From Telegrapher to Titan : The Life of William C. Van Horne

by Knowles, Valerie

• ISBN13: 9781550024883
• ISBN10: 1550024884
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

William Van Horne was one of North America's most accomplished men. Born in Illinois in 1843, he became a prominent railway figure in the United States before coming to Canada in 1881 to become general manager of the fledgling Canadian Pacific Railway. Van Horne pushed through construction of the CPR's transcontinental line and went on to become company president. He also became one of Canada's foremost financiers and art collectors, capping his career by opening Cuba's interior with a railway.

Author Biography

Montreal-born Valerie Knowles has an M.A. (History) from McGill University. In addition to writing for newspapers, magazines, and federal government departments, she has taught history and worked as an archivist

Table of Contents

Preface	9	(2)
Acknowledgements	11	(2)
Prologue	13	(4)
Growing Up in Frontier Illinois	17	(20)
Early Career	37	(18)
Rapid Advancement	55	(28)
New Challenges and Hobbies	83	(12)
New Horizons	95	(22)
Toward the Last Spike	117	(30)
Cutting Costs	147	(28)
The Final Push	175	(34)
All That Grant Was to the U.S.A.	209	(30)
Van Horne at the Helm	239	(44)
Art for Art's Sake	283	(16)
Family Matters	299	(26)
Cuba Beckons	325	(14)
Building the Cuba Railroad	339	(28)
Chasing the Money	367	(30)
Dodging the Grim Reaper	397	(32)
Afterword	429	(4)
Bibliography	433	(10)
Notes	443	(52)
Index	495