Item
Beacon
Aug 13/1903
SA splendid position as the nearest Canadian Atlantic port of the west will not be injured in any degree by the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific [future CN] railway. No mater what port the new line may select, St. Andrews via the Short Line will still be the nearest port to Montreal. If, a Premier Laurier presages,, the building of the new all Canadian route will forever remove the bogey of the withdrawal of the bonding privilege, it will greatly strengthen the position of this port. No doubt the wise awake manager of the CPR has duly noted this fact.
Beacon
Oct 29/1903
Miss Mary Van Horne has so far recovered that she was able to be taken to Montreal yesterday. A special train took her thither.
The CPR has threatened to take some of its boats to Boston, if it cannot get the berths it needs at Saint John. This is pretty plain talk from a road that has been so heavily subsidized by Canada as the CPR has been. The heads of this corporation have not been stranger to the fact that a congestion such as has now occurred in Saint John was liable to occur at any time. Nor have they been strangers to the fact that they have another port reached by their line of railway that could with comparatively little expense have been made available for just such a contingency as has now arise. There is no excuse whatever for them to go to Boston or any other foreign port.
The CPR Company has told the people of Saint John pretty plainly that it will expend no more money in providing terminals at that port. IT is up to Saint John now to either let the winter port business overflow to St. Andrews or other outside Canadian ports or to make provision for increased berths in their own harbor. St. John of itself cannot afford to expend any more money in this direction, and it is doubtful if the government ill do so unless the management of the harbor is taken out of the control of the city council and placed in the hands of a commission. Years ago this idea was first mooted but it was received with much coldness, the people of the pot believing at that time that they were competent to transact their own business. The find now, however, that the business has grown beyond their means, and it may be, if the commission scheme was again exploited that it would received a better reception.
Beacon
Nov 5/1903
The CPR is under no legal obligation whatever to use Canadian ports. They can take their business anywhere they wish.
One of the promises that Sir Charles Tupper fed the people of St. Andrews was that when the Short Line was completed this port would be utilized as the ocean port of the road. Many years have gone by since then but he happy day that he predicted has not yet come to pass. Indeed it looks now as if Boston might have the first call.
The Saint John people are greatly concerned over the congestion which their port is suffering from. The disposition seems to be to call upon the CPR to redeem the promise that Company is alleged to have made to provide facilities for whatever trade might arise. The common council threshed the matter out the other day, and it was resolved to appoint a committee to wait upon Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, manager of the road, and ascertain exactly what policy his company proposed pursuing with regard to the port. A committee of Saint John merchants subsequently interview Sir Thomas Shaughnessy. The latter, says the globe, talked very frankly with the gentlemen. He told them that Boston and other point were anxious to get the CPR and were offering inducement to them, but the wanted to remain in Canada an would no t go elsewhere unless compelled to do so.
Beacon
Nov 12, 1903
A National Winter Port
[battle for national port in Maritime Provinces growing fiercer]
Greatest Living Canadians [Van Horne fifth; Strathcona second]
The Montreal Herald has just completed an interesting contest as to who are the ten greatest living Canadians. The result of the voting, says the Herald, shows remarkable unanimity in regard to the three names which should head the list of Canada’s roll of honor. Without exception, everyone of the great number of ballots which have come into the Herald office during the last two weeks has borne the name of Sir Wilfred Laurier. In a large majority of cases his name headed the list, but no ballot was received with did not contain it near, if not at the head. Lord Strathcona’s name ran a good second, few of the ballots omitting it, and many of them placing it as the name of Canada’s greatest son. Sir Charles Tupper’s name appeared on about 70 percent of the ballots, and while considerably behind Lord Strathcona’s name is far ahead of the next name, that of Sir Gilbert Parker, who takes fourth position, with about half the number of votes cast for Sir Wilfred Laurier. Sir William Van Horne and Hon. Edward Blake run Sir Gilbert parker closely in the order named. A little below comes Sir Percy Girouard, while close to him are Sir Louis Jette and Hon. W. S. Fielding. The tenth name is that of Lord Mount Stephen.
Beacon
Nov 19, 1903
National Winter Port
Armstrong miffed that Saint John petitioning government for money to expand port instead of letting St. Andrews have the overflow, and that the CPR is threatening to go elsewhere, and that St. Andrews not mentioned in Grand Trunk debates. Proposed resolutions to government drafted here for perusal.
Beacon
Aug 3, 1905
A little winter port blended with the summer port we are now enjoying would make a splendid “bracer’ for St. Andrews. We would commend it to the consideration of Sir Thomas Shaughnessy. [quite a change of attitude over the heady optimism of 1903]
Beacon
Sept 7/1905
To the CPR
The stock market poet of Toronto sings thusly:
Twinkle, twinkle, CPR,
How we wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
What a peach you are to buy.
To which the more conservative sweet singer of the Montreal Exchange adds:
Twinkle, twinkle, CPR,
How we wonder what you are,
Up above the world so swell,
Will we buy or will we sell.
The Beacon would add this doggerel:
Twinkle, twinkle, CPR
Won’t you tell us where you are?
What’s in store for old SA?
Tell us, please, without delay?
Beacon
Sept 28/1905
Sir William Van Horne Interviewed
A representative of the Beacon called upon Sir William Van Horne on Monday afternoon and interviewed him with regard to the CPR and port matters in general. Sir William had just risen from luncheon and was in the best of humor.
Asked as to whether there was anything in the report that the CPR intended utilizing L’Etang as a port, he wanted to know where that port was. He pooh poohed the idea that L’Etang would ever be used by the railway.
“There’s nothing in the story,” said he, “I’d be willing to bet one hundred dollars to one that there’s nothing in it. Of course, I am not taking as active an interest in the railway as I once did, but I am quite sure that the Company has no such scheme on foot.”
When asked as to whether any offer to purchase shore interest at L’Etang had been made on the Company’s behalf, he replied that that story had probably been started by the man who had set the other report tin motion.
“We are continually being pressed to use one port or another on the Atlantic. The port of Castine was one of the places that were urged upon our attention. It was represented as being an ideal port. But the CPR has no intention of going into a Maine port.”
“Not even into Stockton?” interjected the reporter.
“No,” said Sir William. “SJ is capable of doing all the business that the road will do for some time to come. Though somewhat congested at present, there is room for considerable expansion. The railway is not eager to carry grain in the winter anyway. It would prefer to warehouse it and hold it until navigation on the St. Lawrence opens. You may not believe it, yet every ton of grain that is carried to Saint John in the winter season by the CPR is carried at a loss. We prefer to dump it as quickly as possible. A great deal of our winter grain is dumped at Port Arthur and finds its way to New York. Very little comes east.”
Asked as to St. Andrews’ chances of being utilized as a winter port, he said that steamship people did not regard St. Andrews favorably, as the beaches were so shoal that the building of wharves would be very expensive. This was the chief objection they urged. . . [this is the first time a reason has been given for not utilizing St. Andrews as a port]
When asked as to whether the CPR had purchased or intended to purchase, the NB Southern railway, he said that some time ago they had been asked to buy it, and they said the would. But the NB Southern people withdrew their offer and no further effort was made to obtain the road.
Sir William said that he time would come when the people of the Maritime Provinces would wake up to the mistake they had made in not accepting the CPR offer to take over the Intercolonial railway.
“We would have had an Atlantic fast line running years ago,” said Sir William [to Halifax, no doubt]. “And we would have had a system of hotel in the provinces that would have brought in a hundred thousand strangers. Just wee what that would have meant! We proposed putting up another large hotel at SA, one at Saint John, one at Halifax, another at Sydney, and another at the Narrows, CB, with auxiliary hotels between. These would have brought many thousands of tourists. Quebec is being enriched by the tourist traffic and so would the Maritime Provinces.”
Sir William was inclined to take a gloomy view of things Canadian, while of thing Cuban he had nothing but words of prise. He is very enthusiastic over the future of that island. The people there know how to do business, he says, and they are doing it. He had found them to be people of integrity, who respected their obligations. They have used his company well and his company were using them as well as they knew how. In his dealing with the Spanish Americans, whether in Cuba or else where, he had found them to be a particularly fine class of men and it was a pleasure to mingle with them.
Beacon
April 26/1906
Dredging St. Andrews Harbour
Government Dredge Begins Work on the Western Channel.
Details.
Beacon
June 28/1906
CPR has two wharves in town.
Beacon
Aug 2/1906
Sir William Van Horne
Thinks Saint John is Moving Too Slowly
Montreal Herald
“The port of Saint John will have to brace up if it expects to be the sailing terminal of the Empresses next winter.”
Sir William Van Horne hinted, in an interview given yesterday on his return from the Maritime Province and New York, that he was not at all satisfied with the way things were going. He said that at present the harbor is not deep enough to accommodate these huge boats, while the wharves are also too short. Efforts were being made by the Saint John people to rectify these conditions. But when he visited the place he found most of the work shut down, owing to broken machinery and other sources of delay. He hinted that it might yet become necessary for the CPR boats to use Halifax as a winter port of call.
Sir William Van Horne spoke of the difficulty the railways are experiencing in finding employees in the West, and deprecated any restrictions on immigration at the demand of organized labor or anyone else. There was plenty of room in Canada for all who would work. The present left for the West last night to visit his Selkirk farm
Beacon
Sept 20/1906
It is feared in Saint John that the new steamer berths for which dredging and wharf building have been going on for some months, will not be ready for use this winter. This will be a great disappointment, if not a serious financial loss to the city.
Beacon
Oct 11/1906
Government will Assist
SA promised Aid for Deep Water Wharf
The Provincial government has decided that the bonus of 41,000 a year for 20 years which was granted to the people of St. Andrews for wharf purposes in the Act passed in 1891 is s till in force and that under that Act it will extend such assistance to the people of the town as they may need in constructing a deep water wharf in the inner harbor.
This decision was reached on Wednesday morning last when the delegates from the town council of St. Andrews presented the petition of that body to the government at Fredericton.
R. E. Armstrong read and presented the case for the town, Mr. George M. Byron supporting him.
Mr. Armstrong was one of the original delegates when the matter was laid before the government in 1891. At that time, St. Andrews seemed so near the fruition of its hopes as a winter port for Canada that the people of St. Andrews went before the local government and asked for an appropriation of $40,000 to enable them to construct a deep water wharf for ocean steamers. The government of that day favored the idea but in making the grant divided it between St. Andrews and the Ledge, giving $20,000 to each. In 1898 the town of St. Stephen succeeded in securing the passage of an Act whereby $6000 of the sum voted for the ledge was diverted to the erection for a public wharf at St. Stephen and $2000 for the purchase and repair of the Eaton wharf in the parish of Dufferin. In consideration of these concessions the section of the Act relating to The Ledge was repealed. The St. Andrews people never made application for the $20,000 that was vested in their name until the present time, when the government, recognizing the justice of the claim, decided to extend such aid to them as would be necessary.
Beacon
Feb 28, 1907
Wharf Plans Arrive
The plans for the proposed addition to the market wharf have been received by the town council from Mr. Gilbert Murdock, of Saint John, and a blue print of the same has been on exhibition at Cockburn’s Bros. Store. The plans indicate an extension of 434 feet to the present structure. This addition would be 24 feet wide, and would be constructed of piles; at the end there would be a solid crib with a face length of 123 feet, which would extend across the end of the structure. This crib would have a width of twenty feet. The approach to the wharf would require to be dredged. The estimate cost of the wharf extension, including $300 for a drop float, is $13,000. The cosset of the other crib alone is placed at $9000. There could be large saving made in this, as 125 feet is much too large for the ports’ necessities at this point.
