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1 2 3

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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.

;

fti,'^

?*>-

-'ff.'

LETTERS

KMBRACIN(;

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

TO TllK

"Em^mm

\^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 <m contract No. 2.
The grading throughout the whole of contracts Nns. 1 and 2 is in a forward
state, and except at two or three heavy i)laces, will be completed, it is ex-
pected, this fall. Upwards of oOO men are employed upon No. 2, and tho
Messrs. Worthington, who are the contriictors for one and two, about 40
miles in all, ivre pushing f(jrward the work -ivith great energ3^ They have been
fortunate in finding good stone for the culverts in close proximity to the work,
and conseijuently they have already got a considerable part of this work in a
very forward state. All the culvert work appears to be done in a most satis-
factoiy nuxnner. A large IS-foot arch culvert, about two miles earst of Trois
Pistoles, has one of its walls already completed up to the course from which
the arch will spring, and is as fine a piece of solid, Avell executed work, as is
to be found in Canada. The length of this culvert is about 75 feet. Com-
petent insjiectors are appointed to overlook the masonry, and from the character
of the work executed, so far, they appear to bo thoroughly doing their duty.

THE TllIOS PISTOLES BRIDlii:.

The heaviest work upcm contracts one and two, is at the crossing of the
Trios Pistoles river, about one mile and a-half west of the village of that
name. The river and valley through which it ruu3, are about 1,100 feet wide
at the point where the line crosses them, and the railway Avill run at a height
of about 70 feet from the bed of the river. This crossing is the heaviest
•woik between Ri\iere du Loup and the Metis, a distance of about 00 miles.
On the wxst side of the river, the line is carried for nearly tw^o miles across a
niunber of gorges, in which there will be several culverts and a number of
side-hill embankments. Tho bridge, whicli will be 500 feet long, will start
from the west bank, and be carried nearly half way across the flats, thus
placing tlie bridge across tlie main channel, and allowing no check to the

RiTiiouskl to Metax>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(t<hi Ihiul again got nnd-jr v/eigh, and in
less than three hours anchored again in the bay at Little Metis. Herj a drivo
uf about 5 miles, thnmgh a well cultivated Scotch settlement, brought the
Connnissi(mers to the point Avhere the line will nearly reach its highest level
above the St. Lawrence. 'I'lie view from here is magniticunt, stretching far
away in the wesh to the hills in the neighborhood of Trois Pistoles, and on
the east ahnig the bold shore towards Gaspe'.

Endiarking again at night-fall, the L<(i\\i Haul steamed away for Gaspd.
Here for tlie present I may pause in my account of the Intercolonial
Railway.

SCENKRV ON THE KOL'TK— A CLAXcK AT THE KJSHEHIKS— ACiRICUL-
TURAL (.'APABlldTIES OF THE COUNTHY.

MiRAMicHi, 28th July, 1869.

My last letter left the Lady Head steaming, at nightfall, out of the bay
at Little Metis, and the next morning we were running parallel to the shore,
amidst a crowd of small fishing boats. The sea was dotted with these boats,
fishing being the m ode of living for the inhabitants of the lower St. Law-
rence, between Metis and Gasp^. To judge from the number of boats, and
the almost continuous line of houses on the shore, this business must support
a by no means inconsiderable population.

At several places, valleys in the hills showed signs of fair cultivation,
and in many places small villages -vvere seen. Being in want of fresh fish,
the steamer stopped along side a couple of fishing boats, and bought their
morning catch. About one hundred codfish, of various sizes, were thrown
on board, many of them still kicking. The occupants of the boats seemed

The Flf*het'ic8. J

woll pleased to get two dollarH and a lialf for tlio lot. Tho two briats wouUl
probably catch as many More fish din-ing tho day. If any Toronto honne-
keeper reads this, she will probably High at the comparison between this fish
bill and her own.

CAPE HOZIEK AND (iASl'K BAY.

