Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 22 November 1867, CO 60:29, no. 1204, 366.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (12), Marginalia (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Seymour forwards letters from correspondence between himself and Waddington discussing the creation of
a Road from Bute Inlet across the Rocky Mountains to the Hudson's Bay Company's territory beyond.Seymour discusses the desire felt in British Columbia for a road connecting the colony to the Dominion of Canada and the lack of need for another
Road to the Cariboo mines.Cox’s minute summarizes Waddington’s past actions and interactions with the government of British Columbia, and Waddington’s proposal for constructing a road across the Rocky Mountains. Cox’s minute further describes Seymour’s response to Waddington and states that, as Waddington is in England, Waddington may ask to meet with Buckingham. Rogers’s minute suggests presenting this case to the Land Board. Minutes by Rogers and Adderley comment on Waddington’s capability of completing the road. Included documents describe correspondence around Waddington’s proposed ventures of roads and railways in British Columbia.
No. 146
22nd November 1867
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward copies of some letters which
have passed between Mr Alfred Waddington of Victoria and
myself relative to his application for a Chartergranting
granting him
certain privileges in the event of his making a Road from
Bute Inlet across the Rocky Mountains to the Hudson's Bay
Company's territory beyond.
granting him
certain privileges in the event of his making a Road from
Bute Inlet across the Rocky Mountains to the Hudson's Bay
Company's territory beyond.
2. The despatches noted in the Margin
fully explain Mr Waddington's former applications for concessions
to his Bute Inlet Road Scheme.
Governor Seymour, No. 91 of 7th July 1865.
Secretary of State, No. 71 of 23rd Sept. 1865.
Acting Governor Birch, No. 115 of 11th Octr 1865.
Secretary of State, No. 5 of 16th Jany 1866.
Acting Governor Birch, No. 15 of 3rd March 1866.
Secretary of State, No. 31 of 31st May 1866.
Secretary of State, No. 71 of 23rd Sept. 1865.
Acting Governor Birch, No. 115 of 11th Octr 1865.
Secretary of State, No. 5 of 16th Jany 1866.
Acting Governor Birch, No. 15 of 3rd March 1866.
Secretary of State, No. 31 of 31st May 1866.
3. A Road to connect this Colony with the Dominion ofCanada
Canada is the great thing now wanted and I should be disposed
to give large privileges to Mr Waddington were he in a
position to perform the work. He is however, I believe, entirely
without funds and the undertaking he proposes is one of gigantic
cost. Should however Mr Waddington be able to satisfy Your
Grace that he is sufficiently supported in the London Money Market
to be ableto
to open the road he proposes, I should be glad to see
the utmost liberality shown him.
Canada is the great thing now wanted and I should be disposed
to give large privileges to Mr Waddington were he in a
position to perform the work. He is however, I believe, entirely
without funds and the undertaking he proposes is one of gigantic
cost. Should however Mr Waddington be able to satisfy Your
Grace that he is sufficiently supported in the London Money Market
to be ableto
to open the road he proposes, I should be glad to see
the utmost liberality shown him.
4. I would however distinctly recommend that he be given
no encouragement towards opening a new Road to the Cariboo mines.
We have two already. One of which is almost deserted.
5. It seems somewhat ridiculous to expect that a man
without any pecuniaryresources
resources of his own should be able to make
a road which would be more properly a subject of negotiation
between Canada and British Columbia in the first place and then
with Your Grace on an application for the Imperial Guarantee
for a Loan for the purpose.
resources of his own should be able to make
a road which would be more properly a subject of negotiation
between Canada and British Columbia in the first place and then
with Your Grace on an application for the Imperial Guarantee
for a Loan for the purpose.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
In 1862 Mr Waddington—who claimed to have discovered the Valley & River of the Hamathco at the head of Bute Inlet—entered into an agreement with the then Govr Sir J. Douglas to construct a Road from that Inlet to Cariboo. This agreement (see Encl: A) bound him to construct the road by the end of 1866—giving him a right of toll for 10 years from the completion of the 1st 45 miles.
In 1862 Mr Waddington—who claimed to have discovered the Valley & River of the Hamathco at the head of Bute Inlet—entered into an agreement with the then Govr Sir J. Douglas to construct a Road from that Inlet to Cariboo. This agreement (see Encl: A) bound him to construct the road by the end of 1866—giving him a right of toll for 10 years from the completion of the 1st 45 miles.
