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"? EXTRACTS FROM DEBATES
IN
DOMINION PARLIAMENT
AND
BRITISH COLDMBIi LEGISl^^tlVE COUNCIL
In 1871
ON
THE RAILWAY LAND CUIISE
Of
f Hfi TEBMS OF'
UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
WITH CANADA.
PRtJiTBD
OTTAWA.
1880.
WBULH<OT«J« »''**'''^'
■i..-,vi'jikiift,'^:'ii"
^w
BRT
THI
t:
T •
EXTRACTS FROM DEBATES
IN
DOMINION PARLIAMENT
AND
BRITISH COLUMBIA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
In 1871
ON
THE RAILWAY LAND CLAUSE
OF
THE TERMS OF UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
WITH CANADA.
OTTAWA :
PRINTED BY MACLEAN, ROGER & CO., WBLLU iTON STREET.
1880.
Ouof
The
the P^rli
been saic
and in tl
of the ad
cussiou
The
admissio
real reas
bia, at'tt
$100,00C
way thr
The
British (
to.
The
the Don
between
the Don
way be!
Pass on
In
1830," a
I a Confi(
I man, in
I to trans
1 tion wl:
purpose
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M:
British
\
EXPLANATION.
These Extracts were taken from the only reports of Debater lound in
the Parliamentary Library, Ottawa, and include all that is reported to have
been said, durinjj debate, in the Legislative Council of British Columbia
and in the Dominion Parliament about Railway Lands, when the question
of the admission of that Province into the Confederation was under dis-
cussiou in 1871.
The Extracts, from the Parliamentary Debates, in 1869, on the proposed
admission of Newfoundland, have been added to establish more clearly the
real reason, why the Dominion G-overnment offered to give British Colum-
bia, after the Financial Terms proposed by the latter were rejected,
$100,000 a year for ever for a 20-mile belt of land on each side of the Rail-
way through that Province.
The Financial Statements, on pages 1 and 2, show what Subsidies
British Columbia proposed, and what were offered by Canada and agreed
to.
The Appendix contains an extract from an Act of 1875 conveying to
the Dominion, a 20-mile belt of land on each side of the proposed Railway
between Esquimalt and Nanaimo ; and, also, an Act of 1880 conveying to
the Dominion Government, a 20-mile belt of Land on each side of the Rail-
way between English Bay, Burrard Lilet, and the summit of T6te Jaune
Pass on the eastern boundary of British Columbia.
In the Appendix, there is, also, a letter, dated " Victoria April 14th,
1830," addressed to the Attorney General of British Coluribia, by Mr. Trutch.
a Confidential Agent of the Dominion Government, in which that gentle-
man, in the name of that Government, requests the Provincial Government
to transfer to the Dominion, outride of the 40-mile belt, but does not men-
tion where, " an equal area of lands suitable for farming or other valuable
purposes," in lieu of those lands within the 40-mile railway land belt that,
on investigation, may be found valueless,— and has thus raised a question
that is entirely new— never heard of before.
My own intimate personal knowledge of the history of the union of
British Columbia with C^anada enables me to state, that this entirely new
\v ^7 «> O >^
iv
claim for land in that Province is -without a color or shadow of right to
support it. Nothing but the circumstance that Mr. Trutch who raises this
question, was one of the delegates who visited Ottawa, in 1870, to negotiate
the Terms of Union, makes it worthy of consideration. It is this fact that
has induced me to collect these Extracts, &c., together, and place them within
the reach of those who might otherwise be led to believe, that there is some
truth and justice in the claim put forward by Mr. Trutch. If new terms
respecting the Railway lands had been proposed, the proposal, whether
judicious or not, would have the merit of being honorable ; but the attempt
to import a new provision,— one never before hinted at, — into the Railway
Land Clause is, to say the least, highly discreditable ; and certainly is most
unworthy in one who undoubtedly knows better.
To understand this question thoroughly, it is necessary to know the
origin of the Railway Land clause of the Term ; jf Union.
On reference to pages 1 and 11, it will be noticed that British Columbia
proposed that her population for financial purposes be estimated at 120,000 ;
•' but finally agreed to accept the basis of the actual population, namely,
00,000." On this basis the subsidies stood (see page 2) as follows :
5 per cent on difference between actual and
allowed debt $ 33,289 71
60,000 inhabitants @, 80c. per head 48,000 00
Annual subsidy 35,000 00
Total $116,289 71
.,i^
8, an
that
fort
in li(
migl
Geo.
This total was nearly 1 100,000 less than the Legislature of British
Columbia had authorized the Delegates to accept. Unless that sum could
be made up in some way, it was useless to continue the negotiations. As
no expedient was at hand to make good the deficiency, the negotiations were
adjourned till next day. Next morning, Sir G-eo. Cartier entered the Privy
Council Chamber and stated that Parliament had offered Newfoundland,
$150,000 a year for ever for all her Crown Lands, and that he proposed to give
British Columbia, $100,000 a year for ever for a belt of land not exceeding
20 miles in widlh on each side of the Railway. This was promptly accepted ;
and Mr. Tmtch immediately drew up the Railway Land Clause,
the
1
Any ono'who will carefully examine the Railway Land Clause on page
8, and recollect that Mr. Trutch drew it up, cannot but feel fully convinced
that so well drawn a clause would have contained a provision providing
for the selection of land " suitable for farming or other valuable purposes "
in lieu of lands, within the Railway Laud belt that, " on investigation,"
might be found valueless, if such subject had been discussed ])etween Sir
Geo. Cartier and himself.
It will be seen, on page 4, that when Mr. Trutch moved in the Legis-
lative Council the adopt! yu of the Terms of Union, he said that " he could
not do better now than pass them in review and comment upon their
relative advantages." He stated that the nominal population of 120,000
" was objected to by the Canadian Government, and was fixed at 60,000 as
*' the basis of the financial portion of the terms," and that " The Railway
" subsidy was in return for abelt of land 20 miles on each side of the lino of
" the /oad." Not a word is mentioned about selecting good land any where
throughout the Province for what might be found valueless in the belt. So
the Railway Land Clause was accepted by the Legislative Council without
inquiry and interpreted according to the true intent and meaning of words
and sentences, although Mr. Trutch stated (page 4) that " the Delegates
" were present to explain the exact meaning of every clause as they under-
" stood it at the time of the making of the Terms."
rivy
and,
give
ding
»ted ;
^
The mountainous and sterile character of a large part of the Province
was well known to the Delegates, and to Mr. Trutch in particular ; for he
carried with him to Ottawa a copy of a map of the Province generally
known as ** Trutch's Map," intended for publication, which represented the
country generally as a "Sea of Mountains," and which was taken to the
photographer of the Public Works Department to be copied. The Dominion
Government cannot, then, plead ignorance of the rough and mountainous
character of the country.
It may be asked, why did the Railway Land Clause prohibit the
Provincial Government from selling any land within the Province
during two years from the date of the Union, and why was it only allowed
to permit pre-emptions ? The reason why they were not allowed to sell
w^ithin those two years was due to the fact that the line of Railway had
not been located, two years being allowed within which to make surveys
and. locate it, and during that time it would have been unfair to the Domi-
nion to sell lands that in common fairness ought to inure to its benefit.
Pre-e;nption8 wore allowed so as not to stop the actual settlement of the
country. If the line had been located in 1873 on the adopted route, some
hundreds of thousands acres of good laud within the belt would have passed
to the Dominion that art^ now in private hands.
It will be observed that th .< ll.iilway Land Clause says nothing about
the quality of the land, whel her valuable for farming land or any other
useful purpose. It simply speaks of </M'.w/i'/y ; and whatever quantity had
been alienated under Crown Grant or Pre-emption was to be made good
Xvom. contiguous \vin(\.^, — not from lands selected anywhere or everywhere
throuGfhout the Province.
The fact is the Dominion did not want the lands. It was only n
excuse to give the Province a subsidy sufiioient to ^arry on its government
and make internal improveme'its, — on the same principle as the $150,000
had been offered to Newfoundland. Mr, Anglin (page 16) stated that " the
Minister of Customs had admitted that it was only an excuse to give the
money, and that the lands were not wanted." Any contention, therefore,
at this late day, about the quality oi the land in the Railway belt, is most
mischievous.
Sir Alex. Campbell, when he moved in the Senate, the adoption of the
address for the admission of British Columbia stated very frankly the views
of the Government as to the value of the Railway lands as a source of
revenue. He siid (page 9) " It will be remembered that, in the case of New- \
foundland, we agreed to give her $150,000 per annum for land for ever. It ^
loas not believed in that case, NOR is IT IN this, that the land would yield any
revenue equal to that auin ; but it was valuoble in some respects ; and it wai
felt necessary to assist Newfoundland beyond the 80 cents per head of her
population."
This statement alone, taken as a governmental utterance, and as an
expression of the views of the Dominion Government as to the value of the
Railway Lands at that time, ought, in itself, to quiet forever all contention
about the quality of the land in the Railway Land belt.
Reference to and careful examination of the two Statutes of British
Columbia in the Appendix establish, beyond controversy, that the Provincial
Government has kept faith with the Dominion, and conveyed to it by
^
v{\
statute every toot of land it is entitled to for Railway purposes ; and,
speaking on my own personal responsibility, stands ready to make good
from contiguous land^ an area equal to what the Province haa alienated by
Crown Grant and Pre-emption.
A. DkCOSMOS.
Ottawa, Norember 20, 1880.
FINANCIAL TEBMS PEOPOSED BY BIUTISH COLUMBIA IN 1870 ; AND
FINANCIAL TEEMS AGREKD TO BY CAJ^ADA AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA, 1670.
From Commons' Sessional Pajer, Xo. 18, Vol 4, No. 4, 1871.
Terms proposed by British CoLUiMBiA to Canada in 1870.
Sec. 2. — "The population of British Cohimbia nhnl!, for the purpose of financial
" arrnnfirements, be estimated at 120,000. British Columbia not having incurred debts
" oqi al to those of the other Provinces of the Dominion, shall be entitled to receive
" ball-yearly, in advance, from the GenerarGovernmcnt, interest at the rate of five
" per centum, per annum, on the difference between the actual amount of its indebt-
" ednesa at the date of Union, and the proportion of the public debt of Canada for
" 120,000 of the population of Canada at the time of Union."
