Vignettes
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Electric Railway Chambers
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The Winnipeg Electric Street Railway was formed in 1892,
later changing its name to the Winnipeg Electric Company
in 1924. The company’s principals, William Mackenzie
and capitalist James Ross had obtained an exclusive 35-year
franchise to operate an electrical streetcar system in
Winnipeg.
By 1906 the WERC had taken over the competing power and transportation
companies in the city and were providing electricity from
two main sources, a steam generating plant at Assiniboine
Avenue and Main Street and a new hydro-electric plant on
the Winnipeg River. The firm sold its power at steep rates
and both politicians and citizens chafed at their dependence
on the company’s services.
