1914 Jan 16 East End Incline 1

 “Regarding the statement of Mayor Allan that he was satisfied with the efforts Mr. Webb was making to get the Wentworth street incline into operation, Controller Morris said this morning that the residents who climb the steps were certainly not satisfied”

Hamilton Herald. January 5, 1914¹

Less than ten years after it began operation, the incline railroad at the head of Wentworth Street was idle. A means of getting up and down the escarpment, particularly for mountain residents who worked in the lower city was no longer available in January, 1914.

The owner of Hamilton east end incline railroad had decided that the line needed a major upgrading, beginning with the conversion of the motor power from steam to electricity.

However, the project was slow in being completed, mountain residents were getting restive, and the charter given by the Ontario Railway Board was potentially about to be revoked unless the incline railway was back in operation.

While Hamilton Mayor John Allan supported Mr. George Webb, the mayor’s most vocal opponent, Thomas Morris definitely was not :

“ ‘ I don’t know what is being done at present,’ said Controller Morris, ‘but it is regrettable that the road cannot be repaired more quickly. I think that the new board of control should take the matter up at its first meeting, and I would suggest that the members make a person inspection of the incline; then they would be in a position to know what is going on.

“ ‘ I do not wish to disparage the efforts of Mr. Webb, but I do not think the board will be satisfied with the progress he has made. If it is seen that every effort is not be set forth by him, why certainly the Ontario railway board will be approached to expedite matters.”¹

  ¹ “Sufferers Are Not Satisfied : And Controller Morris Thinks the Board of Control Do Its Best To Get East Incline Running.”

Hamilton Herald January 4, 1914

        Four weeks earlier, Mr. Webb had been formally notified by the Ontario railway board that the incline had to be in full operation on January 5, 1914, or the City of Hamilton would be asked to assume ownership and operation.

When the deadline day which the Ontario railway board had decreed that the incline had to be back in operation, it was not.

At Hamilton City Hall, as described by a Times reporter, it seemed like no one knew how to handle the matter :

“The city officials are in a quandary as to what should be done in connection with George F. Webb’s incline, at the head of Wentworth street. This is the day by which the Ontario Railway Board ordered the owner to have it in operation but, according to advices reaching the City Hall, it will be months before it is ready.

“The city solicitor is waiting for a report from the city engineer, and the latter is waiting for word from the Controllers, who, in turn, do not expect to meet for a week yet.

“It was announced today that Mr. Webb was undertaking more substantial improvements than thought of before He does not intend to bother anymore with a new incline, it is declared, but will improve the old one so that it will do for years to come. This word came as a disappointment to the city officials today. There is the possibility of the Controllers holding a special meeting to deal with the situation.”²

² “Puzzled Over the Incline : Mr. Webb Abandons Idea of a New Structure : Some Months Yet : Before the Old One Will Be Ready for Use.”

Hamilton Times. January 5, 1914

One week and a half later, the Hamilton Herald reported that, while many politicians and officials remained puzzled as to the problem with the east end incline railway would be resolved, the Hamilton City Solicitor was quietly at work :

“Although Mayor Allan and other officials at the city hall have adopted an attitude and style of talk to the newspapermen in discussing the east end incline matter that indicates that they are satisfied with what has been going on – although the line will not be in operation for another two months, it is said – City Solicitor Waddell has gone ahead and served notice on George F. Webb, some mountain residents, and all others interested in the case to the effect that he will ask the railway board when it sits here on January 26, to take evidence as to the delay of Mr. Webb in putting his line in operation.”³

³ “City Solicitor Like Minister’s Wife : While Others Have Been ‘Praying for Guidance’ in Incline Matter, He Has Been Busily Moving Legal Machinery : Railway Board Will Again Hear of Matter – G. F. Webb Is Making Alterations That Will Take Two Months More – It Is Said”

Hamilton Herald. January 16, 1914

The Herald reported that the action of the city solicitor had neither been initiated, nor sanctioned by city council, but it was felt that the residents on the mountain would heartily approve.

The previous day, Hamilton Mayor Allan, accompanied by City Engineer Macallum had visited the incline railway and had been given a full explanation as to what was being done.

The roadbed itself was not being relocated, but was being renewed, with it being graded down substantially, while deep holes were being prepared for new concrete piers to be installed. With new steel girders from top to bottom to carry the rails, and with cross girders of similar strength, the incline railway would be practically independent of the soil on the mountain face.

Also, Mr. Webb was abandoning the steam plant to power the incline railroad, replacing it with an electric plant.

The incline railway owner claimed that the work was progressing as quickly as possible. At one time, Webb claimed, he had between 75 and 80 men at work on the project.

At the time of their visit, the city engineer counted 40 men at work. Later, the mayor received a report that 60 men were currently on the payroll for the project but many were not present because of illness.

For mountain residents and other regular users of the incline railway, the Herald report was cold comfort. While they were better informed abut the project, its completion was still, at least two months away.