Sec. 3. — " The following sams shall be annually paid by Canada to British
" Columbia, for the support of the local Government and Legislature, to wit :
" An annual grant of 835,000, and a further sum, equal to SO cents per head, per
" annmn, of the population ; both payable half-yearly in advance, the population of
" British Columbia beitycr estimated as aforesaid at 120,000. Such grant equal to 80
" cents per head, to bo augmented in proportion to increase of population, when such
" may bo shown, until the population amounts to 400,000, at which rate such grant
" shall thereafter remain."
(Amendments proposed by the Legislative Council : "That the Governor bo rc-
'■ spectfully requested to striks out the figures 8-5,000 and insert in lieu thereof
$75,000.) (" That figures "403,000 " be altered to " 1,000,000.")
Subsidies by Dominion Government
From Commons' Sessional Papers, No. 18. Vol. 4- No. 4, 1871.
(PagoO.)
As proposed by terms submitted to Canada, 1870.
80 cents per head on 120,000 inhabit;ints $06 000
Subsidy ;J5.0(»0
Interest on difterenoe of debt at 5 per cent 82,000
8 i 13.000
(Pago3 10 and 11).
Debt agreed upon at Ottawa, 1st Jply, 1870.
Commons' Sessional Paper, No. IS. Vol ^. No. 'i. 1871.
Sect. 2.-60,000 population at $27.77 per capita.... l^^f^f^'^^l ^
«« Actual debt ' '
Balance 1872. Commons' Sessional Paper No. 2,
Part 4, B.C., Debt Account gbb&,7y4 d4
! I
Dominion Subsidies under Terms of Union.
(Page 10, 11 and 12 Sess. Pap. No. 18.)
Sect. 2.-5 per cent on $665,79434 at 5 per cent 833,289 71
Let 3.-6'f000 inhabitants at 80 cts ^^OO 00
Sel 11.-$" O^^Ool:; a'criu^^
Total subsidy to B. C «216,289 71
(I
From Mr. Trutch's Speech, reported in "Colonist," 1871.
Financial terms :
, ,. „. QA«f« $ 48,000
60,0'U) population at 80 cts '^ 35 000
Annial subsidy 29908
Difference in debt at 5 per cent... loo'oOO
Annual allowance for railway lands wy),vvv
Total subsidy «212,908
, « ^ .u » n n k> •iintroil li ner cent oa diffarence between nllowed
•Uuwe • debt.
•• $1,000,405.03. SiUiona' Papers, B.C., 1873-74, page 69.
'71
00
00
I 00
3
DEBATE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ON
ADMISSION OF THAT PBOVINCE INTO UNION.
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From British Coknist Report.
Subject : Eailwat Lands.
Section 11, clause 2.
" And the Government of British Columbift ap;ree to convey to the Dominion
Government, in tru^t, to be appropriated in such manner as the Dominion Govern-
ment may deem advisable in furtheranr-e of the construction of the eaid railway, a
similar extent of y>ublic landn, along the line cf railway throughout its entire length
in Britihh Columbia, not to exceed, however, twenty (20) miles on each side of said
line, as may lo appropriated for the same by the Dominion Government from the
public lands in the North Went Territories and the Province of Manitoba.
Provided that * the quantity cf land which may be held under pre-emption
or by Crown Grant within the limits of the tract of land in British
Columbia to be to conveyed to the Dominion Government shall be made good to the
Dominion from contiguous public lands ; and, provided further, that until the
commencement, within two years, as aforesaid, from the date of Union, of the
construction of the said railway, iho Government of British Columbia shall not sell
or alienate any further portiotih of the public lands of British Columbia in any other
way, than under right of pre-emption, requiring actual residence of the pre emptor
on the land claimed by him. In conndenition of the Ian 1 so conveyed in aid of the
construction of the said railway the Dominion Government agree to pay to British
Columbia from the date of Union, the sum of 100,000 dollars per annum, in half-
yearly payments in advance.""
British Colonist, January 19, 1871.
Extract from leader:
•' Our Legislature, yesterday, presented a stranire study. Just think of it! A
" Legislature created, we might say, lor the express | nrp')>e of deciding the great
" qui'stion of Confederation, giving a unuiiinious vnte in silence, save only tohat was
" said by the mover and seconder ! "
SPEECH OF Mn. TRUTCII AND OTHERS ON ADOPTION OF TERMS
OK UNION.
latween nUowed
>0 for subsidy oa
Legislative Council^ January 18, 1S7I. — Colonist report published January V>\ 1871.
"Hon. Chief Commissioner in rising to move the Orders of the day, said it
" devolved on him, as one of the Delegates ajjpointod by the Governor to negoliattt
iVoihin^; said of qiialitj.
H
:i
" the tei'ms of Union with Canada, to now lay before the Council for consideration
" and adoption the terras agreed to by the Government of the Dominion of Canada
itt ^ :|c :(: ^ :(: :^
" He looked in vain for any reasonable ground of objection to the Terms and
" could find none. They differed in 8ome respects from those passed by the Council
" last year, and he could not do better now than pass them in review and comment upon
" their relative advantages. The financial scheme differed very materially to the
" advantage of this colony. The population was, last year, set at the nominal
" amount of 120,000 persons, the reason for which was stated t(» this House. This
" nominal population, however, was objected to by the Canadian Government, and was fixed
" at 60,0(i0 as the basis of the financial portion of the terms. This, counting Indians
•' and all, was about the true population of the colony. The Dominion Government
" will take of our revenue 831)3,500, leaving to bo disposed of by the local govern-
'• ment 8170,450. From the Dominion, we receive bO cts per head on 60,000 inha-
" bitants ($48,000), an annual subsidy of $35,000 ; interest on difference of debt at
'^ b -per cent fi2ii,dOS, and railroad land annual allowance $100,000, making a total of
" $: 12,908. The railway subsidy was in return for a belt op land 20 miles on
" each side of tue line of the road.
" To the total subsidy add $170,'j50 revenue left to British Columbia, and wo
•' 'ad a grand total ot $383,358. Out of this latter sum, British Columbia had only
" to provide $236,073 for Local Government. This was based upon tiie Estimates
" of this year. "We hud, therefore, a balance of $147,285, at the disposal of the Locol
" Government, all the services being provided tor which are estimated for the
" current year. According to the scheme of lust year, the balance in favor of the
" Local Government v:ia $151, 050 ; but during the present fiscal year, the revenue
" has decreaspd, and the financial basis started with the population at 60,000 instead
"of at $120,000."
" The Delegates had more trouble with the Graving Dock item than with all
" other clauses put together."
T* T* 'K 'r »»* 'P *?* •!• •'n 'h
*' In the railway Clause, the Colony does not get any coach road ; but they get
" a speedier coMPLETfON of the railroad than was sui/gosted last year, and are
" OFFERED $100,0'l(» FOR EVER FOR A CERTAIN BELT OF LAND ALONO THE RAILROAD TO
" BE HELD IN TP.UST BY THE CANADIAN GoVEKNMENT."
*
*
*
*
"The Government would lay before the Council the form ot an Address, which
" would bo open to amendment, and the delegates were present to explain the exact
"meaning OF EVERY CLAUSE OS thfy Understood it at the time of makino the tec" "
" Hon. Dr. Helmcken seconded the resolution of the hon. Chief Commissionor
" to go into Committee." ***** >t:
"The motion to go into Committee was then passed unanimously, and the
"Council resolved it^elf into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Pembcrton in the chair."
" The Committee took up consideration of the Address and Terms, which arc as
" follows : —
" To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty : "
"Clauses 1,2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were passed unanimously.
" At clause 7, Mi". Nathan said that he was prepared to support the immediate
"acceptance of the Canadian tariff and would therefore move that consideration of
'' this clause be deferred.
•'Hon. Chief Commissioner said it was not necessary at this time to move the
" adoption of the Canadian Tariff, — it could bo done at any future time— say on
" Monday."
"Mr. Nathan accepted the view of the hon. Chief Commissioner, and clause 7
"was then passed."
. ■" Esq
isideration
of Crinada
rorma and
le Council
■ment upon
Uy to tho
Q nominal
ise. This
i was fixed
ig Indians
)vernment
i\ govern-
,000 inha-
of debt at
a total of
) MILES ON
], and wo
I had only
Estimates
tho Locnl
i lor the
'Or of the
a revenue
)0 instead
1 with all
they get
, AND ARE
LROAD TO
SH, which
he EXACT
5 TEf" "
mi88:onor
, and tho
he chair."
ch arc as
n modi ate
jration of
move tho
I— say on
clause 7
' At clause 10, Mr. Bunsler moved that the word Nanaimo h'o added instead of
hsquimalt, as Nanaimo was the place at which a dry dock should bo built.
" Mr. Nathan expressed an intention of moving an address to the Governor askin«-
for an extended guarantee for the Dock. "
"Mr. Bunster pressed his amendment (laughter). Hon. gentlemen might laugh
but if they only know the advantages Nanaimo h£^, they wouldn't laugh, f Re-
newed merriment.) ^
" The clause passed, Mr. Burster dissentinc.
" The remaining claitses were ihen j^assed unanimously and amid much applause:'
*
*
sp
" Tho Committee rose and reported progress, and asked leave to sit again."
AMENDMENTS RESPECTING RAILWAY LANDS.
Extracts from Journals of Commons, 1871.
Pages 162-3. March 30.
^ j" Mr. Ross (Dundas) moved in amendment thereto, seconded by Mr. Jones
" (Leeds and Gronville), " That the words *-■»=* * " The said terras also ple.ige
" the government to a yearly payment to British Columbia of tho sum of $100,000
" in porpetuit}', equal to a capital of $2,000,000 for the cession of a tract of waste
" land on the route of tho Pacific Railway to aid in its construction, which British
" Columbia ought to cede without charge in like manner, as tho lands of Canada are
" proposed to be ceded for tho^same purpose." ^= * * ^'- =!= "■•
Motion lost 75 to 80.
