From Telegrapher to Titan: The Life of William C. Van Horne

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Overview

When the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line was completed an astonishing six years ahead of schedule, CPR general manager William C. Van Horne insisted that any ceremonies to commemorate the event be kept informal, declaring: There is to be no "golden spike" driven on the completion of the Canadian Pacific and no excursion to celebrate the event. The last spike will probably be driven by one of our track-laying gang and will be an iron one. A man of action, William C. Van Horne was the prime mover ...
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From Telegrapher to Titan: The Life of William C. Van Horne

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Overview

When the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line was completed an astonishing six years ahead of schedule, CPR general manager William C. Van Horne insisted that any ceremonies to commemorate the event be kept informal, declaring: There is to be no "golden spike" driven on the completion of the Canadian Pacific and no excursion to celebrate the event. The last spike will probably be driven by one of our track-laying gang and will be an iron one. A man of action, William C. Van Horne was the prime mover of the CPR, an organization heading toward financial disaster when he took control in 1881. Described as "a human dynamo" for his energy and imagination, the tireless railway tycoon conducted thousands of workers toward the aim of uniting the Canadian east and west, chiselling access through what was heralded as impassable terrain, including the Canadian Shield, Rocky Mountains, and Fraser Valley.

Born in Illinois in 1843, by the time he was 38 years old, Van Horne already had 25 years' experience in the railway business, starting as a message delivery boy and telegrapher and rising to prominence in the United States before coming to steer Canada's national railway project. Later assuming the role of CPR president, Van Horne also became one of Canada's foremost financiers and art collectors, capping his career by opening Cuba's interior with a railway. After turning down the honour twice, Van Horne was knighted by Queen Victoria for his contributions toward Canadian unity. Van Horne was inducted in 2000 as Laureate of the Century by the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. From Telegrapher to Titan: The Life of William C. Van Horne is the essential biography of a railway giant.

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Editorial Reviews

Branchline
"For the most part, Van Horne was a remarkable person and for Canada a real hero that helped pull Canada together and settle the west. Valerie Knowles has done an excellent job in describing the man and telling his story. The book is easy to read and, as in all good history books, includes a broad range of references. It is certainly well worth the read and is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about Van Horne." —Bruce Ballantyne, Branchline, June 2005, reviewing a previous edition or volume

— Bruce Ballantyne

Rail Canadien
"In From Telegrapher to Titan, Valerie Knowles takes us back to an era of frenzied progress, a time of frontier mentality and old money, and shows us a titan amongst men, who rose from being a messenger boy to the Chairman of the Canadian Pacific Railway while becoming one of the foremost art patrons of his time as well as a devoted father and husband. Van Horne’s legacy is felt today—his signature forever etched upon the country in tracks, coast to coast." —Rail Canadien, September-October 2004, reviewing a previous edition or volume
The Michigan Railfan
"While much has been written about the CPR's construction and early years of operation, there has been comparatively little recorded about the man who was such a key figure in its early history.This exhaustive volume by Valerie Knowles fills that void nicely." —The Michigan Railfan, Vol. 72#3, May-June 2011
NMRA Magazine
"In this volume, Valerie Knowles delivers a gripping account of this larger-than-life figure." —NMRA Magazine
From the Publisher
"From Telegrapher to Titan is more than a biography; it is a first-rate work of business history, covering in detail the development of railways in 19th-century North America." -Graeme Voyer, Winnipeg Free Press, May 2, 2004.
Branchline - Bruce Ballantyne

"Valerie Knowles has done an excellent job in describing the man and telling his story. The book is easy to read and, as in all good history books, includes a broad range of references. It is certainly well worth the read and is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about Van Horne."

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780253222503
  • Publisher: Indiana University Press
  • Publication date: 8/3/2010
  • Series: Railroads Past and Present Series
  • Pages: 504
  • Sales rank: 1,155,573
  • Product dimensions: 5.70 (w) x 8.70 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Meet the Author

Valerie Knowles is an Ottawa writer who has taught history and worked as an archivist. In addition to writing for newspapers, magazines, and federal government departments, she has published several non-fiction works, including Strangers at Our Gates: Canadian Immigration and Immigration Policy, 1540-1997. This is her third book for Dundurn Press.

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Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements Prologue

Chapter One: Growing Up in Frontier Illinois Chapter Two: Early Career Chapter Three: Rapid Advancement Chapter Four: New Challenges and Hobbies Chapter Five: New Horizons Chapter Six: Toward the Last Spike Chapter Seven: Cutting Costs Chapter Eight: The Final Push Chapter Nine: All That Grant Was to the U.S.A.
Chapter Ten: Van Horne at the Helm Chapter Eleven: Art for Art's Sake Chapter Twelve: Family Matters Chapter Thirteen: Cuba Beckons Chapter Fourteen: Building the Cuba Railroad Chapter Fifteen: Chasing the Money Chapter Sixteen: Dodging the Grim Reaper

Afterword Bibliography Notes Index

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