The site near the Factory wharf had to be abandoned, as owing to the presence ledge near the surface, puling could not be employed and the whole wharf would have to be of solid crib work. It was estimated that a solid crib wharf at the point mentioned would cost $30,000. This put it out of the question.
Beacon
March 28/1907
The CPR will erect a large warehouse on their upper wharf for the storage of sardines and other freight passing through here. The present shed is crowded at times.
Beacon
April 18/1907
The new CPR warehouse to be erected on their upper wharf, SA, will be 150 feet long, taking up the whole wharf, except a space for lines. Passengers for the boats will go through the warehouse.
Beacon
June 20, 1907
New Wharf
Mr. B. F. DeWolfe, who has always ranked as one of Sa’ most progressive citizens, has furnished another example of his faith in the future of St. Andrews by beginning the construction of a large wharf on the property purchased by him a year ago. This property belonged for many years to the Street estate. The work of construction is being performed by a crew of men under Mr Albert Gillman.
Beacon
Oct 10/1907
A Bye-Law
To Authorize the issue of Debentures for the purpose of providing a deep water landing in the harbor of St. Andrews. Details. [town will vote on authority to borrow $12,500 for erection of deep water wharf.]
Beacon
Oct 24/1907
The By-Law Sustained
People of St. Andrews will have Wharf
Beacon
Nov 19/1908
It is beginning to dawn upon the CPR people that there are trade possibilities at the port of St. Andrews that are worthy of spending a little money upon. For along time the Company has been in need of a safe and commodious wharf at this port. It looks now as if that need was to be supplied. It can come none too quickly.
Is it Another Wharf?
CPR Engineers Surveying Lighthouse Wharf
SA was invaded with a small battalion of engineers last week. Two of these were government engineers, who were engaged in topographical surveys. The others were members of the CPR engineering staff, who took shore measurements and water soundings in the neighborhood of the light house wharf. It is said the railroad company have in view the reconstruction of this wharf, the present wharf being too small for the amount of work that is being done over it. St. Andrews people would welcome such a structure.
Beacon
Dec 3/1908
SA as an Ocean Port
Report of the Government Engineer Thereon. Expense of Equipment would be Light
In the year 1902, it will be remembered, a petition was forwarded to the government at Ottawa, by the people of SA, asking that this ort be selected as one of the winter ports of the Dominion. The matter was referred to Mr. E. T. P. Shewen, resident engineer at Saint John, whose report thereon was in part as follows . . . [details]
Beacon
Feb 18/1909
The Natural Winter Port of Canada
The town council of St. Andrews has issued a neat yet comprehensive booklet setting forth the natural advantages which the port possesses as one of the winter ports of Canada. In this booklet no invidious comparisons of other ports have been indulged in, except in so far as it has been necessary to make out a case for St. Andrews. No other port is maligned. And so far as we are capable of judging the assertion in the booklet have been put forward moderately, fairly and correctly. The statements made are backed up by opinions of practical seafaring men and by others who take a broad view of affairs. Attached to the booklet is an outline map indicating the approaches to the port from the Bay of Fundy. This booklet will be circulated throughout Canada. Already it is in the sanctum of almost every newspaper of prominence between Cape Breton and the Yukon. It will also be forwarded to members of parliament and boards of trade and to transportation companies doing business through Canadian ports. The object of this booklet is not steal way business from other ports but to get for St. Andrews a share of the port business which must flow from the development of our Canadian west. We believe with the honor minister of Public Works that with the rapid strikes Canada is making it will be but short time before the port of Saint John, even with the enormous expenditures that are being made upon it, will be unable to handle the traffic that will be thrust upon it in the winter season, and other pot will be absolutely necessary.. These ports must be found on Canadian soil, and nowhere on Canadian would can more convenient ports be found than exist in Charlotte County. With this fact in its mind, the town council of St. Andrews is making an appeal to the Canadian public to develop this port. The members base their appeal not on the ground alone that the port needs business but that Canada needs he port. Both national and commercial interest demand that the port that gives the shortest land haul and that can be quipped and maintained the most cheaply is the one that should be utilized. Canadian ports for Canadian business is an excellent motto with the proper sentimental ring about it, but when the balance of power has been shifted from the east to the west, as it will be before very long, this sentiment may not appeal to Canadians so strongly as it does now. The west may demand that its grain find an exit through more convenient ports on the US seaboard. When such a demand is made we can only hope to answer it by having as Atlantic outlet such ports as can best compete with Unite States ports both as to land an ocean carriage and cheapness. This sis the reason why we conclude that Canada needs just such a port as St. Andrews is capable of being made.
Beacon
Feb 25/1909
SA Port Pamphlet
Opinions of Press
Opinions of St. John Sun, Montreal Herald, Campbellton Graphic and Hamilton times thereon. Canadian Journal of Commerce also. Generally favourable, though of course Saint John prefers its own winter port.
St. John Sun—“As we read Mr. Armstrong’s statement, supported by he opinions of others, living and dead, and look through his handsome pamphlet, we are apt to feel like the wedding guest who was arrested by the Mariner’s glittering eye and attractive tale. But the fascination is speedily dispelled when we look out fro the globe office windows upon Saint John harbor and see the long rows of ocean steamers, for we have at once the clearest ocular demonstration of where the winter port really is.”
If Sir William Had Reduced the Rates
A story which has a delicious piquancy and which is thoroughly characteristic of the man and the conditions of the time is told of Sir William Van Horne in the days when he was vice-president and general manager of the system. It was the days when no Railway Commission existed, but the reduction of freight rate was a burning question in the West. When Sir William went on Winnipeg on his annual tour of inspection the reporters were sent down to meet him to ask pointed questions about rates. When Sir William’s train was about due in Winnipeg the eagle-eyed depot master noticed that an incoming train had dropped a dozen larger beer kegs from the express car onto the express platform near the station. The kegs were all right as to place, but unfortunately most disorderly as to appearance, three of them standing upright on their ends in an irregular line, while the other three were on their sides. Calling a porter the depot master gave a hasty order, and when the general manager’s special steamed in those six kegs were drawn up as stiffly as a guard on honor.
