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V,E 
 
 HIS 
 
 ?r: 
 
nPJTISH NOKTIl AxMKKlCAN 
 RAILWAYS, 
 
 L E T T E li 
 
 TO 
 
 HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE. EAR! Cf 
 ELGIN AND KINCARDINE, 
 
 Governor General, &<;. 
 
 BY 
 
 V. J). arciiibaj;d. 
 
 ^i 
 
 HALIFAX. N. S. 
 
 I SOiS 
 
 1851. 
 
 PRINTEP I-;^. J. BOWES & SON. f PARRIN(iTON .<tREK'l 
 
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN RAILWAYS 
 
 (copy.) 
 
 Toronto, 21st June, lb51. 
 
 lllS EVCKLLENCY THE RiGlIT HoNOUIlABLE ^^^^,^^ 
 
 THE EARL OF ELGIN AND KINCARDINE, 
 
 Governor General, &c. &c. &c. 
 My Lord, — 
 
 With your Lordship's permission, I will now proceed to put la 
 writiii-r the proposals in reference to the contemplated Railways m 
 British North America, which I have already had the honor of per- 
 sonally submitting, accompanied by such views and explanations as 
 nmy be calculated to place the whole subject matter in its proper 
 
 light. 
 
 In order to carry out a complete railway scheme, commensurate 
 with the prospective requirements of the British North American 
 Provinces, provision must be made for the construction of a Graiul 
 Trunk line from Halifax to the American frontier at Detroit. < ': 
 ihis line the only part now actually in progress is the Great Western, 
 between Hamilton and Windsor, and it is supposed that the same 
 company will construct the link between Hamilton and Toronto. H 
 all the Provinces were to agree to accept the terms proposed by tlie 
 Imperial Government, provision would be made for the whole line 
 from Haliflix to Quebec or Montreal ; but whilst it is not quite cer- 
 tain that either Province will accept those terms, New Brunswick 
 has actually rejected them. Assuming for the present however, thai 
 Canada and Nova Scotia will concur in accepting the offer ot the 
 British Government, it remains to be considered by what means the 
 New Brunswick section can be carried through, and how the Gre«: 
 Trunk line can be extended from Montreal to Toronto. It may 
 
x 
 
 HurnsH NouTii amluican 
 
 ,')r: iliii the leyiiiliituro of Now BriiiHwick, upon rL'-coiisideration oi 
 the whole suhjcct, uviy be liidacod to come into the general arranir(-- 
 riieni; or that Canada and Nova rScotia may agree to assume ;i 
 ;jart of her burthen; hut should neither of these alternatives avail, I 
 hope to be able to suggest a plan, that shall eventually acconi- 
 )hsli the wJiole (j!)ject, without pressing unduly upon tlic rcsourrcr^ 
 )t'that Province. 
 
 The contiguration and geographical position of New Brunswick, 
 a'uder it necessary to the completion of a perfect railway system. 
 •Jiat the Province should be traversed its entire length by two main 
 imes. and, in the |)resent condition of its linances, the people appear 
 V) be unwilling to assume the biulhen of constructing both, even 
 with the liberal profler of aid from the British Government. In view 
 A" the construction of one only of these lines, great differences of 
 jpinion and angry discussions have arisen, as to their comparativf 
 importance. The Northern section of the Province naturally con- 
 vnids for the Northern line, whilst the Southern Division, including 
 clio commercial capital, as strongly advocates its favourite scheme. 
 For my own part, I regard them both as of equal importance, and 
 each indispensable to the requirements of its particular District. It 
 us to the all prevailing sense, not in New Brunswick alone, of the im- 
 jjortance of the European and North American line that we owe th<' 
 revival of the Halifax and Quebec project, which had been all but 
 ibandoned ; and if this latter line should now weigh Iieavier in the 
 j[eneral scale, it is due not so much to any special Provincial objects 
 :hat it serves as to its bearing upon emigration and colonization, 
 which arc questions rather of national concern. I do not mean to 
 say, tiiat those questions do not very nearly touch New Brunswick ; 
 )n the contrary, what she most wants is a sound system of coloni/,a 
 tion, and the progressive influx of people of steady liabits and soiii" 
 means. 
 
 It is estimated that there are in New Brunswick from twelve to 
 tburteen million acres of ungranted lands, which, however, are at the 
 present moment comparatively worthless. In case of urgent neces- 
 .sity, the Province could hardly realise jC 100,000 from the whole of 
 this vast territory ; and at the rate at which the lands are now taken 
 np, several centuries must elapse before they will be fully occupied. 
 If I am rightly imformed, the sale of crown lands barely realise suf- 
 licient to defray iJio current expeases of the department, and it 
 vould appear that in fact they are virtually given away. At certain 
 
 jieriods, tl 
 
 generally 
 
 that the p 
 
 nearest tc 
 
 lot, the p 
 
 ilays labo 
 
 of settler 
 
 public we 
 
 when the 
 
 numbers, 
 
 • licially t( 
 
 the Provi 
 
 to propos 
 
 tion of th 
 
 of coloni 
 
 UcneHts t 
 
 The pa 
 
 I'cpresent 
 
 British C 
 
 i)owerful 
 
 among tl 
 
 construct 
 
 which ha 
 
 of Europ 
 
 'relieved, 
 
 of seekii 
 
 x\merica 
 
 the largi 
 
 this mon 
 
 of the F 
 
 Railwayi 
 
 tions, an 
 
 thousant 
 
 omployn 
 
 artisans 
 
 of Work 
 
 of being 
 
 lu-ought 
 
 their att 
 
 which I 
 
I 
 
 RAILWAYS. 
 
 f) 
 
 poriods, the lands arc put up for sale at public auction and sold 
 generally to the poorest class of transient euiigrauts, upon condition 
 that the purchase money is to be worked out in labour, on some road 
 nearest to the land ; and if, as often happens, there is no road to tiie 
 lot, the purchaser makes one, and so pays for his freehold by a few 
 days labour upon it. It is evident, that under such a system, a body 
 of settlers will be introduced, who can contribute nothing to the 
 public wealth or weal ; but on the contrary, it is easy to imagine that, 
 when these enfranchised paupers shall become greatly increased in 
 numbers, they may form a class capable of being influenced preju- 
 dicially to the character of the legislature, and the best interests of 
 the Province. It is one of the main features nf the plan, that I am 
 to propose, to make these wilderness lands available for the comple- 
 tion of the railways ; and, at the same time, the field of a system 
 of colonization that cannot fail to be productive of the greatest 
 bcnofits to the Province, as well as to the mother country. 
 
