed to build up the City of Toronto, and if the establishment of the Northern Railway through their midst has very materiall}'' promoted her prosperity, how much more will the contem- jtlated North-W(!st line tend to advance her int(v rests, when it will more than doiiMe in extent her back country, and o[)en up an (Mitivdy new ileld. for her enterpwse ? As Roston, New York, Chicago. Montreal, and T may a E N D IX A . IIEMARKH ON THK SKTTLK.M IvXT Ol' THE COrXTIlV Thcro is a wide (lirtereiiee bt^twcni the task ot' cuiiveyini; ;in accurate and yet ueneral descrii»ii(>ii, in popular language, ol' a u(nv (U- even partially settled coiintrv,and oae whidi can bo seen at leisure and known or ap])reeiated \>y its artiticial prodnetio is and ca|)abilities. A traveller in many of the oldest settled ]iarts of (!anada has abundant opj)ortiinitiesof eouiprehendin^' now the reasons whieli induced the pioneei- to establisii himself in aiiv jKirticuIar spot ; but, if lie were himself ))l:ii-eil in the position onee occupied by liim, whose foresij^lit and industry he admires in the centre of fertile iields and comfortable liomesteads, lh> would soon learn how much of energy, of self-con iideuce and of trusting hojie it rcfjuired to face the wilderness in its rude condition of nature. With an ex])erience of what has been accom- plished, and of what is daily and hourly being acconipiished iu th,' distant vallies of some ('anadian rivers, we need little power oi imagination to scan the dreary ))ast, understand the hopeful pre- sent, and foresee the prosperous futuie of industry aiul endurance in districts now comparatively obscured and unknown by reason of their isolation. You travel with considerable difhciilty and much personal fatigue through an e.Ktremely fertile but remote region. Vou see here and there, sometimes miles apart, a few acres cleared and rude shanties with bark roofs forniing thr homes of isolated settlers. It is easy to icai-n the history of the past few years of these forest dwellers. They have trusted alto getlier to the future. They have detcrmin* d upon the site of a future home, and all their prospective wealth, by a simple inspec tion of the soil they iu)w occupy, and the as •M an iicn; per ainiuni, or, in actual valiu;, ujiward.s of twenty dolhus ad(l«^(l to caeli acre of land. Altlioujrli c(»rdw()od is not now car- ried over this road — there i.s a honui market here tor all the cord- wood to be spared from this park of the country, and at a price much in advance of what it would be worth without the lluilway ; in fact, land covered with hard wood only, is t ousidered more valuabh; than without the timber, as within tive to ci^ht miles of a station, the wood will pay a very handsome proht on the expense of clearing — in some cas(!s e(|ual to I lie value of the land without the timber. 1 may also mention that every thinj^ capable of beiiiji con- verted into money in Toronto, commands ready sale at almost every point along the line of llailway, for cash, at Toronto prices, ileducting freight; this was not the case five yiuirs ago. Butter, eggs, fruit, vegetables of all kinds, (exeej)t occasionally potatoes, ) poultry, game, kc, were formerly looked upon as of snutll im- portance as articles of trade — they now command prices which render their production exceedingly proiitaV>le. Much of this increased value must be attributed to the facility afforded Ibr transport by lUiilway. I am not aware of any attempt to us;; this llailway as a mean.'; of transport for supplying the City with .iiilk, but I am )ier- suadcd dairymen will before htng find an advantJLge in keej)ing their cows on some of the rich pastures bordering on our streams, and employing the llailway to convey their milk to the City. The cost of keeping cows in winter will be less hcie than in 'J'oronto. In speaking of the saving of expense in transporting grain to market, I omitted one very important point to the successful agriculturist, it is thi.s — in most instances, 1 have observed for several years past the best prices can be obtained at a time when the farmer wants all his force at home, as much as possible, either to prepare for the next wheat crop, or to secure his roots, or to '\/hU j)hii;/h'' his lands. Without a Railway a fortnight will be consumed in doing what one day will accomplisli with it. This advantage I consider, in many instances, even more important than the direct ones, inas- much as it enables the farmer to give more care and attention lo rlie preparation for tlie next crop. To enumerate all tlie l)enefits to be gained by a judicious llailway system, will require an abler hand and more time than I have to devote to it; but it may suffice to say, a proposal to 5!) rlrtHc any ll'iilwiiy truvcrsiii',' such a fouiitry a.s tln.s. would cnuso discouk'iit p;n!;it('r tliaii tliiit which indiUM'd the iHraclitos to wish aguiti for I'lLryptian boiKhifjo. Vours, very truly, .M)si:iMi iiAirrMAN. Sani>fiiuii l'i,i;Mi.N(i, Ks<»., Torovfii. TAIM.K, Shnwinff tlic \'ului' nf I.uikI llcfun: lun/ Ai'liv lli- iXnu^liiiition *''5'3 <;/■ tlif .\ort/iiin Itnihrai/. | "^ 36S I'rt'srnt avfr»K Av*rape viiluc jut mn' [irior in tin- cnnNtiiiction of the Oii-| t.'irio, SiiiK'iM' Mild IfuriPii Hiiihviiy, r?5 liicrcanc in vuliU' Proportion of incrcasio duo to construction of Railway rruportiou duo td otlwr cauKcs Tho fli^urcD dt'noto tlic rato pi-i- iicrc in doltarH. 40 20 *7(. .'i8 18 20 $«.') 13 N. B. — 'J'h('S(! (istimatcs apply solely to tarmiiifi^ iaiid^ occupiod as such, and more or loss improved. There are lauds within these limits which connnand a much higher figure, and, of course, sojue which will sell somewhat lower, but I thirtk 1 have approached very nearly a fair average. J. 11. Lrtt'-r j'i'iin Sir Jam.'S I), //(imi/fuii H(ti/, hit*" of (hprvi/. Toronto, JJrd Sept. 185(5. 