27 March 2008
Driving the Last Spike
This famous CPR photo, titled "The Last Spike",
pictures Donald A. Smith driving
the spike that completed CPR's main line from one end of Canada to the other.
Smith, surrounded by
other CPR officials and employees, drove the spike at
Eagle Pass, B.C. on 7 Nov 1885 at approximately 9:22 a.m., Pacific
Time.
The history of Regina and the Canadian Pacific Railway go hand in
hand.
During the planning of the railroad, the CPR directors decided on a southerly route across the prairies, impacting the development of
Western Canada. At first, they followed the advice of Sandford Fleming of the Mackenzie government, who chose a northerly route from
Selkirk across Lake Manitoba to The Narrows, to Battleford, then south of the North Saskatchewan River to a point south of Edmonton,
then west through the Yellowhead Pass.
But then in 1880, the Macdonald government decided to change the plan so that the Canadian Pacific Railway would run south of Lake
Manitoba. The railroad would then be more direct and closer to the American border, making it easier for the CPR to keep American
railways from encroaching on the Canadian market. This, however, required the CPR to find a route through the Selkirk Mountains,
crossing land controlled by the Blackfoot First Nation. Eventually, the company's western headquarters was moved from Selkirk to
Winnipeg, and the CPR decided to build west from Brandon through Kicking Horse Pass, a change authorized by Parliament in 1882.
By 23 Aug 1882, the first CPR train reached Pile O'Bones Creek - the new settlement officially named Regina - which housed
the first temporary wooden CPR depot, located on railroad property immediately east of Broad Street.
By 1883, the Macdonald government had moved the territory capital from Battleford to Regina on the CPR line, giving the CPR more
arbitrary power over townsite selection and allowing the transformation of western Canada from bald prairie to settlements. CPR policy
called for a townsite to be located at railway crossings. Locations of larger centres were to be determined by company requirements for
divisional points. Under the Canada North West Land Company charter in 1882, it was entitled to half the area of all townsites
established on the main line between Brandon and the B.C. border.
The Regina townsite was on dry, treeless plain, but many land sales were being made on the location. Through
Lieutenant-Governor Edgar Dewdney, the federal government chose Regina for the legislative buildings, government house,
and new headquarters of the North West Mounted Police. The CPR built its station on its own land, half a mile east of Dewdney's
location, and then began selling lots. The result was that Regina spread out over two miles and lost core institutional facilities. The
CPR decided to establish the divisional point at Moose Jaw.
On 1 Mar 1883, The Leader reported that CPR cars had arrived on 27 Feb 1883, which was good timing, as the
new CPR map of the prairie section was complete. A line was shown to run from Winnipeg to the Rockies, with projected lines to run from
Elkhorn to Fort a la Corne, and from Regina to Prince Albert.
There were a few glitches - such as the fire in the CPR engine house on 8 Mar 1883, when the building "was completely
gutted by the flames, as the only water to be had was in the tanks of the engine," according to The Leader.
But by 27 Mar 1883 of that year, Regina had been officially confirmed as the capital, as Battleford was too far north of
the railway. Macdonald had left the decision of the townsite in the hands of the CPR, which published a map indicating the station was
to be erected where the railway line was to cross Wascana Creek.
The North-West Conflict of 1885 was an important time in the history of the CPR, for with the help of the railway, the
government put down the Rebellion - also known as the Resistance - in nine days. The CPR had transported troops over the country,
including over incomplete sections of the track. The government was grateful for the service, causing it to reorganize the CPR's debt
and provide a further $5 million loan.
That same year, on 7 Nov 1885, the last spike of the CPR was driven at Craigellachie, B.C.
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