Canadian Northern Ry. construction.

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The "last spike" of the Ontario and Rainy River section was officially driven Dec. 30, at Atikokan, 139 miles west of Port Arthur, by Hon E. J. David, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Ontario, thus completing the through line between Port Arthur, Ont., and Erwood, Sask., 809.7 miles. The actual laying of the last rail and driving of the last spike took place at Commissioner, 11 miles east of Fort Frances, on Dec. 31, when W. Mackenzie and D. D. Mann did the work. The official spike was a silver one with an inscription, but the actual last spike was of the ordinary type. The people of Port Arthur entertained the members of the firm of Mackenzie, Mann & Co., and others interested in the construction of the railway, at dinner on Dec. 30 , after the official completion of the line. Replying to the principal toast, W. Mackenzie said the approximate mileage of the C.N. system, which included the lines of the Port Arthur, Duluth & Western Ry., and the North Pacific and Manitoba Ry., approximated 1,309 miles, of which 354 were in Ontario, 50 in Minnesota, U.S., 883 in Manitoba, and 22 in Saskatchewan. He also stated that Port Arthur would be the terminal of the railway on Lake Superior for all time; that a 1,250,000 bush. Elevator was practically completed there, and that what his firm had done was simply a guarantee of what would be done in the future, when they had time to realize all their plans in reference to a transcontinental line. D. D. Mann, who also spoke, stated that the C.N.R. had shipped via Pembina to Duluth, 620,000 bush. of wheat, but this year all the wheat assigned to the line would be shipped via Port Arthur. The engineers who had located the line deserved great praise, as they had been able to secure grades going eastward for a distance of over 800 miles on the main line of 26 ft., and going west of 56 ft. to the mile. These grades would enable the Co. to carry loads of 45,000 bush. on one train at present, and of 75,000 bush. when the permanent way was improved. Transition curves had been built which would enable passenger trains to travel smoothly over the line, and split switches had also been laid. Within seven years he hoped to see the last spike of the transcontinental system of the C.N.R. driven. In connection with the completion of the line, Mackenzie, Mann & Co. made a present of $25 to every over-foreman; $5 to every gang foreman, and $2 to every workman on the line, in addition to their pay. (Jan., pg. 5.)

Trains have been run over the through line, the portion between Port Arthur and Fort Frances being under the charge of the construction department, but it was expected that it would be handed over to the operating department by Feb. 1. Ballasting will not be done until the spring, but the line is in good shape and trains are making good time. Roundhouses have been built at Atikokan and Rainy River, the divisional points, and the stations and tanks have been erected. (Jan., pg. 5.)

Railways: C.No.Ry., N.P. & M.Ry., Pt.A.D. & W.Ry.

Stations: Atikokan, Fort Frances, Port Arthur, Rainy River

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