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Chapter 11 The Steel Ribbon The Last Spike

The official photograph of the last spike The workers’ last spike ceremony, ceremony. moments later.

It is a misty, dull morning at 9:22 a.m. on 7 place. Smith drove in the new spike with care- November 1885. High in the Eagle Pass at ful taps. The workers gave a rousing cheer. Craigellachie, , a short cere- When the officials had gone, the workers mony is taking place. A group of railway offi- had a last spike ceremony of their own. The cials arrive in overcoats and silk hats. Behind photo of that ceremony shows some of the them stand a party of workers. They are there 10 000 workers who laboured on the rails and to celebrate the last spike of the Canadian made it a success. They included Aboriginal Pacific Railway. After years of hard labour, a people, Canadians, Americans, Chinese, and ribbon of steel links ’s east and west Europeans. It was hard and dangerous work. coasts! Lives were lost as the workers battled with The official photograph of that ceremony the obstacles in their path. is one of the most famous pho- tos in Canadian history. The Reflecting/Predicting bearded man in the centre is 1. Compare the two photos of the last spike Donald Smith, head of the ceremony.Why do you think it is important that people see both of these photos? Company. The story goes that 2. Describe the obstacles you think the workers had when Smith first lifted the to face as they built the railway. How do you think hammer to drive the spike into they overcame these obstacles? 3. Imagine you are one of the workers in the the ground, he bent it. Another photograph. Describe your thoughts, feelings, and spike had to be put in its memories at that moment.

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The Dream of a Railway The Liberals had never been very enthusiastic British Columbia had joined Canada on about building a railway. They called it one of Macdonald’s promise that a railway would be Sir John A.’s wild schemes. The Liberals built within ten years. If British Columbia did thought it was far too expensive for such a not get a rail link to the East, there was a good young country as Canada. Their government chance it might join the . Sir John decided to build the railway bit by bit when the A. was also determined to fill the fertile plains country could afford it. of the West with settlers. A railway would move During the Mackenzie years, a great eco- settlers west and bring their farm products to nomic depression set in. The hard times were eastern markets. Only when the east coast was felt not only in Canada, but throughout the linked to the west coast would the dream of a world. Crops were attacked by insects such as union “from sea to sea” come true. weevils and grasshoppers. Many small After the election of 1872, Macdonald and Canadian businesses ran out of money. They the Conservatives turned their attention to rail- could not compete with cheaper goods brought way building. A group of business people under in from the United States. When people are Sir Hugh Allan formed the Canadian Pacific unhappy because crops and businesses are Railway Company to do the job. Allan was poor, they often blame the government. rumoured to be the richest person in Canada. But the plan soon came crashing down and left John A. Macdonald in a lot of political trouble. The Pacific Scandal Some papers were stolen from Sir Hugh Allan by a former employee. The papers were turned over to the opposition Liberal party. The Liberals said these secret papers proved that Allan and his friends had given large amounts of money to Macdonald’s government. It looked as if Allan had bought the right for his company to build the railway. Had Macdonald’s govern- ment accepted a bribe? The Conservatives admitted that Allan had given their party $350 000 during the election campaign of 1872. However, they claimed that it was a custom for all political parties to get gifts of money from their friends. Many Canadians were not convinced. The event became known as the Pacific Scandal. The scandal forced Macdonald and the Conservatives to resign. It seemed the hopes of the railway company were ruined. It also looked as if Sir John A. Macdonald, a Father of Confederation, would This cartoon appeared in 1873 in the middle end his career in disgrace. of the Pacific Scandal.What details do you For the next five years, Alexander notice? What impression does the cartoon Mackenzie was the prime minister. The give of John A. Macdonald’s dealings? What is Liberal party was the government of Canada. happening to Canada? 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 154

