Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-02
We will lake his statements one i

one as they appear IN This letter, anC
will give you the actual facts. which
can be borne out by the responsible
men in our party.
In the first place neither sowing OF
planting was in progress in Minnesota
as we passed through on our way west.
On our return trip some ten DAYS
later, some seeding of grain was
going on.
When we passed through Moose
Jaw mot MonSga) there was no snow,
nor did we see the ground covered
with snow at any time during our trip.
We did not land in WetaSkiwin in
| the middle Of winter as Trudell states.
| There were no snow storms near
Wetaskiwin while we were there,
although we heard of a snow fall in
Calgary on the 18th and 14th, but on
the 18th as we passed through the
same place on our return, there were
no signs of snow.
AS to all kinds of sickness being
prevalent, that is certainly a lie of
| the first water. There were a few
isolated cases of smallpox, which had
| been brought into the country, but
the prompt action Of the Canadian
Government has checked the spread
of it.
The hotels and boarding houses are
taxed TO their utmost, so great is the
rush of settlers but no one is compelled
| to sleep out of doors. There is very
large tent with good raised floor
inside, and a cooking stove furnished
| by the government for the free use of
settlers.
EmigrantS were certainly coming by
the hundreds, but we neither saw nor
heard of any going out.
We saw DO poor children crying or
lamenting with cold or hunger.
There were none in our party too
poor to 60 back, had they so wished,
except possibly the writer of that
article.
We left WetaSkiwin on the 18th,
and up to that time Trudell had not
gone out on d four days trip to see the
country. AS his letter is dated the
goth, it is plainly impossible for him
to have made a four days trip lin two
days time) From his description of
this imaginary trip, we have no
hesitation in saying that he must
have seen mountains in his dreams,
which were possibly created by an
overdose of 'Seagrams Sealed" We,
ourselves, drove out in company with
Mr.. Flanagan for three days, during
which, we suffered no hardshlpS
and always found some hospit-
able rancher ready to satisfy "our
inner man"
AS to the Slaudering remarks made
about Agent Flanagan, we can assert,
a more gentlemanly, painS-taking
official can be found nowhere. During
the whole journey out, and while
there, he did all he agreed to. He
took an individual interest, and
attended to the wants and comfort of
every one in the party, not excepting
the writer of that Slandering attack.
More than that, out of respect for
himself, and the position he holds, he
stood more impertinence from the
writer of that article than the average
man would have done, and was COM
PEELED, inr1h,, %na. to forcibly teach
chat young man Trudell, a much
needed lesson in civility. This last
is no doubt the reason of his violent
attack on Mr.. Flanagan's character
The practical and responsible men
of the party will vouch for his (Mr.
Flanagan's) integrity.
There was no way possible for Mr..
Flanagan to cheat any one on the
tickets, as Mr.. G. D. Harper of the
Central Ry. was the one who issued
the tickets to Portal, and received the
money therefore. On arrival at
Portal (the boundary line) the G. P
Ry. agent there received the money
for tickets issued to Wetaskiwin.
AS for the teams to be furnished,
we were informed that the govern
ment had discontinued this practice.
1t would be impossible for them to
furnish sufficient for the large numbers
that keep pouring in. We hired our
own team at 81 90 per day not 5000.
In conclusion we would certainly
advise any parties going there to
avail themselves of Mr.. Flanagan's
services, as they will find it to their
interest to have man of practical
experience along with them, and
trust that the rawlings of misguided
youth will not deter any one from
going there to see for themselves.
We have given Mr.. Flanagan a
written report of the country signed
by ourselves and Mr.. John Fontaine
Sr., which will no doubt be published.
Trusting that in justice to ourselves,
and in order to vindicate Mr.. Flana-
gan'S character, you will kindly
publish this letter in your next issue.
We are sir yours truly
JOHN j. RAYOME.
K. j. MARCEAU.