{Front Cover}

{Printed Title} Daily Journal 1904

Note to transcribers: Please do not transcribe these printed, published pages.

MEMORANDUM FROM 1903

The summer of 1903 was quite cool, not at any time were we wanting ice. Crops of roots were good, while corn was poor. The most remarkable thing was that November to the 17th and October were entirely without rain, and the wheeling at this time exceptionally good, then snow came in hard frozen ground & stayed & stayed.

January NEW YEAR'S DAY (Dominion) FRIDAY, 1 (1-365) 1904

In bush. about 14 below zero.

SATURDAY, 2 (2-364)

Snowed again. Went north for a foxhunt in morning with Rattler {dog?}. followed two to a hole E of sideroad. Found a shefox back of A Greigs, & shot it edge of {Greenbers?} creek at 12.10. Dog was about played out. Heavy snowshoing. wants a thaw. Skidded cedar in afternoon with Queen {horse}. Cut a length of ironwood for cant handles {diarist has drawn a map in the bottom corner of the page of where he shot the fox.}

January MONDAY, 4 (4-362) 1904

Election Day. Went to town to vote. In bush after noon. Robinson Reeve {diarist lists and brackets the following} Councilors{:} Bunie Ottawell Davidson Armstrong

TUESDAY, 5 (5-361)

Cold. but prospects of milder weather. Some snow. S W. strong gales of {in?} the south

EPIPHANY (Quebec) WEDNESDAY, 6 (6-360)

Mild. N. Found all apples in barn were frozen. Those in pit are all right.

January THURSDAY, 7 (7-359) 1904

Mild S W. Swamped out some ties with horse.

FRIDAY, 8 (8-358)

In bush

SATURDAY, 9 (9-357)

Milder. Saw a fox on ice near sheep, could have shot it only for {Turk or Luck?} who saw it & ran in, fired b.shot at it at 100. it went to Rankin straight down Boat Lake, did not follow.

January MONDAY, 11 (11-355) 1904

In bush forenoon. In afternoon took 200 bus turnips out of 1 pit. Foxes paddled round sheep a lot last night. Must be 2 at least. {lured} p.mice but altho' mice go there are no d. foxes. think birds must get mice first. Mild.

TUESDAY, 12 (12-354)

E & S finished turnip pit in afternoon. Mild. L Wright came here after spiles for {dock?}

WEDNESDAY, 13 (13-353)

Went to town, got bill of poles, attended agricultural meeting, spoke on Farmers asst. pd L Buckland 1.00 for sow service, Subscribed to the Canadian & {lotter?} Echo', got an axhandle for G. The Sugar Beet {las?} bonds are now being called in by U. Bk, and there is quite a fuss in Wiarton. George Carson died this afternoon at 4 brain trouble.

January THURSDAY, 14 (14-352) 1904

Much colder. N. Cut some poles for cement Co & swamped out some ties. broke road all through swamp with team Set 2 traps at sheep scented with a Rhod. T anise. These foxes are evidently old stagers as they are as suspicious as they are made. ordered a No 44 Ideal Stevens 22.cal rifle from Jhe Falls, to use as a target rifle at matches.

FRIDAY, 15 (15-351)

33 ties out to town swamped in afternoon.

SATURDAY, 16 (16-350)

2 loads ties to town. I went to F {Farmer's} Institute afternoon. Set 4 traps for fox at sheep.

January MONDAY, 18 (18-348) 1904

Caught toe of a fox yesterday, but it froze so hard that the fox twisted it off. The other three traps were buried in snow. Must see another time that all are near surface, the dressing of oil Rhod {oil of Rhodium attracts fox} + oil of anise seems to work alright. Fox went a little way in big swamp + lay down I went after him with {Turk or Luck} + {I or J} put him into a hole in Clemens bush. 2160 of chop to town, 1/2 back.Cut some poles. 30 ties Very cold.

TUESDAY, 19 (19-347)

2 loads ties to finish Getting milder. Sugar factory meeting. Got Jess shod behind gave G. 1.00 owe some 75cts

WEDNESDAY, 20 (20-346)

Quite soft all day. but not thawing much. Roads are cutting off. Fetched bal. chop home. Two loads ties to finish making

178 No 1

110 No 2 3 cells

288 and about 12 to come.

$69.63 21 posts.