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The National Policy The people of Canada supported the idea of Macdonald had another chance in the election the National Policy. Macdonald was re-elected. of 1878. He put forward a National Policy to The railway project was on again! solve the country’s problems. The policy aimed to encourage the development of Canadian The Canadian Pacific industries and boost the Canadian economy. Railway Company His plan was basically this: In 1880, George Stephen and Donald A. Smith • Keep cheaper American goods out of formed a new company to build the railroad. Canada. This new company was also called the • Encourage Canadians to buy goods made Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Stephen by other Canadians. and Smith worked out a deal with the • Fill the rich prairie lands with settlers. Conservative government. • Have the settlers buy manufactured goods made in eastern Canada. Let them sell their agricultural products to eastern Canadians. Encourage them to do all this by building an east-west railway. CONTRACT This contract is a formal agreement binding THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA and THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY to build a transcontinental railway, hereafter to be called THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY

Some Terms of the CPR Contract • in return for building a railway line, the company will own and operate it • the government gives the company 10 million ha of land; this land may be sold later to settlers to raise money for the company • the 1100 km of railway lines already finished are transferred to the company • the government grants the company a 20-year monopoly (this means that the company will have complete control of all east-west rail traffic in the southern part of the prairies for 20 years) • all materials, such as steel tracks and spikes, can be brought into Canada free of taxes; all Canadian Pacific stations, sidings, and lands will be tax-free forever An election poster supporting • the company will complete the line to British Columbia Macdonald’s National Policy. within ten years (about 3040 km of track are yet to be Compare the two panels of the built) poster.What differences do you notice? What is the main message of this poster? 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 155

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Profile William Cornelius Van Horne

he Canadian Pacific changed their minds. Despite TRailway hired a remark- spring floods that first year, 671 able railroader to supervise the km of main track and 161 km of whole construction process. He branch lines had been laid! was William Van Horne. Van Van Horne’s idea was to Horne was an American start work at different places. who began his railway One team started to build the career at 14 years old railway in northern and working in an office. worked toward Winnipeg. Other Within a year, he had gangs started building from the mastered Morse Pacific coast, and from Code and become a Winnipeg toward the moun- telegraph operator. tains. In the mountains, teams At 21, he was a were building both eastward ticket agent; at 24, and westward. Van Horne had a train dispatcher; set the remarkable construction at 25, a superinten- process on its way. dent of telegraphs; and at 28, the gen- eral superintendent 1. Imagine you could interview of the railway. He William Van Horne at the achieved his success by time he was hired to super- ambition, hard work, and vise the railway building. ability. People said that Van What questions would you Horne knew more about rail- ask him? roading than anyone else in 2. Why do you think Van Horne America. decided to start work on the When Van Horne arrived in railway at different places? Winnipeg, he boasted that they What might the advantages of would put down 800 km of this plan be? What problems track in the first season. People might occur? laughed at him, but soon 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 156

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Tech Link Building the Railroad

Surveying the Route smooth track. The rise in eleva- n April 1871, the engineer tion could be no more than 1 m ISandford Fleming was put in up for every 50 m forward. charge of planning a route for When all factors were consid- the railway. The distance to the ered, they decided on the route. Pacific was over 4000 km! The surveyors’ job was to map the Laying the Track ground over which the railway The whole operation of laying would travel. the track was carried out by Engineers walked or canoed well-organized groups of work- along the route to determine ers. One group laid the ties. how easy it would be to lay Another distributed the spikes track there. Rocks would have and bolts. A third gang adjusted to be blasted away, swamps the rails to make sure they were filled, trees cut down, rivers in the exact place. This gang bridged, and steep slopes con- was followed by a group called quered. Railways move by con- spikers who hammered in the tact of a smooth wheel on a steel spikes. Then the section of track was laid! DETAIL OF TRACK

steel rail

steel fishplate

ballast ties

spikes

Preparing a level roadbed was the first step.Workers with picks and shovels spread stones in a layer about 1 m deep. Horses pulled a giant scraper along the roadbed to flatten it.Then steel rails were placed on wooden planks called ties. Finally, the rails were anchored with steel fishplates and spikes. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 157

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Steam Smokestack Whistle Firebox Boiler Sand Dome Bell Tender Car: carries Headlight fuel for the firebox

Bogie Wheels

Pilot (Cowcatcher)

Drive Wheels

Blast Pipe: forces used steam and gases from the flue pipes up the Inside view smokestack and into the outside air

Boiler Flue Tubes: carry hot gases through the boiler to heat the

Piston: steam pushes against it, making the wheels turn

Wood, coal, or oil were used to produce a in a locomotive’s firebox.The fire heated water in the boiler to produce steam.The steam moved the pistons back and forth and made the wheels turn. Used smoke and steam then rushed out of the smokestack causing a big puff and a loud “swhooosh.”

