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The title given to this
chapter is one by which the author would desire to indicate that the
period of rapid, lusty development within the county of Bruce, which had
been one of its marked characteristics, closed with the final years
referred to in the previous chapter. The era when the increase of the
county's wealth and population and of the development of its resources
took place by leaps and bounds, could not be enduring and continuous; the
change to a less rapid advancement must come, and the author would place
the date thereof, approximately, at the close of the third decade of the
county's history. High water mark for a long time to come, as regards
population, is to be found in the census of 1881.
The Redistribution Act
passed in 1882 by the Dominion Parliament gave Bruce three members in the
House of Commons. In the election which followed the passing of this Act,
North Bruce returned Alex. McNeill, his opponent being John Gillies, the
late member. In East Bruce the late member also failed in being
re-elected, R. M. Wells being successful in this contest against Alex.
Shaw. The riding of West Bruce was contested by James Somer-ville and J.
H. Scott, in which contest the former was returned. R. M. Wells had to
resign his seat in the Ontario House of Assembly. to qualify for
nomination in the above election. This necessitated a by-election in South
Bruce. The Liberals nominated H. P. O'Connor, a lawyer of Walkerton, and
the Conservatives, J. C. Eckford, a leading farmer of Brant. This election
resulted in Mr. O'Connor's favor.
The last change in the
number of minor municipalities within the county which occurred for the
next twenty years took place in June, 1882, when the united townships of
Lindsay and St. Edmunds were separated from Eastnor and established as a
separate corporation on and from January 1st, 1883.
In 1883 a change took place
in regard to the wardenship. During the twenty-six previous years this
honorable position was frequently conferred year after year upon the same
person, so that only nine names occur during that period among the list of
wardens. Commencing with 1883, the honor and the duties of the office have
been passed around, and no one since then has held the office for more
than a single year, as will be seen by consulting Appendix Q, which shows
that altogether thirty-two individuals have attained to the wardenship,
commencing with the first County Council, that of 1857. Of these, it is
interesting to note, about one-third, having plumed their wings in the
County Council, have sought a loftier flight, and have stood for
parliamentary honors.
A general election for the
Ontario House of Assembly took place February 27th, 1883. In South Bruce
H. P. O'Connor was returned by acclamation. The contest in North Bruce was
between John Gillies and James Rowand. The former was elected by a
majority of 120 votes.
The burning question before
the people of Bruce for the greater part of 1884 was the "Scott Act," the
name by which the Canada Temperance Act of 1878 was commonly known. The
campaign commenced early in the year with the obtaining of the signatures
of 3,790 ratepayers to a requisition praying that the Act be submitted to
the electors to be voted upon. During the summer public meetings were held
in many localities to discuss the features of the Act. Speakers from
outside places were obtained by both parties to stump the country and
present their views either for or against the temperance question in
general and the Act in particular. Literature was freely circulated, and
every means used to enlighten the electors upon the question on which they
were called upon to vote on 30th October of that year. The vote cast gave
a majority of 1,321 in favor of carrying out the provisions of the Act in
the county of Bruce.
Seven times have the
electors of Bruce been called upon to express their attitude on the
temperance question. What that has been may be seen by a study of Appendix
R, which shows the number of votes cast for and against prohibition on
each of these occasions. The inference the author draws from a comparison
of the various votings is that there is a strong sentiment within the
county for sobriety, but which sentiment is not vigorous enough to see
that temperance legislation is enforced. As a result of this lack of moral
fibre neither the "Dunkin Act" or the "Scott Act" were enforced as they
might have been. In addition to this, respect for law was lowered, perjury
was commonly practised when those who violated the Act were prosecuted,
and drinking habits were in no sense changed. The result of this evading
of law, of this moral abasement, was a revulsion of feeling as to
prohibition enactments, so that both in 1879 and 1888, when the next
occasion of voting occurred, large majorities were given against the
continued enforcement of temperance legislation in Bruce.
At this point it might not be amiss to refer
to the great change which has occurred in regard to the drinking customs
of the people since the settlement of the county. Then whiskey was so low
in price that its cost was not considered, [It is related of one of the
first settlers at Hanover, who had hung out a shingle to indicate that his
shanty was a tavern, finding he could not spend time waiting for chance
customers to call at the bar, he, when working in the bush, left a pail
filled with whiskey and a tin cup for any one to help themselves, and a
box to put their money in. The cost of what might be drunk being so small
it was not worth while considering it, even if it were not paid for.] the
price being twenty-five cents to thirty cents a gallon. So universal was
the use of whiskey that no social gathering would have been considered
complete without it. It was passed around as a necessary and expected
thing at every logging bee, in every harvest field, and wherever any
strenuous effort was to be put forth. It was looked upon as the elixir of
life, to be drunk in winter to warm one up, and in summer to preserve from
being overcome by the heat. [The following account of an hotelkeeper at
Goderich, presented for payment to the United Counties Council of Huron
and Bruce, January session, 1852, would be considered unique at the
present day, especially when it is considered who contracted the
indebtedness. It also throws a strong light on the then prevailing
drinking customs:
 ]
Such being the habits of
the people, taverns were everywhere. In confirmation of this it may be
stated that during the sixties there were on the Durham Road, between
Walkerton and Kincardine, no less than thirteen taverns, and other leading
roads would have shown a correspondingly large number. At the time of
writing (1905) the thirteen taverns have dwindled down to four. It had
been asserted that the reason taverns were so close together on the
leading roads in the early days was because then people did not dress as
warmly as now. Then a fur coat was rarely seen. Warm knitted underwear was
almost unknown. A knitted sash wound around the waist and a muffler round
the throat were the only additions made to the ordinary dress of a man by
way of preparation for a long, cold drive, consequently the drive
consisted of a number of haltings at the different taverns to get warmed.
Now, wrapped in warm furs, long drives are only broken when necessary to
water the horses. The manufacture of liquor was carried on then as never
since. To-day the only manufacturers in this line of business within the
county are three brewers of lager beer. Forty years ago whiskey
distilleries were flourishing in several villages in the county; now there
is not one. When the author reached Kincardine in 1856 he found a
distillery and a brewery there, to which another brewery was added in the
following year. In time all of these closed up, and it is years since
liquor has been manufactured at Kincardine. The following figures as to
the number of licenses issued tell most forcibly the rapid change
regarding the use of liquor in Bruce. In 1874 there were issued within the
county 180 tavern and 20 shop licenses. In 1902 the number stood at 80 and
4, respectively.[There are three townships in Bruce (Elderslie, Lindsay
and St Edmunds) in which no liquor licenses are issued, and three
townships (Arran, Kincardine and Saugeen) in which only one license is
issued.] The finding of excitement in other ways, the different view taken
of one who becomes intoxicated, and the general elevation of the standard
of what a man is expected to live up to has, in addition to what churches
and temperance organizations have done, produced in the county of Bruce a.
generation of men who are of temperate, sober habits.
During the summer of 1884 the subject of a
re-arrangement of the counties of Bruce, Huron, Perth, Wellington and Grey
was much spoken of, the idea being the creation of a new county. This
matter had been before the public for twenty years, and was now discussed
with some vehemence, especially by those towns or villages which cherished
any hope of being made a county seat, the ground for such proposed change
being that the construction of railways had changed the lines of travel
and centres of business since the days when the counties were laid out and
county towns selected. A deputation from Harriston, which waited on the
government regarding this matter, were informed that it was under
consideration. The question was also discussed in the Bruce County
Council, but there and elsewhere the agitation resulted in nothing,
Wiarton and Kincardine being probably the only localities in Bruce that
considered they might derive any benefit from a re-arrangement of the
county. The county of
Bruce was deeply stirred, especially at those eight points where volunteer
companies existed, when on May 11th Lieut.-Col. Cooper received orders to
muster the 32nd Battalion for active service in the North-West, to aid in
suppressing the Kiel Rebellion. This matter has been mentioned in the
chapter on "Militia and Volunteers," but is here referred to as one of the
historical features of the county during the year 1885. It would be hard
to overestimate the excitement felt at that time. A week was put in by
each company drilling, after which the various units of the battalion
assembled at Southampton. So enthusiastic were many of the volunteers to
respond to the call of their country, that good positions were thrown up
by many. One man belonging to the Paisley company, earning a salary of $75
a month, gave it up to accept 50 cents a day as a private in the ranks.