January THURSDAY, 21 (21-345) 1904

1 load logs

FRIDAY, 22 (22-344)

2 loads logs

SATURDAY, 23 (23-343)

Went to Cement Works with first load of spiles 8 pieces. Took 5 hrs to do round trip. Saw a fox on river this morning, but crust prevented dog from running him. Drew 69.13 from ties " 10.54 from logs.

January MONDAY, 25 (25-341) 1904

A howling west blizzard yesterday. Caught a shefox at sheep. Today a little better but zero. In afternoon went to town & pd a note of 46.00, and had to break road, too. Mr McNeill wants me to join Board of Sugar Factory directors. refused. Storming again tonight. No trains into Wiarton for 5 days now Worst storm in 27 years so Y.M. says.

TUESDAY, 26 (26-340)

No mail through. Cutting in bush. Zero.

WEDNESDAY, 27 (27-339)

Caught another shefox this morning at sheep. Evidently himmiy {likely meaning to himmy or jimmy your way out), two double spring traps, hindleg broken Took a photo of her. Took picture of Harold & George also. Cut all day. Mail comes now by stage from Owen Sound as G.T.R. is blocked. Worst winter since 30 years ago.

January THURSDAY, 28 (28-338) 1904

8˚ below zero. Cut till 11:30 loaded first load for this week 6 spiles took in in afternoon. I put a hook on canthook & put on a door knob Snowed 5 in today

FRIDAY, 29 (29-337)

1 load of spiles morning loaded for morning Takes 4 1/2 hrs to make round trip. 10 below zero. Snowed a little. George says there was one foxe fox moved at Clemens, & two at quarry, while I saw a track on Jordan Bay.

SATURDAY, 30 (30-336)

more snow two loads spiles to Cement Works I tried to get a shot at a fox in swamp ahead of Cross' dog, but it kept under cover till 2pm when dog left it. Several foxes still about. When snow is as heavy as now, foxes like to circle in the thickest place they can get, the dog can only walk, so that they have the best of it.

February MONDAY, 1 (32-334) 1904

-10˚ A howling blizzard yesterday & today. One trip.

TUESDAY, 2 (33-333)

One Trip -8˚

WEDNESDAY, 3 (34-332)

George one trip forenoon. -10˚ Stormed all afternoon. Vern Fowler married Today

February THURSDAY, 4 (35-331) 1904

Skidding. 41 poles. -5˚ One of the wildest storms all day. West.

FRIDAY, 5 (36-330)

Milder. Zero. No roads broke E. to town with chop. Skidding & cutting. Tried to get mail but no trains into Wiarton since Monday. Sent Fire Ins. money by cheque 6.20.

SATURDAY, 6 (37-329)

A thaw. Snow settling, falling off bushes. wind S.W. Drew up wood & turnips. Made a rack for {Jumper or Juniper}. Dug out canvas canoe from 5 ft snow.

February MONDAY, 8 (39-327) 1904

Changed yesterday to severe cold. N. Temp this morning 20˚ below zero. Hard to keep warm working in bush

TUESDAY, 9 (40-326)

Reid here today for hay, gave him 1/2 ton bought sleigh from him at 12.00 G. 2 loads. -25˚

WEDNESDAY, 10 (41-325)

Reid here Said to be 35 below zero today in Wiarton & yesterday.

February THURSDAY, 11 (42-324) 1904

-20˚ E. Went for chop - 20˚ George 2 loads.

FRIDAY, 12 (43-323)

-18˚ one load. A Reid fetched new sleigh yesterday. 2 loads Turnips.

2 SATURDAY, 13 (44-322)

1 load forenoon. In afternoon got stuck, couldn't get out in time This week there has been no snow but very low Temperatures.

Yesterday a bizzard from noon

February MONDAY, 15 (46-320) 1904

-22˚ Beastly cold, & NW.howling blizzard Hocked in Swamp, 20 pieces. job to keep warm. Wind blew snow off traps, so fox saw them.

TUESDAY, 16 (47-319)

-20 In forenoon G & S cut up 2 trees for 4 ft wood. E drew up afternoon In afternoon cut 9 pieces. Not as unbearable as yesterday but still too cold for fun.

ASH WEDNESDAY (Quebec & N.W.T.) WEDNESDAY, 17 (48-318)

-25˚. Skidding one load No trains into Wiarton till tonight since Saturday