to Halifax?

_P._--Because there was danger of war, and because the United
States might interfere with Canadian trade.

_T._--There were both military and commercial reasons. We have
found now why the road was to run from Halifax to Quebec, and why
it had to be built at that time. The next thing to find out
is--Where it was to be built. If you were a railway contractor and
had to build the road without thinking of anything but getting it
done, what route would you be likely to follow?

_P._--I think I should take the shortest way.

_T._--Where would the road go then?

(Have a pupil place a ruler on the map from Quebec to Halifax.)

Tell where it would run.

_P._--Through Quebec Province, the State of Maine, New Brunswick,
and Nova Scotia.

_T._--Would the people build it along that line? Don't forget the
reasons for building it at all.

_P._--They wouldn't go through the State of Maine, because that is
in the United States.

_T._--What is the next way they might think of?

_P._--The next shortest way so as to keep in Canada.

_T._--Where would that be? (Pupil comes up and tells from the map.)

_P._--From Quebec city through Quebec, along the edge of Maine,
into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

_T._--Would they take that way?

_P._--No, because it is too near the border of the United States.

_T._--Why do you say "too near"?

_P._--If there was war, soldiers from the United States might come
over and wreck the railway. They might dynamite the bridges or tear
up the rails.

_T._--As a matter of fact, they did not take that way. What route
could be taken to prevent any trouble of that kind?

_P._--They would stay as far from the border as possible.

_T._--Where would that be? (Pupil comes to the map to find out.)

_P._--They would have to follow the St. Lawrence for some distance.

_T._--How far?

_P._--Right down to the other side of New Brunswick. Then down to
Halifax.

_T._--Would that be the cheapest line to build?

_P._--It would cost more, because it is longer than the others.

_T._--It is really 138 miles longer than the next shortest. Which
of the reasons we have mentioned would make them want to keep as
far from the border as they could?

_P._--The military reason.