During the economic boom which began after 1896 Canadians came to consider more railways essential to their continuing prosperity. Consequently politicians, like Sir Richard McBride, British Columbia's elegant silver-haired premier, shown here turning sod for the Canadian Northern Railway, were anxious to afford every assistance to businessmen like Sir William Mackenzie and Sir Donald Mann who controlled the CN. But business and political leaders had little concern for the stiffs who worked on the grade.