 The parties whom on this occasion, m the absence of their more able 
 representative, it falls to my lot to personate, are an Association of 
 British Capitalists and Contractors, limited in point of numbers, but 
 powerful from their influence, combinations, and means. The chief 
 among them, are the men who have taken the foremost lead in the 
 construction of those great lines of railway and other public works, 
 which have been undertake)'- in Great Britain and upon the Continent 
 of Europe, during the last five and twenty years. It will readily bo 
 'jclieved, that men of this stamp are not at all under the necessity 
 of seeking employment for their capital or connections in North 
 America ; on the contrary, they are precisely the parties upon whom 
 the largest enterprises in Europe are continually pressed, and at, 
 tliis moment they are pausing upon very inviting offers, on the part 
 of the French Government, until the fate of these Anglo-American 
 Railways shall be decided. In the course of their gigantic opera- 
 tions, an army of dependants and retainers, amounting to several 
 tliousands, has sprung up; and for these they feel bound to provide 
 employment. A large division of this veteran force, consisting of 
 artisans and skilled labourers, regularly organised under their Clerks 
 of Works, Architects, Surveyors, and Foremen, were upon the point 
 of being removed and domiciled in France, when influences were 
 brought to bear upon their employers, which induced them to turn 
 their attention to British North America. Upon certain conditions^ 
 which I do not think will appear at all unreasonable, these parties 
 
If 
 
 BRITISH NORTH AMERICAIV 
 
 Hf willing to mako tlieso countries, upon wliicli British Capitalist* 
 have hitherto turned their hacks, the exclusive field of their future 
 •perations ; and to trnnsfer iicre the whole of thut disciplined force, 
 vvliich has carried them trininphnntly tlirou«Th so mnny <;;reat under- 
 tukuigs. Such an opportunity of securing' a conihinntion of every 
 rh\u\r essential to the construction, ecpiipnicnt, and inanagcmeitt oV 
 )iii great railway system, nipy never occur again, and ought not to 
 1)0 left unimproved. The very Hrst detachment of this army ol 
 '.HMceful operations, would introduce more realised wealth, than all 
 tiie thousands of emigrants who have straggled into New Brunswick 
 liuring the last twenty years ; but, it is not their worldly pos- 
 sessions atler all, that will prove of most importance, — all the 
 various mechanical arts, which railway enterprise brings into 
 rcipusition, Avould be introduced in the highest state of perfection, 
 ind the various establishments and factories for the purposes of thr^ 
 works, would form Nornml Schools for training the rising youth in 
 the knowledge and practice of arts and manufactures, hitherto entirely 
 unknown in the c^»"ntry. The construction of these great lines ot 
 ruilway, under such auspic?. and by such means, cannot fail to bi.- 
 productive of the most beneficial effects, upon the social, moral, ami 
 ;)olitical condition of the people of these Colonies ; whilst thi- 
 mother country will, at the same time, be greatly relieved, by the 
 sound and healthy system of emigration and colonization, which thej 
 will necessarily promote. The advantages, both to the parent stai^' 
 ind tlie Colonies, are so great and so obvious, that they need noi 
 1)0 enumerated ; but, 1 cannot pass by this part of the case, without 
 .lesiring to strengthen the argument, by refering to your LordshipV 
 powerful reasoning, conveyed in the conjmunication to Earl Grey, 
 under date of the '^Oth Deer., 1848. 
 
 Having said so much, perhaps unnecessarily, with a view of 
 iemonstrating the expediency of carrying out these great works. 
 i)y means of British skill and labour, and, by consequence of Britisl: 
 ■;;ipital, I now proceed to consider the case of New Brunswick as r 
 stands at present. So far from joining in the censure, which ha- 
 been unduly attached to that Province, I feel bound to say, that sb' 
 has done much and done it well, towards the encouragement of tli' 
 oommon object. I discover in her legislation and other proceeding- 
 i liberal spirit, which I have no doubt, will still further expand itscl; 
 l)efore a certain prospect of the realisation of all her wishes. Wit! 
 respect to the European and North American line, New Brunswic!; 
 
 4 
 
nAII.\TAVS. 
 
 pitulists 
 
 future 
 
 |u force, 
 
 under' 
 
 f every 
 
 inent ot 
 
 lit not to 
 
 nrmy ot 
 
 than all 
 
 unswick 
 
 (Uy pos- 
 
 -all the 
 
 inlc- 
 
 crfection. 
 
 es of thr 
 
 youth ill 
 
 ;o entirely 
 
 it lines of 
 
 fail to h(.' 
 
 noral, ami 
 
 vhilst the 
 
 £?cl, by the 
 
 vhich the} 
 
 irent stiitc 
 
 need not 
 
 o, without 
 
 liOrdshipV 
 
 blarl Groy, 
 
 I view ol 
 !at works. 
 ofBritisli 
 wick as I' 
 which ha- 
 ^, that sb' 
 lent of tli' 
 roceeding- 
 aand itscl: 
 
 68. Wit!; 
 
 Brunswici* 
 
 liiiej already fj'rnntcd a liberal Charter of lucorpornliou, accompanied 
 by Facility IJills, which concede atract of the ungranted lands along- 
 the line, and provide for the sul)HcrJption on tiie part of the Province 
 (»l'.C"i.')(),000 sterlin«(, to the capital stock of the company. 'I'oward.s 
 the Ilnlifax nnd (Quebec or Northern lino, the Provinc has appro- 
 IHiiiled jCvJ(),()0O currency, per annum, for twenty yars; has ap^reed 
 to provide the breadth of way and Htntions, and has conceded a tract 
 of land alonj; the line estimated to contain about two million acrcK. 
 
