THE EMPIRE ROUTE TO THE EAST.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 4

THE EMPIRE ROUTE TO THE EAST.

The leading shipbuilders In the country have just submitted to the Canadian Pacific Company offers for the construction of three large and speedy screw steamers for what is now known as the Empire route to the East via Canada. It is proposed, says JSnaineering, to end the Atlantic journey at Halifax in the winter time and possibly Quebec In the summer season, and that thence the voyage will cross the continent on the Canadian JPaeific Railway to Vancouver, and from that point sail to Australia, China or Japan. It is for the Pacific route that the new steamers are intended Much that is controversial .has been written on the various routes to the East, and without desiring to enter into this controversy it may be interesting to indicate briefly what is claimed for the Empire route, since it has in a measure forced itself before the engineering public. To the patriot the fact that he does not sight foreign bind may be a consideration. The route follows practically a circle of travels at latitudes where degrees of longitude are shortest; the seas crossed are cool—an advantage to the marine engineer—and free from monsoons and tropical cyclones, and 2500 miles are overland. With shorter sea passages, and coalfield* at or near Halifax, Vancouver, and Sydney, less coals would be required to be carried, and thus extra freight money recovered. With Halifax only 2400 miles from England it could be reached in five days, and it has advantages over New York, as there are no shoals. The railway journey, even though the climate is very cold, is rendered pleasant by artificial heating, &c, and again the Pacific sea voyage is short. The voyage to Japan via Canada is about 9250 miles, whereas via Suez it is 13,750 miles, and via the Cape 15,500. To Shanghai it Is 10,500 miles as compared with 12,500 miles via Suez, 14.250 miles via the Cape, and 16,000 via Gape Horn. Hong Kong is about equi-distant via Canada and Suez 11,000 miles; 13,500 by the Cape, and 16,000 by Cape Horn. Sydney and Auckland are also the same distance by the two steam routes (12,000 miles), but the latter is only 11,500 miles byCape Horn, and the former 12,750, and they are 14,000 and 13,750 miles via the Cape. Singapore is 3000 miles nearer England by the Suez (9500 miles) than by Canada, but Brisbane ia 1000 miles farther away, toe Canadian route being 1L250 miles against 12,250 via Suez. It is therefore patent that to Japan and Shanghai the new route will be the more suitable, and the question of the development of trade with these countries enters into the count. British trade with Japan in a quarter of a century has improved fully 33 per cent., with Chili 25 percent., and with Java and the Straits about 130 per cent.; and looking to the prospect of Japan being opened up with railways and telegraphs, there is every likelihood that trade may be farther developed. In any case, both the Pacific companies seem to think so, for not only do the Canadian Pacific Company intend building at an early.date, but the old Pacific Company are having a fast steamer built at the Fairfield yard on the Clyde, and a couple of similar vessels at Philadelphia.