The Great North-Western Telegraph Company
This Company was incorporated on May 7, 1880, for the purpose of establishing and working telegraph lines in the Northwest Territory in the district of Keewatin, Manitoba, and to connect with lines in the Province of Ontario.
The capital stock, $400,000 in shares of $100 each, with power to increase the capital from time to time as necessity required, by a resolution of the Directors, with authority to establish, construct, purchase, lease or work lines in the Dominion of Canada by land or water, etc. The head office at the City of Winnipeg.
At a meeting of the Company held on June 10, 1881, Mr. Erastus Wiman was elected President.
At this meeting Mr. Wiman as President was empowered to enter into negotiation with the Montreal, Dominion and Western Union Telegraph Companies as shall harmonize the interest of the several named companies subject to confirmation of the Directors.
Mr. Wiman thus empowered lost no time in effecting his object.
The resolution quoted is amusing. The Western Union owned the Dominion Telegraph Company, or at least controlled it. There was no discord between the Western Union and the Montreal Telegraph Company.
A close and intimate business relationship had been maintained between these companies for years and nothing had arisen hitherto to disturb this good understanding. The Dominion Telegraph Company had been acquired as an asset of the American Union Telegraph Company which had been purchased by the Western Union and was a white elephant on its hands and of which they naturally enough were anxious to get rid of.
It was offered to the Montreal Company, but the offer was not entertained as the wires of the Dominion Company merely paralleled its own, and its own wires were sufficient for its own business at that time. Mr. Wiman, being familiar with the position of affairs, saw a chance for a deal and the future monopoly of the telegraph business of Canada.