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7/11/1943 - Abitibi and Temiscamingue by Marine Leland

NOT FOR PUBLICATION Nrthptn Jul Dear Mr Rogers atventure The Abitibi Temis csminue reallyn enJore experience seeing thins course trips uebec I region which completely unfamiliar majority people In interesting aspects Journey people southern uebec little evelopment sncrelittlebout It eibittsofAbitibi ontheothern feelitesficlentto themselvesnthey entertainamil South They their contet sticks there Le Nouveau those areoenoch ssprou ericens their colonial forefathers eatmosphere these newly evelope regions tolly ifferent ttoftheo1settlents Itreminemeofooestnalsoof fference attitute between Olt World New The inescapable iression I steps train Or Northwest ineheat Yougetthefeelitteverythiisbegii veone optimistic efficient I priest VI Or I letter Isattedtohisoffice iisin lnporch Ineversawthe insiofhishouse Hescorialisiness Inthespaceoffive mitres hedlleupenochpeoplenlgivenmeenochleals tofill which I spent Val Or All utterly ifferent reception I woolve There I Ve invited first office where wndering conversation would taken place dealing history village priest being often amateur historian The despatch which Val Or first introduction North I found business haste wherever I Wen Abitibi county thousand square miles shape rallelogram which westward tords Temiscamingue another region which spreads Ontario Lake Temiscamingue separates provinces Abitibi about three hundred fifty miles northwest Montreal fifty miles south Hudson Bay By train takes eighteen hours Senneterre railroad Junction which vrious important settlements reached The connections markbly involve several hours different points The practii means communication ancient filthv busses which rattle through indifferent which everywhere Abitibi first visited 16001s explorers search Hudson Bay colonized beginning wentieth century Indians Hudson Bay Trading Posts evevdy The setting however anything romantic unless picturesque quality Frontier Dust dinginess I vividly aware parts The first impetus towards colonizing region Sir Wilfred La uriers project transcontinental railroad This opened region pioneers begau arrive They several reasons In quest arable To prospect mines which discovered around For lumber To shops serve rather colonists As accorduce regular frontier pattern The history these different migrations interesting modern Quebec During which I spent Montreal I several conversations beginnings these various enterprises I totally vergent views I convinced further conversations would result picture which different which exists exists popul It infinitely varied should investigation course winter people I Montreal So I gathered history mentality different groups which Abitibi Temiscamingue population about I although number scoffed Ottawa perhaps without reason differ according purpose which which region which settled The three largest settlements Abitibi representtive three differ mentalities Amos county settled mostly agricul turists atmosphere there close theft parishes St Lwrence River Val Or newest busiest settled prospectors miners The population essentially minded modern La Sarre blend It settled partly riculturists partly lumbermen It aspect village curiously minded VAL D OR Val Orssettled Lamaque English brevition Bourlamaque French historical Opened The foolish question nhabitants Have The development Val Or nothing short dramatic I enclose postal which depicts rapid Three years after founding population obtained charter provincial goverent which The pattern development follows precisely mining northern Quebec perhs mining towns world The company around modern water electricity builds modern bungalows officials company The remaining price which beyond means miners These naturally settle improved property They either their cheap simply squat The keepers settle course homes miners develops rapidly leaving original leisurely fashion restful suburb Such Rotkvn Norand Temiscamingue Rotkvn FrenCh 1ornda hotels shops solidbut sleepy looking Rouyn Noranda founded The population VI Or s0dll numbers Its failure increase Canadian government rather inclined present discourg mining Moreover establlshe region On other there noticeable decrease popultion artly because Vl important distribu center partly because presence several mines right The dependen alone At present moment ctzens consciously mrklng The their point View merely interlude There seems whatsoever their minds fighting Val resume tremendous activity become large Canadian centers Yew streets paved optimistically sidewalks asphalt The represents vincial government protects loans various companies Val accelierate evelopmen There local mayor In aspects VI Or miniature Montreal double school mission Catholic Protestant