Historical

“The final cost of the Rideau Canal, tallied up in January 1834, was £822,804. In 2007, Parks Canada estimated the cost in current Canadian dollars at over $1 billion. Mackay received about £32,000 or 1/25th of the total – in today’s dollars over $40 million. Redpath received a lesser amount as he had to bow out of the project due to bouts of malaria. They were handsome profits indeed, added to the £10,000 apiece they each earned building the Lachine Canal. But Lord Dalhousie and Colonel By needed high-quality work, by trusted contractors, and they got it.”