A National Dream : The Steel Ribbon

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A National Dream The Steel Ribbon
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Canada in the 1870s

• Consisted of 7 provinces spread over 10km with
  few economic or transportation links
• B.C. joined in 1871 but promised a railway
• Some treaties were signed
• Population growth slow

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The Canadian Pacific Railway reasons for building

• The RR was a political necessity
• Success of Confederation depended on it
• Meet demand for efficient transportation through
  Canada
• Help unify Canada
• Open up the west, want area to be settled by
  Canadians

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• RR was an economic necessity
• Move goods and people across Canada
• Replace older transportation methods
• End of Reciprocity with US, central Canadian
  businessmen needed new markets
• Colony of BC could not survive if not linked to
  the east
• Available farmland in Ontario was scarce

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Problems

• Logistical
• Money
• 1872 Macdonalds Tories had to resign due to the
  Pacific Scandal
• 1874 Liberals under Mackenzie defeat Macdonalds
  Conservatives

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Mackenzies Liberals

• Increased Canadas military
• Supreme Court of Canada as a court of appeals
• Secret ballot
• All ridings vote at the same time
• But RECESSION and low cost imports undercut
  Canadian made products
• Liberals did not support Tariffs but did want to
  limit free trade

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1878 Macdonalds Conservatives win

• Support protective tariffs
• National Policy - promise to restore national
  prosperity
• Settle the west
• Continue building the RR
• Needed private and public funding (Britain
  refused to help)
• Contract awarded to G. Stephen (brother D.Smith
  head of the HBC) but expensive

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Awarded in 1880 The CPR

• 10 m hectares of land, 25m and no competition
  for 25 years, and no land tax but needed to be
  completed within 10 years
• 25 million acres of good land
• 700 miles of existing track
• 20 year monopoly of traffic in region
• W. Van Horne general manager 1882
• Contracts also awarded to A Onderdonk tp start
  the BC line (this would also be signed over to
  the CPR on completion)

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Homestead Act 1867

• Clear
• 5 year
• 160 acres

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Problems

• Ran out of money
• Settlers
• Weather
• Supplies
• Route
• But completed November 7, 1885
• Last Spike Craigellachie B.C.

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• Gordon Lightfoot
• Canadian Railroad Trilogy VI You Tube