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i^lUKIGlPAL Lrv)Vj£xti\iMr.l\T In 1891, the Municipality of TJorth Vancouver was lormeP, taxirig in all the horth Shoreo West Vancouver, then referrea to as Gapilano West, made up Wards 1 & 2. Tnere were some benefits to municipal government. In 1892, Keith Road, although little more than a wagon trail, did provide a connection from Eagle Harbour to beep Gove, And in I9O9, with prodaing, the municipality worKea to get a feaeral government wharf at the foot of 17th Street, With at most 700 residents. West Vancouver negotiated to become a separate municipality effective March l5th, 1912, GRQ^WTH ll\i DUIVDARAVE Even before West Vancouver was formed, Dundarave had begun to develop, Down at the waterfront at 25th Street, the Stevensons had built a restaurant-hotel, anticipating a future for the area in tourism. There were summer hom*es ana tents along the shore and merchants to serve them along Keith Road-Marine Drive, And of course, there were realtors. The most important woula have to be the North Vancouver firm of Irwin ana Billings which haa acquired title to District Lots 555 and 55^1. This gave the company, by 19H, all the land in the 21400 block from the shore north to Palmerston. The land was held for sale, ana wdth that end, roads and lanes were laid out, and areas between designated by blocks and housing lots. What vre are interested in is Block 23, Lots 15 and 16 - on the north side of Marine Drive, midway down 2li00. A GITf HALL FOR WEST VAIV801JVER A first need for any newly createa municipality is a builaing from wnich to operate, In V/est Vancouver, there vzere tnree offers of land on which to put a city hall. Mr, Whi. J. Irwin, president cf Irwin ana Billings Realty Gompany, North Van, and a former mayor of North Vancouver, offered land in D.L. 555; Mr. Sam Gintzberger tendered property in D.L. 237; and Mr, John Lawson proposed property in D.L, 775. None of these offers could have been completely altruistic. In a small community, the nearby presence of municipal offices might well be regarded as advantageous with a resultant effect on property prices. When, in its wisdom. Council accepted the gift of Mr, Lawson, it is possible that Mr. Irwin turned his mind to other projects that might help growth and sales in his area of interest. But then, his reasons might have been completely political. CANADIAN POLITICS - I9II AN'D AFTER The need for trade with the United States has always been a factor in Ganaaian politics. In I85i4, Lord Elgin negotiated for British North America a Reciprocity Treaty with the United States, an agreement that was to end when the American Civil War began. In 1910, the idea of a reciprocal trade treaty with the States was revived by Sir Wilfrid Laurier - the alternative seemed to be a tariff war - ana in January I9II the draft of a trade treaty was actually workea out. All that was needed was ratification by the two governments. Piere Laurier delayed, wanting American endorsement to come first. But even if he haa wanted to move, there would have been a delay. George V was being crowned and all colonial prime ministers were expectea to be present in Lonaon. During this waiting period, opposition to free trade had a chance to express itself, Robert Borden, as leader of the Conservatives could be e^q^ected to oppose if only because the Liberals supported, but surprisingly, a number of Liberals, led by