Period 1903 – 1906

Period 1903 – 1906 for South-western Canada

• 1903
  Copper 13.235¢/lb., Silver 53.45¢/oz., Gold $20/oz.
• 1903
  Federal political: Head tax on Chinese immigrants entering Canada raised to $500.
• 1903
  Wynndel, BC: The Alice Broughton Mining Company took over the Alice mine nearby and John Hampson plans to build a concentrator and hang an aerial tram. Guy Constable, mgr.
• 1903
  Canada: The Geographic Board of Canada changed name of Crownest to “Crowsnest.”
• 1903
  Grand Forks, B.C.: Reformer Martin Burrel elected mayor.
• 1903
  District of Alberta, N-WT: Wm. Roper Hull acquires the Oxley Ranche near Claresholm.
• 1903
  Crowsnest Pass, N-WT.: International Coal and Coke Company of Washington buys the Dennison property. Development begins in October.
• 1903
  Christina Lake, B.C.: Ole Johnson buys Eli LaValley’s hotel.
• 1903
  District of Alberta, N-WT: John Breckenridge buys the mineral rights to a half-section of land at what would become Lundbreck. He and Peter Lund form the Lund and Breckenridge Coal Company. Capitalized to $500,000.
• 1903
  Cardston, N-WT: St. Mary’s River Railway built in.
• 1903
  B.C.: Archibald Kenneth Leitch, his brother, Malcolm, and Chas. Duncan McNab formed East Kootenay Lumber by merging Cranbrook Lumber, McNab Lumber and Park Mitchell Lumber. Mill built near Jaffray.
• 1903
  Jaffray, BC.: School opens. Miss Johnson.
• 1903
  Marysville, B.C.: The Marysville Hotel burns.
• 1903
  Marysville, B.C.: Jack McDonald opens the Central Hotel.
• 1903
  Marysville, B.C.: School opens. Miss O.P. Van Allen.
• 1903
  Marysville, B.C.: L.S. Austin “completes” the Sullivan Group’ smelter.
• 1903
  Anaconda, B.C.: B.C. Copper completes it smoke stack—121 feet high by 12 feet inside diameter.
• 1903
  Pilot Bay, B.C.: Davies-Sayward saw mill shut down.
• 1903
  District of Alberta, N-WT: William Francis (Billy) Cochrane imports the first horseless carriage.
• 1903
  Hedley, BC: Hedley Gold Mines, Limited, completes its tramway on Nickel Plate Mountain.
• 1903
  Camp McKinney, BC: Cariboo-McKinney Gold Mining and Milling Company, Limited ceases mining.
• 1903
  Billings, BC: Pete and Joe Genelle set up the Boundary Lumber Company on the Kettle River near Christina Lake, BC.
• 1903
  American Smelting and Refining Company buys out Puget Sound Reduction Company’s Everett, Washington, smelter.
• 1903
  Creston, B.C.: A second sawmill established.
• 1903
  Hazell, N-WT: E.G. Hazell bought an existing lime-burning operation and created Summit Lime Works.
• 1903
  Lumberton, BC.: A.E. Watts set up his lumbering operation at what he wanted to call “Wattsburg.” CPR refused to build a station after a row with Watts.
• 1903
  W.H. Merritt prevails upon the B.C. government to revive the charter of the Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Coal and Railway Company and empower it to build up the Nicola River from Spences Bridge on the CPR.
• 1903
  Ymir Gold Mines, Limited, acquires the Ymir mine from its parent, the London and B.C. Goldfields, Ltd.
• 1903
  Rossland Power Company builds a water-process ore concentration plant at the Trail, BC, smelter.
• 1903
  Salmo, BC: Kootenay Shingle Company begins operations.
• 1903
  CP bought Fairview property east of Nelson, BC, and moved its Cottonwood Bay shipyards thither.
• 1903
  Michel, BC: Savaged again by fire.
• 1903
  Pincher Creek, N-WT: Memorable flood.
