IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■ 50 IL25 mi 1.4 121 125 __ "^ mil ■^ Uii |2.2 lit 1.6 ^ V] FhotograiJiic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTIR.N.Y. USM (71«)I72-4S03 (moaning "CON- TINUED"). or tha symbol ▼ (moaning "END"), whichavar appliaa. Un das symbolaa suivants apparaltra sur la damlAra imaga da chaqua microficha. salon lo caa: la symbols — » signifie "A SUIVRE". la aymbola ▼ signifia "FIN". Mapa. plataa. charts, ate., may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba antlraiy ineludad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand comsif , laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raqulrad. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha mothod: Laa cartaa, planchaa, tablaaux, ate, pauvant Atra filmte A daa taux da rMuction diffironts. Lorsqua la doeumant ast trap grand pour Atra raproduit wt un saul clichA, 11 aat film* A partir da I'angia sup4riaur gaucha, da gaucha h droita, at do haut an baa, an pranant la nombra dimagaa nicassaira. Las diagrammas suivanta illuatrant la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 !PPf ■1 \0 I*'". h^^ til J7t, LETTERS EMBRACIKO SPECIAL CORKESPONDENCE TO THE eiagrmpii^ DESCRIPTIVE OF THE ROUTE OF '^^^ Intercolonial Railway, —THE WORKS IN PROGRESS — THE SCENERY —CLIMATE— AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES — FISHERIES— IRON— COAL, &c., .fee. "♦^♦♦-♦'•♦■< TORONTO : PRINTED AT THE DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING HOUSE, BAY STREET, ROBICRTSON AND COOK, PROPRIETORS. 1869. ; M fti,'^ ?*>- -'ff.' / LETTERS KMBRACIN(; SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO TllK "Em^mm m M \^M%^S^s&^€' DESt'KirnVE OF THE ROUTl-: OF The Intercolonial Railway, — THE WORKS IN PKOGRESS — THE SCENERY —CLIMATE — AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES- FISHERIES— IRON— COAL, <;-('., ck'. TORONTO : rniNTF.D AT rilB DAILY lELEGIlAP;! VUBI.ISIIIN.l IIOU.SE, BAY STUKKT, ROBfRTSON ANO COOK, rROrRIETORh. 1SG9. S. - * i^ THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY. WHAT IS BEIXa DONK— SCEXEIJV AND CLIMATE ON THE HOUTE. Dalhousie, N.B., 24th July, 18G9. It having been made known throngli the public papers, that the Inter- colonial Railway Connnissioners were about to visit the line of road, so as to Bee the condition of matters on the several contracts, I thought it would be a desirable opportunity to see what was going on in a pai"t of the Dominion about which not very much is known in the good Province of Ontario ; I thought, also, that it might be a favorable mode of letting the public know something about the progress of a work which is being constructed at the cost of the country, fvnd which is a political necessity, if not likely, for the present at any x-ate, to be a great commercial success. The Intercolonial Railway, at any rate, is a physical necessity, if the idea, now so prominent, of an interoceanic railway, from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the Pacific, through British territory, is to be realized. If it is not, the United States have attained a position upon the continent which will place them decidedly in the front rank for securing the control of the commerce between two great continents. It is hardly likely that Great Britain and her vast colonial possessions on this side of the Atlantic, will consent to be shut out from the advantages of the trade referred to, and therefore, apart from any other considerations, the Intercolonial Railway is indispensable. With this digression, I proceed to the object with which this letter is written. , THE STARTING POINT. The Commissioners w^ould assemble, it was understood, at Montreal, and proceed by railway to Riviere du Jjoup, where I went to look for them. On Tuesday, the 20th July, the party had collected, including the Chief Engi- neer and his assistants on the district. The line starts directly from the station of the Grand Trunk Railway, and in a very short distance crosses the Riviere du Loup, by a bridge 300 feet in length, immediately above the very beautiful falls at that place. Directly after crossing the river, the line runs round a rather sharp curve, and through 4 Tke Intercolonial Railivay. a heavy rock side hill cutting, after which, it tlcsconds to a level terrace, and runs through a well settled French country. A good force of men are at work on the rock cutting, and gangs of men and horses are at work all along this contract of 20 miles. In all, about 500 nion are at work upon this con- tract. Many culverts and water-courses are already comi)leted, and many in progress. A considerable (quantity of grading is in active progress, several long cuttings and embankments being in a forward state. The next import- ant structure to the bridge at Riviere du Loup, is at Isle Verte, Avhcre the work is actively progressing. After inspecting the works in progress for sevei'al miles in the vicinity of Riviere du Loup, the party embarked, on the evening of the 20th, on board the Goverinnent steamer, LcKhj Head. •4- WORK AT TllOlS I'ISTOT.ES, The next morning the steamer was at anchor at Trois Pistoles, where it Avas ftiund tliat some heavy work has to be done. This is edia. ft flow of the river. The bridge is approached on the west side by u heavy embankment, about 40 feet deep, made from a cutting; of the stitfest kind if blue clay. This bank will be about 800 feet long, and is boing actively con- structed. The material on bt)th sides of the river is tlio sauje, and is veiy difticult to work, coming out in largj blocks of l)lue clay. On the oust side of the river the embankment will be about 1,400 teet long, r.nd about <')5 feet high, at the deepest point. Large gangs of men and horses are at work on both sides of the river, and the ccmtractori* are preparing to put in tramways and tip wagons, as S(}on as the haiil gets long enough to use them Avith advantage. An excellent stone (piarry for the piers of the bridge has been found on the St. Lawrence, about 9 miles from Trois Pistoles, to which point the stone is now being brought in scows. MESSRS. WOUTHINOTON's MOVEMENTS. One of the Worthington's lives at Riviere du Loup, and the other at Trois Pistoles. They have now at work on these two contracts, upwards of 1,C00 men, and are pushing fonvard the work with great energy and skill. WORKS AT nic. Leaving Trois Pist(des in the afternoon of Wednesday, the Ladij Head proceeded to Bic, where a landing was made in about 2i hoxirs. Bic is very beautifully seated in a cluster of hills, of various heights and shapes, and is a spot of great picturesque beauty. Bic is the head-cpiarters of contract No. 5, which was awarded to Mr. Haycock, of Ottawa. Ho took the contract about the end of Api*il, and has already made considerable arrangements for carry- ing on the work, having now about 350 men at work grading the line at several points. There is not much bridge or culvert work on this contract, but IV large part of the grading is rock. EIMOUSKI AND IT.S SCENERY. At dark the party again embarked, and on Thursday morning the Ladij Head was at anchor in Rimouski Bay. Contract No. 5 ends here. The village is large and very prettily situated. Work is going on on both sides of the Rimouski River, which will be spanned by a bridge 300 feet in length. The country from Riviere du Loup to Rimouski is like a continuous village, very similar in its general characteristics, to that between Chaudiere and Riviere du Loup. The scenery in many places is exceedingly fine, and for tourists seeking a healthy relief from city life, no more delightful trip could be made than from Quebec down the river and gulf of the St. Lawrence. , EIMOUSKI TO METAPEDIA. From Rimouski the line will run through a very level country for about 22 miles, to the Metis, crossing the Metapedia Road. The course of the line from the Metis to the mouth of the Metapedia has been a soiirce of consider- The hifcrrohniio/ Jin'ifi'.uti/. able labor to tlio engineers, wlio, after earefnl examination of t'lio eotiiitry, have found a niotU rately easy lino, witli favorable j,'radient.i throiiyhout. The railway will cross Die i\Ietis about four miles frou» its mouth, and ascend by easy grado.^ the liigh land bo.xeen the St. Liwrence and the Hustigouehe. It then ilescends to the level of Lake ISletapedia; then runs along the banks of the Metapedia river, which it crosses once instead of fourteen times as pro^xised originally by Major Kobinso!). The scenery along the line through the valleys of the I\retai'edia and Res- tiguuche, a)id along the shores of the liay of Clialeuis, will l»e the lineat of any railway on this continent; but I must defer speaking moru particularly of this till my next letter. TO r.i'l'TI.K Minis AM» OASl'i;. On Tluiraday afternoon, tlie L(ttatoes, a little corn, and such like. Fanning has consequently been neglected, but tlice is no part of the Dominion where potatoes, barley, oats, coarse grain of all kinds, root crops, and grain in certain localities, can be grown better or chejipcr than in the valley of the Rvistigoiichc, the north shore of the Bay of Chalenrs, snid the country between Dalhousie and Bathnrst, and in the Miramichi district. We saw many farms where the crops were most excellent, the