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Title

Series consists of

2750 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Series part of

Department of Transport fonds [multiple media] (R184-0-4-E)

Accession

1. MARINE ADMINISTRATION, CANAL DIVISION [textual records]
2. MARINE ADMINISTRATION, CANAL DIVISION [textual records]
3. MARINE ADMINISTRATION, CANAL DIVISION [textual records]
4. Marine Administration, Canal Division [textual record]
5. Marine Administration, Canal Division [textual record]
6. Marine Administration, Canal Division, Registry Files [textual records]
7. Annual financial reports of the Canal Services [textual record] (1998-01215-8)
8. Cash ledgers for Department of Railways and Canals [textual record] (1998-01664-1)
9. [Plans of a tugboat, a dump-scow and the dredging vessel, Rideau] [technical drawing] Rideau Canal Office
10. [Profile of the Richelieu River between Chambly and St. Ours] [cartographic material]
11. [Section of the Richelieu River, from Francher's wharf to St. Ours wharf] [cartographic material]
12. [Maps of sections of the Richelieu River between Sorel and Chambly] [cartographic material] drawn by P. Fleming
13. [Two plans connected with hydraulic measurements and the Welland Canal] [architectural drawing, cartographic material]
14. St-Remi and Atwater Tunnels files [textual record] (2008-00041-9)

Bilingual equivalent

Division des canaux [supports multiples]

Date(s)

1809-1977

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

x m of textual records
60 maps : chiefly mss., ink, col. ; 107 x 250 cm or smaller.
20 technical drawings on 6 sheets : mss., ink, col., with pencil crayon ; 56 x 109 cm or smaller.
2 architectural drawings : ms., 1 blueline print.

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Series consists of records pertaining to the canals administered by the Department of Transport and its predecessor agencies which were transferred to the jurisdiction of Parks Canada in 1972. These include the Trent, Rideau, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Murray, Carillon, St. Ours, Chambly, Beauharnois and St. Peters, as well as the Grenville and Chignecto canals. The records consist of registry files organized under the subject file classification plan for Transport Canada's former Canal Division (4000 file block series). The files relate to the various operational and administrative activities of this Division, and include subjects such as bridges and tunnels; buildings and dwellings; locks, gates and dams; weirs and reaches; marine railways; rights-of-way, boundaries and encroachments; roads, walks and highways; leases; sale and disposition; construction and maintenance; wharves and docks; surveys and canal operations. The "4000" file block was re-allocated to other operational records of the Department upon the transfer of responsibility for canal administration to Parks Canada. The following examples illustrate the type of records found in this series. Volumes 3594-3669 (1825-1976) contain files concerning bridges and tunnels and the construction, maintenance and repairs of bathing beaches, culverts and drains, dams and weirs, diving equipment, electrical plants and ferries, locks and gates, retaining walls and piers, and wharves and docks. Also included are files on canal surveys, proposed canal operations, rules and regulations. Volumes 3670-3692 (1866-1976) contain files dealing with the construction, maintenance and repair of bridges and tunnels, buildings and dwellings, locks and dams, weirs, reaches, marine railways, retaining walls and piers. Volumes 3693-3743 (1809-1971) contain files pertaining to rights of way and concern boundaries, encroachments, land damages, lease of land, leases of water power and supply roads, walks and highways, and sale and dispositions. Volumes 3744-3850 (1841-1977) contain files dealing with right of way matters and cover subjects such as land and buildings, purchase and appropriations; roads, walks and highways. Also included is a large series of files on sale and disposition. Volume 3673 (1874-1923) consists of a registry file relating to the diversion of the Great Western Railway line under the Welland Canal between locks 18 and 19 (subject file 4052-358). Series also includes the following visual material: RG12M 78903/95 consists of plans of a tugboat, a dump-scow and the dredging vessel, Rideau; RG12M 756/15430 consists of a profile of the Richelieu River between Chambly and St. Ours, ca. 1840; RG12M 756/15431 consists of a section of the Richelieu River, from Francher's wharf to St. Ours wharf, ca. 1840; RG12M 756/15457 consists of maps of sections of the Richelieu River between Sorel and Chambly, ca. 1830, drawn by P. Fleming; and RG12M 78903/40 consists of two plans connected with hydraulic measurements and the Welland Canal.

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Copyright belongs to the Crown.
Cartographic material, architectural, technical drawings: Copyright belongs to the Crown. Credit Library and Archives Canada.

Finding aid

Finding aid 12-6 is a computer generated boxlist relating to volumes 3594-3850. The finding aid is a subject file list. A copy of the contemporary Transport Canada subject file classification plan (4000 series) is also available. 12-6 (Electronic)

Finding aid 12-1 is a computer generated boxlist relating to volumes 31-3166. These volumes contain records from the Central registry series, many of which relate to Canal Division records (4000 file block series). 12-1 (Electronic)

Finding aid 12-2 is a computer generated file list relating to volumes 31-3166. These volumes contain records from the Central registry series, many of which relate to Canal Division records (4000 file block series). 12-2 (Electronic)

Cartographic material Finding aid consists of 3 separate item level listings, for accession numbers 756/15430, 756/15431, and 756/15457. Finding aid for RG12M 78903/40 consists of an item list. Finding aids are available in main reference room. RG12M 756/15430; RG12M 756/15431; RG12M 756/15457; RG12M 78903/40 90 (Paper)

Technical drawings Finding aid consists of an item list. Finding aid available in main reference room. RG12M 78903/95 90 (Paper)

Architectural drawing Finding aid consists of an item list. Finding aid available in main reference room. RG12M 78903/40 90 (Paper)

Additional name(s)

Fleming, Peter, fl. 1815-1852.
Canada. Dept. of Railways and Canals. Office of the Superintending Engineer, Welland Canal. Dept. of Railways and Canals. Office of the Superintending Engineer, Welland Canal.
Canadian Marine Transportation Administration. Canals Division. Canals Division.

Biography / Administrative history

In the early part of the nineteenth century, canal surveying, construction, and maintenance were administered by government-appointed commissions. Commencing in 1839 in Lower Canada and shortly thereafter for the whole of United Canada (1841), administrative responsibility for canals was assumed by the Board of Works. After 1859, the Board's successor, the Department of Public Works, retained control of the canals for a period of twenty years. In 1879, responsibility for canals was transferred from the Department of Public Works to the newly-created Department of Railways and Canals; in 1936, the Department of Transport absorbed the Department of Railways and Canals, including the administrative responsibility for all matters related to canals. Finally, on 1 June 1972, the responsibility for the operation, maintenance, and repair of all non-commercial canals was transferred to Parks Canada, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, under the TRANSFER OF DUTIES ACT and Order in Council 1972-1124.

Additional information

Source

Government

Related control no.

1. 1984-85/056 GAD
2. 1984-85/057 GAD
3. 1984-85/058 GAD
4. 1984-85/059 GAD
5. 1985-86/608 GAD
6. 1986-87/362 GAD
7. 756/15430 CA
8. 756/15431 CA
9. 756/15457 CA
10. 78903/40 CA
11. 78903/95 CA
12. 1998-01215-8
13. 1998-01664-1
14. 2008-00041-9
15. RG12
16. RG12-B13
17. RG12M 756/15430
18. RG12M 756/15431
19. RG12M 756/15457
20. RG12M 78903/40
21. RG12M 78903/95
22. RG12-B-13

MIKAN no.

133879