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i 
 
 STATISTICAL INFORMATION 
 
 RELATIVE TO THK FROPOSED 
 
 RAIL ROAD 
 
 FROM MONTREAL TO BOSTON 
 
 V I A 
 
 THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS. 
 
 ^ The Provisional Committee of the St. Lawrence and Atlan- 
 tic Grand Junction Railway, respectfully submit the following 
 information relative to the situation and products of that part of 
 Canada, through which it is proposed that the Railway should 
 pass ; and also those estimates of the probable amount of traffic 
 which may be anticipated on the completion of the work,— 
 which estimates are based upon indisputable facts. 
 
 The route as surveyed, passes through the Counties of 
 Chambly, part of Vercheres, Rouville, St. Hyacinthe, Shef- 
 ford, Sherbrookc and Stanstead, and in the vicinity of Riche- 
 lieu and of Drummond ; all of which Counties will be mate- 
 rially benefitted by the construction of the Railway. The 
 following statistics in relation to these Counties have been 
 carefully compiled from the recent census of the Province, 
 and may be relied on as correct ; they have been made to 
 include only those sections which the Committee believe would 
 bo directly benefitted by the Rail Road, and would use it as 
 their road to market. 
 
 The County of Chambly without the Parish of St. John's, 
 contains— 15,158 Inhabitants, and raises annually 40,454 
 bushels of Wheat, -^27,978 bushels of other grains, 217,286 
 
 I aI 
 
bushels Potatoes, it contains 13,253 head of Neat Cattle, 5,717 
 Horses, and 21,77G Sheep and Hogs. 
 
 That part of Rouville comprising the Parishes of St. Athan- 
 ase, St. Hilaire, St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mathias, contains—- 
 9,805 Inhabitants, raising 27,957 bushels of Wheat, 175,442 
 bushels of other grains, 103,384 bushels Potatoes, 7,732 Neat 
 Cattle, 2,833 Horses, 14,233 Sheep and Hogs. 
 
 That part of Vercheres, comprising the Parishes of Belreil 
 and St. Marc, contains— 3,223 Inhabitants, raising 5,490 
 bushels Wheat, 91,817 bushels other grains, 39,567 bushels 
 Potatoes, 3,636 Neat Cattle, 1,376 Horses, 6,019 Sheep and 
 
 Hogs, 
 
 IS, 
 
 That part of Richelieu comprising the Parishes of St. Den 
 St. Charles, St. Barnaby, and St. Jude, contains— 6,823 
 Inhabitants, raising about 8,500 bushels Wheat, 150,000 
 bushels other grains. 
 
 The County of St. Hyacinthe contains— 2 1,734 Inhabitants, 
 raising 50,685 bushels Wheat, 236,243 bushels other grains, 
 225,925 bushels Potatoes, 16,351 Neat Cattle, 6,871 Horses, 
 26,254 Sheep and Hogs. 
 
 The County of Shefford contains— 9,996 Inhabitants, raising 
 19,963 bushels Wheat, 88,913 bushels other grains, 196,644 
 bushels Potatoes, 9,049 Neat Cattle, 1,801 Horses, 13,715 
 Siieep and Hogs. 
 
 That part of Druramond comprising the Townships of Acton, 
 Wickham, Durham, Kingsey, Tingwick, Warwick and Ches- 
 ter, contains— 5,090 Inhabitants, raising 22,640 bushels Wheat, 
 56,136 other grains, 156,387 bushels Potatoes, 4,705 Cattle, 
 703 Horses, 6,813 Sheep and Hogs. 
 
 The County of Sherbrooke has a population of 13,302 
 Inhabitants, raising 44,619 bushels Wheat, 166,529 other 
 grains, 403,480 bushels Potatoes, 14,088 Cattle, 2,432 
 Horses, 22,197 Sheep and Hogs. 
 
1 
 
 The County of Stanstead contains— 11,846 Inhabitants, 
 raising 43,750 bushels Wheat, 141,279 other grains, 388,48& 
 bushels Potatoes, 14,557 Cattle, 2,926 Horses, 25,385 Sheep 
 and Hogs. 
 
 A recapitulation of the foregoing Statistics gives the fol- 
 lowing amounts : — ♦ 
 
 96,976 Inhabitants, raising annually 263,778 bushels of 
 Wheat, 1,534,407 bushels of other Grains, 1,731,161 bushels 
 of Potatoes, and having 83,371 head of Neat Cattle, 24,649 
 Horses, and 136,393 Sheep and Hogs. 
 
