Construction news section

Railways—Steam and electric.

Eastern Canada.—A movement is under way to have the Dominion Government place the York and Carleton Railway under the management of the I.C.R.

Montréal, P.Q.—A batch of charter amendments were put through the city council recently. They will form part of the Montréal bill to be submitted to the legislature at the present session. Among the powers the city is asking is the right to establish and operate or lease one or more underground tramway lines, to be operated by electricity or other motive power, and the right to regulate the operation of auto-bus lines.

Montréal, P.Q.—The Montréal & Northern Colonization Railway Company has applied to the Legislature for power to tunnel Mount Royal. The company is also seeking extension of the time limit for building its lines from Montréal to the National Transcontinental.

Montréal, P.Q.—The municipal council are preparing a bill to be submitted to the legislature at the present session, asking the right to establish and operate or lease one or more underground tramway lines, to be operated by electricity or other motive power, and the right to regulate the operation of auto bus lines.

Montréal, P.Q.—The plans of the Canadian Northern Railway for improved passenger and freight facilities on the island of Montréal, were officially laid before the Board of Control on January 9th. These plans provided for a tunnel through Mount Royal, an elevated railway and a freight line.

Northern Ontario.—It is reported that further exploration of the James Bay slope of Ontario, as well as the Moose River estuary and the James Bay shore, will be undertaken next spring under the direction of the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Commission.

Port Arthur, Ont.—The Canadian Northern Railway propose erecting a new steel dock. This dock will be about 800 feet long, and will be arranged so that several boats can unload at the same time.

Ottawa, Ont.—A law suit involving rather a unique technique is being heard in the courts. The Peerless Brick Company and the Canadian Northern Railway are the principals. The Canadian Northern Railway desire to expropriate the pits of the brick company, basing their compensation on the point that the property is mud. The brick company contends that the area is a "mine" of clay. It quotes the Railway Act, which states that a railway has not the power to expropriate lands which might obstruct the workings of a mine. The compensation asked for is $40,000, which the railway considers too large. The action has been adjourned until April 10, 1912.

Ottawa, Ont.—The management of the Ottawa, Montréal and Eastern Railway Company will apply at this session of parliament for extension of time to complete the work now under construction.

Toronto, Ont.—An application will be made by the Toronto Suburban Railway Company to the Legislature of the Province of Ontario at its next session for an Act authorizing the company: To extend its line from some point at or near Guelph, in the County of Wellington, to some point at or near Berlin, Preston, Hespeler, and Galt, in the County of Waterloo, and thence to a point at or near Hamilton, in the County of Wentworth, passing through or near the Townships of Guelph, Waterloo, Dumfries, Puslinch, Beverley, Flamboro West and Ancaster.

Toronto, Ont.—The civic percentage of the Toronto Railway Company's earnings for 1911 amounted to $687,650.44. In addition there was also $83,000 in mileage rates, and taxes of $50,000, or a total of over $820,000. The percentages show an increase of $91,353.00.

Toronto, Ont.—A proposal is under way for the construction of a railway of serve a portion of the fast growing suburban district around Toronto. The purpose of the three-mile railway, which will have Lambton and Sunnyside as its terminals, is to provide an efficient service for the property owned by the Toronto Land Corporation, the concern backed largely by English capital, which has promoted the Humber boulevard scheme. The route at present is purely tentative. As planned it runs down the west bank of the Humber from Lambton to Bloor Street, where it crosses and follows Jane Street to the Lake Shore Road. It might follow the Lake Shore Road, or might cut across the old Belt Line Railway about the brickyards, and cut Windermere Avenue and Ellis Avenue, crossing the Grenadier Pond on piles.

Toronto, Ont.—The plans of the new Union Station will be up for discussion and examination when the Dominion Railway Board sits in Toronto on February 8th. These plans will be completed and filed with the City Solicitor by February 1st, the idea being that a week at least should intervene to allow examination of them before the board's meeting. In this connection it will probably be necessary to bring up the whole question of the viaduct and the York Street bridge once more. The whole general question of the entrance of the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway to Toronto at the north end of the city will also be up for discussion.

Western Canada.—A number of towns and cities in Western Canada are preparing to petition the government in an endeavor to secure the terminus of the Hudson Bay Railway.

Winnipeg, Man.—The appropriations which are now being prepared in Winnipeg for the work of the Canadian Pacific for 1912, will contain an item for the installation of over 1,000 miles of telephone circuits. It will not be long till the telephone system will be used throughout the main line and all branch as well for train dispatching.

The authorized mileage of the Grand Trunk Pacific main line and branches is 11,500 miles, of which 1,745 miles are between Winnipeg and Prince Rupert. 1,800 miles are under contract by Transcontinental Railway Commission between Winnipeg and Moncton. The company claim that at the completion of railway the trip around the world will be shortened by about a week.

Railways: C.No.Ry., G.T.P.Ry., I.C.Ry., T. & N.O.Ry., T.S.Ry.

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