The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser
January 26, 1854
Toronto City council Proceedings
At a meeting of council on Friday the 13th inst., the following remarks were made in regard to.
The Guelph and Sarnia Railroad
Ald. J.B. Robinson wished to put a question, the answer to which might be of considerable importance to the
interests of the city, – whether the Mayor as President of the Toronto and Guelph Railroad, expressly provided that
the extension of the road should be from guelph to Sarnia.
The Mayor – We got an act empowering us to extend the road to Stratford and subsequently an act was passed
extending the road to Sarnia.
Alderman J.B. Robinson – I have to ask further, whether, when Messers. Gzowski & Co. gave up their contract, the
Grand Trunk Railroad did not step into their place, and, undertake to carry on the road by the same route?
The Mayor – That was my understanding; and on no other conditions would the Board have consented to an
amalgamation. The clerk informs me that the resolution of the Council accepting of the amalgamation contained tight
provision.
Alderman J.B. Robinson – I would draw your attention, then, to the fact that information has reached this city, by
the last English mail, that a fusion has taken place between the Grand Trunk Railway and the Great Western -
whereby the Grand Trunk, instead of taking the road via Stratford to Sarnia, has determined in taking it via St.
Mary’s to London. If that is the fact, members of Council will see that the interests of Toronto are thereby
sacrificed.as all the traffic on the road will go to London, and thence to Hamilton.
The Mayor did not think that the interests of this city would be sacrificed, although the railway went via St.
Mary’s through London to Sarnia. they were obliged to go to Sarnia by the charter.
Alderman J.B. Robinson said that they were obliged to go by the most direct route. That was the expression used.
The Mayor thought otherwise. He did not think there was any provision as to going the most direct route.
Alderman J.B. Robinson, having quoted from the resolution before referred to, to provide the corrections of his
statement, and he believed from the information that he had received that the Grand Trunk Railway had now agreed,by their arrangement with the Great Western, to take the road from Guelph through to London and stop there.
The interest of Toronto would thus be sacrificed and the £100,00 they had given to advance the road, they had given totheir own prejudice.
After some further conversation, it was proposed by Alderman J.B. Robinson, seconded by Ald. Gowan and carried
unanamously, That the committee on railroads do enter into immediate communication with Messers. Gzowski & Co., in
order to ascertain whether they are aware of any impediment having arisen to the extension of the Toronto and
Guelph Railroad, via Stratford to Sarnia