and supplies, but also groceries. To this end, the wholesale grocery firm of Foley, Lock & Larson was established in 1903. Usually, the agreements with subcontractors compelled the latter to buy all supplies from the partnership. Patrick Welch In 1888, Welch arrived in Helena, Montana, from New York (state). Establishing his headquarters, he oversaw the construction of the Montana Central Railway. In 1896, he relocated to Spokane, Washington, where he associated with the Foley Bros and Stewart on the GN westward extension. In May 1904, the P. Welch & Co and J.W. Stewart & Co partnership was awarded the Grand Forks–Phoenix branch line of the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway (VV&E), owned by GN. In July 1905, P. Welch & Co was awarded the Midway–Myncaster extension of the VV&E. In August 1905, a joint venture between P. Welch & Co and Porter Bros was awarded the Molson–Oroville extension of the VV&E. That month, P. Welch & Co was awarded of rock work on the Alaska Central Railroad. During 1905–1907, a joint venture between P. Welch & Co and Porter Bros undertook $8 million of work on the GN Portland–Seattle line. In 1907, P. Welch & Co was awarded the Keremeos–Hedley extension of the VV&E in BC. Main construction partnership Early expansion Whereas Larson had married Margaret Moran, her sisters Susan and Elizabeth had married Welch and Stewart respectively. In 1907, John and Thomas Foley and Peter Larson died. The new partnership name became Foley Bros, Welch & Stewart or Foley, Welch & Stewart (FW&S), but it was not uncommon for projects to operate under the names of the individual partners. In March 1908, Foley Bros was awarded the Superior Junction–Fort William, Ontario leg of the GTP. In May 1908, Foley Bros was awarded the rock work on the double-tracking of the Fort William–Winnipeg leg of the CP. In May 1908, FW&S commenced work on the Edmonton–Prince Rupert leg of the GTP from both ends. Subcontractors were allocated sections of less than each but some undertook multiple sections. The project was completed in April 1914. In February 1909, after another subcontractor had failed, the GTP subcontracted FW&S to complete eastward from a point west of the Abitibi River crossing (Cochrane, Ontario) for the National Transcontinental Railway. In 1910, J.W. Stewart & Co was awarded the Princeton–Coalmont and Abbotsford–Hope legs of the VV&E within BC. In May 1913, the eastward advance of