ENPages That Mention Canadian Pacific Railroad
[Letter from Roderic O'Connor (Box 5, North Bay, Ontario) to [Professor P. F.] Purcell, apologising for not having seen him on visit to Dublin. Describes his work with the Canadian Pacific Railway and the construction work on the line.]
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[left page] [UCD L. IS]
Box 5 North Bay, Ontario 15.4.1911
Dear Fr Purcell. I am sorry I did not see you before I left Dublin but I called at the school three times only to find you out. I am fixed up here. (36 hours West of St John's) in a small town 9.000 pop - junction of two Railway systems, and centre for the Mining
[right page] districts of Cobalt and Porcupine.
I have an appt in C.P.R. under Engr of District No 1 of Lake Superior Divn and am doing office work at present but will go on survey party in a few weeks time & be out all summer - Living in a sleeping Car-
The "Track" of C.P.R. would astonish you. The best that can be said for it is that it resembles the curates egg. I was out surveying on Tuesday and found a fishplate with every bolt loose. The Sleepers seem [??] held together by the ballast. And in cuves of Sidings rails seem always put on in straight lengths. I hope I don't frighten you off coming here this summer. Notwithstanding all these facts, 60 miles is not
Letter from Roderic O'Connor (c/o D. W. Burpee, 45 Murray Street West, Hamilton, Ontario) to Professor P. F. Purcell (Gayfield, Killney), discussing life in Canada; etc.
C/o D.W. Burpee C.N.O.RS 45. Murray Str. West. Hamilton. Ontario
My dear Professor,
I have your op of 17.Dec.r lcsh? & was glad to hear from you. Let me congratulate you on your son, whom I hope I may meet some day. I thoroughly appreciate your reference to Miss Mansford?, now Mrs Murray. That is now, as far as I am concerned, a matter of history.
Well, I was delighted to hear the School is doing well & with it the very best success. In answer to your question, I like the open air life. It is magnificent. I have been out every day. Winter. Summer. since last March 1911. Now? west at 101° & also 52 degrees of frost. when I have had my lunch frozen too stiff to eat. an icicle hanging from my eyelashes.
I wrote of the Canadian North Railway last June for a better job than I had with the C.P.R. and got it.
With C.P.R I started as Rodman & was promoted to Draftsman then Transitman? .... 2 months. The C.N.R.S. gave me an appt. as "Resident? Engineer" on construction with an office and staff of 3. Two chainmen? & Rodman. I was sent to Montréal where I had to str pick up, and stake out a line that was surveyed 7 years previously. I staked out 22 miles of the line. This was in Dec.r with 4' snow on the ground. I only found 5 of the original hubs. I was then given a "Residency"? of 8 miles for construction over which I had full charge. The Event closed down & I was sent back to Toronto to retrace the line from Toronto to Hamilton. This is now just finished & I expect to have an 8 mile section for Construction
3.d nothing. I cannot rely on one of them. I have a letter from Paddy Jeffrey which I am at last about to answer. There is one thing I may say to hime, and anyone else who think of coming here.
It would be very foolish to take any but a subordinate job at first: - No fellow ought take a job which involves handling men until he has observed the Conditions here. In Ireland it seems necessary to kick men around to get them to work. Here it is very different. Your work is as good as you are & is to be treated socially as an equal. By subordinate job I mean Chainman or Roadman. 35 - 45 per month & all expenses. Transitman may well get about 60. Res.... 100 - 150. All expenses are paid all even by the Company.
You mention Burke in your letter. I don't remember him, but he calls on me on .. at Montréal & misses me. He is with C.P.R. I think Roadman somewhere within 50 miles of Montréal
A "Royal" man Campbell of Galway who from the same general areas as I also came to see me, he is "Leveller" with C.P.R. at $60 per.
By the way I did write Flanagan & he never replied. ..... ..... .........! He might be married now for all I know. Anyhow I will write him again. I will enclose you a photo if I get it in time. It is later when I just finish. Contours of one of these Gullys I mentioned. The level was not thrown down on the ground just as it looks, but it was the last set up, just gave me 13' of the rod.
I feel a wandering spirit coming over me. I hope to go to S. Africa or Australia sometime when I have seen West Canada. If I don't throw up Engineering for a "shoe shine parlour or ice cream restaurant. There is loads of money in these. Give? my regards to ...., Professor Seymour & any who may remember me. I hope to see the School within 12 months
Your friend