7>KAii 81 H : — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2l>th ultimo, and regret that circumstances have prevented my earlier replying to it. You wish me to give you my opinion as to whether the inhabitiints generally, of that scctiou of coun- try in which I have resided for several years prior to and since the formation t)f the Northern Railway, have been benefitted by its establishment, and as to what effect, if any, it has had on the value of land. From the remote positioTi of the Township of Osprey from the 60 iiiiiiiodiato vicinity (tf tliu Northcni Uailwiiy, (soiiic *Jli ur 2.') miles,) it is natural to suppose the bonelitH rcHultiug tVoiii it would nut be so ininiodiatcly I'elt as in the nunc adjaeent luculities ; but the result has shown, nut only its vast etteet iti proniotininain as you arey" ills answer was, " / iniiihl rat/n r fosr hnlf vij/ j'liriii l/utii i'lar lltr /kxpress their reLr;ret for tho course they then thouglit ju'oper to ])ursue. Ycnu's very truly, W3I. AllMSON. SANnFOiii) Flk:\!in(i, Es(.i., Sill hcdiv from W. (\ Lltll.c A\venience, make still further sacrifices, and greater exertions to secure tbosc privileges, so bappily conferred upon us. Tn an un- cleared township, comparatively speaking — in a township similar to tbis — J should apprehend that one of tbe great advantages to be derived from a Railroad running tbrougb it, woubl be the profit obtained from its (^ordwood, lumber, and S(}uare tind)er. Such is here tbe ctise. For instance, five years ago, W(tod was only 4s. Ixl. per cord, eonse<|uently farncrs preferred burning their fallows. At this time, sup]M>sing the farmer gives -Ss. per cord for tbe cutting, and .'Js. also for the hauling of it three m ics to a station, not so bad a profit is .secured, when «;oinpared witb former days, the ruling price at present being Ss. JM. per cord. Such i.sone of the positive good results effected by tbe Railroad. There arc also otber (^hanges pleasingly perceptible. T refer to improved prices of stock and produce, to tbe absence of Sbcritf 's sales and seizures by bis bailiffs : but wbetber such agreeable contrasts are owing to tbe Railroad in particular, T cannot pro- nounce on — sufficient that tbe contrast is. I may imagine that tbere is something more tban the names in progressiveness — in tbe enterprise of a ])eople in unlocking capital and tbrowing opeii tbe resources of a country; labour thus flows in. Man being somewhat gregarious in bis babits, occupies tbe laad, and riebes return to tbe country one tbousand fold. * '■"' '•■ * I bavo tbe pleasure to remain, Sir, yours obediently, W. C. LITTLE. .Sandford FLK^riN'd, Esq., 7oront(). ( Lclter from Jan. >Sansun, I'Jxij., Wat (in o/' f/u:Coiiitfi/ <>/ iSivicoe. ()1!1M-[A, Sth Sept, ISf)!). Dkau Sill : ' Had I iKJi )>C(Mi imu-li eiiiiiiuod oi' l;U(i, I wuulil li:ivc replied to your favour of the 'I\h\\ ult., in i;uurs(\ I. eaii bear most willini;' tiistiiiioiiy to the very great }idvanta<;os resulting' from haviii miles distant from the Jiarrie Sta- tion, I shoidd say that since the opening of the Koad, land there has advanced one liundnHl and tifty per cent., one hundred of which may be put to tiie credit of the Railway, and fifty per cent, to the general improvement in tiu; value of land. In this township, distant about 'li\ miles from the liarrie Station, farm- ing land has not benetited so much by the Railway, but village lots have greatly increa.sed in value, arising partly I'rom the extreme beauty and a!nenity of its situation on Lake Couche- (d\ing, and partly by the reatly ac(;ess to and from Toronto, by the Company's line steam boats in eoiineetion with the Northern Koad. 64 The ji:;rcatost increase in the value of land is exhibited in what was at one time eonsidered the most out of the way town- ship in the (bounty of Hinicoe — Nottawasa^a — in which is situated the Town and Harbour of Collingwood, the assessed value there being over £100,000 above what it was three yeav.s ago, I should tJiink that scarcely any consideration would induce a coniniunity who have tasted of the benefits derived from a Kail- way, to consent to their withdrawal. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours faithfullv, JA8. SANSON. Sandkouj) Fleming, Esq., Toruido. P. S. Of course you are aware that the vahu; put upon lands in the County of Simcoe, for the purpose of assessment, is not anything like what farms in several townships have lately been sold for. In West Gwillimbury and Tecumseth 1 understand that improved farms have lately changed hands at one hundred dollars per acre, and proportionally high iigures have been realiyx'd in other tt»wnships. J. S. Leltcr J'rorn (leonjc Louiil, J'Jxq., /ici/islriir of the (Jounty of Siincoc. Bauuie, 8th Sept., 185G. Dear Sir: In reply to yours of the 29th ult., which would have been answered earlier liad I not been absent until within a few days, I send you the enclosed statement. Y(m will bear in mind, however, that in very many cases immediately in the vicinity of the Railroad, the value of land has increased to a much greater extent than the statement sent, indicating, in sonic ijistanccs, as much as £50 per acre where land formerly was worth only 10s. per acre, a result which is certainly owing to the con- struction of the }^orthern llailroad. The influence caused by by the construction of the Iload'has also extended to nearly as great an extent to many other townships not enumerated in the list; but I suppose your object will be attained by the valua- tion sent by me, and others who no doubt you have communicated with on tlu! subject. The iidiabitants of this County (Simcoe) havijig tasted the benefits ol' a Hailroad, would consider themselves ruined, (and i# 65 justly so,) was unythinj^' to happen to close it up and throw them back to the same state they were in prior to its construction, no sacrifice would 1/3 considered too great to procure again the Railroad and the innumerable advantages it confers. Yours truly, <;eorge lount. 8ANDF0RD Fleming, Esq., Toronto. VALUATION OF LANDS REFERKKD TO IN THE ABOVE LETTER. The following Statement is intended to show the average value of Land per acre at the present time, and prior to tlie construction of the Northern Hallway, in the townships men- tioned underneath, with the proportion of the increase in the value, which, in tlie opinion of tlie undersigned, may fairly be considered as due to the advantages derived from the construc- tion of the above work : NAME OF TOAVNSUIP. West Gwillimbury,. Innirifll,. Ktjsa,. TecuniHeih,. Adjala,. Tosoroiitio, Sunnidalc,. Nottawasaga,. Vespra, Oro,. Present Average ! Value per Acre. ' 1856. 1 Average Value per \ Acre prior to the • Construction of the Northern 1 Ballway. i i Increase in value, j i Proportion of In- ; crease due to Con- i struction of Kail- i way. ,1 Proportion due to ' Other Causes:. , i £12 10 .£2 £10 £8 10 £1 10 10 1 10 S 10 7 10 1 10 1 li> 8 10 7 10 10 12 10 2 10 8 10 1 10 8 10 10 7 10 7 10 5 f) 10 4 10 4 4 10 10 10 4 10 8 o 10 8 10 7 10 10 10 1 10 1 10 8 10 7 10 7 10 1 10 8 10 10 ( .