Protestant school flourish Othoiic It cisse populaire interest evel0pments inaeec cooperative store whose capital drawn uopulalre several modern hotels There several doctors druggi remarkably bookshop radio station Which controlle chief station The Junior 0ommerce extremei progressive there ROtarian Club A Ot A M possible ravellers tobenontrlb9P Beforether Val0 excellentair coitiboh interestedme stheattitudeoftherenchOadian etween percent popution Elish percent twenty different tionalltiesanettheyseem careverylittleaboutassertingthemselves All Of lingua I Both English anYrench taught schools compulsions whatsoever English minority The signs shops Ylish preferably The rench I understand English whereas other groups unerstan Yrench Hence business avertise wares language universaly understood The streets numbers s__eme rench historicl Avenue The Nationalists knowledge mnagers 0ooperatiVe unaggres although mindful their With Old uebec As usiness comes first They bothered establish totally inactive chapter Ye eration Saint Baptiste ntional Yrench Canadian organization They nevsr beyond electing president local undertakers printing cards The feeling rivalr between Val Amos acute Amos minde oston their respective relation Montree Sew York Amos county biahopls residence The deputies there government offices there It eminently respectable It fOunded It College Classique beautiful modern convent Province Qebec whose estimated Val Or other mfortable eminently successful Its brief would Joy moving picture script writer quest lurid frontier material Two three years however Val Or underwent great purge nhstuck virtue since It eager forget salad Amos insists ering memory ileIwasinaldOr X wenoheNivanMienspettee hos1700feetereeMOntigon whlch heSiscoeMine Isalsosit uatel islanl towns Sullivan Siscoe They schools busses regularlr Val Or where miners Down I looke ambrian oldest which region largely depends If mines turning expected wille If there would little future these settlements since except Temiscamlngue especially Ss retrieve spruce forests particul fertile after years processing I often struck Province Qaebec appears unluck start The qullty compares neighboring regions It borders Quebec except which touches Maine mining point View figures interesting In production Province Aebec evaluated mouned amount In twenty three mines operation Abitibi Temiscamingue mines other minerals discovered AMOS I Val SatUrday June Amos sixty seven miles north It raining roads seemed especially concerned A hurricane caused terrible dsunage A region before barns houseswereeitherflattenedout stoodatcrazyanglesallalother aproeBe Oot Seat srerble however wheever possible roofs alreadv short repairs theyeverywhere There outward signs discouragement The difference between Amos Val Or sensed moment As I alread pointed whereas Vl Or essentially minded progressive Amos village village authentic banks St Lawrence The people there first They farmers their homes their volition search They pioneers sense great colonizing movement which begun Lbelle S Jerome Montreal 18801s effort exodus rench Canadians United States This period rench Canadian history importnt totally ignored those written French Canada I learned interest repatriating rench Canadians migrated New England settling Abitibi being carried today considerable success olonization epartment Cadian National Railys In I I opportunity check French Canadians wished avoid conscription refuge wilds North Some money opened shops which years followed considerable fortunes The Indians poorer pioneers their ntural Tody these merchants constitute aristocracy Abitibi They exceedingly proud public spirited They colons The Colon insulting adjective comparable white trash The reason during depress numerous families relief herded Abitibi Provincial Govern merit In referring I purposely using Colonist rather pioneer bemuse despite extreme certain sense wards goVernment seemed deprive initiative spirit independenCe which naturally associates pioneer think latter applies settlers Abitibi those around today honored necessarily wealthy citizens Among comers there hence contempt attached Colon On other there worthy colons depreciatory sense unfortunate It should With dlfferenc added connec1onoeween early later colonists first already expert farmers arrived could problems settling country latter On contrary often little farming skilled lborers It French Canadians Soil goverents scheme apears succeedet better might expected The Provincial Government expended between I family Te father usually comes first He allowed choose which measures I00 acres He given either cabin facilities build One timber He initial capital selling timber cleared tremendous government tractors house inhabitable family arrives As progress settling Cultivating