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PORT COLBORNE CARRIES STEEL WORKS AND G.T.R. BY-LAW
Million Dollar Blast Furnace to be Built This Year
G.T.R. To Build Extensive Yards-Vote Almost Unanimous
[Welland Tribune, 28 March 1912]
Port Colborne proved itself yesterday to be in the front ranks of the progressive towns of Ontario, by passing practically unanimously two important bylaws, with the largest vote ever polled in the town. A whirlwind campaign was carried on, and non-resident voters from far and near were there.
The vote on the Canadian Furnace Co. bylaw was 323 for and 1 against.
For the G.T.R. bylaw the vote was 322 for and 2 against.
The number of votes needed to carry the bylaws was 208.
The furnace company will build a million dollar blast furnace and ore docks and expects to be making iron by December next. The Government will deepen the harbor to 25 feet for the largest lake boats to reach the steel company’s docks. The furnace will employ at the start from 150 to 200 men, and the annual pay roll will be about $150,000.00. This plant will be greatly enlarged later on by the addition of more furnaces. The bylaw fixes the assessment of the company at $50,000.00 for 20 years. No other concessions were asked.
The Grand Trunk bylaw fixes its assessment of the company at $10,000 for 20 years and permits the company to close up certain streets by giving other streets in lieu thereof. The railway will build very extensive yards at Port Colborne, and it is reported on good authority that their plans go even much further than that. It is said Port will be made a distributing point for the entire district and that round houses and repair shops will be built. The company also agrees to build a depot and freight shed. It is likely the G.T.R. will make large expenditures on these improvements.
The blast furnaces will bring other industries to Port Colborne, two or three at least in the near future. This is Port’s growing time. Watch the town for the next year or two.
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