The Steam Locomotives It was the age of the great steam locomotives. 1. Compare the steam locomotives of the The earliest trains produced a very rough 1880s to locomotives today. Consider power ride. But by the late 1800s, rail travel was (fuel), design (parts), speed, crew, and quality becoming more comfortable. Coaches were of the ride. Use photos, diagrams, models, painted in bright colours. First-class parlour and descriptions. cars had paintings on the walls, plush carpets 2. The crew on a steam locomotive included on the floors, and rich draperies on the a fireman, engineer, brakeman, conductor, windows. Some coaches were lighted by and flagman.What do you think the duties electricity and heated with steam. A few even of each was? Do some investigating to had air conditioning—fans blowing over check your answers. blocks of ice. 3. Imagine you are a member of a survey crew, a train passenger, or a member of the crew on a train.Write a journal entry describing your experiences. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 158

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Skill Building: Working in Co-operative Groups

Have you ever been in a situation where the only You divide into groups. Each group has a specific way you could get something done was by work- task to accomplish. Each member of the group ing together in a group? You couldn’t organize a has something to contribute. If everybody works school dance completely on your own, for exam- together and all the groups do their jobs, the ple. Large projects are often handled best when dance is a great success! you can draw on the skill and resources of many You can apply the same strategy to investi- people.The key, though, is to co-operate. gate the building of the transcontinental railway Members of the group have to be willing to across Canada. Here are some sub-topics: work together and help each other. a) building the railway across the prairies One of the keys to co-operative group work b) the effects of the railway on the is to have the right attitude and to be organized. Aboriginal peoples Everyone needs to know his or her task and be c) building the railway in northern Ontario willing to contribute. If your class were to orga- d) building the railway through the nize a Valentine’s Day dance, for example, you mountains might decide that there are four main tasks to be e) the role of Chinese workers planned—music, food, decorations, and clean up. f) a day in the life of a railway navvy

Getting Organized

Home Groups 1. Organize your class into home groups of no more than five people. 2. Consider the topic for study and how it divides into sub-topics. 3. Assign each group member a sub-topic. 4. Have each member responsible for a sub-topic meet with the others in the class working on the same sub-topic.

Expert Groups This new group of people working on the same sub-topic becomes the expert group. 5. In your expert groups: • review what the text and other resources say about your sub-topic • talk together about what you have read • decide what the most important ideas are • summarize the most important ideas in an organizer which you will use when you return to your home group • co-operatively decide how you will teach your home group what you have learned about your sub-topic • prepare whatever materials you need to make your presentation to your home group interesting and informative.

Teaching Your Home Group 6. Return to your home group.Teach your sub-topic to the other members of the group. Check their understanding by asking and answering questions. Have them evaluate how well you communicated your information. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 159

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Building Problems very swampy area, sections of track sunk in Canadian geography presented gigantic prob- seven times and three locomotives were swal- lems for railroad builders. On the flat, open lowed up. To make matters worse, day and prairies it was fairly easy to lay the track. But night the workers were driven mad by mosqui- in northern Ontario and in the mountains, it toes and blackflies. was quite a different matter! Northern Ontario rock was a major chal- lenge. It took $7.5 million worth of dynamite to Northern Ontario move the Ontario granite. Another explosive, When Van Horne first saw the region north of nitroglycerine, explodes with the slightest Lake Superior, he called it “two hundred miles movement. It was so dangerous it could not be of engineering impossibility.” His workers had carried in wagons. People had to carry it in bot- to cut down hills, fill in swamps, blast through tles strapped to their backs. A stumble or a fall very hard granite, and lower lake levels. In one meant certain death.