colonist receives alloca Of about which house boards replace To cbins infinitel charm colonists difficult reover house boards certain social associations first towards prestige It almost impossible colonist paint house there project sfoot Quebec those IO paint their houses bonus necessary money which paint This aversion painting their houses characteristic Quebec villgers easily driving Montreal uebec The large number children notable feature Abitibi I should hildren average although families twenty children unusul The appearance colonies extreme The scrape itself lacking grandeur There mountains Abitibi plateau covered endless Spruce forests which frequently ravaged fires The burned stumps desolatio There however great beautiful lakes rivers I observed inhabitants sImlration before beauty their Fish plentiful present moment colonists ammunition their In winter temperature hovers between below weeks In summer bests roads I already light racing The nights It nightfall realizes north region Dusk begins about clock night falls around The inhabitants stisfied climate which mortality healthful Although infant fairly children strong The government estblishe service district nurses whose individul beats cover fairly large Yo always district nurse house because ispinte whiteithgreentriaiN chistrict alsosit resident agrOnome adses settler regard metho Ii treating their crops important crops A colon consists group families whose houses settled closely together within miles school church In Temiscamingue Abitlbl formed immense county diocese bishop Temiscamingue chose sight church choice determined which colony established Moreover government habit plotting equal Bap without giving consideration quality proximity water This combination arbitrariness resulted efficiencr injustice Oertain colonies established unpropi tious regions colonists fortunate enough excellent K others fiels stone A Joke I Abit concerns pioneer announced difficulty finding plenty stones gravestone could locte enough earth himself It customary government select according quality Church erected wherever sufficient number colonists settle regard churches I opportunity again seeing their beginnings The Cathedral Amos expensive monstrosity Byzantine style things The present bishop responsible In I deplores His dwelling house which previously occupied government colonization agent In outlying districts older colonies large churches built stones fiells They extremely symbolic which hearts gathered these sones their erected their hands church contrast sheds boards which themore recently arrived settlers worship In Abitibi moire anywhere struck overpowering instinct which French Canadians their religion They travel enormous distances incredible roads attend Mss I heard complaints concerning awful condition roads chief objection always difficulty church One family travelled twenty eight miles horse buggy running attend annul retrea When looks these desolate settlements village meaning imagine level morality inhabitants might Church there civilized Of course there 0olons Colons The villge M0nt Iurier Lurentians about miles north Montrel miles south Amos reputation sending tough The story group these asked bishop church parish priest His reply story Nht would fellows priest Ft course I visited parish priest colony where abruptly untouched forest begins Jogging along seater buggy enormous flour behind His house regulr pioneer house unpainted boards paper The ground floor consists three rooms prlor kitchen which occupied mother keeps house He sleeps upstairs climb steep ldder His process being cleared The trees government agent I satisfied progress accomplished rather bluntly government tractor around until preparations The Job eepecially importnt Abitibi cureJs leaderahip development colony pends Moreover parishoners appear independent those Old Quebec occurrence missed inefficiency This attitude again characteristic ference mentality between North South Insofar sible bishop tries priests experience early settlements northern Ontario least whose mentl horizon beyond seminire One point Ours Quen neville Ontario studied business administration Unlversiy Montreal himself merchant indeor Ontario besides Oustoms Officer years decided enter priesthoo studie theology University Ottaw Theologil School London 0ntrio there Kirn Lak andsin charge Business Administration Diocese Temiscamingue Since Sullivan outlying istricts He energetic alive potentialities North active owaer Of course amottat experience sufficiently numerous region I seemed rther wilerness prejudiced English speaking popution Of 0anda there tendency believe colonization project nothi sinis esign Church isolate French Canadians plete control The colonization ovement cotuse economic cuses istinct impression neither Ohurch