 With reference to the above amounts, it is but right la 
 remark that thoy are known to be very much, probably one- 
 fourth (population excepted) less than the actual result, as the 
 inhabitants, from a dread of the Census being made the basis 
 of taxation, very generally conceal the real amount of their 
 products and stock. 
 
 The City of Montreal, the proposed terminus of the Rail- 
 way, contains a population of 44,000 inhabitants. It may 
 therefore be stated with confidence, that at least 140,00(> 
 inhabitants of Canada will ue directly benefitted by this under- 
 taking, without any allusion to its favourable bearing on the 
 interests of the Province at large. 
 
 In forming estimates of the probable traffic on the proposed 
 Railway, the Committee have experienced very considerable 
 difficulty, from the extent of country, the length of the line, 
 and from the variety of routes by which Passengers and Goods 
 find their way to and from Montreal, and the St. Lawrence 
 Valley generally. 
 
 From an examination of the Hotel Books, it appears that 
 about 2,000 Americans visit Montreal annually, either for 
 business or pleasure, being 4,000 passengers. 
 
 From Quebec and Montreal, including the Militarv, about 
 500 persons proceed to Great Britain annually, being 1000 
 passengers to and from. 
 
From ilie Seigniories, (lie Committee liave no correct means 
 of .nscertiiinino the amount of passengers, as they generally use 
 their own conveyances ; thoy are, however, known to be nu- 
 merous, and would doubtless be much Increased by a more 
 cheap and expeditious mode of conveyance. 
 
 The Eastern Townships likewise use their own convey 
 ances to a very great extent. There are three tri-weekly lines 
 of Slagps, carrying on an average each 20 passengers per 
 week, giving about 1,000 passengers, and at least jui equal 
 number use their own conveyances. 
 
 The Committee also believes that a very considerable num- 
 ber of Emigrants would choose Boston as their landing Port, 
 were they enabled to reach Montreal by Railway. By Teaving 
 England in February, they could be actually "established on 
 their land in the month of April, thus giving 'them the advan- 
 tage of one whole year over those who might land at Quebec. 
 
 ^ A very considerable number of passengers now have occa- 
 sion to pass from Lower Canada to New England during the 
 year, of whose numbers it is dlfiicult to form an estimate^ but 
 It probably exceeds 1,000 in the year, being 500 each way. 
 
 In forming an estimate on tlieso data, the Committee are, 
 to a certain extent, guided by the result of Railways in the 
 United States, where the saving of time and expense "has gene- 
 rally at once tripled the number of passengers. They would 
 also draw attention to the fact, (hat the numbers above stated 
 are through passengers, whereas a very great number of per- 
 sons have occasion to pass short distances, as from Stanstead 
 to Sherbrooke, to Melbourne, to St. Ilyacinthe, to Montreal, 
 and so forth, whose numbers M-ould be increased in a much 
 greater proportion, as journeys of this length now occupy two 
 days, and occasion considerable expense, which would be 
 avoided were the Railway in operation, as they could come 
 and go in the same day. Having reference to these facts, the 
 Committee have assumed that two trains should pass daily 
 along the line each way, making four trips, and they estimate 
 the number of passengers to average, duriDg the trip, ten, as 
 
6 
 
 they consider that wliere two or three may stop at any station^ 
 a corresponiliiig number wouUI tnter the train ; thus tlic daily 
 number would be forty, and the annual result, omitting Sun- 
 days, be twelve thousand five hundred and twenty. The rate 
 of Fare is ostiniated at about three pence per mile for about 
 
 120 miles, giving a revenue of £18,756. 
 
 « 
 
 The tonnage which it is expected would pass over the Rail 
 Road, would consist of New England goods, Township and 
 Seigniorial supplies. Grain, Lumber and Cordwood. 
 
 The New England tonnage consists of Teas, Tobacco, Lea- 
 ther, manufactured Goods of every description. Spirits and 
 fresh Fish, with a variety of minor articles, it is a very low 
 estimate to reckon tlie amount of this traffic which would pass 
 over the Rail Road in Canada to and from I\Iontreal, at 2,500 
 tons at 25s. per ton, £3,125. 
 