 Supposing that all other plans for obviatiufj the dillicultics that 
 have arisen in New lirunswick, should miscarry, I propose, on 
 the part of the Association which I represent, to construct the 
 Kuropean and North American line through New Brun.-nvick, ag.ee- 
 ;ibly to the Charter of Incor|)orotionand the conditions of the Facility 
 Hills, and to subscribe for this purpose all the capital not alreadv 
 taken u]). J therefore i)rovido for the accomplishment of this project, 
 upon the })recisc terms already arranged by the legislature. 
 
 With respect to tiie Ilalifav and Quebec or Northern line through 
 New Brunswick, I propose that an Act, corresponding as nearly as 
 <'ircmnstances will admit, with the Charter of the otlier Company, 
 -shall be passed for the purpose of Incorporating a Company with a 
 Capital of £.'{,000,000 sterling; and all f ask the i'rovince to do (in 
 addition to what she has already pledged herself), is to double the 
 (piantily of tiie wilderness Ir.nds on both lines, and to subscribe 
 tI'J.)0,UOO sterling, to tht; slock of the Northern Company; or at her 
 option to divide that amount bctwoon the Northern and Southern 
 lines. In either case the Province to be entitled to add two Directors 
 to the Board of the Northern Company. This being done, I propose 
 in like manner on the part of the Association, to organise the Com- 
 pany by subscribhig all the Capital that shall not be taken u]) in New 
 Urunswick. It is understood, that the people of the Province arc to 
 have the privilege of subscribing to any extent they please, to the 
 stock of both companies. These offers pre-suppose that the legis- 
 lature will pass Facility Bills, securing the pecuniary grant, and 
 oonferring all needful powers and privileges for the settlement, dis- 
 posal, and management of the conceded territory, which, it is 
 understood, is to be vested in the Company in fee simple, with the 
 iiml)er, mines, minerals, and appurtenances ; subject of course 
 to such restrictions and conditions, as shall prevent the Company 
 from disposing of the lands, except in a ratio proporiionate to the 
 progress of the railway. 
 
T 
 
 ri liniTISIl NOIITII AMKRICAN 
 
 It is ipulo cleiir that uilli all tliiit Xow IJniuswick is expected to 
 ilo, a very larfje uinounl ofeapital will remain to bo provided by the 
 iioiiipaiiy, and that too for tlie coiwiniction of n lino of railway which 
 it is generally believed, will not, for an indefinite period, pay ita 
 workinjr expenises. Tiie {rreat national objoctH however, to bo at- 
 tained, justify the expectation of liberal aid and enconragonient on 
 the part of the Iiiii)eriiil Government ; but this is a part of the case 
 upon which it is not my province [o enter. So far as New Bruns- 
 wick is concerned she must bejfin to derive immtdialc benefit from 
 the proposed urranfjcmciif. Ex iieccusitutc, the company must expe- 
 dite by every possible moans, the sale and settlement of their lands 
 and the developenient of tiieir resources ; the Coal Fields will bo 
 opened up, Iron Mines will be worked, Foundries, Machine Shops 
 and Factories established. Every first class station along the line 
 will become the nuclem of a town and every stopping place will 
 t'orm the centre of an agricultural ambit and a rallying point for the 
 poor and unskilled emigrants, who will be cheered and instructed 
 by the well regulated operations they will witness on every side. 
 The e pcnditure upon the works will facilitate the settlement of the 
 lands along the line, and the improvement of these lands will bring 
 traffic to the railway. It is not too much to expect that the popu- 
 lation and revenue of the Province will bo doubled within ten years 
 Mild long before the £'20,000 a year gua'antccd to the northern line 
 shall become payable, the amount will be anticipated in the Fxche- 
 <iuer from the effects of these oi)erations; and thus the end, in 
 advance of its accomplishment, will furnish the means to this extent. 
 This is no fancy picture nor does it foreshadow half the realities ol' 
 such a future as New Brunswick may now command. 
 
 I come now to another very important i)art of the general scheme, 
 TKimoly, the section of the Grand Trunk line from Montreal to 
 Toronto. The capital rccpiircd for this portion of the work may be 
 'stimated at about £1,000,000 sterling, one half of Avhich would be 
 idvanced by the Province under the provisions of the act in this 
 ■)eiinll'. It is assumed that at least £lJOO,000 would be provided by 
 the municipalities along the line, leaving about £500,000 to be sub- 
 '^rihcd by other parties. In the event of a favorable charter of 
 Incorporation being granted, I have no doubt that, as a part of the 
 general plan, the whole stock that shall not be taken up in the Pro- 
 vince will bo immediately subscribed. It would appear only a rea- 
 -jonable stipulation in this case that the Provincial ?*!» -ice, whicii 
 
nAir.wAis. 
 
 J» 
 
 will he secured by tlio first inortj,'afro on the lin-j and iid lolU, biuil! 
 !ior bonr nioro tliuii Ibnr per cent intercut until tliu lino hIkiU piiy !i 
 loar dividend of funr per cent ujxjn tlie whijlf paid up cupitul. Tiio 
 .iiiioiint flnbscri!)cd by the company tt» f(jrintlic .second cliiir<«'o on tlio 
 Imp and (atler payment of the I'rovincial interent) to bu enlilk'd to 
 SIX per cent, before any intere.st sjjali l)et;onie payable upon the coii- 
 •iiiifent cf the iiiunicipiiiities, which, liowcver, .slmil, in their turn, bf; 
 'Mititled to a like interest of six per cent wlion the profits ^vill ullo\» . 
 The durpUjs ultruj if uny, nller the payiur 't of six per cent on uU 
 ?lie ohariifes, to be received by the company or appropriated to lorm 
 .< sinkin;,' fund tov/ards the extinction of the Provincial debt. It is 
 iMflerstood that the municipalitios have already agreed to aoiiie such 
 .irranL,'enient and I see no dilUcuIty in ■^u-frani/un^ n company on tlie 
 jIiovi' hasis so soon us an Act of Incor])oration .'•iiall bo pasjjcd by 
 the leyislaturo. 
 