Ab(»ut noon we were abreast of Cape Hozier, and soon passed across tho
entrance to CJaspe Bay. From hero to Percy tho sceneiy is really magnifi-
cent; at one place perpendicular rocks rising out of tho sea to a height of 700
feet, and tho shores of Oaspo basin having a background »jf moiiutains,
rising tier above tier, in every variety of shape, clothed with green foilag©
to the snmniits; i)laiii8 and valleys on tho shore, dotted continuously and
often in groups, with houses surrounded by large areas of well cidtivated ground
and, at apparently somothhig like e(j\ial distances, churches, to show that
material existence is not the (mly thought among tho hardy population of
this beautiful but little knoAvn district of the Dominion. A heavy thunder
shower, with tho grand re-echo among the distant hills of the heavy peals
which followed the flash of tho vivid lightning,, added not a little to the
beauty and grandeur <if a scene, which those who saw it will not forget readily.

I'EUCV BAY. ,

About two o'clock the vessel steamed into Percy Bay, where a landing
was niade. This is in many respects a remarkable spot. The place is sur-
rounded, in amphitheatre form, by high hills, the slopes of which are to a
very largo extent under excellent cultivation, the crops doing no discredit to
many of the better farming districts of Ontario. To the east of the bay, and
forming part of its shelter, is a rock of wonderful shape and appearance.
Looking at it, in passing from the steamer to the shore, it looks like a petrified
monster Great Eastern, which had there been wrecked, and turned into stone.
Its sides are nearly perpendiciilar, and its summit is crowned with myriads
of seagiills, whirling in fantastic gyrations round the rock, and with their
peculiar call adding to the charm of the scene. At the extreme end of this
peculiar rock is a tunnel, worn doubtless by the wash of the sea, completely
penetrating the rock, and large enough to let a boat go through. At the
vextreme end of the rock is a piece apparently split off, standing erect about
100 feet high, like a sentinel on duty.

THE FISHERIES.

On landing on the main shore, a novel sight was seen. The beach is

' covered Avith buildings for the drying and curing of fish. One establishment

here alone owns about two hundred boats, all of which are manned and sent

out daily in the season. Cod, haddock, mackerel, herrings, salmon, &c., in

-their respective seasons, are here caught. The (quantity of fish caught, cured.

The Intercolonial Raikvay.

and sent to market from this place is enormous, and it is only one of a great
many similar establishments on this coast .

Tlie fish are landed from boats on the beach, at once cut up, cleaned,
»nd weighed, the men in the boats being paid according to the weight after
being so treated. The fish are then salted and laid out to dry on stands
covered with boiighs of fir tree <. Miles of these stands are to be seen, where
the hot sun rapidly performs the curing. After being thus exposed for a
certain time, they are gathered together, taken to large level yards, covered
with coarse gravel, and then piled into what looks like a small hay-stack,
upon the top of Avhich is placed a covering of birch bark, on which are laid
heavy stones. The fish remain in this state for several days, and are then
taken into the packing hoiise, and are I'eady for shipment. These fish are
sent to various parts of the world — to South America, Spain, the Mediter-
ranean, etc., &c. Vessels were loading for these places, some in bulk, and
some in wooden drums. A very large number of inen are employed here,
and the very excellent state of cultivation in which the surrounding country
was found to be, showed that the population had nothing to complain cf so
far as material comforts ar^ concerned.

THE RUX TO DALHOrSlE.

Leaving this really beautiful and productive neighborhood with regret,
the Lady Head proceeded along the northern shore of the Bale de Chaleurs,
towards Dalhousie. The scenery here is very fine and grand, and all along
the shore the country is really in a very good state of cultivation. Sheltered
from the nort h winds by the Gasp^ hills, the slope of the ground toward*
the Bay has a comparatively mild climate, and its agricultural capacity is
therefore very good. The County of Bonaventure, when it gets the advan-
tage of railway communication with foreign markets, will prove to be a by no
means unimportant part of the Dominion.

DALHOUSIE AND ITS HARBOUR.

