30 Radio Detachment - Cape Bauld, Nfld

January 1943 - Appendix "B" - National Archives of Canada

APPENDIX "B"
NO 30 RADIO DETACHMENT
January 1st, 1943

1. It is anticipated that the following approximate expenditures will be necessary during the next four or five months:

  1. Moving 500 forty-five gallon drums of oil from Grande Cove (known locally as Lighthouse Cove) for consumption at Operations Building, W/T Building, Power House, and quarters to an estimated cost of $1.50 per barrel - $750.00

  2. Coal to be moved from Grande Cove to Cookhouse and quarters - 60.00

  3. 470 barrels of oil to be moved from sealet to our unit - a distance of about three and one-half miles - 470.00

    NOTE: This 470 barrels of oil at sealet is part of the oil which was unloaded by the skipper of the Ethel M Petite, Capt A Evans, on J Cartier Island in Quirpon Harbour, and which it was necessary to transport across the harbour in small boats last November in order to be sure of a sufficient supply of oil in the event that the harbour did not freeze over as it could not be taken to Grande Cove by boat this late in the season on acocount of the high gales and tide. See report File C.21-1 d/30-11-42.

  4. There are still 490 barrels of oil and 2,000 feet of lumber on J Cartier Island to be moved to our unit by dog team if the harbour freeze over, at a cost of - 1,000.00

  5. Airmen's pay-list for six months - 2,400.00

  6. In addition to the foregoing there will be an expenditure of 300.00 for hauling fresh water over a period of 4 months. Today, January 7, 1943 was the first day that water could be hauled from Pigeon Lake (a distance of 2 1/2 miles from our unit). The small ponds in the vicinity of our quarters froze to the bottom early in November and since that time, we have been chopping ice and melting it for our supply of water. Consequently, our supply of water has been inadequate and unsanitary unless highly chlorinated, which has rendered it almost unfit for drinking. However, until the snow goes in the spring, we will be able to haul our water but it will be necessary to rely on the ponds again for our supply.

2. Summary of foregoing expenses are as under:

Moving 500 barrels of oil at $1.50 per barrel from Grande Cove (or Pigeon Cove)

$750.00

Coal from Grande Cove to Cook-House

60.00

470 barrels moved from sealet to unit (3 1/2 miles)

470.00

Moving oil and lumber from J. Cartier Island

1,000.00

Airmen's pay-list for six months

2,400.00

Hauling fresh water for 4 months

300.00

Incidentals

100.00

Total

$5,080.00

3. In Mr. McKean's (Superintendent of Works & Buildings)report of October 22nd, he states that he decided not to unload the tractor as it would be of no use on the Island. I do not agree with this statement of his, because, in the first instance, the tractor could have been used to haul all of our material from Grande Cove (known locally as Lighthouse Cove) where it was unloaded from the Sweeney, (a distance of a quarter of a mile) on a good road which leads up to the LIghthouse where it could have then been shifted by man power, to the different locations. This would have been a considerable saving of time and money; however, now that the ground is frozen sold, the tractor could have been employed in moving our oil, coal, and any other material, wherever we wished to put it on the Island with ease.

4. I had not arrived at Cape Bauld up to the time the Sweeney had unloaded on her first trip and returned to Halifax, but it is unfortunate that Mr. McKean did not have the foresight to visualize the value of the tractor as a time and money saver, also as the most convenient way to move our oil, etc, once the ground had frozen over. I am convinced, too, that we could have had a proper supply of fresh water over a month ago as it could have been hauled quite easily by the tractor.

(EA Kenny) Squadron Leader,
Commanding Officer,
No 30 Radio Detachment, RCAF,
Cape Bauld, Nfld

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