 It is assumed that the whole line from Halifax to its extreme 
 Western lenninus is to l)C carried out upon a uniform j)lan, and that 
 ill the Provinces will readily allow Her Majesty's (lovernment to 
 ;i')!nmate the Engineer in Chief, wiio will of course be assisted by 
 other Engineers to bo appointed on behalf of the respective Pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 It is not too nnich to suppose that for the reasons above stated, 
 lioth the Imperial and Provnicial Governments would greatly prefer 
 ;hat these great works should be undertaken l)y 13riti.sh Contractors ; 
 ■ind it is assumed that the associated contractors, whose names have 
 Seen submitted to Her Majesty's Government by William Jackson, 
 Kscj., M. P., are to have the entire contracts f all the contemplated 
 lines upon such fair and equitable terms as may be agreed upon. 
 These parties do not expect or desire any ])ccuniary preference, but 
 i!" they and their associated capitalists arc about to incur heavy 
 risks, not ordinarily undertaken by contractors, they feel that they 
 ire justified in seeking to guard themselves against competition that 
 might have the eflect of enhancing the price of labour and material.- 
 '•> a ruinous extent. The lines to be made by funds provided utidei 
 'lie Imperial guarnntoe, could be executed agreeably to estimuten 
 f'j be furnished by the board of Engineers, or they might be con 
 slnicted under inspection, upon terms of allowing the contractors a 
 ■ertain commission to be agreed upon. At all events it will not be 
 lifticult to settle the " fair and efiuitable terms " upon which they are 
 ■>vi!ling to engage il e whole scheme. 
 
10 
 
 BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 iif 
 
 fn lit .lerlaking works of such vast nmgrnitiule and importance it will 
 be wise to look beyond tiie present, or even the -mmediate future. 
 Already an enormous traftlc awaits tiiose lines, but who can foim a 
 notion of the proportions to which it may expand within the next 
 ten or twenty years ! Already the knoll of protection is sounding 
 along the fertile vallies and boundless prairies of the Far West, and 
 those barriers to free trade wiiicli we should vainly assail from without 
 will soon be prostrated by the pressure from Avithin. The produc- 
 tions of that vast region, consisting for the most part of the bulky 
 articles of human subsistence will, in spite of all restraints, flow 
 through the most natural and facile channels, to be exchanged for 
 the products of other countries. But I cannot bound my view by 
 these remote territories or even the more distant region stretching to 
 tlie Pacific or by the ocean itself. A great arc of the globe passing 
 tlirough Halifax and Toronto, if projected on the one hand into 
 Asia and on the other into Europe Avill bisect the richest, most popu- 
 lous and most civilized countries under the sun. On the one side 
 are the countless millions of the Indian Archipelago, China and 
 llindostan ; on the other the over-crowded, busy marts of Europe. 
 The interchange of the commodities of Europe and Asia has in all ages 
 constituted the most lucrative commerce of the world. Since the 
 days of Solomon, if not before, it has been the desire of nations to 
 possess or controul this trade with which the liighest state of pros- 
 perity and great power have ever been associated. The track of 
 tliis comi-.erce has built up cities of palaces in the desert ; its diver- 
 sion has marked the decline of empires; — once lost it has never been 
 regained and although the great nation we moat affect now controls 
 tlie trade of the far East, it is deserving of serious consideration 
 whether the roule is not yet capable of one further change. We 
 iiave the authority of the spirited and intelligent originator of the 
 great Atlantic and Pacific railroad, who more than any other man 
 has studied the intercommunications of the globe, for the fact that 
 tliore is a practicable line across the Continent of NorthAinerica tliat. 
 shall shorten the distance between England and the East Indies by 
 more than five thousand miles in comparison with the route by the 
 Isthmus of Panama! The British possessions in North America lie 
 midway between these great . f untries, occupying that /one of the 
 oartli upon which, on the other Continents, three fourths or more of 
 the whole human family arc congregated. Within our borders there 
 is a vast unoccupied food -producing territory capable of absorbing a 
 
 iipor 
 line. 
 
IIAILWATS. 
 
 It 
 
 it will 
 uture. 
 foim a 
 next 
 unding 
 ist, and 
 ivitliout 
 iroduc- 
 bulky 
 ts, flow 
 ged for 
 iew by 
 clilng to 
 passing 
 nd into 
 st popu- 
 ane side 
 lina and 
 Europe. 
 1 all ages 
 since the 
 lations to 
 ! of pros- 
 ) track of 
 its diver- 
 jver been 
 ' controls 
 lideration 
 je. We 
 ;or of the 
 ther man 
 fact that 
 erica tliat 
 Indies by 
 ite by the 
 nerica lie 
 ne of the 
 r more of 
 lets tliero 
 sorbing n 
 
 i 
 
 population c^iual to that of tlie half of Europe. In addition I believe 
 that we hold the keys and the track of the futu-e communication 
 between the two grand divisions of the human race, and who shall 
 say that a large share of that enriching traffic, which has gilded 
 every former path, shall not ere many years glide along those very 
 channels which it is our present business to open up. The day is 
 not far distant when this great highway of nations will traverse our 
 now neglected territory as surely as a straight line is tiie shortest 
 distance between two given points. 
 
 To descend however from these speculations 1 would beg to sug- 
 ;Test that the pending negotiations between the several Provinces 
 be brought to issue as speedily as possible. The parties on whose 
 behalf I submit these proposals and to whom the magnitude of the 
 enterprise is its chiefest recommendation, are abundantly able tt? 
 accomplish the whole design and upon the condition? and with the 
 encouragement I have indicated, T believe that they will be willing 
 10 undertake the task immediately. The most urgent parts of the 
 work seem to be the section through Nova Scotia, the European and 
 North American line through New Brunswick, and the line from 
 Montreal to Toronto which might all be commenced simultaneously, 
 so soon as the needful legislative action shall have taken place. 
 
