Railroad Meeting at Georgetown

Yesterday a public meeting of the inhabitants of Esquesing was held at Watson's Hotel, Georgetown, for the purpose of taking into consideration various matters connected with the proposed Railroad from Toronto to Guelph.

A considerable number of Gentlemen from Toronto, Erin, Guelph, Nichol, and other localities attended the meeting. Amongst others who were present were, the Mayor of Toronto, J.Robinson, Esq., J. Duggan, Esq., J.W. Gwynne, Esq., -- Clarke, Esq., of Toronto; Wm Young ,Esq., Reeve of Esquesing; Wm. Barber, Esq.; W. Clarke, Esq., D. McBain, Esq., W. Tyler, Esq.,of Erin; S. Smith, Esq., Reeve of Guelph, Messrs. Thorp, Hubbard, and Stevenson, Councillors; Mr. Sheriff Grange, Mr. Fergusson, M.P.P., Dr. Clarke, Col. Hewat, J. McCrea. Esq., J. Wright,Esq., J. Smith, Esq., B. Thurtell, Esq., Warden of the County of Waterloo, F. Kerr. Esq., F.Smith, Esq., J. Hodgert, Esq., J. Harland, Esq., of Guelph; Alex Harvey, Esq., of Fergus, -- and a large number of other gentlemen with whose names we were unacquainted. -- The foregoing, however, will give a correct idea of the character of the meeting.

W. Young, Esq, Reeve of Esquesing, was called to the chair, and Mr. R. Tracy was appointed Secretary.

The Chairman read the requisition calling the meeting, and briefly explained its object.

Mr. Sheriff Grange moved the first resolution:

"That the extent of country lying between the City of Toronto and the Town of Guelph possesses such advantages for Railroad communication as to make it a matter of paramount importance that the construction of a Railroad between Toronto and Guelph should no longer be deferred."

That Railroads ... great importance to a country, all must allow, but the great thing to prove was,that they would pay. Some people were disposed to believe that a Railroad from Toronto to Guelph would not pay: ... which he thought would prove that the line would not only pay, but would bring a ... upon the capital expended. This was a ... to be said of a ... into a back country, but it was nevertheless correct. His statistics were taken from the census of 1842, the returns of which were far below the census of 1851. He thought that be taking the total returns of 1849 as the gross amount of exports, the overplus now raised would serve a home consumption; so that the total amount of the produce raised in 1849 in the Townships along the line, and in several others in the Country of Waterloo beyond Guelph, as far as Bentinck, would go down the proposed line. The total amount of wheat raised in 1849, in the townships of Guelph, Woolwich, Nichol, Peel, Maryboro, Arthur, Normauby, Egremont, Bentinck, Gleneig, Garafraza, Eramosa, Erin, Puslinch, Nassagaweya, Esquesing, Waterloo, and Wellesley, amounted to 693,725 bushels. Now, calculating the carriage of each bushel of Wheat to Toronto, at a York sixpence per bushel, the amount dervied from the carriage of that article along, would be 10,839 pounds yearly. There would also be a variety of other produce go down the Line, Barley, Oats, Cheese, Butter, Pork, &c. The amount of Barley and Oats raised in the before named townships in 1849, was 522,452 bushels. Calculating the carriage of these at 2d per bushel, would give a return of 4,353 pounds. The number of barrels of Pork, exported in 1849, was 4,751 -- a return very much under the realquantity -- he would not be overstating the amount if he said that 10,000 barrels of Pork would go down the line annually; these, at 1s 10 per barrel, would give the amount of 937 pounds. -- He was satisfied that this was not an over estimate, for he knew that during the last year, the Pork sent from the Township of Guelph alone amount to 1900 barrels. then as to the passenger traffic: the present travel between the locality of Toronto and these parts, was carried on by 13 daily stages. It was well known, that a Railroad always increased the amount of passenger traffic; and it would not be too much to say, that 20 persons would travel the line daily, which at a rate of 6s each, would give 2,190 pounds per annum. The amount of Cheese sent to market in 1849, was 28, - 622 lbs; Butter, 164,000, which at 2s 6d per cwt would return 190 pounds. The carriage of Beef, Mutton, Vegetables, and Roots, &c., would amount to 1500 pounds. The carriage of Store Goods to Guelph, would amount at least to 1000 pounds; and to the upper country, 1000 pounds. He arrived at this conclusion from the enquiries recently made by several gentlemen in Guelph, who had ascertained that the amount of tonnage of Store Goods brought annually into Guelph, was somewhat over 2000 tons. Supposing that half of this tonnage would come from Toronto,and half from Hamilton, the return at 1 pound per ton, would be 1000 pounds for carriage of merchandise from Toronto; and it would not be too much to calculate upon 1000 tons more being brought from Toronto for the supply of people in the upper country. In addition to this there would be at least 12,000 Barrels of Salt brought annually from Toronto producing for carriage 750 pounds. The total amount from these various items of traffic, would be 22,750 pounds. He might farther observe, that he had not calculated any returns from the carriage of Cord Wood, Stone, and Lime -- all very important articles to the people of Toronto. Giving the carried of Cordwood to the Northern Railroad, a large amount of Stone would be carried from Guelph andother townships on ... to the people of Toronto. Giving the carriage of Cordwood to the Northern Railroad, a large amount of Stone would be carried from Guelph and other townships on the line, and would be of great benefit to Toronto, for he understood they were at this time actually grubbing in Lake Ontario for stone to finish the Cathedral now being erected. He was satisfied that the total amount of the traffic he had particularized, was far below what it would really be. --