UltraNationalists Abitibians population along St Lawrence For Instance V I Or liked invited Catholic School Oomis I pride Secretary Treasurer toxin Another instance I happened Rouyn twenty fourth June ntional holiday French Canada Very little In localities Sarre celebration until following Suudy The President St Jean Baptiste Society Rou2 ststed ntional eeling expressed procession prade unheard point Montreal Quebec I impressed graciousness which toxin Norand which almost English closed shops twenty fourth honor French Candiansl nationa priest I brought conviction based instances I already quoted French Canadians neither assertiv aggressive people unless goaded action By petty persecu tions In Abitlbl population overwhelmingly French Canadian appear conscious their traditions New England The radio station RtkVn which controlled English speking company Jewish omership I believe which serves Temiscamingue Abitibi devotes French programs simple reason mj0rity listeners French This policy inspired business considerations It compulsion recriminations At radio station which branch Rouyn situated bishopls house It called CKAD OK signature Cansdian radio stations AD stands Alee Desrsds bishop He makes constant station reach outlying parishes IH Clubs Farmers Clubs Youth Associations It cherished hobby He recordings sends vrious gatherings where lecturers scarce Like everybody efficient He Preside Norml School Girls Director Classical College Boys Home Economics School colonists daughters family estate Drummondville supervises building priests houses tries raise money visits enormous territory several times He appearances completely indifferent history lives partly present mostly future He quickly touch Colonization Agent drive through colonies The agent transacte business afforded excellent opportunity their houses their complaints their expressions ofsatisfaction Here there across humble tombstones overgro grass Sometimes inscription washed Others something Ci Simone Lachance epouse Jean Bptiste La Chance Decedee Before leaving Amos I record His Excellency Course conversation I learned recordings Abitlbi folksongs I asked these ntive compositions enough recordfor which I received after return Isin Ottawa I toldrius Barbeau anthropologist these folksongs interested The hotels Amos shocking spite pearsnce unpaved streets wooden sidewalks rather qtuint homely quality which winning The convent I already indicated mgnificent I spent night there generously entertained their vction They great about memtality their students provided vluble interaction Their school possesses equipment whatever branch study their pupils choose pursue especially struck their 0ommercial Dertment It equipped numerous typewriters adding machines teaching carried Isrge extent English ranco Americn American French 0andian descent pretty homesick She found girls conscious centere unlike American girls They dughters merchant tocrcy which X referred erlier The prents amount money placed evidence school functions The French1 Canadian obviously their ranco Americn sister spent explaining United States iniquity which believe The French Canadian students extremel independent strong headed fearless utterly ferent accustomed Despite criticisms I getting rapidly acclimatized Abitibi They loved freedom probable would ficult toNice Three Rivers whence titerested modernity Northern population permeated cOnvent notseeasmuchofAmoss shouldhvelkeaO h0wever LikeQebec crack What X should eometime there forsweek NowthatIhve generalviewoftheSituationndthatXa known believe mtives would wiolling leisurely fashion sending thank notes everyone I contact I believe another visit would prove fruitful I Amos Monday afternoon June Oldest dirtiest It broke miles nowhere ortuns truck pssed going Opposite direction oblgigly turned around towed nearest garage reachedI Sarre fifty miles southwest Amos supper I Sarre center lumber business It agricttl rural center With farms andmn colonies Since nearer western boundary province better Amos I Sarre charmingly situated nrrow river Despite buildings I constantly reminded Nuremberg during endless twilight I found great pleasure wiking along river which comes right sidewalk La Sarre village looks village spite setting extremely It received charter mentality population essentially modern The population almost entirely French The Hudson TrdiPostisgedby French CdI Therearetwomovipicte houses pesent Catel mederntldt whteB latest ericnfilmsesh0 dsebutwell ptronize theaterwhi ptcte exclusively One fteld tnvesttg French moving picture industry Canada France whose influence relatively recent powerful The hotels La Sarre simple clean interested general stores counter which French French 0anadian books There houses importance fifteen efficient commer concerns garages