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 ChartergrantingManuscript image 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
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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.
fully explain Mr Waddington's former applications for concessions to his Bute Inlet Road Scheme.
3. A Road to connect this Colony with the Dominion ofCanadaManuscript image 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 abletoManuscript image 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 pecuniaryresourcesManuscript image 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.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your most obedient
humble Servant.
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
See separate Minute.
CC 12/2
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See subsequent 2/3371/68.
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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.
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 wereManuscript image 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 proposalManuscript image (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 roadManuscript image 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 makeManuscript image 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 requiringManuscript image 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.
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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 theManuscript image 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 theManuscript image 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 averageManuscript image 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 moreManuscript image 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 theManuscript image 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,Manuscript image & 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
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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
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The Govr loosely supposes W. has no resources, yet corresponds with him as a real man, & asks the Sec of State to find out his means. From his former transactions the fact must be ascertainable.
CBA 14/2
B&C 17/2
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
* [Enclosures as noted above:]
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A. Extract from notes accompanying Waddington's petition to the Secretary of State to extend his original agreement.
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B. Extract of letter from Churchill to Cardwell, 15 December 1865, describing terms for extension of the original agreement.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Birch to A. Waddington, 14 February 1867, stating terms under which Waddington's new proposal for a railway would be considered.
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Churchill to Seymour, in London, 14 April 1866, outlining proposed stipulations for a new charter.
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Waddington to Birch, 11 July 1867, stating proposed railway not feasible, and promoting construction of a road for steam traction engines.
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Minute by Seymour referring Waddington's scheme to the Surveyor General for report.
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J.W. Trutch, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, 23 July 1867, reporting on the proposed road.
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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.
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Waddington to Young, 29 August 1867, further explaining his scheme and the concessions required in modification of his original charter.
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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.
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Young to Waddington, 25 September 1867, advising that the matter would be referred to the Secretary of State.
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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.
Seymour, Governor Frederick to Grenville, Richard 22 November 1867, CO 60:29, no. 1204, 366. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B67146.html.

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