The novelty once held for the automobile has long since passed. The days when people stopped what they were doing to stare at a car as it drove by, or the use of a car for a backdrop for pictures, no longer

exists. For many people, it is difficult to imagine life without an automobile.

THE RAILWAY

Thefirst suggestion of the idea of having a railroad from the Head of St. Peters Bay to the Head of the Hillsborough River, will doubtless, be repudiated, and considered utopian: but any person who maturely considers the case, and weighs impartially, its merits and demerits, must necessarily arrive at the conclusion, that

y“ a railroad would pay for the cost of laying it down in any part of the Island, from the Head of St. Peters Bay to Mount Stewart would be the place. (32)

The “.M Ryan” from Rollo Bay who submitted this letter to the editor of The Islander in 1851 saw the potential the railway offered not only St. Peters but the Eastern end of the Island. Twenty years after this letter was written, the Island government passed the Railway Bill on April 17th 1871, which outlined the construction of a railway from Alberton to Georgetown. Initially, the railway was not supposed to go to St. Peters or Souris. In August of 1872, because of political pressure, this act was amended to include extensions to Souris and Tignish. This “political pressure,” was actually a bribe. The story of how the line was extended to St. Peters and Souris is outlined on the March 9th report in the Journals of the House of Assembly for 18721"

What would you do, said he? I would join a Government that would amend the Act, and build the branches to Souris this year. Then said I, we will be sure to have it, and no other way, in my opinion. How are you going to make money out of it that way, he said? Said I, I know parties in the eastward who would subscribe pretty liberally, and would give money to shove along the branches that way...I’ll give you that to join a government that will carry the branches to Souris and St. Peters this year. Said he, put it down there. I counted the thousand dollars — fifty $20 bills. Said he, that is right. He folded them up and put them in his pocket; stretched his right hand across the table, and took me by the right hand — this is a secret, said he, and if I divulge it, I will give it back, he said. (33)

BY 1872 the railway had been extended through the St. Peters area. The

railway-bridge in Midgell had been built, as well as the bridge in Five houses by this time.

R

M . . , ‘ , ‘ . . .

”“8 Is quoted directly out of the Assemblyjournals. lhere were no names listed 1n the document, and 1s {11?1’Cf()re sometimes confusing as to who exactly is speaking. What is put across, however, is the fact that a ”le did take place to have the railway extended to St. Peters and Souris.

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