cultivation exceedingly good, and the soil naturally very productive. Tliere is a very large area of country of which this description is perfectly correct, and there can bo no doubt, that after the Intercolonial Hallway has been opened a few years, and it has brought the country into notice, and provided a mai'ket for its siirplus pro- ductions, that a great change will 1-e seen, and that the local trattic upon the rjiilwry will be very much greater than any one hitherto has ventured to suppose. PROBABLE TRAFFIC OF THK LINE. The traffic in lish, upon which I shall have ? jmething to say in my next letter, will also be very large, although, of course, its weight cannot be great. The lumber business on many parts of the line will also be very considerable, and I am bound to add that, having formed a poor opinion of the prospects of the business on the Intercolonial line, bef and Nova Scotia. This line was coninienceil shortly before Confederation ■vvas accomplished, by the New Brunswick Government, and after a good deal of negociation has been assumed as a part of the Intercolonial Railway, at a cost to the Dominion of !?24,000 a mile, complete in every respect, but Avithout rolling stock. It is already o^^en for traffic to Dorchester, about twenty miles, and will be completed to the boundary about the end of ih.9 present year. The Commissioners went over the line as far as Dorchester, and made a careful inspection of it. It appears to be a very siibstantial, well-constructed lino — thoroughly ballasted— well fenced — and for smooth- ness of riding e(|ual to any twenty miles of railway in any part of the Dominion. The Cummiusioners and Mr. Fleming stopped at several of the most im- portant structures, and after a careful examination of them, were understood to be well satisfied with them in every respect. There appears to be no doubt that the comitry has g-.)t in this line a very good railway at anioderate cost. A yood deal of controversy existeil at one time as to the adoption of this line as part oi the Intercolonial ; but a carefixl inspection of the country through which it i)as3eH, and the substantijil character of the vrork, must have removed all doiibt as to the propriety of the course which has been adopted. The line runs through the valley of the Memramcook, a most beaiitiful and thoroughly well cultivated tract of country. Along the whole line the country is in a very high state of cultivation, the fanners all being in a prosperous condition. The crops are excellent, especially hay, which is a most abundant crop everjnvliere in the vi' nity of the Bay of Fiuidy. P.ut of tlie line runs through a great extent of what is called "iu;a.slRf," not what ia visually understood by that name, but most fertile laud, rechiimed from tlic Bay by dykes, and ^hich, before being reclaimed, had received great deposits of the peculiar, but very rich, sediment which is contained in the Avaters of the Bay, and Avhich is left on the land when tlio tide recedes. This reclaimed land is of extraordinary richnes.s , yielding, for many years in succession, very large crops indeed. If, after the lapse of many j'ears, the land gets deteriorated, an opening in tlie dykes will let in tlie waters of the bay and a couple of tides will cover the land with a rich deposit, which will make it at once resume its wonderful fertility. These marshes are very highly prized in New Brunsuick and Nova Scotia and are of very great exttnt, the Bay oi Fvnidy, through its numerous arma, stretching froiu Monckton to but a few miles from Halifax, a distance of tipwards of 150 miles. From Dorchester, the party proceeded by carriages to Amherst, visiting on their way sonic of the principal points where the railway is ia progress. The river at Sackville is crossed by a substantial bridge, very nearly completed, about 350 feet in length. • i Something About the Country. 17 I >: 1 The country all the way is well settled and cultivated, the lino for a good many miles ninning through the rich marsh laud , Sackville is a place of considerable si/.e, and where a large business is transacted. The first portion of the lino under contract in Nova Scotia, commences about a mile east of Amherst, leaving between three and four miles to make in order to form a connection with the line nearly completed in Now Bnins- Mrick. This was purposely left until the question of the adoption of the Eastern Extension line was settled. That being now disposed of, the small connecting link will be at once proceeded with, so that by the Ist Januar}', 1871, it is expected that the line will be completed and running all the way from St. John