North of Lake Superior, nitroglyc- erine was used daily to blast some of the hardest rock in the world. In one stretch of 80 km, more than 30 labourers lost their lives! They were killed by explosions or falling rocks. This was the human cost of building a transcon- tinental railway.

Fast Forward

the largest steam locomotive built in Canada. Railway Museums There are also over 700 small-scale models and a Across the country, there are several parks completely restored century-old station. At the and museums which have preserved items National Museum of Science and Technology’s from our railway history. These include railway railroad collection, you can learn more about how cars and locomotives, small-scale models, the locomotives worked, railway operations, and works of art, drawings, old photographs, docu- the amazing engineering and mechanical feats of ments, and stories about the people, events, Canada’s railways. and the period. At the Canadian Railway Visit these museums on the Internet at Museum in Québec, you can see the oldest www.exporail.org (Canadian Railway Museum) surviving Canadian-built steam locomotive and and www.science-tech.nmstc.ca/. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 160

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Crossing the Prairies He fired anyone who said something could not In the summer of 1882, William Van Horne was be done. everywhere on the prairies. From the end of The railroad building operation was run as the track, he would ride ahead on horseback efficiently as an army. As soon as the workers supervising everything. The pace was frantic. laid a bit of track, a train was sent over it carry- Van Horne was always urging the workers on. ing supplies to end-of-steel. Each work train carried the materials required for 0.8 km of rail- way. It dumped off the exact number of rails, ties, spikes, plates, and telegraph poles. The train then moved back to the nearest sid- ing where it was immediately reloaded. No time was lost. Almost 1500 km of steel were laid on the prairies in 15 months. Stations sprang up along the route. The first gang of workers put up the frame of the build- ing. They were followed by a second gang who added the floor, sides, and roof. A third gang did the plastering and painting.

As the railway stretched across the prairies, a lot of people hoped to get rich quickly. Everyone began to go crazy buying land—wherever they thought the railway might build a station. Prices of land doubled overnight. But the land boom ended as quickly as it began. Sometimes the rail- way decided to build its stations in different places.The people who had bought land along the proposed line could no longer sell it.They lost everything.

A train crosses the prairies. While laying the tracks on the prairies was easier and faster than in other areas of the coun- try, the area was not without hazards. Sparks from the loco- motives sometimes started fires in the dry grasses. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 161

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The Mountains The British Columbia section of the line was the most difficult and dangerous. The moun- tains had to be crossed. Wooden trestles had to be built over deep river canyons. A trestle is a framework used as a bridge to support the rail- way tracks. In places, the railway was forced to creep along the edges of cliffs. Below, torrents and rapids roared. One of the most terrifying stretches of trail was a narrow ledge, less than 60 cm wide. All supplies had to be brought along that trail. It was so frightening that the labourers used to hang onto the tails of their pack horses to get across. Some kept their eyes shut until they passed the most dangerous places. One worker had a horrible moment when he met two people coming from the The Mountain Creek trestle looked so fragile opposite direction with a pack horse. Since it that one engineer refused to drive his engine was impossible to turn around, they simply had over it.The story goes that Van Horne threat- to push the poor animal over the cliff. ened to take over the controls himself.The In many places, workers had to blast a way red-faced engineer then replied,“If you ain’t for the tracks through the rocks. They had to be afraid of getting killed Mr.Van Horne, with all lowered on ropes down the slippery canyon walls. your money, I ain’t afraid either.” Van Horne They were barefoot so they could keep their bal- answered,“We’ll have a double funeral—at my expense of course.” The engine passed ance better. They drilled holes in the rock for the over the trestle safely. dynamite charges. Then they were hauled back up to the surface and everyone ran for cover. Many railroaders died Territory or were injured by pieces Northwest Nunavut of flying rock. The work Territories was so dangerous that some claimed “every kilo- metre of tunnel and track British Columbia was stained with blood Hudson Bay along the British Columbia Saskatchewan section of the line.” 1885 CraigellachieBanff Québec Calgary 1884 1884 1883 Medicine Hat Ontario When the railway was Swift CurrentRegina 1882 BrandonPortage La Prairie WinnipegKenora 1881 1875-82 completed in 1885, it 1881 1883-84 United States Thunder Bay stretched from Montréal 1884-85 Montréal Sudbury to Port Moody, British North BayOttawa THE BUILDING OF THE CPR 1881-83 Columbia. Montréal was 1884 Present Provincial Boundaries Toronto linked to the Atlantic 1875 0 250 500 Windsor coast by already existing N Maritime railway lines. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 162

