Part 9 (1/2)

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST SEASON OF THE NIAGARA NAVIGATION CO.--A HOT COMPEt.i.tION--STEAMBOAT MANOEUVRES.

The work of preparation had been completed and we drifted down to record the opening day of our first season. Our hats were in the ring.

A complimentary excursion to Niagara, leaving at 2.30 p.m., was given by the company on May 10th to a large list of guests, an introduction of the steamer which was much appreciated and approved.

The boat race in Toronto Bay between Hanlan and Ross on 15th May was availed of for an excursion to view the race.

We were still solving the problems on the Niagara River so our first business operation was in another direction, and it is somewhat interesting that this first trip was to Hamilton, being introduced by the following advertis.e.m.e.nt:

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

24th May, 1878

GRAND EXCURSION TO HAMILTON

Magnificent Steamer

CHICORA

Will leave Mowart's dock at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Returning will leave Hamilton at 10.15 a.m. and 6.15 p.m., calling at Ocean House, Burlington Beach, each way.

Splendid Band of the Royal Engineer's Artillery Battalion.

For the convenience of pa.s.sengers the Steamer will call at Queen's Wharf on the outward trip in the morning.

Single Return Tickets 75c. Double Return Tickets $1.00.

Barlow c.u.mberland, Agent, 35 Yonge Street.

G.o.d SAVE THE QUEEN.

The results were highly satisfactory, the public being anxious to see the steamer and interested in its progress. Another charter which was declined may be mentioned as being the establis.h.i.+ng of a principle which was not departed from. A new Roman Catholic Church had been erected at Oakville, which was to be consecrated and opened with much eclat on a Sunday. At that time there were no trains run on Sundays on the Hamilton and Toronto Branch of the Great Western Railway, and the only way by which any very large contingent from Toronto could be expected to join in the ceremonies would be by making arrangements for an excursion by water. There would have been no legal objection to this, as the rigidity of Sunday legislation had not then been introduced. The Oakville authorities made application to charter the _Chicora_, and as the President of the company was a Roman Catholic, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto strongly supported the application, they felt a.s.sured of compliance. A goodly offer was made for a trip on the Sunday afternoon from Toronto to Oakville and back. The matter was considered by the Board and it was unanimously resolved that the Chicora would not be run on Sundays. One will not say that this decision was entirely due to religious considerations, although these, no doubt, were not without weight, but it was also settled upon plain business principles.

The steamer was entering a considerable contest and would need every care.

In a compet.i.tion with two steamers we needed to have our men and the boat keyed up to the highest efficiency. This could not be done if we ran the steamer across the lake on every day of the week. The maintenance of the regularity of the steamers and the reputation of the Niagara River Line has without doubt been considerably gained by confining the running to ”week days only.” The increasing requirements for through connections, particularly from the American Railways on the south sh.o.r.e, where Sunday trains have greatly increased, may some day bring about a change.

On Sat.u.r.day, 1st June, _Chicora_ left Toronto dock at 2.30 p.m. for a first regular afternoon excursion to Niagara, and on Monday, June 3rd, began her regular double trip service leaving at 7.05 a.m. and 2.05 p.m.

As matters on the Niagara River were still in process of organization we did not at first run beyond Niagara except on Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day afternoons, when the full trip up the river to Lewiston was made.

It was very early found that the trip up the river is the main attraction to the route, giving, as it does, scenery unusual and without compare, a respite from the open lake and allowing a stroll on sh.o.r.e, either at Niagara or Lewiston, while awaiting the return journey.

From the very beginning the compet.i.tion was a whirlwind. Mr. Lunt was an adept at steamboat compet.i.tion and it was our business to go him one better, and also to have our steamer and facilities made as widely known as possible to the travelling public.

At Toronto the entrances to the two docks, alongside one another on the Esplanade, were trimmed with ”speilers,” who finally expanded up Yonge Street to Front, and even to King Street. One thing insisted on, so far as our men were concerned, was that there should be no decrying of the character or condition of the rival boats.

Our tickets were put into the hands of every Ticket Office, Broker, Insurance or Real Estate Agent in Toronto, whether up-town or down-town, who would take them in, provided one thing only, that he had an office opening on the street. Every hotel porter, with his sisters, his cousins, and his aunts, was created a friend, and the itinerant cab was just as welcome as the official bus. We were out to get business from every quarter.

The _City_ in previous years had issued a ticket at $10 to members of one family for ten round trips on any afternoon. We put a general rate on of $1.00 without any restrictions, and by gradual reductions it reached 50 cents on Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day afternoons. This was a round trip rate which had been introduced by the _Southern Belle_ in 1877 for the afternoons of Tuesday, Thursday and Sat.u.r.day on her route from York Street (Tinning's Wharf) to Niagara and return. We now extended it to Lewiston and return, giving a view of the really splendid scenery of the river which had never previously been opened at reduced rates. The public quickly took in the idea and gave us business. In addition to general business, we energetically worked up the Society and Church excursions, becoming an unpleasant thorn in the sides of those who had so summarily thrown us over and whom we were now obliged to attack. It was in this season that the Caledonian Society made their first excursion with us, a connection and comrades.h.i.+p which in all the thirty-four years has never once been interrupted.