Category: Letters

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

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

Mar 18, 2023 | , , , ,

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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New Westminster, B.C. 27 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

New Westminster, B.C. 27 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Nov 17, 2022 | , , ,

May 27th 1885,
My dear wife
                     When you read the enclosed clippings respecting the reported battle at Eagle hills you will understand how anxious I was and how glad to receive your telegram –

Of course as the report came from the New York correspondent of a San Francisco newspaper and as it stated there were 19 Englishmen and 21 Canadians killed – a distinction not likely to be made and as there were probably not 19 Englishmen in the whole of Otter’s forces. there was an air of improbability about it – but at the same time as the capture of a number of waggons and teamsters was confirmed which would take place near the E(a)gle hills I thought Otter would have made a dash to recover them as the troops at the time would be short of provisions. Besides as you will gather from my letter of three weeks ago respecting Otter’s battle of May 2nd – I was afraid he was ambitious to distinguish himself even at the expense of heavy losses of men as he never had any experience in active warfare which requires judgement and caution of a different kind from mere drill

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Kamloops, B.C. 17 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Kamloops, B.C. 17 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Nov 10, 2022 | , , ,

My Dear Wife, I have been up the line for a week and on my return yesterday (saturday) evening received your letter of the 2nd instant together with a number of newspapers mostly “weekly” which were very acceptable as they give a great deal of news about the position of the troops and other details which are not telegraphed here or copied in the newspapers. The latest telegram we have had was General Middleton’s official account of the battle at Gabrielle’s crossing on saturday the 9th inst. In which he had driven the Rebels from their position with very small loss of troops – 1 killed and 6 wounded – he concludes that he expects next – day – (sunday) to clear the Rebels out of Batoche

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Kamloops, B.C. 18 Mar 1885 Marcus Smith Letter to his wife

Kamloops, B.C. 18 Mar 1885 Marcus Smith Letter to his wife

Oct 21, 2022 | , , ,

1885.. A friend has just lent me a pamphlet published by Mr Drysdale & Co 232 James Street Montreal – The author is anonymous but I recognize the style as Kingsford’s. It will be terribly damaging to the C.P.R. Comp(y) financially because it is unanswerable as most of it is true the price is 25 cents send me a copy by book post at once I forgot to say the title is “The Canadian Pacific Railway”
The politicians will of course try to pooh pooh it – but it will tell in England and everywhere except to political partisans of Sir J.A. Mac.

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12 Mar 1871 Dalhousie, N.B. 3-pg Marcus Smith letter to his son Tom

12 Mar 1871 Dalhousie, N.B. 3-pg Marcus Smith letter to his son Tom

Sep 8, 2022 | , , ,

Dalhousie N. B.
12th March 1871
My dear Tom,
Mamma has been sick but is now quite well and is very anxious to have a letter from you – she wrote to you some weeks ago and enclosed a 1 dollar bill and some postage stamps if you have received this you should have written to mamma to say so – even if it were a very short letter you should always write when you receive money or anything of importance as those who send it are always anxious to know if it has been received.

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New Westminster, B.C. 29 Jul 1883 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

New Westminster, B.C. 29 Jul 1883 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Aug 10, 2022 | , , ,

My dear Nannie .. Mr Onderdonk came down a few days ago not feeling well — I went over with him to Victoria we had not been an hour on salt water before we felt invigorated by the sea breeze and by 1 p.m felt ravenously hungry and ate a huge dinner.
It has been hot in Victoria – for it – but never above 83° in the shade and all the people looking so healthy and rosy I was only a day and a half there and felt ten years younger nothing like the sea breeze it acts like magic

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New Westminster, B.C. 31 Aug 1883 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

New Westminster, B.C. 31 Aug 1883 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Aug 4, 2022 | , , ,

My dear Nannie, I was over part of the line with Mr. Schreiber which wasted several days – as it was a mere scamper like the visits of the Commissioners on the Intercolonial. Immediately after Mr. Onderdonk and myself walked over the line from Port Moody to Hope 70 miles – it was hot and dusty and we were nearly choked with smoke which has continued nearly two months – so I am tired and foot sore

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New Westminster, B.C. 17 Sep 1883 Marcus Smith Letter

New Westminster, B.C. 17 Sep 1883 Marcus Smith Letter

Jul 22, 2022 | , , ,

My dear Nannie, I mentioned in my last letter that we had been over two months in perpetual gloom from the dense smoke of forrest fires – a week ago this came to an end we had two days heavy rain and now we have variable weather _ rain and sunshine cold enough for occasional fire in the grate – I am still very busy and shall be till the end of the year but most of the heavy outdoor work is over for a while – Tom has plenty of work and is thriving on it. I think it possible I may return home about the end of the year and perhaps not come back.

