Up the Gatineau! Article
This article was first published in Up the Gatineau! Volume 4.
The Railway 'Up the Gatineau'
Helen Stephens
This railway variously called at different times the Ottawa and Gatineau Valley; the Ottawa and Gatineau; the Ottawa, Northern and Western and, more latterly, under lease, the Canadian Pacific, was planned to run from Ottawa (Hull) to Desert Village, now Maniwaki.
The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
‘At a numerously attended meeting which was recently held in the Township of Hull, the following resolutions were unanimously passed —
- that the construction of a railway from the City of Hull to Desert Village is of the utmost importance to the Township of Lowe in developing its agriculture, mineral and other resources; The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
- that any company honestly undertaking the construction of said railway and proposing to have the same in running order to Desert Village in a period of five years will receive the assistance of the people of this Township;The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
- that the landholders of this section will encourage the construction of the Gatineau Valley Railway by granting the free right of way for said road;The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
- that the electors of this Township are opposed to the granting by the Dominion Parliament of a charter to any company which does not propose the immediate construction of a railway to Desert Village;The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
- that this meeting respectfully requests Alonzo Wright, M.P. to oppose the granting of a charter to any company unless there is a guarantee that the railway will be completed to Desert Village within the period of five years;The Daily Citizen of Ottawa, in its issue of March 4th, 1881, reported on the subject of the Hull and Desert Railway —
- that the electors of the Township of Lowe will petition the Quebec Government to subsidize the Gatineau Valley Railway in as liberal a manner as other projects of a similar nature have heretofore been subsidized’.
Then in its issue of June 8th, 1881 the Daily Citizen reported further:
‘A deputation to the Quebec Legislature will leave Hull for Quebec on the 10th of June for the purpose of interviewing the ministry to obtain a grant from the Provincial Government towards the building of a railway up the Gatineau District. The following names are the delegates — Alonzo Wright, M.P.; J.M. Currier, M.P.; Mayor Eddy of Hull; Mayor Mackintosh of Ottawa; P. Baskerville, M.P.P.; Ald. Dr. Graham; Washburn—Leduc, Secretary of the Company; D'Orsounens; Dr. T.M. Scott; W. McKay Wright; J.P. Lawless; E.M. McGillivray; Joseph Ellard; Charles Logue; S.C. Kenny; P. Farrell; Horace Donnelly; George J. Marston, Jr.; Rev. Father Prevost; Dr. Comeau; Rev. Father Marceline; William McCumber; John Grace; B. Balnbridge; Rev. N. Reid; Robert McAfee; James Martin; John Brooks; Dr. Falls; David McLaren; William Leslie; George Johnston; H. Trempé; Rev. Father Tabaret, Superior of Ottawa College; J.L.P. O’Hanly; Rev. Father Cauvier; H. Robinson; H. McLean; A. Bourgeau; Rev. Father McCarthy; Rev. Father Guay; Rev. Father Brown; Corrigan; G. Church; J.O. Egan; Rev. Father Champagne; J. McArthur; Ed. Wright; O. Tatour’.
On June 11, 1881 the Daily Citizen carried the reply of the Premier:
‘A very large and influential deputation from Ottawa County and Ottawa City waited upon Hon. J.A. Chapleau; Hon. J. Robertson; Hon. Mr. Lynch and Hon. Mr. Ross to advocate the projection of the importance of that section of the Province as well as the railway system. comprising the Q.M.O. and O. Railway.1 Dr. Duhamel, M.P.P.; Alonzo Wright, M.P.; Mayor Eddy of Hull; Mayor Mackintosh of Ottawa; J. Ellard; P. Baskerville, M.P.P.; Mr. Logue and several others spoke on behalf of the enterprise, giving figures, data and details. The Premier, after hearing what had to be said and expressing great pleasure at the amount of information conveyed, said that he feared it would be impossible to grant a cash subsidy at present, but the policy of a land grant would receive the earnest consideration of the Government, as it was an enterprise, certainly, of great consequence to the County of Ottawa and the Government Railway System’.
Footnote
- Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway
(Thus it was in the beginning but the railway did get built, despite recurring financial and construction difficulties, reaching Maniwaki in 1902. Now, 76 years later, there is talk of abandoning the line.)
This is an excerpt from an article researched and written by Miss Helen Stephens of Ottawa