By daylight on Saturday morning, we were at anchor in the beautiful
harbour of Dalhousie, at the mouth of the Restigouche River. This is un-
doubteaiy the best harbour between GasptJ and Halifax, the water being deep
enough to float the largest vessels, with capital anchorage, and well sheltered
from all winds. Dalhousie is situated at the foot of a bluff, about 500 feet
high, from which there is a magnificent view. There is no difficulty in
making wharves, at which the largest vessels could lie, £.nd although the
nature of the ground prevents the main line of the Intercolonial Railway
passing through the town, a branch about 5 miles long, and easy of construc-
tion, can readily be made to connect with any system of deep sea wharves-
that hereafter may be made.

Agricultural Capabilities of the Count nj.

THE WORKS AT DALHOUSIE

Landing at Dalhousie, the Conunissioners proceeded to inspect the
I)rogre3s of the work going on in that vicinity.

About 50 miles east and west of Dalhonsio are now under contract. The
first visited was that in the hands of Mr. Jobin, east of Dalhousie. Jobin is
a French Canadian, living in Quebec, and he is carrying on his work in a
most satisfactory manner. He is at work on the grading throughout the
whole length of his contract, and has already completed a very considerable
amount of it. He has succeeded in finding very good quarries, where the
stone for the masonry is now being got out. Some will be delivered on the
ground within two or three weeks, when the work of making the culverts
will be at once proceeded with. Jobin is executing his work in a very thorough
and complete manner, to the entire satisfaction of the Engineers, who speak
highly of the energy which he is displaying and the manner in which he
is carrying on the work. He has now about 300 men at Avork, and has no
difficulty in getting all the labor he wants.

WORKS AT CAMBELLTOWy.

Returning to Dalhousie, the party then proceeded westward to some dis-
tance beyond Cambelltown, the contract here being in the hands of an Ontario
firm, consisting of Messrs. Elliott, Grant and Whitehead. Their work is
also progressing in a satisfactory manner, the entire line being cleared, and a
large amount of grading already done. They have about 300 men at work.
There is a good deal of rock excavation on this contract. Elliott and Grant
have taken up their residence atCampbelltown, and are personally superintend-
ing their work. There has been some difficulty in finding suitable stone
quarries in the vicinity of the work ; but they have now been obtained, and
the contractors expect to have all the stone for the culverts and bridges
on the ground before the winter sots in. The line from the Metapedia,
about three miles from which Elliott's contract begins, nuis on the south side
of the Restigouche river, in sight cf it nearly the whole way. The
work is principjvlly side-hill cutting, a good deal of it through rock, but no
heavy structures. The view from the trains for about thirty miles will be
magnificent. It was nearly nightfall before the drive of fifty miles iras
over, and it was understood that both the Commissioners and the Engineer
were very well satisfied with the progress made by Jobin and Elliott. Grant
and Whitehead.

a(;ricultural capabilities of the country.

I am satisfied that the agricultural capacity of this part of the country
has never been properly understood. The teeming w^aters of the Bay of
Chaleurs, and the vast forests on land, combined with the absence of the
necessary facilities for getting agricultural produce to market) have tended

Th c J i lie ) 'colo n'lal Rath vay.

i; t

to nmku the population niiiinly fishennen and liunbernien, and looking upon
the land as only necessary to be worked to an extent snfficient to snpply
them with pi>tatoes, 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<n'e I had seen th country in
summer, I shall return with the conviction forced upon me by the logic of
facts, that the countiy has been miderrated, and that it has a much greater
capacity for the support -jf a large and thriving population, than I had ever
supposed possible.

A NEW BRl'XSWICK FARM.

At Bathurst, the Hon . John Ferguson has a farm of 350 acres, in a high
state of cultivation, which would not fear to stand a comparison with some
of the best farms in Ontario. It is thoroughly well cleared ; has about 60
miles of cedar fence upon it, and shows as fine a crop of oats, barley, coarse
^ains, potatoes, and about 70 acres of spring wheat, as any one would wish
to see. He raises about 200 tons of hay, has 20 acres of potatoes, about 60
acres of oats, and a large number of acres with a fine show of turnips. This
shows what the land is capable of by proper cultivation, and there can bo no
doubt that proper energy and skill will, in a few years, make a splendid
farming country, extending -^ver a veiy lar^e area.

