Subsidy granted by the act of Parliament of February 13, 1881 $25,000,000 Seven hundred and fourteen miles of railroad constructed by the Dominion Government, original cost and interest 36,760,785 Capital stock guaranteed 65,000,000 Loan to the company authorized by Parliament of 1884, in part 29,880,912 Balance of above loan 15,000 000 Bonds, interest guaranteed by the Dominion for 50 years at 3-1/2 per cent 15,000,000 Land grant bonds 25,000,000 Subsidy of $186,000 a year, for 20 years 3,720,000 ------------ Total $215,361,697 Total cost of road, according to the company's balance sheet of December, 1888 $131,350,019 The Dominion Government owns and operates four railways, the cost of which up to June 30, 1890, was $52,800,000. It has also granted to railroad companies cash subsidies which to June 30, 1889, amounted to over $46,000,000. The total number of miles of railroad in Canada was 14,004 in 1890. The people of Canada have, since the political union of the colonies, pursued an exceedingly liberal policy toward their railroads, but it appears that the great indulgence of the government only bred license in railroad circles. The evil increased from year to year, until the many complaints on the part of the public against railroad management caused Parliament in 1886 to appoint a commission to examine into the alleged abuses and to report as to the advisability of the adoption of a general railroad law, and the appointment of a Board of Railroad Commissioners. The committee reported to the Governor-General of Canada on the 14th of January, 1888, and, acting upon its recommendation, Parliament passed the Railway Act of May 22, 1888. This act, containing 309 paragraphs, provides for the complete regulation of railroad affairs, and for this purpose creates a Board of Railroad Commissioners, consisting of the Minister for Railroads and Canals, the Minister of Justice and two or more members of the Privy Council. The act also repeals all former railroad laws. Though it has been in force less than five years, its beneficial effects are already extensively felt by the Canadian public. CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES.