The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

not build their main line to Kingston, but made diversion at Napanee, thence through the Rideau Lakes region to Ottawa. **** In public life, Mr. Gildersleeve served the city as an Alderman for twenty-two years, and in 1879 was elected Mayor, so it can be said few men gave more of their time and energy in endeavoring to promote Kingston's welfare. He was an old line Liberal in politics, always ready to go to the assistance of his party. In the 1883 Provincial Election he was the Liberal candidate for Kingston, opposing James H. Metcalfe, the then Conservative member. The latter was again elected, but by a materially reduced majority. To other phases of civic welfare, Mr. Gildersleeve lent his support, having been the chief patron in making possible the old Kingston Art School. He was as well a member of the Board of Governors of the Kingston General Hospital, having the honor of being appointed a Life governor to fill the vacancy created by the demise of the Honorable Sir John A. Macdonald, in 1891. An Anglican in religion, he took a keen interest throughout life in all matters effecting St. George's cathedral, and was chairman of the committee entrusted with its enlargement. In March, 1894, Charles F. Gildersleeve accepted position as General Manager of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company, necessitating his taking up residence at Montreal. The Company controlled the through passenger traffic by water between Toronto and Montreal and the Saguenay River, or with its connections from "Niagara to the Sea." Some twenty odd passenger steamers owned by the R. & O. were in active operation, but the affairs of the organization were at a very low ebb when Mr. Gildersleeve assumed office. In fact, "for eight years prior to his appointment the Company yielded no dividends to its shareholders," according to a statement by the Montreal Star. Mr. Gildersleeve thoroughly re-organized the various branches of the Company's services, advocating the building of larger and more modem steamers to ply on Lake Ontario and the St, Lawrence River; for the Royal Mail Liners operating twenty- five years previously were still in use. The proposed new lake steamers were to connect at Prescott with specially constructed craft for running the rapids to Montreal. In this regard history was repeating itself, for it was a revival of the regional service effective during the early steamboating days of his father. Under his supervision, the palatial steamers TORONTO, KINGSTON and MONTREAL, all practically in the three thousand ton class, together with steamers for the Rapids division, were accordingly built; contributing largely to the financial betterment of the Company's position. He was successful as well in gathering around him a capable and loyal personnel, also an important factor in bringing about the favorable results achieved. Mr, Gildersleeve remained in charge of affairs for a period of ten years, retiring in 1904, leaving the Company in an enviable position as a paying concern, dividends having been paid steadily during his tenure of office. It was, as it were, the crowning achievement of an energetic life of usefulness. **** -38-