The Metropolitan railway was a streetcar project which was to extend up to Bond Head through Bradford. Newspapers reported in 1900 that citizens would welcome this track through the towns, although it was a costly endeavour: "The residents of the north end of Newmarket are solicious for the continuance of the Metropolitan Railway track through to their quarter, and have called upon the Council to endeavor to get the company to perform the work."
It also presented issues with the town's current layout, hence changes had to be made: "The contract for removing the Newmarket Exhibition buildings to the South of the track has been let by the Management Committee, and arrangements have also been made for the erection of a grand stand. With these improvements the local grounds will compare favorably with any in the county."
Article on the prices of oil rates and monopolies in regards to train service. The article mainly references the United States, yet the rate fluctuation greatly affected Canadian trains and oil service in the early 1900s.
"The Railway Committee of the Privy Council has come to the conclusion that the railways which have been discriminating in freight rates in favor of the Standard Oil Trust must lower the rates charged other American oil companies. This is a move in the right direction and it is hoped that now the octopus will be shorn of the power it has possessed for the past year to victimize the people of this country in the price of so important an article as oil, which is universally used. If this decision of the Railway Committee is an earnest of the intention of the Government to look after the people's interests it will give the whole country the highest degree of satisfaction."
"The G.T.R. authorities will very shortly be presented with a numerously signed petition form the citizens of Bradford and neighborhood respectfully requesting that the midday passenger train going north be allowed to stop at this depot. The travelling public would find it a great convenience and there is every reason to believe that the railway people would also find ti to be a profitable piece of business in time."
"The Grand Trunk Railway have made an important innovation by installing their passenger train locomotives with a electric light equipment. One of the large type of passenger locomotive constructed at the Point St. Charles works of this company has just been turned out from the shops and is now at work in Montreal and Portland night passenger service, which has, in addition to all the well known modern appliances of merit for the safety and convenience of train operating, a powerful electric lighted head lamp and a number of incandescent lamps, which have been placed in the cab of the locomotive for the purpose of lighting the steam and air pressure and water gauges..."
This article appears in the Bradford Witness many times throughout the year 1900.
The article accompanying this photograph gives a quick history of Bemrose Co. General Store, owned by the Bemrose brothers John and James. Their father, John, was a contractor and was well known in the town, a reputation which was passed down to the brothers. This store in the photograph was run by James Bemrose alone after his return to Bradford in 1901 in the former store of J.S. Boddy, and was in the same block as the Edmanson businesses on Holland Street (near 71 Holland St. East). James Bemrose was a member of the Masonic Order. This photograph was taken because he was part of Bradford's Model School Board, along with other board members.
This is a portrait engraving of the Marvel Acetylene Gas Generator, patented and invented by the Moore Bros. This machine was installed in places without electrical hook-ups so electricity could be used, and was in the Model School, Samuel Lukes' house, Dr. Stevenson's hosue, and the Presbyterian Manse.
