rsity. But the indomitable Allans emerged triumphant; and by the
time of Confederation, in 1867, the worst was over. Thenceforth they
were first in all respects till very recently. In the introduction of
shipbuilding improvements they are without a rival still. Their
_Bavarian_ was the first Atlantic liner entirely built of steel; their
_Parisian_ the first to be fitted with bilge keels; their _Virginian_
and _Victorian_ the first to use the turbine.

There are only two other salient features of Canadian steamer history
that can be mentioned beside the _Royal William_ and the Allans: the
Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company and the Canadian Pacific
Railway's merchant fleet. True, neither of these comes into quite the
same class. The _Royal William_ occupies an absolutely unique position
in the world at large. The Allans are more intimately connected with
the history of Canadian shipping than any other family or firm. Both
the _Royal William_ and the Allans are landmarks. But the Richelieu
and Ontario Navigation Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company
have also shown abundant energy; turned to effective national account.

The Richelieu Steamboat Company was {149} formed in 1845, and took its
other title thirty years later, when it made its first great 'merger.'
It began in a very humble way, by running two little market boats
between Sorel and Montreal. From the first it had to fight for its
commercial life. The train was beginning to be a formidable
competitor. But the fight to a finish was the fight of boat against
boat. Fares were cut and cut again. At last the passengers were
offered bed, board, and transportation for the price of a single meal.
Every day there was a desperate race on the water. The rival steamers
shook and panted in their self-destroying zeal to be the first to get
the gangway down. Clouds of fire-streaked smoke poured from their
funnels. More than once a cargo that would burn well was thrown into
the furnaces to keep the steam up. The public became quite as keen as
any of the crews or companies, and worked excitement up to fever pitch
by crowding the wharves to gamble madly on this daily river Derby. The
stress was too much for the weaker companies. One by one they either
fell out or 'merged in.' After the merger with the Ontario Company in
1875 things went on, with many ups and downs, more in the usual way of
competition. Finally, in 1913, a {150} general 'poolin