Chapter 4

RAILROADS AND RACE TRACKS

The roads to Somerset were muddy in the spring of 1871, so a smaller crowd than expected showed up for a public meeting on the evening of March 6, at the Temperance Hall in Somerset] At issue was the RBI Government’s proposal to build a railroad the length of the Island. With Patrick McBride as chairman and John R. Walsh as secretary those assembled debated the issue. Finally, Martin Somers pro-

posed the following resolution, seconded by John T. Murphy:

Whereas we live in a progressive age, and in order to keep pace with the times we should cheerfully em brace all modern improvements having a tendency to the welfare of the people; and whereas the agricultural pro— ducts of RE. Island, her revenues as well as her in ter- nal and commercial resources, have of la te years greatly increased; and Whereas the time has fully arrived when the requirements of the people call for a better mode of conveyance, and a quicker system of transit; Therefore Resolved that it is the opinion of this meeting that a line of Railway, connecting the principal Cities, suitably provided with Rolling Stock, with a suf— ficient number of stations and branches, would greatly tend to the prosperity of all classes within this Island. 2

That motion was rejected “almost unanimously”.3 Those

present instead voted for full public hearings on the issue In the following motion:

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Resolved that the opinion of the people of this Island, respecting the construction of a Railroad be fully and fairly ascertained by the Government, by means of public meetings, before any steps be taken thereon“

Behind this debate lay a number of vexing questions that were disturbing many Islanders. The railroad project was being proposed by a newly formed government made up of Tories, dissident Catholic Liberals and confederates, led by James C. Pope. But how could Islanders pay for a railroad? Did Mr. Pope make a secret deal with Prime Minister John A. Macdonald to bring P.E.I. into the con- federation of Canada? Would Mr. Pope give in to the de- mand of the Catholics and grant financial assistance to St. Dunstan’s College?

Mr. Pope disregarded all calls for public hearings and in April, 1871 his government approved the construction of a railroad by a vote of seventeen to eleven.5 His constituents in the Fourth District of Prince County, which included the five communities in this study, were so angry that 837 signed a petition calling on him to resign.6 In the election the following year they showed their displeasure by helping to defeat his government.7 But the problems remained. The Liberal leader, Robert Haythrone, made an agreement with the Canadian Government by which P.E.I. would join Canada, and in turn, the federal government would assume the expense of building the railroad, and provide $800,000 for the RBI. Government to buy out the remaining landlords.8 The deal was put before the people in an elec- tion in April, 1873. However, the question of support for Catholic schools also surfaced. While the Liberals refus- ed to support denominational schools, the Conservatives let it be known that if elected they might provide financial aid, at least for Catholic schools in the cities.9

Protestant leaders were alarmed and waged a heated