Page 153. 28th March.
Mr. Mackenzie had the above clause in his motion of 28th March.
Pago 19?. March 31.
" Mr. Blake moved in amendment, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Smith. (West-
" moreland). That all tho words afler "That" to tho on I of the question bo loft
'' while any such land ie]uii-od for that purpose should bo coded without charge in
" like manner as the Ian Is of tho Dominion are to bo ceded, and that tho said resola-
" tions be recommitted for tho purpose of amending the same in accordance with
" this resolution," inserted instead thereof: "
VoT*— This atnendm«nt>as lojt. 5D to 81.
PAKLIAMBNTAEY DEBATES ON ADMISSION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,
1871.
Extracts from Debates puhlished at Ottawa Times Office.
Pago 661, Ottawa, March 28, 1S71.
" Sir Geo. E. Cartieb— * * * " Tho doleffatos of British
»ue^oriK^n° of th"" Columbia wished to have tho subsidy placed at 80c. per hoad for
$100,000 subsidy for" "^ population of 120,000; but on being informed that it would be
" impossible to obtain the assent of Parliament to such terms, they
" allowed tho population to bo put at 60,000
*|* •?• "I* ^ I* •p ^
the
Railway land belt.
" While this clause w 75 under discussion between the deleqates and the Government, it was
" PROPOSED BY THE DOMINION that the cn>ony shouli hand over a Jorty mile strip of
*• land towards the construction of the railway. That would be 2t,000 square miles of
" land, or i>0,.i60 000 acres of land, not merely aqricultoral land, but mineral
'* LAND. Placing that l&nd at SI per acre, it would be equal to a grant of 350,360,0i)0
" towards the construction of the railway. It was proposed to give the colony
" $100,000 per annum, which, placing tho interest at 5 per cent., would be the
"Jannual interest on 2,000,0j0 acres of land, leaving tho remainder to bo used by
•' this Governraont;"
*
J
Page 665.
" Sir A. T. Galt * * * •« The result was tho colony would receive tlSO.OOO to
" $1*70 000 a year from Canada for Union, including a trade guarantee for the works
" at Esquimau, lie would not object to that price for political union; and did not
" think it too great an equivalent for valuable lands exacted from the colony for the
" railway."
'*
*
" Hon. Mr. Tillet.— * * *. " Ho entirely agreed wilh his hon. friend (Gait)
" that it was impossible to tako large Provinces into tho Dominion with a small
See Gait's Speech. " population, acquire all their lands without giving them in return
It only refers to " the means of carrying cut the lucal works necessary to make the
railway lands. n country attractive to immigrants, and how could it be expected that
" the people of this large Province, twice tho size of (.)ntario, Wiiuld be in a position
OoVt propofal to " To DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF THEIR COUNTHY WITHOUT ASSIST-
gire $100,000 for «' ANCE,— AND THAT ASSISTANCE was xchat the Government proposed to
merelVto*ei*ve Pro- " ^*'"^^''' *" '^* proposition bifore the House. The member for tShirbrooke
TinceenoiiffhtocHr- " '""^ sa/V/ ihot ho would have pnferred that the Government should
ry on local works. " h/ioe come down and asked a direct vote for that purpose ; but he
" would remind tho ''on. member that ho had not been in favor of that mode, when
" it was proposed with reference to Newfoundland. * * sk * ;;;
After recesp. Pages 669 and 670.
'• Hon Mr. Tilley resumed the debate. Ho had been pointing out tho difference
" between the proposition of British Columbia, and that adopted ultimately, which
" he regarded as the more favorable to the Dominion. jk * * *
" Tho expense for local works would hardly amount to as much as the hon. member
*' for Sherbrooke estimated they would. Excluding the annual sum of 5100,000 for
5*5
jUMBIA,.
British
head for
would be
arms, they
mf, IT WAS
ite strip of
) miles of
? MINERAL
50,3t)0,0i)0
ho colony
lid bo the
u9od by
I
n 50,000 to
the works
nd did not
my for the
5K
end (Gait)
h a Hmall
in return
make the
rpected that
A POSITION
»UT ASSIST-
proposed to
Shrbrooke
nent should
le ; but he
ode, when
" the land grant and the expenses of the Government, those charges would amount t o
*' a total of $36 1,000. The revenue amounted to $363,400, which, of course, would
" largely increat^o in the future. The difference therefore was not so great after all.
" Even supposing that the Local Government should accept our lower tariff, the
" revenue would reach $308,000. TAcSlOOjOOO tens, therefore, theamount of expenditure
" in excess oj receipts, and for this the Government received a large grant of valuable land.
" Now the question was is the union of the Colony worth the cost."
:|« 'K * * V * ;!; * -^
Page8'672, 673.
"Hon. Mr. Mackenzie. — * * * He would consent to a considoraMe grant
" of money to carry on the Government of a now Colony, and pai-ticularly of such a
" difficult country as Columbia, and ho would not show himself less libera! than any
" other member of the House in considering what ought to bo done in the present
The objection of Mr. <« case. In the discussim in reference to Newfoundland, he preferred
oTeVthe TaTd,%^oUo the " ^^^^^^^ff « ^^^ f^ <^<^rry on the Government, rather th-n take over
payment of $100,000 a " ^^^ public lands, as while the revenue was 83,000 per annum,
jear. " the cost of management was $6,000, — and he took the same view
" with regard to the land grant for the covstruction of the railway to the Panfic.
'* From all ho knew of the country, after descending from the Rocky Mountains,
" the country was valueless for agricultural purposes. The gold mines have certainly
" proved to bo very remunerative, but they are carried on by large companies, and
" the large importations of breadstuffs into the colony corroborated tho barrenness of
" the land." 5)cHc*5K**M«*Ht
* ^ * * " The said terms also pledge tho Government
" of Canada to a yearly payment to British Columbia of the sum of $100,000 in
" perpetuity, equal to a capital sum of $2,000,000 for the cession of a tract ot wasto
'* land of the route of the Pacific Railway to aid in its construction, which Bi-itii^h
" Columl 1 ought to cede without charge, in like manner as tho lands of Canada aro
" proposctt to be ceded for tho same purpose."
5)<
*
*
*
*
Pago 714, Ottawa, March 30, 1871.
" Hon. Mr. Morris =''• * * " Ho asked tho Houso seriously tho nature and
" character of tho land proposed to bo acquired. The land consisted of tho United
" Province of British Columbia and Vancouver Island ; and no one could deny would
" increase enormously the wealth, tho resources, and thoprosperity of the Dominion."
"He had several extracts from works on tho country, showing its valuable nature
" and character, and. thought the member for Lambion was tot justified in the remmhs
" he had uml to the effect of there being scarcely any arable land in the whole of British
" Columbia:'
" Mr. Mackenzie stated that what ho said was that after descending the slopes of
" the Rocky Mountains, the country icas the roughest on the continent."
" Hon. Mr. Mi^ruis, thought tho construction ho had put on tho hon. members
" remarks was not very far wrong ; but ho could state on tho indisputable authorily
" of Mr. Trutch, tho Surveyor General of British Columbia, that taking the whole
" of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, fully one-third or 50,00 1,000 of acres
" was good farming land, while tho whole acreage of Ontario was 77,000,000 acres."
* * * .'!: * ;|: :.'; * *
difference
sly, which
* -*i5
n. member
00,000 for
Pago 717.
" Mr. Omver resumed tho Debate '■'' * * ''* *
" It was manifestly unfair to give $100,000 per year for lands which had not yet been
" proved to be worth anything. Tho assumption of those lands by the Dominion
*' would entail additional expense on the general government. It would bo much
" better to leave them in the hands of the local Government who could manage them
" better than the administration at Ottawa." ^c * is *
*
*
*
*
Page
718.
" Hon. Mr. Anolin
* * Ho disapproved of th« unfair Parliamentary
*' representation, giving six members to 1H,00U people; to pensioning officers, and to
" the payment of $100,000 per annum to sustain a corrupt and extravagant Government ;
" given too, under the pretence that it tvas rent for public umds. Let the Iloueo know
" all the meaning of these terras ^ i{i i^ ^ sj;
** At the Rocky Mountains, fresh difficulties were to be met, and the British Cololonist, a
** paper publi^hod at Victoria, V. I., favorublo to Confederation, spoke of the route
" through which it was proposed to run the railway as ' a sea of mountains.' If this
" account were correct, it would be difficult to find those vast tracts of fertile country.
" spoken of by hon, members opposite, and it could be no easy matter to run a railway
" through it. With this much known, this IIo'iso should bo enabled to understand
" how much of a burden they were expected to boar, before they were asked to
" vole for this measure." =■' * '■'• ■'■• =i- ^ ='=
;;< :>: :■,: >;; sf! U-. >(: J^: * .
*
Pago T20.
" Whore was the population to come from ? When it was well known that the
" population of British Columbia had materially decreased of late years! Jt could
'' only be ex2)lained by the fact that the country teas not inviting to settlers . * ^= Pi-
page 726.
Hon. Mb. McDougall. — ■■^ ■'■^ <- " Through and beyond the llocky Mountains,
" the country teas of a nature most difficult for a railway and most discouraging as regards
'^ the prospects of settlement and traffic." :;: ■ ■
*
^
Page 727.
" The same might be said of the money grant, which, though based on a larger population
" than really existed did not form a serious objection ; for it had always been understood
" that the small Provinces should bo enabled to carry on the Government and local
" works, and ho would bo quite ready to vote directly a siifiicient sum to enable British
*' Columbia to meet her expenses. '* * •'' '■'•' '■■'• '■•' "^
Page 744. March 31, 1871.
" Hon. Mk. Mackenzie said that in the speech of tho lion. Minister of Militia,
" the statement had boon made /A I/! one <A<ni of //ic land in British Columbia was fit
" for agriculture But it was admitted that this btaiemont embraced tho Island of
" Vancouver. Now. in dealing with this question, the hland must not be taken into
" consideration at all. From all the evidence he could obtain respecting the mainland,
" not O'le fifth of it was avadab'e for s ttle-nent by fnmers, and the remaining four fifths
" through which the road tvas likely to run, had yet to be proved good for mining purposes.
" It was simply absurd to put the price of that land ul $1 per acre. ^' -'■ '■^'■
Pages 74S-7»!>.
" Sir Geo. E. Cartieu. — '■- * * Ft;- [\\Ki sako of tho niorabcr for Lainbtou
*■ himself, he 'rusted his speo<h would nut bo reported, and especially that part in
t'li
*
" which ho hud dpokon of tho characlcr of tho land in tho njoat disad van lagoons
" terms ; and yot ho aaid ho was in favor of building iho railway as soon as possible.
" If tho land was as described by tho hon. member, why should a railway bo built at
I « all. *>!<*** ***
I
Pago 749.
' Tho hon. membors opposite had boon suflSciontly unpatriotic to represent tho
*' country as that it would never attract immigration, and he quoted from tho pro-
" coodings of tho House of Kepresentatives of the State of Minnesota, speaking of the
" Canadian line as practicable, and the territories of the North West and British
" Columbia as the most fertile on tho continent. ****=<=
" Mr. Mackenzie denied that ho had done anything to decry tho country."
" Hon. Sir Geo. E. Cartieu was glad ho had given tho hon. member an oppor-
" tunity to correct himself, lie quoted an article from an American paper, copied
" into tho Globe, characterizing the Saskatchewan country as most valuable in soil
■ and minerals, and British Columbia as possessing rich mineriil res-
sources, magnificent climate and fine sod. it was iorlunate the truth
could be ascertained, even if it came from oppanents."
* ;;; :;; .-■: . * * M: *
American pappi's
statement.
Pago 755.
M. Blake moved in amendment.
{See also Journal of Commons, page 193, March 31, 18TI.)
Ottawa, April 1, 1871.
Address carried.
DEBATES IX SENATE ON ADMISSION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Senate, April 3, 1871.
Page 77C.
" Hon. Mr. Ca.mi'BIK.i., "^ ^'' =- * . Now I como to that item which provides
" that Dominiori jrovornment agree to p'ly British Columbia the sum of SlOO.O'iO, m
'^ consideration of the land alonuside the railway. It mill be remembered thit, in
" case of i\ewfoundland, we agreed to glue her S15.»,OOJ per annmi
Set< Senate Debate-;, "for land, forever. It was not believed in that case, nor is it
186J, page 143. <' in THIS, that the land 'could yield any reoenue equal to that sum; but
" it was valuable in many respects, and it was felt necessauy to
** assist Newfoundland beyond the 80 cents per head of population.
yf. H< :N * * * * *
Page 776.
Hon. Mr. Campbell. — "It must bo remembered that in making an arrangement
" with a country like this, sparsely populated and with large boundaries, provision
10
" mvst be marie for inUrnnl development, and in any union ice 7nust make it satisfactory to
" the people of that counin/ as well as ourselves Lookinpf, thoroforo, nt tho wliolo state
" of tho caso, there wouM only remain to British Columbia 01i»O,OCO,
f loo.co for internal „ ^^^jjch ^e propose to ifive to her /or the land she affroos to code to
"the Dominion ON the line of railway, burely that cannot bo
•' considered an unreasonable aj-rangoment; in fact. I hjivo not hoai-d any one say so."
" In Ontnrio, it is expected that alternate sections of 20 miles will bo ^iven for
" tho const motion of the roid, whereas British Columbia gives a continuous grant of 20
''iniPs on each side. Therefore the quantity of land given by that colony is twofold.
" Therefore the item respecting the land can be defended successfully with respect to the
*' tiecessities and reqnirementa of the country, and in a lesser deoreb,
NecesBity to (fire « jjy ^^i^^, eession 01 tho land itself which tho Dominion is to receive."
Pago 793.
" Hon. Mr. Miller * * * British Columbia including Vancouver Island, as
"thoy were well aware, was tho most western dependency of England on this con-
" tinent. * * * The country, altfioufih in many parts broken and uneven, contains
'* much valuable agricultural land, equal to the support of a great population. -^ ''
" British Columbia is known to contain coal formations ot iminenso extent. * ^- *
"Then copper abounded in tho colony, and also magnetic iron ore, marblo, limestone,
•' bandstono, &c. Its gold fields had a world-wide reputation.
I
Page 796.
" Hon. Mr. Miller * * * j'fie financial arrangements had
" doubtless been settled on accurate information and a full investigation of the wants and
" circumstances of the Colony."
I
Page 809.
'* Hon. Mr. Sandborn, * * * Whilst the government
"undertake to incur so enormous an expenditure in connection with tho railway, they
"agree to pay 8100,000 yearly in consideration of the land, advanced for the construction
^* of that work. How the government could over entertained a proposition of that
"character I cannot understand. If B'itish Columbia has any interest in having
" this road built and uniting with Canada, surely sho ought to bo willing to give up
"bo much of her territory as will bo necessary for tho purpose of securing ooramuni-
" cation between them and us. Tho more I consider tho financial features of tho
"scheme, as respects the railway, tho more I see their unfairness, and am convinced
"of my duty to opijorio them." '■■■ -^ -'^ -!= -■!= *
Page 810.
" Hon. Mr. McPherson :(: h; * ypip^ x^nj^ respect to the
*' financial features of the scheme, evert one must admit that it is absolutely necessary
" th'it Britiah Columbia shou'd h'we the ability to support her local government and of
" vveting her local requirements. The Dominion bgroos to pay an annual subsidy of
" JJ^.o.OOO, as in the cases of the other Provinces; also, 80 cents per head, equivalent
'• to $48,000; these sums amount to only 883,(»00, which is evidently altogether inade-
" (7"'"^* ^^ "'^^^ ^^^ '<"^'^^ wants of this Colony. TiiEnEFoRE it was
**°8ubTidy '\foimd necessary to supplement thH amount by S100,000-no very
" extravagant sum certainly.
" If instead of 93o,W0, it had been shown that 8 13'), 000 was required by British
" Columbia in order to maintain her Provincial services, and mako such local
" improvements as she would require, this country could not have objected to give it,
" and that too without an equivalent in the shape of land. Instead of that, however, tho
I
11
Isfartcry to
vholo Htato
!«1.)0,0C0,
to code to
cannot bo
ncsay so."
^ivon for
grant of 20
18 twofold.
spect to the
It DEGREE,
o receive."
ir Island, u.s
this fon-
•en, contaim
it. * ^: *
limestone,
ngemmts had
he wants and
) government
railway, they
le construction
lit'on of that
st in having
ng to give up
ng coramuni-
atiires of tho
f\m convinced
i: sk
respect to the
itely necessary
'.rnment and of
iial subsidy of
id, equivalent
together inade-
EFORE it was
,000— no very
red by British
{0 such local
cted to give it,
, however, the
I
i
I
i
'i
i
if
" Government of tho Dominion has stipulated that a strip of land, 40 miles wide,
" should bo given along the route of tho proposed railway in British Columbia. If
" the information we have is at all correct, that land must become very valuable in
" tho course of time, and I think tho country has every reason to bo satisfied with
" this part of the arrangement. jfc * * *^ * "^
*
Pages 8U and 81.5.
" Hoy. M. Dbver: — In answer to tho remarks of some of tho Opposition as to
tho value of the possessions in quostion, no better answer could bo given than the
following statement taken from the Now- York Tribune of a late date. Speaking of
tho ressourcos of BritiNh America, tho New York Tribune said ; * * *
Beyond tho Rocky Mountains is British Columbia, abounding with gold, and
containing tho best and most abundant coal mines yet found on tho Pacific Slope.
It has a superior soil, a magniticjnt climate, ami an abundance of tish. That
colony is in every respect in " natural superiority " fully on a par with California,
and Oregon, and tho Territory of Washington."
of Mr. Mcpherson.
Page 836, April 4, 1871.
•Referrintr to speech " lIoN. Mr. DicKEv. — * * * What the county may be over tho
" steppes of British Columbia, I cannot say, nor can ho. * * *
Page F40.
" Hon. Mr. Cuapais. * * * British Columbia has not dictated
" the terms and conditions of her Union with Canada, as that hon.
" member was pleased to say yesterda}- ; but we have objected to and
" amended the terms proposed by her and the changes, have been accepted
" by her delegates. * * * *
Rrferring to Mr.
LeTellier.
Pago 844.
" British Columbia has agreed to grant fifteen million acres ol'
he did not " ''^"^ alonq the route, a,n<\ these will be sufficient or nearly so for
where the " the construction of their part of the road. Immigration will settle
Yet
knnw
road was to go I
along the road, and thus it will prove a lasting benefit to British
" Columbia and Canada.
I« * :f: * * * =i=
Pago 84().
" The distance fi-om Fort Garry to tho Rocky Mountains 1,125 miles, is of an
" easT character, and the (>00 miles following through the sea of mountains (as it has
" bpcn called) is difficult ; but much less so on our isido than on the American Tor-
" ritory, where tho two lines are being constructed. -^ ''^ ^^'-
Pago 817.
" As fi»r tho climate and nature of the soil in British Columbia, I can prove, that
" they are most favorable to colonization. ^ * Because the Rocky Mountains
" intervene between Canada and British Columbia, it must not be inferred that tho
" whole colony is of the same character as those Mountains and is unfit for coloniza-
'* tion purposes. When, for instance, a traveller visits the Saguenaj river, and looks
" at its high rocky walls, ho cannot conceive that tho country behind is of such a
" splendid character as it has proved to be round Lake St. John and elsewhere. Well,
" it is tho same with British Columbia, and tho Tenitories north of Lake Superior,
(
12
" for llio whole length of the road, — and I have |>rovcd that onco the Eocky Mountains
" are passed, the country is as favorable as any part of Canada, with respojl to climate,
'« soil, timber. &c." ********
Pago 83 G.
