Railway develpoment.

Projected lines, surveys, construction, betterments, etc.

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Bay of Quinte Ry.—The report of the Ontario Commissioner of Public Works states that the nine miles of new main line from Deseronto to Napanee were opened for traffic in Aug., 1903. The extension from Tweed to Bannockburn, 19.45 miles, was also completed. The work on this extension was first class in every respect. The rails are 70 lbs. to the yard; the bridges now under construction are of steel with substructures of concrete. The main line is now a continuous one from Deseronto to Bannockburn, 78 1/2 miles. The line crosses the G.T.R. at Napanee and the C.P.R. at Tweed. Prior to the construction of the line from Deseronto to Napanee the Company operated its trains on a short line from Deseronto to Deseronto Jct., thence over the G.T.R. to Napanee. It also has a branch line from Yarker to Sydenham, 12 miles, crossing the Kingston and Pembroke Ry. at Harrowsmith.

The extension of the B. of Q. Ry. from Tweed to Bannockburn was built under the supervision of J. W. Evans, Chief Engineer. The contractors were Wilford & McCoy and J. R. McQuigge, who had approximately 10-mile sections each. The road passes through a fertile though rough country. Careful location secured comparatively easy gradients and curvature, the maximum curve on the main line being 6° and the maximum gradient with the traffic 1.25%. The extension crosses the C.P.R. at Tweed on a level crossing, to be protected by the latest developments of interlocking apparatus. The section of country through which it passes has been heretofore poorly served by railways, necessitating the haulage by wagon of cheese products from 4 to 12 miles. The road is substantially constructed with 70 lb. steel rails laid on standard cedar ties, approximately 3,000 yards of ballast to the mile. Four steel bridges are to be constructed, two of them being plate girders 60 and 90 ft. long; two of them through trusses 120 and 140 ft. long. The piers are solid concrete blocks. Connection is made with the Central Ontario Ry. At Bannockburn. The B. of Q.Ry. crosses the C.O.Ry. on a level crossing at this point, and the station is conveniently located to the village. Bridgewater and Queensboro are the other two villages on the line. A station is established at what is known as Allan's Settlement. The road has been in operation since Dec. It is expected that cheese, cattle, forest products and minerals will form the bulk of the traffic.

An appeal to the Dominion Government was recently made against the decision of the Railway Commissioners, varying the decision of the former Railway Committee of the Privy Council as to the location of the crossing of the C.P.R. at Tweed. As a result the original decision was affirmed. The C.P.R. subsequently applied for an injunction to prevent the B. of Q. Ry. proceeding with the crossing, but this was refused. (Mar., pg. 73.)

Railways: B.Q.Ry., C.P.Ry., G.T.Ry., K. & P.Ry.

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