Now, the total cost of the proposed Railroad was estimated at 200,000 pounds; the interest upon which would be 12,000 pounds. The expense of keeping up the cars might be estimated at 80 pounds per mile -- which, for 50 miles, made the total amount 4000 pounds. Allowing 1000 pounds for repairs of road, and 1700 for contingent expenses, and deducting all these items from the total amount of returns before named, would leave a clear profit of 9 per cent for the shareholders, upon the capital expended. He believed the value of Store Goods now sent annually into Guelph, was 50,000 pounds. Including the upper country, he believed it was 100,000 pounds. At least half of this amount would be spent with Toronto merchants and say half with Hamilton, &c. (A voice -- "the whole will go to Toronto.") When the Line was completed at least 50,000 pounds a year would be spend in Toronto, that was not spent there now; and the farmers of Guelph and of other townships along the line would gain a York shilling a bushel for their wheat over what they now obtained -- with a proportionate increase on all kinds of produce. He had much pleasure in proposing the resolution he had before read.

The resolution was seconded by Charles Kennedy, Esq., and carried unanimously.

James Cotton, Esq., moved the next resolution:

"That while the construction of this road will increase to an incalculable extent the import and export trade of Toronto, the terminus upon Lake Ontario, the Farmers in the country will also derive incalculable benefit from its construction by reason of a new and convenient market being thereby opened to them for the sale of their produce and for the purchase of the articles of consumption."

He believed the proposed Railroad would be of such great benefit to the line of country through which it passed, and that such benefits were so generally admitted, that he would not take up the time of the meeting by making any further observations.

John McCrea, Esq., seconded the resolution. He had no doubt whatever that the proposed Railroad would pay. It was only reasonable to suppose that with increased facilities of intercourse there would be an increased amount of traffic; and that as the back country became settled, a continually increasing amount of merchandise must pass along this line of railroad. From there turns which Mr. Grange had laid before the meeting, it appeared perfectly clear the road would pay. He had, however, no hesitation in saying that the returns referred to, were very much below what they would really be this year; and in three years from this, he had no doubt those returns would be doubled, if not trebled. Now, if it were correct -- and he believed it was -- that 200,000 pounds would build the road; and if with the amount of traffic based upon the census of 1849, a clear profit of nine percent was shown, what would the profit be when the traffic was double theamount of 1849. Then, besides the direct profit, there would be great indirect benefit derived. Property in the city of Toronto would be much increased in value, because the Railroad would surely induce a large population in that city; and property along the line of the Road, and in the adjoining townships, would be also much increased in value. No person who had travelled overthe road he had that morning, would say, that better roads were not desirable -- or that more easy means of communication would not induce a larger amount of travel. Instead of the corduroy crossings he had come over, he hoped soon to see a level road, with different sleepers to those at present in use, and iron "string-pieces" on the top. It had been long proved, beyond a doubt, that the natural effect of Railroads was to produce and increase wealth. This had been fully demonstrated by our neighbors across the lines; and there was nothing, in our climate, or our soil, or anything else, to keep us from progressing as they had done -- nothing, except our own want of spirit and enterprise. He was perfectly satisfied, that by the building of this Railroad, the farmers would be directly benefitted by it, to a greater extent than they would be taxed on its account. The farmers of Guelph gave the subject their serious consideration before they gave their approval of it. He himself was determined not to support it, until he saw his way clearly; but the more he had examined it, the more he was satisfied, and would cordially second their solution.

The Mayor of Toronto saw by the movements and nods of several gentlemen opposite, that he was expected to say something, -- but he really did not think, after the very able speech of the gentlemen who moved the first resolution, that he need say much more in favour of the enterprise. On account of the statistics given by Mr. Grange being so full and satisfactory he would depart from his intended course, and make but few observations. There was one matter, however, to which he would direct attention: Immigration. On an average, there were 300,000 emigrants -- yearly -- landed in New York, which emigrants legitimately belonged to Canada. There were various reasons why Canada did not get them. -- The first was that they knew if they came to Canada, they could not get that employment which we ought to be able to give, on account of not having those public improvements going on which we ought to have; consequently they came not hither, but remained in the States to swell the ranks of those whose interests were opposed to Canada. This state of things need not be, if we would only unitedly put our shoulders to the wheel. When the Railroads now in contemplation were going forward and completed, a very large amount of the emigrants now passing through New York to the Western States, would be transferred to Canada; and when the Line from Toronto to Goderich was completed, that route would be the best which could possibly be made in the Western States, and would be used by hundred of thousands of Immigrants, as well as those who intended to settle in Canada or those who intended to locate in the Minnesota territory, Wisconsin, &c. The ... immigrants, as well as those who intended to settle in Canada or those who intended to locate in the Minnesota territory, Wisconsin, &c. The great immigration in the States was mainly owing to the facilities of transit, in which Canada was so greatly deficient. Travellers who come here apparently to "spy out the nakedness of the land," tell the British population that whilst there are more then 10,000 miles of railroad in the States, there are only 22 miles of railroad in Canada; and hence to a great extent, arose the prosperity of our neighbors. The Public Works of Canada had cost the sum of 4,500,000 pounds; and that was the amount derived from them? They did not pay more than 1 per cent! Whilst the farmers were paying the sum of 12 per cent duty upon imported articles, which duty if we had the contemplated Railroads, would be diminished in the same ratio as the income from the public works would be increased. He was not jealous of the city of Hamilton, though as a Toronto merchant perhaps he had cause to be, because Hamilton was likely very soon to have its railway - or a part of it - completed. But if matters went forward now, as the feeling of this meeting seemed to indicate, Toronto would get a Railroad to Guelph, if not to Goderich, completed, before the whole of the Great Western could be got in working order. The farmers of Canada had been, as it were, too long asleep, and the country had been to much agitated with politics -- but he hoped the time was now come when they were waking up, and when the principal politics discussed would be railroad politics.

The resolution was carried unanimously.

The following resolutions were respectively moved and seconded by the parties named; and were all carried unanimously. We have not time or space to give even an outline of the remaining speeches, and must therefore defer them till next week. They were too important to be lost.

Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Holmes of Chinguacousy seconded --

"That from the information an explanations given, it is decidedly the opinion of this meeting that the proposed railroad from Toronto to Guelph is one that will amply repay the stockholders, besides the indirect advantages otherwise conferred upon the country around."

John Smith, Esq., of Guelph, moved and J. Robinson, Esq., of Toronto seconded --

"That extensive improvements of this kind, requiring a large amount of capital, and in which the interests of the county are so deeply involved, can most effectually be constructed by the different Municipalities along the line of road; and this meeting pledges itself to use the utmost exertions toget the necessary stock taken up."

Wm. Barber, Esq., moved and S. Kennedy, Esq., seconded --

"That the following gentlemen, namely Rufus Adams, W. Clay, P.W. Dayford, Geo. Kennedy and J. Young, be a committee for the Township of Esquesing, for the purpose of entering into communication with the Provincial Directors of the Company, with the view of promoting the interests of the Company, and of carrying into effect the objects of this meeting.

A vote of thanks was given to the chairman and the meeting then separated.

Guelph Advertiser, 11 September 1854