" Hon. Mr. Sbymour =!= * * * As respects the amount of money which is to bo
•' handed over to British Columbia, I reror to the $100,000 a year in porspeclivo, it
" really amounts to a capital of two millions of dollars, for the purchdst of lands of
•' lohich ice know nothing, and of which there has been no survey or exploration. Wo are
" certainly proceeding in the dark. S>) far as wo know only a small portion of the
•' lands of British Columbia are fit for the purposes of cultivation. Already free
" grants of land have been offered, but the country nevertheless is not settled. Tho
" truth is that you cannot form Bottlomonts because there is a small proportion of
" lands fit for cultivation. Even admitting that one third is fit for cultiv^aiion, any
" person who knows anything about tho land is aware thnt they aro not ncccsMiblo.
" IVe »my literally hand over the sum o/ 4100,000, /or a worthless purchase. ^•' * If you
" could not derive a revenue from the tortile lands of Ontario, how can you expct to
*' do 80 from this miserable region of thj west ? (Hear) * ^ Those who talk
"about settling this western country are hardly awak( o what they aro saying.
*• Some years ago there was a great rush to the country .o prospect for gold and
" minerals; but all that excitement has died away, and mining is now pursued only
" to a tmull extent."
Pages 862-807.
" Hon. Mr. Wark -•= -i- =i^ Instead of giving the people of British Columbia the
^' $100,000, I would capitalize it, and that would probably give thorn $2,000,000 to
" spend in improving their communications. *****
" Njt only would I grant them a sufficient representation, but 1 would give them
" ALL THE NECESSVEY REVENUE FOB THEIR LOCAIi REQUIREMENTS) but tO bind the
" Dominion to construct the Kuilway within 10 years at whatever cost, is promising
" too much. * '■^- "■' •■:= * '^ * *
" In British Columbia, the Cascades on the Pacific Coast, the Gold, the Selkirk,
" and the Rocky Mountains, and in addition to those particular ranges, there are
" considorabio portions of very rugged country, through which tho road will pass.
* * ;|: JK * * ^: •-;; *
" t
<(
" 1
i(
II
Page 872.
" Hon. P. Mitchell
of
Mitchell ^= ='= * * •' Ho further states that a very largo portion ol
Referring to Sanbora" the territory in British Columbia is unfit for settlement; " * "•'•
t Refers to Wad- « That gentleman (f) further states that 213 miles of tho land
Jir'^wrts loo°mUe8 " <-h''o«gh which it pas.ses is of good quality and fit for Boltlomont,
in the interior. " and a considerable portion of it is above tho average of settlement
." land, in Canada." *******
Pages 875 and 876.
" It is important in considering the ability of Canada to carry out her engage-
ment to look at tho character of tho land, through which tho railway runs. I have
t Waddington, " already stated tho opinion of an (t) engineer of standing in refer-
'' cnco to those in Briiish Cjlumbia, and in confirmation thoreof I
" will quote from a paper read before the Royal Geographical
" Society of L)ndon in 1H69, a description of that {*) country
•' through wtiich it is proposed that tho railway shall run, that for
" .^00 miles in length it runs, through •' a rich plateau of (Ultivable
"soil generally heavily timbered, and capable of producing any
Wd3 no engineer.
' Bute route. See
Journal? of (ieog.
Society, vol. ;s8
nage 125-6. 1868
Waddington.
13
" country as rou/^jh, clenrly itidicntcH Its fertile chariictor, ami adaptability for cul-
" tivntion and fjrazing." :)<**;!« ;;: :h s^ :<;
Pago yOG.
April 5.
"Hon. Mr. Christie— * * * $100,000 for piymont of land," * =i< =k
"Thi», added to the $97,800 before mentioned gives the colony $144,800, and ropro-
" pentH the annual coHt to the Dominion, over revenue, including the payment for
" land." * * *
Pago 907.
" West of this to the Pacific, the country is almost worthless for agricultural
" purposes, — there is a good deal of mineral wealth, some valuable fisheries, but no
" farming lands. In conversation with my friend, the hon. Malcolm Cameron, I was
" informed by that gentleman that his own observation and nil the information ho
" could gather during a visit to that country in 1862, had led him to the conclusion
" that only very small proportions of Briti>h Columbia could bo made available for
" agricultural purposes. In the small intcrsticial valley?, there was fertile lands;
" but the quantity was very inconsiderable and oven those valleys were liable to
" inundation by the June torrents. The uplands were poor and rocky. The prairie
" portions were covered by a grass well-known to the Western men as " bunch grass ; "
" unfit for pasture, and indicating a poor sterile Koil. Mr. Cameron only saw two
" good farms in the whole country ; they wore on Vancouver Island, and had been
" made good by a largo expenditure of money. On his return to Canada, Mr.
" Cameron gave a fair statement of the country and its resources, for which he was
" assailed in strong terms in a letter, signed by some forty persons from Canada, who
" had emigrated to British Columbia, 'ihoy declared that Mr. Cameron's statements
" were calculated to mislead Canadians, and woro altogether too favoiablo to the
" country, which was unfit for agricultural purposes. The letter in question will bo
" found in the Globe of the 18th February, ISG;-}. It is signed by persons from many
" parts of Canada, and many of them well known to some of my colleagues, as
" persons of respectability and induetrious habits, who went there as pioneers of
" civilisation. It is evident that money, and money alone, must build this railway."
^^ "f* Jf? '1^ •(» Jp 5{J
Pago 911.
" Hon. Mr. BoTSFOiiD. -f * * No one denies that British Columbia possesses
" many valuable resources, — that it has the finest coal on the Pacific coast — in itself a
" great element of wealth— that it has fisheries which must be a very lucrative source
" of commerce, — that it has gold, to an extent of which oven yet wo cannot form an
" accurate idea, besides many other minerals. What then is this great stumbling
" block ? "
Page 917.
" Hon. Mr. Odell. * * * "With all the information before me I do not soo
" that wo can derive much revenue from the resources of British Columbia. If wo
" are to pay the expenses of their government, and everything connected with it, —
" if wo aro to build this railway, why too are wo called upon to pay $100,000 for the
" right of way through the country which they ought to give free ly. The mode of
■5 1
li ■,'f
u
*' submitting tho measuros— tho fictitious population, the disproportionate repreaen-
*' tiition, five per cent on the indebtedness nor head calculated on 60,000 instea*! of
" 10.000 in section 2, and the 100,000 for railway lands, are all objections, but minor
" objections that might be got over. Now I have come to the railway, tho real
" stumbling block in this matter so-called by the supporters of tho scheme.
DEBATE OX ADMISSIOX OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, 18tl.
Toronto Globe Report, March, 28,
1871, in Scrap[Book. Lib. Parliament.
Pugo
62
" Sir Geo. Cartier, moved that tho House go into Committee to consider &
series of resolutions respecting the admission of British Columbia into Union with
Canada. *********
" He might now say that the terms were tho same with exceptions, which had
been otfered to Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. * * *
" TAe rf;)resen^af<yes of British Columbia wished to have their population regarded
as 120,000 on the ground that that number was what was indicated by the consunap-
tion of goods as compared with the consumption in Canada. But they finally agreed to
accept the basis of the actual population, namely 60,000."
" The next point he would rcier to was that relating to tho Pacific Railway,
which was as follows : —
" The Government of the Dominion undertake to secure the commencement
simaltaneously, within two years of the date of the Union, of tho construction ot ft
railway from the Pacific towards tho Rocky Mountains, and from such point as
may be selected east of the Rocky Mountains towards the Pacific to connect tho
seaboard of British Columbia with tho Railwa}' system of Canada, and further to
secure the completion of such railway within ton years from the date of Union.
" And the Government of British Columbia agree to convey to tho Dominion
Government, in trust, to be appropriated in such manner as the Dominion Govern-
ment may deem advisable in furtherance of the construction of tho said Railway, a
similar extent of Public Lands along the line of Railway throughout its entire
length ill British Columbia, not to exceed, however, twenty (20) miles on each side
of haid line as mny be appropriated for the same purpose by tho Dominion Govern-
ment from the Public Lands in tho North West Territories and tho Province of
Manitoba; provided that the quantity of land which may be held under pre-emption
right or by crown grant within the limits of the tract of land in British Columbia
to be so conveyed to the Dominion Government, shall be made good to the Dominion
from contiguous Public Lands ; and provided further, that until the commencement
within two years as aforesaid from the date of the Union of the construction of
the said Railway, tho Government of British Columbia shall not sell or alienate
any further portions of (he Public Lands of British Columbia in any other way
than under right of pre-emption, requiring actual residence of the prcemptor on tho
land claimed by him. In consideration of the land to be so convoyed in aid of the
construction ot the said Railway the Dominion Government agree to pay to Biitiwh
Columbia from the cl te of the Union tho sum of $100,000 per annum in half yearly
paj'ments in advance."
" The Government did not intend to build tho road themselves, but by means of
companies that would have to bo assisted principally by grants of one dollar lands.
(Hear, hear.) The land which British Columbia would contribute for this purpose
15
I repreaen-
instoflfi of
but minor
f, the real
Pago 62
consider a
Jnion with
* *
which had
* *
on regarded
e consurap-
lly agreed to
was valued at one dollar an acre, which would amount to $15,360,000. For this
the Government would undortako to pay 8100,000 a year to British Columbia,
which was interest at 5 per cent on two million dollcrs. That was to nay that in
the purchase of these two million acres. Government would be the gainer to the
extent of 813,360,000 with whijh to assist the railway that would be undertaken.
The Government insisted vpon that as a sine qua non condition.
'♦ The land must be und-. • their control in order to aid the railway."
"Mr. Mackenzie '*'*'<' In the discussion upon the admission of Newfoundhnd
last session, tiiey were asked to vote 8150,000 a year, in view of the disposal of
public lands to the Dominion. ^e had stated that he prefer red leaving the landsin the
hands of the Province, hecavse ihey brought in a revenue of 83,000 a year, and cost for their
management 8< ,000. he took the same ground now with reference to the land grant to aid
the railway through British Colum'>ia. He believed these lands in that Province
wore almost valueless, th< agh ho had to confess that he was about as ignorant on
that point as the goverrrnent themselves (laughter.) But all the evidence they
had went to show th<",t the land west of the Rocky Mountains was of a rocky
character. The Minister of Militia claimed that it was valuable for mining purposes;
but now-a-days large capital was necessary for the development of mineral wealth.
