ade
the interprovincial traffic of Canada far greater than her foreign, and
the portfolio of railways and canals is one of the most important in the
cabinet. There are, nominally, about 200 railways, but about one-half of
these, comprising five-sixths of the mileage, have been amalgamated into
four great systems: the Grand Trunk, the Canadian Pacific, the Canadian
Northern and the Intercolonial; most of the others have been more or
less consolidated. With the first of the four large systems is connected
the Grand Trunk Pacific. The Intercolonial, as also a line across Prince
Edward Island, is owned and operated by the federal government.
Originally built chiefly as a military road, and often the victim of
political exigencies, it has not been a commercial success. With the
completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific (planned for 1911) and the
Canadian Northern, the country would possess three trans-continental
railways, and be free from the reproach, so long hurled at it, of
possessing length without breadth.

At numerous points along the frontier, connexion is made with the
railways of the United States. Liberal aid is given by the federal,
provincial and municipal governments to the construction of railways,
amounting often to more than half the cost of the road. The government
of Ontario has constructed a line to open up the agricultural and mining
districts of the north of the province, and is operating it by means of
a commission. Practically all the cities[3] and large towns have
electric tramways, and electricity is also used as a motive power on
many lines uniting the larger cities with the surrounding towns and
villages. Since 1903 the Dominion government has instituted a railway
commission of three members with large powers of control over freight
and passenger rates and other such matters. Telephone and express
companies are also subject to its jurisdiction. From its decisions an
appeal may be made to the governor-general in council, i.e. to the
federal cabinet. It has exercised a beneficial check on the railways and
has been cheerfully accepted by them. In Ontario a somewhat similar
commission, appointed by the local government, exercises extensive
powers of control over railways solely within the province, especially
over the electric lines.

Despite the increase in railway facilities, the waterways remain
important factors in the transportation of the country. Steamers ply on
lakes and rivers in every province