}EOKCi Reg E LOU istrar, ( Ht/ NT, h. Sinic I SejJt., oe. 1850. C)() Letter from (no. Douiilux, K. Clerk of West ii icUll nihil r^j. HiiADi'oiio, Sept. 12, lS;j(>. Sir: lu reply to yours, makinu' iiKjiiiry :is to tho i-olative value of property in this vicinity now anil previous to the eoiistruetion of the 2«Jorthern Haih'oad, I must say that it lias even exceeded the expectations of the most sanuuine. Although perhaps better situated than many other townships along the line of Kailway, before the construction of the Hail- road, having liad a niacadami/cd road from here to Toronto, yet even we have found a sensible ditfereiice in the conveniences afforded by Kailroad. In the value of property the rise has been great here, as in every other township along the Koad. Of course other causes have contributed to this as well as tlie Jlail- vcad, but it has been a ijrcal cause of the rise, .Sonic in this township wore violently opposed to the con- struction of tiiis lioad when tirst -igitated, but I think you could not find an individual here now but would candidly acknowledgi^ that he was in error respecting it; that the benefits they have derived from it far exceed their exjieetations, and that they would not do witliont the Jiailroad, even if the tax for it was trebled. L may add here, that owing (o the great increase in the value of property, and the rapid settlement of the Northern townships in the County of Simcoe, through which the Railroad runs, our tax in tin; Southern division is less this year than last. In IHiif) West (Iwilliuibuiy paid £8(14 llallrotid tax; in 1 it is £074, and the ])robability is that it will be still more reduced in LS;")?. in conelusion, I think you would find it difficult to persuade any of our fanners, wlu> Avere at first so violently opposed to taxation for the eoiistruetion of the lload, to settle in any locality far removed from a Uaih'oad i^ither in actual operation or in pros[)ect. I am, cS:c., tVc, (iKO. DOUCLAS, Tcirn C/rr/,\ lIVs/ (hi'iUimiiiri/. S. FLli.MIN(i, I^.M(^, Tninilld. Lettt r friiDi Sui/t, Simcoc vci'/d ta.r /irrsr/f fn almost ani/ (uiKiinit lo o/ilaiu a lioad. ShortsiLi'hted ami narrow indeeil must l)e the policy of those in authority, in any section of tht' Province havin;;- work for a road, (and wiiere in ('anada could a road be built that would not lind ;implc employment,) that will not render aid to its construction, as they would be repaid teu-f(tld by tlu^ increased facilities of intercourse, the i"i))id rise iu the value of property — laiuled and otherwise! — and the briuL'ini^ into market of their wild and unproductive lands. Kxeuse these hurried and crude rema.rks. and permit me to subscribe mysidf, Vour very obedient servant, SAMMF.L hoc; MRS, Ilr.fcv <)/ tlir Mi'.nifi'pa/i/i/ o/ Tiiii/ ami Tajj. SaNDFOHD FliK.MlNO, Ks<.)., Ti iron In. Leitn- from f/ic //on. W. Ji. /'obinson, M. P. I*, for South Sihlroe. ToiioNTO, Oct. 11, 1850. Deau Sir: I have to apolotri/e for not having sooner answered your letter respectiufi; the advantages derived by the Country from the construction of Jtailways. 68 I have read Mr. Flartman's letter to you on that subject, and fully concur in the very sensible remarks he makes, and believe ho has not overstated the benefits conferred on the section of country through which the Northern Railroad passes. The value of lands in the more remote town.ships through which this Road passes', has, T think, been increased four-fold. The far- mer residinir i» Nottawasaga, for instance, now obtains nearly as much for his produce as he who lives near the city, when before the Railroad was made, he could seldom cdsk for his pro- ducts at any price. Many of the productions of the farmer, such as vegetables, poultry, kc, would not bear the expense of transport over long and bad roads, and were conscfjuently not saleable. Now, everything the same farmer raises commands cash, and is readily sold. The advantages felt by the settlers on the Northern Road will, of course, accrue to others similarly situated in any part of the I'rovince ; and wherever there is a large tract of good land, now remote from market, the benefit to be derived from a Rail- road intersecting it, can hai'dly be over-estimated. Of this fact people generally arc now fully aware, and avc see eftorts making in every direction to obtain the much desired boon. With respect to the prospect of a Railroad paying, if made through a fine farming country, I liavo not much doubt of its doing so, if loell manaifcd, and particularly if constructed on a line presenting no very serious objects to overcome, such as rock excavation, or the crossing many large rivers by expensive bridges. Short lines are not fimnd so profitable as long ones, as you are well aware, and I think it djsirablc and good policy in locating a Railway to pass cither through the principal towns and villages on its route, or so near them as to give the inhabi- tants easy and cheap access to the depots. I regret that my time would not permit me to give this im- portant subject the attention wliich it merits; but I believe the intelligent inhabitants of this country are now fully alive to the benefits to be derived from Railways, and that you will find them willing to co-operate with you to the utmost of their ability. *Your obedient servant, W. B. ROBINSON. Sandford Fleming, Esq., Civil Engineer, Toronto. ur 60 Lrutvfrom lieuj. /,V,,, /^..,/.^ Ton-mhip Clrrk n/ Inm^^fJ. I .'.111 scTv lli.'il I l.iiv.' .I.'laynl s- I„ii- .'.i.sworin- vnur I..- ( nlloctor s Hull fur Mu> (uwnslii,,, I l,o,,<. vu, will .^.yL my i« iiiissiK'Ms ill not ;iiisw('riiio- ii, Mioiicr ' ' |'..w. haiHl ycu what I think is . fair v.huriu,. of h.ncl« t.i!H-(. the |:,i„| !,;,„ ris.Mi III ;i lik,> proportion I ...ust, likowisr observe that LumI ..Ijoini.i^ tho H.ih-o.d, an.l e tiii.hero,! w.tli p.ne .„d hardwood, is i.u-roM.cHl .mu-h n.oro u- ^'';: '^' /:;:;;'''^ ' l'"'"^'^'^'' «''H-ios."-tho timber ,.„ .on.o lots Mdl.n:.^ (or U.()0 or t.Od on 100 nercs without the land, whieh wonld teteh, H^ j^ood land, .ClOOO. P,nt this is only in some places on the IJndroa.i. it is har.l to tell how nmeh the land lias inereased in value owin,;,- to the .-onstruction ,;f tlic Railroad, and Avhat I have put down I an, eertain is within the real value I hose wh.. w.ue most opposed to the IJoad, and said it would mm the fanners, as there would be no the Uailroad was mad," besides the jrreat taeility of traveling', kc. I consider .Mr. irartman'ssuu-estions and re;isonint;s very fair '^yn<\ candid, and nothin- but what I thitdv is very true. I remain, Dear Sir, Your very tndy, BENJ. KOS.^, Toicaakip Clerk, To Sandford Fkemino, I^]sq.,. ToronU), r. S. i believe those who were so much airainst this Kailroad before it wa.s mad(>, would now, if atiain to be made, be iti greatest supporters. 70 is U htfer from Amjuf^ .)forrit^i>ii^ hWf.^ .]/. /». I*. /•>r X. Simcof. TouoNTO, Nov. 7, 1^50. Dkaii Sill : In answer fi> \o\\v Icttt'i' in vi'lalion to the Iiciiotits derivod (Voni the cMiistruction ol' tlu> Nortlicrii liiiilway, l)v the County I have tlic honour to represent, I bei; to state : The (!ouuty of 8iincoe, as you are aware, subsevibed 4^50,000 in order to seeure the construction of the Railway, previous to which the lukewarin- ness of the City of Toronto as well as the (bounty of York, was such that without this action on the part of Sinicoe, it is jicn- crally believed the Northern Railway would net have been ewtablislicd. The £.30,000 vote of the County C(»uncil met at the time with very stronjr opposition, and was ultinuitely passed, if I renicnd)er rijjjht, by the castinu' vote of the late Warden, ISIr. Arnison. ."Many of tlie inhabitants of the County believed tliey were forever ruined, s fo the extent of 4.'r)(l,()()0, in tlie NorthevM Railway, and howevi'i- iistonishin^ these fiivuios nmy at first sijfht appear, they will he found Ijy any one closely (!