 The Township Tonnage comprehends the importation of 
 every article used by a farming commmiity, numbering 40,234 
 .souls, and the exportation of butter, cheese, and other minor 
 articles of production. It now greatly exceeds 4,000 tons, the 
 transportation of which is estimated at 20s. per ton, £4,000. 
 
 There are 42,399 Cattle in the Counties of Sherbrooke, 
 Shelford, Stanstead, and part of Drummond, of which it is 
 estimated that at least 2,000 head would be sent to market at 
 10s. per head, exclusive of about 5,000 which it is supposed 
 might continue to go on foot, £1,000. 
 
 There are 68,1 10 Sheep and Hogs in the same Counties, of 
 which it is estimated, 4,000 Sheep at Is. 6d., and 1,000 tons 
 of Pork at 20s. per ton, would go per Rail Road, £1,300. 
 
 Of 7,862 Horses, at least 500 are sold annually, the car- 
 riage of one half this number at 20s. each, is £250. 
 
 The quantity of Salt now consumed in these Counties, is 
 estimated at 1,000 tons at I5s. per ton, £750. 
 
 If this estimate be considered high, the Committee would 
 merely observe, that the present consumption of this article 
 
h nocriterian by which to judge of ihc amount required on- 
 the esfablishment of the Rail Road, as its present cost is 3s. 9d. 
 per bushel, whereas it would be only about Is. 6d. 
 
 At present no Grain is exported from the Townships, f„r 
 Which the Committee would advance this simple fact, that the 
 carriage of a bufhel of Wheat would now cost about 2s.; let 
 this carriage be reduced to Gd. for Wheat, and 3d. for other 
 Grain, and there is no doubt that the Eastern Townships will 
 become a Grain exporting country. 
 
 They now raise 1,144,999 bushels of Potatoes which, with 
 the Railway could be sold in Montreal at Is. 3d. per bushel. 
 The Committee estimates that 200,000 bushels could be sent 
 at 6d. per bushel, £5,000. 
 
 Of Sawn Lumber, a very large quantity is even now sent 
 to the States, and it is estimated that the Railway would be 
 able to carry inch stuff at the rate of 10s. per M., at whic^h 
 It IS presumed that six million feet would be carried, £3,000. 
 
 The Tonnage of the French country is more difiicult to 
 arrive at, but judging from the population, which excludin<r 
 Chambly County, is 41,584, it ought to be about the same al 
 the Eastern Townships, as much of it would, however, probably 
 continue to go in the same channels as at present, it is esti- 
 mated at one-fourth, say, 1,000 tons at lOs. being half the 
 charge, £500. 
 
 Of Cattle, Horses and other articles, the tonnage is estimated 
 at about £500. 
 
 The Seigniories named raise 133,106 bushels of Wheat, and 
 1,667,712 bushels of other Grain and Potatoes, of this amount 
 It is estimated that nearly one-third is a surplus,- say 500,000 
 bushels at 3d. per bushel, £6,250. 
 
 The Committee believe, from such information as they can 
 obtain, that the supply of Montreal with Cordwood will' form 
 one of the main sources of profit to the Rail Road. There are 
 now consumed in that City above 100,000 cords annually. 
 
It - 
 
 7 
 
 costing for hardwood an averngeof over Hs. Gd per cord.— 
 Along°20 miles of the line of tlie Railway, say from 30 to 50 
 miles from Montreal, hardwood could be delivcied in any 
 quantity at 5s. per cord, giving a handsome profit to the sup- 
 plier. From this distance the wood could be brought for 7s. 
 6d. per cord, paying the usual Rail Road taritf, and the Com- 
 miltee believe that, by selling wood at 12s. 6d. per cord, one- 
 fourth the supply of Montreal would pass over their line, yield- 
 ing the large sum in tolls of £9,250. 
 
 The carriage of the Mails would also give a probable aver- 
 age of £1,000. 
 
 The recapitulation of the foregoing amounts is as follows :— 
 
 „ £18,780 
 
 Passengers ' 
 
 New England Tonnage •^■^"^ " " 
 
 Eastern Township Tonnage 4,000 
 
 Cattle 1.000 
 
 « Pork, Horses, Sheep 1,550 
 
 Salt 750 
 
 Potatoes 5,000 
 
 Sawn Lumber VOO 
 
 SeifrniorialTonnageand Agricultural Products... 7,250 
 
 f^ "i A ... 0,250 
 Cordwood ' „ „ 
 
 .... 1,000 
 
 Mails ' 
 
 £54,705 
 
 In the foregoing estimates it will be observed that the pre- 
 sent position of affairs only has been considered. The Com- 
 mittee have, however, every confidonce in believing that the 
 construction of the Railway would cause an immense and im- 
 mediate increase to every present branch of business and indus- 
 try, and a correspondingly beneficial result to the Rail Road 
 proprietors. 
 