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Culture Link The Railway Navvies

he workers on the railway He set off to look for a job on Twere called navvies. They the railroad. came from all over the world to Wasyl earned $1.50 a day as build the CPR. Irish, an unskilled labourer. He had to English, Scots, Italians, take the roughest jobs, which A Navvy Camp Song Americans, Swedes, were usually given to immigrant For some of us are tramps, for Chinese, Canadians, and workers who could not speak whom work has no charms, many others had parts to English. But Wasyl was thrifty And some of us are farmers, play in the project. Below are and saved almost every penny aworking for our farms, the stories of three navvies he earned. In four months, he But all are jolly fellows who came who worked on the railway. saved enough to go back to his from here and far, farm. He walked the 160 km To work up in the Rockies on the Wasyl Hryholczuk because it cost too much to hire CPR. Wasyl Hryholczuk came to a wagon. With the money he Canada from the Ukraine. had saved, he bought a cow, two He had little money. By the windows for his crude hut, and time he travelled from Halifax hinges for the door. Like many to his new farm on the prairies, settlers, he was thankful for his cash was almost gone. He the chance to make a few extra built a one-room shack, and dollars building the railroad. then left his homestead in the care of his wife and children. Lars Petersen Lars was a Finnish railway worker. He had worked on almost every major railway con- struction gang across America. He was one of the best “spikers” in the business. When Van Horne had a contest to see which team could put down the most track in one day, Lars was chosen to be a member of a team.

A typical day on a construction gang began early and ended late. One worker, Stephen Pardoe, wrote: “Early dawn brought the cry of ‘Roll out,’ and by the time the men had shaken themselves out of their blankets, the horses had been driven in ready to be caught and given their feed of oats and water.Then breakfast, followed by the cry of ‘Hook up’ from the foreman, and the whole force would commence its first five-hour stretch of work.‘Unhook,’ at noon, and dinner; another five hours’ work before supper; and then the blankets, till the morning of a new day....” 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 163

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Sometimes construction went ahead so quickly, there was no time for the workers to set up camps.Then they usually lived in boarding cars two storeys high.They slept in the upper storey. In the lower storey, they ate their meals.There were also office cars, cooking cars, freight cars, shops-on-wheels and, sometimes, the private railway car of Van Horne himself.

His team broke all records. In ten hours, they Sometimes the navvies would go out onto laid 10.3 km of track—8400 hammer blows per the prairie to shoot wild partridge. Others person! would hunt for wild duck eggs or berries. When Lars planned to retire some day and live in they brought these treasures back to the camp, southern Manitoba. There were already a num- Montana Pete could fix a feast fit for royalty. ber of Finnish people living on farms there. But for now, Lars was taking part in the adventure of seeing the ribbon of steel leap ahead toward 1. Often, we remember the names and contribu- the Pacific. tions of people who have become famous in our history.Why do you think it is important Harry Nash to remember people such as these navvies? Harry Nash was one of the most important men in the camp. He was a cook. He was known to 2. Imagine that in your attic you have discovered everyone by the nickname “Montana Pete.” the diary of an ancestor who worked as a Since the work gangs had little to look forward navvy on the CPR. Write several entries from to, meals were a big event. Montana Pete could this diary describing your ancestor’s life and rustle up a huge meal in no time. There was not work, hopes and fears. much variety in the menus. Ham or beef stew, pork and beans, fresh-baked bread or biscuits 3. The railway navvies were all men. Discuss why covered with maple syrup were served three this was the case.What roles did women have times a day. All this was washed down with while men were working on the railroad? lots of strong tea or black coffee. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 164

