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I'rain ONTARIO TODAY crew o run over railway Royal City, municipality in the UELFPH, Canada's is the only that has owns a railroad country And it position since the been a paving pro ¥ 16-mile line wat put into use back in 1888, 80 much s0 that have bene fitted In extent of city those 72 nearly faxpayers VEears to the three two and quarter million dollars The history of the Guelph June tion Railway is so closely associated with the business development of the city that it is an essential part of the community's history, The launching of the local rail way to connect with main line ol the CPR at Guelph forth the business Junetion enthusiasm and and brought support of the civie leaders of the community, It was conceived by a group of 10 citizens intricate respon who handled the sibility of constructing the railway, hefore the city took over the major part of financial obligations, The railway was chartered in 1884 and the roadbed and facilities were completed in 1888 to stand. ards of the Railway Act of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway which leased the line, The 99-year lease still has 27 vears to run, T the time it was built financial success was in doubt, but with expansion of the Canadian market and extension of the line [ram Guelph to Goderich on Lake Huron, with an important grain trade, the railway turned into a highly pros- perous venture, Under the lease the CPR paid to Guelph 40 per cent of total from freight, passenger, mails and sundry opera With uncanny hefore motor transport was dreamed receipiLs tions, vision, long of, there was written into the lease protection against rerouting ness that normally would be car ried on the railway, In 1910 the eity owner of the common stock of the Guelph Junetion Railway Com- pany, From an original outlay of $173,000 there had been a total of $2,679,232 dumped into the city treasury to reduce taxes at the fiscal 1960, In taxes had owned by the busi- became sole vear end in September addition paid on railway company, Despite competition annual divi dends continue to run about $45,000 per year, The greatest dividend was paid in 1921 at $85,150 while the lowest in 1909 was $19,278, The Junction Railway Beard, appointed by eity council, has re- cently completed an agreement jointly with the CPR and Cana- dian National Railway concerning operation of new lines into the 1000 acre Industrial Basin which is rapidly filling up, This new agree- ment will also benefit the city, In another agreement the local railway company, with approval of city council, approved discontinu- ance by CPR of the passenger ser- vice on the Guelph Junction line. This service had dwindled to prae- tically nothing with the use of automobiles, To compensate for this and the transfer by truck of annual been property express, SATURDAY, APRIL, 1, 1061 BY VERNE McHLWRAITH Arkell station is now deserted, Board of directors for 1961, from left, R. G, Stephens, secretary-treasurer; Ald, A. J]. Wells; Mayor Ww. E Hamilton, vice-pres, H, R. Burgess, director, and R. L. Hamill, re-elected president for fourth term. Former Mayor David E, Hastings shakes hands with Conductor R, A, Armstrong on final run, express shipments, the ¢ity is to be paid $5500 annually by the CPR for the remaining 27 years of the lease, INAL passenger run on Novem: ber 19, 1960, was an historic event with members of city council, local railway directors, city and CPR officials and many eitizens participating, Guelph can look back with grati: tude on the foresight of its business. men and councillors who guided this city-owned railway through its early days, The railway has been largely responsible for the development of the community, Industry followed its course, because proximity pro- vided ideal shipping facilities, Many of the early resident came here on this railway,