Another, Dr. Ben. Jeffries, of Texas, gave up a lucrative medical practice
there and returned to Canada that he might go with his company to the
front. Many other examples occurred of self-sacrifice springing from
full-hearted patriotism; the above are sufficient, however, to show the
spirit felt by our volunteers. At Walkerton it was estimated that 4,500
people assembled at the station to see the boys off. This seems to have
been the acme of enthusiasm, although every other point was deeply
stirred.
In November, 1885, gravel
road debentures amounting to $191,000 matured. Mr. Cooper, the county
treasurer, reported that only $175,405 of sinking funds were on hand to
pay these debentures. He also informed the County Council that the sinking
funds raised to pay these debentures had been encroached upon by excess of
expenditure, in years gone by, over amount of rates levied. The County
Council accepted this explanation, and proceeded to issue debentures to
the extent of $20,000 to make up the deficit. These debentures were made
payable in ten years and bore six per cent. interest. They were sold at a
premium, netting the county $22,256.75.
Farmers' Institutes have been the means of
diffusing a great deal of information and of developing a higher type of
farming in Bruce, as well as elsewhere throughout the province. The first
step towards the starting of such was in 1885, when the Provincial
Commissioner of Agriculture sent a circular to the various county councils
asking for a grant of $25 to supplement one of like amount made by the
government, to establish a Farmers' Institute in each electoral district.
The County Council of Bruce promptly acquiesced. Two years elapsed before
the several Institutes in Bruce, then just organized, applied for the
grant. In October of
1885 the appointment was made of a permanent junior county judge, the
position being conferred upon William Barrett, at that time a practising
barrister at Walkerton. He had for several years prior to this acted as
junior judge, as occasion required, but without a fixed appointment or
salary. On the retirement of Judge Kingsmill, towards the latter part of
1891, Mr. Barrett was appointed senior judge, the position of junior judge
being conferred upon A. B. Klein in 1893.
Owing to a partial failure of the crops in the
northern part of the county in 1884, a certain amount of distress and
destitution was felt by many of the poorer settlers in that sparsely
settled portion of the county. On this being known, joint commissioners
were appointed by the government and the warden in the following year, as
is mentioned in the chapter on the "Indian Peninsula," to take such steps
as might be deemed necessary for the relief of the needy settlers.
The supporters of the Canada Temperance Act
within the county during 1886 and 1887 made repeated efforts to have the
County Council pass a resolution affirming that it was expedient to have a
salaried police magistrate appointed, to have the provisions of the Act
enforced. When such action was taken by the County Council, under Statute
(48 Vic, chap. 17), the Lieutenant-Governor might at once make such
appointment. Each application of the supporters of the Act was
unsuccessful, there being in the County Council a majority adverse to the
Act, and also others who thought that if the Act was not enforced and
convictions obtained it was not for lack of effective judicial machinery,
but for want of evidence, which, owing to the peculiar vagaries of public
opinion, was difficult to obtain. The temperance people had good grounds
for endeavoring to have a police magistrate appointed, difficulty being
experienced in getting a justice of the peace willing to receive an
information against any alleged violators of the provisions of the Act.
This, in a measure, arose because magistrates who had performed their duty
were [No unprejudiced person, at the time, had any doubt as to the origin
of the fire that consumed the barn of Wm. Daniel, J.P., or of the two
fires Joseph Barker, J.P., experienced, one of his office, and another of
his stables; or of the shots fired at his daughters one night when nearing
their home.] on several occasions made to suffer therefor. The necessity
of the initiative being taken by the County Council, as above, was
overcome when in 1887 the Legislature passed an Act [50 Vic. Chap. 11.]
empowering the Lieut.-Governor to appoint police magistrates with salary
at his discretion. Under the provisions of this last-mentioned Act,
Richard Vanstone, a barrister, residing at Kincardine, was gazetted, June
4th, 1887, as police magistrate for the county of Bruce, at an annual
salary of $1,000 and expenses, to hold office as long as the Temperance
Act remained in force. For almost two years Mr. Vanstone impartially tried
all cases of infringement of the Act, and they were numerous. In 1886
another railway to enter Bruce obtained a charter [The floating of this
railway scheme was, in all probability, a political scheme to catch votes,
in view of the election to be held later on in that year.] under the title
of the "Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Railway." The eastern terminus was to
be at Meaford, while its western one was to be either Port Elgin or
Southampton. Unfortunately the charter lapsed before anything was done in
the way of construction.
The excitement marking a general election for
the House of Assembly closed the year 1886, the voting being on December
28th, with the result that J. W. S. Biggar was elected in North Bruce, W.
M. Dack in Centre Bruce, and H. P. O'Connor in South Bruce. This was the
first time Bruce sent three representatives to the Legislature, the
additional one being granted by the Franchise Act of 1885.
The county at large was startled, when, about
the last days of February, 1887, it became known that James G. Cooper, the
county treasurer, was a defaulter and had fled the country. A special
audit was made by W. F. Munro, accountant, of Toronto, extending over the
period from the 1st January, 1870, to the time Mr. Cooper left. To fully
take up this matter would fill many pages of this history. To those who
wish to become acquainted with the facts the author would refer them to
the report of Mr. Munro and also to that of A. B. Klein, which are given
in full in the printed copies of the minutes of the County Council of the
April and June session, 1887, and to by-laws No, 232 and 233 discharging
from all claims the sureties of J. G. Cooper and Alexander Sproat. The
books of the office show that the loss sustained by the county was
$25,701.69. To this might be added the cost of the investigations and the
loss of interest. At the special meeting of the County Council held in
April, Norman Robertson was appointed county treasurer, which office he
has held up to the present time.
Among the incidents of 1887 worth recording,
and alluded to in a preceding paragraph, was the organizing of a Farmers'
Institute in each of the three electoral divisions of the county. [In 1896
a fourth Farmers' Institute was organized, for that part of the county
north of Hepworth, to be known as the "North Bruce Farmers' Institute."
What remained of the North Riding had an Institute known as that of ''West
Bruce."] These Institutes have fully carried out the purposes aimed at,
the promoting of scientific farming and the disseminating of information
in regard to agriculture. Their worth has been recognized by the County
Council making annually a grant to each Institute. The large membership
they have is a very encouraging feature, showing a desire on the part of
the farmers of Bruce to possess a knowledge of the latest and best methods
of farming. The
possibility of having the Canadian Pacific Railway continued through to
Lake Huron engaged the attention of the various municipalities in the
southern part of the county during 1887. One route proposed was to
continue the railway from Teeswater to Kincardine; another was to be along
the route proposed by the Saugeen Valley Railway, from Mount Forest to
Inverhuron, via Walkerton, Cargill and Glammis. Towards this latter scheme
the member for East Bruce, Mr. Cargill, succeeded in having put in the
estimates for this year a grant of $3,200 per mile for the twenty-four
miles from Mount Forest to Walkerton. For the other scheme Kincardine town
was willing to grant a bonus of $30,000. Capitalists, however, could not
be interested sufficiently in either proposition, consequently both fell
through. The Dominion
Parliament was dissolved January 15th, 1887, followed by an election,
which took place February 22nd following. In North Bruce, Alexander
McNeill was again returned, his opponent being Dr. Bonnar, of Chesley. In
West Bruce Hon. Edward Blake was elected, J. H. Scott having contested the
riding against him. As Mr. Blake was also returned for West Durham he
resigned his seat for West Bruce, and James Rowand, of Saugeen, was
elected by acclamation. In East Bruce the two candidates were Henry
Cargill [Henry Cargill was born, August 13th, 1838, in the township of
Nassagaweya. His father and mother were natives of the county of Antrim,
Ireland. He was fortunate in having had the advantage of a course at
Queen's College, Kingston. While still a young man he entered into the
lumber business in his native county of Halton. In 1879 he came to reside
in Bruce. Having succeeded in purchasing a large portion of the Greenock
swamp, he was enabled to develop its almost untouched resources, and built
up a large lumber industry, arid ultimately became the wealthiest man in
the county. The village that bears his name owes its existence to him. He
was reeve of Greenock for three years, and represented East Bruce in the
House of Commons almost continuously from 1887 until his sudden death,
which occurred at Ottawa, October 1st, 1903. He was married in 1864 to
Miss Margaret Davidson, of Halton, and had a family of four children. A
staunch Conservative in politics, yet possessing the esteem of his
political opponents. He was a man of the most kindly disposition, and a
member of the Presbyterian Church.] and E. M. Wells. In this contest the
former was successful, but as he was the nominal postmaster at Cargill, he
had to resign. In the by-election that followed he was again returned,
this time defeating R. E. Truax.