The reporters fired off the question: “Sir William, why don’t you reduce the freight rates on wheat?”
Sir William’s answer this time was not rapid, but it was for the occasion conclusive. Leaning back, puffing gently at his cigar for a minute or two, and closing his magnificent and penetrating eyes, he began in a half reminiscent strain in this manner: “On the way up there was a washout on the line and we were detained some time at Gravel River. I am the general manger of the CPR. It is an important position. I like it. I hold it because I have the confidence of the directors of the company and I want to retain that confidence. Now if I were at this time to do any such foolish thing as to reduce the rate on wheat the directors would take me from my present post and make me station agent at Gravel River. Did you ever see Gravel River?”
Beacon
March 4/1909
St. Andrews. Newspaper Views with Respect to Port Pamphlet and Port Prospects
Other papers express their opinions. Details
Beacon
March 11/1909
The CPR Wharf
We do not wish to arouse any false hope sin the breasts of St. Andrews people, but we cannot help but think that the tide which has been ebbing from the port for many years has at last turned and that we shall soon have that flood tide of prosperity for which our fathers have hoped, and for which we have struggled for so many weary yeas. The town council of St. Andrews has certainly lost no time in meeting the wishes of the CPR management with respect to this proposed pier. On Saturday morning, the railway company’s communication was placed in the hands of the mayor, and that night at a special meeting, the Company’s plans were approved, subject to ratification by the port authorities. To be sure, the wharf proposed is at present only designed for local traffic, but how easy it would be if occasion demanded it, for the Company to bridge the channel and get to St. Andrews Island, where they would have a mile or more of deep water front, without the expenditure of a single dollar for dredging. It is such self evident facts as these that justify the agitation for the selection of St. Andrews as a Canadian winter port. Just think of it@! A mile and more of deep water that would no require the expenditure of a single dollar for dredging, and six mils of more of such water extending up the St. Croix River toward St. Stephen.
St. Andrews people may well feel encouraged at the business outlook. With the CPR ready to erect a $20,000 wharf, the Dominion government willing to put up another at $18,000, and an electric light plant promised for the Algonquin hotel and cottages, the prospect is a most pleasing one.
CPR to Build Wharf
Have Asked Council for Water Lots. Wharf to cost $20,000
A special meeting of the Town Council was held on Saturday night last to consider a communication from Supt. Downie, of the CPR, with respect to the construction of a wharf near the site of the present lighthouse wharf. Mr. Downie stated in his communication that the CPR intended to build a new wharf at the cost of abut $20,000, at the foot of Patrick street, providing the town would make over the water lots intended to be covered by the structure. It was proposed to abandon the lighthouse wharf, and build immediately to the north of it.
A blue print of the proposed wharf showed it to be 200 feet long with a face at the end of 60 feet. It extended out 110 from the low water mark into the channel.
After a brief discussion it was moved by Ald. Armstrong seconded by Council Wren . . .
This resolution was unanimously adopted.
It was suggested by some of the aldermen that he Company be required to removed the abandoned wharf upon the completion of the new work, also that provision be made for a light at the end of the structure, but it was felt by the council that those points might well be left to port authorities to settle.
Beacon
April 1, 1909
The Public Wharf
A representative of Contractor Fawcett of Woodstock, who is to build the public wharf, was in town on Saturday making arrangements for the beginning of the work. The timber, owing to the difference in railway rates will be taken in to St. Stephen and rafted here.
Beacon
May 13/1909
Sir William Van Horne has expressed surprise that so many Americans fail to see the commercial possibilities of Cuba. It has often been a matter of surprise to us that Sir William and his associates on the CPR have not long ere this recognized the commercial possibilities of St. Andrews.
Beacon
May 27/1909
Deep water Wharf Wanted
Owing to the absence of suitable facilities at this port, the shipping firm which was desirous of loading a large steamer here with spoolwood blocks for a British port, was compelled to go elsewhere. We understand that the subject was laid before the CPR freight authorities, but we have not learned what action if any, they have taken. . . . the new wharf, projected by the CPR, unless it is carried to deeper water than was at first proposed, will not improve the situation to a very great extent. If course, it will enable the railway to do a much larger local or coastwise [just as the Saint John paper predicted in 1903] business, and in this respect it will be substantial acquisition to the port, but if a site could be secured that would give, say 30 feet of water at low tide, the railway would then be in a position to handle any and all kinds of ocean traffic.
the CPR has reduced the excessive freight rates from Woodstock to SA, which will enable Ald. Fawcett, who is building of the Dominion government the new wharf there, to freight his lumber from here direct instead of sending it to St. Stephen and rafting it from the retro SA, which he has been doing cheaper than if he paid the original freight rate to St. Andrews. Woodstock press.
Beacon
June 17/1909
New CPR Wharf
Mr. Chapman of Woodstock, who is to build the new CPR wharf, arrived in town with his crew on Monday and will begin work at once. The new wharf sill be built on the site of the old one, and may extend out a little farther. It will be sixty feet wide, and will be built of piling, thoroughly brace. A steam pile driver will be employed.
Beacon
Sept 9/1909
SA Views Thro’ Tourist Spectacles
Joseph Smith--not Elder Joseph Smith, of Mormondom, with a plurality of wives, but Joseph Smith of Newspaperdom, with a plurality of ideas in his well-ordered cranium--has been visiting St. Andrews and has written of his experiences in the Boston Traveller. Under the heading “A Voyage of Discovery--Last Leg,” Mr. Smith thus soliloquizes with respect to SA:--
. . . NB--SA is just now dreaming dreams of greatness when she will wake up to find fleets swinging in her tides, when the roar of her whistles and the rattle of her machinery will give every herring in her seas insomnia, and when she will have hustle, industry, wealth and happiness galore, where now she has only peace, plenty and a pleasant poverty. The C. P. R. has bought up all the waterfront and nailed down pretty near all the real estate in the region, and some fine morning Saint John , NB will be a reminiscence; Portland, Maine, will be only a summer resort, and St. Andrews will be a noisy, chesty, smoky, uncomfortable municipal bounder, brother to Chicago, Winnipeg and Seattle. We trust it won’t be in our day.
Beacon
Oct 28/1909
Mr. Durant, the sugar refinery promoter, was invited to come to St. Andrews by the town council to look over the business opportunities here. He came he saw, he went away persuaded that St. Andrews has commercial opportunities that are surpassed by few port on the Atlantic. He told a Saint John reporter that St. Andrews has “The advantage over Saint John in the matter of harbor” and that he would have “to build abut a few feet out in the harbor (at SA) to make berths that would accommodate the largest vessels afloat.”
This strong praise, coming from an outsider, but it is in accord with what we have been saying for years.
Beacon
Nov 4/1909
Halifax is getting busy. Sir Thomas Shaughnessy once remarked that Halifax was the proper winter port for mails and the passengers, but the freight port should be on the Bay of Fundy.
St. Croix Courier
November 25/1909
The new CPR wharf was used last week for the first time for the loading of a cargo of sardines. It is a substantial structure and is creditable to the master foreman, George Chapman
Beacon
Nov 25/1909
CPR wharf
The freight shed is in process or removal this week from the old CPR wharf to the new structure. The old wharf will be retopped and thoroughly repaired. This will give the railway two excellent wharves at this port.
CPR displaying a lot of activity about St. Andrews this fall.
Beacon
Dec 16/1909
New Wharves
The CPR wharf at the lighthouse is now complete and the building crew has been dispersed. It is a splendid structure and reflects credit upon the foreman, Mr. George Chapman. A large part of the new wharf is taken up with a large warehouse.
The public wharf at the market Square, built under contract with the Dominion government by Contractor Fawcett of Woodstock, is also complete. Like the wharf above mentioned it has been supplied with a movable slip for landing freight and passengers at all times of tide. Mr. Fawcett has worked hard to fulfill his contract and he haws given the public a substantial wharf.
St. Croix Courier
Jan 6/1910
St. Andrews Booming
By Mayor DeWolfe: During the year five residences have been completed at a cost of $50,000. Several residences have been enlarged at a cost of $5000. The Algonquin Hotel concrete building for power and other purposes was completed at a cost of $20,000. The Algonquin concrete annex (at work on a third storey), $35,000. Two new residences are being constructed at a cost of $23,000. A deep water wharf is completed for the CPR at a cost of $20,000. A deep water public wharf is completed at a cost of $16,000. Indications are that several first-class residences will be built during the coming season and improvements on business properties. Water supply and lighting are being considered.
Beacon
Feb 10/1910
In spite of its nationally circulated literature, St. Andrews seems to be up against a wall of silence on the ocean port business.
Beacon
Jan 12/1911
Death of Mr. B. F. DeWolfe
Mr. DeWolfe began business as a boy in the grocer storey of J. R. Bradford. A few years afterwards he established a grocery business of his own, which proved very successful. He subsequently promoted and managed with much success the Deer Island and Campobello Steamboat Company. Upon retirement from this Company he sold out his wharf to the CPR. For a time he was partner with Albert Denley in the livery stable business. He sold out his interest in this business and went to Portland, Oregon. Upon his return be bought he old street Building on Water street, erected a wharf and started a coal business. This he was prosecuting at the time of his death.
Beacon
Jan 19/1911
St. Andrews’ business reviving--new CPR wharf, new Dominion Gov’t wharf, for general and local traffic, respectively. Dredging now deepening entrance to inner harbour. Eastern Steamship Co. Has asked govt. to lower channels to 20 feet at low tide; further suggested that deep water pier in outer harbour, where 30 feet available, be erected. [but herring, cod and haddock business has fallen far behind this year]
Beacon
Sept 14/1911
Sir William Van Horne’s Views
St. Andrews Address
I am neither a politician nor a speaker but I am glad of this opportunity to say a few plain words on Reciprocity which I regard as the most important and far reaching question that has come to Canada since Confederation.
I am opposed to Reciprocity—because it would destroy our fiscal independence as regards our tariffs; because it would loosen the bonds which bind Canada to the Empire and ultimately destroy them; because the underlying idea on the par of our American neighbors is our estrangement from the Empire which would be along step towards annexation.
I am opposed to Reciprocity—because it would undermine the foundations of our trade and manufactures which have been laid with such effort and success in the last twenty-five years; because it would be a most damaging blow to the magnificent Canadian merchant marine which has been built up in these same years; because our trade per capita is threefold that of the United States and reciprocity and its natural results would surely bring a common level.
And I am opposed to Reciprocity because we don’t need it now, having made our own way to success and prosperity.
I see many other reasons against it and I do not see one single, real and unalloyed advantage in it to the country at large. There may be individuals her and there who might possibly be temporarily benefited in some way, and perhaps localities, but I doubt if there is a case where the benefits would compensate for the disadvantages sure to follow.
Here in the Maritime Provinces we hear much about hay and potatoes and apples and codfish; but for all those there are better markets than those of the United States. From my own knowledge I can say that Cuba, the West Indies generally, and Central American and other Spanish-American countries offer much better markets for those things, and these markets are wide open to us and it only requires a little attention on the part of the Government to enable us to reach them. IT is only necessary to secure the establishment of regular steamship connections. There the profits would be counted in dollars rather than in cents as in the case of the American markets. And it is only now dawning upon some people in NB that Montreal is a better market for their potatoes than can be found in the United States and that American potatoes are brought there, in the face of the duties, in quantities sufficient to govern prices.
But the individual and local point of view is small-souled one, and he would be a small man indeed who would count the cents per barrel on his turnips one way or the other in the face of a question affecting the future and well being of his country.
You all know how dead St. Andrews was twenty years ago (1891) and how low wages were here and how seldom even these low wages could be got. You have seen your young men going away to the States and in later years you have seen them coming back again to their old homes or other parts of Canada; and all over the maritime Provinces you have seen the dead towns of twenty yeas ago coming to life and activity. This has been due to the general prosperity of Canada.
You have seen our Canadian merchant marine, including the tramp and chartered vessels employed in our trade, increased in tonnage about six hundred per cent. In the last twenty-five years and its character vastly improved at the same time—such an increase as has never occurred with any other country and you have seen our railway mileage increased within thirty years 300 per cent, an increase likewise unequalled.
Both these great things have resulted from the wise trade policy of the country, which has been maintained by both political parties all these years, and both our merchant marine and our railways, together with all of our manufacturing and commercial interests are now endangered by the proposed change in that policy. Canada is now the most prosperous country on the face of the earth and is increasing in prosperity from day to day and I say let well enough alone and don’t monkey with the machine that has worked so well.
We have seen recently in a certain section of the Canadian press much about the millions that are being sent into Canada by the American trusts to defeat Reciprocity. There was never a more absurd and impudent story. I know a good deal of these trusts and I do not hesitate to say that there is not one of the, wit the exception of the International Paper Company, that is not hotly in favor of Reciprocity and that any election contributions they might make would go to carry it.
We heave a great dead just now about this that and the other prominent Canadian having at some time favored Reciprocity. It does not matter a rap what anybody thought of Reciprocity twenty or thirty years ago and it is silly to quote utterances of that time. The situation of Canada has entirely changed since then. She has found herself and scorns the crumbs of her neighbours.
And that Canada has found her self is largely due to the neighbourly policy of the United States in their McKinley tariff and the Dingley tariff, the latter having been especially aimed at Canada and intended to exclude her products.
In such a thing as this Reciprocity Agreement one party must lose what the other gains. Do you imagine for a minute or have you seen anything in the commercial policy of the United States towards Canada to indicate that they would press on us such a bargain for our advantage? Not a bit of it. We shall lose in money, in trade, in manufactures, in independence, in self-respect and in the respect o others.
I do not wish to be understood as saying anything disrespectful of the United States. Far from it. They have grown great by taking care of their business just as we ought to do. They very properly seek every advantage just as we should do, and in the present case they are trying to take advantage of us just as we would, no doubt, take advantage of them if we had a good chance.
It was a saying long ago “Beware of the Greeks when they bring gifts.” We here in Canada may well say beware of the Americans when they bring tariff concessions.
I may sum up the whole situation in this: Our trade is about $97.00 per capita and their $33.00 per capita. In other words the water in our mill-pond stands at $7 and theirs at $2; and they want us to take away our dam. Shall we say, not by a ---mill site?
Looking Backward
A speaker at a recent political meeting (Sir William Van Horne) dropped the remark that St. Andrews was “dead” twenty years ago. We don’t know where he got his information but we do know that St. Andrews was a pretty lively corpse about twenty years ago.
Just about twenty years ago, a syndicate, composed almost altogether of American capitalists, was spending the very best-looking American money in trying got develop a summer resort on Canadian soil. Just think of it! they bought lands all over the town; they erected a big summer hotel, the present Post Office and other buildings; they laid out a golf links at Joe’s Point; they spent their thousand in trying to develop a park at Indian Point; they induced a newspaper man to come her from Saint John and assist them in building up the town as a summer playground; they organized excursions and advertised the town over the whole American continent; they tried to interest the townspeople in a water system from Chamcook lake; they chartered an excursion steamer for the benefit of the visitors who cam here. They were “modern Hustlers” all right!
And when they had spent all the money that they could afford to spend—when some of the original promoters had died—they, very fortunately for themselves and the own, succeeded in persuading the CPR to buy out their interest and shoulder the load they had been carrying. “All this they did as a pure business proposition—without any ulterior motive. They recognized our laws; they paid their bills promptly; they met all their obligations, and during their stay here were quite as good and honorable citizen as anybody.
The people of the town were glad to sell their property to them. They were glad to assist them in their enterprises—because back of it all they had a lingering hope that the oft-made promise of Sir Charles Tupper and other conservative leaders, that St. Andrews would become the chief winter port to Canada’s first transcontinental railway was about to be fulfilled.
This is not hearsay. We know what we are talking about, because we were here and willingly lent our aid to the exploitation of all the schemes for the benefit of the place. Association with Americans in a business way hasn’t made a Yankee out of the editors, but it has inspired in him a respect for our American neighbors and for their business enterprise and honor, which he is neither ashamed nor afraid to confess in the presence of so many rampant jingoes as are about. A good many of those who are waving the old flag in the faces of men who are just as loyal as they are were waving sucking-bottles when this newspaper first entered the lists as the champion of St. Andrews. They know nothing of the struggle, and heart-aches and disappointments of the men who strove to improve their heritage.
Twenty years ago, or thereabout, two other companies of the United States capitalists were spending their money in the development of an ice business here. It did not prove a very profitable venture for those engaged in it, but it was a source of profit to the town while it lasted.
Twenty years ago, St. Andrews had a nice little shoe factory; also a foundry. It was doing a fairly good fish business. It was supplying the Boston market almost every season with its turnips. There were more permanent residents here then now; there were more voters on the electoral list, if we remember aright. There was an active agricultural society, also a picnic club for the pleasure of the townspeople. Prices of foodstuffs, had not begun to soar, and the people were for the most part happy and contented.
Twenty years ago, the Beaver Line steamship Company expressed a preference for St. Andrews as a port.
Twenty years ago, the Conservative government of Canada refused to assist the town in building a deep water wharf for the use of this Company, and when Hon. George E. Foster, then Finance Minister of Canada, was asked at a political meeting for the reasons for this refusal, his reply was, “Kissing went by favor.” Charlotte County had returned an opposition member and the government had no favors to extend to it.
At the same time the CPR refused to assist, saying they were bound to maintain a neutral attitude toward all seaports touched by their lines.
Twenty year ago, Messrs. G. D. Grimmer and R. E. Armstrong were sent to Fredericton to ask the provincial government for aid for the same purpose. Hon William Pugsley was a member of that government. The sum of $40,000 was asked as the provincial contribution to the deep water project. The government put $40,000 in the estimates, but the representatives from the upper section of the county insisted upon a share of it, so that it was divided up with The Ledge. Subsequently, St. Stephen used a portion of the money to build a public wharf there, but St. Andrews never called for her share. The deep water wharf has never ye been built and the dram of twenty years ago is yet unrealized.
So much for St. Andrews twenty years ago.
Beacon
Dec 14, 1911
Outline map showing Charlotte Ports.
Develop Charlotte Ports
The nationalization and development of the ports of Canada is a matter of national importance and one that should be considered apart entirely from party politics.
We are glad to be assured by the new Minister of Public Works that this subject will receive his early attention, and we would assure him that in this matter at least he will receive our hearty support.
In Charlotte we possess ports that for convenience of situation and natural advantages have no rivals on the continent. They are nearer the commercial heart of the Dominion than any other port in Canada; they are open at all times of the year; they are easy of access to the largest vessels afloat, and they are capable of being developed at little cost. There is no justification in the Dominion government spending millions to make new port, when Providence has provided ports in this country that can be developed for one tenth the cost.
At SA, for example, there are two points in particular where deep water can be obtained without one dollar being spent for dredging. On the banks of the St. Croix River, adjacent to the town, deep water is obtainable within 300 or 400 feet of the shore, with ample room for manoeuvring. Wharves at that point would necessitate the construction of a spur trace.
An ideal situation for deep water wharves would be on the western side of St. Andrews or Navy Island. By throwing short steel drawbridge across the eastern entrance to the inner harbor, the island could be reached, and over a mile and half of shore space would be available for piers. The rest of the island would make a splendid railway yard. For the most part the shore of the island shelves off rapidly, so that it would be not necessary to build very far before reaching 30 or 40 feet of water.
We reproduce an outline map of St. Andrews harbor, showing the entrances from the sea. We have also marked the points where the drawbridge might be erected and the wharves built. These are indicated by a “B” for bridge and “W” for wharves.
The member for Charlotte has here a good chance to win fame and name for himself. If he succeeds, the Beacon will be willing to extend him full credit. We would suggest that he should place himself in early touch with the hands of the CPR, and secure their endorsement of a plan of port development. Then let him lay his plans before the government and ask for their assistance. The people of the town and its newspaper will be only too glad to render him any needed assistance.
St. Croix Courier
April 5/1926
Charlotte County--The Tourists’ Opening Door. R. E. Armstrong
Begun at a Beautiful Border Town Over Thirty Years’ Ago.
Charlotte county was the opening door for the Summer Tourist Traffic of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. It is a broad type of door that is still open and that is tending to enlarge touring throughout practically all Eastern Canada.
The fixing upon a summer resort at the beautiful border town of SA--shire town of Charlotte County--in 1888, by Manager Cram of the NB Railway Company, followed up in succeeding years by Sir William Van Horne, of the Canadian Pacific Railway, by the inventor of the Touring Motor, and by the activity of NB’s government in improving the highways throughout the province from international gateways at St. Stephen and northern points, have been instrumental in expanding the tourist traffic of NB, NS and PEI and have awakened a lofty spirit toward the Maritimes by practically all sections of North America. Publicity of a good type has been most helpful, likewise the action of the NB government in supplying Boston, Mass., with an exhibit of samples of its wild animals and birds that were available for hunting in the summer time. As a result of these actions not only has there been an enlargement of sporting opportunities in this and other provinces but likewise of touring facilities.
It is anticipated that approaching season will break all tourist records. As previously stated, one of the first summer resort organizations of these attractive Canadian Provinces was fixed upon a year before the completion of the Canadian Pacific Transcontinental Railway system. (the last spike was driven November 7, 1885; or does he mean the short line completed the system—this would fit with 1888 and the Land Company) F. W. Cram, superintendent of the NB railway, whose head office was at Saint John , was practically the leader of this movement. He was ultimately connected with official representatives of the Maine Central Railway, the Boston and Maine railway, a publicity firm of advanced form in Boston, and a number of others in the beautiful St. Andrews region. A parking square was fixed upon at Indian Point, also a fine summer hotel, and a number of summer homes on the tall hills above, which had magnificent views of the NB border, also of Passamaquoddy Bay, the Maine coast, the St. Croix River, Deer Island and several other lovely islands. [Armstrong downplays the American influence, for some reason]
Mr. Cram persuaded the writer, who was connected with the Saint John Globe’s reportorial staff, to establish a newspaper at St. Andrews for the expansion of that good port, and to assist in the promotion of the summer resort scheme that was in his company’s mind. As a result of this appeal the St. Andrews Beacon was entered upon and was continued for twenty five years, during which a strong effort was made along both lines.