• 1903
  Macleod, N-WT: Queen’s Hotel completed.
• 1903 Early
  Kettle River Valley Railway reorganized as the Kettle Valley Lines.
• 1903 Early
  M.K. Rodgers and the Marcus Daly Estate organize the Daly Reduction Company to build and operated the Nickel Plate’s concentration mill at Hedley, BC.
• 1903 Jan. 4
  The Great Northern buys the Great Falls and Canada line from its subsidiary, the Montana and Great Northern.
• 1903 Jan. 13
  Reverend Henry “Father Pat” Irwin of Rossland and Fairview died in Montréal.
• 1903 February
  N-WT: Frank & Grassy Mountain Railway completed.
• 1903 February
  Grand Forks, BC: The Betts and Hesperus Mining Company acquire the Betts and Hesperus Group of properties on Hardy Mountain.
• 1903 February
  Raymond, N-WT: Knight Sugar Factory complete.
• 1903 Feb. 11
  B.C.: WFM members strike CNP Coal. The deputy federal Minister of Labour, W.L.M. King, sent to mediate.
• 1903 Mar. 3 & 4
  Brandon, Man.: First meeting of the Manitoba Grain Growers Association consolidated.
• 1903 Apr. 1
  B.C.: WFM ends strike against CNP Coal.
• 1903 Apr. 2
  N-WT: Western Canada Collieries incorporated.
• 1903 Apr. 27
  Standard Pyritic Smelting Company, having sold its Boundary Falls smelter to the Montreal and Boston Copper Company, votes itself into extinction.
• 1903 Apr. 29
  Frank, N-WT: 4:10 a.m.: Turtle Mountain buries the eastern part of town. More than 70 people die.
• 1903 May
  Fernie, B.C.: The Fernie local abandons the WFM for the United Mine Workers of America.
• 1903 May 1
  Morrissey, B.C.: First residential lots put up for sale on the townsite.
• 1903 May 5
  B.C.: Cokers strike CNP Coal: to June 12.
• 1903 May 8
  Miners in the Territorial reach of the Crowsnest pass vote to leave the Western Federation of Miners and join the United Mine Workers of America, District 18/5.
• 1903 May 11
  CNP Coal incorporates the Morrissey, Fernie and Michel Railway Company.
• 1903 May 24
  Cowley, N-WT: First polo gymkhana.
• 1903 June
  Hedley, B.C.: Post Office opens a bureau.
• 1903 June 1
  B.C. political: E.G. Prior dismissed as premier for conflict of interest by lt.-governor. Richard McBride succeeds as Conservative premier. (to December 15, 1915).
• 1903 June 1
  J.F. Rogers commences stage service in south-central B.C.—Greenwood-Phœnix-Grand Forks.
• 1903 Jun. 3
  West Canadian Collieries incorporated in Great Britain.
• 1903 June 12
  Cokers ends their strike against CNP Coal.
• 1903 June 18
  John Moore Robinson forms the Summerland Development Company with T.G. Shaughnessy as the major shareholder.
• 1903 July 1
  The City of Columbia and the City of Grand Forks amalgamate under the latter’s name.
• 1903 July 2
  Federal government passed bill guaranteeing repayment of bonds issued by Canadian Northern to build its mainline.
• 1903 July 29
  Grand Trunk Railway directors sign agreement with Ottawa to build Winnipeg–Prince Rupert leg of the National Transcontinental Railway and to run the entire line when finished. Ottawa to complete Moncton to Winnipeg leg.
• 1903 July, end
  CPR buys the Calgary and Edmonton Railway.
• 1903 Aug. 6
  Outburst in Morrissey No. 1. No fatalities.
• 1903 Aug. 12
  Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane dies at Compton, Québec.
• 1903 September
  Hedley, BC.: School classes commence in Grace Methodist.
• 1903 Sep. 19
  The townsite of Coleman, N-WT, dedicated.
• 1903 Sep. 20
  John Hanbury leases timber berth on Kikomun doab. Incorporates North Star Lumber Co. and builds a sawmill at “Hanbury” near Jaffray, B.C., another at Cranbrook, and a planer mill at Elko, BC.
• 1903 Sep. 23
  CNP Coal’s unionized workforce at Morrissey and Michel joined the Fernie miners in the UMWA as District 18.
• 1903 Autumn
  G.E. Henderson, D.S. Gruther, and J.M. Zeller buy J.C. Hooker’s property on the Bull River and incorporate the Bull River Electric Light and Power Company; Henderson, president.
• 1903 Oct. 3
  B.C. political: Richard McBride returned as the Conservative premier of B.C.
• 1903 Oct. 14
  Outburst in Morrissey No. 1. Four dead.
• 1903 Oct. 19
  Canadian delegation refuses to sign the decision of the Alaska Boundary Commission.
• 1903 Oct. 22
  Coleman, N-WT.: town building lots offered for sale by International C&C.
• 1903 Nov. 5
  Grand Forks, BC: Granby Consolidated blows in furnace No. 5.
• 1903 Nov. 6
  Grand Forks, BC: Granby Consolidated blows in furnace No. 6.
• 1903 Nov. 9
  Fernie, B.C.: United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) encharter District 18 encompassing much of western Canada. F.H. Sherman elected president.
• 1903 December
  Snowshoe Gold and Copper Mines, Limited, propose an amalgamation with the Montreal and Boston Copper Company. Fell through when M&B suspends operations.
• 1903 December
  The Montreal and Boston Copper Company suspends operations at its Boundary Falls smelter.
• 1903 December
  Western Oil and Coal Company sunk three wells in Seepage Creek in the Waterton area of the N-WT. Failed.
• 1903 Dec. 1
  International: Alaska Boundary Award.
• 1903 Dec. 5
  Hedley, B.C.: Electricity generation begins.
• 1904
  B.C.: CP acquires Midway and Vernon Railway.
• 1904
  B.C.: CPR acquires the Kootenay Central Railway.
• 1904
  Morrissey, BC: MF&M buys the Morrissey spur from CP.
• 1904
  District of Alberta, N-WT: St. Mary’s River Railway extends a branch from Raley to Kimball.
• 1904
  District of Alberta, N-WT: The Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company (AR&I) extends its St. Mary’s River Railway line of narrow-gauged railroad from Raymond to Cardston.
• 1904
  District of Alberta, N-WT: CPR decides to eliminate St. Mary’s River / Kainai Reserve loop.
• 1904
  District of Alberta, N-WT: Department of the Interior buys 1800 acres on the Belly River as a quarantine station. (see March, 1904) Completed in 1905 and Dr. Seymour Hadwen appointed chief.
• 1904
  District of Alberta, N-WT: Royal Collieries opens the Riverview mine near Lethbridge.
• 1904
  Lethbridge, N-WT: New traffic bridge on the Macleod Trail opened.
• 1904
  B.C.: Kettle Valley Lines obtains an amendment to its charter enabling it to build up the Granby River and across to connect to CP’s proposed Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Coal and Railway Company tracks near Merritt.
• 1904
  Kimberley, B.C.: Federal Mining Company of Spokane buys Sullivan Group Mining Company and rebuilds the Marysville, BC, smelter, up-grades the Sullivan mine.
• 1904
  B.C.: “Sunset” Brown leases his properties on Copper Mountain to others.
• 1904
  Grand Forks, B.C.: Granby Consolidated blows in Bessemerizing converting furnace at smelter.
• 1904
  Wardner, B.C.: Peter Lund builds his mansion and begins experimental farm.
• 1904
  Keremeos, B.C.: Kirby’s store in “Old Town” burns.
• 1904
  Federal political: DIA begins to apply pressure on Piikani to sell off their “excess” reserve lands. Resistance.
• 1904
  Vancouver, B.C.: Western Oil Company formed to buy Wm. Aldridge’s oil play in the Waterton area of N-WT.
