The Henson Journals
Wed 7 July 1909 to Fri 9 July 1909
Volume 160, Pages 111 to 112
[111]
Wednesday, July 7th, 1909.
The violent rains of yesterday and last night muddied the water from which the hotel draws its supplies: we had to make shift with washing with a coffee–coloured liquid which suggest rather ablutions finished than about to be. The morning is bright but the sky is still threatening, and the temperature has fallen.
Our train was no less than 2 1/2 hours late: we did not arrive at Calgary until past 3 p.m. There we were met by Edith Ripley, Harold & their mother. We spent the time before dinner in visiting the Exposition. Here the ground was bright with elaborately dressed Indians, & there was a fine display of dogs, horses, cattle, & poultry. We dined in the Alberta Hotel: & then sate & talked until nearly 11 p.m. when we went to the station & waited our train.
Pacific Time…… To Loggan
Mountain "…… " Broadview
Central "……… " Fort William
Eastern " ………
Atlantic " ……..
[112]
The station at Calgary presented a curious spectacle. It was crowded with men, women, & children, even infants. As train after train passed out, & yet these people remained, it became evident that a large proportion of them were spending the night in the waiting rooms. A railway official told me that they were the new colonists who are 'taking up' the lands in Alberta. Some of them had come from far, & seemed extremely fatigued.
At 2.30 a.m. on July 8th our train drew up at the platform : we were relieved to find that the conductor had a drawing room for us, (for which we paid 18 dollars) and at last we were able to get to bed. All Thursday we traversed an immense level plain, treeless & unvarying, the most dreary country in the world. The little settlements have a forlorn aspect from a distance, a squalid appearance at close view. Hideous 'elevators' are the chief public buildings. No one yet has managed to plant trees. It is impossible to imagine a more desolate setting for human life. At 7.15 a.m. on Friday July 9th we reached Winnipeg, & found Gilbert & Lois waiting to receive us on the platform.