to Amherst. Amherst is a very thriving town, and evidently a place of considerable trade. It is surrounded by a very fine, well settled country, in a very good state of cultivation. Indeed, from Monckton to a consiflerable distance beyond Amheitit, in all from 70 to 80 miles, is as good a countrj' as one could wish to see. The contract commencing near Amherst, is being carried on by Elliott, Grant and Whitehead, under the care of the latter. It is about 2G miles long, and is being actively pushed on. There are about 300 men at work on this contract, and already a considerable extent of grading has been done. At all the important points, work has been commenced, and is being ener- getically pushed. Stone quarries have been secured — these are now being opened and in two or three Aveeks stone for the culverts and bridge work will be taken by water to the places where it has to be laid. The Commissioners drove along the work, and visited the several points at which work is going on. It is understood that they were well satisfied with the manner in which the contractors are doing their work. About twelve miles from Amherst is a tramway, leading from a coal field to a shipping poiAt on the Maccan River. From this place a very large quantity of coal used to be shipped to the States, but since the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty, this trade has largely fallen off. The crops everywhere look excellent, and there is a A'ery large extent of country under cultivation. Leaving the line of Whitehead's contract, the Commissioners turned off to visit the Spring Hill coal fields. This coal- deposit is of very large extent, and having been analyzed by the most eminent men of the day, such as Dr. Percy, of London, is universally pronounced to be equal to the best coal in Nova Scotia. Being at a considerable distance from water conveyance, this coal has not yet been brougi)t into much prominence, and has consequently not been yet worked, except to a small extent for consumption in the neigh- borhood. About its excellent quality there can be no doubt, and it must 18 The Intercolonial Railway. become a most important industry as soon as the railway brings it into com- mimication with consumers. A drive of a few miles, through a country beginning to be hilly, brought the pai-ty to a natural salt 8i)ring. This spring mnis freely, pretty high up n mountain side, and being conducted through a set of rough wooden troiighs, is brought to a building at the foot of the valley. The water nms into a large tank at the top of the building, below which is a double row of large iron vessels, like large potash kettles, built into rough masonry, beneath which again, is a large boiler. Fr')m the tank, the water is put into the kettles by a short piece of ordinary flexible hose pipe, and the heating of the boiler beneath in a few hours completes the process, and barrels are filled with excellent salt. The capacity of the spring is unknown, but an immense quantity of water runs to waste, and it is hardly likely that this is the only salt spring in the neighborhood ; the absence of markets has limited the pro- duction to the mere supply of local wants. Leaving this singiilar spring, the country gets more and moro uiomitaiuons as the Cobequid Hills are approached. It is a curious fact, but many high hills are cultivated to their very top, and at the highest point the land and the crops appeared to be the best. This was partic\ilarly the case with Moinit Claremount, a pretty high hill, which was cultivated on all sides, and completely over the top. A few miles fiu'ther, and tlie line of railway was again reached, near the end of Whitehead's contract. Extending from it towsirds Truro, for about twenty miles, another contract is in progress by H. J. Sutton and Geo. Angus, of Paris, Ontario. Their contract commences a little west of River Phillip and extends to Folly Lake. They are pushing their work on with a good deal of energy, and have already about 300 men at work, and are almost daily increasing the number, as fresh points of work are opened out. Grading is going on at a number of places, and already makes considei'able show. The whole line has been cleared, good stone quarries have been found and are being opened out, and the contractors expect in a very few weeks to begin the masonry. Their work is progressing in a satisfactory manner. The line of railway from Amherst has to cross the range of the Cobequid Mountains. It has been laid out so as to cross by swinging round through a depression in the range on the north side at Folly Lake, from which point it sweeps to the southward