• 1904
  The Montreal and Boston Copper Company reorganized as the Montreal and Boston Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company, Limited. Buys Dominion Copper’s mining charter.
• 1904
  Moyie, B.C.: St. Eugene’s Mission builds R.C. church.
• 1904
  Kimberley, B.C.: North Star mine failing.
• 1904
  Cranbrook, B.C.: Valentine Hyde Baker is the first in the community to acquire an automobile.
• 1904
  Nelson, B.C.: Hall Mining and Smelting adds a Merton roasting furnace to its process.
• 1904
  Anaconda, B.C.: B.C. Copper installs a Bessemer converter to refine “matte” to “blister.”
• 1904
  B.C.: North American Land and Lumber Company buys Cedar Valley Company in the Elk River valley.
• 1904
  B.C.: The Imperial Coal Company and the Elk River Coal and Oil Company explore and file 124 claims on properties in the Elk River’s upper basin. Claims allowed to lapse in 1909.
• 1904
  Sparwood Siding, B.C.: School built for the children of North American Land and Lumber Company workers.
• 1904
  B.C.: CPR renames Waterloo near Castlegar “Kinnaird.”
• 1904
  Pincher Creek, N-WT.: Father Albert Lacombe settles in town to complete his English/Blackfoot dictionary.
• 1904
  Cowley, N-WT.: Alberta Hotel opened for business.
• 1904
  Federal: RN-WMP inform the DIA that the Police would no longer support the “pass system.” The System persisted, however.
• 1904
  Bellevue, N-WT.: West Canadian Collieries begins production from its Bellevue mine.
• 1904
  Coleman, N-WT.: incorporated as a Village. RN-WMP builds a barracks, International Coal and Coke raises its office, St. Alban’s Anglican Mission Hall completed.
• 1904
  Frank, N-WT.: Canadian-American Coal & Coke lays out new townsite.
• 1904 January
  The Volcanic Mining Company bought R.A. Brown’s Volcanic mine near Granby, BC, renaming it Volcano.
• 1904 January
  Pincher Creek, N-WT.: Two sisters of “Les Filles de Jesus” arrive to teach. Ker Maria Convent completed for them later that year.
• 1904 Jan. 1
  Vernon, B.C.: Actual ‘work’ begins on Midway & Vernon Railway. Quarter mile of grade completed in several years of 2-man labour.
• 1904 Jan. 4
  Michel, B.C.: Friday at 1:25 pm. Explosion kills seven at Michel Mine.
• 1904 Jan. 8
  CP leases the C&E for 999 years.
• 1904 Jan. 14
  Kuskonook, B.C.: Last train arrives over the B&N.
• 1904 Jan. 15
  Federal political: Honourable H.R. Emmerson appointed Minister of Railways and Canals.
• 1904 March
  WA: D.C. Corbin oversees the dissolution of the Spokane and Kootenai Railway Company.
• 1904 March
  N-WT: Dourine reported on McCaugherty ranch on the Belly River.
• 1904 Mar. 19
  N-WT: Crichton family incorporate Lethbridge Iron Works Company, Limited.
• 1904 Spring
  Hedley, BC.: The Daly Reduction Company completes the Nickel Plate’s concentration mill.
• 1904 Spring
  East Kootenays, B.C.: J.M. Zeller and George Henderson assess power generating potential of local streams.
• 1904 April
  Moyie, B.C.: St. Eugene mine re-opened.
• 1904 Apr. 2
  North-West Territories: A.E. Forget re-appointed as lieutenant-governor.
• 1904 Apr. 29
  Fernie, B.C.: Six blocks of downtown burn in the first “Great Fire.”
• 1904 May
  B.C.: The provincial government offices were moved from Ft. Steele to Cranbrook.
• 1904 May
  Fernie, B.C.: The Wriglesworth and Bullock Co. began operations.
• 1904 May 1
  Coleman, N-WT.: Poastal bureau opened.
• 1904 May 4
  Hedley, B.C.: The Daly Reduction Company begins testing the Nickel Plate’s 200 ton-per-day concentration mill.