Early in March, 1888, a vote of the ratepayers
throughout the county was taken in response to a petition that the "Scott
Act" be repealed. The vote (see Appendix R) was decisively against the Act
remaining in force in Bruce.
The valuation of the county, as fixed in
1878-9 for equalized assessment purposes, continued for ten years as the
basis on which to calculate the levy of county rates. This period having
nearly elapsed, a fresh valuation was decided upon. The men selected by
the County Council to do this work were James Brocklebank, of Brant, and
H. T. Potts, of Arran; both being practical farmers, they were well
qualified to judge correctly the value of farm lands, and at the same time
were men of wide municipal experience. The work of valuating was commenced
in 1888, and at the June session of 1889 the report was presented to the
County Council and adopted. The township of Kinloss, however, thought it
had not been equitably assessed, and entered an appeal, which was
sustained by Judge Kingsmill, who ordered a reduction of the Kinloss
assessment to the extent of $82,366.
The last of the outstanding debentures of the
large issue of $250,000, given as a bonus to the Wellington, Grey and
Bruce Bail-way, matured December 6th, 1889, and were promptly paid as
presented. The effect on the finances of the county on being relieved of
such a large debt was very marked, the county rate being reduced to about
one-half of what it had been.
In 1890 the County Council surprised itself
and the constituency at large by accomplishing its legislative duties for
the whole year in two sessions, an achievement never attempted before or
since; no complaint, either, was ever made that any one suffered from
delay in legislation, or from a dearth of it.
A general election was held June 5th, 1890,
for the Ontario House of Assembly. The result of this election was that in
North Bruce, John George (Con.) was elected, his opponent being David
Porter (Lib.). [In a by-election held March 9th, 1891, the situation was
reversed, and Mr. Porter obtained the seat and represented the riding
until his death.] In Centre Bruce, W. M. Dack (Lib.) was returned, this
riding being contested by Alex. Shaw (Equal Eights). In South Bruce the
two candidates were H. P. O'Connor (Lib.) and Dr. John S. Tennant (Con.),
the former of whom was successful.
The year 1891 was not in any way eventful to
the county of Bruce in its entirety, the general elections for the
Dominion House, held March 5th, being the only event to record. In the
riding of North Bruce, Alex. McNeill defeated Dr. Bonnar. This election
was petitioned against unsuccessfully. In West Bruce, James Rowand was
re-elected, his opponent being Hugh Morrison, of Lucknow. East Bruce
returned R. E. Truax, who had a majority of 114 over the old member, Henry
Cargill, but was unseated at the election trial which followed a protest.
At the by-election that followed, the positions were reversed, Mr. Cargill
carrying the constituency.
On November 29th, 1891, an old servant of the
county, Samuel Roether, died, the vacancy caused by his death resulting in
a scramble for the position. It seems that the gaolership has anomalous
features: the sheriff appoints the official, the government confirms the
appointment, while the County Council fixes the salary and pays the
greater part of it. The first appointment made by Sheriff Sutton was Geo.
A. Henry, of Port Elgin, of which appointment the government did not
approve; neither did it of H. B. McKay, of Walker-ton, the sheriff's
second appointment, political interests and influences being the cause of
the delay in filling the post. The man the politicians at first wished to
have made gaoler the sheriff refused to consider. The upshot of the
controversy, which became intense, was evidently a determination to change
the sheriff. In the summer of 1892 Æmilius Irving, Q.C., was directed by
the government to hold an investigation in the matter of some charges made
against Mr. Sutton in his official capacity. On the receipt of the report
of this investigation, in which some of the charges were sustained, Mr.
Sutton was asked to resign. This he would not do, so he was dismissed, and
on November 5th, 1892, Frederick S. O'Connor (a brother of the member for
South Bruce) was gazetted as sheriff of the county, and a week later the
office of gaoler was given to Donald McKechnie, on the recommendation of
the new sheriff. Nothing but the highest commendation can be uttered of
these two appointees, who proved capable and well qualified for their
respective posts. The
question of having established a House of Refuge for the county (a matter
which will be referred to more fully later on) was much talked about in
1892, and at the municipal elections held in January, 1893, a vote of the
ratepayers was taken, which proved to be adverse to the proposition. The
rural municipalities, with one exception, opposed it, while the urban
municipalities, with two exceptions, were in favor of having such an
institution. The
County Council of 1893 proved to be one of the most liberal the county had
known in the matter of making grants for roads and bridges. The grants
made that year totalled well over $20,000, resulting in several large iron
bridges being constructed over the Saugeen and other streams.
Grasshoppers were so numerous in the summer of
1893 as to be a scourge in some parts of the county, especially towards
the southwestern part of it, gardens and meadows especially suffering
therefrom. It is stated that these pests developed a taste for
binder-twine, and sheaves in the harvest fields had, by the row, their
binding devoured, and had to be rebound by hand.
David Porter, M.P.P. for North Bruce, died
August 7th, 1893. An election to fill the vacancy so caused resulted in
the return of D. McNaughton, the reeve of the township of Bruce. The
political atmosphere of the county, from several causes, was much stirred
during 1893. The Premier, Sir John S. D. Thompson, and some of his
colleagues, visited the county and addressed large meetings. As a set-off
to this the leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, and some
of his lieutenants, followed the same course, and enlightened the electors
of Bruce on political measures from their point of view. Most of the
meetings were held during the month of September. Another element in the
political atmosphere was a new party known as the Patrons of Industry, a
party or society which to some extent has by many been associated with the
Grange movement. This is an error, the ends sought by these two societies
being entirely different. In the preceding chapter an outline of the
objects of the Grange Society is to be found, which shows that what the
Grange strove after was the advancement of the material interests of the
farmers. The Ontario Association of the Patrons of Industry was organized
at London, September 22nd, 1891, with aims avowedly political. [Some
organizers added, as an inducement to establish a lodge, a clause
authorizing an arrangement being made with some merchant to sell goods at
an advance of 10 per cent. on cost price to members of the Order, but this
was outside of the Constitution of the Order. At Paisley, Dobbington,
Chesley, Walkerton, and possibly elsewhere also, such an arrangement was
made with a storekeeper, which, proving unprofitable to the latter, did
not last long.] There were thirteen planks in the platform of the society,
as then laid down, most of which were largely along the lines of securing
improved legislation, of rigid economy in the public service, and of
purity in the administration of government. It was not long after the
above date before the order had lodges established in Bruce, which
increased in number to eighty-five, or thereabout.. The first
representative of the order sent to Parliament from Bruce was D.
