1883
The Globe Toronto
On the CPR
A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DIVERSION OF THE C.P.R.
As already announced, the Canadian Pacific Company has
declined to receive more than 5,000,000 acres out of the
11,000,000 in the odd-numbered sections in the forty mile belt
between Winnipeg and Fort Calgary; and the fact of this
declination has received all the publicity which a Government
return can give it.
This is a most unfortunate occurrence for the country, and
all the damage that will ensue from it is the direct consequence
of the gross blunder made by the Dominion Government two years
ago when the southern diversion of the main line was sanctioned.
Mr. Mackenzie's Government made a thorough exploration of the
country. The result of years of careful investigation by the
best engineering talent was that a route recommended by Sandford
Fleming, north of the present main line, was adopted. This route
traversed the greatest possible quantity of our most fertile
land. For purposes which are only now unfolding themselves, the
C.P. Company chose to throw away all the results of Mr.
Fleming's laborious explorations. Instead of taking their line
through the best of the Fertile Belt, they brought it as far
south as they could. Instead of taking the Yellowhead Pass, they
aimed for the Kicking Horse, through which it is absolutely
certain no such first-class line as that projected by Mr.
Fleming can be driven. The present Government, as if in duty
bound, assented to this diversion -- and what are the
consequences?
The first of the consequences is to be recognized in the
Company's refusing to accept one-half of the land in the railway
belt. The next is, that in order to make up for the deficiency
thus created the Company has gobbled up every odd-numbered
section in the southern part of the old Province of Manitoba,
and in the best south of the railway and west of Manitoba. It
has become inevitable that whatever other tract the Company asks
for must be given to it. The object of the Company will of
course be to locate as much of its land as possible in the
eastern part of the North- West. From present appearances,
nearly twenty millions of the twenty-five millions of acres will
be thus located.
Worse than everything else is the fact that the Company's
public refusal to take more than 5,000,000 acres along the main
line goes forth to the world as a serious and unnecessary
hindrance to all efforts for the promotion of settlement.
Intending immigrants will surely put the worst construction
possible on the matter. It will be impossible to explain to
their satisfaction the objects of the Canadian Pacific Company
in locating its main line through an inferior section instead of
through the best land. They will certainly fail to recognize
that the Canadian Pacific was extremely anxious to get its line
far to the southward in order that no competitor could come
between it and the frontier.
***
Source: Globe, March 3, 1883
