On September 24, 1909, two letters reached the office of the Mayor complaining about the buildings and environmental conditions.
Letter #1
Inverness, C.B. September 24,1909
From: The Officer Commanding Troops Inverness, C.B.
To: His Worship the Mayor Inverness, C.B.
Sir,
With reference to quarters for the troops now at Inverness on duty in aid of the Civil Power 1 beg to state that I have examined the buildings proposed by you, in company with the medical officer, a copy of whose report is attached.
It will be necessary to keep all the troops together and also to keep them as far as possible isolated from the town which is considered by the medical officer, to be in an unsanitary condition, and infected with typhoid fever.
The house at No. 2 will be suitable for Officers' Quarters, mess, and offices, but in order to utilize that building weatherproof sheds of sizes shown in the list below musi be provided in the near vicinity for men etc.
As the weather may at any time now become too bad for the troops to remain under canvas, I beg to request that you will at once take steps to provide the necessary quarters.
The quarters required for the troops in addition to the building already mentioned will be as follows:
Barrack; far 34 N.C, officers and men and 2 Sergeants - 25 feel wide, 95 feet long ami <
average of 12 feet high.
Washhouse, Cookhouse, Sergeants Mess 15 feet x 35 feet x 12 feet high.
Canteen and Stores 15 feet x 45 feet x 12 feet high
Dispensary and Hospital 15 feet x 25 feet x 12 feet high
Guard Room 10 feet x 15 feet x 12 feet high.
Timber for latrines
The buildings must be built on sills on the ground with double floors with building paper between. The wails and roofs must also he hoarded outside and inside studding with asphalt roofing over all.
Windows and doors must also be provided, and stoves for heating all buildings, and for cooking.
Tables and benches must also he provided for the barracks, Sergeants mess, officers mess, and canteen. Water will have to be laid on in all buildings and chimnies provided for stoves,
I beg to request thai you will at once take the necessary steps to provide the aba and give me an answer not later than tomorrow as the matter is urgent, I have the honour to be Sir
Your obedient servant Paul Weatherbe Lieut Colonel R.C.E. O.C. Troops, Inverness, C.B.
Letter #2
Inverness, C.B. September 24, 1909
From: The Medical Officers Detachment Inverness Camp
To: The Officer Commanding Troops Inverness, C.B.
Sir,
I have the honour so submit the following report, on the buildings examined in company with yourself and the Mayor.
In so far as the buildings in town are concerned I-would not advise their acceptance for the accommodation of troops, on account of the very bad sanitary condition of the town generally, and the present outbreak of typhoid which, [understand, is on the increase.
In reference to building at No. 2 mine I think this would do, in as far as it provides accommodation, and as the location is suitable, the other necessary buildings could be erected there.
These buildings must be -weather-proof and properly heated and should be constructed without any delay as the weather may at anytime now become unfit for the troops to remain longer under canvas. I have the honour to be Sir
Your obedient servant F. O'Neil Major C.F.A. Medical Officer Det. Inverness, C.B.
The troops brought in to quell any disturbance were situated in the large field parallel to MacIsaac's Pond and for the most part lived under large canvas tents. Their presence was a safeguard against possible violence by the raining community. However, military forces were hardly needed during the Inverness Strike of 1909 although a great deal of violence and upheaval characterized the strike in the industrial area of Cape Breton. The only casualty in Inverness was the mysterious death of a man found near the railway tracks on the outskirts of town. Army officials soon made their way out of the town and left the task of peace keeping to the local authorities.
On October 1,1909 the Mayor's office was still in the process of appointing special constables to assist with the strike. The following document is representative of that process.
In view of a strike prevailing in the Town of Inverness of certain coal miners and others I hereby appoint Angus C. MacDonald to be a special constable for the Town of Inverness to aid in preserving peace and order and prevent anticipated tumultuous disturbances of the peace within the Town dated Oct. 1st, 1909.
Frank A. MacEachern
Stipendiary Magistrate in and for the Town of Inverness in the County of Inverness, N.S.
I, Angus G. MacDonald, special constable for the Town of Inverness make oath and say that I will truly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties of its office while I hold
such office.
Sworn to before me at Inverness W h' County of Inverness this 1st day of October 1909.
D.H. MacLeodAngus G. MacDonald
Mayor of the Town of Inverness