towards the Londondery Iron Mines, and then gets once more upon its easterly coiirse for Truro. ' The ccnintry in the mountain region is not, of course, thickly settled or much cultivated. There are, however, quite a number of rich valleys already cultivated to a considerable extent, and which ofter every prospect of becoming excellent farming districts, when they are supplied with the means of getting their surplus productions forwai'ded to markets. The line runs through a tolerably level country for nearly forty miles east of Amherst, without any heavy works or gi'ades. For the next twenty- Somc'thi H}/ About tht Count rf/. If) Pit a is. I 4 -I i five miles the work is much heavier, as in that distance the Cobociuid Moiin- tains have to be crossed. Tlie lino from the Amherst side ascends from the valley by a gi'ado, whicli nowhere exceeds 1 in 100, or 52 feet to a mile. In doing this, it creeps diagonally up the side of the mountain, crossing several veiy heavy gcn-ges, and involving a large amount of Avork. Leaving the road, the Conunissioners followed a footpath leading up the mountain, till they reached the line of railway where two of the licavJest gorges, about a mile apart, have to bo crossed. The material is found to bo more easily worked than was at first supposed, and it is believed that there will be less rock ex- cavation than was anticipated. The forest up the side of the mountain, con- tains a very lai-go (quantity of hardwood, and we saw some of the largest trees of excellent hardwood that 1 have ever seen in any part of Canada. The line is cleared along the mountain side, and the view down the valleys exceedingly fine, especially that along the Wallac*' River. Without getting to ho high a point of land, no one would understand how largo a (piantity of land is already imder cultivation. Frcmi Folly Lake to Truro, the line is now finally located, and it is understood that tenders will at once be called for to complete this work. It Avill descend by rather heavy work to within about two miles of the ii'on mines, and then striking eastward, will cross the Folly river by a bridge, about eight hundred feet long, the banks being high and the valley wide. From Folly river the line is light and easy, running through low marsh land all the way to Truro. Some hours were spent at the iron mines. It is believed that there is a large tract of iron country in the Cobequid Range; but this is the only place where it has yet been worked. Galleries have been nin back from the face oi the hill side, and large quantities of ore extracted. The ore is carted about two miles to a blast furnace, in which charcoal is the fuel used. There is a small rolling-mill with furnaces, where the pig iron is made into bars, and these have acquired a high reputation for their quality, both in England and the United States. What they want, however, is coal; and this will bo obtained after tlio railway is completed from Spring Hill. A large foundry is now nearly com- pleted at the mines, where, in a few days, they Avill commence the manu- facture, from their own pig iron, of chilled wheels fcr railways. There can be no doubt that, as soon as the coal and iron are l>rought into easy communication, that a most important industry will be developed, which must prove very valuable to the Dominion. I do not think there is much necessity for my taking up very much more of your space. The result of my observations and inquiries is, that upon the seven contracts, comprising about 170 miles, already let, work is actively progressing and being energetically pushed forward. That there are in all about 2,500 30 The I atercolunial Haihvay. lucu oiai»l'tyo'iV be greatly stiuudated Avheu rapid means of com- munication are supplied. Through New Bnuxswick and Nova Scotia, the line runs mainly through a very excellent country, which the railway will rapidly develop, and there are deposits of iron and coal which cannot fail to be most important branches of industry. On the whole, my visit has ca\ised mo to greatly change the opinions which I had previously formed, and I feel persuaded that the Intercolonial Railway will bo constructed at a moderate cost, and that upon a large part of the line there will rapidly develop a very much larger traffic than has ever yet been supposed possible. EDITORIAL UEMAUKS FUOM "THK DAILY TKLECIK Aril," Al'li. 11, 1800. i Wo are sure oiu' readers gcnorally iniiHt have read with uucoinmon interoBt the series of articles, in tlie form of currespondeiice, respecting tho Intercolonial Railway, which have appeared in tliese coliuiins at intervals within tho past fow weeks, (hir c