The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.2005, Side 33

Vol. 59 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
119
what a weakling he is. He is a good person
but that is his only positive side as a minis-
ter. I am not going to discuss Rev. H. any
further. I am sorry if I have hurt you by
my words about him. He left here with-
out worldly wealth, but he had enough
money for the journey south.
I don't have time to discuss general
news from America. I suppose that you
can follow goings-on through newspapers
from the U.S.A. , but I guess that you do
not get too much news from Canada. The
Government of Canada has now sold the
C.P.R. to a certain company presided over
by Mr. Stephens, President of the Montreal
Bank. Other members of the company are
St. Paul, New York, England, and France.
The Canadian Government provides this
company with 25 million acres of land and
25 million dollars for the building of the
railroad. The construction of the road is
expected to proceed rapidly from now on.
Transportation by railroads to the middle
regions of the U.S.A. was delayed due to
exceptionally heavy snowfall and blizzards
early this month, resulting in a lack of fire-
wood and food that left people in serious
trouble in various places.
Back to myself: On the 2nd of April I
am going to leave Gimli for good with my
wife and children. I plan to settle down in
Sigtryggur's house and I plan to stay there
for at least a year, working for Jonasson &
Fridriksson & Co. - managing the sawmill
which is to be built by the river by this
coming spring. The members of this cor-
poration are Sigtryggur Jonasson, Fridjon
Fridriksson, and Osenbrugge, a merchant
from Winnipeg. All three of us share
equal ownership of one third each. The
fourth member is Arni Fridriksson, my
brother. He is a "special partner" after hav-
ing invested $1,000.00 in the company.
This business demands a considerable
amount of cash for initial operations. All
this cash is provided by Osenbrugge, since
the other members do not have any extra
cash available. If we manage to avoid
major accidents, this business is bound to
become profitable in the future. We have
already cut down 6,000 logs and brought
them to the river, and we have also brought
wood for the construction of the mill.
This summer the mill is to be built and
the logs that have already been brought
here are to be sawed. Now it is important
to keep the work going, and with God's
help - I am certainly going to see to it that
the work goes on. The corporation owns
a small store up north, of which I am in
charge. Thus I am working exclusively for
the corporation. My salaries are supposed
to amount to $75.00 a month. I am rather
strapped for money these days because -
upon closing my own store - all my credi-
tors demanded what was theirs. At the
same time I am having difficulties collect-
ing the money which others owe to me.
Besides, a lot of my money is invested in
real estate, etc. I have put your money
into circulation - it is going to stay that way
as long as you do not write for it. If you
need it, please let me know.
My in-laws are going to move north.
My father is going to stay in my house in
Gimli. All members of our family are
doing well.
The management of the publishing
company has been asked to sell the press if
an acceptable offer comes along. This
decision was made at a general meeting. If
they cannot sell it, they are to lease it to
someone who is willing to publish a peri-
odical for Icelanders. Icelanders do need a
periodical, but who is willing to publish it?
My warmest wishes to both of you.
Good God grant that we may continue to
improve ourselves and eventually to live
together with the Lord a more perfect life.
Your loving friend,
Fridjon Fridriksson
Editors Note: 1. He is almost certainly
referring to a trip he made north on Lake
Winnipeg to trade with the Indians.