Diary: Northwest, Brit[ish] Col[umbia] and Alaska

July 12 several [photogs], + we returned as we went in the 'Edith'. The belt of the dynamo broke in two half way across but we tied it up with a handy piece of twine + as there was plenty of twine to spare it didn't matter. We walked up through the little town, saw the Ch. wh. is having a new chancel (Mollie is secy of the Parish W.A) walked along the 1/4 mile of [coide] Main St. past Basil's bank to the Sta. Mollie wd not let me go into her house over the Bank as she said it was to untidy. At the Sta. is a charming CPR Hotel

managed by two nice July 12 women from Montreal. Grant. [lots?] are all Japanese men. It was beautifully clean & one cd well stay there. Basil joined us & we all had lunch. Our train left at 2:30, 3 hrs behind time. After Moose Jaw the country becomes absolutely treeless. but not ugly. very rolling, & with large pools lying in the folds of the mounds or stretching in long gleaming lines along the flats. I slept from 3 till nearly 5. The day was hot but the air fresh & exhilarating. There was never a dull

July 12 moment for me everything so different from what I have ever seen. & the glimpses of prairie life the prosperous well kept farms. or the squatter's shack or tent the little settlements springing up round each station. The grain elevators & water tanks the great road the central feature. The main artery of this wonderful country all have an absorbing interest to one seeing it for the first time We did not dine till 8. owing to the overcrowded conditions of the dining car. but everything

was excellent when July 12 we finally succeeded in getting in. The sunset was glorious with masses of Cloud. a real purple & gold sunset. We went to bed about 10:30.

Calgary. July 13 We stayed in our car on a siding at the sta. till 8. Porter fr. Alberta Hotel came for our luggage & bags. Hotel abt. 5 m fr sta. This town astonishing with a broad well built Main St. Six or seven principal banks. & excellent shops. The hotel very fair but more of country type than others we have seen. Full of men evidently

July 13th resorted to for meals by most of the business men of the place. We bkfsted & coming out met Mowat Biggar down fr. Edmonton for semi-annual session of Full Court of Province. He strongly ad vises trip to Edmonton & we decide to go up there tomorrow mg. After much delay got luggage sent up did a little repacking & changed into my dear old grey coat & skirt wh. has pockets. never again will I travel in a dress wh. has them not. Finished my letter to [BW]. CR & v went out saw new Ch. just being finished, five large well proportiond bldg, much needed evidently to replace