\aiii- ininj;' the ((uestion, to hv rather iinder than over the nnirk. 'V\n\ iidialiilants of Situcoe :ire fully aware of the iuiniense Ixiiielits already derived from the construetion of the Northern Uailway ; so much so that I feel (lonvineed that hef\ onv IJailways nro j^^eiicral tlir(iu;^li()ut I lie cnuiitry it is not tliiru-ult tit r^liow ; and l't»r tlic «ak»' of iiiii)ai'tial illustration, let tliu (Irout ^Vl^■^tl■|•u Im- lor tlu" tiiiu! bciiiu iuiiorcil, 1111(1 uiiotlicr Hill- >oli'ct('tl, tor a . short siir- vi!y of the a(lvaiitai;(!S it has lontorrt'd iipoii tlu; coUiilry tiijui- tary to it. It may he well to divide llio several elements of industry and wealth alony; a line of llailway inio the folIo\vin;j, heads: 1st, Lumber; Ud, Lahour ; .'Id, J"'arni Proilni-e; llh, Value; of liand, Tht; Ontario, Sinidie, and Huron |{ail\va\ may be taken as an illustration. 'I'his line is 1>.') mile lon^-, and lia.s two outlets ; oiu' at Toronto, mi hake ( hitario ; the other at (!ol- lini;wood, (»n liuke Huron. ^Vith repird to the first item, Lum- ber, it is an established fact, that in ordinai'y yi>ars, lumber e(m- vey(!d a Lireater di.stanee than 4U miles over country roads, will nut pay exjimiyos. Now any lumber made within twenty to thirty miles of the Ontario, Siineoe and Jluroii Kailroad, can be bronii'ht to either an I'laslerii or a Western market at a considt^- rable proiit. Hence a vast tract of country exti'ndin;i,dver sixty mile.s ill length, and forty to sixty in breadth, suddenly ae((uireH value for the lumber it is capabh' of yieldiii'j:, 'ii virtue of the accessible markets which have bciii created by the eniistruetion of a line of Kailway. 'Jd, Labmir. Time is an eh it of the utmost importance to the fannini;' industry of the couniiy. The time consumed in eonveyinu; produce to market belore a llailway existed, formed a serious item in the expenses of hu.^bandry, twenty to thirty miles north of Toionto, in the days of mud, or even maeadamized roads. The wlu)le liiu! ol" llailway is now in effect a market; and as tiiiH! and labour are almost synoymous in the auricultural season of Canada, the tiain in a year to farnu'rs within a few miles of the track may be estimated, at tin,' lowest average, etjual to twelve days' wajies, besides the wear and tiar of eonveyanee« and other eontin<:('ncie.s. 'J'his uain is establisheil alonii sixty mile.s of the line, and from ten (o ilfteeii miles on each side ttf it. — ord, Kami i^roduce. Belort;a Kailway (;xisted north of Tonnilu, all minm* articles of ianninji industry were neiilected as articles uf trade, over one-half of the r(\t:ion throuiih which the line now pa.sses. \ow, hoW(Her, at every station, finit, butter, etijz;.^, and Vegetables eoinniand a ready eash sale. Thi! juice of lire-wwod lias risen considerably, so that in many localitii's wh(M'(> wood was an ineuuibranee, it has now Ix'eome a source of pndit, <|nite inde))endent of ulteri(»r farminu' ojierations on tin; land it oeen- |»ied. '1th, Value of liand. i'"ew jiersons could have lorelold the extraordinary inc.'rease whiidi has tak(,'n ])laee in the value of laud, in the remote Townships through which the Northern ,. i 73 llfiilwiiy imsHcfl. Lonviii;.' out (»!' viiw, siku^othcr, the .sites dl' villa^t's or luiw-tbniiL'd town-, ami juiviM,";' tittoiitioii solely to I'anii land witliin live, or ten wiijis of the track, tin- t'ollowinu < inion^ rosnits (Irrived IVoni iin»\i\')itionabl(! ^ourues, I'urnisli an unex- peetfd and startlinjj; prout' ul' tin; local trade ercated by the Northern Haihvay : I'rcseiit iivi'ra;;e \aliic of i.;ui(l per luii', in iiiiio TowiL-liips llii'oii;;!! \vhi( li tlu; iiortlu-ru Imlfof the Noilliorn Uiiihvay |iiis.scs '.. .!::> (I <» Avcnijio Millie hfl'oro llic fousfriiclion iil' tlio liailwuy, 1 in <• liHicasu of vahif, T I" " IniTcasc line to the I'on.striK'tioii ol' till: IJaihviiy, C< <> " luorea.r uue to otliiT cuuse.-;, I Ju M TIk^ results are even movo strlkiiiL', ",vlicn [\ir. ealeulalii.ns are made iipcjii reliahh; da.ta, lor tin; I'ertih' and lon^.s<-t tied townships wliieli border on the eentre of the liiie, .some thirty and fdrty mile.s from Toronto. The present averai;e value of farms per acre, williin live miles of the llailway, and on eitiicr .si(U', is ,jLI(!. Hetwren live antl (ifteen miles from the Kailway it varies IVum ,tJl('» to X] [ per aere. The avt'ra\{\e of iht- track. To other causes, such as immigration, incretise of pojni- lation, and the sudden increase in the i^cm-ral value of land throui^bout Canada, tluMtther remainiui:- iialf of the total increase in value nuiy reasonably be attributed. W'v arriv(! at a true ci)uception of the am.unt of jiosilive v.'caltJi which the construc- tioi! of the Northern Ifaihv.iy has created in the counties tlirou^ii which it passes, if we conline ourselves nu'vely to tlu; average increase in the value of land, without touchinu' Uj>on the vasit wealth of industry in it.-; multitudinous forms, of husbandry, lumberinj;, millimr, t^c., A;c. Assunu- the Uailway to be 7(» miles lonu', instead of 1>'>, and the laiul lyinji within ten miles on both sides .if the track will end>race, S!M>,(I(UI acres, Avhich at jC4 an acH! of increased value will ;jive the '"'4,(KKt, sprin^iuLi from tin; nu:re constriu-tion of the Uailroad alone. This sum amtuints to more; than ihriic the cost of tlo* whole line; and it is not an iuiaj^inary or eren an unjtrotluctive capital, for it is continually helping- to sttth.' the more distant towuship.s, and introduce by purchase into the older township.*) 5 1 74 tliniujili wlilcli till' road pnsHtts, iiumi of larger capital ami of liiu'lior (•(liicatioii than tlio uriLiinal scttlcis. It is i't'lt too in uiunicipal atlaiiH: in taxation, tor in.'