Fishiii<j J n(<')rs(.s.

THK L\J\: OF THE liOAD SOMKTHINC^ AliOlT TIIK rOUNTRY

My last letter left us at Dalhousie, froi'u which place an early start
bniUght the steamer on Sunday afternoun, to tlie outside of llathurst harbor.
The depth of water on the bar is not suflicient for large vessels, and the
Lady Head anchored about 3 miles from the entrance of the harbor. It is
not, except in very still water, possible for vessels drawir.g more than 12
feet of water to enter Bathurst. With everything favorable, 13 feet would
probably clear the bar at high water, but that is the extreme. Bathurst,
therefore, cannot ever become a place of resort for largo ocean vessels. Tlie
countiy round Bathurst is very tine and fertile. Mr. Fergus: )n's farm, men-
tioned in my last letter, is conclusive testimony as to the fertility of the
soil. The roads, as indeed generally in New Brunsv,'ick, are excellent, there
being an abundance of good gravel. Tji this respect New J3runswick has a
great advantage over Ontario, her country roads being far better than the
majority of those in the Tpper Prcjviuce.

KKS Jl'Hi'ES OF TIIK COrXTRV.

As I have already said, the capabilities of this part of New Brunswick,
for fanning purposes, are very great indeed.

Its main industries now, are lumbering, shipbuilding and iishing. The
shipbuilding interest has, as at other places, been seriously affected by iron
vessels, and the navigation laws of the United States, and is by no means
active. Lumbering is largely cariied on. Mr. Ferguson's mill at Bathurst
being of great extent, and perhaps one of the b3st in this section of the
Province.

FISHINO INTERESTS.

Fishing is, hoAvever, the great source of business. On the coast line
between Dalhousie and Shippegan, a distance of rather less than one hundred
miles, there are not less than 2,000 schooners and boats of variotis sizes,
■employed in extracting, from the Bay of Chaleurs, the wealth which it con-
tains. The quantity of fish caught and cured in this neighborhood is almost
fabulous, and it only requires proper and rapid means of communication, to
vastly increase a trade which at present is extremely large.

For the last few years, great attention has very properly been paid to
the salmon in the rivers. From a variety of caxises the rivers, not only here,
but in other parts of the Dominion, had become almost denuded of salmon ;
but now, thanks to the measures adopted by Pai'liament, this has all been
changed, and noAV the rivers are again sw^arming with salmon.

The trade in this single kind of fish, is already assumng large propor-
tions ; nearly erery river has its occupants, who, for the sake of sport, come

The Intercolonial Railrva..

from distant parts, and, despite the tonnents of mosquitoes and black flies,
secure both health and recreation in iher efforts to entice a few salmon from'
their retreat in the deep pools of the rivers. There are rivers and fish
enough to meet the wants of a^l those who desire this mode of takin» a holi-
day. The trade in salmon, however, is, of course, carried on differently.
An English firm has now at work, not far from Bathurst, ^^\ establishment
where salmon are taken, cured, put into tins, .ind shipped to England, whose
cash outlay at Bathurst, in carrying on their operation:?, is £500 sterling per
week. The dsn\and in England f<n* this produce is largo enough to support
many such establishments, whose outlay woiild be equally great, divided, of
course, between the fishermen, curers, packers, «S:c., tte. A beginning has
been made, which the means of C(immunication, when supplied, must
rapidly increase.

But the most remarkable fishing enterprise at Bathurst, is an establish-
ment for preserving the fish so as to supply the New York and other markets
from the 1st of December to the middle of March. I went over this place. It is a
large-sized wooden building, technically called a "freezer." In it, at the
time I saw it, were 5,000 salmon, weighing from 10 to 44 lbs. each. The
fish are caught in nets. Very shortly after being taken out of the water,
and without being cleaned or touched in any way, they are first put into
small shelves or boxes, where they are rapidly frozen as hard as stone. They
are then put into chambei-s in the same building, where they remain frozen
till winter. When I was in the biiilding there were 5,000 in that state, and
during the season this one place will have 12,000 fish in all. They are so
hard tiiat they Avonld knock a man's brains out if used as a club. The
average weight of these fish is considerably more than 15 lbs. At that
i-ate the 12,000 salmon would weigh 180,000 lbs. Fish preserved in the
same way were sold in New York last winter at 50c. a lb., and there is no
doubt that price at least will be obtained this year. The one establishment,
therefore, now engaged in this business, will have a gross receipt of $90,000.

