Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.02.1988, Page 2

2-LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 26. FEBRÚAR 1988
Early Icelanders in Winnipeg
PART XVII
At this tíme many Icelanders had
come to Winnipeg and it was difficuít
to find employment for men, espe-
cially for the squatters down on the
banks of the Red River in the area
back of the present day Union Depot.
This situation continued during the
summer of 1879.
To add to their woes, they were or-
dered to move away from the banks
of the Red River, where many of
them had lived for a number of years.
The unemployment lasted a long
time and became a very difficult
þroblem. The winter of 1879-80 Was
very cold, which increased the de-
mand for firewood. This was a bless-
ing in disguise for men who found
cutting wood into stove lengths with
a hand saw.
This created considerable momen-
tum to the idea of settling and becom-
ing farmers. At this time there was
unrest amongst the settlers in New
Iceland and many had picked up
stakes and moved to North Dakota.
They þáSsed-thróugh Winnipeg and
this must have caused people in the
city to consider a change and move
into rural areas.
The result was that Winnipeg lost
some of their best people who moved
south of the border at this time. It is
recorded that Arni Sigvaldason
moved to Minnesota and settled on
land. Jon Thordarson weht'to Pem-
bina County and began farming.
Even Arni Fridriksson found himself
compelled to leave and moved south.
During the winter of 1880 two
Icelanders from Winnipeg went all
the way west of Portage la Prairie to
look for vacant land. They described
the land as very suitable. There was
substantial bushland with trees and
all the prairie land one could desire.
It was isolated which would have
been suitable for Icelanders if they
had only gone after it.
CAUTION:
Dangerous Chemicals
Stored Inside.
1+1
Environment Environnement
Canada Canada
Canada
Environmental risks aren’t
only Acid Rain or Industrial
Toxic Wastes. Each one of us in
his or her own way has a daily
impact on the quality of the
environment.
It may be cigaretíe smoking.
Or the washday detergent. The
cleaners and polishes in the
kitchen cupboards or the paints
and solvents in the basement.
Each family home,
regardless of how safe and cozy
it appears, contains chemicals
which should be carefully
controlled.
Make sure you’re doing
your best to control household
hazardous wastes:
• Become aware of the
chemicals you use and dispose
of every day.
• Educate your children as to the
hazardous products in your
home and store those products
safely.
• Buy only those products which
can be used and disposed of
safely.
• Buy pesticides and other
household chemicals only in
quantities that you can
actually use.
• Help to organize special refuse
collections for hazardous
materials.
• Discourage overuse of plastics
and styrofoam.
• Encourage the use of re-usable
materials.
Do your part to make sure
the world is safer for yourself.
That way we’ll all benefit.