drugstore Besides there important sawmills window factories I Sarre Rotarians their first metering This festive affair sweeches ancing until A M The music furnished fanfare Knights Columbus In Val I chiefly City officials heads organizations In Amos I thrown especially clergy In I Sarre I Bad several opportunities metlng townspeople Mgr Desmarais given letters M L Simard Agent Colonization govern Miss Simone Belsmger mayor dughter She employed offica local wholesale houses leading spirit J I Jetmesse Indepenlente athlique numerous organiza tlons which I referred letter I June It Young People Ohristian Endeavor Society Mlle Belanger sister found extremely bright occasiolly works witress hotel where I stopped In I Sarre everywhere North events succeed other rapidly No sooner I telephoned Miss Belaner supper arrived brother student College Olassique which Jesuits Sudbury Ontario They drove around looked government agent We stopped house modest dwelli which family furniture appeared stacked temporarily I inclined believe arrange permanent A large portion French population lives Just moved One aents numerous looking reading religious table which among furniture He promised Mlle Belanger latest concerning fatherts whereabouts clock Mass following Jovial Just enthroned inally house friend where meeting J O place I cnnot deligh I THE J I Eleven yottng women between twenty thirty gathered around dining table which presided Vicire sickly looking young whose clssicl theological studies veneer He priest clericals point shocking exLle ignorance clergy retard uence populstion He performed duties bility cerrain dignity The meeting opened J C prayer which recited speed absolutely expression convent style Then several girls asked about cottutry In order I pitched random resume French Canada light American history They asked intelligent question discussion might indefinitely relief Vicaire extremely uncomfortable through brought class business The theme evening given Mlle Belanger booklet prepared J I headquarters Montreal During June towns vilLg French Canad fbllowing question discussed J C How stunner season activelF Cstholic winter As leader Mlle Belnger explained summer vacations relaxing religious activities She herself attends msses every morning those neglect Several girls demurred generally agreed would Mass several times A motion adopted sense girls present leader subsidiary group agreed their individual groups The members these would likewise their group M Belauger attends convention J O Montrel where leaders discuss policies adopted during following I found several fields rench Canadian activity _tion Please program adpted needs peculiar orniation This J O Two questions included Inhe evening assignment leders worked solve One econd person Holy Trin contribute fetlon Father before becomin Thiss stper hlchtViIresforttelyable toolvewithout however equestion eHoly Trinity reminded uMyterles Learne theologians itten subject learaedly understood among which himself It interesting however girls trying restle question offering suggestions qUetio priests always ordained during Ember One tried research She consulted whatever dictionaries encyclopaedias obviously Very interested historical question Again various suggestions offere allowed discussion On while obviously racked answer He speech suddenly admitted beside point promised matter The adjourns I ivite withthefamily Duringhemeeting severalboyshcomeinanhalbeen receivelwiJoyouscclaims TheFhJust arrlvefromtheOollegein summer vacation They lookig chaps Two students priesthood One rheas formerl courtet dughter house unusll smart looking yearbefore hehsu denlheardthecllandnowheweck dreeee acssock IwsinterestedinknoWinwhtthegirlSsfeelingmighbe utMlle Belangerassewhateverfears Imaappear tohavefeltbytell there other fishes perch while conversation Everyone cordil vermuch interested I Without slightee consciousness rpointofview itwasainvlb eevening XfeltttIwsbei provide excellent opportuult things which appear trivial themselves which essential seems interpretation region I struck naturalintelligence oftheyoungpeople heiralertness thefcilityd titwiwhitheygrapenewis Isremineoverett Hues comment students SchOol Social Studies Lvl Uni versifyineb Somagoodminsandsofewopportunities Ihve often notice certain polished superficialit among Yrench Canadians characteristic apparent during discussion I Just reporte occurred discussions avowedly insolu exceedingly problems indeed induce superficialit iocility Ye conversation turne intelligible immediately teresting subjects girls certainly neither superficial particu docile One other thing thewee lelighte Vicaire meeting His presence certain official quality This understandable realizes close contact which clergy regar J I O obvious nothing especial sinister