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The demise of Saint John's "Golden
Age" started in the late 1860's due in part to the greater use of
steel hulled steam vessels throughout the world and to lower labour costs,
material costs and more efficient economic operations in Ontario and
Quebec. 
The
railways in these provinces made it cheaper to ship goods by land. Coupled
with these conditions was the economic impact upon Saint John of the
«Confederation»
of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario into the Dominion of
Canada on July 1, 1867. This union, based to a large degree on population
and political influence, caused a shift in the economy from the Maritime
provinces into the central part of the country.
During
this time Saint John's economy witnessed a slow down. However; the
sustained strength in the local economy continued to affect the growth of
building construction. A writer for the Daily Telegraph pointed
out that many buildings in the city
are slightly and substantial,
and new structures of recent erection are not wanting as evidences of
correct and judicious architectural taste, still, enough old buildings are
not being pulled down to give place to new and better ones.
At
about the same time, on a tour of Saint John, the editor of the Boston
Gazette was a bit more blunt in his comments. "Neither the
public nor private buildings, with the exception of the Victoria Hotel,
claim much more merit for architecture..." He continued to write
that the "arrangements and convenience were illustrative of the
citizens; dignified without pretence and substantial without pride or show".
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New Brunswick Community College - Saint John.