Hauling Pipe from Claresholm C.P.R. Depot to Stavely, Alberta, 1912.
Completed in only eighty-six days, the main gas transmission line from Bow Island to Calgary became the third longest in North America and the longest for its diameter (40 centimetres). Using a combination of modern equipment (steam-powered ditching equipment and tractors) with horse-drawn wagons and gang labour to haul and lay pipe, the contractors began on 22 April 1912 and reached the Oldman River and Lethbridge by 12 July. The citizens of Lethbridge voted to grant a gas franchise to Canadian Western to deliver gas the following week, and on 17 July connection was made with the section extending south from Calgary. P.D. Mellon, who constructed Canadian Western's first natural gas plant in Calgary in 1912, describes the scene:
During the day the pressure in the line was being built up to 300 pounds. Suddenly we got word that the line had blown out in a slough at De Winton. Things looked pretty gloomy, but we rushed several gangs of men down there and they were able to get the line coupled up again, and the pressure built up.
That evening, just after dark, some 10,000 to 12,000 people gathered in the area in East Calgary around the standpipe. Eugene Coste and his wife were there. Whitey Foster was in charge of the control valve.
At a signal from Mr. Coste, Whitey turned on the valve. With a roar, there came out of the pipe first a cloud of dust, followed by stones, splinters and other debris. The gas came out with a tremendous roar, and the people started to back up. In the meantime Mr. Coste was standing by with Roman candles.
Mrs. Coste started shooting the candles at the standpipe trying to light the gas. Finally away she went with a terrible bang.
Courtesy: Canadian Western Natural Gas, Calgary, Alberta
