The Last Rail of the Island Railway to be Laid To-day

Sir John and Lady Macdonald to Traverse the Line the Premier Driving the Golden Spike

Daily Colonist

August 10, 1886

To-day the last rail of the Island Railway will be laid. The last spike—a golden one—will be driven by Sir John Macdonald sometime during the present week, just when, it has not yet been definitely settled. The 10th of June, of next year, was the date set for the completion of the road, and it has been finished fourteen months prior to the date of limitation. The line may be said to have been commenced on the 1st of October, 1884, and will reach Victoria West, it is hoped, sometime early in September. The total length of the line is seventy-five miles, the distance from Esquimalt to Nanaimo being seventy-one miles. It is difficult, of course, to approximate the cost, but it cannot be stated at less than $3,000,000.

The construction of a line of railway from Esquimalt to Nanaimo was one of the provisions of the famous Settlement Bill of 1882, since the passage of which the Island has rapidly advanced in prosperity. By this provision between the general and local governments the former was to give $750,000 and the latter certain lands along its route to the contractors. Under the energetic direction of Mr. Robert Dunsmuir, M.P.P., president, and his efficient staff of engineers and sub-contractors this year witnesses the completion of the line. A reference to the ground route followed by the railway, now that it is almost completed will be appropriate.

E&N Line along Shawnigan Lake

The line commences at Plumper bay on the east side of Esquimalt harbor, where the wharf has been built. Crossing the Victoria Metchosin road near the Four-mile House, the line ascends by easy grades to the Colwood Plateau, which it crosses on a straight level stretch of one and a half miles,  falling slightly to Langford lake. Passing around the south shore of the lake the line rises by a high development to the small gorge, by way of a detachment on the eastern slope of the Saanich range, fronting on the Finlayson arm of Sanich inlet round the shores of which the old government line was located.  In order to open up the country as much as possible, and thereby encourage its settlement and development, the line was projected to cross the Saanich range, the commanding point of which, after long and careful exploration, was discovered to be the low level pass a hundred feet above the sea level. From Goldstream the line reaches the summit, gradually ascending grades and then follows down the western slope of the range to Shawnigan Lake, which is reached at the 23rd mile, from Esquimalt. At this point the line is 5⅙ miles further inland than the old government line of 1875. Leaving Shawnigan lake the route is northerly, threading the flourishing settlements of Shawnigan, Cowichan, Quamichan, Somas, and Chemainus, striking the west shore of Oyster Bay near the Chemainus sawmill. The line runs along a direct summit nearly parallel to the shore of Oyster Bay, and crosses

the flat land to the Nanaimo river, from whence it passes the divide into the valley of the Alexandria and Southfield coal mines, and thence to the city of Nanaimo, which it enters by the high ground on the west. As the line runs in a lateral direction to the valleys on the eastern slope of the island the structures are numerous and expensive. Goldstream, Double ravine, Niagara Canyon, Arbutus gorge and Chase River are crossed by trestle work, 100 to 130 feet high, while the rivers Kokesatlah (sic), Cowichan and Nanaimo are spanned by Howe bridges of modern design. The construction of the section beyond Nanaimo met in the month of October, 1884, and on the Esquimalt division in March, 1885. The total length from Esquimalt to Nanaimo is 71 miles, and the cost may be set down at $40,000 per mile.

That the most beneficial results will certainly accrue from the building of the railway are already apparent. Settlers have located on lands along its route, while Victoria market will be brought within a

few hours’ run of the various settlements, conferring a great boon on the farmers, who can thus easily command a profitable outlet for their produce. It has been contended that little freight will offer to be carried over the line, but the hauling of coal, timber, produce, supplies to settlers, etc., will be considerable items, while travel will be greatly increased when once it is found that merchants and citizens in Nanaimo and way points can reach Victoria and return the same day. The great beauty and grandeur of the scenery along its route will be an incentive to travel. It is also a well demonstrated fact that a railway creates trade for itself. Small settlements will spring up all along its route and contribute their quota to passengers and freight traffic. The development of the hitherto virgin soil and primeval timber limits will gradually increase the volume of trade, and augment the earnings of the line until it will become more than self-sustaining. Whether any ferry will be established between the terminus of the C.P.R. and some point on the Island railway remains for the future to determine. It has been asserted by many practical and experienced men that such thing is possible, but whether it would be less expensive than fast steamers on the existing English bay is a problem also for coming years to solve. No matter whatever-enterprising developments the future may bring, certain it is that the residents of this city and island generally will hail with delight the opening of the railway for traffic. Another probability of the future is the extension of the line of railway to Comox, possibly by way of the rich Alberni district, and thence through the well-watered valleys to Comox.

Robert Dunsmuir

Mr. Dunsmuir, the active and enterprising president of the railway, is to be congratulated on the success which has been achieved. To his untiring labors is largely due the early completion of the line, and it is safe to say that no better road-bed exists anywhere. Mr. Dunsmuir has invited Sir John and Lady Macdonald to take a trip over the line, and visit the coal fields and points of interest in and around Nanaimo. The invitation has been heartily accepted and the premier will drive the golden spike which will officially complete the building of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo railway—a consummation which has long been looked forward to by those living at both ends of the line. Mr. Dunsmuir has purchased Mr. Onderdonk’s private car “Eva” and the party, including a few invited guests, will have ample opportunity to view the grand scenery along the track.

The company have three locomotives in use and a full supply of freight and flat cars. The passenger cars will shortly arrive from San Francisco, where they are being built. It is believed the line will be completed from Victoria to Nanaimo early in September. The reservation already resounds with the hum of men clearing the ground, and making preparations for the laying of the rails. Early in September the sound of the locomotive’s whistle will be heard in our streets and Victoria and Nanaimo will be united by a solid band of steel.