• 1904 May 27
  Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Incorporation Bill passed in Ottawa. Incorporated federally to build western leg of the National Transcontinental Railway, to be finished by December 1, 1911.
• 1904 June
  B.C. Copper buys William Mackenzie’s and Donald Mann’s interest in the Emma on Phœnis Mountain, BC.
• 1904 June 6
  Federal: 4 Edward VII Chapter 43, “An Act to incorporate the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company, … ” receives royal assent. Amalgamates the AR&C, the CN-wI, and the St.MRR. Inaugurated Oct. 4.
• 1904 June 13
  B.C.: The lighthouse on Pilot Bay on Kootenay Lake lit.
• 1904 June 24
  Federal: The title “Royal” conferred upon the N-WMP in the Coronation Honours List of Edward VII Wettin, King of England.
• 1904 July 18
  Marysville, B.C.: J. Drew opens the Royal Hotel.
• 1904 July 23
  B.C.: Provincial government completes the bridge across Fraser at Liverpool (New Westminster) giving J.J. Hill’s New Westminster and Southern access to Vancouver.
• 1904 July 28
  Fernie, B.C.: incorporated as a City.
• 1904 August
  Michel, B.C.: Two-room school opened.
• 1904 Aug. 6
  MT: Re-alignment of GN mainline in Montana completed between Whitefish and Jennings through Rexford eliminates Haskell Pass.
• 1904 Aug. 10
  Federal: West Canadian Collieries registered in Canada as a foreign company.
• 1904 Aug. 19
  Fernie, B.C.: First civic elections.
• 1904 Aug. 23
  Phœnix City, B.C.: A CP Shay and 25 ore cars derail near Oro Denoro mine on Phœnix Mountain. Loss: $25,000.
• 1904 September
  Wynndel, B.C.: The Alice Group’s 100 ton-per-day concentrator completed. Shipping to Trail, B.C.
• 1904 Sep. 10
  Mission, B.C.: Bill Miner et al rob CPR train of $7,000.
• 1904 Autumn
  B.C.: Bull River Electric Light and Power Company begins construction of its diversion flume.
• 1904 October
  Coleman, N-WT.: International Coal and Coke Company begins producing from the International.
• 1904 Oct. 3
  The Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company reorganized and recapitalized to $15 million. J.J. Hill and the Great Northern involved.
• 1904 Nov. 3
  Federal Election: Laurier’s Liberals returned to power in Ottawa. Borden defeated.
• 1904 Nov. 3
  Federal Election: Duncan Ross (Liberal) elected MP for revised B.C. Electoral Distirct Cariboo and Yale.
• 1904 Nov. 18
  Morrissey, B.C.: Fourteen die in an out-burst in Morrissey No. 1.
• 1904 December
  B.C.: Transfer of last of lands (250,000 acres) from BC Southern to Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company, as well as a 10,000-acre block to federal government.
• 1904 Dec. 10
  Federal political: The Right Honourable the fourth Earl Grey appointed governor-general. (to October 13, 1911).
• 1904 Dec. 15
  Fernie, B.C.: GN’s Crow’s Nest Southern begins service.
• 1905
  Grand Forks, B.C.: Frank Hartinger buys Fraser’s Brewery and reopens it as the Columbia Brewery.
• 1905
  B.C.: Nelson Electric begins to build power station at Upper Bonnington on the Lower Kootenay River.
• 1905
  B.C.: Canadian Metals Company of Paris acquired the ex-Kootenay M&S operation at Pilot Bay and Bluebell.
• 1905
  Princeton, B.C.: United Empire Mining Company begins searching for metal ores on its nine claims on One Mile Creek.
• 1905
  B.C.: Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway registers a right-of-way in the Coquihalla valley with the federal Board of Railway Commissioners.
• 1905
  C.P.R. president T.G. Shaughnessy sends survey teams to map out likely routes between Midway and the proposed end of the Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen line near Merritt.
