Since That Time, However, Those Who
Formed That Association Appear To Have Enlarged The Field Of Their
Operations, And Have Included The Whole Of The Hudson's Bay Company,
With Their Territory, Prestige, And Appliances, Within The Scope
Of Their Operations.
But the same general policy which suggested the
recommendation of the $50,000 referred to, would also prompt similar
assistance to the New Hudson's Bay Company.
It can be of little moment
to Canada by whose agency the western territory is developed - that
which is wanted is development.
"'Judging, then, by what has gone before, and from the exigencies which
the spirit of progress imposes upon all Governments, it is not
improbable when the new Company has itself determined what they will
do, in what shape their enterprise will be promoted, that reasonable
assistance will be given them. At present, it seems hardly likely that
any exact conclusion has been made by themselves in this matter. Mr.
Watkin, in whom a wide and just confidence is placed, not only by the
shareholders in the new enterprise, but by the British Government
itself, is here, engaged, no doubt, in collecting from the various
sources within his reach such information as will enable him to report
fully upon the matter. That done, the Company will be able to make
propositions and to solicit the kindly aid of Canada. Looking at the
wide field for enterprise that will be opened up; at the speedy
colonization that is likely to take place, consequent upon the recent
discoveries of gold; at the prospect that Canada may be made the high
road for commerce between the great East and West; that the trade of
the St. Lawrence, and all the various and manifold interests connected
with it, will be inspired with new and energetic vitality, - from these
and many other considerations it must be evident that the policy for
Canada, let her political position as to parties be what it may, is to
extend a friendly and greeting hand to those who come with capital and
confidence to become the pioneers of a new order of things, which
cannot fail to pour riches into the lap of Canada, and to lay the
foundation of a prosperity which can be at present but dimly imagined.'
"The importance of assisting the work of opening up the North-west for
telegraphic and postal purposes would, I believe, be alluded to in the
Governor-General's speech on the 15th. [Footnote: This was done, and
the following is an extract from the speech of the Governor-General of
Canada, on opening Parliament: -
"I have received a despatch from the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, enclosing copies of a correspondence between Her Majesty's
Government and the agent of the 'Atlantic and Pacific Transit and
Telegraph Company,' in reference to a proposal made by that Company for
the establishment of a telegraphic and postal communication between
Lake Superior and New Westminster, in British Columbia. The importance
of such an undertaking to the British North American Provinces, both in
a commercial and in a military point of view, induces me to commend the
subject to your consideration.
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