Edward Hackett, one of the only two Tories elected in the federal election of 1882; he received almost 100% of the votes cast at Domerset. (15) The route selected for the railroad, after intense competition from the residents of eastern Prince County and western Queens County, was a twelve mile route beginning at County Line on the main line in Lot 67, crossing into Lot 26, through Somerset and Lot 27, and terminating at Cape Traverse in Lot 28. The contract was signed in August, 1883, and work began at

once. (16)

c

From "Items from Somerset" dated September 18, 1883 we are told:

Work on the Cape Traverse railroad is being energetically pushed forward, and judging from the progress made this far, we may expect to see the work completed at the time specified, on or about December lst. The number of laborers employed on the road, as yet does not exceed 200, and wages range from 31.10 to $1.15 per day; for a horse and cart with teamster, $1.40 per day; for masons and stone cutters something more or less than $1.40 or 31.50 per day. To such parties as live at a distance and think of coming to work on the new -road these figures may be of interest. (17)

The project provided extra money and work for many in and around Somerset. One of the side effects, noted by "Swithen" in his November 13, 1883 letter, was a heavy business in selling rum: The grading of the Cape Traverse Branch

Railway is being rapidly pushed forward,

and every effort made to have the work

completed early in December next. A

considerable number of men are employed and wages is pretty fair. The rum-sellers

(07.