The demand for fresh salmon in winter in New York, and the gre^t cities
of the United States, and in Quel)ec, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and other
places in the Dominion, renders it certain that this must l)ecome a great
source of business as soon as speedy railway communication is provided.
The sama -system can, of course, be applied to other fish as well as salmon,
and the best proof of the perfect success of the *• freezer" is to be found in
the fact thfit Mr. Ferguson's hospitable board, included amongst other things,
a goose killed last November, which has been ])reaerved in a domestic
*' freezer," which forais part of this establishment. The flavor of the goose
was as good and fresh as if it had been killed the same morning.

I hope this digression about fishing will not be considered out of place, as
my visit has convinced me that this is a most important industry, all the way from

Looking Aroiuiil.

Metis on the St. Lawrence, to Halifax, and that it will prove of great value
to the Dominion, and of great inipovtanco to the traffic of the Intercolonial
Railway. ,

LOOIvINti Aiiouxn.

Early on Monday morning, the Couniiissioners landed and spent nearly
the whole day in driving round Bathurat, and inspecting the ditierent pro-
posed locations of the Railway. The harbor of Bathurst is the outlet for
four or five rivers, the largest of which is the Nipissiiiuit. The Railway has,
of course, to cross all these rivers. It is understood that the nurveys are now
completed, and that t)rder3 have been given for the final location of the line
in this neighborliood. No v/ork is at present going on in this vicinity, but
it is stated that the next letting of contracts, to be advertised at once, will
include one extending the lijie from the end of Jobin's contract, to within a
mile of Bathurst.

From Bathurst to Slirumichi, tlie line runs across a promontory, of which
Shippegan is the extreme point in the Gulf. The distance by water from
Bathurst to Chatham is about IGO niiies . The railway Avill run across by a
line less than 00 miles in length. The country for that distance is unsettled,
but it contains some very good land, growing excellent hardwood timber.

Leaving Bathurst in the evening, the next morning brought us to the
]\Iiramichi river, and Chatham was reached at about 11 o'clock. This is a
thriving place of con vlderablo siz J and tr;ule, and divides with Newcastle, five
miles above, the business of the Miramiclii district, which has a pojinlation of
28,000 people. The i^eople <jf Chatham shewed their appreciation of the rail-
way, by waking the echoes by a salute from two heavy guns on the wharf, and
an address to the Coiiunissioners. The latter landed for a short time, and at
twelve o'clock the vessel again started. Nearing Newcastle, the Volunteer
artillery of that place thundered a hearty v.-elcome from a high bluff just
below the town.

Newcastle desires to have the railway cross the iliraniichi in its vicinity,
and the point of crossing is keenly discussed. The original survej- by Major
Robinson, crossed the two branches of the river at In dian Town iibout 14
miles above Newcastle^ and above navigation. It lengthened the distance
by about 10 miles. Vessels drawing 20 feet of water can come up to New-
castle, and at tliat place the river is wide and deep. A crossing directlj at
the town would involve a very heavy structure and a very large outlay of
money, besides interfering with important navigation interests. .Just above
Newcastle is an island Avhich divides the river, and directly at the head of
the island the two branches <jf the Miramichi, knov/n as the North •\Vest and
South- West branches, come together— the one running northerly and
westerly to near the head v/atcrs of the Restigouche, and the other southerly
nearly to Frederickton. A few hundred yards above the point of junction,

Tl.e Intercolonial Rcdhvay.

is a road bridge, nearly 1,000 feet long, closing, of course, navigation at that
point. It is considered most likely that the lino of railway will cross the
North- West branch immediately above tli'3 road bridge, and then run directly
in about half a mile to the South- West bx'anch, and then cross. Another
line has been surveyed at a point about eight miles higher up; but there the
banks of both rivers are about 45 feet high, while at the lower location they
are less than 20 feet. Crossing the two branches of the rivers, instead of
the main channel after the junction, will be less costly, and not interfere
with the navigation. If, as is most likely, the crossing is fixed just above
the junction of the two rivers, it will place the station for the Miramichi
district just above the town of Newcastle, not very far from the Court House.
It is believed that among the next contracts to be let will be one from New-
castle for about 20 miles towards Bathurst, which will only leave about 30
miles to be put under contract to complete the line between the Restigouche
and the Miramichi rivers. The whole of that length will, it is ixnderstood,
be under contract before the close of the year.

The country round Chatham and Newcastle is very good. Shipbuilding,
lumbering and fishing are the main sources of industry, to which will soon
be added a large manufactory, now building, for making extract of hemlock
bark, on the same priaciple as the work in the Eastern townships in Lower

Canada.

The works on the Intercolonial, between Dalhousie and the Miramichi,

will all be light, except the crossings of the rivers at the back of Bathurst,

and they will all be moderate structures. Indeed it is a remarkable feature,

that on a lino of such great length as the Intercolonial, so few heavy

works are to be found.

There are only in the Avhole line of nearly 500 miles, four large bridges,

one at Trois Pistoles, about 500 feet long ; one at Restigouche, about 750-
feet long; another at Miramichi, where two bridges will be required,
the total length of which will not exceed 1,800 feet, and may be msvde 200^
feet less ; and the last at Folly River, in Nova Scotia, about 800 feet
long. Both at the Miramichi and the Restigouche, the rivers are crossed at
a low level, in neither case exceeding 20 feet, and it may be jwssible to make
it even less. The quantity of masonry will therefore not be large.

From the Miramichi to the European and North American Railway, the
location has not been yet decided upon. A line direct to Monckton, has-
been s\irveyed this spring, and it is understood to be a very favorjible line as
regards grades, curvature, and economy of constniction. It runs along the
ridge which is the dividing line for two separate sets of water courses. It
has therefore no large streams to cross as it meets them all at their heads. It
is claimed for it that it will save ten miles of railway to construct, and with-
out increasing the distance to Halifax, will shorten that to St. John by nearly
fourteen miles. The people of the County of Kent, which lies between
Miramichi and Shediac, live mainly on the Gulf Shore, and are said to num-

Something About the Country.

ber abctit 22,000. They sent deputations to see the Commissioners, to \irge
that the lino should follow the course of the post road, and bring it down t(»
the mouths of the rivers. This woixld involve very heavy work, as the rivers
widen out near their mouths into large vallej's which it Avo\ild be very ex-
pensive to cross. The local interests of the population along the gulf shore
are, to a large extent, served by water conveyance, and there does not seem
much doixbt as to the line that should be selected. Even if the short and
cheap line is adopted, the people of Kent will not be badly served by
railway. They already have ample, excellefit water conuuunication. The
short line will probably cost, at least, $500,000 less than the line crossing
near the mouths of the rivers.

The next letter will complete the series, and I hope the matters treated
of are of sufficient importance to justify the taking up of so much of your
valuable space.

Halifax, July 31, 18G9.

THE TRIP OF THE COMMKSSTONEKS— SOMETHINd ABOUT THE

COUNTRY.

On Board the "Lady Head," 4th Aug., 1869.— Before leaving New-
castle, the Commissioners were entertained by the principal inhabitants of
that place at a luncheon, in a large tent on the market square, at which a
large and respectable assembly was present. Immediately after the close of
the repast, the party proceeded on board the steamer, which at once dropped
down the river. At about twelve o'clock the next day the good ship came
along side the wharf at Shediac. There a train was in readiness, which
speedily brought the Commissioners to Monckton, one of the points pro-
posed for a junction between the Intercolonial Railway and the existing
European and North American line. Monckton appears to be a thriving
place, and from the main line a short branch carries the railway to deep
water wharves on the Bay of Fundy, where vessels, of a large size, can land
and receive cargoes from all parts of the world. Some time was spent in
looking over the grounds belonging to the railway, and the proposed point of
junction. Monckton, from its central railway position, after the completion
of the Intercolonial Railway, is not unlikely to be selected as a large depot
for the repair and housing of engines and other rolling stock. If this should
be so, it will become a place of very considerable importance.

