152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 152 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, British Columbia, 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 Canada’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 Canadian Pacific Railway 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. 152 152-170 120820 11/1/04 2:53 PM Page 153 Chapter 11: The Steel Ribbon 153 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 United States. 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 154 154 Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada 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 Chapter 11: The Steel Ribbon 155 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 Ontario 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 156 156 Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada 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.