McNaughton, elected as member for North Bruce in the by-election for that
riding in 1893, as mentioned above. At the general election for the
Ontario House of Assembly in 1894, a Patron candidate was nominated in
each of the three ridings in Bruce: D. McNaughton in North Bruce
(elected), John S. McDonald in Centre Bruce (elected), and William Valens
in South Bruce (defeated), R. E. Truax being the successful candidate in
this riding. At the next general election for the Dominion House of
Commons, held in 1896, Patron candidates were nominated, but, as herein
stated in the events of that year, only one, John Tolmie, was elected. As
a political party the Patrons of Industry have lost much of their
influence, but the effect they have had, in Bruce at least, has been to
lead electors to break away from mere party lines and think and vote in an
independent manner, instead of being but a cog in a political machine.
The municipal elections for 1894 were held on
New Year's Day. Concurrent with them there was cast a vote in all
municipalities throughout the province on "The Prohibition Plebiscite
Act," which in Bruce brought out the largest vote the temperance question
there polled, the particulars of which are to be found in Appendix R.
The year 1894 marked the first failure of a
private bank within the county, the firm being that of H. A. Allen, of
Port Elgin. In the following year J. C. Graham, a private banker of
Tiverton, also failed. Other failures of this description, which may as
well be grouped together, were those of F. X. Messner, of Formosa, in
1897, and that of the Carrick Banking Co., of Mildmay, in 1898. Those who
suffered most by these various failures were farmers who, to obtain a
higher rate of interest, had deposited with them their savings. Of late
years the number of private banks within the county has materially
decreased, they having been absorbed by chartered banks on the latter
establishing an agency in the towns and villages where they were in
business. Those who
make a note of the condition of the weather had in 1895 many unusual items
to record. During the first week of February, at Walkerton, the
thermometer dropped so low that the mercury froze and during four days
remained below zero. The last week of April and the first in May were
marked by summer-like weather. As a result the trees were in full leaf by
May 7th. This unseasonable heat was followed on May 12th by a hard frost,
so severe that not only were the fruit trees injured, but also many forest
trees, beeches especially, were in many cases either killed or permanently
injured, the result of all the freshly opened leaves being frozen and
falling off. The spring and summer of 1895 were unusually dry. The grain
crops did not suffer for want of rain to such an extent as did the hay
crop, which was such a complete failure that, to meet the needs of stock
owners, large quantities of hay had to be imported into the county. This
baled hay found a ready sale at $18.00 a ton, and in some cases even more
was paid. Chopped straw mixed with grain was largely used to feed stock,
but even straw was so scarce that $11.00 a ton was paid for it. The
exigencies of the season made farmers try various methods of feeding
stock, and in doing so they learned the lesson that stock could be carried
over until spring, and even do fairly well, on other fodder than what had
in the past been principally relied on, namely, hay and roots. So the
drought was not without some measure of benefit, although the lesson was a
hard one, and felt by all classes of the community.
With the payment, in 1895, of the $20,000
worth of debentures issued ten years previously, the county became free of
debt. In Supplement T there is given a complete list of the various issues
of debentures of the county of Bruce. The total, $709,000, is a large sum.
Still none can say but that the ends sought,—while incurring large
obligations,—were for the good of the community at Mr. George Gould, who
had performed the duties of county clerk since 1861, felt compelled by
failing health to tender his resignation in December, 1895. With much
regret the County Council accepted Mr. Gould's resignation, and appointed
his son, Wm. S. Gould, to fill the vacancy, which post he has held unto
the present time.
The House of Commons having been dissolved in the spring of 1896, a
general election was held June 23rd. The Patrons of Industry had
candidates in the North, East and West ridings of Bruce, they being
respectively, H. T. Potts, James Tolton, and John Tolmie. The latter alone
was returned, the other two ridings returning A. McNeill and Henry
Cargill, who had sat for these constituencies in the preceding parliament.
The southern part of the county had, in the
winter and spring of 1896, presented to them for the first time the
proposition of an electric railway. Mr. B. A. C. Pew, a railway promoter,
came . into the county and held public meetings at Walkerton, Kincardine
and other points. The scheme he proposed was on a large scale and
obligingly comprehensive, the various terminal points being Port Perry at
the east, Goderich at the west, Meaford at the north, while radial lines
were to connect all points in the intervening country that would subscribe
to a fund for getting surveys made and a Bill passed through the House of
Commons. Mr. Pew found little difficulty in having his proposition taken
up by the business portion of the community, a provisional Board of
Directors appointed, and funds raised sufficient to enable initial steps
being taken. In April, 1896, the House of Commons passed a Bill, [59 Vic.
Chap. 20.] but not without a good deal of opposition, incorporating this
the "Huron and Ontario Railway Coy." The charter, so obtained, has been
extended and offered to any capitalists who would construct the road, but
so far without success. Such a line of electric road will surely be
constructed some day, and will be found a great convenience to the public.
Lieut.-Col. A. E. Belcher, reeve of
Southampton in 1896, had for some time been impressed with the necessity
of taking steps towards collecting historical data about the settlement of
the county, before all the pioneers had passed away. After several
attempts, he brought the County Council to his way of thinking, and at the
January session a motion was passed, offering a prize of $50 for the best
historical sketch of the county, to be submitted at the next session. In
response, two papers were handed in, one written by J. M. McNabb, of
Southampton, and the other by the writer; both papers were considered so
deserving of a prize that each received the full amount offered.
The increase in the number of reeves and
deputy reeves and consequently in the size of County Councils throughout
the province, arising from the increase of population, gave cause for much
discussion as to the advisability of reducing the number of county
councillors. As early as 1884 the Provincial Secretary sent to the various
municipal councils within the province, a list of questions, requesting
answers which would express their opinion on this matter. The question was
a difficult one to settle, and no action seems to have resulted until ten
years later, when the Legislative Assembly then asked for "a return
showing the population of each county and district, and the municipalities
therein." This was followed in 1896 by an Act [59 Vic. Chap. 52.] "to
reduce the number of county councillors." By this act a county was to be
divided for County Council purposes into divisions; each division to be
entitled to two representatives, the number of these divisions was to be
based upon the population of the county. Commissioners appointed by the
Lieut.-Governor-in-Council decided the limits of the divisions, and in
doing so endeavored to have them as nearly equal as possible in regard to
population. The commissioners so appointed met at Walkerton June 29th,
1896. After hearing and considering the evidence offered, they divided the
county of Bruce into nine divisions, thereby reducing the size of the
County Council, which under the old system had forty-four members, but
under the new would have only eighteen. The report made by the
commissioners is given in full in Appendix U. The views held by the
forty-four reeves and deputy reeves who, under the new order of things,
would no longer be ex-offlcio members of the County Council of Bruce, may
be best recorded in the words of the warden (the late J. H. Elliot, of
Chesley), in his final official report to the Council at its last session,
held in December, 1896. "I cannot help feeling that this sitting of the
County Council is memorable from the fact that it marks the end of a
long-established system and the introduction of an experimental one. We
have hitherto assembled as chosen representatives of twenty-six
municipalities of the county of Bruce, and our ranks have swelled in the
course of time to the high water mark of forty-four members, but the hand
of revolution has been laid upon our system and has shattered its
foundation and substituted for it an elective system by districts, created
and delimited by judicial commissioners. Our county is now divided into
nine districts, and two representatives will be elected by the people next
January for each of these districts instead of an assembly of forty-four.
