CHAPTER X.

Mr. James C. Pope and the Railwayflixssimilation ot' the Currency—(1011+ ' t'ederaHon—Conference in Chartottetmvn—Sketch of Edward Whelan and '1‘. II. HavilantlAOpposition to Confederaticit—Resolutions in the Assem- bly—Otter of Terms to J, (.1. Pope—Further Proceedings—'l‘he Question of Confederation Kesumed—Delegations to Ottawa—Messrs. Haythorne and Laird—Messrs. Pope, Haviland, and Howlan—Final Settlement of ' the Question.

'r, O the Honorable James C. Pope belongs the honor of I

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being the first to take legislative action of a commend- \95 ably energetic character, in order to secure to the island admirable facilities for intercommuni ~ation by means ,of‘ a railway. On the third of April, in the session of" 1871, that gentleman submitted a resolution to the house of ‘ assembly, which was seconded by the attorney-general, Hon. Mr. Breeken, to the cfl'ect that. the trade and exports of the ‘ island having much increased during the past few years, it , was found impossible, in the absence of stone or gravel, to ~ keep the roads in an ellicient state of repair. It was con— ‘ tended that the construction and etl'icient maintenance of a » line of railway through the island would greatly facilitate: its trade, develop its resources, enlarge its revenue, and open more frequent and easy communication with the neigh— boring provinces and the United States. It was, therefore, proposed to introduce a bill authorizing the government to undertake the construction of a 'ailway, to extend from Caseumpec to Georgetown, touching at Summerside and Charlottetown, and also branches to Souris and 'l‘ignish, at a cost not exceeding five thousand pounds, currency, the mile, including all the necessary appliai’lces suitable for a: