Part 7

This Company was incorporated on May 7, 1880, for the purpose of establishing and working telegraph lines in the Northwest Territory in the district of Keewatin, Manitoba, and to connect with lines in the Province of Ontario.

The capital stock, $400,000 in shares of $100 each, with power to increase the capital from time to time as necessity required, by a resolution of the Directors, with authority to establish, construct, purchase, lease or work lines in the Dominion of Canada by land or water, etc. The head office at the City of Winnipeg.

At a meeting of the Company held on June 10, 1881, Mr. Erastus Wiman was elected President.

At this meeting Mr. Wiman as President was empowered to enter into negotiation with the Montreal, Dominion and Western Union Telegraph Companies as shall harmonize the interest of the several named companies subject to confirmation of the Directors.

Mr. Wiman thus empowered lost no time in effecting his object.

The resolution quoted is amusing. The Western Union owned the Dominion Telegraph Company, or at least controlled it. There was no discord between the Western Union and the Montreal Telegraph Company.

A close and intimate business relationship had been maintained between these companies for years and nothing had arisen hitherto to disturb this good understanding. The Dominion Telegraph Company had been acquired as an asset of the American Union Telegraph Company which had been purchased by the Western Union and was a white elephant on its hands and of which they naturally enough were anxious to get rid of.

It was offered to the Montreal Company, but the offer was not entertained as the wires of the Dominion Company merely paralleled its own, and its own wires were sufficient for its own business at that time. Mr. Wiman, being familiar with the position of affairs, saw a chance for a deal and the future monopoly of the telegraph business of Canada.

He got the refusal of the lease of the Dominion Company and to some extent his plans were approved by the Western Union and of which they were more or less informed. He then made his purpose known to the Directorate of the Montreal Telegraph Company, that they should hand over their business to his company on a 99 years’ lease and a compensation of 8 per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital stock of $2,000,000 would be paid, guaranteed by the Western Union Telegraph Company.

The Directors, as a matter of course, were aghast with astonishment at the audacity of the proposal.

A company with a nominal capital, recently formed, with no one of standing in its make up to suggest the idea, was too preposterous. However, Mr. Wiman coolly told them they had better think it over, that unless his terms were accepted his Company, the Dominion and the Western Union, behind them, would go into competition with them for Canadian business. A meeting of shareholders decided, after a stormy and exciting discussion, to accept the terms offered.

The transfer was made on July 1, 1881.

The big fish swallow the smaller usually, but in this case it was the extraordinary feat of a small fish swallowing a bigger one.

When the agreement took effect Mr. James Dakers resigned and was succeeded as Secretary by Mr. D. Ross Ross.

Mr. Dwight was appointed General Manager of the Great North-Western Company and most of the officials and employees of the Montreal Telegraph Company were retained by him. Owing to his able management the Company has been successful in every way; all its obligations have been met with punctuality and regularity.

Mr. Wiman resigned the Presidency some ten years ago and Mr. Dwight succeeded him.

In 1902 it had 17,838 miles of line, 35,721 miles of wire, over 2,000 offices and transmitted 2,795,278 messages, not including press despatches.

Recently Mr. Dwight resigned the management and was succeeded by Mr. I. McMichael.

_Canadian Pacific Railway Telegraph_

In the charter of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company it had power to carry on a commercial telegraph business throughout the Dominion of Canada.

The telegraph lines of this company were constructed concurrently with the railway which was begun in 1880 and completed in 1885.

The following year the company inaugurated the commercial telegraph business and Mr. C. R. Hosmer was appointed General Manager of this branch of the company’s business; this selection was recognized as a fortunate one for the company; no better qualified man could have been found in Canada than he to properly fill this important position. It was no light task he had undertaken, to equip and man the numerous stations as they were opened up for business, covering such a vast extent of territory as well as to enter into competition with a long established telegraph system through the more populous sections in the East. About this time the Postal Telegraph Cable Company was reorganized in the United States, and the Commercial Cable established, and a working arrangement made between these companies and the Canadian Pacific Telegraph for interchange of traffic, which has proven mutually beneficial to each company concerned.

The lines of the Canadian Pacific System traverse from Halifax to Vancouver, including numerous branch lines.

The Postal Telegraph Cable Company cover nearly every state and territory in the United States. A direct connection is made with the Government Cable to Australia at Vancouver and with the Commercial Cable Company at Canso, N.S.

In 1902 the Canadian Pacific Telegraph System had in operation 9,736 miles of line and 41,354 miles of wire, 1,022 offices and transmitted during that year 2,053,000 messages, not including press matter or railway messages.

The Company has two number six copper wires extending from Montreal to Vancouver.

About four years ago Mr. Hosmer resigned; he was succeeded by Mr. James Kent, formerly Superintendent of the Eastern division. Under him there are five divisional Superintendents, namely:--

James Wilson, Vancouver. B. S. Jenkins, Winnipeg. A. W. Barber, Toronto. P. W. Snider, St. John. J. F. Richardson, Montreal.

W. J. Camp is electrician and Joseph Townsley Construction Superintendent.

Recently the Company erected on the former site of its Head Offices in Montreal a handsome fire-proof structure of white brick with Ohio stone facings, seven stories in height, combining in its interior every comfort and convenience for the large staff of employees.

The operating room is spacious, well lighted from three sides, and furnished with the latest designs of office fittings and electrical appliances.

The telegraph service of the Company is admirably conducted and doubtless is not the least profitable of the many enterprises in which it has engaged in.

_The Government Telegraphs._

It was through the continued and persistent urging of the late Capt. Fortin, member for Gaspé, that the Dominion Government was at length aroused to the necessity of providing efficient telegraph facilities in the Gulf and the lower St. Lawrence.

The splendid telegraph system, now in operation, forms a fitting monument to his memory and is alike creditable to the Government which created it and carried it out.

During the past twenty years since it was first initiated, there has been erected 5,481 miles of land wire lines, and 225 miles of submarine cables laid.

One line on the north shore from Murray Bay to Belle Isle is over 1,000 miles in length and there are over 200 miles on the Island of Anticosti connecting the various lighthouses. Extensions are constantly being made as necessity arises.

In the Northwest territory 607 miles of line connect Selkirk with Edmonton with intermediate stations and from Ashcroft to Dawson 1,826 miles, from Hazleton to Port Sampson, B.C., 200 miles.

At the end of 1902 there were 222 Government Telegraph Stations, 89,400 messages transmitted and a revenue of $114,266 derived. The expenditure was $208,968.

All signal and meteorological messages are sent without charge.

The Government Telegraph System is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works.

REMARKS.

The commercial telegraph business of the Dominion is carried on, and has been for many years, by the Great North-Western, the Canadian Pacific and the Western Union Telegraph Companies--the latter in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The Anglo-American Telegraph Company has the monopoly in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

The Canadian Government Telegraphs operate in territory where it would not be profitable for commercial telegraph companies to enter. The competing companies each get a fair share of patronage by exercising care and promptitude in handling the business placed in their hands. The Canadian public have every reason to feel satisfied with the telegraphic facilities provided by these companies and can take pride in the fact that no better exists anywhere, or in any country.

The rates are reasonable when the great distances covered are taken into account.

It is gratifying to know that they are doing a thriving business, every year showing better results, all sharing in the universal prosperity felt throughout the country now and for years gone by.

The following sketches of prominent and well-known telegraph men, some of whom are living, and others who have passed away, will be of interest to many Canadian readers.

Preceding these brief portraitures are a few reminiscent tales recalled at random, chiefly Canadian incidents of “days that are gone.”

_The Fall of Sebastopol._

I was in the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company at the head office in Montreal. One day the Superintendent summoned me to his presence. He directed me to proceed at once to Sherbrooke as the operator in charge there was very sick and unable to discharge his duties.

I left by the first train and reached my destination the same evening. On arrival I noticed a great crowd of people awaiting the train. Something unusual must have happened surely.

I immediately reported myself to the station master, and was considerably astonished when he seized me by the shoulder, rushed me across the passage to the telegraph office, ordered me to call up Montreal and enquire if the rumored fall of Sebastopol was true. This I did and found the report confirmed. This was on the 20th day of September, 1855. A Cunard steamer arrived at Halifax that afternoon bringing the news which was flashed over the wires by the Associated Press.

Montreal sent a full report, which came in on the old style recording instrument. A newspaper man came in and volunteered to write it down as I read it off the paper reel. Each sheet when finished was read aloud to the crowd outside. The despatch ended and the people dispersed.

Next evening the event was celebrated by illuminations, bonfires, _feu de joies_, etc. The local militia turned out _en masse_, headed by Captain Ibbotson, loyal and patriotic songs sung, and universal joy was manifested by all.

At that period the town was largely populated by English railway men and mechanics who had been brought here by the Grand Trunk Railway Company when the road opened up a short time before. There was also a considerable number of retired naval and military veterans in the town and neighborhood, some of whom had fought under Nelson and Wellington. All of these took a keen interest in the fate of the British army in the Crimea, and were naturally overjoyed at the defeat of the enemy and of the victory achieved.

Sebastopol fell on Sept. 8, 1855, and the war was virtually ended.

Montreal, Toronto and every town and village in Canada celebrated the event with the greatest delight, but it is safe to say that nowhere was there more hearty rejoicing than in the capital city of the Eastern Townships on the occasion referred to.

_How a Duel was Prevented._

One day during the winter 1856 I received a telegram from Richmond, a station on the Grand Trunk Railway, about 25 miles distant, addressed to the High Constable at Sherbrooke to the effect that a party of gentlemen were on the southbound train with the object of fighting a duel when the American frontier was reached, the party consisting of the principals, seconds and surgeons, and to have the whole party arrested.

Seeing the importance of the message due measures were taken to have it delivered promptly. The minions of the law were duly on hand and secured their prey on the arrival of the train. The party were much surprised, as they had taken every precaution to keep the affair a profound secret and were ignorant as to how the matter had leaked out. All were placed under arrest and escorted to the Magog House. They had come from Quebec. The nature of the quarrel I am unable to say.

They were brought before a magistrate and admitted the object of their journey, when each and severally were released on their own recognances. All promised to abandon their evil intentions and return to the ancient capital forthwith.

Having nothing special to interest them for a time they adjourned to the bar-room of that famous hostlery, then carried on by Mr. Cheney, the flowing bowl passed round with the result that a reconcilation was effected, and the rest of the evening spent in harmony and good feeling.

The only one who refused to come to terms of amity was one of the sawbones of the party! He would have none of it.

They departed from Sherbrooke the following day, if not sadder, at least, wiser men.

_Reading by Sound._

In the early days of telegraphy I was employed at an important station on the Grand Trunk Railway as commercial and railway operator. One night, after a busy day’s labor, I was preparing to leave when I overheard the office call sounded from the relay, the local battery having been disconnected, as was then the custom when leaving for the night, for economical reasons. I answered the call and ventured to receive the message from the sound of the relay, and in this found no difficulty whatever.

Whilst thus engaged the locomotive foreman stepped in. Singular enough, the communication was for him. He was rather astonished at my receiving a message in this fashion and expressed his surprise. He spoke to others about it, and the affair in time reached the ears of the Railway Telegraph Superintendent, who, thereupon, called me up on the wire and gave me a severe reprimand. A “23” or circular was sent immediately thereafter to the effect that it had come to his knowledge that certain operators were in the habit of reading by sound instead of from the register, with which all stations were provided, and warning all to desist from this dangerous practice.

The modern operator will be inclined to smile at this bit of ancient history.

In no very long time, after the custom became general in both railway and commercial telegraphy, the Recording instrument, upon the perfecting of which Professor Morse had spent so much time and labor, was abandoned, and the more convenient method of reading by sound substituted.

_A Cheeky Operator._

My predecessor at a certain station on the Grand Trunk Railway vacated his position rather suddenly by reason of the following colloquy, and against whom many and frequent complaints had been made.

On one occasion the General Manager happened to step off the train to interview the station master. Amongst other subjects spoken of was the troublesome operator. He immediately stepped across the passage to have audience with the obnoxious telegrapher.

In a very impressive tone he said, “Young man, I hear a great many complaints against you. You had better be careful or I shall have you discharged.”

The operator not knowing the General Manager from Adam, never having seen him before, looked at him in surprise, and said, “Who in the blank are you, anyway?”

“I am Mr. Bidder. Be careful, sir.”

“I don’t care a blank whether you are Mr. Bidder or Mr. Auctioneer,” turned on his heel and walked away.

It may be explained that, although doing railway telegraph work, he was actually employed by the telegraph company, and believed the railway company had nothing to do with him, in this he was mistaken. This interview more than confirmed the numerous complaints, and the services of the youth were immediately dispensed with.

Mr. S. P. Bidder was the first General Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.

_All Fools’ Day Incident._

In the year 1855, when the Government of Canada was located at Quebec, a Militia Bill was passed, dividing the militia into active and sedentary, the first to consist of volunteer troops of various grades and classes. Provision was made for dividing the country into military districts, regimental divisions and battalion divisions, with officers for each. This was the first step towards the organization of a regular volunteer force in Canada.

At Sherbrooke there was considerable political wire-pulling on behalf of those who were ambitious of being appointed as officers of the company to be raised at that place. One individual claimed that he was certain of getting command of the new company and ridiculed the idea of any one else having the slightest chance of getting the appointment. This rather nettled one or two who were equally ambitious for the honor, and a conspiracy was entered into to perpetrate a practical joke at his expense.