Leaving Monckton, the train retraced its course Lr about 7 niiles to
Pamsick junction, from which place the line known as the Eastern extension
starts. This latter line is now in course of construction, for a length of about
37 miles, to the river Mississquash, the boundary between New Brunswick

llie Intercolonial Railway.

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. •

Something About the Country.

I >:

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

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

is.

4
-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

The I atercolunial Haihvay.

lucu oiai»l'tyo<l, and that tlioro is no presout ilifticiilty ai^prohended of a
scurcity of liilxtr. It is iiiulcrstood that tivo more contracts, covering about
JK) niilcH of the loail, will ho at onco advertised. That tlie heavy bridges at
t]\o. Rcstiyoucho and Miraniichi will bo also very soon put under contract,
and that by the end of the lU'oscnt year, very nearly the whole of the line
will bo under contract.

It is also clear, that for a lino of such length, the works are generally light,
the cngineorinjL; dinic\iUio» being exceedingly few. The line will, therefore,
bo constructed cheaply, and although it is nut safe to prophecy, there would
Nocni to bo no doubt that tlio lutcrcolonial Railway will be completed for less
than tho aui(»unt stated in thu Act of Parliament.

The country tlu-ough which it will run from Riviere du Loup to Metis,
is much the same as that from tho former place to Qxiobec. Along the Meta-
pedia Valley tho country has yet to be settled. But from the mouth of the
Mctapedia, down tho valley of tho Restigcmcho, and along the Bay of Chal-
ours to tho ISIiraniichi, the coiuitry has already considerable settlement, and
is capable of excellent agincidtnral results. The trade from the fisheries is
ah'eady very largo, and v>'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.

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<nTespondont, as tho graphic and direct
character of his descriptions of the groat work and its sniTonndings shoi",
has indited every lino from actual observation and experience; and yet — if
we did not know his perfect trustworthiness— wo should almost fear to credit
Bonie portions of his repoi-t of tho situation as ho has seen it.

Instead of working a gigantic railway through an Alpine wilderness, by
taking the north shore for tho Intercolonial route, we are really opening
up one of tho finest pastoral sections of country in British America — a
country abounding with natural wealth, of which wo have, heretofore, had
not the slightest conception. Nay, more, in tho districts of New Brunswick
— which we, in our ignorance, have been accustomed to associate with
sterility and death — our correspondent finds cultivated farms, splendid
public roads, and improvenxents which wo\ild shame our progress in coloni-
zation in the best districts of the west. The prolific character of the river
fisheries — as yet, of course, only beginning to bo developed — is dwelt tipon
by our con-espondent with a zest which we can readily appreciate. To him,
as to us, the experience must have been little short of startling — pleasing as
it is to record.

On another point, the admirable reports of our correspondent invite tho
fullest attention of Western readers. The engineering difficulties of the
Intercolonial Line are nowhere as formidable as popular nimor has made
them. We cannot speak technictdly, any more than our con*espondent; but
we should judge from his careful and minute observations, that no one
section of tho road presents anything like the same engineering difficulties
as that section of the Grand Trunk between Toronto and Guelph; and our
correspondent sums up his observations during an extended tour, with this
remark: — "On the whole, my visit has caused me greatly to change the
opinions which I had previously formed, and I feel persuaded that the Inter'
colonial Railway loill he constructt,d at a moderate cost, and that tipon a larye
part of the line there will rapidly develop a traffic much larger tluin has ever
been supposed possible," These are not idle, random, or flippant words. They
record the deliberate judgment of a man of wide experience and mature
thought; and as such, we ask o\ir readers, in Ontario especially, to give them
tho attention whioh we are sure they merit.