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Chinese Workers On occasion, it seemed that Chinese work- Andrew Onderdonk was the contractor in ers were given the most dangerous jobs. charge of building the British Columbia stretch Sometimes hundreds of Chinese pulled on of railroad. To keep costs down, Onderdonk cables to move supplies up the treacherous brought in several thousand Chinese workers. . Many men fell to their deaths. Only men came. They had to leave their wives Others lost their lives in blasting accidents and and children behind in . Most of the rock slides. Chinese workers had one major goal. It was to Few of the Chinese workers ever saved save enough money to return someday to China enough to return to their families in China. and buy a small plot of land. They were willing Though each Chinese worker was paid about to work hard for half the wages that other $25 a month, expenses were taken from that workers expected. amount. The company insisted that the worker Unfortunately, the Chinese were often badly buy his work clothes, tools, and other neces- treated in British Columbia. But without them, sary items from the company store. Here the British Columbia would not have had a railway. prices were higher than anywhere else. Also, It was said that they took jobs away from other he was charged $4.50 a week for room and workers. But Onderdonk could never find meals. enough workers who were willing to do the When construction jobs on the Canadian backbreaking railway work for such low wages. Pacific Railway ended, most Chinese had no Some people objected to the Chinese choice but to stay in Canada. They faced a grim because they appeared different. Their clothing, future in a country where they seemed language, queue hairstyle (which Canadians unwanted. To survive, many took low-paying called “pigtails”), customs, and skin colour set jobs that most people found disagreeable. They them apart. Railroad officials and citizens of worked as servants, in canning factories, and in British Columbia often treated the Chinese laundries. harshly. It is not a proud chapter in Canadian Over the years, Chinese people have con- history. tributed to Canada’s growth. As well as their work on the railway, they started a market garden indus- try in British Columbia and have built thousands of busi- nesses all across the country. Many Chinese Canadians have become important members of the community. Unrest Among Aboriginal Peoples

The path of the railroad Separate camps were set up for the Chinese workers. Rice, caused another problem— salmon, and tea were the main items in their diets. Many unrest among Aboriginal peo- became sick from scurvy, a disease caused by the lack of ples. One of the most serious fresh vegetables. Since there were no doctors to help them, incidents occurred on the some died.Almost 200 Chinese were buried in the little Blackfoot (Siksika) reserve. graveyard at Yale, British Columbia. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 165

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When they signed Treaty Number 7, the Blackfoot had been promised that the reserve lands belonged to them forever. They were told that no other people could trespass on the reserves. The railroad was already bringing car- loads of settlers into the West. Now it looked as if the railroad was going to pass right through the reserve. Many Blackfoot had had enough of these changes. They urged Crowfoot to let them drive the trespassers out. Crowfoot himself felt angry and insulted that he had not been warned of the railway’s plans. Father Lacombe, a missionary, hurried to the Bow River. He understood that the Blackfoot were upset at not being consulted. They felt that they were being tricked by the government and the railroad company. Lacombe called the Blackfoot to council. He advised them that they could not win if they went to war against the railroad and the gov- ernment. He urged the Council to allow the rail- way to use a small piece of their land. Although he did not have the power to do so, he promised that in return the government would give them extra land. The Blackfoot listened to Father Lacombe was a close friend of Lacombe’s advice and the crisis passed. Crowfoot and helped to defuse the conflict over the railway crossing onto the Blackfoot Money Problems (Siksika) reserve. Other Aboriginal people By 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway was fac- were also angry that they could no longer ing some serious problems. Sections of track hunt or travel over the plains.The Cree still had to be completed in northern Ontario Chief Piapot and a group of his people set up and British Columbia. But more important was camp on a line of track and held up con- the shortage of money. Costs of laying the track struction.The North-West Mounted Police through these very difficult areas had skyrock- were called in. Eventually the tents were eted. People with money to invest did not want taken down and no shots were fired. to risk pouring more money into the project. The Opposition members of Parliament were armed strikers brought all work to a halt. They against the government lending any more attacked railway property. The North-West money to the CPR. They said they doubted that Mounted Police had to be called. The crowd the railway would even earn enough money to was in an ugly mood. Superintendent Sam pay for its axle grease. Steele and eight Mounties held off the crowd. There was no money left to pay the con- Steele warned, “I will shoot the first one of you struction crews. Workers at the Beaver River who makes a hostile movement.” Steele stood camp of British Columbia refused to work any his ground and the grumbling mob slowly more until they were paid. Three hundred broke up and went back to work. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 166