The next County Council will number only eighteen. Instead of men who are
here because they are associated with local council boards, there will be
men who will be elected by the direct vote of the people. These changes
may or may not be an improvement. The new system is an experiment which
should receive a fair trial before we condemn or commend it, but this much
at least is certain, that we will not hereafter know as much about each
other as heretofore. One of the pleasant features of our meetings has been
the friendly intercourse which we have had with members from every part of
the county, and the larger the representation the wider that intercourse
of thought and opinion has been, the wider has been the circle of our
county acquaintance. That hereafter this is to be narrowed down brings to
our mind the pleasant memories of the past, and regret that the future has
not in store for our successors such opportunities as we have hitherto
enjoyed. I am pleased to be able to say for this little parliament of the
county of Bruce what cannot be said of the great Dominion Parliament of
this Canada of ours. We leave a clean slate, no debt behind us for our
successors to grapple with, though we have taken this county of ours from
the forest to what it is to-day, and we leave many monuments behind us of
the work we have done, those fine steel bridges all over the county and
the many other improvements we have made. And how did we do all this work
? By direct taxation, which in my opinion is the proper source from which
all public money should come. The County Council is dead; long live the
County Council!" The
councillors could not separate for the last time without having a bit of
fun over being put out of office, so when all the sessional work was over
the following bogus motion was brought forward: "Moved by James Shouldice,
seconded by Henry McKay, 'That as the death of the County Council is at
hand, and as we desire that everything be done decently and in order, we
would therefore recommend that the following be named as chief mourners,
viz., Messrs. Lieut.-Col. Belcher, Robert Johnston, and Henry McKay, and
that the following be engraved on the tablet to be erected—
"' Sacred to the memory of the County Council
of the County of Bruce.'
'''Peaceful may thy slumbers be,
From cares and labor thou art free;
By action of the Government
Into oblivion thou art sent.
"'Thou stalwart, gallant forty-four,
Your services are required no more;
Eighteen men shall be elected
To do the work you were expected.
"'But should the change not work, as is
suspected,
Old boys, you may be re-elected
To fill your places as before,
Thou gallant, stalwart forty-four.' "
After a laugh at the above, the members joined
hands, feelingly sang "Auld Lang Syne," and then parting, the little
parliament of Bruce County became a thing of history.
The County Council of 1897, reduced in numbers
so as to seem but a petty body of legislators compared to its
predecessors, although retaining all the authority they had possessed,
tackled the House of Refuge question in earnest, and passed a motion
directing that the wishes of the ratepayers be obtained by a plebiscite
vote, to be taken at the time of the next municipal elections, [In
1893—The majority against establishing a House of Refuge was 2,378. Total
votes polled, 8,880. In 1898—The majority in favor of establishing a House
of Refuge was 2,477. Total votes polled, 7,996.] in January, 1898.
The initial move towards securing a House of
Refuge for aged and enfeebled indigents within the county, dates back to
the December session of 1881 of the County Council, when Edward Leslie (of
Kincardine) and Wm. Bradley (of Greenock) moved: "That the County Clerk
obtain information as to the cost and maintenance of the lately
established Poor House of the county of Wellington; at the same time the
two reeves of Carrick (Wm. Dickison and James Johnston) moved that reports
be obtained from the various local municipalities in Bruce as to the
amount spent by them annually in support of indigents. Following these
motions a committee was appointed to consider the matter, which at the
next session reported in favor of the establishment of a House of Refuge.
There was not, however, enough enthusiasm felt to urge on the question; so
it lay in abeyance until 1888, when the matter was again brought to the
front, Dr. De Witt H. Martyn (of Kincardine) and Dr. W. S. Scott (of
Southampton) being the movers therein, at the January session of that year
of the County Council. The committee then appointed chose Lieut.-Col. J.
H. Scott as its chairman. From that time on until he laid the corner-stone
of the House of Refuge ten years later Col. Scott labored assiduously and
untiringly in the interests of this most humane and charitable object. The
voluminous tabulated reports made by him in 1888, 1892, and 1897, to the
County Council, and the sheets of information prepared by him for the
ratepayers on the two occasions when a vote was taken on this question,
namely, in 1893 and 1898, deserve more than a passing word of
commendation. This fact was recognized when there was conferred upon him
the honor of laying the foundation stone of the building, June 24th, 1898.
The inquiry as to the cost of maintaining
indigents by the local municipalities showed that in 1881 nineteen
municipalities (all that then reported) had spent $2,508.43 in granting
such relief. In 1887 all townships and villages furnished reports, the
total of expenditure was $3,946.34, while in 1890 it had risen to
$4,393.66. These amounts are much in excess of the net expenditure of the
House of Refuge at present, showing that even from the low level of
economy the ratepayers did wisely when, in 1898, they voted to establish
this charitable institution, while those who voted from humane motives
have seen in the comfort and content of the old folks residing at the
House of Refuge their fullest anticipations realized. The inquiries made
of the local municipalities revealed one uncommendable practice, namely,
that of foisting, if possible, the poor on neighboring municipalities.
This practice was candidly confessed by the village clerk of one of the
smallest of our villages in his reply to the questions propounded. His
report reads as follows: "In 1885 this municipality had one indigent,
which cost only $2, because we shipped him off. In 1886 one indigent cost
$10; we shipped him, too. In 1887 we had also one indigent, who was
brought here, and was too far gone for shipping purposes. He died on our
hands, and cost $124."
The vote of the ratepayers, given 3rd January,
1898, on the House of Refuge question, was so pronounced in favor of
having one established that the County Council, without loss of time, took
the preliminary step of advertising for a suitable site for the building,
and met again in March to decide on the offers made. These numbered over
fifty and from all parts of the county. A process of weeding out had to be
undertaken. The decision finally arrived at was that only farms in close
proximity to the towns of Kincardine, Port Elgin and Walkerton would be
considered. [This was afterwards amended and the neighborhood of Paisley
was also included.] The County Council then decided that it, as a
committee of the whole, should visit and examine the various sites
offered. Port Elgin was first visited and what it had to offer considered.
The next day the councillors drove to Kincardine and inspected the sites
there offered. At a meeting held in that town the County Council decided
to continue its journey to Stratford and see the House of Refuge lately
built there by the county of Perth, it having been reported to be the one
which for size, arrangement and cost would most probably be suitable for
Bruce. The visit to Stratford was not ill judged; many members of the
Council were largely in the dark regarding the requirements of the
building and of the regulations of an up-to-date House of Refuge. There
they had an object lesson, and one that pleased them so well that on its
return to Walkerton the Council instructed the architect [The late Harry
J. Powell, of Stratford.] of the building they had so admired to make
plans and specifications for a building along similar lines, but to embody
whatever improvements experience showed could be made, and large enough to
accommodate 125 inmates. It was no easy matter to settle where the
building was to be erected. Each of the four towns set a high value upon
having the institution in its vicinity, so that it was not until the
forty-sixth ballot was cast by the County Council that Walkerton obtained
the much coveted honor. The lands there secured for a site are very
suitable, having an area of sixty-two and a half acres, between forty and
fifty acres of which are profitably cultivated. The amount paid for the
land was $3,821. Having decided where to build, and also having settled on
the plan, tenders were advertised for and considered at a meeting of the
County Council held in May. The tender of Messrs. Cawsey and Young (of
Stratford) for all the work was accepted, the price being $16,440. The
building was completed in December, and received its first inmates in the
first week of January, 1900. In a footnote [1] are given the particulars
of the actual cost of this fine building and equipment. The following were
the officers appointed to look after the House of Refuge and its inmates:
Keeper, Joseph M. White; Matron, Mrs. Joseph M. White; Inspector, Wm. S.
Gould. After a year's experience it was decided that the inspector's
duties could be undertaken by the keeper, which arrangement is still in
force. The average annual net cost of the House of Refuge for the five
years, 1900-04, has been $3,036.25. Now that the agitation as to the
advisability of having a comfortable home for infirm or aged indigents is
settled, and also the controversy where it should be located has calmed
down, there exists a feeling throughout the community that all through a
wise course has been followed, and nothing but commendation is extended
towards the men who carried the issues to a successful termination.