 I have thus my Lord, in great haste, endeavoured to convey the 
 impress upon my own mind of the importance of tlie great objects to 
 which the foregoing refers, and of the best means of accomp ishing 
 them. If these proposals shall be found acceptable and the needfn! 
 measures be speedily adopted by the Imperial and Provincial Govern- 
 ments, the leaves shall not begin to fall before the approach of the 
 coming winter ere the staff* and pioneers of a powerful force shall be 
 upon the ground prepared to commence operations along the whole 
 line. If on the contrary, these offers shall be rejected the present 
 generation I fear may abandon all hope of Mitnessing the attainment 
 of these great and important national objects, for I believe the day ol 
 their accomplishment will then be too deep in the womb of time to be 
 sounoed by the span of any life in being. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 My Lord, 
 Your Lordship's most obedient, humble Servant, 
 (Signed) Ci). ARCHIBAl/l). 
 
IJRITI 
 
 Fellow < 
 
 It is 
 
 condemned 
 
 witli the e 
 
 : often liear 
 
 . l)ublic prii 
 
 with some 
 
 Howe's le 
 
 that seem( 
 
 of superer 
 
 zeal and b 
 
 of the imp 
 
 1-eference 
 
 ome littl 
 
 lowever 
 
 ;few years 
 
 Tendered 
 
 in Nova S 
 
 usk the H 
 
 ^ho has 
 
 nd priva 
 
 iCes in s( 
 
 aterial ] 
 
 nd refin 
 
 nd my a 
 
 ustomed 
 
 usied w 
 
 rough q 
 
 e has at 
 
I 
 
 mUTlSH NORTH AMERICAN RAILWAYS. 
 
 TO THE PEOPLE OF NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 Fellow Countrymen, — 
 
 It is one of the disadvantages of the life of locomotion I am 
 condemned to lead, that it is impossible for me to keep an courant 
 witli the events of any particular locality. I have however, of late 
 often heard and sometimes seen that my name has appeared hi the 
 l)i.blic prints of this and the neighboring Province, in connection 
 with some Railway intelligence ; — but until the publication of Mr. 
 Howe's letter in the Sun of yesterday, I have not observed anything 
 that seemed to require any notice on my part. It would be a work 
 of supererogation if I were now to repeat all that I have said of tlie 
 zeal and ability with which my honorable friend acquitted himself 
 f the important mission with which he was lately charged, and in 
 Veference to which I should myself have supposed I had rendered 
 some little service, if he had not expressed a different opinion. 
 lUowever this may be, this I may venture to nay, that during the last 
 few years of the agitation of the Railway question, if I have not 
 rendered it any service, I have at least been pretty actively engaged 
 in Nova Scotia with matters of a cognate character. I might safely 
 iisk the Honourable Provincial Secretary to indicate the other man 
 jwho has undergone in the mean time, so much of personal labour 
 jmd privation ; or who has made greater exertions or greater sacri 
 |ices in seeking to develope the natural resources and advance the 
 aterial prosperity of the Country. Eschewing the seats of ease 
 nd refinement, the forest and the mountain have been my home, 
 nd my associates the hardy workmen for whom I have found unac- 
 ustomed employment. Whilst my honorable friend has bee. 
 usied with affairs of state and the gentler occupations of civic life, 
 [' rough quarries, rocks and mines " have been my haunts ; and whilst 
 e has at leisure wooed the Muse — 
 
 " Wont to respond so sweetly to his suit," 
 
 rith the grave digger in Hamlet my refrain and cognisance have 
 been — 
 
 " A pickaxe and a spade, a spade, 
 
 A pickaxe and a spade." ' 
 
 Although Mr. Howe, in the letter to Avhicli I have just referred, 
 loos not bring against me any specific charge, the inference ifl 
 lal I have brought forward some scheme or adopted some course 
 
 4 i 
 
lUilll:^!! .NOKlll AMJ.ItltA.'t 
 
 M 
 
 i; 
 
 ciilciiLitcd U) uiiibarnisd this (iiicsLion. Let \u iiKjiiirc how tar f 
 am obnoxious to «U(;li r.ii iiapiitiitioii. 
 
 Mr. llowu ill variuus iiddiTi^rfos hiis spoken of :hc Seven Milliono 
 ofSoverci^'iiH as if Ave uhx-ady actually luul thcni in u Ixia; ; and in 
 his Idler oi'yoi^tcrdiiy h.; ijiiy.s, " liaviiiiTf <^ot the iiionoy cheaj), our 
 inttiiest it) lo mitlu H ,i.''w <tftj[ii' <is /idssihle.''^ Now if ihiri were really 
 tlu; fact there would b(.> little ground for all those apprehensionf-' 
 wliich the frinnds of the Railroad entertain; but so far from it, therr 
 h;is hitherto, a;s far ii.-; I am auaiv, boon no compliance with the 
 conditions which justify our expectations of ever gottintr it at all. 
 
 In rdr. llawcs' letter of the lOth Alarcii, it is expressly stnted that 
 " llivr Majesty's (lovernniciit Avonld not fool justified in asking Parlia- 
 ment to ])i(Hli;(; till! crodit of the country, unti.' arrangements siiould be 
 made with the Provinces of Canada and New l>runswick, by whicJi 
 the construction ol'a line of Railway, passing wholly through British 
 tcrritorv from Halifax to Ciuebec or Montreal, shall be piiovided for 
 to the satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government." In reply to this 
 Mr. Howe, on the 12th March, assures Lord Grey, " of tiie sincerity 
 of ins belief that the Nortli American Provinces, Avill cheerfully, and 
 to the full extent of Uieir means, exert themselves to secure upon 
 the terms proposed, the completion of the great national highway, 
 for the construction of which Iler Majesty's Government are prepared 
 fo propose to ParUdincnt to advance tiie funds or pledge the national 
 credit.'' Regarding Mr. Howe as the exponent on this occasion, of 
 the feelings aiid wishes ofthe people, not only of Nova Scotia, but of 
 the other I'rovmces, it Avas Avith no little sorroAv and surprise, thai 
 .shortly after liis departure, Ave received in England accounts that 
 the two Houses of Legislature in Ncav IJrunsAvick had, by almost 
 nnaninions acclaim, rejected the Avhole plan. It did occur to nie ai 
 this juncture, that the man avIio should devise Avays and means ol 
 obviating this unexpected difficulty, Avould be rendering good and 
 •icceptable service to all Avho Avere sincerely desirous of seeing this 
 great Avork carried out. For special reasons, I Avill not particularise 
 tlie negotiations and consultations tliat ensued ; suffice it to say, that 
 [ submitted a plan in Avriting, Avhich was regarded with so much 
 favour that it Avas considered desirable to bring it under the notice 
 ofthe Provincial authorities as speedily as possible. I left England 
 in haste, an(i proceeded Avithout delay to Toronto, fondly imagininfr 
 that I should be Avelcomed by iny good friend, Mr. Howe, as a mes- 
 senger of glad tidings. 
 