^tancc, with a vunv to the iiiiprovonicntot' roads and hrid^cs, and hiiildin;: of scIhioI Iiousom. Finally, it is fidt in the growth of general pro,H|ii'ritv imd advanee- nu'nt in the t-onversion of Inxurics into wants, which increasing wealth always imiuees ; in the rapid increase of the consumption of foreign inipurtations, in place of rndiir homespun ; ami in a universal assumpti(Mi of many of the desirable aeeompaninients of civili/.ation and refinement, with a dash perhaps of tludr follies and grii'fs. The instances which have been cittMl of the rennukaltle advantages which have resulted from tlu; ctingtruct ion of a Kailway through a country of not mure than average fertility, apply with etpial force to every section of ('anada. If, however, with similar advantages of termini, whether from lake port to lake port, or from frontier to frontier, the additional ac(|uisitiun of soil of higher fertility and climate of greater moderation, can he secured, the more encouraging will he tin; results obtained. It cannot be doubted by any one, who in the full strength of live years j'xperieiice considers the of uropcrty altmn' u liiif of Kailvviiv, tliiin tlicy iiivohr themselves l>v its eoiistriutiuii, even wlieii they become res]MHi- sihle for the \vlioleof the eo,stof tlie work serving- their townships. Our Kiiilwiiy poliey oilers mme hut the simplest of prohlems. — Our •••rent throuj^h lines will he fed tt» excess hy the continued };rowHi of the .lireat West. Our local lines will create relii'f f(U- themselves hy peopliui; the fure>ts thruu;^h which they puss, and ^iivinj; that vahu' to tlie tiudier and soil whi(h the Hu-re fact of their havin;^' hec.mic iicressihle instantly imparts to them. .\ hold and compridmiisive Kailway policy for ('anada is in fact synonymous with ri(di harvests, vast immiv-ratitui, and houudlcss im-rt wealth (|uickened into life. A timid and penu- rh.us policy implies a severe and dreary stru;.'}ile with the stern pr(»nresH of our at^e whi(di few would he willin<: to •neounter, antfnono but the weak and shortsijihtod hope to .sustain. A 1' PEN I) IX C. [LLUSTRATWK OK TIIK RAIMD (IKOWTII OK TIIK ('OriNTKV WKST OF Till-: i.AKMS, AND 'TIIK LAKETIIADE" IN UKFKKKNCM TO "T!I!{OUGIJ TUAFFIC." EXTRACTS FROM THK RKPCUiT OF .lOlIX M. JKRVIS, FSQ.. O.V THE CAr(;HXAAVA(;A ("ANAi.. To f/ir IJonourahh' till ('(>mni!ssionrrs <>/ l*ahll<' II "/■/,■.> /i*/- the ( \i iini:wv, isri."). TlIK WK.STKfiN THAnK. — 'YWlf i.'-' .llul(">to()(l to he the trudo th.it ceatros on ihc tiioat Lakos, that Ibnii to a larec '"xtenl the l)(»uii(hiry betwoen Canada and the I nitcd States, and S(;i'kin;jr an Atlantic niarkot. From early cnt>;at>eniont in the Fnblie Works of the State of New York, my attention for more than thirty years has been di- rected to this trade. The idea trives the inijiression of maan.- tiule. its proii'ress has outstripped anticipation, and I enter upon its discussion with ccroat diffidence. Between the Lakes and the Ohio and the Mississippi Kivcrfo above their confluence, and west of the latter from its coufliu>noe with the 3Iissouri lliviM-, is embraced a vast extent of country that for natural fertility is not sur})assed by any territc^ry of ecpial extent orr the irlobc;. At the commencement of the present century this larao territory was sul)stantially an unci/ltivate*] wild, — and for the fir«t i[uarter of this ccmtury, its settk mcnt was mostly confined to the border of natural navij^ation. I'rcvious to the year 1825, the trade of the Lakes was trifling. The Frie Canal was opened this year, and the tide of emitrration began to move with areat force to the Lakes, ilitherto the commerce of the West had mostly taken the Mississippi River. 77 l'\.>r lifteen years tlic iniliix of cuiiLn-ition \va.'< siu-h a.s to consuiiif the creator part of tlir .surplus jti-uductiuiis tli:it would otiitTwisc liavc sous^lit the li.'ikcs ;is i(s odth't to ;iii Atlantic uiarkiit. l5iiii}i;nition has coiiLiuued and still pruceods with an incruasi'd ratio, hat the fixed population lias so inrreased, tiiat it is steadily rind ra[)idly ji^aininij; in its surplus production over all domestic dianands. The Kastern bound tonnaun; of the Kv'w. ('anvil dc rived from the liakos in the year js;')*), was o-t.l^l!) ton.s, Mid in the year 18.'),'), it was, l.,lil ;!,()!)( I tun>, or twenty-two fold in 17 years, and the territory for the most part is only in the infancy of settlement, hut a lar^e ]»orti(tn of its trade has taken the route of the Alississijipi. Xearly all the natural navitiatiou of rivers within its borders is eonneeted with the Mississij)pi, and until artitieial channels of navij^ation and railroads wen- o})ened, trade with the Ijake route was restricted to such distances as could bear transportation to its ports, over (n. imon roads, and these on the rich soil of the West, were vciy inierior of their kind. The railroad iin]»rovenu'nt has come in, and will prove a vast auxiliary to the hake trade. It is eminently a(la]iled to ju'oduce gi'eat intiuence on th(! etinimer.'e of llic West. TInnr ^reat fa- cilities for light traifie, especially in passeujiers, and tin; favour- abh.' formation of the country foi- the'r construction, ))erniits them to be made and supported, where a canal would be imprac- ticable for want of water, or where, if made, the heavy trade to which it is adapted would not be snihciimt for it< supjiort. Four years sinee, tin; only railroad connecting the wattn'sof the Lakes with those of the .Mi;^sissippi, were two in Ohio, connecting (.'incinnatti with vSandusky and Cleveland or Lake Krie. The (jalena Kailroad was comnu'need at (Mmaud. and had exteiideil about 40 miles. T)un-e are now tlirc llailroads that conimc-t Chica<;o or Jiakt; .Mitdiiiian with tin; Missouri. Oiu' at (Jalena, oU€ at liix-k Island and out- at Alton, near the mouth of tlu' Missouri. Other railroads are matle anil in ))rojii'ess that will iiDrc or l(>,ss affect the Western trade. Their |>roy an inspection of tin i'ailway Map, it will bi- ■;c(;n, the roads <;enerally point to the Lake Ports, and their pro- SC( moters look tn tlu> Lake trade as their main reliance for tratlic. The elfeet of canals ami railroads is to open ^reatin- faeilitie.s for intereonununication, extend the settlement of the country from the banks of naviirabh; str.ntms, and cause it to Sjjread over the whole surface, eausinu; th.ereiiy a L;en<.'ral increase of trade. 78 This will crentlv rimplify tlu; voluiuo fVoui that portion which has liorolufovc scut its trade to the Lako.y, whilo it will extend its ari'a to srcitioiis horetoi'oro Iribiitary to other rniites. I'Ik; Koek Island Railroad was the lirst to connect the hakes with the Mis- sissippi, it was opened in Fe))rnary iSa-l, and has had a larue iVeiu'lit trade IVoni that river. In tlio fall of IS;')!], I made a journey from tin; Mi.--sissippi ai Hock Island West, IcSO miles to Fi. di;$ Miiiiirs. 1 foiunl hut few peo[)Ie on the route, hut they were lookin-;' lo the openini;; of iiailroads to (Ihicago as their euur.-c of trade. And it may he remark e^l, that the Western peoyile licnerally, for ol)\ ions '-jasons, ])refer the Lake route. It will he conceded that the City of New \'ork is the principal centre of American eoiiimerce, and the products of the West that take tlie ^lisj-'issippi route, h:\ve, to a larji^e extent, to be carried to New Vork for a market. And as the Lake route has the ad- vantaii'c of more favoiiralde climate, it must be; preferred (^ven with soni * increa,>e in thi; expense of transport. The !