When Sir William Van Horne, the active manager of the CPR first entered SA, (it looks as though this was August 21/1890—see Beacon) he was interviewed and was urged to utilize the port. He advised The Beacon publisher that he had reached no determination respecting the development of a port, but that he was desirous of assisting in the expansion of St. Andrews as a summer resort, and would appreciate the co-operation of the local newspaper. This request was conceded with and won much favor from CPR officials. Subsequently the Canadian Pacific Company took over the Algonquin summer hotel and the other summer properties under the control of Mr. Cram’s company, [Cram later became president of the St. Andrews Land Company, it is true, but it is not as though it was his from the beginning; nor would he his influence have been powerful after 1903 when the CPR took over its assets] and aroused a deep interest in the summer pleasures that were available throughout Charlotte County, and at that border beauty spot. Katy’s Cove, lying at the foot of the hill east of the Algonquin, was fixed upon as a summer bathing area. A damming system was determined on at the mouth of the Cove immediately beneath the CPR trackage system, the idea being to temporarily close the lower entrance for day or two to warm up the waters for the bathers from Canadian and US regions. This bathing system has been in existence ever since and is a source of enjoyment to the patrons of this charming summer hotel and to the other occupants of this summer resort.
The progress that the CP management made at St. Andrews awakened a good interest through all Canada, and many summer homes of a splendid character were constructed in that vicinity and yearly occupied. From 1901 until the year before the world war, four of Canada’s Governor Generals visited St. Andrews and were delighted with its attractiveness. The “Beacon” editor was fixed upon as the chairman of Charlotte’s Welcome Committee. Addresses of hearty welcome were presented to these men of high standing and their accompanists and the Welcome Committee gave them opportunities to view all the beauty spots of this region. The Earl of Minto, who was the first of these lofty visitors, manifested his appreciation of what had been said and done for him by presenting the Welcome Committee chairman with beautiful photographs of himself and Lady Minto.
Sir William Van Horne was so charmed with the summer beauties of St. Andrews and its adjacent regions that he instantly hastened across to Minister’s Island, which was named after the first Loyalist minister, Rev. Dr. Andrews, who made his home thereon, purchased the southern end of this great island and at once started upon building a beautiful summer home and improving all sections of his island property. Subsequently, he fixed upon the construction of a public highway for summer visitors throughout the south end of the island. He also bought a portion of the northern end for agricultural and cattle purposes. His family spend practically their summers on this lovely island and they have many visitors. Those visitors cross from the mainland over the Bar at low tide, and stroll or motor alongside Sir William’s beautiful home, flower gardens, orchards and other attractions. This island opportunity has proved a great source of delight to tourist who visit St. Andrews by rail and steamboat and by the international motor gateway at St. Stephen. While there are other capable gateways of a good type at Milltown, at Woodstock, St. Leonard’s and Edmunston, the St. Stephen entrance is one of the most active in the Maritimes, now that tourist motoring has been fixed upon and the highways throughout the Maritimes have been placed in good shape.
The chief summer hotels at St. Andrews are the Algonquin and Kennedy’s hotel. St. Stephen has a good hotel (the “Queen”) of a permanent character. Lord Shaughnessy, who was assistant manager of the CPR not only extended assistance along summer tourist lines at St. Andrews but he also fixed upon the promotion of Saint John as a winter port. He provided his family with an attractive summer on the St. Andrews fort area, immediately adjacent of the Algonquin Hotel. Many others from Canada and the United States have also established attractive summer homes in that locality, most of which have beautiful flower gardens. The golfing links and bowling facilities are a source of great pleasure to tourists. There are also good fishing, bathing and boating opportunities in that section, as well as striking natural beauties. These are among the features which press the need for Passamaquoddy Bay being left constantly open.
One of the early acts of the NB government was to endeavour to awaken an interest in NB’s hunting and sporting opportunities by supplying Boston with a special exhibit along games lines Game Commissioner Knight attended, as well as many NB guides. The “Beacon” publisher was appointed NB Publicity Agent at Boston for this exhibition, and the Boston daily papers were kept well supplied with information which aroused a deep interest in NB’s hunting, sporting and tourist opportunities. When US tourists motored through the Maine region, a strong desire was expressed for the improvement and enlargement of the highway sections between St. Stephen and other NB localities. Other international bridges attached to NB has their neighboring highways improved, so that before long all Maritime sections were placed in good order for tourist motoring.
Lake Utopia and the adjacent parking system at St. George compose another of Charlotte’s attractive areas. Then there are the charming islands of Grand Manan, Campobello and Deer Island, which supply many pleasures for summer visitors. Yearly there has been an expansion of Tourist visitations to the Maritime Provinces, SS, Milltown, SA, Saint John , Fredericton, Woodstock, St. Martins, Hampton, Kingston, Belle Isle, Sussex, Moncton, Sackville, Shediac, Bathurst, Caraquet, Dalhousie, Newcastle, Chatham, Campbellton, St. Leonards. Edmunston and many other parts of this province are being well patronized in the summer, also NS and PEI. The river Saint John and its tributaries constitute another attractive tourist area. This coming summer a special week end train will be operated from NY and Boston to Saint John , so that there is no doubt that his year there will be an enlargement of the tourist traffic of these provinces. Many summer visitors are anticipated from Quebec, Ontario and other parts of the Dominion. A splendid effort was made by the Secretary of the Saint John Board of Trade, who attended the Wimble Exhibition, to persuade British tourist to visit the Maritimes and acquaint themselves not only with the natural beauties of these provinces but also their natural resources and industrial opportunities.
No better scheme for adding to the health and happiness of good people can be extended them than by indulging in summer visits throughout provinces such as NB where nature has furnished so many charms; where scenery is so lovely, where river traffic is so delightful; where there so many pleasures that can be indulged in such as motoring, camping, fishing, bathing, hunting, sporting, boating, yachting, golfing and other rural delights, and where the finest of vegetables, fruit berries and other forms of good of an uplifting and strengthening character are available. Publicity is fully justified.
We must stand up for the Maritimes and particularly for our good province and counties throughout, along all possible lines that will assist them. One of the most effective organizations is a Board of Trade of active character. A County Board of Trade for Charlotte should accomplish good results. Stand up for Charlotte!