 The proposals, Avhich I submitted to the Governor General on thai 
 occasion, have noAv been made public, Avith Mr. Howe's consent 
 and that tliey sliould have so long remained dormant, is certainly no 
 evidence of desire on my part to embarrass or unduly interfere. I invito 
 Mr. HoAve " to state the objections he entertains to these proposals," 
 and that too Avith sjiecial reference " to the honor and interests ol 
 New BrunsAvick," Avhich T assuredly have no wish to assail. Wo!! 
 may he say of »i?/ plan, that it has not the least merit of ori^inalit}!- 
 tor it is a simple adoj)tioii of those fails aixomplis of legislation, 
 which, like our own upon the same subject and at the same epoch, 
 woro carried with ;i uniuiimity. which "l I'e-.ir is noi likely utoon i'; 
 
 posa| 
 alius 
 intiil 
 of aJ 
 
 KcntT 
 to 
 
li,\ii-n'A\ ^, 
 
 ij 
 
 Ihr f 
 
 rillioii;; 
 :iiul in 
 I J), our 
 3 really 
 elision.'-' 
 it, thore 
 villi the 
 lit <at ill), 
 ted tlinl 
 Parlia- 
 liould be 
 y vviiicJi 
 li British 
 (ided for 
 ly to this 
 sincerity 
 :ully, and 
 ire upon 
 hio-hway, 
 prepared 
 national 
 casion, of 
 tia, but oC 
 [prise, thai 
 cunts that 
 by ahaosl. 
 r to me ai 
 means ol' 
 good and 
 ieing tiiis 
 rticularise \ 
 3 say, that 
 so much 
 the notice 
 t England 
 imagining 
 as a mes- 
 
 •al on tliat 
 consent : 
 rtainly no 
 3. I invito 
 roposals," 
 itcrcsts of 
 il. _ Well 
 'iglnalitji 
 i/ritilation. 
 le epoch, 
 V tfoon I'; 
 
 cliaracteiiso future jjroceedinyv. Tin' pl.ui wa?! iulohilud and, I 
 believe, every way calculated to obviate the whole diliieiilty, tlial 
 hud arisen in New Brunswick, and f must leave it to the couiiuon 
 sense of the public, to say whether it docs not look more like "a 
 provision for a continuous railway throiijrli Ikitish territory," than 
 the last recorded acts of the New Brunswick Legislature ; and more 
 like an approach to compliance with those conditions, which are to 
 Justify tlie Secretary of State in appealing to the British Parrumient, 
 than even the jdan upon which we arc told the (luveriiinenls of 
 Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are of accord, but which Htill 
 rerpiires the sanction of their respective Legislatures. I have already 
 paid a deserved tribute to the liberal and enlightened ])olicy of New 
 Brunswick, in regard to these great undertakings. IJer jieople are 
 distinguished f^r enterprise and intelligence ; amongst her yniblic 
 men I have valued personal friends whom I know to bo every wav 
 capable of protecting their own and their country's interests. 1 
 have not presumed to do more than present a i>Iaii, based upon their 
 own recorded measures. If they accept it, well and good ; if not, I 
 have no intention ofbrhiging further intluences to bear, but I incline 
 to think, that it will not be without much persuasion that the people 
 oi'that Province will be induced, al'ter opening uptlieir own wilder- 
 ness to construct 60 miles of railway through the howling waste of 
 Lower Canada. 
 
 Mr. Howe says, that " as regarded Nova Scotia, Mr. Archibald 
 proposed no relief from any obligaticm, which up to that moment slu; 
 had assumed. She was to hotrow all Ihe money she required to eon- 
 striid the line across her own tcrriton/, pledging her own revenues an:l 
 resources for principal and interest.''^ My answer to this in, that I 
 only felt myself called upon to deal with the ditliculty tint had 
 arisen. New J3runswick had fallen from the scliome, and Canad i 
 and Nova Scotia were separated by an impassable void. What then 
 was the conduct of those capitalists, who, it is said have never offered 
 any assistance ? In the face of all the discouragement of the rejection 
 on the part of the Province of these much vaunted offers, they threw 
 themselves into the breach, and "provided for the construction of a 
 continuous railway from Halifax to Q,ucbec," and the European and 
 North American line into the bargain. But let us see if it be true 
 that " I proposed no relief for Nova Scotia." If " she ivas to horroir 
 all the money, she required to construct the line across her own tcrri- 
 toryr I, at least, saved her the necessity of borrowing awj more ; 
 and from the burthen of *'■ pledging her ow7i revenues and resonras 
 for principal and interest^'' for building and maintaining cn^hUj miles 
 of railway Jeyonc/the limits of her territory and dominion. 
 
 I come now to speak of the parties on whose behalf these pro- 
 posals were submitted and to whom Mr. Howe has made fre([ueiit 
 allusion; amongst the number, are several with whom I am on 
 intimate terms, and all of them are well known in England n;> men 
 of wealth and influence. With respect to their character and stand- 
 ing, I may confidently refer to Ilcr Majesty's Ministers, past, jire- 
 scnt and to come; nay, more, I will refer to tlie Prince (Jonsort, 
 to say who, of all the great and cnlighlericd v^ith whom he lin:v 
 
uiiiiisii Noiri'ii wiriiit AN 
 
 I 
 
 liitcly boon associated, has coritribiitcd most to tlic success of tfiat 
 iiiifrhty emprise wliicli lias conferred such distinction on tliiH year of 
 jjraco. Full Avell I know that ho will indicate, the man* whoso 
 name stands foremost on the roll of that Association, which I 
 hope and believe, if we understand our true intorests is destined Id 
 confer f^^rcat benefits upon these North American Provinces. 
 