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New Westminster, B.C. 15 Oct 1883 Marcus Smith letter to wife

New Westminster, B.C. 15 Oct 1883 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Jul 15, 2022 | , , ,

My dear Nannie,.. I thought he had done with the school and was now going to attend the University courses of lectures and would have to pass an annual examination there. this appears to be the case. A few days ago I met Judge Grey with other professional gentlemen they all strongly advised – a University course and_ if _as is likely _ at the end of 3 years he will get the degree of B.A. – it will enable him to practice as a barrister in any part of the Dominion..

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Headquarters C.P.R. B.C. Aug 19, 1881 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Headquarters C.P.R. B.C. Aug 19, 1881 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Dec 3, 2021 | , , ,

“..I hope he [Tom] now has time to improve himself and instead of reading trashy novels he will get some Harper’s standard publications. They are very cheap – his biographies are only 75 cents each – so that if he only got one or even two a month it would not hurt his pocket much – I suppose Arthur will be going back before you get this – I hope he will do as well this year as last – I suppose all the big girls are away from home and left you and Clarice alone – tell the sprat she must write to Papa –

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

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

Nov 4, 2021 | , , , , , ,

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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Shoal Lake, N.W.T. 27 Sep 1880 Marcus Smith 2 pg letter to his wife

Shoal Lake, N.W.T. 27 Sep 1880 Marcus Smith 2 pg letter to his wife

Oct 13, 2021 | , , , , ,

Shoal Lake N.W. Territories 1880
“My Dear Wife… We have had wretched weather for six weeks past especially the last month. High winds and cold with rain overhead and swamps the men are constantly soaked to the waist almost- Our tents are always dripping and everything is damp some of us are suffering from rheumatism, and my joints are stiff. But I am otherwise well- But my long journeys are over..”

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Fort Ellice, N.W.T. 26 July 1880 4-page Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Fort Ellice, N.W.T. 26 July 1880 4-page Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Sep 17, 2021 | , , , ,

Fort Ellice, NWT July 26th 1880, My Dear Wife.. go to Halifax at the end of the season when the weather is cooler as the journey is a long and wearisome one..
you should hire a french girl to help you with the house work and make the girls talk as much as possible with the people so that they may pick up the vernacular tongue.-

Call on Dr. Robataille at Quebec when you are returning home- he you know is Lieutenant Governor-
…
The weather is hotter here than ever I have found it before- and I have had some hard work and expect to have a month more of it mostly in woods where the mosquitos are dreadful-.. ove and Kisses to all the children and yourself #marcussmith #canadianrailways #canadianrailwaysurvey #bchistory

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Camp 110 Miles West of Winnipeg 4 July 1880 Smith letter to his wife

Camp 110 Miles West of Winnipeg 4 July 1880 Smith letter to his wife

Sep 3, 2021 | , , , , ,

“..At the same time comes a telegram from Schreiber asking me to report to him at least once a fortnight and before work is commenced to submit all plans and profiles for the impr approval of the Govt. The Govt. being Mr. Schreiber- The first part is literally impossible and useless. The second implies that I am not to be trusted in designing the work- I shall take no notice of either excepting a simple acknowledgement of his telegram..”

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

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

Jul 8, 2021 | , , , , , , ,

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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Prince Arthur’s Landing Lake Superior 8 Aug 1878 Marcus Smith letter

Prince Arthur’s Landing Lake Superior 8 Aug 1878 Marcus Smith letter

Jun 24, 2021 | , , , , ,

Lake Superior 8th August 1878 “..I am very anxious about what will be the best course to take after my Mr. Fleming returns. I do not see how I can work under him with any satisfaction when I know the underhand way in which he is influencing the engineering staff against me. Besides the whole management is in such a muddle- Contracts costing half as much again as they were estimated at the letting-..”

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

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

Jun 17, 2021 | , , , , ,

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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C.P.R. Survey Western Division 7 Se 1875 Marcus Smith letter home

C.P.R. Survey Western Division 7 Se 1875 Marcus Smith letter home

Jun 4, 2021 | , , , ,

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY SURVEY.
Salmon House Dean River Sept 4th. 1875,
My dear wife, I have just walked from the head of the Dean channel, through the Cascade mountains to this point where horses have been sent to meet us- I am in excellent health. This last walk has done me as much good as that in the spring did me harm- The weather is fine and cool

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