The same spirit which led to the establishment
of a House of Refuge for the indigents of the county led also to the
establishment of the Children's Aid Society of the County of Bruce. This
was organized at a meeting held at Walkerton November 21st, 1898, and was
incorporated by order of Council passed in the following month. The object
of this society is to improve the condition of all neglected and dependent
children within the county. This is done by providing homes for the
homeless, by securing better treatment for those neglected by their
parents, and in assisting really needy families in caring for their little
ones. Over fifty cases have been dealt with by the society, which has been
very fortunate in securing comfortable homes for its wards. Funds for this
work are obtained from membership fees and voluntary contributions. The
late Miss Janet Chisholm, of Brant, left a legacy to the society amounting
to $50.00, and the late W. J. Moore, a farmer living near Walkerton,
bequeathed to it half his estate, which will amount to seven or eight
thousand dollars. This last bequest has not as yet, at the time of writing
this history, come into the possession of the society, as it is subject to
an annuity payable to Mr. Moore's widow for life. A. Shaw, K.C., has been
the president of the society since its inception, and has given a great
deal of time and attention, without any remuneration whatever, to the
various cases which have been considered and provided for. The office of
secretary has been filled by E. J. Rowland and Joseph Morgan.
On March 1st, 1898, a general election for the
Legislative Assembly was held, at which the candidates for the several
ridings in the county were: In North Bruce, C. M. Bowman (Lib.), who was
elected by a majority of 265 over D. M. Jermyn (Con.); in Centre Bruce, A.
Malcolm (Lib.) obtained a majority of 234 over John S. McDonald (Patron),
the late member, while in South Bruce, R. E. Truax was re-elected by
acclamation. In
September of the last-mentioned year the electors were again asked to cast
their ballots; this time it was to vote on the Provincial Prohibition
Plebiscite. The particulars of this vote are to be found in Appendix R.
This section of Ontario suffered during three
successive summers from an invasion of forest tent-caterpillars. The last
of these years was 1899. These pests, on account of their numbers, proved
very destructive, maples, basswoods, as well as other trees and shrubs
being stripped of every vestige of foliage; this process repeated three
years in succession resulted in the death of many trees. In towns and
villages the citizens struggled to save their shade trees from the
caterpillars. In this effort they were successful, as the large matlike
clusters in which the caterpillars frequently assembled, enabled a
wholesale destruction to be accomplished in short order. The number of
these pests was almost incredible. In confirmation and illustration of the
statement it is on record in the Walkerton newspapers that a train due
there from the north was, near Cargill, brought to a standstill by the
caterpillars; the crushed bodies, countless in number, over which the
driving wheels of the engine had passed, formed a greasy paste that
prevented them gripping the rails, and so the train slowed down until at
last it stopped.
A desire, often expressed
and deeply felt, that there should be a gathering of the pioneers and old
settlers of the county at last became an accomplished fact on 28th July,
1899, at Port Elgin, when in response to an invitation of a committee of
its citizens, the pioneers of Bruce and their descendants gathered from
all parts of the county, and so had an opportunity of talking over the old
days when they entered the bush to make for themselves homes where the
tall trees stood. The concourse on that occasion numbered between two and
three thousand. About an hour before noon a procession was formed, headed
by the brass band of the village. After the band an old familiar ox-team
and outfit, driven by R. H. Murray, of Amabel, led the way. On the sleigh,
so drawn, were sheaves of grain, the thrashing of which, by flails, was
gone on with as the procession wended its way to Lake View Park, where,
after a substantial meal, a number of old-timers were called upon to
address the assembly and recount their recollections of the days of the
early settlements in Bruce. But possibly the most enjoyed feature of the
assemblage was the meeting of old-time acquaintances, separated for years,
who there met and enjoyed a good old chat of the days when their heads
were not grey, but when life was young, and of the hardships they
encountered in the bush, now things to be laughed at. The gathering was a
success, so much so that it has become one of annual occurrence, much
appreciated and largely attended. The citizens of Port Elgin who do so
much to maintain the enthusiasm of these annual gatherings deserve a great
deal of commendation from those who cherish a warm feeling for the days of
the early settlement of Bruce and wish to see its memories preserved.
It is highly probable that the same current of
sentiment which prompted the meeting of the pioneers of the county,
mentioned in the last paragraph, was also the cause which led to the
"Bruce Old Boys' Reunion" that so successfully materialized July 23rd to
August .4th, 1900. The inception of this much-enjoyed gathering is
credited to some of the sons of the county residing at Toronto. Prominent
among them in the originating and working out of this happy idea were the
following: James H. Spence, W. A. Skeans, John R. Shaw, Geo. H. Kilmer,
Walter O'Hara, besides others whose names the author is unable to furnish.
The carrying to a successful conclusion of this reunion involved an
immense amount of work, the largest part of which fell upon the shoulders
of Arthur Collins, of Walkerton, the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
First a list of absent Bruce boys, with their place of residence, had to
be compiled. Then the railway companies had to be enlightened as to the
advantage it would be to them to offer reduced rates. This secured,
circulars inviting all the absentees to the reunion had to be mailed, the
number of which exceeded eighteen hundred. The fundamental idea of the
originators was to have a gathering of the widely scattered Bruce boys
from north, south, east and west. In the past, whenever any of these had
returned to revisit the scenes of their youth, they found that they only
met of their old comrades those who had remained at home, while those who
had wandered away—like themselves, being only occasionally at their old
home—were not seen. "If only all the old boys could be back at home
together, how much more pleasant it would be," was the thought that urged
the promoters on to make the efforts which resulted so successfully. The
first steps were taken in February, and by the end of May the invitation
circulars were issued announcing special rates on all the railways east of
the Mississippi and north of the Ohio rivers. These circulars were sent by
the secretary to all known addresses of Bruce boys living between New York
and Vancouver. It must be acknowledged that the county town and its sons
living at Toronto took the lead in this enterprise. When the 23rd of July
came, the Toronto contingent left that city on a special train engaged to
take them to Walkerton. They brought with them the full band of the 48th
Highlanders, which headed the procession that marched from the railway
station to the town hall, where the mayor extended a greeting to all. The
welcome the old boys met with from their native town and county must have
reached the fullest expectations of any of them. Those whose homes were in
other parts of the county received just as cordial a greeting as did those
whose destination was Walkerton. All expressed enthusiastically their
feelings at the success of the reunion. About seven hundred took advantage
of this opportunity to view old scenes and to renew old friendships. Since
then there have been, almost annually, excursions from Toronto of the Old
Boys of Bruce. These seem to be growing larger from year to year, e.g., in
1904 the train that left Toronto consisted of thirteen coaches, filled
with "Old Boys" anxious to visit once more their native county. The
"Association of Bruce Old Boys" at Toronto has done much to keep alive a
feeling of pride and loyalty for the native county of its members, and
also a fraternal feeling among those of its offspring who have "swarmed "
off from its borders.
The Indian Peninsula had high hopes, in 1900
and 1901, of a railway being constructed through its entire length from
Tobermory to Wiarton, when the Ontario House of Assembly incorporated [See
63 Vic. Chap. 115 and 1 Edw. VII. Chap. 23.] "The Manitoulin and North
Shore Railway." This line was to connect Meaford with Tobermory, from
whence it was intended that a ferry should convey freight and passenger
cars to the Manitoulin Island; from thence, by means of a bridge at Little
Current, the line would be continued to Sault Ste. Marie. The promise of
government aid to help in the construction of the road was granted; this,
with the appearance of surveyors to locate the route of the railway, gave
the assurance that the road would certainly be pushed to completion. But
since the departure of the surveyors but little has been heard regarding
this railway. It has been said that the proposed road was nothing more
than a political bait, with which it was expected to catch votes at the
next provincial election in the various constituencies through which it
was to pass. Over ten
years having elapsed since the county was valuated for the purpose of an
equalized assessment, the County Council in June, 1900, appointed
valuators to make a fresh valuation. On this occasion four men were
appointed: two, L. T. Bland and H. T. Potts, were to value the property
situated in the several townships, and two, Edward Kilmer and J. B.
