Cartier had the vision to foresee the great future in store for Montreal, if adequate transportation facilities were provided. "Montreal," he prophetically declared on the same occasion, "is destined to become the great emporium for the West. Without railways and canals it will be impossible for it to attain the glorious position which will make it one of the principal cities of the continent." Largely as the result of Cartier's persistent efforts, the Montreal & Portland Railway which for a long time was the only outlet during the winter for Canadian produce, destined for Europe, was completed, and inaugurated in 1851, being subsequently absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway Company. Before the completion of this road, it must be remembered that there were only some seventy miles of railway in all Canada, the first road, the Laprairie and St. John's having been opened only a few years before, that is to say on July 21st, 1836. When we consider that to-day the total mileage of railways in Canada is 35,000 miles, that last year our combined railways built 1,970 miles of new railway, on which was spent $30,000,000, and that the programme for this year provides for 2,700 miles of new track, costing $41,000,000, some idea may be obtained of the advance that has been made. Cartier deserves the credit of having been one of the first to realize the importance of railway construction in connection with the development of the country and of having been one of the strongest supporters of a forward policy in this respect--a policy to which we owe the three splendid railway systems we have to-day--the Canadian Pacific, the Grand Trunk, and the work of those two great railway men, Sir William Mackenzie and Sir Donald Mann--the Canadian Northern. One of Cartier's chief claims to honor is that it was he who secured the incorporation of the Grand Trunk Railway Company, which has done so much for the development of Canada in general, and the City of Montreal in particular. Cartier always took the greatest pride in that fact. In a speech delivered in the legislature he declared that he regarded the construction of the Grand Trunk as the greatest benefit that had ever been conferred on the country. "I had charge of the Act which created the Grand Trunk Railway," he added, "and I am prouder of that than of any other action of my life." The Grand Trunk at the outset of its history had many difficulties, financial and otherwise, to encounter, and it was due to Cartier's efforts in a large measure, that the company was able to tide over these difficulties and that its success was assured.