Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Begbie, Matthew Baillie to Merivale, Herman 27 January 1860, CO 60:9, no. 926, 288.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (6), Other documents (2).
Begbie warns that mining in British Columbia is being hindered by a
lack of roads and offers to build a toll road from Douglas to Cayoosh,
provided no other road is allowed to be built. The minutes show that although the
Colonial Office agrees more roads
need to be constructed, and believes sending the Royal Engineers to the colony was
an expensive error,Begbie's request for a monopoly is unacceptable.
Begbie to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
27th Jany 1860
The Right Honorable
H. Merivale Esqre C.B.
Under Secretary of State for the Colonies
&c &c &c
Sir,
Sir,
I am advised by private sources of the pressing necessities that
exist in British Columbia for the rapid opening up of roads to the
Mines. The length of road completed during the Year 1859 is 7 Miles.
The Upper Country contains at present very few miners—they fly
from high prices; they are ready to pay $2 a lb: for flour, they fly
from starvation—there are no roads. The trails are scarce passable
in Winter by any powers of endurance.
Provisions which cost last summer 4s/- to 8s/- pr lb.
at Alexandria cost last Winter the same sum at Cayoosh & the
Fountains 200 miles on the coast side of Alexandria. That 200 Miles
would not merely add, in Winter, a dollar or two to the price per lb:
which is all the effect it produces in summer. In Winter it prevents
all access.
Without roads there can be no population: no fixed population at
all, and little even of a migratory sort & that of the least revenue
paying character; without population there can be no Revenue.
I am willing to undertake the opening up of a Road on a line to
be fixed by the Government from a Terminus at Douglas to a Terminus
at Cayoosh to be constructed at my own expense, to be equal at least
to the 7 Miles made last Year by Capn Grant & to be all finished
in 1861 provided that
1stly It remains the only route to the Mines.
2ndly I have the right to take toll for 5 Years from
completion of Road to the satisfaction of the Government according to
Captn Grants sample.
These
These tolls & other conditions I am quite prepared to state at
once on learning that such proposals meet with your approbation and
if agreed to I am prepared immediately to proceed with operations.
The Roads could only be finished in 1861 supposing an arrangement be
made without delay as the mileage cannot be completed in One Year.
The position & means of the Contractors in this country interested
with me in this matter will afford ample guarantee for the
satisfactory completion of the Contract proposed if Captial &
experience can ensure success.
These tolls & other conditions I am quite prepared to state at
once on learning that such proposals meet with your approbation and
if agreed to I am prepared immediately to proceed with operations.
The Roads could only be finished in 1861 supposing an arrangement be
made without delay as the mileage cannot be completed in One Year.
The position & means of the Contractors in this country interested
with me in this matter will afford ample guarantee for the
satisfactory completion of the Contract proposed if Captial &
experience can ensure success.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The urgent demand for roads is undeniable. All accounts public & private agree that the progress of the Colony is retarded by the want of them. Roads were to have been the first care of the Engineers, and they have made from 5 to 7 miles up the Country: & would doubtless have made more if they had had time. But I conclude that the Engineers have had interruptions. Are then the Roads to be delayed until the Engineers have leisure to make them, and is nobody else to make roads but the Military force. Why should not the writer—who is a Merchant in the City, & able to perform all he promises—or any other person who may be fixed upon undertake this very pressing and important Service? The fact, I think, is that it has been an expensive error sending out R. Engineers to B. Columbia. It is difficult to combine Military & Civil duties in one person. If part of a Regt of the Line had been stationed in B.C. or V.C. Isld it wd have afforded adequate military protection—have been much less costly, and roads, bridges surveys &c wd have fallen into the hands of private enterprize, by whom, under Govt supervision those duties wd have been performed promptly & well enough. We are now placed in the embarrassing position of having to maintain the
Engineers for the nominal though not exclusive purpose
of making roads, and the B.C. public must be taxed to defray the
expense incurred by any person, or association of persons, who may be
willing to undertake the real service.
The urgent demand for roads is undeniable. All accounts public & private agree that the progress of the Colony is retarded by the want of them. Roads were to have been the first care of the Engineers, and they have made from 5 to 7 miles up the Country: & would doubtless have made more if they had had time. But I conclude that the Engineers have had interruptions. Are then the Roads to be delayed until the Engineers have leisure to make them, and is nobody else to make roads but the Military force. Why should not the writer—who is a Merchant in the City, & able to perform all he promises—or any other person who may be fixed upon undertake this very pressing and important Service? The fact, I think, is that it has been an expensive error sending out R. Engineers to B. Columbia. It is difficult to combine Military & Civil duties in one person. If part of a Regt of the Line had been stationed in B.C. or V.C. Isld it wd have afforded adequate military protection—have been much less costly, and roads, bridges surveys &c wd have fallen into the hands of private enterprize, by whom, under Govt supervision those duties wd have been performed promptly & well enough. We are now placed in the embarrassing position of having to maintain the
Engineers for the nominal though not exclusive purpose
of making roads, and the B.C. public must be taxed to defray the
expense incurred by any person, or association of persons, who may be
willing to undertake the real service.
I scarcely suppose that Mr Begbie's first condition can be
entertained, unless with modification. And at any time the Governor
must be consulted on this subject.
ABd
30 Jany
Father, or brother, of the Ch Justice?
HM
Jan 30
Brother.
ABd
30/Jany
I asked this because I think it is a little
inconvenient that we
should receive Ch. Justice Bebgie's impressions in this way through
his brother in England, which I take to be the meaning of the letter.
The Judge is however a man of active habits & a very good observer.
But the roads must make themselves, as far as I can see. We cannot
afford to force on this community?
inconvenient that we
should receive Ch. Justice Bebgie's impressions in this way through
his brother in England, which I take to be the meaning of the letter.
The Judge is however a man of active habits & a very good observer.
But the roads must make themselves, as far as I can see. We cannot
afford to force on this community?
HM
Jan 31
The first condition seems quite out of the question. But send
to Govr?
CF
Feb 1
The Govr must however be cautioned against supposing that in
sending him this letter I sanction the condition of a close monopoly
of a road—a monstrous proposal in such a Country!
N
3
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Begbie, 14 February 1860, advising that
the question had been referred to the governor for report. [This letter has been crossed
out.]