Year: 1898
Type: article
Abstract: IN new countries the question of transportation plays an important part, and the conscious policy manifested by the government is worthy of close scrutiny, not only because of its interest as a study in beginnings, but also because of the influence it exerts on later developments.Canada has been no exception to the general rule.In the early days of settlement, at the end of last century and the beginning of this, population shot out in tongue-like formations along the water courses.In the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick settlement was conditioned almost absolutely by the water courses.The extensive coast line of Nova Scotia, the numerous indentations in its coast, the rivers that find their estuaries in tnese indentations, all seemed to indicate the importance of the waterway communication.In New Brunswick as late as the middle of the present century population spread along the river courses and the seacoast, and between these points of settlement there existed well-nigh trackless wastes.In the Canadasi similar conditions prevailed.The magnificent stretch of water communication from the mouth of the river St. Lawrence, far into the heart of the continent long conditioned the westward movement of population.The traveler down the river St. Lawrence, at the present day, is reminded, when he looks at the continuous villages with their white-walled houses which line its banks, of the day when the river was the only social link, the only commercial way.It was natural then, that the deficiencies in the existing system of transport should be early appreciated.With expanding population, with increasing trade, the tedious means of transport, i The provinces now known as Ontario and Quebec were then known as Upper and Lower Canada.
Source: Journal of Political Economy
DOI: 10.1086/250511
Author: S. J. Mclean
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2073572509