• 1905
  B.C.: South Yale Mining Company leases “Sunset” Brown’s claims, and others, on Copper Mountain near Princeton.
• 1905
  B.C.: Canada Zinc Company, Limited, was incorporated to try F.T. Snyder’s zinc-extraction process in an experimental smelter at Nelson.
• 1905
  B.C.: J.J. Hill et alienus become the majority shareholders in CNP Coal.
• 1905
  Lethbridge, N-WT/AB: Canadian Bank of Commerce opens a branch.
• 1905
  Lethbridge, N-WT/AB: CPR builds first six stalls of its roundhouse. Six more added in 1906, six more in 1907.
• 1905
  Lethbridge, N-WT/AB: Three-storey Bentley Block completed.
• 1905
  “Royal City,” AB: Royal Collieries opens the Riverview mine.
• 1905
  “Royal City,” AB: Standard Lethbridge Collieries opens and closes its mine.
• 1905
  N-WT/AB: Fritz Sick incorporates Lethbridge Brewing and Malting Company Limited.
• 1905
  N-WT/AB: Third rail added to the St. Mary’s River Railway to permit operation of both 36″- and 56½”-gauged rolling stock.
• 1905
  “Beaver siding,” BC: Nelson & Fort Sheppard builds a depôt at what is now Fruitvale.
• 1905
  PHœnix Mountain, BC: B.C. Copper obtains control of the Emma Group, the Oro Denoro, the Lone Star and the Washington mines.
• 1905
  Salmo, BC: John Waldbeser begins developing the Emerald property nearby.
• 1905
  B.C.: King Lumber Company sets up sawmill at Ryan, 10 Kay up the Moyie from Yahk.
• 1905
  B.C.: Thomas Ellis sells out his Okanagan cattle operation to the Shatford brothers’ South Okanagan Land Company for $405,000.
• 1905
  B.C.: H.A. McKowan, Albert and William Slater, Allan Nickolson and Bill Spence registered the Cranbrook Sash and Door Company, Limited.
• 1905
  Fernie, BC: “the Annex” surveyed and lots offered for sale.
• 1905
  Fernie, BC: Sewerage system installed.
• 1905
  Fernie, BC: The rectory of the Holy Family Church completed.
• 1905
  Fernie, BC: Telephone system strung.
• 1905
  Baynes Lake, B.C.: F.W. Adolph family settle and build Aldoph Lumber Co. saw mill on the Crows Nest Southern.
• 1905
  “Elkmouth,” BC: Ross brothers build saw mill on the Crows Nest Southern.
• 1905
  District of Alberta, N-WT/Province of Alberta: The CPR standard-gauges the AR&I line between Raymond and Cardston.
• 1905
  District of Alberta, N-WT/AB: Pincher Creek Oil and Refining Company set up to drill on Cameron Brook in the Waterton area.
• 1905
  Bellevue, N-WT/AB: hospital opens, school classes taught.
• 1905
  Frank, N-WT/AB: Canadian-American Coal & Coke buys the New Sanitarium Hotel.
• 1905
  Coleman, N-WT/AB: Workers briefly strike the International.
• 1905(?)
  Macleod, N-WT/AB: First Mackenzie Bridge over the Oldman River installed.
• 1905
  Fernie, BC: Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company completes its headquarters building.
• 1905 Circa:
  Jewel Gold Mines, Limited, sold its operations at Jewel Lake near Greenwood to the Jewel-Denoro Mines Company of Edinburgh.
• 1905 January
  Fernie, BC: Fernie Ledge begins publication. Changed name to Fernie Ledger later in this year.
• 1905 January
  Rossland, BC: Jas. Cronin arrives to manage the Gooderham-Blackstock Center Star and the War Eagle.
• 1905 January
  B.C.: CPR acquires the Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Coal and Railway Company.
• 1905 January
  N-WT: C.P. Hill begins developing the Hillcrest mine in the Crowsnest Pass area.
• 1905 Jan. 1
  Lethbridge, N-WT: Serage and water system inaugurated.