A certain gentleman called at the telegraph office and requested the favor of a telegraph blank and envelope, explaining the purpose for which they were intended. I hesitated over the matter, but was assured he would be responsible should any trouble arise. I reluctantly consented. The result was a message was concocted as coming from the Militia Department at Quebec to the effect that the Department were pleased to inform the recipient that he had been appointed to the command of the company at Sherbrooke and that his commission for same would be duly forwarded by mail.

The victim was elated over the psuedo despatch and took special pains to show it to those who doubted his success.

One person, to whom he confided the contents to and who was one of the conspirators, doubted its being genuine, remarking, the Militia Department was not likely to inform appointees by telegraph. He thought it a joke, and come to think of it, this was April Fool Day. This led the irate individual to me, when he desired to be informed, when the message was received, handing to me the bogus telegram. I, of course, felt in a very awkward position. I scanned it over for a minute and told him the message had not come through my office. He thereupon went off like a shot in a very dangerous mood.

He wrote the Superintendent enclosing the alleged telegram and threatened an immediate action against the Company for allowing its property to be the medium of such a trick as was the one complained of.

I was in a rather bad fix. I explained the whole matter as it occurred. The instigator of the hoax came to my rescue and assumed all responsibility; the threatened action was not taken and the matter was soon forgotten, but a new rule was embodied in the Company’s instruction book to agents and operators forbidding inside blanks to be allowed to go out of the office under any pretense whatever, except on the business of the Company. This rule is still in force.

The one actually appointed to command the Company was the originator of the joke herein related.

_An Angry Frenchman._

One day the hired man of the village curé handed me a sealed letter and twenty-five cents, upon receiving which I tore open the envelope in order to count the words in the message before transmission.

I had no sooner done this when an angry cry proceeded from the throat of Jean Baptiste, who held up his hands, and, with a look of terror in his face, told me in broken English that it was not for me, but for the priest at St. Hyacinthe. Had there not been a high counter between us, it might have gone hard with me.

I took in the situation, however, politely begged pardon, I had made a mistake, and put the contents in a fresh envelope, readdressed it and thrust the missive into a box under the counter, the receptacle for the paper from the recording instrument on which messages were received, and then gave the key a few taps, all this being within the purview of the anxious messenger.

I now told him it was all right, the message had gone. He then departed with a smile of satisfaction on his face and a courteous _remerci monsieur_.

Shortly after I resurrected the message and sent it over the wire in the orthodox fashion.

The little trick practiced and the ignorance shown may seem like romancing, but at that date even many well-informed persons on other subjects were quite as ignorant as this simple servant man of the _modus operandi_ of electric telegraphy at that period.

_Pirating a Press Despatch._

A certain well-known colonel of militia in Montreal, now deceased, who had been in the telegraph service in his boyhood and an expert operator, told me the story I am about to relate illustrative of primitive telegraph days.

We were swapping old-time telegraph stories when he exchanged the following: He was in the employ of the old British American Telegraph Company. One day, the wires down, which happened too often, unfortunately, Bob having nothing to occupy his time, sauntered over to the vicinity of the Montreal Telegraph Company, on St. Sacrament Street. It was with a feeling of envy he heard the busy ticking of the instruments there when those of his Company were dead as a door nail. He lingered for a moment or two beneath the office window, which was only a few feet above; it was in summer and the windows were all open and he could plainly deciper everything passing over the wire. One item of some importance attracted his attention when the idea struck him he had better take it down. He took his pencil and note-book, copied the item, went back to his office, had it manifolded and distributed to the press. Later on the same was sent out by the other Company, but in a more leisurely fashion; this was refused, on the ground that it was already received over the wires of the British American; this caused much mortification to the older Company to be beaten by their insignificant rival.

Reading by sound of the instrument was not a common occurrence then, and especially on the public highway.

The Montreal Company never became aware of the trick that was played upon them.

_The Queen’s Message._

When in August, 1858, the Atlantic cable had been successfully laid, uniting two continents telegraphically, there was universal rejoicing. The Queen sent a congratulatory message to “Her Good Friend,” the President of the United States, to which a suitable reply was returned.

The brevity of the Queen’s message was somewhat disappointing compared with the more lengthy reply of the President, and many unfavorable comments were made in the press and in conversation.

However, it was afterwards learned that only a portion of the communication had been received owing to a temporary interruption of the cable. When at last the completed message came there was no reason for disappointment, and general satisfaction was evinced.

Small pieces of the unused cable of about an inch to two or three inches in length mounted with brass or silver ferrules were sold on the street by speculators from 25 cents to a dollar each. The event was celebrated with great éclat on both sides of the Atlantic.

Banners were displayed with numerous devices and quotations from Scripture such as, “Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world,” and from Shakespeare, “I will put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes.”