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Sandford Fleming was the chief engineer of the CPR. He was also concerned with how to schedule the trains efficiently. In the 1800s, it could be 12:15 p.m. in Toronto and 12:05 p.m. in Hamilton at exactly the same moment.To solve this problem, Fleming invented a system of standard time. He divided the world into 24 time zones with standard time in each zone.This painting shows him presenting his system in 1879.

In the meantime, George Stephen and Donald In Business at Last! Smith were able to gather together $1 million of The 28th of June 1886 was “red letter” day. At their own personal fortunes. This would keep 8:00 p.m., the Pacific Express Number One the railway going for another three weeks. steamed out of Montréal on the way to the After that, they did not know where to turn. Pacific. It was the first scheduled through pas- At the crucial moment, Macdonald acted. senger train. After a long trip of 139 hours, it He reminded Parliament that the railway had chugged into Port Moody, British Columbia, on already proved its value. During the Red River 4 July 1886. The Pacific Express was only one Resistance in 1870, troops took three months to minute late. get to the West from Ottawa. Just that spring, in The first trains consisted of a baggage car, a 1885, trouble had arisen again in the West. This luxurious first-class day car and sleeper, the time it had taken only nine days to get the nec- dining car, and the colonist car. The colonist essary troops to the West. This was the differ- cars would be the most important to the future ence that the railway made. For this reason, the development and settlement of Canada. They railway did get one more government loan. It would bring almost a million settlers from all was enough to finish the line of steel. over the world to western Canada. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 167

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The Mounties showed that their concern for law and order also applied to the new railway. Once a trio of bandits stopped the train at gunpoint near . The Mounties quickly formed a posse and set out on horseback after them. After two days, the gang was spotted. A short gunfight took place and all the robbers were captured. This was a strict warning to others who may have considered holding up the trains. In the next few years, Van Horne worked hard to pro- mote the railway. He adver- tised the comforts and pleasure of travel by train. CPR hotels, such as the Château Frontenac in Québec From the windows of the colonist car, the settlers got their City, were built in major cities first look at their new homeland.The car was set up with close to the stations. A luxury pairs of seats facing one another.These seats could be pulled resort hotel was built at Banff, out into hard wooden beds.Above the seats, another hard Alberta, so that tourists could wooden bed swung down from the wall like a shelf. Every car enjoy the breathtaking views had a cooking area as well as washbasins and drinking water. of the mountains. Artists were The colonists had to supply their own pots and pans and invited to paint pictures of the bring all the food they would eat during the journey.There glorious scenery. Their paint- were no toilets in the cars, but the train made regular stops ings were sent around the at stations along the way. world as Canadian Pacific advertising.

What did the completion of the CPR mean for Canada? • One of British Columbia’s conditions for joining Confederation had been honoured. Now the province was linked to Canada.The United States could not take over the whole Pacific Coast. • Settlers could more easily reach western Canada.As farm populations increased, com- munities would grow around them. • Movement was now faster and easier between the west and east coasts.This would encourage trade within the country, rather than with the United States. 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 168

