New-York tribune., 1908-06-04
OBITUARY.
SIR ROBERT GILLESPIE REID.

Sir Robert Gillespie Reid who died in Montreal
yesterday was a wealthy railroad contractor who
had much to do with the development Of New
foundland He was born at Coupar Angus Scot
land In 1912, and learned the stouemasons trade.
In 1865 he enigrated Australia. where he en-
gagged in gold mining and became contractor in
public works He came to this country in 1871
with the capital he had accumulated and engaged
in railway construction work. His first enterprise
the building of the International Bridge over
the Niagara River. Buffalo He had charge
in 1874 of building the bridges between Montreal
and Ottawa, the Montreal, Quebec & Ottawa
Railway part OF the Canadian Pacific sys-
tenn In 1880 he contracted for and built the bridge
the Colorado River at Austin. Tex. and all
the iron and masonry bridges the 80 miles OF
the Southern Pacific Railway west of San Antonio
The International Bridge the Rio Cirande.
between Texas and Mexico, was constructed by him
in 1882. and the Delaware Lacka wanna & Western
Railway Bridge across the Delaware River at the
Water Gap. Pennsylvania. Under his contract the
heaviest part Of the Canadian Pacific Railway north
of Lake Superior. was built. and he built bridges
the 25O-mile section Of Port Arthur and the
Lachine Bridge. three-qusrters OF mile in length
the st. Lawrence. for the road in 1855.
The following year constructed the 500 Bridge
the Sault Ste. Marie. and eightysx miles of
the Sudbury branch of the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way 1882 90 be constructed forty-fve miles Of
the Canadian Government Railway and the bridge
across Grand Narrows, Cape Breton
His Newfoundland work began in 1890, which
developed into almost general ownership of the
island. He contracted build the Halls Bay mar
row gauge railroad, 200 miles long, from point
sixty miles west of st. Johns. and completed IL in
1898. He then contracted for the building Of the
Western Railway. 80 miles long from the terminus
of the other line Port-auBasques on the western
coast of the island. TO connect with steamship
line from Sydney C. B. This completed in
1897. He also entered into contract TO operate
the whole road for years from 1898. and received
a grant of 5000 acres Of land for each mile Of raiE
way in alternate sections. along the line In 1888
he made contract with the government TO operate
all trunk and branch lines the island for fifty
years. paying 81, ,00OO 600 in hand and promising 70
nav s. for the reversion Of the lines at the
end of that time and receiving concessions OF
nearly 4.50OOO0 acres of land. in addition 70 his
previous holdings. He also contracted TO bCllc
eight mail steamers to ply in all the large bays OF
the island and to maintain and operate the same;
to purchase and operate the drydock at St Johns
Harbor to operate the whole of the telegraph lines
of the island and to maintain and operate cleo
trio railway IN the capital But this bar
gain stirred UP so much opposition the part OF
the public and the press that the Governor Sir
James Winter, compelled 10 resign and Mr.
Reid had to compromise. He gave up the monop-
DIV of telegraphs turned his holdings to
company with s25 900 600 capital. in which he and
his sons had a controlling interest and agreed 10
the reversion OF the railroads to the government
at the end of half century for an undetermined
sum- He was president OF the Reid Newfoundland
Company director in the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way director in the Bank of Montreal and dt-
rector in the Royal Trust Company. In 1907 ne
was knighted for his services to Newfoundland,
of which he called the greatest oenefactor
He was member Of the ST. James's, Mount Royal
and Forest and Stream clubs Of Montreal He had
two sons-William and Henry Reid