The making of the road was commenced, but was shortly brought
to a conclusion by the opposition of the Chilicotin Indians by whom
several of the working parties were
murdered.
murdered.
In 1865 Mr Waddington (see Gov. 8623/65) asked for protection
from the Govt to enable him to resume his undertaking, & at the
same time applied for compensation for the losses he had sustained
in his attempt to open the Road. The compensation was refused, & as
to the protection he asked for, he was informed (23 Sept 1865 to
Governor) that Mr Cardwell could hold out to him no encouragement
in an undertaking which had led to such lamentable results, & was
not viewed favorably by the Authorities of the Colony.
In Dec 1865 Mr Churchill on behalf of Mr Waddington
submitted a new proposal
(see B) to the effect that the former
agreement should be renewed so as to enable him for a further period
to collect tolls—that large tracts of land should be granted to him,
& the Govt to guarantee 10 per Cent on an Expenditure not
exceeding £140,000.
(see B) to the effect that the former
agreement should be renewed so as to enable him for a further period
to collect tolls—that large tracts of land should be granted to him,
& the Govt to guarantee 10 per Cent on an Expenditure not
exceeding £140,000.
On the 31st May 1866, after correspondence with Mr Churchill,
Mr Seymour then in England & Acting Governor Birch, Mr
Churchill was informed that
Mr Seymour intimated his sense
of the usefulness of any good communication which it might be found
practicable to establish with the interior of B. Columbia—but
that Mr Seymour had been unable to advise making any concessions
in England upon the terms on which a road
should be constructed into
the interior, & that no such proposal could be properly entertained
unless made to the local Authorities.
should be constructed into
the interior, & that no such proposal could be properly entertained
unless made to the local Authorities.
The opinion of the Acting Govr was—see Col. Secy 15 Nov
1865 in 4648.
1st No guarantee to afford protection agt Indians to be
given.
2nd That the Govt could not agree to purchase the proposed
road at any time nor to concede a new Charter for so long a period
as 21 years—but to give one for 10 years on terms materially
similar to those of 1862.
3rd That the local Govt was unable without sanction from
the Secy of State to make
grants of Land—but that in the event of
the Company wishing to acquire Land along the proposed line, the Govr
would be willing to reserve for a period of 5 years portions of the
unoccupied land with a view to its being preempted & purchased by
Members of the Company in accordance with Law.
grants of Land—but that in the event of
the Company wishing to acquire Land along the proposed line, the Govr
would be willing to reserve for a period of 5 years portions of the
unoccupied land with a view to its being preempted & purchased by
Members of the Company in accordance with Law.
In the beginning of 1867, Mr Waddington submitted to the
Govt a proposal for making, by means of a Company, a Railway
from Bute Inlet to Quesnel. The project however, in consequence of
the state of the money market & the difficulty of forming a Company
for so large a project requiring
a Capital of some £700,000, was
given up & a modified proposal for a Traction Engine Road was submitted.
And for this the following stipulations were asked for.
a Capital of some £700,000, was
given up & a modified proposal for a Traction Engine Road was submitted.
And for this the following stipulations were asked for.
Estimated cost to the Fraser £100,000.
1st The term of the Charter to be extended to 25 years from
the completion of the Road instead of 10.
2. That the Grantee may carry the proposed road from Bute Inlet
to any point on the Fraser between Deep Creek & the Grand Rapids
above the mouth of Quesnel if he finds it preferable to the latter place.
3. If it be found practicable & if it thought desirable by the
Grantee he shall have right to extend the Road Eastward of the Fraser to
or along the Great Quesnel Lake thence to the Yellow Head Cache & thro'
the pass to the watershed of the Rocky Mountains.
4. The period of 3 years for the completion of the Road to the
Fraser to be proportional for any extension beyond.
5. A grant of 2 sections or 320 [acres] of Land per mile to be made
as soon as every 60 miles of road are completed & located as far as
possible in alternate sections on each side of the line. N.B. this
quantity would represent a contribution on the
part of the Colony
of £14,000 in waste Land agt £100,000 cash by the Grantee, besides
the £14,000 he has already spent.
part of the Colony
of £14,000 in waste Land agt £100,000 cash by the Grantee, besides
the £14,000 he has already spent.
6. No Taxes to be levied on the above Land till settled by the
Agents of the Grantee or sold.