• 1905 Jan. 1
  B.C.: The City of Nelson leases the Nelson Electric Tramway from British Traction.
• 1905 Jan. 18
  D.C. Corbin and associates incorporated the Spokane International Railway: absorbed the assets of the S&K. Capitalized to four million dollars, 12.5% immediately purchased by CPR and subsidiary Soo Line.
• 1905 Jan. 19
  Hedley, BC: Hedley Gazette begins publication. Ends August 16, 1917.
• 1905 Jan. 28
  B.C.: Member of the Provincial Parliament Lytton Wilmot Shatford and his brother, Walter Tyrrel Shatford, register the Southern Okanagan Land Company. Into voluntary liquidation January 31, 1919 after the South Okanagan Irrigation Project had bought the property.
• 1905 Jan. 31
  C.P. Hill incorporated the Hillcrest Coal and Coke Company.
• 1905 Feb. 15
  Phœnix City, BC: Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway arrives.
• 1905 Feb. 4
  Hillcrest Coal & Coke incorporated.
• 1905 March
  Erie, BC: Second Relief Mining Company acquires the Second Relief property.
• 1905 Mar. 1
  Kaslo, BC: Alberta sinks at the dock.
• 1905 Mar. 10
  Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway hauls its first trainload of Phœnix ore down to the Granby smelter.
• 1905 Mar. 11
  Coal Creek, BC: Tipple and ancillary buildings burn. Fire fighting efforts result in the flooding of No. 3 which remained closed for 4 years.
• 1905 Spring
  Frank, N-WT: Canadian Metals Company contracts E.J. Pozzi to build a smelter.
• 1905 Spring
  Bellevue, N-WT: West Canadian Collieries begins building cottages near the Bellevue mine.
• 1905 Mar. 28
  El Paso, TX: James F. Wardner dead.
• 1905 Mar. 31
  Macleod, N-WT: Cowdry Brothers sell their bank to the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
• 1905 Apr. 8
  Political, Federal: Honourable Frank Oliver appointed as Laurier’s Minister of the Interior and superintendent-general of Indian Affairs. Signals a change in attitude towards insular communal farming colonies in the West.
• 1905 Apr. 20
  Hedley, BC: Bank of British Columbia branch opens.
• 1905 May
  CPR announces that it is moving its Divisional Headquarters for south-western Alberta from Macleod to Lethbridge. Accomplished November 24th.
• 1905 May 4
  Kelowna, BC: incorporated as a City.
• 1905 May 10
  B.C.: Tom Ellis sells his spread for $400,000 to the Southern Okanagan Land Company.
• 1905 May 12
  Coleman, N-WT: Fire consumes part of the downtown district.
• 1905 May 20
  Boundary Creek, BC: Montreal and Boston Consolidated Mining and Smelting defaults and suspends all operations in the region.
• 1905 June
  CP acquires controlling interest in West Kootenay Power and Light.
• 1905 June
  CP brings the Rossland Power Company, the Consolidated Mining and Development Company (War Eagle and Center Star), the St. Eugene Consolidated Mining Company, and the Canadian Smelting Works together in the Canadian Consolidated Mines, Limited.
• 1905 June 7
  CPR buys Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.
• 1905 June 20
  CPR turns sod on Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Railway.
• 1905 June 26
  Dominion Copper Company recapitalized and buys the debt and assets of the Montreal and Boston Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company.
• 1905 June 27
  The Board of Railway Commissioners authorizes amendment to the charter of the Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway permitting it to connect with American lines.
• 1905 June 27
  Chicago, IL: Industrial Workers of the World founded. One Big Union.
• 1905 July 20
  Assent granted 4-5 Edward VII, chapter 3: An Act to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Alberta. (The Alberta Act, 1905)
• 1905 July 20
  Assent granted 4-5 Edward VII, chapter 42: An Act to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Saskatchewan. (The Saskatchewan Act, 1905)
• 1905 July 22
  The buffet car of the day’s south-bound Great Northern (N&FS) train out of Nelson jumped the rails at the Beaver Falls bridge. Five dead and five injured.
• 1905 July 28
  Midway & Vernon Railway begins building grade west from Midway. Only a few miles built.
• 1905 July 28
  Cabinet passes Order-in-Council amends Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway’s charter as per Railway Commissioners’ authorization of June 27.
• 1905 July 28
  Fernie, BC: The core block of downtown burned: losses to $120,000.
• 1905 July 30
  D.C. Corbin first sees Coal Mountain in eastern B.C. With E.J. Roberts.
• 1905 Aug. 16
  Coleman, N-WT: First village council meeting.
• 1905 Aug. 23
  Great Northern and Northern Pacific encharter Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway to connect Spokane and Portland.
• 1905 Aug. 24
  Federal political: F.D. White appointed Commissioner of the North-West Territories.
• 1905 Aug. 29
  Carberry, MB: Sod turning ceremony kicking off the Grand Trunk Pacific’s Coast-bound mainline.
• 1905 September
  Midway, BC: The Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway pushes its steel thus far.
• 1905 Sep. 1
  Friday.
• 1905 Sep. 1
  Edmonton, AB: The Alberta Act, 1905, proclaimed; Geo. Hedley Vicars Bulyea, lieutenant-governor (to October 20th, 1915).
• 1905 Sep. 4
  Regina, SK: The Saskatchewan Act, 1905, proclaimed; A.E. Forget, lieutenant-governor.
• 1905 Sep. 1
  Yahk, BC: S.A. Speers opens first postal bureau.
• 1905 Sep. 11
  Grand Trunk Pacific sod-turning at Fort William, ON.
• 1905 Sep. 15
  Federal political: Governor-General Earl Gray and Lady Gray travel by train into the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta.
• 1905 Autumn
  Bellevue, AB: West Canadian Collieries completes a wooden tipple for the Bellevue mine.
• 1905 Sep. 23
  Fort Steele, BC: The Customs’ bureau closed.
• 1905 October
  Frank, AB: Canadian Metals Company smelter completed. (see June, 1906)
• 1905 Oct. 16
  Coleman, AB: new two-roomed school officially opened.
• 1905 Oct. 20
  Grand Forks, BC: Granby Consolidated blows in smelter furnaces Nos. 7 and 8.
• 1905 Nov. 1
  B.C.: City of Cranbrook incorporated.
• 1905 Nov. 6
  Lethbridge, AB: CPR commences construction of new station. Completed in 1906, expanded in 1908.
• 1905 Nov. 7
  B.C.: Begins the 2-day “Battle of Midway.”
• 1905 Nov. 8
  Lethbridge, AB: First edition of the Lethbridge Weekly Herald published.
• 1905 Nov. 9
  AB Election: Alexander Rutherford elected as Liberal premier.
• 1905 Nov. 16
  B.C.: CPR leases the Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Railway for 999 years.
• 1905 Nov. 24
  Edmonton, AB: At 2:15 p.m., the CNoR celebrates its arrival with a silver spike ceremony.
• 1905 Nov. 24
  Lethbridge, AB: CPR Officially declares the City its divisional headquarters for south-western Alberta.
• 1905 Nov. end
  Rock Creek, BC: Midway & Vernon grade completed from Midway.
• 1905 December
  B.C.: Maud—now Bridesville—established.
• 1905 Dec. 8
  B.C.: Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway obtains legal title to lot 2703 at Midway. “Railway War” over.
• 1905 Dec. 10
  Midway, BC: Great Northern Railway/Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway commences service.
• 1905 Dec. 16
  Rossland, BC: Center Star’s magazine explodes; powderman John Ingram dead, considerable damage to City.
• 1905 Dec. 17
  Edmonton, AB: First Canadian Northern passenger arrives.
• 1905 Dec. 25
  The Spokane International Railway (SIR) offers $420,000 in debt for sale to finance the development of Coal Mountain in the Michel Creek valley.