THE FOXHILL RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 15, 17 January 1872, Page 2

THE FOXHILL RAILWAY.

To The Editor or the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — To-day's leader in the Nelson Colonist contains an article on a letter of Mr. Lightband, that appeared in your paper of the 9th instant. Having carefully read Mr. Lightband's j letter, the leader in the Colonist, and Messrs. Rout and Citizen's letters, as published in the Mail a few days since, I urn at a loss to understand how Mr. Lightband's letter can be so construed as to mean " not to proceed with the Foxhill railway." Permit me to say my own impressions are, in reading the letter before referred to, and in this opinion I am borne out by other electors, that it meant nothing more nor less than that the greatest economy should be used in the construction of the railway, advocating, as it does, a light engine and other rolling stock, and to substitute wooden for iron rails; thus, as Mr. Lightband, says " to prevent the money leaving the province, and to keep the trade it would necessarily create among our own work people." What can be more advantageous than this? It is all very well to say Mr. Lightband has recommended, a diversion of the money voted, but will you or any of your numerous correspondents show the public a better way to bring this subject prominently before the people and the Government. There lies the money in the Treasury, The alternative to us is evident, either to let ifc lie there idle or to urge the Government to proceed with the railway immediately. Surely there is no harm in suggesting that the money voted for the railway could be used for other purposes equally advantageous for the welfare of the Province, which, I presume, is decidedly better than locking up £100,000 in an old iron chest. Comparisons generally are odious, but sometimes it is best to hit hard ; therefore with regard to comparing the Foxhill railway to bubble companies, I apprehend the reflection was intended not where Mr. Rout has taken affront, but to those whose duty it is to see that the public works of this province are commenced immediately. I am, &c, Old Chum. Richmond, Jan. 16, 1872.