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Joggins Railway

From the Morning Herald

-- The Morning Herald --
Saturday, November 5, 1887

An Infant Railway: What the Iron Horse
Will do for the Joggins and Surrounding District

The Out-put At The Mines To Be Doubled
Developing the Agriculture, Lumber, and Mineral Industries

(Special Correspondence Halifax Herald)

MACCAN, November 3, 1887- The opening of the Joggins Railway was one of the brightest points in the history of Cumberland, grit and tory alike combining to make the event one to be remembered in the history of this staunch old conservative stronghold. When No.1 I.C.R. train arrived at Maccan station with Cumberland’s honored son on board, a hearty welcome was tendered him by the directorate of the new road over which he was to take the first official ride. Contractor J.C. Brown had been flying around all the morning making arrangements so as to have everything in good working order, and President Crookshanks, Vice-President Hibbard with Secretary-treasurer Milner, spared no pains to make the excursion a success.

You have already the names of those who accompanied the party and it is needless to say that a most enjoyable trip was made. The Joggins Railway Company have as a directorate the gentlemen I have referred to above, with Mr .Jardine of St. John and a great deal of credit attaches to them for the enterprise manifested in this connection. President Crookshanks is untiring in his efforts to bring things to a successful conclusion. Vice-president Hibbard is an out and out progressist, while Milner has gained enough experience in making a paper pay to entitle him to a diploma as a financier. Contractor J.C. Brown is a lively man, works like an electric machine and is as full of sparks as a ten ton dynamo under full speed.

The new train reflects great credit on the St. John firms who turned the work out. The engine, first and second combination cars and rest of the rolling stock was greatly admired by all hands. The cars were specially designed by Mr. Milner and are most substantially and comfortably built. The pasenger car is finished in ash and birds eye maple, seats 20 first class and 35 second, and has a large baggage compartment in the centre. The locomotive is said to be one of the best in use on maritime province railways.

The ride over the thirteen miles of track is not as easy as might be, but the grading is excellent, and when ballasting is completed the road bed will be second to none in Nova Scotia. The trestle work, constructed under the supervision of D.W. Brown, C.E. and foreman C.W. Betts was pronounced by Provincial Engineer Murphy the best he had ever seen, and Sir Charles expressed himself as highly pleased with the work on Little River trestle, 300 feet long and about 25 feet high. Another is Lawrence Mine about 180 feet long, equally well built. The bridge at River Hebert is a Howe truss,125 foot span, built by D.W. Brown C.E. and foreman J.K. MacKenzie. The rails are 65 pound standard and are pronounced first class by the provincial engineer.

Up to the present time the company have not drawn a cent of subsidy from either government excepting the rails charged to the account of the Dominion grant. At River Hebert the company have an excellent gravel pit one and a quarter miles up the river, and the I.C.R. people are inspecting it with a view of using it on their road. The River Hebert people at the head of the tide are clamoring for the extension of this gravel pit branch as far as Young’s mills and the company have serious intentions of applying for the necessary subsidies to enable them to enact this claim on their capabilities. Then there is the Minudie Branch of six miles, making in all 21 miles when completed.

The carriage of freight has commenced and coal will soon be brought out and the regular time table will take effect Dec.1st when passenger trains will run on schedule time. A line of telephone of a superior character is being connected, the poles being selected cedar. Engine sheds, turn tables, and station houses are nearing completion and the public and confidently look forward to an excellent service at the hands of the Joggins Railway Company.

Engine No.2 will be here in a day or two and rolling stock is to be added as required. Very great enlargements on the station grounds at Maccan are an imperative necessity, demonstrated beyond a doubt on Thursday as Sir Charles and the first train were detained here upwards of two hours letting special trains pass and repass.

The ultimate effects of the opening of this Nova Scotia’s infant railway are not hard to determine, and it is safe to say that five years will witness a marked improvement in the whole district. As a forerunner the Phoenix Company (late mining association) will during the next three weeks double their coal cutters, the number of whom is 65 at present. The Lawson, Hibbard, Cumberland, Patrick, Lawrence and Amherst mines are preparing to largely increase their output and a general feeling of buoyancy prevails among the people.

If the branch to River Hebert mills is laid down, it will bring over 14,000,000 feet of lumber on to road for shipment. The great grindstone quarries at Minudie will have an opportunity to ship at all seasons and the great hay growing district will have an excellent market opened up for their hay. Not among the least benefits the Joggins Railway will bring in its train is the shortening of the distance between Apple River and Advocate to the I.C.R. Instead of people traveling over 50 miles over the worst road in Nova Scotia, then 30 miles by rail to Spring Hill junction, they can by driving 23 miles take the Joggins Railway trains and 13 miles brings them to Maccan, only 9 miles from Spring Hill junction, or 45 miles via the Joggins as compared to 80 as at present, a still farther saving of 9 miles if Amherst is the objective point. The only regrettable feature from a Nova Scotia stand point is the fact that the capitol invested is nearly all New Brunswick while Nova Scotians keep howling about hard times. All the coal and lumbermen are enthusiastic in their praises of all connected with the road.

Miscellaneous Notes:

The Presbyterians of River Hebert are building a magnificent new church near the railway which will be a credit to the denomination in general and the congregation in particular.

BB Barnhill is doing a large lumber business at Two Rivers and ranks high as a man of sterling worth and intelligence amongst those with whom he comes in daily contact.

Provincial Engineer Murphy and TR Black MPP were at Sir Charles River Hebert meeting.

The loading ground for the shipment of deals etc. at Grindstone Island off the Joggins said to be the best in the Bay of Fundy being perfectly safe at all times A large barque rode through the celebrated Saxby Gale there. Shipment of lumber by the Joggins railway could be cheaper than any other way, two large factors in making charters for lumber freights.

The people around River Hebert have a comfortable, healthy, well rounded appearance and apparently little to trouble them as the ladies young and old look remarkably well preserved and the men evidently are at peace with all mankind.

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