Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Ocean Ocean: Sandford Fleming's Expidition Through Canada in 1872
George M. Grant
1873
This is a diary written by George Grant as he accompanied Sanford Fleming from Halifax to Victoria in 1972 as they surveyed potential railway routes.
In 1872 George Grant, Anglican minister and later Principal of Queen's University, crossed the country. His companion, in fact leader, was Sandford Fleming, engineer in chief to the building of the transcontinental railway. The railway was then no more than a promise from the mouth of Sir John A. MacDonald, but a promise MacDonald was determined to see through. Fleming, renown as a brilliant engineer (not yet renown for inventing standard time), was charged with choosing which route the railway would take. Never one to make decisions without full study, Fleming set out to see the most likely route for himself. Grant accompanied as official expedition secretary. His notes were published soon after in a book titled Ocean to Ocean. Rarely is the book mentioned as an essential Canadian read, but essential it is. The book played a minor part in opening up the imagination of Canadians to the potential of western Canada for settlement and the possible realization of the railway dream.
At the time, it was something of a feat to cross the entire country. Their travel was difficult. Trains, ships, horses, carts, and canoes were combined with much walking to take these men from Halifax to Victoria. Hard days and nights were endured by the party as they pushed west. The result of all their work, and many many others, was the railroad. Retracing their steps today, along the railroad, is a simple luxury. A ride from Toronto to Vancouver (Grant actualy started in Halifax, but begins the narrative mainly in Toronto writing: "From Moncton, westward, there is much along the line worthy of description... it will be sufficient for our purposes to begin at Toronto.") on Via Rail's flagship The Canadian is an experience in comfort that was all too lacking from Grant's journey (Grant also had only one arm, which, it can be supposed, added to the toil). I took this book with me when I rode the Canadian this summer with some friends. Riding this train while reading Grant's published account of the journey is to immerse oneself deep into the mythology of Canada. It is impossible not to read the book and want to take stock of where we are now. It is impossible not to ride the train and feel the building of the railway irrectractibly tied to the building of the country.
Grant makes it clear in the book that they are aware their not just building a railroad. He is expicilt in stating that the full intention of the trains is to bind together a scattered country. Canada at the time was little more than a smattering of geometric shapes across the map. There was little common purpose early Canadians could find. Rarely did they come into contact with one another and never did they consider themselves countrymen with those in settlements thousands of miles away. Grant knew all this and saw the need for change if the country was going to survive. After only two years of existence Canada had already faced a threat to its unity. It had to, Grant was sure, stand together if it was to make it longer than a mere two years. He, as did others, saw the railway as a key, if not the key, method to building this unity. He knew that the wide open lands needed to be settled and the vastness of the country become familiar to all. In his book he sets right to bringing this familiarity. Amidst the descriptions of treacherous lake crossing, or perilous mountain passes, much of his writing is spent on describing the quality of agricultural land and the possibility for settlement in various parts of the country. In most of these descriptions he is enthusiastic and excited, knowing full well that his attitude will be influential to those he hopes will move to settle.
Grant spends more then a few words on lamenting the fate of the native bands through whose territory the railroad will pass. He understands precinctly how serious and real a death knell is the railway to the traditional hunting life of the plains tribes. He views the westward progress as inevitable and often glorious, but is markedly saddened that the pushing aside of entire cultures.
It is Grant's story. Fleming led the mission and was the political heavyweight upon who's summative report many decisions would lie. But, Grant is the one that colours the narrative with impassioned pleas for a united country. Sitting in the last car of The Canadian, moving westaward out of Winnipeg is a good time to take stock of how far we've come. How pleased Grant would be with it all. He was so optimistic, so hopeful, and he wanted Canada to work so much. It has worked, and is working, a ride on the train is testament to that. Our 142 year old Dominion has survived and will so continue. United we are and to men like Grant we owe much. The unity that was set out to be created some hundred and forty years ago has done us well and seen us through much. Looking back on it all, were he here today, one cannot help but think that Grant would be right pleased with the results of all his work. (Grant is not to be confused with grandson George Grant, author of Lament for a Nation. The younger Grant is sometimes credited with being a founding promoter of Canadian nationalism. Grandson founded much, but grandfather was new the importance of it long before it existed here. It might be noted that later descendant, Etobicoke-Lakeshore MP Michael Ignatieff is carrying on the family tradition in his own way.)
Our history is shared, and we know it. Much of the time on the train is spent talking. And much of the talk with people from all far reaches of Canada is common and familiar. Housing prices are a popular topic, as is the majesty of Canada's wilderness. Griping about Toronto is also pretty popular. There is familiarity between everyone in the country, and regional differences do little to diminish a real and felt common bind. Whether in Sudbury, Winnipeg, Jasper, or the wilds of BC a conversation with locals would inevitably turn to common and shared topics.
Riding the train is a tribute to the men who planned and built the railway to be aware of what they have given us. The death rate among workers was very high. The determination of the men who pushed the railway through is still legendary. It is a tribute to these men to use their railway and to remember them while riding it is to honour them.