The very fact that there were large imports for consumptiom indicated that tkb
LAND v.'AS NOT MCCH GOOD FOR FARMING PURPOSES, Ho was bi>und therefore to look
upon the acquisition of that colony as simply a political necessity, which ho
admitted was a somewhat urgent one."
^^ ^1^ *^ ^* ^^ ^^ o> ^^
*
J Railway,
tnencement
•uction ot ft
h point as
onnect the
further to
Union.
Dominion
on Govern-
Railway, a
t its entire
fi each side
on Govorn-
Province of
re-emptioti
1 Columbia
) Dominion
uoncomont
truciion of
or alienate
other way
pti)r on the
aid of the
^ to Britinh
half yearly
y moans of
oUar lands,
his purpose
Page 64.
" Mr. Mackenzie. The only valuable land available for that great purpose was
" from Winnipeg Kivcr to the Rocky Mountains."
■fC r|C #|C ^ yj^ ift ^ ^
" West of the Rocky Mountains, the country was very rough, and it would be
'• diiRcult to build a road over it."
4^ ^^ ^^ ^^ %^f \^ 9M0 *'
" He thought it was must unjust to lead the people of British Columbia to believe
" that we could complete that work within ten years, and he entered his protest
•* against deluding these peojile and leading this house astray in the matter ot the
" railway."
0^ SfC !|C 9f» ■fC SfC 'fC •!(
'• Mr. Masson : =♦= * British Columbia offered us more than thoN(»iih-
" West could offer us ; for it had gold miries and coal fields."
" Mr. Youso * * * j^YiQ grant of a hundred thousand dollars on
" account of the lands for the Pacific was otyectionable. That amount capitalized at
"6 per cent, was equal to two million dollars, and brought to mind the propo.sition
" to give 8150,000 per annum to the rocks, <&c., of Newfoundland two years ago.
*^ •'JC JJ5 *|s ^p* ^^ ^s ^^
" Mr. Bi,ake * * * It was an utterly vain expectation that the govorn-
" ment would be able out of those lands whether the country was settled or not, to
" make any conRiderablo sum of money."
^P J^s "T* T^ ^^ ^F *^ T*
" Mr. BoDWELTi * * 5K With regard to the proposed annual payment of
8100,000 //-r lanitsfrom British Columbia, that was a mere pretence ^
" Mr Oliver. — '"• * * Ii hadfieon proposed that thirteen million acres of
" land running alongside tho railway should bo appropriated. If so, these lands
" would bo a constant cause of expenditure for management and surveying (Hea»*,
" hear.) It would be better that those lands should remain in tho hands of the local
mm
16
i
** Government of British Columbia, otherwise they might pass into the hands of land
*' specuiatorH, a state of things which would prove ruinous to the settlement of the
" country. If these lands wore not locked up, they would be sufficient to support a
" population of two millions, and it would be bettor that a money bonus should be
" given and these lands opened up to the people for settlement." * * * *
Mr. Anglin. — * * * " lie contended that it was not open, or honest, or manly to
" give 8100,000 for lands along the line of railway ; for the Minister of Customs hai>
" ADMITTED THAT IT WAS ONLY AN EXCUSE TO QIVE THE MONEY, AND THAT THFi LANDS
" WERE NOT WANTED."
" Ma. Mills. — An open confession."
" Sir Geo. E. Cartier. — A Catholic confession."
" Mr. Anglin. — A Catho'-ic confession Avas an open and a full confession, and he
" wished the Government would make such a one. (Applause) ''' * * *^
" Beyond the Rocky Mountains, the country was again hilly and rocky. In reference to
" that point, he iiuoted from an article in the Victoria Colonist to corroborate what
" the h'^n. member for Lambton had said the other night with respect to the sterile
** character of some parts of the route. Ho (hon. M. Anglin) liked to be frank, and
" would Buy tbac the article was written to support one railway scheme against a
" rival railway scheme. The article spok3 of the " Horrible Frazer River Country,"
" the appalling character of the difficulties," " sterile mountains of enormous height,"
" from .vhich land slides perpetually in summer, and avalanches sweep down in
" winter, carrying all botoro them. The cost of the railway in these defiles would
" be money thrown away, and a millstone on the neck of the Dominion. These
" extracts of which he might read .nore, would serve to give some idea of the country.
" Now the question came up what mu^t bo the cost of the railway through such a
" country as that ? The cost of forwarding supplies far into the interior to support
" the men engaged in the work must bo enormous, and the wages of the men would
" also be very large."
-.< * :i< ij; ^
"Sir F. HiNCKS * * « Ho only wished to »how that there were several p^^intu
4* conceded by British Columbia aiid that to change the terms would re-open all these
«' points."
Ottawa, Mar^h 31, 1871. Pago 71.
" Mr. Mackenzie: * * * '• lie expressed his burprlso that the Minister of
" Inland Revenue, with all the information he was able to obtain, was not able to say
" that more than one-third of British Columbia, even including Vancouver Is/ana, teas fit /or
" agricultural purposes He (..Ir. Mackenzie) believed that in reality, not more than one-
** fourth or one fifth was at all fit land for settlement. He rielculed the argument of the
•' hon. Minister of Militia that wo would got 15,000,000 acres of land for 82,000,000;
"and then get an available surplus, after using the land, 013,000,000, to bo applied
*' to extinguish the debt,"
'' He characterized the statement of the Minister of Inland Revenue, yester-
" day, in holdingout hopes to British Columbia, and then stating that Parliament was
** master of the situation, &s one of the most immoral speeches he (Mr. Maukonzie)
" ever heard dolivorod in Parliament. (Hear, hoar.)
Page 72.
" Mr, Blake * ^- -^ " The nuia who would vote for the
" preposition with the secr.'.t intention not to sink the last dollar if necessary to fulfil the
" oblijation on thus contracted was a dishonest man."
" piopo-'ition with the secret intntion not to sink the last dollar if necessary to
"fulfil the obligation thus contracted was a dishonest man."
* * * «« jjj._ Blake moved an amendment.
the House of Commons, page 193, 1871).
(6'ec Journals of
17
inds of land
nent of tho
support a
1 should be
, or manly to
U8T0M8 HAI>
TFIE LAND*
iion, and ho
eforenco to
)orato what
the sterile
frank, and
Q against a
r Country,"
)U9 height,"
p down in
jtilos would
ion. These
-ho country,
ugh such a
to bujjport
men would
enil p^intH
m all these
Minister of
able to say
, was fit ^or
re than onc-
ncnt of the
52,000,000 ;
bo applied
uo, yoster-
iament was
laclconzie)
vote for the
•o fulfil the
soessary to
DEBATE O'Sl ADiirSSION OP BRITISH COLUMBfA, 1871.
Fro7n Leader report.
The LEADEa, 29th March 1871.
"Sir Geo. Cartier moved tho House intoCommittoo of tho vvholo toconsidoi'the
resolutions rospecting tho admission of British Columbia into the Union. *
* * ^ * " Ho anticipated opposition on tho clause
relating to tho railway. British Columbia was to aid it by a land grant of twenty
milo sections on each side of tho lino, which would give twenty-five thousand
square miles or 50,360 acres. It was proposed to give in return on© hundred
thousand dollars annually, which was only interest at tivo per cent, on t«vo million
dollars. Placing tho value of land at one dollar per acre, it would leave ovor thirty-
eight million dollars worth of land to aid tho railway.
"Mr. Tilley: * * ^p ;(: Tho expenses for local works
would hardly amount to as much as tho hon. member for Shorbrooko had estimated.
Exclusive of the annual sun\ for a land grant of 100,000 dollars and annual expenses
of government, theso charged would amount to a total of 301,000 dollars. The
revenue amounted to 363,400 at present and would naturally increase in tho future.
Even should tho local government adopt our lower tariflF, tho revenue would reach
308,000 dollars. The 100,000 dollars were thbreforo in excess of the expenditure,
and for which the Dominion receives a largo grant of land."
" Mr. Mackenzie : * * He spoke of tho resources of British Columbia and the
lands which would be conceded to tho Country by tho admission of that Provinte
into tho Union. lie raontioncd that gold mining and agriculture in that country
had been a failure, and tho revenue of tho Colony had boon derived from imports
on breadstuffs imported into the Province. * * * From what intor-
mation ho had, the route contemplated for tho Pacific Railway presented greater
difficulties than any other route in the Dominion, and the country beyond the
Rocky Mountains was extremely rough and forbidding. * * »
March 30, 1871.
" Mr. Morris: — * * * *. As to the quality of tho land in British
" Columbia he had been informed by Mr. Trutch who was thoroughly acquainted
" with that country, that there were 22,000 miles or one hundred and forty million
" acres of fertile lands on the Western Slope of tho Rocky Mountains."
Ottawa, 31 St March, 1871.
" Mr. Mackenzie referred to tho statement of tho Minister of Militia that one
" third of the Territory of British Columbia was tit for cultivation; but he (Mr.
" Mackenzie) thought tho hon. gentleman had not taken the trouble to inform himself
" on the question. It was ascertained that there was no moro than one-fifth of the
" Province fit for farming purposes. Ho charged tlio Minister of Agriculture with
" endeavoring to mislead both tho people of Canada and British Columbia with respect
" to the construction of the Pacific Railway, by entering into obligations which the
" government had no intention of fulfilling."
" Mr. Blakp— (Amendment) See page 192. Journjils of House 1871.
ournals of
18
EXTEACTS FEOM JOUENALS OF COMMOKS, 18C0, EESPECTING LANDS
OF NEWFOUNDLAND.
Journals of Comv\ons,lBCd.
Page 221.
• " That in consideration of the tranbfer to the general government by New-
»p *iT • . . " foundland of the now ungrantcd and unoccupied, lands, mines
JlwftundUnd!' " ^"^ minerals of the Colony, the sum of $150,000 shall each year
"bo paid to Newfoundland by semi-annual payments in advance;
$160,000 for all nn- " the colony shall retain the right ot opening, constructing and con-
coKny. ' " trolling roads and bridges through any of the said lands, and the
" privilege heretofore enjoyed by the inhabitants of Newfoundland
" of cutting (free of charge) wood on the ungrantcd lands of the Crown, shall con-
" linuo to bo exercised by them in like manner free of charge; but the aforesaid
" reservatians shall be subject to such regulation?, as may. from time to time, bo
" passed hy ihc Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland in Council, and which regu-
" lations shall be subject to the approval of the Governor General in Council."
