Category: Exceptional

Incendiary 30 Apr 1875 Omaha, Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Altogether there is trouble ahead and I would not for anything go through the same terrible muddle and uncertainty that I did on The Intercolonial for any money so intend to have it out this summer ..

One thing very certain is that it will be impossible for any one having self respect to stay on the line if Fleming is Chief Engineer –

The Govt already sent him and act independently of him – so that he will insist on us doing things that he has not power to back us up in – neither has he the will when it comes to push —–

Mr Selwyn the Chief of the Geological survey is here – he says that young Dawson – son of the Professor in McGill College Montreal – comes out in July to take charge of the Geo. survey in B. Columbia which will last for a lifetime he says Dawson is an exceedingly worthy young man and I could get Tom with him if I would consent to let him go for his keep and a mere nominal salary of $20 a month to begin with – this is what we are going to reduce beginners wages to on our work —

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Kamloops, B.C. 20 Sep 1885 Marcus Smith 4 pg letter to his wife

Van Horne will be out here soon after the track is joined from East & west – say the end of October at latest — It is remarked in the Newspapers that Tupper, Pope & Schreiber are coming out the former can have no business except as most people think to whitewash Onderdonk and look after his share of the shares –

Everybody knows the line is not finished according to specification and none believe the C.P.Rwly will accept it as it is but will ask for a large sum from the Govt to complete it –

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Port Moody, B.C. 26 June 1881 Marcus Smith 3-page letter to his wife

Sold for $605, Port Moody, B.C. 26 June 1881 Marcus Smith 3-page letter to his wife
“The surveys are fairly commenced and I have been forced to do some very hard work- owing to the incompetency of the assistant Ailyn who has had very little experience and is naturally very dull & stupid- Gamsby is very little better. He has hitherto got on by always having good assistants but knows nothing himself- has no brains but for old woman’s gossip- has no instruments, never had any in his life nor does he care about the work- ..”

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C.P.R. Manitoba District Engineer’s Office 7 Sep 1878 Marcus Smith letter “My dear wife..”

Realized $605 in our auction 10th July 2021, Marcus Smith 1878 to his wife “..any motive to act dishonestly or underhand in a great national question- he [Fleming] took the sneaking course of finding out what the Govt. wanted and acted accordingly- ignoring me altogether, and keeping me in the dark as to what he was reporting even up to the last moment both in regard to the work to be done and the assistants to be appointed &.c-..”

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Blackwater 45 Miles NW of Quesnelle 23 Sep 1875 Marcus Smith letter

Realized $526 in our auction Saturday 19th June 2021 Blackwater 45 miles N.W. of Quesnelle-Sept. 23rd,1875 “My Dear Wife…yourself and children would be far better in Victoria then anywhere in Canada and the climate is far superior- and living is always getting cheaper and so will all conveniences when the work commences as there will be a large influx of people of all condition..”

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