CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY oper ates a railway extending across Canada from Halifax on the Atlantic coast to Vancouver and Victoria on the Pacific, and by a network of branch lines reaches practically every town and city in the Dominion. By its own Atlantic and Pacific fleets it pro vides under one management a direct artery of communication between Europe and Asia.
Built to unite the scattered provinces of Canada into an eco nomic, as well as a political confederation, it also established British dominion over the Canadian North-west when the future of that country was in some doubt. A Government attempt to build the road failed ignominiously. A private syndicate headed by Lord Mount Stephen, first president, Sir William Van Horne, Lord Strathcona and others was given ten years in which to build it. In the face of tremendous physical and financial difficulty, and great opposition, the main line from Montreal to the Pacific was finished in five years, the last spike being driven on Nov. 7, 1885. Settlement of Canada's west by the company followed. Mileage of lines owned, leased and operated in Canada is 17,288.9; lines controlled and separately operated in Canada 69.6, and United States 3,875.6, a total of 21,234.1; passenger and freight liners on the Atlantic 14 ; on the Pacific 4 ; coastal, lake and river steamships 40 ; hotels owned and operated 15; bungalow camps 24. It also operates a telegraph and cable company and an ex press company, covering every important point in the world. The company builds most of its own rolling stock and engines. Total investment in property at December 31, 1935 was Capitalization : ordinary capital stock authorized $500,000,000; issued $335,000,000; preference $137,256,921; 4% debenture stock $291,411,548; funded debt $207,980,700. The head office is in Montreal. (E. W. B.)