The MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND CANALS.
The railway is constructed from the main line at Charlottetown across the Hillsboro river and thence down to Murray Harbour.
Mr. LEFURGEY'. I have no objection whatever to make to the expenditure of $10,650 for improvements along the Prince Edward Island Railway, but I think the amount might well have been larger. I am in receipt of communications from different sources on the island, which point out a great many improvements that might be made, and for which I see no provision in the estimates. On the line between Cape Traverse and Emerald, there is not a booking station in that Whole length. The people of Kinkora, where there is quite a large settlement, have been asking for freight accommodation for some years, but so far have failed to obtain any satisfaction. In February last a large and influential meeting was held at Kinkora, and the following resolution unanimously adopted :
Moved by Rev. J. J. Macdonald, and seconded by Mr. John P. Smith :
Whereas up to the present, Kinkora has had insufficient railway station accommodations ; and whereas a cheese factory has been recently established, an agricultural implement factory is in operation, several merchants do a large import and export trade and the traffic on the railway here has about trebled itself within' the last three years.
And whereas a greater volume of business is transacted at Kinkora than at many localities along the main line where booking stations are now established.
And whereas there is every indication that in the near future there will be a large Increase Hon. Mr. BLAIR.
in the import and export trade of the community.
And whereas the government outlay necessary to establish proper station facilities will be more than compensated for by the consequent increased traffic.
And whereas great inconvenience and loss have been sustained for want of a proper station and for lack of telegraphic communication with business centres.
Be it therefore resolved that for the benefit of the railway itself, as well as for the interests of the community, this meeting recommends and urges the immediate erection by the government, of a suitable booking station at Kinkora crossing.
Further resolved, that a petition praying for sucl: railway facilities and for the appropriation necessary for that purpose, be circulated and presented to the government without delay, so that action may be taken thereon during the present session of the federal parliament.
These resolutions were passed at a large representative meeting and a petition forwarded to the government asking that the required improvements be made.
During the past season two merchants alone at Kinkora paid out $500 freight on their shipments, which of course is but a fraction of the general business done both in exports and imports. The train on this section leaves Cape Traverse about six o'clock in the morning, and the people exporting freight have to be out along the line about seven o'clock, in order to get it shipped, and as most of the shipping is done in the summer and the train has to wait for the boat, there is often no end of delay. The train frequently gets into Kinkora about two o'clock in the morning, so that the people there have to wait, up to receive their goods and the mail carrier has to sit up all night to receive the mail. And as the trains are not always on time, people have been known to wait hours in order to catch the train going out or coming back. There is only one train a day for passengers and freight. Besides the station for payment of freight is at Emerald, and goods are often held over until the merchant can go up to Emerald and pay his freight there. There is a large amount of business done in this section. As shown by the report, business has trebled there in the past three years. The business of the Prince Edward Island Railway during the past three years has increased- thus keeping pace with the general prosperity of the Dominion-some $50,000 over previous years, and there is every reason why the people of this vicinity should not be given railway accommodation at that point.
I may also say that the people of Kensington. a village which has grown considerably during the past few years, require increased freight accommodation. There is a large cheese and butter export from that section, and the superintendent of the company requires increased accommodation for the freight, and is anxious that the yard around the station should be put in proper repair. There are also several other sta-
tions along tlie line which are asking for improved accommodation. I am personally acquainted with the condition of affairs in Kinkora and Kensington, and I know that repairs and improvements are very much needed in these places. It seems to me that the hon. minister might well put in something more than $10,650 for improvements on the Prince Edward Island Railway, especially when the amount is charged to capital account. I would ask him to take this matter into consideration and not let another season pass without having this crying need of the people of Kinkora and Kensington for freight accommodation and booking stations supplied. I do not think it would cost over $3,000 or $4,000 to do the whole thing, and I have no doubt that the business of the. railway would benefit.
