Reid Newfoundland Company
Encyclopedia
The Reid Newfoundland Company was incorporated in September 1901 and was the operator of the Newfoundland Railway
across the island from 1901 to 1923. For a time it was the largest landowner in the country
. The company was founded by Sir Robert Gillespie Reid
of Scotland
, a businessman who had interests in the development of the Pulp and Paper
industry and mining industry. The company was also the owner and operator of the coastal boat service, known as the Alphabet Fleet
, the telegraph line and the electrical service in St. John's
.
wanted to build a railway line from Whitbourne
to Halls Bay
at $15,600 per mile. Bothe Reid and George H. Middleton
had contracted to build it but Middleton had pulled out in 1892. To ensure the line was going to be completed to Port aux Basques, Reid had negotiated with the Newfoundland Government to operate the railway for 10 years. As a condition of operating the Railway, he was to be compensated with 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of Crown Land per mile operated. Whereas forested land was much more valuable to Reid, if the area along the line was barren or boggy, he was allowed to select other land of his choosing.
In 1896 the company established the St. John's Street Railway Company
and given permission to build the Petty Harbour Hydro Plant
to supply power to it.
In 1896 he had negotiated another contract called the Railway Contract of 1896 to build the railway from Whitbourne to Harbour Grace which gave him ownership of the entire railway (including the line to Harbour Grace) for 50 years and again 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land for every mile built. All total his land holdings were in excess of 6500 square miles (16,834.9 km²) of forested land. The contract also allowed Reid to purchase the St. John's dry-dock from the government for $325,000.
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
across the island from 1901 to 1923. For a time it was the largest landowner in the country
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
. The company was founded by Sir Robert Gillespie Reid
Robert Gillespie Reid
Sir Robert Gillespie Reid was a Scottish railway contractor most famous for building large railway bridges in Canada and the United States...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, a businessman who had interests in the development of the Pulp and Paper
Pulp and Paper
Pulp and Paper is the name of the largest United States-based trade magazine for the pulp and paper industry. See also: Paper engineering, Pulp and Paper Merit Badge...
industry and mining industry. The company was also the owner and operator of the coastal boat service, known as the Alphabet Fleet
Alphabet Fleet
The Alphabet Fleet was a fleet of vessels owned and operated by the Reid Newfoundland Company as part of the provisioning of the 1898 Railway contract between the Dominion of Newfoundland and the Reid Newfoundland Company...
, the telegraph line and the electrical service in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
.
Beginnings
The company had its beginnings in 1890 when the Newfoundland Government under William WhitewayWilliam Whiteway
Sir William Vallance Whiteway, QC KCMG was a politician and three time Premier of Newfoundland. Born in England, Whiteway emigrated to the island in 1843 and entered the law in 1852. In 1859 he was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Conservative Party of Newfoundland and became a...
wanted to build a railway line from Whitbourne
Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador
Whitbourne is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Division No. 1.Whitbourne, Newfoundland’s first inland town, is named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, one of the most colourful early settlers of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador who wrote a book about...
to Halls Bay
Halls Bay
Halls Bay is a natural bay located near the Baie Verte Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
at $15,600 per mile. Bothe Reid and George H. Middleton
George H. Middleton
George H. Middleton engineer, who had worked on as a sub-contractor of the Canadian Pacific Railway and partner to Robert G. Reid in the building of the Newfoundland Railway....
had contracted to build it but Middleton had pulled out in 1892. To ensure the line was going to be completed to Port aux Basques, Reid had negotiated with the Newfoundland Government to operate the railway for 10 years. As a condition of operating the Railway, he was to be compensated with 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of Crown Land per mile operated. Whereas forested land was much more valuable to Reid, if the area along the line was barren or boggy, he was allowed to select other land of his choosing.
In 1896 the company established the St. John's Street Railway Company
St. John's Street Railway Company
The St. John's Street Railway Company was formed by Robert G. Reid in 1896 to build an electrical railway in St. John's to provide urban transportation using street cars....
and given permission to build the Petty Harbour Hydro Plant
Petty Harbour Generating Station
The Petty Harbour Hydro Electric Generating Station which began construction in 1898 was the first hydroelectric generating station in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was built by the St. John's Street Railway Company, a company established by Robert Reid. Operation commenced on April 19, 1900.In...
to supply power to it.
In 1896 he had negotiated another contract called the Railway Contract of 1896 to build the railway from Whitbourne to Harbour Grace which gave him ownership of the entire railway (including the line to Harbour Grace) for 50 years and again 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land for every mile built. All total his land holdings were in excess of 6500 square miles (16,834.9 km²) of forested land. The contract also allowed Reid to purchase the St. John's dry-dock from the government for $325,000.