^)l•k trade has heretofore been mostly contined to the i-iver citii's. The Railroads will transfer the most of this to thf Lake ports, and instead of Ciiicinnjitli and St. Louis heins oi" j)aekinLi' for Pork and l>eef. In his able report on the enlarp'od Liie Tanal for IS;');), W. J. McVlpiiu;, FiSu., then Chief Knjrinfer of New York, shows that the trade of tiie Mississippi, above the nioafli of tin; Ohio will be directed to the Lakes. Tlie diversion, b}' routes tiiat, must cross the Alleiihauy ranaf vi' Mountains, caiuiot materially aftect the volunu* of Lake commerce!. The area of t!io teri'itory ti'ibutary to the comnn'ree of tl'..' Lakes, and lyiiiu east of the Missouri Kiver, may be estimatml at over ;5()0,U00 square luiles, and that west of the Missouri at 250,000 square miles. The latter is yet a wild I'rairic, ami from its inland ])ositioii will only be able to send the nu)re val- uable productions of Aiirieuhure to an Atlantic market. But it has a fertile soil, and will he brouirht into cultivation, and must eventually cimtribute larp;ely r(» swell the vohune of the Western Tiakc romnieree. Of the ;)00,0O(> square miles (!ast of the Mis- t^t.iuri not more than one-eilus produ<-tion to a lari-e extent drawn to su" nly its larire intrress of new settlers; it fur- nished in iSfio, an Kastern bouiul tonnage for the Krie Canal, u,s before observed of 1 ,'JLJ,tjl)0 tons — and a western bouml tonnaue, lia Erie Canal during the sfuue time o*' L'(j|,7r>2 tons. In the 79 prop;ress of eastoni bound Inide, the t(mnfip;o on ;in jivor;ic;o more than doubled, in each .successive term of tour years; tor three terms from iSoO, and from 1S4S to lSr)o, a term of tive years, (he tonna;j:o was ^tiperi(n'. If tiiis ])ro<:ress is realized, at the end of fifteen years the Kasteru bound tonnaiic; will be live niillions of tons, ami the Western bound over ont^ million of tons, and the trade will not la; more than half realized. If this trade as ii may bo ex- pected to exist in iiftecn years, was all to pass tlie Mric Canal, (the local tradi; of the Canal reuKjininu- as in IS,!;;) the ari'ivals at tide water would be over three times lai'tcr than it was in IS;')'), or seven and a half millions of ton> ; .-ind the total move- ment on this Canal would be nine millions ot tons per annum. .\\\d althouiih eidarged as now contemplated, that channel would be ftjund wanting' in capacity, I'oi- (he convenient ;;ccoiumodation of so vast a trade. h'ifteen years is not a loii;^- time to looic forward to meet the Lrrowintr wants oi' this trade, and esp(^cially wlicii tiie evidences of its probable irrowth are so strongly indicated by its history, and the facts of its expandinir power. Ii itiicrto the most san- rruino have not anticipated its progress. •I'Fli-: i'TTrUK OF WKSTMiJN CAN.VDA.- We lie like a wedux' between them — New York, Fennsylva- nia, and Ohio (m one side, 3lichi;^an and ^\'iseonsin on th« otlicr — our eommuni<-iition by water complete with all that have been mentioned, and witii the ocean, without obstruction, by •The Canadian Alnianar I'or 1.S5U, page ;>;>. 80 C .1 ! ? I mrnns of tlio St. Liiwrrnco ; ov })y nuiiiorous l{;iilro,'uIs and f'arinls widi tlio Atlantic scM-lioard. And liovein lies duv strontith and tlio liojK's of Mill' I'utu'.'c. Set asido the advaiitaires of vosifiini in relation to tlic nciiildxmriiitr States of tho I'nioii and tho ocoan, and tho prourrss of this country xould bo h'kc the slow, yet stoadv flow of tlit> rivors which tjjjido to the south, compared with the txinniltiious rush of those we see li\irrYing on to tlie nortii and west. And what use have wo yet made of thi,<5 iireat advantai;e of jiosition ^ little indeed as yet ; Imt the Itejiinniii!::; has been auspiciously etitered on, aiul this tidvautaL'e will suddenly and conwdsively increase to results which at the first crlance appear too astonishinj:; and ovorwhelniinp; for belief. To our oast lies a vast consuiiiinu' country, incapable of satiety ; from its circumstances incapable of snpplyini; its own wants; and from a spirit, nay. a lUM-essity of accumnlatiou. alwayr. scokinu;, and instantly alisorbinu" whatever wo have to offer. To our South and West, and North-west, lies an e(|uaiiy vast producinir country, capable of indetinite extension ; arid from a spirit of resth\ss activity, and an un^juenchablo thirst i'ov pun, always pniduciu}: and settint;' in motion the accuniubitions of its indus- try to supply the necessities of the Kast, and receiviuir, as we do, in r(>turn, the viirie(! results of nu-'diaincal skill. W(^ lie between these extremes; the nearer they are bnniu;ht to one another, the greater uain to both, and the trreater stimulant to both to ])ursue their incessant intendiange of rnd(> industry on the one hand, and ca])ital and skill on the other. We know how astonishingly the influence of ra|»id and uninterru))tcd com- munication between distant centres of industry is (b'velojiing itself around us ; to whatever country we look. e.\amj)les without number start uy* before us in testimony of the life and vigour whicb is infused as soon :'.■< rapidity and ])erfe(( fre(Mh)m of com- munication is otablished. The relation of our country to the Ndrtli-westcrn and Wes- tern States of the Ihiion, is most remarkable; and in ortb'r to understand this important (juestion in its wide extent, you must familiarize yt)urself with a few general truths whi(di a little ((uiet reflection will render almost self-evident. What has led to the consti'uction of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal. Von will answer, the groat mining region of Lake Superior — copper in inexhaustible abundance, and iron distril)uted in mountain masses, not (mly on the; shores of that cold fresh-water sea, but profusely scattered tliroughout Northern ^Michigan and Wiscon- sin. Think you that tbe vast demand for iron in the new North- western States will allow tl)ose rich mines of metal to remain idle. Will it be cheaper to bring the coal of Jllinois and Ohio ''! 81 to Chiciiuu, .Mihviiulvcr', Supciidr <'ity, <»r tnkc tlio ore to flic l\;istcni ,St;iti's, smelt it, luaiiiit'acturo it, mid then send it hink iiL'iiiii to tlio far AV'ost. No — tlu; region of tlio >>){) miles ; pait of the line runs through tlu; riilicst iri>n reaioti, and when all tliinp,s are dependent upon iron, tlie south shore of Lake Su])orior must soon find that population ami industry for \vhiel\ it is so i-emarkahly adapted ; and then follows the North, the }j;roat Juineral n\uion of Western ( 'anada. IJnt look heycnul the Lakes — s(!e Ltwa, .Minnesota, AViseonsin and Illinois — what are tliey to do with tlu'ir|[surplus urain f It must all seek (he Tiake Ports. It must he stored wliero tlu're is no prospeet of Li'rowth and fermentation taking ])laee. The damp and warm voyatje oV(U' the heated waters of tlu^ (iidf Stream is imjiracticahle. The Mississippi and its alHiicnt the .