 The Committee have further not adverted to the great na- 
 tional object of removing by this Rail Road, the natural difficul- 
 ties under which the whole of Canada suffers by the interruption 
 of its trade during the winter. The policy of enligtened na- 
 tions is now conceding facilities for the passage under bond^ 
 
f I 
 
 
 8 
 
 of (lie productions of foreign countries tlirou<«;liout tlioir ros- 
 jMictive territories, and it is by no meiins a wild speciilation to 
 consider tlie early prospect of British goods and Canadian 
 produce being pormitfed to pass through the United States. 
 The saving in freigl t and insurance alone on a shipment from 
 Boston, would nearly equal thv^ cost of transport of flour from 
 Montreal to Boston by Hail Road, while the English market 
 would thus be attainable at all seasons of the year. It is also 
 well worthy the consideration of the mercantile interest, how 
 far they would be benefitted were they enabled to procure 
 their supplies of Britisli goods at all seasons of the year, and 
 to w^hat extent it would enable them to carry on the same 
 amount of business with a reduced capital. 
 
 These are subjects of such very great importance, that the 
 Committee do not at present venture to put forward any posi- 
 tive statement of iheir own on the subject, being confident, 
 that even a remote prospect of such a trade being established, 
 must tend to direct public attention to that work, without 
 which it must remain ever unattainable. While they are as- 
 sured that the Merchants of Montreal must readily admit the 
 immense increase which would instantly accrue to the business 
 of the Rail Road, by the establisiiment of such a trade. 
 
 The Committee have also not alluded to the very important 
 object to be attained by this Rail Road, of completing the pre- 
 sent mail communication with Great Britain. Bv an altera- 
 tion in the date at which the English Mail Steamers leave 
 Liverpool from the 3d and 18th to the 1st and 15th, the 
 Merchants of Montreal could on the completion of this Rail 
 Road generally receive and answer their advices, by the next 
 packet from Boston, effecting a saving in time of fourteen 
 days ; an object not to be lost sight of in the consideration of 
 the propriety of aiding the construction of the work now 
 brought before the Legislature and the country. 
 
 By the foregoing statement it would appear that the Com- 
 mittee anticipate a trade in certain specified items, amounting 
 to £54,706. 
 
MiMNl 
 
 m 
 
 The expense of working the Rail Road when constructed, 
 is estimated on the results of several Rail Roads in the United 
 States, at the same rate as the Eastern Rail Road in Massa- 
 chusetts, the annual expense for the entire distance of 123f 
 miles would be £21,621 10s. 
 
 At the rate of the Western Rail 
 Road, which is believed to be 
 the most expensive, it would be. 29,782 10 
 
 The average being . 
 
 £51,404 
 
 £25,702 
 
 Leaving a disposeable surplus of 4 . . . . £29,003 
 
 The expenditure on the construction of this Rail Road 
 will be found by the accompanying Report from the Engineer 
 employed to be estimated at, say in round numbers £550,000. 
 
 It may therefore be anticipated if the foregoing esMmatesare 
 founded on correct data, that the Rail Road will yield a return 
 equal to about five per cent on the capital invested, without 
 considering the progressive increase of traffic which its estab- 
 lishment will occasion. 
 
 When the immense extent of country opened up by this 
 improvement is considered together with the great and encreas- 
 ing intercourse existing between Montreal and the Atlantic, 
 combined with the fact that this Rail Road must form the best 
 and most favored route for travelling between Canada East 
 and the New England States, the Committee believe that 
 the above result cannot but appear evident, although at first 
 sight, they feel that many may conceive the work altogether 
 speculative. The Committee have only to entreat that the 
 work and its prospects may be closely scanned, feeling every 
 confidence, that the more severe the scrutiny, the moro satis- 
 factory will the undertaking appear. 
 
 A. T. GALT, 
 
 B. POMROY, 
 ED. HALE, 
 SAM. BROOKS, 
 
 JOHN MOOKE, 
 JN. McCONNELL, 
 GEORGE S. BROWNE. 
 
 i