Campbell, to value the property in the several towns and incorporated
villages in the county. Their reports were received at the June session of
the following year. These showed many changes, which made a reduction of
$139,040 from the equalized assessment of real property of the preceding
year. The total assessment of the county of real property, as returned by
the valuators, was $25,378,972.
A general election for the Dominion House of
Commons was held November 7th, 1900, resulting in the return, in West
Bruce, of John Tolmie (Lib.), his opponent being John George (Con.). In
East Bruce, Henry Cargill (Con.) succeeded in being re-elected, John
Coumans (Lib.) being the defeated candidate. In North Bruce, Alex. McNeill
was elected by the narrow majority of one. As might be expected an
election trial followed, which resulted in the unseating of Mr. McNeill.
At the by-election that followed (March 20th, 1901) James Halliday (Con.)
was elected. The Liberal candidate in both of these contests was J. E.
Campbell, of Hepworth.
The gathering of the
pioneers in 1899 and the reunion of the Bruce Old Boys in 1900 were
fittingly followed in 1901 by the founding of the Bruce County Historical
Society. The initiative in this action came from the County Council,
which, at the January session, 1901, appointed a committee to consider the
matter. This committee reported in June, strongly recommending that steps
should be taken to organize such a society for the preservation of items
relating to the history of the county. This report was adopted by the
Council, which at the same time gave a grant of ten dollars to meet any
preliminary expenses. Following up the resolution of the Council, a
meeting was called at Walkerton at the time of the fall Assizes, as at
that time a number of persons from all parts of the county would be at the
county town. At this meeting Lieut.-Col. A. E. Belcher was elected
president and Norman Robertson, secretary. A constitution was adopted, and
application was directed to be made for affiliation with the Ontario
Historical Society, which affiliation was obtained. The interest in the
society has not been as active as might have been expected, but good work
has been done in collecting materials bearing on the history of the
county, such as files of newspapers extending from the sixties down, also
early maps and plans of the villages as they were first laid out. A most
successful banquet was given by the citizens of Walkerton to the society
in January, 1902, at which a number of old settlers were present, and gave
interesting accounts of the early days. Attempts have on several occasions
been made to establish pioneer societies with similar objects to the
above: The earliest of these societies was organized at Walkerton, October
7th, 1881, when some twenty or thirty of the early settlers gathered and
resolved themselves into "The Bruce Pioneer Society," Most of those then
present have joined the great majority, among them being Adam Clement and
Hugh Todd, of Brant, C. B. Barker, of Kincardine, and Wm. Gunn, of
Walkerton. The author has not been able to find any account of further
meetings of this society. A society bearing the same name was organized at
Port Elgin in 1900 which has shown enviable vitality. To it may be given
much praise for the annual pioneers' gathering and picnic at Port Elgin.
The census taken April 1st, 1901, was a
disappointment, as it showed that during the preceding decade the
population had declined to the extent of 5,583. Emigration is the
explanation to be given. The old folks remain at home, while thousands of
the young men 'and women have gone to the North-West or to the cities.
Then again, farms are now much larger than formerly, and owing to the use
of labor-saving machinery the large farm requires no more help than the
small one did. In earlier days there were hundreds of fifty-acre farms and
very few over one hundred acres. To-day farms of two or three hundred
acres or more are common, while the smaller fifty-acre farms are almost
unknown. The changed conditions of farming largely account for this and
also the decrease in population. Farmers have grown rich and have added
farm to farm, and those who have sold out have sought other localities
where, with a moderate amount of capital, they too may become rich.
The sudden death of F. S. O'Connor, the
sheriff of the county, on August 16th, 1901, caused a vacancy in the
sheriffalty. After a short delay the government appointed C. V. Parke, of
Wiarton, to the office, which position he has continued to fill.
Two separate lines of railway to run through
Bruce were incorporated in 1902. One, The Huron and Bruce Railway Co., [2
Edw. VII. Chap. 77.] was to connect Wiarton and Goderich, the line to
touch at the various lake shore ports between Goderich and Southampton.
The other company bore the name of The Huron, Bruce and Grey Electric
Railway Co., [2 Edw. VII. Chap. 78 and 3 Edw. VII. Chap 98.] which name
was changed in the following year to The Ontario West Shore Electric
Railway Co. It is intended to be part of a scheme of electric railways
radiating from Goderich. One arm of this road is planned to extend to
Wiarton and another, via Lucknow, to Walkerton. Up to the time of writing,
however, nothing has been accomplished in the way of construction of
either of these proposed railways.
The offer made by the Ontario Government of a
grant, under certain conditions, to aid in the improvement of public
highways [1 Edw. VII. Chap. 32.] (out of a fund of one million dollars set
apart for that purpose) was much discussed in 1902 throughout the county,
especially so in the Indian Peninsula, where the lack of even moderately
good roads is so fully realized. A visit of the Provincial Commissioner of
Highways to Wiarton and the vicinity materially increased the interest
regarding this matter felt in that part of the county. Mr. R. E. Moore, of
Lion's Head, and B. B. Miller, of Wiarton, were prominent in striving to
get the public interest aroused regarding this subject, addressing
meetings held to consider the proposal made by the government, A study of
the conditions attached showed that to obtain the county's share of the
grant, amounting to $45,000, an expenditure of $90,000 would be required,
and as about one-third of the grant would have to be expended in the
peninsula—which was a ratio of expenditure disproportionate to the amount
of county rates paid by the peninsula municipalities—the County Council
declined to act in the matter, and the question is still in abeyance. As
the offer made by the Government remains open until the 1st January, 1909,
it is possible some action may yet be taken.
A general election for the Ontario House of
Assembly was held May 29th, 1902, which resulted in the re-election of C.
M. Bowman and R. E. Truax for the ridings of North and South Bruce
respectively, the defeated candidates being D. M. Jermyn, of Wiarton, and
Dr. R. E. Clapp, of Mildmay. In Centre Bruce the election was keenly
contested by Major Hugh Clark (Con.) and Dr. M. Stewart (Lib.), the former
being returned. The majority was only five. A protest followed, which
brought about another election (held February 26th, 1903), when Major
Clark was returned by an increased majority.
"The Liquor Act, 1902," [2 Edw. VII. Chap.
33.] passed by the House of Assembly, subject to being sustained by a
majority of the electors of the province, was intended to prohibit the
sale of liquor within the province except by licensed druggists under
certain restrictions. This Act was submitted to the electors to be voted
upon on December 4th, 1902. This balloting was known as the "Referendum
Vote." The vote east in Bruce gave the largest majority the temperance
party ever obtained in the county, for particulars of which the reader
will please consult Appendix E.
"The Representation Act" passed by the
Dominion Parliament in 1903 reduced the number of representatives from
Bruce in the House of Commons from three to two, the ridings to be known
as North and South Bruce. As this Act did not come into force until the
then existing Parliament dissolved, the by-election, held February 16th,
1904, following the sudden death of Henry Cargill, was for the old riding
of East Bruce. In this election the two candidates were J. J. Donnelly
(Con.) and A. W. Robb (Lib.), the former carrying the election.
Situated on the Durham Road, partly in Bruce
and partly in Grey, the village of Hanover had developed since it was
known as "Buck's Bridge" until it had a population sufficient to entitle
it to become incorporated. But the necessary steps were delayed. People
asked why. If any answer were given, the delay was assigned to politicians
who feared that the new municipality would unite with Bruce, on account of
the proximity of its county town, which was only six miles distant, and
its vote at parliamentary elections in South Grey would thus be lost. Be
that as it may, the matter at length came before the County Council in
December, 1898, when a petition was presented praying to have the
preliminary steps for incorporation proceeded with. In January, 1899, a
by-law was passed by the County Council granting incorporation, and that
that part lying in the township of Brant be annexed to the county of Grey.
