Landing the Pacific Cable at Bamfield, British Columbia in 1902.
This photograph shows sailors from the cable ship Iris laying a connection from the shore to the cable headquarters on the hill above. This cable, which connected Canada with Australia and New Zealand, was the first one across the Pacific Ocean and the longest in the world, 3,458 nautical miles (6,404 kilometres). It was a unique experiment in government operation of communication facilities at a time when the predominant philosophy favoured private ownership. The Pacific cable was owned jointly by Canada, Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand. Its proponents, among whom the most active in Canada was Sandford Fleming, hoped that by reducing the cost of communication throughout the British Empire closer imperial ties might be forged. Certain benefits did result and cable rates to Australia and New Zealand were drastically reduced, but the hoped for political and social ties never emerged.
Courtesy: British Columbia Provincial Archives (19999)