^lissouri, are useless in _srreat jiart as avenues for the exjtorvation of the wheat of the West, This has led to that wonderful starwork of Hallways which radiates from t'hieaoo — for, as a ;.:eneral rule, (ill traflie follows the direction of a IcadiiKj tratlie. Kxterulinu' into the rich prairies of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, not less than thirteen ditl'erent Kailways radiate from ChicaLio — a city which has sprunu' up ;if it wiu'e in ;i nij^ht ; in 1S|0 it h:ul 4,47!> inhabitants — it now embraces S."!, 0(H) souls ; an increase absolutely without ])arallel on this contiiu'ut, and yet a true reflection of the commerce, industry and activity of the Wc^st. in like pro]iorti(Ui, ilailways tVom Milwaukee and from (Jreen l>;>.y ramify into the iiil(M'ior. Th(< same ;irii'unu>nt apjilies tn the Lake Ports of Huron, 8t. Clair, and Mrie, resultinn; in the u'cneral [iroposition that the retrion oi' tlie (Jreat Lake draws to itself a micrhty trafHc, v;hich naturally belongs to dther water sheds. ()nce uii the Lakes, whither do these accumulatiims tend ''. ^^1U will answer, to the se.'i-board, for home consum])tion, or lor ex[)ortatior> lu (i^'at Britain. Ireland, or the WvA India Islands. Kut in seekinir th. "seaboard, they hnv<' to tind (he easiest and speediest route in their descent to the sea lev(d. In Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and northern ]»arts of Lake Huron, every «-ariro of western produce is AT'' icei above the sea. It must 1)0 let down step by step until it rcaiius this universal level. This may 1; eliected by a shoi't, .^afe. and rapid step, nearly in a straight lim^ or it may bo effected by a circuitous route, and by a long and often 82 i i p prcoarions drscent. \o one doubts thritthc more Viipid ;nid safn \ho ((miiiiunicntioii bctwocii Knst and AVcst, tlio iiion; sudden and clastie will lio the cbl) and How of that niii«;lity cotniiiercial stream whose course, il' wisely, tlutuuh ever sa !i:(!iitly. directed in the lirst itistarue, will soon carry away every obstruction and impediment, til its perfect freedom. Now look at Western Canada, and see the barrier which this wedire-siiajied country introduces between the cast and west ; happily it is only a physical liarrier ; formerly it was also a political and commercial owe. As a jdiysieal barrier what has liiuh art and licuerous enterprise done to brinu; nearer to one another tin; fruitful vrest and tla^ insatiable east. \\ c have rifiw in active ojieration tlie (Jreat AVestern, (Lake Huron and Lake Ontario at Hamilton ; and State of New York at Sus- pension !>ridL':e, 2l^0 miles, > thi; Northern llailway (Lake Huron and Laki! Ontario !M) miles,) tr:!versin of the west to the level of Lake Ontario, without ]j]'eakin!;- I'ulk. Are these means of cdmmunication taxed to the full ; the Welland Canal thronu'ed to the utmost, a nswcirs for itself; the (-reat Western Railway (or half its len«.;th as a mere preliminary stej). has to be immediatidy doid)led in capacity, liy means of a new branch IVoni London to Sarnia. with double track from Lon- don to llamiltu;! ; the NortlieiMi, which a year auo was thou(pvver and Ni'^iuir indicative of ^reiit inhevent streni:'th ; (he Luke Huron and IJuifalo iJaihvay, tiu; A iidiean name for the late Ibilfalo, Hraiitibrd and ( unlc'ieh Itaibvay ( Jiiike Krie to Lake lliii'iiii I .')7 miles, S:-; now o]ien. ) »v:!; be linislied iu a twelve- luonth : the ( Jrinid Trunk v.iiieh stiL'tches its lonlation." \'oti may well smile at tlie inter))retation ;_'iven to the word '• lontemplate " with us, vet think that all the railways just nanu'd were only ''contem- tilnted" some three u\' tVmr years ayo. and now they may be said ti» Im' constnieteil. So in five years tninsuia, is ot the ut most value to her future projii'iiss and ]»i'os]H'iity. Jler Jertile t(!rritory is thrust like a wedu'e into the heart of ;i foreiiii: country of vast extent and nnetjualled capabilities. Tiu' urowth ot' the Western States, eoui)lod wrlli their de[>eudancH' upon tlu' east- ern markets for the consumption of tiieir surplus ])rodu''tion.s. l.ive.sts all moans of eoniniunieation with ai intei'est proptirtion- al to the facilitie.s they ulford I'oi" r,i]iid and (die;ip tran>ir. No wonder then, that tlu! West, seekinu' the l']astiM'n seaboard, should anxiously endeavour to secure a short route across the ter!iior\, of (^anada. llenee it is that the throuLih traiKe forms s(; inipon.iiiL an item in the business of Canadian I'ailways, and is ah\ ays ;!U object of the hiiihest interest in th<^ projection of our nmv lines. 'Idle nuiin lines, it will be observed, on ins)»ection of the map, run from frontier to fronti(U', or from the p(/rt of an upj)er to the port of a lower lake. l>etroit; to iianiilton and Niaiiara river; (loderieh to Buifalo ; Sarnia to Toronto ; Collinuwood to Toron- to ; and how fully do tlie returns, of the ureat links of conununi- eation, wdiich have had a fair trial imlieate the source oi' tie- support they already receive, and to which they look forward with inoreasinj.r (.'ontidi'uce. The cajtabilities of the (Jreat Wt.'st- era liailway are already strained in the endeavour to conduct ^The Canadian -MmaiKic for 1857, p'.iixv '.Mi. f 84 the husiness which |)n^' i<( VllllIK 111 UciU Tiumo. j Koieisn TrBflic ill'.tyWr, Ji:70,4(M) lOl.titi'.l ltO,l()li liis.sls 1-10,374 1.-i7.Mh ircwr. 10'J,741 1 I4;i,7a4 31st July, IH64 :il9t Jmuiiiiy, IS&'i lilst .liii.v, l>';i;i oUt .l'iiiimi_v. IMi'iti aut July, iHJli ''^ '■■'- "•'■ JStarliiiL;- with till! ]ir()|i().sitiuii that llic j;roat liiuvs of through iratlic iVoiu frontiiT to iVniitici', rest upon the iiio.st.sccurf basis, wi' may foiitoiiiplatc with all i^oiilidoniH! the construction oh' the ^rcat Southern liino. from iUill'alo to Ainher.stburtr, and another Northern Lim,' from (Juclph to the uiouth of the Sau- geeii. \\'e iiniy advance a stoj) furllur, and in ])ursuancc of a bold Railway ]»olicy, lookinir to the I'uture rather than to the immediate present, hint ;ii. t io- consliuetion oi" a Saiilt Ste. JMario and Ottawa trunk line, to britii;; iIk- boundless miiuiral re<:ion of ihe Lake Superior basin, within the limits of our industry, and lo pay tribute to our (Miterpri.so. No one, bowevcr isanguine, Ventures to prtidiet tlu; political importance of the Northern valley oi' the Mississiiipi, and MasL of the valley of the Mi.s.souri, twenty years hence. We vainly (uideavour to picture its j;'i;jLantic I'uture, in t-onteinplatinu' its wmiderful rivers, life