" Such surrender shall also be subject to the reservations and provisos contained
" in the 7th and 8th sections of the Act of the Legislature of Newfoundland, 7 Vic,
" chap. 1, but these shall in like manner be at all times subject to approval as afore-
" said.
" That it shall bo optional, however, for Newfoundland befcro entering the
** Union, to reserve to itself all the lands and rights convoyed to the General Govern-
" ment by the last preceding clause, and in that case Canada shall be relieved of the
" payment of the aforesaid sum of $150,000 per annum."
I
Page 217-18.
" Mr. Blake moved an amendment, seconded by tho^IIon. Mr. Holton :
" That all the words after " That" to the end of the question be left out, and tho
** words " by the Eritish America Act 1867," it is in effect provided, that each of tho
" Provinces by that United Act shall retain its public lands.
Landedon'tyield enough « That the public lands of Newfoundland proposed to he purchased
IS of^maSaLment"" " ^V <^«««<^« «< ^^^ Pri<=^ «/ 5150,000 a year or $3,000,000 do not
"pay THE expenses of management.
" That public lands can bo managed more efficiently, economically and satis-
" factorily by the Province in which they are situate than by Canada.
•' That there is no good reason for the departure from the principles of the
" British Act involved in the proposed pux'chase.
" That this Hoilso (whilo prepared in settling tho terms on which Newfoundland
This expreesefl ihe will- " should bo admitted into tho Union to give full consideration
ingnesB to give N.F.L. " to any oxcoi^tional circumstances in tho condition of that Pro-
f.„.fil5^^1'!!l"fZ ?.!-!?! " vince) is of opinion that those terms should be so arranged as
required but foruerto , , -Ir i 'n j » n . • n •- i •• i i -i. .. "
retain her lands. that Newfoundland shall retain all its public landB+.
" Lands " here means the fame as in U.O,, and includes oiountain as well as vale.
19
LANDS
by New-
ds, mines
each year
advance ;
f and con-
B, and the
Poundland
shall con-
aforesaid
time, bo
liich rcgu-
il."
contained
id, 7 Vic,
1 as afore-
ering Iho
1 Govorn-
rcd of the
t, and iho
ch of the
lie lands.
purchased
)0 do not
nd satia-
38 of the
oundhmd
idoration
that Pro-
angcd as
I
Journals of Commons, 1869.
Pages 218, 219.
" Hon. Mr. Wood moved in araondmont, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Anglln.
"That all the words after " That " to tho end of the Question be left out, and
the words "The Resolutions bo recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House
with instructions to amend the same by substituting tho following for the 4th, 5th
and 6(h resolutions:
" Whereas the Crown Domain of Newfoundland has not hitherto yielded any net
revenue, and will not be lllcoly to do so, if taken under tho management of the
Dominion;
" And whereas tho said Crown Domain can be more economically managed by tho
local Government of tho Island which is more immediately interested in the deve-
lopment of its mineral and agricultural resources:
" And whereas, it is right and just to afford to N'owfoundland tho moans absolu-
tely necessary for providing for the proper and efficient administration of its local
Government and local affairs; TiiEiiEFoaE,
" Resolved, That all lands, mines, minerals and royalties vested ih Her Majesty,
in the Province of Newfoundland shall belong to the Government of Newfoundland,
subject to any trust that may exist in respect to any Kuch lands, mines, minerals,
and rovaltios, oi-any intocosts of any other persons in respect of the same."
•■f
Page 219.
" Resolved, That in consideration of ihe transfer to the General Parliament of
" tho powers of taxation and in order to enable Newfoundland to provide for its
" local services, and to carry on its local government, the following sums (namely
" $35,000 and $150,000, inalcinrf 8185,000) shall be paid yearly by Canada to New-
" foundland, that is to say. The said sum of $185,000 and an annual
Jub9idie8'^°''leaWne " S^ant cqu^'^l to 80 cents per head of the aforesaid population-
lands to^Nfld!'^" " Goth half yearly in advance — such gi'ant of 80 cents per head to be
" augmented in proportion to the increase of population as shewn
" by such decennial census until the population amounts to 400,000, at which rate
" it shall thereafter remain,— it being understood, that tho first census shall be taken
"in the year 1871."
DEB.VTivS ON' ADMISSION OP Nli)WFOUXDrAN D
From Globe Report, .Amj 8, 1869.
'■ Hon. Mu. Rose =i= * '-^ " Crown Lands $150,000."
" Hon. Mr. Smith * * =*= Then we have to pay $150,000 for Cro.vn lands which
"were worth nothing. Last year, the revenue fro ni these was S3,!)00, whereas
" the cost was $6,000. Yet. wo hero gravely propose to pay Sr)\0!) ), a year rent
" and manage them besides."
20
i
" Hon. M. Anglin did nof feel any desire to haggle about any terms which
" Newfoundland might make, jv any advantages which might bo conceded to them:
" but the land transaction for which the Dominion was asked to pay $150,000 a year
" wasabsnrd. Let Newfoundland keep her land and collect her revenues by all means.
" The Dominion did not need it."
3|8 3|C ip rfC rjC 5j€ 9|C •(*
" As to the land, he would again say, by .all moans lot Newfoundland keep her
" land. If she wants to get rid of it, jjoihaps the Great Ontario Ship Canal
" Company might get it to advantage (laughter.)
" Mr. Bodwell * * * Such a proposition was as monstrous as that by which
" they were called on to give $150,000 a year for the land of Newfoundland. From
" all he could gather these lands were of little value as mineral lands; and agri-
" culturally were worth little or nothing."
" Dr. Tupper, * * * These terms had received the approval of the people
" throughout the Dominion, and the terms now submitteJ were substantially the
" same as those agreed to by the Quebec Conference. The action of the Conforonco
" was endorsed by the people, when the Ministry, at a subsequent election, were
" sustained by a great majority ; and as part of the scheme so approved, it was
" agreed that the Dominion should assume the lands and mines of Newfoundland,
" paying a certain sum therefor; It was not now v^pon for this IIouso to go back
" from that ai*rangemont. The reason why this arrangement
" WAS MADE WAS THAT NEWFOUNDLAND HAD NO SOURCES OP LOCAL
" REVENUE, AND IT BECAME NECESSARY TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVI-
" SIGN IN THIS WAY FOR ITS LOCAL SERVICES. He bclievod the
" mineral wealth of that Island was very great, and only wanted
" the application of capital to be profitably developed. Suppose it was possible to
" drive a harder bargain with the gentlemen representing Newfoundland, he did not
" think it was desirable to do so, as it was in-.portant that they should come into the
" Union satisfied with the future opening up to them. The member for Lambton
" had spoken of this matter as a marriage. If so, if wo were about to make a matri-
" monial arrangement with the fair bride of the Ocean, wo should not haggle about
" the pin-money."
I'be reason vrhj the
$150,000 were given for
lands nonecessarily in
Newfoundland.
*
House of Commons. Globe Report, June 10, 18G9.
" Mr. Blake ***:*: The proposed barter of tho public lands of
Newfoundland for $150,000 a year xoas a sham bargain. The Dominion would never
reap pecuniarily and directly any advantage from these mines and minerals '^ * Under
these circunstances, if tho choice were between giving $150,000 a year to Newfound-
land and taking her lands, and ourgiving $150,000 to Newfoundland and leaving her
land, he would unhesitatingly vote in favor of the latter of those two propositions. He
believed the prosperity of the Colony would bo largely enhanced hy the adoption
of the latter alternative, and the pecuniary results to Canada would be largely
enhanced by it.
" Hon. Mr. Tilley. * ='' * The=i^ majority decided that tho land should
remain, as far as tho four Province wore concerned, in the hands of the Local Legis-
lature. But it was not so with Newb^oundland. In the caso of that Province,
they themselves suggested that their lands should be placed in the hands of tho
Dominion."
" Mr. D. A. Macdonald— Why ? "
" Hon. M. Tilley — One of the reasons, he did not hesitate to say, teas that there
might be a fixed sum for local matters which they could not be sure of, if the lands were
under their control and management ; and now that this proposition had come from
* At Quebec and London oonferenaes.
!
ms which
((
to them:
ti
000 a year
«
all means.
K
*
* 1
keep hor
((
hip Canal
<(
by which
«<
1(1. From
It
and agri-
t(
((
ho people
(<
itially the
Honforenco
tl
lion, wore
11
ed, it was
((
found land,
) go back
4 <
.ANOEMENT
S OP LOCAI,
11
FAL PROVr-
lieved the
ily wanted '
<1
)083ible to
t(
he did not
(
into the
Larabton
CO a matri-
jgle about
21
Newfoundland, he did not hesitate to say, from his oxporience, from the difficulties
we had with settling wild lands, emigration, and with regard to tho resources of the
Dominion, that it was in tho " public interest that all Canada lands should be placed
in tho hands of the Dominion." * *
" Hon. Ma. Anolin, said that it was quite possible that in tho Quebec Confer-
ence tho resolution to give tho £30,000 was adopted as a payment to the Province
to carry on its local affairs. * -'= ''' * /*'
« Hon. Mr. Wood thought tho important question was this : what sum would
be required by Newfoundland to carry on its local services ? That sura being once
ascertained, Canada should freely give it. * * The only part of the scheme ho
objected to was this : As to public lands, ho would much prefer that Newfoundland
would keep her own lands, and with that view ho would not object to tho special
subsidy being made $185,000 instead of 835,000.
