Canadian Development Company

Highlights of History from The Whitehorse Star

Dateline: April 30, 2024.

The White Horse Star (White Horse, Y.T.), Wednesday, February 27, 1901.

Now Own the C. D. Co.

    E. C. Hawkins, general manager of the W. P. & Y. Route, has received advices from London and Chicago to the effect that a deal for the purchase of the property of the Canadian Development company has been put through, to go into effect April 1st.

    The purchase includes ten steamboats, all the terminal facilities at White Horse and Dawson, namely, warehouses, wharves, lighters and other apparatus, besides two extensive and complete shipyards, one at White Horse and the other at Dawson. The ten steamboats include the best on the river, namely, the Columbian, Victorian, Canadian, Yukoner, Sybil, Bailey, Zealandian, Anglian, Mary F. Graff and the Joseph Clossett.

    Four other steamboats, clipper built, are in course of reconstruction, to be ready June 1, and to be added to this Yukon fleet, namely the Dawson, Ogilvie, Hamlin and McConnell, making a total of 14 boats for the passenger and freight business between White Horse and Dawson.

    This practically gives the W. P.& Y. Route the control of all the waterways to the interior as it also controls the Atlin route, having purchased what was formerly the John Irving Navigation Co. operating the steamers Gleaner and Scotia and the Taku-Atlin tramway. Speaking of the labor involved in putting all this vast amount of machinery into systematic working order for next summer General Manager Hawkins said:

    "It means a complete reorganization of the service on lines tending to secure greater efficiency at a minimum of cost, which the consolidation of the two interests under one management will best permit. It will admit of greater dispatch and better results for both freight and passengers.

    "Improvements and innovations will be the order all along the line. Tariff sheets are now in course of preparation with a view to putting all the traffic on a strictly weight basis, thus doing away with what is known by all shippers as the weight or measurement ship's option system, which has caused a great deal of confusion in the past, as under it the merchant was never in a position to figure in advance on what the cost would be for delivering his goods at any point in the interior.

    "It is also contemplated to substitute oil for wood, which, if found practicable for fuel, will shorten the running time of each steamer from 12 to 20 hours on each voyage. - Daily Alaskan.

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    The article above was an edited version of the one which had been published in Vancouver nine days earlier:

The Daily World (Vancouver, B.C.), Monday, February 18, 1901.

    E. C. Hawkins, general manager of the White Pass & Yukon Railway, has received official information from London and Chicago that the deal for the property of the Canadian Development Company has been put through, to go into effect on April 1st.

    By this extensive acquisition of property the railroad company practically extends its line from Skagway to Dawson for carrying on an immense freight and passenger business hitherto divided between the two corporations,

    The purchase includes 10 steamboats, all the terminal facilities at White Horse, and Dawson, namely, warehouses, wharves, lighters and other apparatus, beside two extensive and complete shipyards, one at White Horse and the other at Dawson. The 10 steamboats include the best on the river, namely, the Columbian, Victorian. Canadian, Yukoner, Sybil, Bailey, Zealandian, Anglian, Mary F. Graff and the Joseph Clossett.

    Four other steamboats, clipper built, are in course of reconstruction to be ready June 1st, and to be added to this Yukon fleet, namely, the Dawson, Ogilvie, McConnell and Hamlin, making a total of 14 boats for the passenger and freight business between White Horse and Dawson.

    This practically gives the White Pass Railroad Company the control of all the waterways to the interior, as it also controls the Atlin route, having purchased what was formeriy the John Irving Navigation Company, operating the steamers Gleaner and Scotia, and the Taku-Atlin tramway. Speaking of the labor involved in putting all this vast amount of machinery into systematic working order for next summer, General Manager Hawkins said:

    "It means a complete reorganization of the service on lines tending to secure greater efficiency at a minimum of cost, which the consolidation of the two interests uuder one management will best permit. It will admit of greater dispatch and better results for both freight and passengers. Improvements and innovations will be the order all along the line. Tariff sheets are now in course of preparation with a view to putting all the traffic on a strictly weight basis, thus doing away with what is known by all shippers as the 'weight or measurement ship's option' system, a system which has caused a great deal of confusion in the past, as under it the merchant was never in a position to fig ure in advance what the cost would be for delivering his goods at Dawson.

    All the steamers acquired will be given a general overhauling and put in thorough repair for the coming spring and summer's business. The Sybil will be given a new and sharper bow, and both the Sybil and Yukoner will have new boilers. It is also contemplated to substitute oil for wood, which, if found practical for fuel, will shorten the time of each steamer from 12 to 20 hours on each vorage. The policy of the company will be to retain the services of all those officials and employees who have proven their efficiency in the past. In some of the departments very material changes will be made for the betterment of the service."