 Not having- the advantacfe of any constituency to whom I can 
 appeal, I claim the privilege of addrossinij myself to the whole body 
 of my fellow countrymen. Tiiat our railroads, not only the trunk, 
 but the branches also, will si)eedily be undertaken I tirndy believe, 
 and all the more speedily if party jealousies and inlluences could bo 
 for a time sus[)endcd. For my own part I have every motive and 
 cue for action and will not relax an effort whilst I have ability to 
 move in so good a cause. 
 
 1 liave the honour to be, 
 
 Your very obedient Servant. 
 
 C. D. ARCIlIBALn. 
 
 Halifax, Sept. D, 1851. 
 
 P. S. — The annexed letters, which wore procured through my 
 instrumentality, will shew that I did not look on with folded arms 
 whilst Mr. Howe was labouring with might and main in the cause 
 of Nova Scotia and British North America. 
 
 4:. 
 
 Commercial Bank, London, 
 
 Lothbury, '■Ind April, 1851. 
 Dear Sir, — Tn reply to your letter of the 19th ult., I am requested 
 to state that the Commercial Bank of London, will be glad to open 
 an account with the Province of Nova Scotia, and to transact all the 
 financial and banking business of the Colony in England, on the most 
 liberal terms. So soon as the Province shall be in a position to issue 
 debentures or other securities for the purpose of providing funds lor 
 the execution of the contemplated public works, the Bank will be 
 prepared to negotiate the sale of such Bonds or other securities and 
 to make advances upon them, from time to time as occasion may re- 
 quire. Leaving the details for future arrangement, I may now men- 
 non thai upon debentures or securities, in which the credit of the 
 Province is alone involved, the rate of interest would, probably, not 
 be lesa than five per cent , but where such secu ties shall have the 
 additional guarantee ot ilie Imperial Covernmcnt, the rate of interest, 
 will not, under ordinary circuniRtances, exceed lour per cent per an- 
 num. On all sales of securities the Bank will credit the Province, 
 the full amount of any premium that may he obtained beyond the par 
 value. The Bank's commission wii! be 5s. (five shillings) per ceni 
 upon the account. 
 
 + S. M. Peto, Esq., M. P. for Norwich. 
 
K \lt.\VAVS. 
 
 (•r that 
 
 your of 
 
 U'hosn 
 
 3tincd to 
 
 In I can 
 
 lolo body 
 |io trunk, 
 bolievp, 
 Icould bo 
 Itivo and 
 libility to 
 
 nt. 
 lALD. 
 
 'u^h my 
 dcd arms 
 ho cause 
 
 Udorriiig to that part of your letter which r»ates llmt, " it iiiav be 
 iiuj)ortaiit lo tlie (joveriuneiit of Nova Scotia to have a credit in Lon- 
 don, pondinj,' tho nefrdtialions between tlio Provinciis and the Hriiish 
 Governinent," I am autiiorised to say that the (^)mnierci;d i^ank will 
 grant a preliminary c-dii to the Government of Nova Scidiii, iipmi 
 tlio cn*dii of the Colony, to tho extent of Twenty Thousand Pounds 
 JSterlinff, to be drawn for l)y the Recfiver General, or oihcr public 
 fiiMctioriary in accordance with a minute or resolution of the l^rovin- 
 cial Government to be ollicially communicated lo the Uaidv, upon tbc. 
 underslandinfi^ that llio advances to be made upon ihis credit shall be 
 reimbursed to the Bank out of the first monies lo be received Irom 
 the Imperial Government or from the nefjotiation or sale of the con- 
 templated securities, and in the event of the anticipated arrangement 
 between thq Government of Nova Scotia and the British Government 
 not being completed, the amount advanced by the Commercial ]]\xn\i 
 of London to be repaid within twelve month. 
 
 1 remain, &c. 
 (Signed) C. D. ARCHIBALD. 
 
 The Hon. Joseph Howr;, 
 
 Provincial Secretary, 
 
 Nova Scotia. 
 
 Great George Street, 
 
 , 1851. 
 
 requested 
 i to open 
 ct all the 
 the most 
 I to issue 
 "unds lor 
 
 will be 
 ities and 
 
 may re- 
 3w men- 
 lit of the 
 ibly, not 
 »ave the 
 inleresi, 
 
 per an- 
 rovince, 
 
 the par 
 per ceni 
 
 SlR,- 
 
 Westmhisler, March ^Ttth, 18.')1. 
 
 Having understood that it is proposed to construct through tho 
 provinces of British North America, certain lines of Railroad, to 
 connect those provinces with each other, and with the Railway lines 
 of the United States, and that Her Majesty's Government have con- 
 sented to aid the Provincial Governments, by guaranteeing the loans 
 or advancing the funds requirod for these works on certain conditions, 
 which it is probable, will be accepted, we wish to make through you 
 a tender of our services in the formation of those Railroads. 
 
 For our general standing, the extent of our resources, experience, 
 and ability to fulfil any contracts which we may undertake, we would 
 beg to refer you to the general sources of information which are 
 around you in the Metropolis, and to the fact that we have executed 
 either jointly or severally, nearly one-third of all the Railways in tho 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 We would also, as a further pledge of our good faith, nlways 
 leave in the hands of tlie Provincial Government £30,000. 
 
 Our motives for making this early application to you shall b<' 
 frankly stated: We assume that the skilled labor for constructing 
 North American Railways, the plant, rails, and machinery, nnist be 
 brought into the provinces either from England or the United States : 
 and labour being lower here, and capital more abundant than in the 
 United States, -vi'e assume that you will be supplied from hence. 
 Wc think we may also assume, that from the amount of capital ot 
 
liUniSH .\()KTH AMK.UK A.\ 
 
 (J 
 
 ! 
 1 1 
 
 our coiniiiaiid, llie extent find value of our connexions, the nuiouni 
 of plant at our disposal, and nkilled labour with which we have been 
 accudtonied to form larj^c combinations and execute great works, 
 that we could serve the provinces on terms quite as advantatfeous iw 
 any other persons who may be applied to in Eng^land. Wc seek 
 only a legitimate profit upon our capital, and we would much prefer 
 to employ our j)eople within the (iueen's dominions than transport 
 them to the continent to construct jjublic works in foreign States. 
 