7. The Grantee to have a right to fell all Trees, the fall
of which might endanger the Road, & to have the priviledge of all
timber & materials on the public lands necessary for the construction
& maintenance of the road including Wood for fuel.
8. No Taxes to be levied on the property or income appertaining to
the Road until a dividend of 12 per Cent per an has been paid. A
tax of 2 1/2 per Cent on the
surplus up to 15 per Cent dividend, &
5 per Cent on the surplus above 15 per C. shall then be paid.
surplus up to 15 per Cent dividend, &
5 per Cent on the surplus above 15 per C. shall then be paid.
9. The Grantee to be constituted a public carrier, & have similar
powers to those of Carriers in England.
10. The entry of all requisite machinery material &c for this Work
to be free of Duty during the construction of the Road & for the
1st year after its completion.
In consideration of the above the Grantee engages,
11. To construct a road for working Traction Engines on, with an
average
minimum speed of 6 miles per hour for Passenger Trains, &
3 miles per hour for goods Trains.
minimum speed of 6 miles per hour for Passenger Trains, &
3 miles per hour for goods Trains.
12. As a maximum to carry food for 7 Cents per lb. & passengers
by ordinary Trains for $25 each from Bute Inlet to the terminus on
the Fraser. Any extension of the Road to be charged for in proportion.
13. For a period of 3 years to carry all Steam Machinery or
Machinery to be worked by water power at a maximum of 5 per Cent
profit on cost of conveyance, no piece to exceed 5 Tons or to
occupy more
than a 6 Ton waggon.
than a 6 Ton waggon.
14. Mails by any Train to go Free, but to be delivered & recd
from the Trains by the competent authorities.
Mr Waddington in reply was informed by the Govr that
he had decided to refer the whole question home & that if when he was
in England Mr W. could satisfy the Duke of Buckingham that there
were really the means of carrying out the undertaking, he (the Govr)
would recommend his Grace to grant the most favorable terms he
might think proper. This he considered the most satisfactory
course as it might be the
means of obtaining the cooperation of Canada.
means of obtaining the cooperation of Canada.
The Governor's despatch now recd transmitting Mr
Waddington's proposal referred to above is not encouraging as to
Mr Waddington's means of accomplishing his object.
Appended to 12264 will be found a Map shewing Mr Waddington's
line & the line of the Fraser River—& as to their respective
merits see Mr Birch's despatch 11 Oct 1865.
Mr Waddington has arrived in England, but no official
communication on the subject has been recd from him,
& until
he does there is nothing to be done on the present despatch, but
as Mr W. may possibly ask to see his Grace I have made
this short summary of what has passed for his Grace's information.
& until
he does there is nothing to be done on the present despatch, but
as Mr W. may possibly ask to see his Grace I have made
this short summary of what has passed for his Grace's information.
CC
12/2
This I think is a case for the Land Board. If at least it is
thought worth referring to anybody. This case seems to me
absolutely disposed of by the one sentence of Mr Seymour's "He is
however, I believe entirely without funds & the undertaking he proposes
is one of gigantic cost."
FR
12/2
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
* [Enclosures as noted above:]
A. Extract from notes accompanying Waddington's petition to
the Secretary of State to extend his original agreement.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Birch to A. Waddington, 14 February 1867, stating terms under
which Waddington's new proposal for a railway would be considered.
Waddington to Birch, 11 July 1867, stating proposed railway not
feasible, and promoting construction of a road for steam traction
engines.
Minute by Seymour referring Waddington's scheme to the
Surveyor General for report.
J.W. Trutch, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, 23 July 1867,
reporting on the proposed road.
W.A.G. Young to Waddington, 26 August 1867, discussing his new
proposal for a steam traction road and advising that the government
could offer "but little encouragement," with explanation and
requesting further information.
Waddington to Young, 29 August 1867, further explaining his
scheme and the concessions required in modification of his original
charter.
Waddington to Young, 9 September 1867, recapping his previous
letter of 29 August and subsequent meeting with the governor and
laying out the "principal stipulations" necessary before the road
could be commenced.
Young to Waddington, 25 September 1867, advising that the matter
would be referred to the Secretary of State.
Waddington to Young, 12 October 1867, advising of his departure
for England to arrange finances with reference to his project and
asking that all pertinent documents be forwarded to the Secretary of
State for reference.