Redpath: The History of a Sugar HouseRedpath, today a household name for sugar in Canada, has its roots in the story of an enterprising Scots immigrant, initially a stone mason and later a building contractor during the boom days of Montreal's growth from a small provincial centre to a major North American city. In 1854, the ever-energetic John Redpath, by then a self-made millionaire in his late fifties, launched a new career as an industrialist. With his son, Peter, and the gifted George Alexander Drummond as manager, he established Canada's first successful sugar refinery. The Redpath story encompasses the influence of sugar as an economic force, the emergence of the elegant social life of cosmopolitan Montreal and a hind-sight view of the complexities of the love-hate relationship between government and business. This, the first of two volumes, moves through Canada's period of extensive industrialization to the turn of the century, the impact of World War I and concludes in the post-war years. Throughout this period, the familiar Redpath trademark, a reproduction of John Redpath's signature, is a reminder of the heritage inherent in Canada's business and social history. |
From inside the book
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... plant being boiled into a pulp . The earliest dat- able mention of sugar cane comes from 325 B.C. , when sugar ( and ... plants [ in India ] , particularly of the great reeds are sweet by nature and decoction . 1 and from Seneca the ...
... plants called cannamella [ reed - honey ] " 3 while Jacobus de Vitriaco wrote the following about the Jordan valley : There is a reed from which flows a very sweet juice called cannamelli zachariae , this honey they [ the Arabs ] eat ...
... more slaves above and below . During the subsequent voyage to the Caribbean , sanitary conditions were non - existent . FELDH - RICHES COLUMS Preparing the fields and planting the segments of cane ". " That Sweet Comfit Men Call Sugar "
... planting the segments of cane " ratoons . " The maggoty food and stale water fed to the slaves led to an average death rate of around 25 % . For those who survived , two of every three were sold in auction to work in the planta- tions ...
... plant . In August 1853 , John initiated purchases of land from the Gentlemen Ecclesiastics of the Seminary of St. Sulpise of Montreal . More purchases followed in December from John Ostell , who had previously bought the adjacent land ...
Contents
Chapter 19 Cheers and Tears Ginger Ale and Champagne | 195 |
Chapter 20 The Building of a New Sugar House | 209 |
Chapter 21 A New Captain | 217 |
Chapter 22 Redpath Must Be Everywhere | 227 |
Chapter 23 A Patriotic Stand | 237 |
Chapter 24 Big Brother | 245 |
Chapter 25 An Unfortunate State of Affairs | 257 |
Chapter 26 Dance of the Millions | 265 |
Chapter 7 A Devil of a Time | 83 |
Chapter 8 We Are at a Crisis of Our Affairs | 93 |
Chapter 9 The Axe Falls | 101 |
Chapter 10 Intermission | 115 |
Chapter 11 Another Opening | 121 |
Chapter 12 A Hard and Anxious Time | 133 |
Chapter 13 Too Many Cooks | 141 |
Chapter 14 A Busy Year | 149 |
Chapter 15 When Fortune Turns the Wheel | 157 |
Chapter 16 What You Gain on the Roundabouts | 167 |
Chapter 17 You Lose on the Swings | 177 |
Chapter 18 The New Way | 187 |
Chapter 27 Picking Up the Pieces | 273 |
Chapter 28 The Final Straws | 283 |
Postscript | 287 |
Appendix 1 The Manufacturing of Sugar Cones | 288 |
Appendix 2 The Families of John Redpath and George Alexander Drummond | 290 |
Appendix 3 The 1920 and 1927 Canada Sugar Refining Co Picnics Sporting Events and Prize Lists | 293 |
Appendix 4 The Development of the Montreal Refinery Site 18541930 | 296 |
Selected Bibliography | 308 |
Notes | 310 |
Visual Credits | 312 |
Index | 313 |