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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
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