It merely Yf group meeting Z shoul On other getting earlr atten Mss importantao meditation least quieta beginning possesse certain iscipline which contributes great I convince general standards populatloa whatever opinion outsiders concerning priest ridden Province however shocki certain influences clergy eucatioa health important remains naelF feeling Ohurch religion teaches inherent Yrench Canadian temperament Anyone refuses proper light nationl psychological trait cannot understanding French Canada spent following wandering about outlying onies government agent returned A M having spent night somewhere deserte result getting bogge He prove intelligent kindan general obser rations which I earlier report concerning theistate colonies gathered excursion lunche lumercampanhsupperinaboardinghouseinthush Wecalledon dozen families school teachers On whole homes Colons however another furniture primitive extreme stove acoupleoch aoulee andaock susene ceili The place spotlessly clean The recurrent complaint connection after Juncing covering seven eight miles coult complaints Justified eschool teachersbreceiveaslary yearanare pelled under iscorain conitions I impressed every With their intelligencenntive culture I noticed theecharacteristics Province Quebec It prising personl standrds shockingly unlerpai group I incline believe opinions which resse evert French Canadian eucation another myths which become populr which gaine peclai credence nglish Splpeoplewhovered theiropinion therench Ish isdue toefcttt theenchOdi sidlsandmethods completel different people comprison which might throw light nture French Oanadian education This Oolleges Olassiques universities general neglect necessary certain studies which essentia modern moreover often teaching these schools isApoor regardless being taught My general impression regard whole colonization project I worth The Provincial Government spent money scheme spent enough There petty economy about undertaking whole which msesme rightly wrongly success enterprise darero Fift cents better nothing better whereas dollar times This economy rench perament which always seems boldaess vision comes spending money It tepid interest which Province feels towards New It result corrupt three cuses In I crried distinct pression being better colonists moneF already expended Abitibi certain essential improvements encouragements roads bonuses mrkable achievament utterSv disregarde Rouyn Just older Val It founded bears relationship Norsud company Val Bour Le Sarre lamaque Lamque Oompny It situated fifty miles southof about hours Ontario border Royn regular mining rough ready The largest hotel owned French 08ndian It large indeed immense orchestra The hotel active utterly disorganized Two excellent ppers published Rouyn English lrench The latter L_a Frortl ppers rench Canada It founded The editor recelve cordially hurriedly brass tacks I bought seVeral books Temscamingue He pitied newspaper editors Province They little material about which write In contrary materil plentiful Something keeps hppening I clled I letter Is himself mining industry He close friend Murdock local tycoon President Beattie Mine largest The I clled radio station program manager Scotchman Ontario appeared undarstand French C aqdians pretty In evening I attended performance Charliels Aunt French played local I visited working girls whiCh French Canadian order LIinstitut Jeanne dIArc The Mother house Sussex Street Ottaw SuperioroFoundress Frenchwoman active member Press Club The Rouyn Home Working Girls moder equipment atmosphere It looks American college dormitory The rooms charming girls allowed smoke nywhere which least ahead I called Sturday morning I found lounging about houseccats Several taken performance night conversation carried indifferently French English The girls stenographers offices They receive salries month which Quebec anywhere stenographers importe hence alluring salaries Board Home costs I cellent Conclusion From commercial point greatest mistake Old Province common among people Montreal believe ntialities counties neglect mrkets result Ontario firms invaded The failure Montreal Quebec merchantm advantage these markets indolence mostly until recently roads which trucks could travel North Even roads Ontario system roads finds horthern Qebec ccessible towns Rouyn Val little where provided quickly It evident Province Quebec shown little grasp c_porunities which North offers In years doubt awaken opportunities blame English getting everything It seems Quebec always follows pttern It somehow fails benefits It opens whole regions other people exploit successfully Northern Q really province within Province Qebec someone foretold would surprising seceded South As I pointed throughout letter mentality region different Sincerely yours