 We shall be quite prepared then to make either a line through 
 any single province, or all the lines contemplated, ])ayment being 
 secured ujjon the Provincial and Imperial Funds, upon such terms 
 as may be hereafler agreed upon by Engineers, to be appointed by 
 the Imperial and Provincial Governments, and in such time as may, 
 after due examination of the country to be traversed, be deemed 
 expedient. 
 
 When the Governments have appointed their Engineers, we shall 
 be j)roparcd to send ours, and complete at our own expense estimates 
 of the whole or any portion of the workr, which it may be deemed 
 desirable to tirst commence. 
 
 Should the works now comtemplated be executed, and mutual 
 satisfaction be the result, we may obsei've that it is more than pro- 
 bable that we should seek within the provinces further employment 
 for our capital and people, and that other lines of less national but 
 of great provincial importance, might be opened by us either at our 
 own risk, or in conjunction Avith provincial Governments or Asso- 
 ciations. 
 
 We need only add that should it be deemed expedient to connect 
 with the construction of the Railways plans for colonizing the lands 
 along the lines, our full co-operation may bo relied upon, and from 
 the extent of our connexion with the labouring classes of this 
 country, we think we could very eft'ectually aid the Pro\incial 
 Governments when their plans are matured. 
 
 And we are, Sir, 
 
 '' Your most obd't Servants, 
 
 EDWD. J. BETTS, 
 ^ THOMAS JJRASSEY, 
 
 .T. ITowK, Esq., &c. <S.'r. -, -: , «'' .• > 
 
 ;'■'■■ ' ''"i' 
 
 'M DiTKE Strekt, 
 
 IVfslininsIrr, .Ipril 17///. 1851. 
 
 SlK, — 
 
 i was not aware that you uitended to leave England so soon? 
 or 1 Avould have earlier lianded you the following proposal : 
 
 I understand that it is the wish of the Government of Nova Scotia 
 to construct the Trunk line of Rn ilwav from Halifax to the New 
 
 (copy.) 
 
 ^ niunicat 
 
 I the othe 
 
 y provide 
 
 I Ijonds S' 
 
 Besid 
 
 Nova t> 
 
 iniportai 
 
 _i iind n li 
 
 I Havii 
 
 i and Wi 
 
 portant 
 
 necessa 
 
 contrac 
 
 operatic 
 
 concku 
 
 make tl 
 
 it is i)r( 
 
 sonic t 
 
 mates ; 
 
 at such 
 
 } mcnt b 
 
 ' and pat 
 
 i Witl 
 
 ^- which, 
 
 I to cent 
 
 i selffo 
 
 * of a C( 
 of son 
 
 fi amour 
 
 • interei 
 y^ Thj 
 
 condij 
 Scotiq 
 to the 
 detail! 
 
 t 
 
 -*^ 
 
(lAII.W \\S. 
 
 (J 
 
 nirioiitil 
 Ivo heou 
 It works, 
 Ipfoons lit-' 
 IVc s(!ok 
 l;Ii prefer 
 transport 
 ptatCH. 
 throiio-h 
 |nt bein;^ 
 (cli terms 
 )intocl by 
 as may, 
 deemed 
 
 we shall 
 lost i mates 'f 
 |e deemed ff 
 
 d mutual 
 than pro- 
 ploy men t 
 ional but 
 Iher at our 
 or Asso- 
 
 o connect 
 ■ the lands 
 and from 
 3s of this 
 Pronncial 
 
 TS, 
 
 i'niiiswicJv frontier, wluch is to Ibrni piirt n|' the yiciit luv of ('(.uii- 
 niunication to Canada, on the one br.nd and to the United Wtatea on 
 the other, nud that the Hritish Government have aj/reed eitluM* to 
 provide the funds for this purpose, or to <>;utiranteo tli{> l*rovinci;il 
 Uonds so as to allow of funds beiujL,^ raised at a low nit^? of intrrest. 
 
 Besides this great Trunk line, I understand that the people of 
 Nova Scotia are desirous to construct two lines of /rr(>at local 
 imi)ortauce, viz. : a line from Halifax by Windsor to iJiyby (Jut, 
 and a line from Truro by Pictou to the Eastern counties. 
 
 II:ivin!^ constructed many important lines of Jtailwnv in Kn<.H!ind 
 and Wales and enfrjifred in selectiufi; the route of all the most im- 
 portant in this country, and also havinjr nt my conunnnd all the 
 ueceasnry Plant, appliances, and superintendance, T am ready lo 
 contract for the whole or any part of the above, and to commence 
 operations as soon as the Government shiiU be in a position to 
 conclude the needful contracts, and that I will examine the country, 
 make the necessary surveys and estimates on which to tender ; or as 
 it is pro{)osed, as I nm inlbrmed, that as regards the Trunk lines 
 some experienced practical Engineer shall survey and give esti- 
 mates ; in that case 1 am ready to undertake the Avholc or any pait 
 at such estimates, leaving 10 per cent in the hands of the Ciovern- 
 ment by way of caution money until the work shall be completed 
 and passed. 
 
 With respect to the local lines above mentioned, the funds for 
 which, will not be provided by the British Government, I am ready 
 to contract for them on fair and liberal terms ; and, contining my- 
 self for the present to the section from Halifax to Windsor by way 
 of a commencement, I am willing to undertake it upon the estimate 
 of some eminent practical Engineer and to take two-thirds of the 
 amount in Bonds or Debentures of the Province at the legal rate of 
 niterest in the Colony. 
 
 The foregoing may sulFice to give you an idea of the terms and 
 conditions upon which I am willing to become a contractor in Nova 
 Scotia, and so soon as further progress shall be made with respect 
 to the preliminary arrangements, I will be prepared to enter into all 
 details that may be necessary or desired. 
 
 I am, &-C. 
 
 (Signed) GEORGE IlKNNET. 
 
 The Hon. Joskimi Howl. 
 
 1851. 
 
 60 soon? 
 
 'a Scotia 
 he New 
 
 .*