The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-07-03
BIRTH OF A TOWN.
Waterfront Space Reserved for Nublic
Wharves at Prince Rupert.

Waterfront Space Reserved for Hublic
Wharves at Prince Rupert.
An order in council by which dispo-
sition is made of the waterfront lots
at Prince Rupert was signed last eve
ming. For various reasons the gov.
eminent, however, has seen fit to
withhold the details for day or two.
The statute covering the manner OF
disposing Of these waterfront lots is
that passed last session, embodying
an agreement between the Province
and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Company. Provision is there made
for the division of the waterfront into
lots of not less than 1000 feet front
age, in the selection of which the gov.
eminent is given one choice and the
Grand Trunk Pacific three alternately.
1t was recognized that to follow this
statute exactly would not we'll serve
the purposes of the railway company,
with the result that negotiations were
started looking to an alteration in the
plans which would conserve the inter-
ests of both parties without deviating
from the spirit of the statutory agree
ment. For two months negotiations
nave been in progress, and an order in
council was signed last evening. The
railway company desired 1900 feet,
or over three miles, along the water
front, partly within the townslte.
Rupert was a narrow townsite, block
ed in the rear by an insurmountable
mountain range Entrance to the city
could only be around the end of this
mountain chain, which drops sudden
ly down to the water near the en-
trance to the harbor. To build a rail-
way through the narrow townslte
away from the waterfront and to pro-
vide terminals within what will be-
come the business section would in
terfere sadly with the progress of the
city in the future. 1t asked therefore,
that the company should have the
right to proceed along the waterfront,
using it for terminal facilities, and
thus leaving the main parts of the
city unbrOken. In these days of large
vessels, requiring vast number OF
carloads to complete their cargo, am
pie terminals are necessary to avoid
delays in loading. On the other hand
the Government, having in view the
results in Vancouver, sought to pre-
serve ample. areas to give. public |
wharves and to allow for other con-
Germs getting wharfage.
From the first application Premier
Mcbride showed disposition against |
conceding this request of the company |
for $1,000 feet of unbroken waterfront. |
After further negotiations looking to |
alterations agreeable to both parties, |
it was decided that Hon. F. Carter |
Cotton, president Of the Council, who |
is recognized as the business man Of |
the government, and Mr.. Fuleton, I'M |
der whose department the work fell, |
should go north and inspect the site.
This was done in company with rail-
road officials, and on their return the
negotiations were renewed.
According to an order in Council 1t
is announced on the part of the gov
eminent that the 1900 feet granted
the company is not in an unbroken
line along the waterfront. The Prov
ince has been assigned blocks at two
Or three points along the route in
areas exceeding 1000 feet frontage
The government claims that the in
terests Of the Province have been pre-
served, while at the same time the
G. I. P.'s interests are not sacrificed
in the matter of adequate terminals.
The settlement of this waterfront
question. it is felt, will be followed by
more active work at the terminal
point. The survey of the lots will be
carried out now. The work will pos
sibly occupy about three months, so
that lots may be put on the market
next spring some time, the winter
months being recognized as a very
bad time to offer them.-Victoria cor.
Toronto Globe.