May 4, 2005:
Beginning in 1867, with Confederation, a large number of civil servants arrived 
in Ottawa from each of the new provinces.

In the early days government was small. The largest departments reflected the
priorities of the day -- Agriculture, Post Office, Customs and Excise. 

Archibald Lampman, poet, worked in the Post Office Department.

There was an early Department of Finance (1867) but it was only involved in accounting 
functions. There were no economists until the 1920's. The federal Income Tax was instituted
in 1917 as only a temporary measure. They'll probably be abolishing it soon.
When I first started working in the Department of Finance (for 30+ years), we
were located in the Confederation Building. Prior to that time, the building housed
the Department of Agriculture.

The Post Office Building was located at Confederation Square, across from the East 
Block. 

Photo Source: James Ballantyne collection, Library and Archives Canada
View across Rideau Canal locks to Sappers Bridge and Ottawa Post Office, 1903 
Reference Number: PA-133655 (copy negative number)



The railway tracks shown in the photo are located between the locks and the Chateau
Laurier Hotel. I believe that it was built by J.R. Booth. It crossed the Ottawa River
and ran as far north as Maniwaki, Quebec. 
May 8, 2005:

Geological Survey of Canada

Charles Smith would like to contact Francis McDermott who is a descendant of
Michael McDermott who was an early surveyor in the Bytown area.

The reason for my interest is that I have transcribed the 1845 Ottawa River Journal of Sir
William E. Logan, founder of the Geological Survey of Canada. Logan spent several days in 
Bytown, and he refers to Michael McDermott, the provincial land surveyor in Bytown. 
Perhaps Francis McDermott has an interest in these (limited!) comments. 

No, Logan did not come to Ottawa at the time of Confederation. He lived in Montreal. In
1845, the Geological Survey (GSC) was based there. The capital of Canada was then in
Kingston.  The Geological Survey moved to Ottawa in 1881, and it was located at the 
corner of Sussex Drive and George Street. A Historic Sites and Monument plaque now 
marks the site. The GSC moved to  the Victoria Museum building in 1910.  The GSC moved 
to Booth Street in 1959, where it is now located. To jog your memory, Mount Logan in 
the Yukon was later named after him. 
Perhaps you remember the recent fuss about changing the name of Mount Logan to Mount Pierre
Elliot Trudeau? 

Thank you again.
Charles Smith
July 20, 2005:
E-mail charlessmith@rogers.com (new e-mail address ... Al)

April 23, 2006:

Alexander Jeffrey Cambie and his wife Elizabeth Poston came from Quebec City. He
worked in the Department of Agriculture.
 January 29, 2008:

Denise Dufour is researching her grandfather, Georges Blanchard, who worked at 
L’Imprimerie d’Ottawa, c. 1930. Printing services for the federal government have
been a combination of contracting out and in-house printing since Confederation.

I remember hearing a lot about "PP and S" around the kitchen table in the 1950's.
"PP and S" stood for "Public Printing and Stationery" as the printing agency was then
called.
... Al

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