collection 984.056.0001 - H.W. Gordon Fonds

British Columbia's entry into Confederation in 1871 was based on the condition that the construction of a transcontinental railway begin within 2 years and completed within 10 years. The contract was awarded to the partners of Donald Smith, J.J. Hill, and George Stephen. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was incorporated in 1881. Under the management of W.C. Van Horne, construction moved rapidly across the plains. However, construction throughout the Canadian Shield almost equalled in difficulty the construction through the mountains of B.C. Despite numerous setbacks, the last spike was driven at Craigellachie in Eagle Pass on 7 November 1885. During construction of the railway, the C.P.R. became involved in the sale and settlement of land, the acquisition of the Dominion Express Company, and the acceptance of commercial telegraph messages. The company also constructed numerous tourist hotels and dining halls along its route through the western mountains. These hotels and dining halls were the starting point from which the company later began their international development of hotels, steamships, and airlines.

Canadian Pacific became involved with Pacific Shipping as early as 1891. It had interests in, not only Trans-Pacific shipping, but also coastal steamers (B.C. Coastal Steamers) and B.C. inland water steamers (B.C. Lake and River Steamers).
(See also: Canadian Pacific Steamship Lines).