[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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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. Composed 16 April 1911, Box 5, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

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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

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[right page] uncommon. My hours at present are 8.30 to 6. with one hour for lunch. We work full day on Sat. - Worked Good Friday & I am leaving here with Pat Gorman (Italian!) on the night of Easter Sunday to get on measuring up a bridge 70 miles out on Easter Monday.

Will you give Gaffney freres my regards. If they are thinking of Canada I will be glad to give any information I can.

There is one fact about Canada - it is not a house of Rest.

There is some difference in Railway work here - Curves are calculated by the number of degrees subtended by 100.0 chord - i.e. 1 degree curve is one

[turn page] of which 100' Chord subtends 1 degree. There is no signal arrangement or interlocking and the cross-over roads are [cut] different to ours at home.

I hope I will be able to see you if you come to Canada - North Bay is my headquarters - a new town where we have to call to P.O. for our "mail". I would like to hear if you are coming. I probably could see you if I have time. I struck an old Mary's fellow in Montreal where I stayed 3 weeks. - Frank Lahiff - the steady fellow. I have a note from him today - He is going Winnipeg.

With [true?] regard Yours sincerely, Roderic O'Conner

I am very well satisfied with my job. I have the equivalent of 160 pounds per annum & good prospects. RC

{Stamp} University College Dublin Library.

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