arteries of communication, traversiiit:- valleys of wide extent and endless iVrtility ; its huiic coal beds, easily accessible, and otli-riiiti', v\en at the surl'ace, the means of niakini:' available tlu; inexhaustilde treasures of iron, cop{)(!r and h ad, which spread tlu'inselves out South-West and West of the Lake Superior JJasin, and oppose, by their bountiful distriliutioii. many oi' the disadvantages of climate and isolation. The ^Missouri lliver, in latitude 44*^, Hows for hundreds of miles in a Northerly and Nortli-Westcirly direction, throiiuli the lonLMludinal centre of North .Xnu^rica, and now mark* the extreme limits of s(!ttleniont and (;ivili/ation. In ten years luMU-e, the .Mi.s^;ouri, North of Council l>luti's, will be thicldy settled as far as the tireal Westward bend; and .Minne- sota, lyinir between that miu-hty stream and Lake Superior, will account itself an old State. '■'' '■' '■'' To 1)0 convinced that we live amidst the most j)ro- ductive elements of Jlailway pr(»u-ress and enterprise;, Wt; have only lo consider the present ]io.>ition of the eommerct! of the m 85 Lake region J of our own country, and tlio slioros by which we are on three sides invested. JIe<:,inninjj; with Lake Superior, wc lind that in the fall of lMf)4 the Sault Ste. Marie Canal was completed, and during' the season of IS "»;">, copper and iron to the value of 8^,700,000 passed through it. Seven States of the Union border the Lakes on our shore, Western Canada embraces them on the other. The population of the seven Lake States, according to the census of iHoO, was !>,7H4,r)r)0, or l(),0i)2 inhab- itants more than the aggregate of the twenty-four remaining States of the Union. The total value (»f th« liuke commerce was ^{508,3 10,820 in 1855. This commerce was conducted by !),000 vessels, American and C'anadian, iiaviiig an augregate tonnage of 8,561,2411 tons. * * * Ample practical proof has been afforded during late years that the Northern shores of Lake Huron are well adapted for agricultural purposes, and that inlaml valleys, sonii' few miles from the Lake, support a magnificent grov/th tif hard- wood timber, a sure sign of the ada])tation of climate anil soil to the most important operations of husbandry. A great mining population is rapidly pouring into the Lake Superior Jiasin, and :}he country of the ancient miners resounds once again with the clamour of human industry, assisted by all the energy, enterprise and ingenuity of the Anglo-Saxon race. How little is generally known of Pembina, and the settlements on the Ked lliver, be- tween the 48th and the 50th parallel of latitude ; and yet, in the valley of that remote river, a population of !>000 find abun- dant and well recompensed employment in the cultivation of wheat, potatoes, and other agricultural productions. Kven at Fort (larry, eighty miles north of Pembina, and on the borders of Lake Winnipeg, forty bushels of wheat to tiie acre are raised ; and like the valley of our own Thanu's, the yield is still fifteen to twenty bushels, after twenty years of cropping ; and this fer- tility and luxuriance obtains 200 miles North of the latitude of the South shore of Lake Superior. av1':nu1':s of vvestkkn tii.vdi-;.- Of the future greatness of the trade of the North- West, we need neither illustration nor argument to convince us. Its development during the last twenty years, from nothing tu a * Hunt's Merchant's Magazine, Aug. ISTjC. I!y T. V. Clurke, Esti.^ ('. K. L SG value (»r liL'twi'Oii tliicc .mihI I'liiir liimdrcd niillioii^ ol' (l(illiir.><, is of jtscll a I'ai't ,-() a.stoiii.sliiii'j;, tluit we .u'c |)ix'i»;irc'<»bei- fjiruiers of New I'lngland, and the lasy piin^ planters of the Old Dominion. It was not until the openini: ot the Kric Canal in If^'Ji'i eheapeiuxl the preeiuions and cxpensivo moans ui' tianspoi't then (•xistiu^ to the lower end nl' hake i'lrii', tluit tiie tide of emiura- lion set iu with any foree to the Novth-West. I'rom that period until IS4U, the exports of this region were snuill ; the surj)lu.s products beiiiu- consumed by the ever increasing; crowd of new settlers. During the last iilteen years, time and the etl'ict of judicious public improvements, have so far developed the resources of this country, that the value of the Lake trade had increased between IK-IO ;ind iSaO from -SOU to .S:!U(.l,UOO,()()() ; aud if it has (continued to increase in the s.iiiu' ratio, must now have attained the value of .S4r)0,UU0,O0O. The total nund)er of tons arriving at tide water I'rom the Western ^States, by the Krie (!anal, has iucrca.sed from 15.'<,14S tuns in lS40, to 1,21.'),W)0 tons in 1S;);>. It is ostinmted by Mr. .John 15. .Icrvis, that this trade will double in the next six, aud (ju.idruple in the next lifteea years ; so that in 1-S70 then; will be an Kaslern move- ment of live millions of tons, the surplus products of the North- West ; and wore all this business done through the l^rie Canal, the total annual movement would exceed nine millions of tons. That this estimate is a safe one, and rather errs in being under than over the mark, no one will doubt who considers h(jw snuill and insignificant a part of the vast territory tributary to the commerce of the Lakes, is now occupied and under cultivation. It i.s safe to say that out of a region, variously estimated to con- tain from f)»0 to 7tJ0,000 scjuare miles of fertile territory, not one-twelfth part is now occupied, and that but s))arsely. From a country capable of supporting liO,UUO,000 of peoi)le, what may we not expect ? INDEX. Ji I'AiiK. liisi of I'rovi.sioiial I)ir('C'tofs, L' liitniductioii, ;; l*i>siti()ii iiiid Mxtt'iilof ('ouiitry (i Aluiii('i|iiiliti(>s luMiclitttMl, S (ifolo^iiciil iitid (Joiicriil Kotiturcs «► [ lii rhoiirs nt Tcniii ni , I ;{ Stiu<«ot'M N'lillcy 'Jl' SottlcrH iitid Coiiditioii of Stittlcdiiciil, ;i| (.'liiiiate, ,';.| liocal IJonofits ,';7 Pmspctrtivo '• ThrouHli Uiisiuoss," 4;) Kxistiti!^' Kaihvjiys 47 H ('CM pi tula tioM 41) ( 'onclusion f, I Ai'pKNDix A.— Oil tlic Sottlt'iuent of tlio Country 05 Ai'1m;xi)ix ]i.— Holative to " Local IJoiioiits "— Letter from Joseph llartmnn, Ksq., M. \ '» 57 " " Sir .iames 1). llaiuilton lla, r>y " (jeorge Snoath, Ks((., {]{) " " Will. Armson, Ks(| {]] " W.O. I ittle, Ew|., 01 •' " Jas. S )n, Esq., (i;} '' " ^Jeorgf rfiunt, Esq , Li4 ' " (leorgf D^.uglas, Esij., DC, •' '' Samuel Rogers, Em I OG •^ ll<.n W. H. llobiiison, M. P. I> ()7 " '• Benjii lun Ross, Ks(| 69 " '' Angus 3f..rrisoii. Es((.,M. V I' 7U Our Railway Policy 71 Appendix C. — \u reference t<» •• Through '! lutiic " — Extracts from Report, on the Caughuawaga Canal, 70 " " The Future of Western Canada 79 " " Our Railway Policy, S3 " " Avenues of Western Trade 85 John Blackburn, Printer, CSty Steam Frett, 63 Yonye Street, Toronto.