" Sir John A. Macdonald said if he believed Mr. Blako's amendment earned out
the views expressed by the hon. gentleman who had just sat down, he could almost
be disposed to accept it; but he looked upon it as intended to defeat tho whole
scheme of union with Newfoundland." =>= * * * * /
" Sir John A. Macdonald.—^ * >i« If the hon. member (Blake) were to
:.v,- more— that the House was willing to give an additional subsidy of 8150,000,
bui would not claim the lands as a consideration in return, that would be a fair
and candid motion ; but the amendment he had actually submitted did not put tho
question in that light."
Mr. Mackenzie. ^- * He was prepared to give whtitover sum was necessary,
ou a fair calculation, to carry on the local government of tho Island, but ho was
not prepared to assume the responsibility of those lands, in order to give a premium
to Newfoundland."
3 lands of
oould never
* Under
Newfound-
leaving her
itions. He
adoption
be largely
and should
jocal Logis-
t Province,
nds of the
s ihat there
; lands were
come from
23
CI
I
lilii
APPENDIX.
" An Act lo autliorizo Llio ^runt of cortaiii Public Laii(l>
" Dominion of Canada for Jlaihvay purposes.
to tlio Government of tlio
" WHEREAS it is oxpodiejit to provide for .o grant of Public Lands to the
" Dominion Government, required f'»r a Itailway between the Town of Nanaimo and
" Esquimau Harbour ;
*• Therefore Her Majest}*, by and with the advice and consent of the Leijislativc
" Assembly of tho Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows : —
"1. From and after the passing of this Act, there shall bo and there is hereby
" granted tc tho Dominion Government, for tho purpose of constructing, and to aid
" in the construction of a Railway between the Town of Nanaimo and Esquimalt
** Harbor, in trust to bo appropriated in such manner as tho Dominion Government
" may deem advisable, a similar grant of Public Lands along the lino of Railway
" before mentioned (not to exceed 20 miles on each side of tho said lino) as may be
" appropriated for tho same purpose by the Dominion from tho Public Lands of tho
" North West Tcrri'.orios and the Province of Manitoba, as provided in tho Order in
" Council, Section 11, admitting tho Province of British Columbia into Confoderat'on ;
** huch grant to bo subject otherwise to all tho conditions contained in tho said 11th
" Section of tho Terms of Union.
^ «P *i* »p •!• •I* *n
" 7. This Act may bo citod as the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Act, 1875."
An Act to authorize tho grant of certain Public Lands on tho Mainland of British
Columbia to tho Government of tho Dominion of Canada for Canadian Pacific
Railway purposes.
HER MAJESTY, by and with thoadviceandconsentof the Legislative Assembly
of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:
1. Fi'om and after tho passing of this Act, there shall bo, and there is tiereby
granted to the Dominion 'Government for tho purpose of constructing and to aid in
the construction of the portion of tho Canadian Railway Lino located between Burrard
Inlet and Yellow Head summit, in trust, to bo appropriated in such manner as tho
Dominion Government may deem advisable, a similar extent of public lands along
the line of railway before mentioned (not to exceed twenty miles on each side of tho
eaid line) as may be appropi'iatcd for the same purpose by tho Dominion from the
public lands of tho North- West Territories and tho Province of Manitoba, as provided
in the Order in Council, section 11, admitting the Province of British Columbia into
Confederation. Tho land intended to bo hereby conveyed is more particularly
described in a despatch to tho Lieutenant-Governor from the Honourable tho
Secretary of State, dated tho 31st day of May, 1878, as a tract of land lying along
tho line of said railway, beginning at English Bay or Burrard Inlet and following
the Eraser River to Lytton ; then by tho Valley or tho River Thompson to Kamloops ;
thence up tho Valley of tho North Thompson, passing near to Lakes Albreda and
Cranberry, to Teto Jauno Cache; thonco up tho Valley of tho Eraser River to tho
summit of Yellow Head, or boundary between British Columbia and the North-West
«
23
nont of Iho
ands to Iho
annimo and
Logislativo
ifi hereby
and to aid
1 Esquiraalt
-rovernmont
of Railway
as may bo
mds of tho
ho Ordoi- in
ifodorat'on ;
8aid 11th
Act, 1875."
i of British
Han Pacific
'0 Assembly
) is hereby
id to aid in
oen Burrard
inor as tho
lands alon*;
I side of tho
n from the
as provided
umbia into
jarticulariy
Mirablo tho
lyin^ along
il following
Kamloops ;
Jbreda an(i
ivor to tho
North-Wost
I
Territories, and is also defined on a plan accompanying a furthor despatch to tho
Lieutenant-Governor from tho said Secretary of State, dated tho 23rd day of September,
1871. Tho grant of tho said land shall bo subject otherwise to tho conditions contained
in tho said llth section of tho Terms of Union.
2. This Act shall not affect or prejudice the rights of tho public with respect to
common and public highways existing at the date hereof within tho limits of tho
lands hereby intended to bo convoyed.
3. This Act may bo cited as "An Act to grant public lands on tho Mainland to
tho Dominion in aid of the Canadian Pacific Ilailway, 1880."
CO P R l':SPONDENC R
With reference to the transfer of Railway Lands to the Dominion.
By Command.
PuoviNciAL Sehretary's Office,
4th May, 1880.
T. BASIL HUMPHREYS,
Provincial Secretary.
Mr. Trutch to the Attorney (r'eneral
Victoria, B. C, April 14th, 1880.
Sir, — Uis Honor tho Lieutenant-Governor having referred mo to you as author-
ized to receive, on behalf of tho Government of British Columbia, communications,
from me, as Agent of the Dominion Government, on tho subject of the adjustment
and transfer to the Dominion of tho lands granted by the Province of British Colum-
bia, under tho "Term and Conditions " of Union, in aid of tho construction ot the
Canadian Pacific Railroad, I beg to lay before you xho following statement of the
views of tho Dominion Government on this matter, and more particularly in regard
to tho selection of tho lands to be transferred, which views I had the opportunity of
verbally submitting more fully for j^our consideration at the interview I had the
honour of having with you this morning.
There is reason to believe that the character of the land for a very considerable
distance along tho line of tho Canadian Pacific Railway, as located in British
Columbia, is such as to bo altogether unsuited for agricultural purposes, and, there-
fore, valueless for tho object contemplated at tho time tho Province was admitted
into tho Confederation, which was, that tho lands proposed to bo transferred to tho
Dominion should be laid out and sold to aid in tho construction of tho road.
Tho portion of Section 1 1 of tho " Terms and Conditions." on which the Pro-
vince became a part of tho Dominion, which refers to tho grant of land to be made
by tho Province for tho purpose of the railway, is as follows: —
" And tho Government of British Columbia agree to convey to tho Dominion
" Government, in trust, to be appropriated in such manner as tho Dominion Govern-
" raont may deem advisable, in furtherance of tho construction of tho said Railway,
" a similar extent of Public Lands along tho line of Railway throughout its entire length
" in British Columbia, not to exceed, however. Twenty (20) Miles on each side of said
" line, as may bo appropriated for tho same purpose by the Dominion Government
" from the public lands in the North-West Territories and the Province of Manitoba.
24
" Provided that tho quantity of Innd which may bo held under Pre-emption right or
" by Crown grant within tho limits of tho tract of land in British Columbia to bo so
" convoyed to tho Dominion Government, shall bo made good to tho Dominion from
"contiguous Public Lands; and, provided further, that until tho commencomont,
" within two years, as aforesaid, from tho dato of the Union, of tho construction of
" tho said Railway, tho Government of British Columbia shall not sell or alienate
" any further portions of tho Public Lands of British Columbia in any other way
" than under right of Preemption, requiring actual residence of tho Pre-emptor on
" the land claimed by him. In consideration of tho land to bo so conveyed in aid of
" tho construction of the Railway, the Dominion Government agree to pay to British
" Columbia, from tho dato of tho Union, tho sum of 100,000 Dollars per annum, in
*' half-yearly payments in advance."
In view of the statement made in tho prcneding paragraph, it now becomes
necessary that an understanding bo arrived at with the Government of tho
Province by which the Dominion may receive an equal area of lands available
for farming or economical purposes in lieu of those which, on investigation, may
bo found to be unavailable within the forty-mile belt, and the Dominion Government
urgently request the concurrence of the Government of British Columbia in tho
following arrangements: i. e., That such territory situate within the forty-mile belt
referred to in tho section ot tho "Terms and Conditions " above quoted as may be
found on a thorough examination and investigation useless for farming or other
valuable purposes, may not bo regarded as properly forming part of the land consi-
deration to be received by tho Dominion, but that tho same bo eliminated from tho
area in the bolt described, and that an equal area of land suitable for farming or
other valuable purposes bo selected elsewhere in the Province in lieu thereof. The
area to bo selected outside of the belt mentioned should, in addition, include a quan-
tity of land to represent that in the Fraser River Valley and elsewhere along or in
the vicinity of tho Railway line which may be found to have boon already disposed
of by tho Province, or with regard to which, valid claims may bo preferred, as also
to cover the deficiency caused by the International Boundary on tho Mainland
and the coast lino on Vancouver Island respectively falling within ihe forty-mile
belt.
The Dominion Government cannot doubt that tho Provincial Government will
consider itself pledged in good faith in view of tho whole circumstances, and of tho
actual money consideration stipulated for in the section ofthe "Terms and Conditions"
above cited, and which has been regularly paid, to place the Dominion Government
in possession of land elsewhere in lieu of tho corresponding area within tho railway
bolt, which may be found to bo useless for agricultural or other valuable purposes.
In accordance with these views, and acting as the Agent of the Dominion
Government, duly accredited to the Government of British Columbia under authority
of the Order in Council, dated tho 25th February last, a copy of which has been
received by Uis Honor tho Lieutenant Governor, I have the honor to prefer tho
request that tho right above defined of selecting lands outside of tho forty-mile belt
in Jieu of lands within that limit which, on investigation, shall bo found to bo value-
less, and to supply tho deficiency caused by tho International Boundary on tho Main-
land and the coa^t lino on Vancouver Island respectively falling within the forty-milo
belt, bo specifically conveyed to the Dominion by the insertion of provisions to that
effect in the "Railway Lands Reservation Bill," now under consideratioii in the
Legislative Assembly.
I have, etc,
(Signed)
JOSEPH W. TRUTCll.