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Fast Forward Canadian Railroad Trilogy Gordon Lightfoot is one of Canada’s most gifted singers and songwriters. In 1967 he wrote one of his most famous hits, “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy.” How does this ballad present scenes and images from our history? What is its main message? There was a time in this fair land when the rail- roads did not run When the wild majestic mountains stood alone [Repeat verse] against the sun Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin’ And long before the white man and long before the The stars they come stealin’ at the close of the day wheel Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping When the green forest was too silent to be real Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away But time has no beginning and hist’ry has no We are the navvies who work upon the railway bounds Swingin’ our hammers in the bright mornin’ sun As to this verdant country they came from all Livin’ on stew and drinking bad whisky around Bendin’ our backs til the long days are done . . . They sailed upon her waterways and they walked [Repeat verse] the forests tall And built the mines, the mills, and the factories for So over the mountains and over the plains the good of us all Into the muskeg and into the rain Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspé And when the young man’s fancy was turning to the Swingin’ our hammers and drawin’ our pay spring The railroad men grew restless for to hear the ham- Drivin’ ‘em in and tyin’ ‘em down mers ring Away to the bunkhouse and into the town Their minds were overflowing with the visions of A dollar a day and a place for my head the day A drink to the livin’, a toast to the dead With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay Oh the song of the future has been sung All the battles have been won For they looked in the future and what did they see On the mountain tops we stand They saw an iron road runnin’ from the sea to the All the world at our command sea We have opened up this soil with our teardrops... Bringin’ the goods to a young growin’ land and our toil... All up from the seaports and into their hands For there was a time in this fair land when the Look away said they, across this mighty land railroads did not run From the eastern shore to the western strand When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun Bring in the workers and bring up the rails And long before the white man and long before the We’ve gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the wheel trails When the green dark forest was too silent to be real Open ‘er heart, let the lifeblood flow When the green dark forest was too silent to be real Gotta get on our way cause we’re moving too slow And many are the dead men... too silent... to be real 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 169

Chapter 11: The Steel Ribbon 169

Activities Understanding Concepts

1. Add these new terms to your Factfile. Canadian Pacific Pacific Scandal trestle Railway Company National Policy navvies bribe spikers colonist car

2. How were the railroad policies of John A. Macdonald and Alexander Mackenzie different? Explain. 3. a) Why did Macdonald introduce the National Policy? What did he claim it would do? b) What were the three elements of the National Policy? How was each part supposed to contribute to the overall plan of growth and prosperity for Canada? c) How did Canadians react to the National Policy? 4. Why were Crowfoot and the Blackfoot (Siksika) upset over the railway? 5. Describe the problems of building the railroad through northern Ontario and British Columbia.What were the solutions to these problems? What were the costs? Digging Deeper

6. WEB DIAGRAM Copy and complete this web diagram to explain how each of the factors affected the building of the railroad.

Physical features Climate of the land

BUILDING OF THE CPR

Money Personalities: Labourers Van Horne Stephen Macdonald 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 170

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7. THINK/DISCUSS The violation of Treaty Number 7 by the builders of the CPR caused problems for the Blackfoot (Siksika). a) Do you think the Blackfoot would have fought for their rights if Father Lacombe hadn’t intervened? Why or why not? b) Why do you think the Canadian government failed to negotiate with the Blackfoot for the land they needed for the CPR? c) What does this incident tell you about the relations between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginal peoples in the early days of the West?

8. CREATE List some of the difficulties that Chinese railroad workers faced in Canada.Why were they not treated as well as workers who came from other countries? Create a stamp, memorial, coin, song, or poster to remember the contribution of these workers to the railroad.

9. LISTEN/WRITE Listen to a recording of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Railroad Trilogy.” What mood does the music create? Write another verse to add to the song.

10. MULTI-MEDIA DISPLAY Create a multi-media display to record the building of the CPR. Consider using photos, illustrations, maps, charts, audio and visual clips (songs, testimonials), brochures or posters to attract passengers, etc.You could include these sub-topics: • the process of laying track • the political and company personalities • the workers • problems faced • the route • impact of the CPR Making New Connections

11. INTERVIEW/MEDIA Work in groups. Stage a talk show with guests who will debate this statement:“The completion of the CPR was as important an event in Canadian history as Confederation.” The guests should come prepared to discuss the impact of the CPR versus Confederation, the problems overcome, the people involved, and the consequences if the event had not happened.

12. INVESTIGATE Find out if you could take a train across Canada today (Contact by phone or visit their web site at www.viarail.ca). Keep a record of how long it would take, how much it would cost, what kind of train you would be travelling on, sleeping and dining arrangements, and stops along the way. Compare your findings to what you know about train travel in the 1800s.