The County Council of Grey, however, failed to take action to complete the
annexation. This gave the inhabitants on the Brant side of the village
time to consider the matter, with the result that they concluded they
preferred to remain in Brant, so they obtained a repeal of the by-law. The
Bentinck part of the village obtained incorporation, and then in 1903
obtained an Act attaching their neighbors in Brant nolens volens to their
village. This is the only occasion wherein the county of Bruce has lost
any of its territory to its neighbors.
A pleasing incident to relate are the
particulars relating to the establishment of the Bruce County General
Hospital, the opening of which institution supplied the last link required
to place Bruce on a par, as far as regards providing for the suffering or
needy, with any county in the province. This institution owes its
establishment to a bequest of the late William John Moore, of the township
of Brant, who died March 13th, 1899, and bequeathed one-half of his estate
(which amounted to about $15,500, subject to an annuity payable to his
widow), "To aid in the erection and endowment of a hospital, at the town
of Walkerton, for the sick and injured of the county of Bruce, provided
sufficient funds were otherwise raised to purchase and erect a suitable
building and furniture for the said hospital." Thomas Dixon and Wm. M.
Shaw were the executors of the estate. To obtain the bequest and apply it
for the purpose intended, "The County of Bruce General Hospital Trust at
Walkerton" was incorporated June 8th, 1900. An effort was made in the same
year to get the County Council to assume the liability of paying to Mrs.
Moore that proportion of her annuity corresponding to the amount of the
hospital bequest, which sum would thus be set free and be available for
the prosecution of the work. The Council of that year declined to take any
action, but a new Council, that of 1902, considered the matter more
liberally and agreed to the proposition. The necessary legislation to
confirm this action was. obtained without delay. Subscriptions also were
secured in sufficient amount to warrant the letting of a contract for the
building, which was commenced during the summer of 1902. Among the larger
contributions received by the Board of Trustees were the following: From
the town of Walkerton, $2,000; county of Bruce, $1,500; Henry Cargill,
$1,000; David Morrison, $500, and also a great number of others from $100
down. The hospital was erected and equipped practically free of debt,
which is said to be the first time in the history of the province such a
thing has been accomplished. Much credit for this is due to the assistance
rendered the Board of Trustees by the Women's Hospital Aid Association
throughout the county. It was a happy idea when the trustees requested the
ladies of Walkerton to see what could be done by them to assist in raising
funds to meet the needs of the hospital. The preliminary meeting was held
January 10th, 1903, when it was decided to organize a Women's Hospital Aid
Society for the county, with branches in each village and as many
townships as possible. That this movement might be one of the women of the
county for the support of a county benevolent institution, and that no
ground for supposing the hospital was to be a local affair, the meeting to
organize the Women's County Hospital Aid Society was called to meet at
Paisley in February, 1903. Mrs. Norman Robertson, of Walkerton, filled the
chair at this meeting, at which were delegates present from Tara, Chesley,
Southampton, Port Elgin, Paisley, Walkerton, and elsewhere. Mrs. Henry
Cargill was elected president, Mrs. Thomas Dixon, secretary-treasurer, and
also all the other officers. A constitution, which had been previously
prepared, was considered and adopted. The society thus organized has
performed work that has been most gratifying to the hospital trustees. The
following extract from their treasurer's report of June 1st, 1904, is
short and concise, but it tells of much earnest effort and work. He says:
"During the last eight months the ladies have contributed $2,139.73 to the
hospital funds." Truly an amount the ladies may well be proud of. The
first patient was received at the hospital September 27th, 1903. The total
cost of charter, site, buildings and equipment was $16,645.52. The first
lady superintendent, Miss Barbara Campbell, it is gratifying to state, is
a native of the county. During her regime of a year and a half the
institution was well started on its career of usefulness.
The winter of 1903-4 was one of almost
unprecedented severity. Sleighing commenced November 18th and continued
until April 18th following. The storms were severe, blocking both roads
and the railways for days at a time. The snowfall was so deep that work in
the woods was stopped in consequence. The difficulty of getting firewood
raised its price exorbitantly. This severe winter was followed by a cool
summer, frost being experienced each month of the year.
The general elections for the Dominion House
of Commons was held November 3rd, 1904. This was the first election under
the new "Representation Act," by which Bruce was only to return two
members. Much uncertainty as to the result was felt on account of the
changes in the ridings. In North Bruce L. T. Bland (Conservative) and J.
E. Campbell (Liberal) were nominated; the former headed the poll by 107
majority In South Bruce the Liberal party nominee, P. H. McKenzie, carried
the election by a majority of 150 over the late member, J. J. Donnelly.
In the fall of 1904 a party of surveyors were
engaged in surveying the route for a branch of the Canadian Pacific
Railway from Flesherton to Teeswater or Lucknow, via Walkerton. The
following year they went over the ground again. This gave occasion to high
hopes being entertained of a railway entering the county from the east. In
1906 these hopes materialized by the commencement of construction
operations. The company promise that the line will be open for traffic to
Walkerton (the temporary terminus) by the summer of 1907.
Southampton, on the 1st January, 1905,
attained the status of a town, the fourth in the county. The first mayor
elected was Lieut.-Col. A. E. Belcher, a gentleman who has always had the
interests of the town at heart, and has been associated with it for half a
century. The general
election for the House of Assembly, which resulted in the overthrow of the
Ross Government, took place January 25th, 1905. At this election the
following gentlemen asked for the suffrages of the electors of this
county: In North Bruce, C. M. Bowman and John George; in Centre Bruce,
Hugh Clark and Andrew Malcolm, and in South Bruce, Dr. R. E. Clapp and R.
E. Truax. The first named of each of the above candidates was the one who
was elected. The
bridge over the Saugeen River near Burgoyne, known as McCalder's Bridge,
during the spring of 1905 was pronounced unfit for traffic. At its June
session the County Council concluded that true economy required the
erection of a steel bridge at this point. This it was found involved an
outlay of $9,000 or $10,000. To meet this it was resolved to issue
debentures for that amount. That the by-law might have its required
reading at the end of three months, the County Council held a special
session in October at Chesley. This was the first time this village has
been thus honored by the County Council. The meeting there was decided
upon out of compliment to the warden, William McDonald, Chesley being his
place of residence.
As the author closes his work on this History in the latter part of
October, 1906, the narrative of events for the year is necessarily
incomplete. The ranks of the politicians have lately been depleted by the
death of the member for the House of Commons for North Bruce, L. T. Bland,
who, after a long illness, died August 19th. In the by-election John
Tolmie represented the Liberal party and Abram McLellan the Conservative,
the former being the successful candidate.
Chesley, the most vigorous of the village
municipalities in the county, found during the course of the summer that
its population warranted the making of an application for its being
proclaimed a town. The application was granted, and on October 1st the
municipality was raised to the status of a town, the youngest of five in
the county. All will rejoice at the growth of the urban municipalities of
Bruce; the only regret is that our rural municipalities do not at the same
time maintain the number of their population.
With this chapter the history of the county of
Bruce as a whole, during the fifty-eight years following the entrance of
the first settler, is concluded. In other chapters will be taken up the
history of the various local municipalities, in which an effort will be
made to supply local coloring more appropriate there than in the wider
outlook of the whole county. The years covered in the first eight chapters
of this work have witnessed many changes. The solitude of an unbroken
forest has given place to the earnest life of a prosperous community
possessing every environment conducive to happiness, and surrounded with
every evidence of advanced civilization. But the strong, earnest men who
came into the county at first and helped to make it what it is, are
finding their ranks thinning out, and those remaining are grey-haired and
bent; but they have sent out a race worthy of their sires. Besides those
who remain in their native county, Bruce can claim children who were
nourished on her fertile soil, but now are scattered from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. Wherever these have roamed we find that they retain a loving
loyalty for Bruce, with its glorious woods, its fertile fields and its
grand broad lake. And well they may, for truly it was a noble heritage
that the early pioneers hewed out of the bush. All honor to their memory. |