George M. Grant
1873
This is a diary written by George Grant as he accompanied Sanford Fleming from Halifax to Victoria in 1972 as they surveyed potential railway routes.
In 1872 George Grant, Anglican minister and later Principal of Queen's University, crossed the country. His companion, in fact leader, was Sandford Fleming, engineer in chief to the building of the transcontinental railway. The railway was then no more than a promise from the mouth of Sir John A. MacDonald, but a promise MacDonald was determined to see through. Fleming, renown as a brilliant engineer (not yet renown for inventing standard time), was charged with choosing which route the railway would take. Never one to make decisions without full study, Fleming set out to see the most likely route for himself. Grant accompanied as official expedition secretary. His notes were published soon after in a book titled Ocean to Ocean. Rarely is the book mentioned as an essential Canadian read, but essential it is. The book played a minor part in opening up the imagination of Canadians to the potential of western Canada for settlement and the possible realization of the railway dream.
At the time, it was something of a feat to cross the entire country. Their travel was difficult. Trains, ships, horses, carts, and canoes were combined with much walking to take these men from Halifax to Victoria. Hard days and nights were endured by the party as they pushed west. The result of all their work, and many many others, was the railroad. Retracing their steps today, along the railroad, is a simple luxury. A ride from Toronto to Vancouver (Grant actualy started in Halifax, but begins the narrative mainly in Toronto writing: "From Moncton, westward, there is much along the line worthy of description... it will be sufficient for our purposes to begin at Toronto.") on Via Rail's flagship The Canadian is an experience in comfort that was all too lacking from Grant's journey (Grant also had only one arm, which, it can be supposed, added to the toil). I took this book with me when I rode the Canadian this summer with some friends. Riding this train while reading Grant's published account of the journey is to immerse oneself deep into the mythology of Canada. It is impossible not to read the book and want to take stock of where we are now. It is impossible not to ride the train and feel the building of the railway irrectractibly tied to the building of the country.
Grant makes it clear in the book that they are aware their not just building a railroad. He is expicilt in stating that the full intention of the trains is to bind together a scattered country. Canada at the time was little more than a smattering of geometric shapes across the map. There was little common purpose early Canadians could find. Rarely did they come into contact with one another and never did they consider themselves countrymen with those in settlements thousands of miles away. Grant knew all this and saw the need for change if the country was going to survive. After only two years of existence Canada had already faced a threat to its unity. It had to, Grant was sure, stand together if it was to make it longer than a mere two years. He, as did others, saw the railway as a key, if not the key, method to building this unity. He knew that the wide open lands needed to be settled and the vastness of the country become familiar to all. In his book he sets right to bringing this familiarity. Amidst the descriptions of treacherous lake crossing, or perilous mountain passes, much of his writing is spent on describing the quality of agricultural land and the possibility for settlement in various parts of the country. In most of these descriptions he is enthusiastic and excited, knowing full well that his attitude will be influential to those he hopes will move to settle.
Grant spends more then a few words on lamenting the fate of the native bands through whose territory the railroad will pass. He understands precinctly how serious and real a death knell is the railway to the traditional hunting life of the plains tribes. He views the westward progress as inevitable and often glorious, but is markedly saddened that the pushing aside of entire cultures.
It is Grant's story. Fleming led the mission and was the political heavyweight upon who's summative report many decisions would lie. But, Grant is the one that colours the narrative with impassioned pleas for a united country. Sitting in the last car of The Canadian, moving westaward out of Winnipeg is a good time to take stock of how far we've come. How pleased Grant would be with it all. He was so optimistic, so hopeful, and he wanted Canada to work so much. It has worked, and is working, a ride on the train is testament to that. Our 142 year old Dominion has survived and will so continue. United we are and to men like Grant we owe much. The unity that was set out to be created some hundred and forty years ago has done us well and seen us through much. Looking back on it all, were he here today, one cannot help but think that Grant would be right pleased with the results of all his work. (Grant is not to be confused with grandson George Grant, author of Lament for a Nation. The younger Grant is sometimes credited with being a founding promoter of Canadian nationalism. Grandson founded much, but grandfather was new the importance of it long before it existed here. It might be noted that later descendant, Etobicoke-Lakeshore MP Michael Ignatieff is carrying on the family tradition in his own way.)
Our history is shared, and we know it. Much of the time on the train is spent talking. And much of the talk with people from all far reaches of Canada is common and familiar. Housing prices are a popular topic, as is the majesty of Canada's wilderness. Griping about Toronto is also pretty popular. There is familiarity between everyone in the country, and regional differences do little to diminish a real and felt common bind. Whether in Sudbury, Winnipeg, Jasper, or the wilds of BC a conversation with locals would inevitably turn to common and shared topics.
Riding the train is a tribute to the men who planned and built the railway to be aware of what they have given us. The death rate among workers was very high. The determination of the men who pushed the railway through is still legendary. It is a tribute to these men to use their railway and to remember them while riding it is to honour them.
# posted by mz @ 2:14 PM 
